"But you know? About none of us have family. I think...I think we're the closest thing we are to a family." Novia admitted, her cheeks pink.
"So what are you suggesting?" Haley looked at her curiously.
"Why don't we celebrate ourselves? We don't have to go anywhere. All we have to do is put up a tree somewhere and be happy."
Yorina gave Novia a sly but interested expression. "As simple as that sounds, I like it. I'm not well-knowledged on this Christmas holiday of yours, but I wouldn't say not celebrate anything because you don't have family to go to." She shuffled to a window and looked out. "I mean, what happens to all the lonely people on your planet? They don't go celebrating because they don't have family?"
"Well, believe it or not, that does happen a lot." Shinako leaned on the edge of the window, propping herself next to Yorina. "Some find magic and spend it with someone. And others...do what we're going to try to do."
"Well, let's get started, then. And tell me what this holiday is about after all..."
Several minutes later the girls had taken a data pad and quickly compiled a basic list of things needed. They found themselves in the same corridor once again, gathering near the windows, the soft black starry sky outside.
“So…a tree, gifts, food? That’s it?” Amiria wrinkled her eyebrows. “Really?”
“What, were you expecting more?” Shinako poked her shoulder.
Sophia sighed. “So this tree…we just get one from somewhere, right? Or does-“
“No no no, it has to be a specific kind of tree,” Shinako interrupted. “And evergreen tree.”
“Oh.” Was Sophia’s simple reply. “And you decorate it…so we’ll need decorations for those.”
“Food shouldn’t be that hard,” Tamilia spoke up. “I mean, I know I’m the housekeeping maid, but if we all cook a dish, we should have a holiday dinner.”
“And…this gift thing?” Yorina was most perplexed. “What’s that all about?”
“I don’t know, to be really honest. You give a gift to someone.” Shinako shrugged. “That’s one of the biggest traditions of the Christmas holiday.”
“You don’t know?” Yorina scoffed. “Come on, you’re a Terran for crying out loud.”
“Maybe, but they don’t really celebrate Christmas on Norris, and I have been living there since I was five.” Shinako folded her arms, leaning against the wall.
“Well, we could ask Raju,” Tamilia suggested. “I mean, he was from Mars. He might know.”
“His family’s Indian, remember? They probably never celebrated it.” Yorina shook her head.
Novia was quiet the entire time as the girls lightly bickered about who would know more about the celebration. She finally interrupted them by clearing her throat.
“I think we do need to know more about this holiday, but according to the clock on the Terran homeworld, there’s two days left before it actually happens. We need to actually make progress.”
“And what do you suggest…for progress?” Sophia asked incredulously.
“According to most internet sources, barely any colonies sell any of these “Christmas” decorations, holiday supplies, or food related to the holiday. We’ll need to go to the Terran solar system, preferably Earth. Also, according to terraforming records, evergreens are only readily found on Mars and Stonebridge.”
“Oh…okay,” Yorina said slowly, “Uh, we take the whole ship?”
“Well, it’s up to Raju, remember? How are we even going to pull that off without him knowing it?” Shinako was a bit exasperated.
“Maybe we should just forget about the whole thing…” Tamilia started to say.
“We could use the shuttle, can’t we?” Sophia suggested. “I mean…it has an FTL drive, doesn’t it?”
All the girls were quiet. Yorina gave her a look mixed between surprise and jealously.
“Just how did a bookish archaeologist know that?” She asked.
Sophia let out a ‘hmph’ and turned her head away, arms folded.
“Then that’s it, simple. Just convince him we need to use the shuttle.” Novia shrugged.
“But if it’s a surprise, what reason should we give him?” Amiria asked worriedly.
“Oh, don’t worry, I think I know just the thing…” Yorina had a smirk on her face.
Raju was sprawled underneath the ARGOS rover, fiber optic cables dangling around him. A holo-visor was in front of his face, displaying a wiring diagram of the circuit board he was trying to repair.
"Hey."
Raju felt someone gently kick the sole of his foot. He sighed and rolled himself out, finding Yorina's form towering over him with her hands on her waist.
"What is it?” He pulled the visor up onto his head so that he could see her better, sitting up.
“Uh, can we use the Chimera for a little trip?” Yorina shifted the weight off one foot to another, looking near to Raju but not directly at him.
“What for?”
“Girls night out kind of thing.”
Raju was silent for a moment. “Well, I can see how you all won’t really fit in the Angelito…how long will you be gone?”
“We’ll try to be back in a day,” Yorina assured him. “We don’t plan on being out long.”
“And all you guys are going?” Raju’s hands pressed against the metal floor to support himself as he sat.
“Yeah. I mean, we don’t need Bob, he can help you out unless it’s an emergency. And Puka will keep you company.”
Raju sighed, looking off to the Chimera not far away. “I guess you guys can go. Just stay in touch, all right?”
Yorina tried not to look relieved or relatively surprised, nodding in agreement. “All right, thanks. We’ll leave shortly.”
==
It wasn’t very far till Yorina met the rest of the girls.
“Well, what did he say?” Sophia asked.
“He said…yes, surprisingly.” Yorina answered.
