Chapter 26

                                    

                                          
"I want to know the details about the previous Moment and Yusei's  father." I thought Aki's question was a little invasive, but far be it  from me to stop her. I guess they don't teach this in schools where  she's from. By now the sun has risen far beyond the clouds, bringing a  bright morning to the world.
Mikage looks at her lap, and attempts  to explain it delicately."17 years ago, Zero Reverse altered the  Earth's crust and separated Satellite from the city. It was caused when  the first Moment, located in the innermost part of Satellite,  malfunctioned. The person in charge of MIDS, the Moment Development  Section, was Yusei's father."
"That means, due to that accident, Yusei's father was... Ow!" Rua rubs the back of his arm where I had just pinched him.
"You  need to learn a thing called tact," I tut disappointedly. How could he  bring that up so suddenly? "God rest Mr. Fudo's soul."
As is in  his nature, Ushio has to ruin a perfectly peaceful moment with his  input. "Wait a second. Why would someone born in Satellite be in charge  of such a large project?"
"Yusei was born in the city," Jack replies, looking like a statue with his arms folded and his ankle resting on his knee.
I  smile and nudge Yusei playfully. "Compared to the rest of us back home,  he's city-folk." I'm not being serious, and he knows that. He's every  bit as Satellite as I am.
Ushio turns around in his seat, eyes as wide as dinner plates. "What? He's not Satellite garbage?"
Jack glares at Ushio, sticking his nose up in the air. "I was born in Satellite! Do you have a problem with that?"
"No..."  Ushio almost can't get it out and turns away, head ducked. A flash of  lightning lights up the sky, narrowly missing our aircraft. "This is  bad. This isn't normal lightning. If we're struck, it's all over.  Shouldn't we go back?" I'm pretty sure he's only saying that to take  Jack's attention off of him, but Mikage won't allow it.
"We're not allowed to retreat!"
If  Yusei sees what I see through the curved windshield, then he sees  Martha's little cottage in the distance. He stands, resting a hand on  Ushio's shoulder. "Land there." He points at the house down below, a  green oasis on the shore of a dull, empty land. Ushio only resists  half-heartedly, and caves instantly when Mikage reinforces Yusei's  demand.
When we land, Martha,  Saiga, and a few kids are already waiting in the open doorway. We  disembark and Yusei holds up a hand in greeting, leading us down the  ramp. Putting my feet on solid ground feels good after a long flight.  She sees us and starts running.
"Jack! It is you, Jack!" She  rushes up to him, holding her arms out welcomingly. She pats him twice  on his arms. Her genuine smile is contagious, and I share a small one  with Yusei. "I can't believe how much you've grown!"
"Because it's been years since I left," he mutters in reply.
"Now,  just like before, do your King thing." She lets her hand hang out in  front of her as if waiting for something. Although he seems reluctant,  he eventually kneels before her and gently takes her hand.
"A king  admires a lady," he says, raising it to his lips for a peck. My hand  shoots up, covering my shit-eating grin and stifling my laughter. The  others are speechless, some of the girls gasping and probably having  romantic fantasies about Jack doing that to them.
"You really are a  good kid!" she exclaims, laughing happily. Her arms wrap around him,  her head only coming up to his chin. At this point, I can't keep it in, a  bellowing guffaw being surprised out of my lungs.
Irate, Jack  gently tries to pull away from her embrace. "Martha, that's enough!" She  isn't having it at first but gives in to the tall man. Once we make it  inside, she explains what's been going on in Satellite. We all sit  around her very large dinner table, silent except for her.