Drifter Chronicles - The New Century Celebration
The celebration for the new century on planet Plomia couldn’t be any happier. People are cheering to the heavens, dancing like there’s no tomorrow, and stuffing their faces full of delicious food. The lights are glaring brighter than the sun itself, and it feels like everybody on the planet is awake. Reji is having to keep watch over Zukia and Scarlett while they drink themselves silly, and Tarah and Darwin continue to converse with the locals about the history of the new century. “Hey wait a second?” Reji asks, “Has anybody seen Jafroh anywhere?” Zukia stumbles over onto Reji’s shoulder and replies, “Oh Jafroh? PSHHHHHH probably crying in a corner somewhere because he knows I can kick his ass!” Zukia starts to laugh while eating, but goes into a coughing fit instead because he choked on a piece of food. While Reji tries to help Zukia, Scarlett asks, “Hey, has anybody seen my dad? And where’s Jafroh? Weren’t they right behind us?” Reji becomes annoyed because nobody will listen to him or answer his question, and Scarlett soon forgets that she even asks a question, picks up Zukia from the ground, and drags him off into the crowd so they can party more. “Now that I think about it,” Darwin says, “It seems like they’ve been gone for quite some time.” “I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. Both Jafroh and Mr. Zakir (Scarlett’s dad) are strong enough on their own. They should be fine,” Tarah replies quietly.
On the outskirts of town, Jafroh and Zakir find themselves at Mount. Vorisha, the tallest mountain on the planet. “Hey Warune (Mr. Zakir), where are we going anyways?” Jafroh asks while they walk up hill to the base of the mountain. “Don’t worry my friend. We’re almost where we need to be,” Warune replies, “At the top of the mountain.” They find themselves at the base of the mountain, and Jafroh looks up at the gigantic mountain. “So I’m guessing we’ll have to make our own way to the top, huh?” Jafroh asks. Warune looks over with a smirk and a glare in his eye and replies, “You bet. But who do you think will get there first?” Jafroh grins right back at Warune, and they both launch themselves into the sky towards the top of the mountain. Zakir is using his soul magic to levitate his body so we can scale the side of the mountain, and Jafroh uses his classic super speed to run up the wall so he can keep up. Before they both know it, they end up at the top of the mountain where the only thing that can be seen clearly is the night sky that’s brimming with stars galore. “I have to say Jafroh you’re pretty fast, so how about we call it a tie?” Zakir chuckles as he floats back onto the ground. Hearing no response from Jafroh, he looks over at him and finds his eyes getting lost in the view that’s right before them. In front of them is the monumental Nebulous Oasis. A very vast part of space that’s filled with many nebulae, creating this giant gas cloud in space that’s filled with an arrangement of neon colors. “Is that....the...” Jafroh says as he tries to collect his thoughts. “The Nebulous Oasis? You bet it is,” Warune says as he finishes the sentence. Jafroh overwhelmingly drops to the ground as he stares into the oasis, and Warune takes a seat beside him. They both share a moment of silence as they look up at the beautiful image that is pictured before them in the sky. “You know,” Warune says, “When I was a kid, I used to always love looking at the stars in the night sky. They seem to crowd the vast areas of space with their huge numbers, and always look calm. My mother used to tell me that the stars we all see in the night sky are just old souls traveling back to their original homes so they can be reborn back into this world, and experience it all over again. Even though the stars are held together by their own gravity, their soul is what gives them a bright appearance. The brighter the star, the closer it is to coming home, and reuniting with the world they were once apart of.” Jafroh and Warune continue to sit atop of the mountain and stare into the Nebulous Oasis. After enough staring, Jafroh starts to laugh and says,” You know what Warune? I can believe every word that your mother said to you, and I’m sure she was a wonderful person as well.” Jafroh looks over at Warune and smiles, and notices how Warune has his eyes closed with a big grin on his face. “You’re right Jafroh, she was a wonderful person. A wonderful mother especially,” Warune replies as he reminisces about the fond memories he has about his mother. “But enough star talk for now!” Warune exclaims, “Let’s get back down to the party and see what everyone else is up to.” Jafroh get’s this mischievous look in his eye and says, “I’ll race you back down.” Warune accepts his challenge, and before he can even get back up onto his feet, Jafroh is already soaring back down into the city. Warune is surprised by the speed Jafroh is going at, but doesn’t go after him instantly. He grows a meaningful smile on his face and thinks to himself. “So he’s the drifter in this world that still has a pure heart, huh? He’ll do fine in this world. I’m sure of it.” Warune then leaps off of the mountain, and follows Jafroh back down to the celebration.