“Well, I suppose we better get moving, huh? We don’t have a lot of time.” Shinako looked a bit nervous.
“I figured. Get your stuff together, we’re off on a trip!” Yorina was being quite enthusiastic about the entire affair.
==
Five Hours Later…
“Shuttle Chimera, welcome to Earth orbit, please state your manner of business.”
“LEO Control, this is Chimera off the Freelancer frigate Dawnstar. Requesting reentry vectors to the United States.”
“Confirmed, Chimera, do you have a specific destination in the US?”
Yorina glanced at Novia, who was piloting the shuttle, then at most everyone who was sitting behind them in the two engineering officer’s consoles and jump seats.
“What do I tell him?” She looked a bit panicked.
“Don’t look at me, I don’t know a single place on that planet.” Sophia shook her head.
“Ten seconds already went by and we didn’t answer…” Novia warned.
“Just pick a somewhat big city not far from a big spaceport, and we can work our way from there.” Shinako suggested. “Just not New York, horrible docking taxes.”
Yorina glanced at the map for two seconds, biting her lip. “LEO Control, southeast United States, Raleigh district.”
“Roger that, Chimera, sending navigational data now. Please standby.”
“Well, that’s the hardest part, I think,” Shinako said. She was seated directly behind Yorina, helping monitor the shuttle’s systems.
“Let’s just hope so…this is just an alien a place as Shinja Manticorus,” Tamilia shivered a little.
“We stick close to Shinako, we should be fine,” Novia assured her, or tried to. “I mean, she’s Terran.”
Shinako sighed, a frown on her face as she blew a few strands of hair out of her face. “Oh my gosh, I am not going to be a fricking tour guide!”
“Minus tour, and you’ll do just fine,” Yorina’s eyebrows narrowed in an aloof but snarky fashion.
“Whatever.”
==
Upon touching down at the regional airport, the group noticed that they were in trouble for the fact that it was snowing. There was warnings that the airport might be closed, which worried them.
“What are we going to do if we can’t get permission to take off?!” Sophia asked in exasperation. All of them were still on board, quickly discussing their options.
“That is going to be a problem.” Yorina had a hand to her chin. “Some of us should go ahead, see if we can start getting stuff quick. Decorations and tree is a priority. We can find out some of the other stuff later on another colony world, like Mars I think.”
“And the other part? What will you do?”
“Well, it’s possible that they’ll close the bigger airports down. Novia and I will see if we can get the shuttle to a smaller airport, and if all else fails, a remote area someplace. You guys are going to need ground transportation.”
“I can take care of that,” Shinako raised a finger. “Rest of you, come on. We’ve got a van to catch.”
As they left the cockpit, Yorina looked at Novia. “I don’t suppose it’ll hurt to go find a guide, would it?”
“Do they even have those on Earth?” Novia raised an eyebrow.
“Sue me. I’d rather look like an idiot now instead of in front of the police or military for doing something stupid.”
The girls locked down the Chimera temporarily as they left the cockpit as well, weaving through the narrow corridor to the exit hatch, which a ladder had been extended to the ground. Novia climbed out first, followed by Yorina.
The first thing she noticed was that it was cold, real cold. The slushy ground made the hemline of her robe-like gown wet, even if it wasn’t that long. Novia didn’t seem to mind the cold, as they quickly looked around their surroundings.
“Look, that guy might be a civilian. He’s working on…what the heck is that thing?” Novia raised an eyebrow. “Let’s go ask him.”
The two of them trudged towards an empty hangar, where a middle-aged man seemed to be removing inlet covers on a small twin propellor plane.
“Um, excuse me,” Novia asked in a somewhat quiet voice. “Do you have a minute?”
The man turned to face them, stopping in his tracks, surprised at the scene before him. “Well, I suppose I do. Can I help you folks?” He had a blue cap on, a brown leather jacket and jeans with leather boots. Black leather gloves were on his hands. There was a tinge of Southern in his voice.
“Yes, we were wondering if could help us find a guide,” Yorina was slightly hunched over, the cold was getting to her. She folded her hands within the large sleeves of her gown, in an attempt to warm them. “I know it sounds bad, but we’re not really from around here…”
“I can see that. I’ve always heard about Notikans but haven’t seen one in the flesh till now.” The man seemed to understand some. “I don’t think there’s really anyone that’s a guide around here, since most people seem to know what they’re doing around these parts.” He seemed to notice Yorina’s shivering body. “Why not talk in here? Let’s get you two out of the freezing cold.”
The two obliged as they entered the spacious hangar, the man leading them over to a propane heater where a workbench had tools and a coffeemaker. A woman and a young boy were dressed in winter coats, hats and gloves. Upon seeing the three come closer, they came to greet the man, surprise on their faces.
“Harold, what’s going on? Who are these people?” The woman asked. She looked past them, letting out a small gasp upon seeing Yorina, face pale. “You’re…one of them…”
“Take it easy, Debbie, they’re visiting strangers.” The man turned to face the odd visitors. “I don’t remember you quite introducing yourselves.”
