Rising Shards

I braced for an image of my parents. But instead I saw me. It looked like a giant floating movie screen made of clouds appeared before us now, but while the sides of it were smoky, the view before me was crystal clear.

I was in the living room at the old apartment, excitedly hopping around. My hair was tied up and I had a dorky shirt with a fat cat on it and dark blue pajama bottoms on. I held my hands out to marvel at my nails, which I had given a coat of sparkly lilac polish to. A sloppy job, sure, but one that brought me so much happiness.

“Oh, this is just a few years ago!” I said. “Heh, I was so happy that day. That was the first time I got my nails painted in a really cute girlie way. I was really feeling the euphoria.”

I had basically been out at that point in my life, but that was a moment I was really feeling this incredible joy from exploring my femininity. 

“Hold on, just to make sure, you’re cool with me being trans right?” I asked Tik. “And also gay? Because if you’re a former friend of my parents…they…were not cool with me being me. I think? They seemed fine with the trans part, but I think that was part of them luring me into a false sense of security…before they got really mad about me being gay.”

“I’m very cool with that, don’t worry,” Tik said. “I’m glad you had a positive space to explore your identity.”

“Oh, phew.” I said, my trust in Tik growing exponentially. “And I definitely did, yeah, Stella was amazing for that. I bet she’s loving this…huh?” I turned around and couldn’t see Stella, just a foggy shadow like the one that made up the “screen” that surrounded us.

“Don’t worry, she’s still there,” Tik said.

“Alright, that’s kinda scary,” I said. “I’m not trapped here, am I?”

“No, but for a few moments she and Caya won’t be able to see us."

“That’s really scary,” I said.

“Don’t worry, you’re safe with me,” Tik said. “Your safety is vital to me. I realize merely saying that and acting on it are two different things, but I hope if we continue to work together I can earn your trust.”

“I hope so too,” I said. “Sorry if I’m a jerk about that trust business.” While I wasn’t sure if I could trust Tik completely, I still felt the need to blab things about my life immediately anyways. “I’ve had really bad times. With some others, but mostly with my parents, like I said.”

“I understand,” Tik said. “This may help a bit.”

The images of my room faded away, replaced with images of giant metal statues that looked like the robotic Exumi villagers of the island, or for more recent robotic things in my life, that Blocktritus series Marmalade and a few other friends were big into.

“My visions need a balance of those involved in them,” Tik said. “So think of this as my contribution to calibrate the energies we both put into this.”

A young woman with short, messy hair stood on a platform near the statue. She didn’t look anything like Tik, but if this was like a memory trial, it would make sense if others appeared that weren’t the main subject; that had happened in others I had witnessed.

“Who is she?” I asked.

“Her name is River,” Tik said, her voice neutral.

A small creature peeked out of River’s bag; a shiny little green thing that looked like a dinosaur made of plastic. They cooed at her.

“I’m not stalling,” River said.

“Oh my gosh,” I said. “That little guy is so cute!”

Tik smiled. “Sure is.”

River leapt off the platform. For a moment she flew, almost floating with her arms spread thousands of miles above the sea around them and the mainland below. Then she dropped, hearing nothing but wind until her tether caught her. She caught a glimpse of the beautiful sea below her before turning to face the statue.

The woman activated metal boots that magnetized her to the statue, looking very similar to the boots beam chasers players wore. She walked to a spot on the giant statue’s right leg, a rusty and metal spot that looked like it was about to crack. Her pet climbed on her shoulder.

“It takes a light touch for cracks like this,” River said. “Nurse, hand me the scalpel.”

The adorable green creature handed her a mini welder that they carried in their mouth.

“You know I hate wearing that stuff,” River said. “Besides, this is a small crack. I can take care of this with just the tether backpack.”

River began welding something onto the statue, a silvery substance that looked like Elka if it was clean.

“Alright, fingers crossed.” River said. She pulled out a scanner.

Her pet squawked.

“Right right, cross whatever you cross.”

River held the scanner against the weld spot. It blinked green three times, and the two both sighed. The little creature chirped.

“Thanks buddy,” River said. “I don’t deserve it, but thank you.”

River tugged on the cord from her harness twice and zipped back and then up. She turned her gear in and quietly left for the station.

As she rose, the world around her blurred and faded, and suddenly she was standing outside a temple with her pet, leaning on what appeared to be a super beat up minivan.

“Come on, hurry up,” River said. “We don’t have all day, right Rewen?”

The small, green dinosaur looking creature peeked out of the window of the van and chirped in response.

“Rewen is so cute,” I said.

A group of students left the temple, all in robes.

“Is that you?” I asked as a young woman waved at River.

“It is, yes,” Tik said.

“Sorry, training went a bit late today,” The younger Tik in the vision said. “But I’m sure Rewen doesn’t mind, does he?”

Another blur. The two were in the van now, driving somewhere.

“Thanks for picking me up, by the way.” Tik said. “It’s always nice to see the little guy too. Right, Rewen?”

Rewen happily chirped.

“It’s no problem,” River said. “It’s on the way back from my job, anyways.”

“How is that going?” Tik asked. “I feel like I’d be scared up there.”

“It’s not too bad,” River said. “Sometimes you get a bit sick from the height, but it can be kinda peaceful just welding the big giants all by yourself.”

Rewen squawked.

“OK, by myself and with Rewen, too.” River said. “That better?”

Rewen looked pleased with himself.

“How about you?” River said. “Learn to shoot magic yet?”

“There’s more to it than that,” Tik said. “Plus, my fangs haven’t come in yet so I can’t really do much of anything.”

“So do you just dance around all day then?” River asked.

“Yep, I just dance around, pretending I can do magic,” Tik said. “Not really, obviously. It’s a lot of hard work, training the mind and spirit, you know?”

“Not really,” River said. “But I’m sure it’s rewarding for you.”

“I can’t tell if you’re being genuine or not.” Tik said. “That isn’t that great of a compliment if you are.”

“Oh, River Kathron is always genuine,” River said.

The younger Tik suddenly looked concerned.

“We need to go to your house.” Tik said. “Now.”

“Huh?” River said. “What’s wrong?”

“Something doesn’t feel right.” Tik said.

“Are you messing with me?” River asked.

Tik suddenly grabbed River’s arm.

“It’s an Atrian thing,” Tik said. “Please, trust me. Go home.”

“A-alright,” River said, and flew faster.