Binary Star

Chapter Five: Captured

Chapter Five: Captured

A couple of weeks had passed since I first arrived on Earth. By then, I had grown pretty aquainted with Earthian life, and I had finally settled into my new home. Jinnai and I were getting along better, I submitted my first report to Commander Sigma Hydrae, which I probably went on for three hours about, and overall, I was finding myself rather comfortable on Earth. Sure, I still had a bit of lingering homesickness from the S.S. Lillium, and Berenice was still mysteriously out of contact, but things were looking up.

I looked foward to waking up and seeing the sunrise of each new day. For the first time in years, I began to appreciate life again. One morning, Jinnai and I were sitting at the table, eating breakfast. My tall partner had learned his lesson from the roasted bread, which was called toast, apparently, and was now feeding me this stuff called cereal. It was delicious. Jinnai gently held the spoon in front of me as I leaned down and slurped up the lightly sweetened milk. He gave me a handful of cereal pieces, which was more than enough to fill me up. I couldn't even finish them all.

I was silent the whole time, as I was so full on sweet milk and cereal pieces. Earth food tasted way better than the meager rations we received on the S.S. Lillium. Jinnai was the one to break the silence. "You know, Spica, I'm kinda curious...what does it feel like to be so small? I mean, compared to me and this big room and everything, you must feel tiny. Isn't it scary?"

I flicked back a few hanging strands of pink hair. "Well...I don't know how to describe it, really. In my world, I'm not considered small, it's just the way I am. But everything is just so big here on Earth. If I had to describe it, I'd say it feels...overwhelming. Just the hugeness of everything, it conquers you. If you're not careful, it makes you afraid, even terrified. At my size, I can see things you can't. Close details, tiny features, little things you would never be able to see at your cumbersome size. I can squeeze into impossibly small spaces and get into places that would be unimaginable for an Earthian to access."

"It has its benefits, but in a place like this...it's not all fun. Just look at me, I'm tiny. I can't even get food unless I ask you or use my grappling hook to get up to dangerous high places. Just one wrong step, I fall, and it's all over. A place like this can make you feel small and powerless, but if you don't fight it, it will swallow you whole and devour you. And that goes for anyone, no matter what their size."

Jinnai looked a bit taken aback by my speech. "Well...that's an interesting way to put it. But...I can't say you're wrong. I feel small and powerless myself all the time. That's why I'm amazed the Planetary Defense Agency even chose me to be your partner. There's nothing special about me. I'm not strong or smart or anything. Sometimes I wonder why I'm even here. Like, why do I even bother being alive?"

I sensed a tinge of sadness in his voice. His dark gold eyes were a bit glazed and watery. I placed my tiny hands on his and said, "You should value your life, Jinnai. Even if you don't think so, there are people who care about you. They would grieve if you died. Believe me, I know what it's like to feel as though there's nothing worth living for, but you must keep moving on." Jinnai smiled weakly. "You've been through a lot, haven't you?"

I prepared to speak, but I was cut off by a harsh vibrating emanating from Jinnai's pocket. He pulled out a flat little device with a black screen, which I had learned was called a cell phone. He swiped the screen and put the phone up to his ear. "What is it? Ugh, you again? What do you want now, Ayato?" There was silence for a few moments. "You want me to come to the biology lab? Fine, whatever. I guess I'll see you there." He hung up the phone and said, "Looks like you're coming with me, Spica."

I sat up. "Hmm? What is it?" He slung on his track jacket and placed me in his breast pocket. "Ayato Tsukiyami just called. He says there's something going on in the biology lab he needs your help with. For some reason, he wanted you specifically. I don't know why he can't just ask one of his nerdy friends to help him, but I guess I shouldn't keep turning down these guys' requests, or else they might end up calling the cops or something thinking I offed myself."