“I’m sorry. I’m Yorina, and this is Novia.” Yorina did a small bow. She usually didn’t do that sort of thing, but if it meant to stop the woman from being scared or thinking ill of her, she’d do it, as much as Yorina disliked it.
“I’m glad to meet you two. I’m Harold. This is my wife Debbie, and my son Melvin.” He motioned to the two.
The woman didn’t say a word, looking quite fearful and a bit shaken. The boy, probably about Amiria’s age of eight years old, didn’t seem phased at all, just staring at them strangely.
“Pour them some coffee, will you?” Harold patted Debbie’s shoulder. She nodded silently, walking over to the coffeemaker and getting two mugs. “In the meantime, tell me what’s going on, what you need help with.”
“Well, to be honest, we’re kind of lost, really bad,” Novia began. “We came to buy some things to surprise a friend of ours, but none of us are from Earth or have been here, really. We’re very clueless to what’s going on, where to go, that sort of thing.”
“We’re with other people,” Yorina added. “We have a Terran girl helping us, but she’s from the outer colonies. She knows some stuff about your society, but she doesn’t know anything about places and the like.”
“Well, that’s kind of an interesting situation, don’t you think?” Harold took the coffee mugs and handed it to the two girls. “Tell me; does the holidays bring you here by any chance?”
“I suppose they do,” Yorina admitted. “I mean it’s short notice, but I-we thought it would be a nice thing to try to celebrate your holiday back where we come from. I think it’d mean a lot to our friend.”
“You’re doing this for your friend?” Debbie spoke for the first time. “Why?”
Yorina sighed, sipping the coffee. “I…don’t know how to put it. I…can we trust you?”
Novia gave a somewhat demanding glare at them. “We appreciate you being kind to us. But we’re not used-“
“-To just blurt your whole stories to strangers? I think I can understand that.” Harold nodded. “Hear that Debbie? Melvin? Don’t breathe a word to anyone.”
Yorina looked around. “Can we sit on something? This might take a little while.”
Harold and Debbie helped find some plastic part totes that could be used for temporary seats. The five clustered around the heater, waiting to hear what had to be said.
“My friend…owns a starship. A frigate class. We’re his friends, probably for about a year now. Circumstances pretty much bumped us into each other, and we’ve been cooperatively working together to do trade and odd jobs to keep the credits rolling to upkeep the ship. Several months ago we were looking for a person that he knew, but said person and her dad weren’t too happy with him, so we’ve basically just floating between neutral words meeting the transport needs of many of the residents there.”
“Well, that’s an interesting background,” Harold commented. “Living on a starship, what’s that like?”
“Drives you nuts sometimes, a bit cooped up every now and then; have to make sure doors are locked, get rid of stale food, exercise often, have leisure when you can so your mind don’t drive itself mad…but it’s not bad, I enjoy it.” Novia had a small smile on her face.
“I see. So you all have been friends since you’ve met this…friend of yours? What’s his name?”
“Yeah, pretty much. His name’s Raju. More or less he’s the acting captain. We kind of…share leadership? It’s kind of hard to explain. He has authority when we’re doing stuff, but when we decide to do things, we have a kind of a committee agreement.” Yorina shrugged. “It works.”
“Well, not quite professional, but it seems that you all work together, it works.” Harold nodded.
“So, why didn’t you celebrate the holidays previously? Why now? Why, more importantly, for him?”
“Well, Raju has a…bad past. Not that he did bad things, more of bad memories. All his family except two cousins are gone. He had a big social drama at home he never came back. And he turned from a business student into an escort freelance pilot.”
“Wow, really?” Melvin seem quite surprised at the last part. “How does somebody become a pilot from a business student?”
“Things happen, you know?” Yorina held her cup with both hands. She was pretty much doing most of the talking, as she knew what was going on. “But he’s never been back to his home, Mars. We’ve been to the AQUA stations to talk to people from the Japanese Space Navy, but that’s about it.”
“I think…he hasn’t healed from what happened there,” Novia spoke up. “He doesn’t talk to me much, but our ship’s our home. We like all of each other, but he still probably longs for family and close people. I guess the reason we’re doing all this is to let him know that.”
The man was silent for a long time. “Well, isn’t that special?” Harold turned to his family. “Now that’s a good Christmas spirit, don’t you think?”
Debbie’s complexion was soft, with a touch of kindness to it. “To think you girls came all the way out here to do all that…”
“So we know why you’re here, what do you need help with?” Harold asked.
“We need a place to park the Chimera that isn’t a regular airport in case they close the airport,” Novia began. “We also need someone to guide us to locations and recommend stores to get what we need.”
“We’re really clueless to who offers what around here, we really are,” Yorina added. “All I know is not to go to New York because of docking taxes.” She shrugged.
“Ah, never had to think about that, actually. But if you’d like, we can maybe help you some.” Harold offered.
“Are you serious?” Yorina was surprised. “I mean, weren’t you doing something?”
“I was helping do some maintenance on my brother’s biplane, and he was flying home to the farm later this evening. We were going by car around the same time. So we have some time if you know what you need.”
Novia looked at Yorina in joy, then to the family. “We would appreciate that, yes.”
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