Silence
Anonymous Me
Stepping out of the ship had been wild enough, but the bridge moved and Illya wasn't so sure he wanted to cross it. Couldn't they have just flown to the other side and let a ladder out? Sometimes his leg would give way if things twisted funny and the bridge looked like a prime spot for that to happen. Kalizda had whipped across it like it was nothing and then asked him what he was doing back here. "Admiring the view!" Yelling back to her from across the bridge he wandered a bit closer and peered over the ledge. It was more than far enough to break his legs and probably his back too.
The Chip started out on the bridge while holding onto one of the rails that also wobbled with an iron grip. He almost gave himself a rope burn just by virtue of the fact that he didn't allow his grasp to loosen at all. When he crossed he joined the woman and that peace was left alone only for a short time.
Illya looked down at the little girl that held his hand and gave a light tug. Her hand wasn't even close to being able to reach across his palm. Perhaps he fingers could wrap around 2 or 3 of his fingers. She was a very unusual tint. He'd never actually seen a child so pale and healthy looking. To counter all that she had pale gold hair and beautiful blue eyes. The child was very pretty despite her strange qualities. All her language was impossible to discern and he felt her tug again at his hand. Looking over at the captain for some help he finally understood what the girl wanted and he barely nodded and the girl started to drag him with her.
Apparently there wasn't time for him to even ask what exactly this 'little race' entailed. It felt like a million eyes were on him and more than likely it was true. This little girl was barely to his hip and and then she didn't look anything like him. Somehow this little tradition was feeling more unsettling and then he arrived at the field with her where they were preparing all the little flyers.
The girl's flyer was a small open machine and Illya carefully got into the back. It felt ridiculous with his knees almost to his chin. Other adults looked far more comfortable in their machines, at least their knees didn't come up quite as high. Illya shifted some though it was very little since his shins were pressed tightly against the girl's seat and then he had to somehow strap himself into the seat that he barely squeezed into. His hips were pressed tightly to either side. Almost having to move out of the seat just to buckle himself in he finally nodded to the girl to let her know he was ready. She put on her little goggles and handed a set to him.
Whatever it was that she said just before the machine was turned on and started hovering he didn't know. For the first leg of the flight they were skimming just above the ground at a nearly ungodly pace. Illya at first noticed that they were left behind though it didn't seem to phase the girl. Instead he watched her little hand fly over the controls and change some settings before they started to fly through the greenery and then whip past the others. Just speeding through the first part was fine and then they started to lift in unison with the other flyers. Peering over the edge of the craft he noticed that they were gradual and it didn't feel like the ascent had taken him so high, yet when he peered over the edge they had certainly climbed to an incredible altitude.
A yell from the front drew his attention again and he saw her pointing to a small console where she grabbed a mask. At first Illya took a few moments to find his which happened to be where his shins were pressed against her seat. Struggling to pull his legs apart he ended up sitting with his legs now pressed to either side of the machine while he dug for the mask. The straps that went over his legs and then one around his waist seemed to dig in as he shifted in the seat. Taking the mask he slipped it over his head in time for the girl to look back at him and give him a thumbs up. Illya gave her a smile as best he could from behind the mask and returned the gesture which wasn't at all what he thought. Instead they climbed even higher and he grabbed the center of the seat with his only spare hand and held on tight. A few seconds later she put her thumb up again and he just nodded. By now he was doing his best not to think about how far down it was and the fact that he only had tiny straps digging into his legs to keep him in the ship.
The girl called back to him and pointed to him and herself when she motioned to the side. Illya followed her lead and held the seat even tighter as he leaned to the side. It was enough that they turned upside down and separated from the others. With a little rocking they righted themselves again and the girl gave him a giant beaming smile. She seemed so pleased. Perhaps it was a shortcut that they had to reverse the polarity of the ship for? That was the only reasonable explanation he could come up with for something like that to be done.
Both of them came tearing through a sheet of water and then the girl pointed for him to lean again. Reluctantly Illya nodded and leaned with her. Both of them swerved this time directly in front of the lead racer. As they came near the end of the race the girl took the machine in a harsh dive toward a tube like thing. Illya ducked with a yell that was muffled by his mask.
If he hadn't seen it coming he might have gotten decapitated. That kid must have forgot to tell him to duck, but at least he was in the business of self preservation today. As they were funneled through the tubes he pulled the mask off when he saw the girl put hers away. With the rapid decline he felt like the straps were going to saw his legs off and they were working their way inward. When they landed after what felt like forever the girl bounded out of her ship and over to where he was sitting all munched in the back. She was anxiously pulling at him and Illya couldn't even manage so much as to move his legs. Reaching over with one hand he forced it between his hip and the wall of the ship. After a few moments the latch released though it wasn't without some revenge. Part of the metal snapped back and hit him across the stomach which was still bruised.
Now that he was free of the straps Illya grabbed the side of the ship and began to worm his way out of the seat. When he finally got himself free of it his legs were partially numb and he gimped his way toward the large stadium with the girl. She proudly tried to lift his hand which only brought it to his shoulder height. With a sigh he bent over and grabbed her with one arm and held her on his shoulder. Waving her tiny arms in the air and showing off her trophy she rested one hand in his thick black hair while calling proudly in whatever language it was she spoke.
Finally it seemed she was ready to come down when she tapped his head a few times. Illya got to one knee and let her slide down his right shoulder since that was currently the uninjured side. Before he got up she grabbed his face and pulled him closer. Her tiny little lips planted a gentle kiss on his cheek and then she released the stunned Chip.
Illya wandered off the podium and into the crowd to try and mingle. He didn't really hide that easily in this setting and it seemed that Kalizda found him soon enough. "She's a good flyer." Illya said with a hint of relief. "I uh...Dose tings about sawed meh legs off. Th-thought I might lose meh head too on dat last round."
The Chip started out on the bridge while holding onto one of the rails that also wobbled with an iron grip. He almost gave himself a rope burn just by virtue of the fact that he didn't allow his grasp to loosen at all. When he crossed he joined the woman and that peace was left alone only for a short time.
Illya looked down at the little girl that held his hand and gave a light tug. Her hand wasn't even close to being able to reach across his palm. Perhaps he fingers could wrap around 2 or 3 of his fingers. She was a very unusual tint. He'd never actually seen a child so pale and healthy looking. To counter all that she had pale gold hair and beautiful blue eyes. The child was very pretty despite her strange qualities. All her language was impossible to discern and he felt her tug again at his hand. