Getting re-acquainted

[mapquest-titan.livejournal.com]

The news that his 'world'--or universe, rather--had been destroyed seemed to have little effect on a certain nineteen year-old member of the crew. Eerily so. But as far as Cale was concerned, his world had been destroyed long before by another 'all-powerful' alien species...the Drej. Earth was gone, blown apart by a species of pure energy. There was no 'home' for Cale. There was no 'world.' It was already gone. What remained of humanity had scattered amongst the stars, living in squalor and enduring the cruelty of racism from the other species they were forced to live among. They weren't people anymore but had become little more than beggars, living out of old rusted-out ship hulls that had been melded together to form drifter colonies.

Poverty-stricken and with no planet to call their own, the human race--at least that of Cale's universe--was dying. It was going to extinct. They were destined for history books and museums. So, the sting of his whole universe being wiped out seemed to have little effect on him. He showed no signs of sadness, betrayed not tears or anger. He, for all intents and purposes, was going about his business as usual.

Making his way through the ship, he wandered the halls, checking out the newly opened areas with an almost childlike curiosity and excitement. Each new area seemed to hold even more technological wonders behind its doors, wonders that Cale couldn't wait to get his hands and study to figure out how they worked.

He seemed to be distracted, for the moment, from the task of tracking down Leela and making sure she was all right, that she was still alive. Surely, if something had happened to her, someone would have said something to him by now.

Comments

[mapquest-titan.livejournal.com]

"Elite pilot? What, am I supposed to be impressed?" And there comes the teasing, again. If Asuka wanted to smack him, she wouldn't be the first nor would she likely be the last. She would, however, have to get in line.

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

"You should be. It's probably more worthwhile then anything you've ever done in your life," she retorted. She can handle trading insults when it comes to skill. At least for now.

[mapquest-titan.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I don't know. I'm pretty darn 'elite' myself," Cale answered with a smug expression. Yes, Asuka, this teenager thinks very highly of himself.

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah?" Asuka challenged the older boy, arching up on tiptoes to stare at him haughtily, "And what have you done that's so great?"

[mapquest-titan.livejournal.com]

"I'm Cale," he said very matter-of-factly.

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

"Yeah? And what have you done besides being born, idiot?"

Asuka hated people like this. Probably because they were competition.

[mapquest-titan.livejournal.com]

"Ummmm...," Cale said, scratching the back of his head as he tried to think fast on his feet and come up with an impressive lie. "...yeah, I got nothin."

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

Asuka smirked, hands settling on her hips again, "I knew it! I knew you were all talk!"

She jabbed a finger at him, "Next time, actually have something worth talking about before you shoot your mouth off!"

[mapquest-titan.livejournal.com]

"Uh...my planet blew up," Cale blurted out suddenly. Hey, if he couldn't get her to lighten up by impressing her, maybe sympathy would work. Maybe....

[redheadcarrier.livejournal.com]

"All of our worlds got blown up!" She retorted. That doesn't really cut it any more. Sorry, Cale.

[mapquest-titan.livejournal.com]

"Yeah...right," he said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. He'd forgotten about that little bit. "I guess that doesn't count anymore...."