The Key of Astrea

White Uniforms

Sunlight filtered through blue seawater and created a shifting pattern of light on the floor of Jenny's room. Billo's Topo beeped an alarm. She shut it off and looked over at Jenny.

"Good morning, sunshine."

Jenny groaned because she wasn't ready to be awake.

"How are you feeling today?"

Jenny took a deep breath and was surprised that her throat didn't itch, and her chest wasn't stuffy. In fact, it was like she had been sick her entire life and this was the first day she felt well. Her muscles hummed with energy, and the whole world seemed brighter. "I feel great."

Billo got out of bed and opened her closet. "That's how it goes, one day feeling like shit, and the next you feel like you could take on the world."

Jenny swung her legs off the bed and stood up. Her legs felt like coiled springs. Just for fun, she jumped a whole meter off the ground, and landed with the grace of a cat.

"Wow." Billo smiled. "You must be feeling better."

Jenny's side cramped. "Yeah, but I'm starving."

"I still remember how hungry I felt the day after my treatment. I'll take you to the cafeteria after we get ready." Billo grabbed a bathrobe from her closet.

"Sounds wonderful." Jenny found her own bathrobe and followed Billo to the communal bathroom.

After her shower, Jenny examined herself in the mirror. To her surprise, the scratches from her fall had reduced to fresh pink skin.

"What are you looking at?" Billo asked.

"My back. It was all scraped up after falling in the drain."

Billo touched the sensitive new skin on Jenny's back. "Looks good to me."

"Yeah, it does now." Jenny looked at her forearms and sighed inwardly. The scars from cutting still remained.

They finished up in the bathroom and returned to their room. Jenny opened her closet and rummaged through her bag. She took out some sculpting clay and pulled her short black hair into spikes. Then she donned her white Cabin uniform and pulled her boots on. She had just finished her eye makeup when the door trilled.

"I've got it," Billo said as she attached an earring. "Open door."

The door slid open to reveal Lin and Kensei standing out in the hallway. A night of sleep had revived Lin. The circles were gone from under her eyes, and her hair was in a tight bun. Kensei wore his white uniform without his purple hat. The sides of his dark hair faded up to a pile of dense curls.

"Good morning," Lin said. "Billo Misra, I'd like you to meet Kensei Drake."

"Nice to meet you." The jewelry in Billo's ears jangled musically as she crossed the room. "You arrived with Jenny."

"Yeah. Oh wow." Kensei's mouth hung open. "You're Billo."

"I know."

"I love your channel."

"Thanks."

"My favorite is the time you walked up to the president right in the Oval Office."

Billo smirked. "That was a fun one."

"Billo." Jenny pulled her boots on and stood up. "You know a lot about websites, don't you?"

"Yeah." Billo furrowed her brows.

"Kensei wants to make a webcomic...He's got some hilarious drawings."

"Really?" Billo put a hand on her hip. "Let's see what you have."