Shattered Gravity - Part 2 「☽」

「☽」Tora-kun daijōbu?「☾」

Kitty Intro on Vimeo

Previous Chapter Summary

Kitty and Fi-So in present day are sent to dimension O-090 to prevent the destruction of the dimension. They have taken refuge at a poor farmland. While out, Kitty learns of a dangerous chemical called moonsmoke. After a warning from their supervisor, Angel and prodding from Fi-So, Kitty reveals that she’s been prolonging their visit because they are in her original dimension.

PT 389, Dimension O-090

A younger version of Kitty walked through the streets of one of the gigantic landmasses. The air was clear, the bright blue sky ignored by the morning rush. Large buildings stretched high, contrasting the small stands selling handmade clothes, food, and goods all throughout the town.

This became the most egregious at the shopping center. It was a cluster of stands set up haphazardly every morning. Parked right on the landing dock. Without proper navigation skills, you were sure to be pulled into the hustle and bustle of the land.

Kitty blew through the crowd like a needle expertly guided through a thread. There was no doubt in her movements. When a man tried to stop her on the street, somehow not knowing who she was, she quickly told him off before continuing on. She stopped at a store away from the chaos, inhabited by a small number of customers. Regulars chatting it up with a friendly man with a strong accent.

“Kitty! My girl! I haven’t seen you in a while!” The shopkeeper said. The badge on his chest said “Buck”. They slapped their hands together, concluding with a complicated handshake.

The other customers checked out while Kitty examined Buck’s wares. She collected small slips of papers that sat in front of different types of breads, meats, and vegetables. She delivered the slips of papers, which she had written numbers on to indicate the amount of goods she wanted.

“Where have you been? Don’t tell me you betrayed me and went to another shop.”

“No. We’ve been getting rations since I joined the fighting force.” Kitty responded. “Tora’s been eating good. He’s been spending a lot of time at home. I think he needs a job. You open to applications?”

Buck counted out Kitty’s goods nonchalantly, adding more than he needed to. “If you wanna grab one, you’re more than welcome. The little squirt will probably get the job. I say let the kid be a kid before life settles in.”

“I guess you’re right. I’ll have to talk to him.” Kitty responded.

“Wow…From bartender to fighter. You’ve got spirit in you. Make sure your little brother inherits that spirit. But hey, what do I know? I don’t have any siblings. If I did I’d love em’. Having a brother growing up would’ve been great.” Buck rambled.

“You’re full of shit. You’d totally bully your brother.”

“Ah, probably. That’ll be one-hundred draco. I added in some extra stuff for ya.”

Kitty took out a card, she tapped it on a rickety machine, energy flew out of the draco card and into the machine, filling it up with a light blue liquid that had a glow to it.

“Thank you Buck. You’re a great help.”

Kitty walked out of the door with a friendly wave. She weaved through the maze-like streets of Mallard Sector. Eventually coming on a circular house that seemed like it had been built from different giant pieces of metal. When she entered, she met Tora.

He was a teenage boy, but she still thought of him as her baby brother. He helped her bring groceries in the house even though he didn’t really need to. He had begun to grow his hair out. It was dirty blonde just like Kitty’s, there was a cowlick on top that never went down. He wore hand-me-down clothes from Kitty, or clothes that he bought with his own draco. Recently, he had become more selective of what he wanted to wear. Now he wore a coat that Kitty used to own, and a shirt he bought from one of the night shows that happened at the shopping center. Where people got in these flashy uniforms and acted out stories.

Growing up, Kitty was the rebellious one. She had to hold her own on the streets when their parents died early. While she deflected the grief and pain of her parent’s disappearance, Tora did not. He took all the pain in. Becoming homeridden for a year or so. With frequent sickness or depression striking him. He helped as much as he could, but Kitty never let him push himself too hard.

The forboding silence between them as they brought groceries in spoke to their relationship. Tora was more of a stable individual, while Kitty would get snippy from time to time about the things she bottled up. While it didn’t push them completely away from each other, it led to a gradual distance that the two of them noticed but ignored.

Tora was recently done with school. He excelled. Now, at fifteen, he completed puzzles on a new database known as the library for draco. The library was an electronic database that the young people were storing information on. It was in a wild-west state; Anybody could travel freely, Viruses were most likely rampant, and the poor and rich could finally talk, albeit anonymously. Kitty didn’t like to mess with any of that. While they brought food in, they exchanged formalities. “How was your day?” “Good. Yours?” “Good.” However, there was one question that Tora consistently asked.

“Have the mallard forces asked any more of you?”

“What?” Kitty acted surprised, as always

“Y-you never really talk about what happens with all the Les Cavaliers stuff.”

Les Cavaliers was the military force that opposed La Masse. Overtime, there were two groups that were created, each gaining their own cult following. It created mass hysteria and distrust in communities. People who were supporting the Les Cavaliers, were worried that their neighbors could be supporting La Masse. While worry had calmed down, there were still suspicions of spies and espionage.

“There’s not much to talk about. It’s just busywork. Repairing equipment, tending to the wounded. Whatever. You worried about me or something, bro?” Kitty taunted.

“What if you have to fight on the front lines? I heard that it could happen to anyone if they lose enough people.” Tora continued. “Are you really not worried?”

“No. Not at all. I’m fighting for your safety, and my people’s safety. It’s an honor.”

“Maybe we can do something soon. Could we go catch a play or something? Maybe get something to eat?”

“I’m sorry, buddy. My shift starts soon. But it’s almost the weekend. I’ll be on call but there’ll be some time off. We can hang then. How does that sound?”

“Yeah. That sounds okay.” Tora croaked.

He ended up hiding himself in his room. Sinking into the library. Tora’s room was adorned with tapestries he had acquired as gifts from Kitty, or ones that were given to him by school friends. There was a bed in the corner that lacked a frame and sheets. A mess of scrambled pillows and a crumpled up blanket. There were photos that either he or comrades had taken that were taped around his room. He had edited them manually. Adding interesting paint over them to create an artistic appearance. There was a beaten up guitar in the corner of the room that seems to have not been touched in a long time. The main thing that drew attention, in the middle of the room, was the giant mirage of monitors and computer systems that sat on the floor and on his desk. The anti-virus systems and power that he needed to access even the deepest depths of the library was immense. Tora heard a ping noise on one of his computers.

“Message received.”

“Read it.”

“It says “Hello fellow traveler of the deep library.” End message.” A robotic voice sounded.

Tora typed back. “Who are you?”

“A friend. Do you want to talk more?”

A query appeared under the message. Tora could click yes or no. He pressed yes.

“Perfect. My name is Baptiste.” The message said. “What do you want to talk about?”