popka

Rhodes Island Landship, Common Rest Area Passageway

The end.

That's it?

When's the next episode?

I'll ask.

Shamare, when can we watch 'Felitubbies' episode 20?

Zzzz...

Looks like she fell asleep while we were watching.

She's been doing that a lot.

Isn't 'Felitubbies' fun though?

Spot says it's for kids.

Maybe Shamare got too big for it?

No way!

She's only a few years older than us! Just two episodes ago, she was with us for the whole thing! How could she fall asleep on us this time?!

We'll grow up really, really soon too. Maybe we'll be grown-ups by the time we finish the show.

What do you want to do when you grow up, Bubble?

Me? I'm gonna go back to my tribe and beat up everyone I don't like and become a great warrior!

What 'bout you?

I wanna be a superhero. I'll knock out bad guys with one punch, shoot eye lasers, and fly through the sky.

Do superheroes really exist?

I've never seen anyone shoot beams out their eyes or anyone who knows how to fly.

I know lots who beat up bad guys, though.

Like me.

That's just what I want to become...

My eye has been sick for so long, I've been thinking how cool it would be if I could shoot lasers out of my eyes like a superhero.

I hope you get better! I want to see both your eyes!

When my bad eye gets better, you'll be the first one to see it.

Really?! Hooray!

Hehe.

Hmm...

What time is it?

Hm...

It's 4:30.

Orchid told us we could play for two hours. We only have half an hour left.

Why only two hours? Can't we play all hours?

We have training and school. We need to do our homework, too. The teacher will be mad if we don't.

Why do we have to do homework?

We need to study hard. That's what the adults always tell us.

I've been running all around the ship every day. I've never heard anything about homework.

And um, what is homework actually? Is it tasty?

I don't think you can eat it. Homework's—Hm... I'm not sure what exactly homework is either. I just know you get smarter if you do it.

Why don't you give it a try?

Is this homework?

Yes.

It's just a book.

Did you draw all these things?

Most of them.

But the red ink ones are the teacher.

I don't get it at all.

Ugh, you can have it back.

If they make me learn this stuff, I'm gonna jump off the ship and run straight home to Papa in Sargon.

And if anyone stands in my way, I'll trample them!

I heard what happened with that lady from Minos a few days ago—

Nothing happened! You heard wrong!

That Forte's not so strong!

I smashed her into the ground easy!

Uh-huh.

Really! I did!

If you swear on your Papa, I'll believe you.

Ugh...

Fine! I will!

I, Bubble, swear by Papa's name... that I couldn't beat the Minoan Forte lady.

So you lied. It did happen.

Don't tell anyone! I'm really not so weak, really really!

The Forte lady is just way too strong!

Okay, I see. You tell the truth every time you swear.

W-What can I do? Papa said that if you swear something by someone's name, that person'll hear it!

If Papa finds out I lied, he'll whoop my butt so hard!

So if I swear something by my dad's name, will he hear what I say too?

I dunno. Why don't you try?

My dad. His name—

Hmm...

I don't remember his name.

What about your mama? That works too.

I don't remember hers either.

Auntie Kal'tsit said I was sculpted out of clay.

But I think I had parents too.

Everyone else has parents. There's no way I don't.

You're right.

Maybe the white coat doctor was lying to you?

I don't think Auntie Kal'tsit lies.

The Feline doctor, right? I can tell from the look on her face, she's a bad woman. Not like my shaman grandpa back home. He's always smiling. One look at him and you know he's nice.

Being quiet doesn't make someone a baddie.

Look at Shamare.

Shamare always looks really cold too, but she takes care of everyone.

That one time you ate a cactus and got needles all stuck in your mouth, she was the one who knocked you out cold and plucked out every last one before she turned you over to the doctors.

Oh...

And she knows how to pick good apples. Her apples are so big, sweet, and tasty.

You're right. She does bring us really tasty apples.

Okay, I believe you. Shamare's not a baddie, and that doctor isn't a baddie either.

But if no one's bad, and the doctor didn't lie to you, then how come you don't remember your mama or your papa?

Maybe it's because I have a bad memory. I forget lots of things.

But there are things I won't forget.

The banging sounds in the mines, the big steel cities, way bigger than Rhodes Island, and the towers surrounded by tons of people.

There was a doctor wearing a big white coat, a bunch of glittering chunks of steel, and a small, quiet room.

There was also a big white room with a bed inside.

Sounds like you remember a lot, actually.

But I don't remember my mom and dad's names...

Hm...

Maybe you'll remember when you get your head knocked around. That's how I usually remember things.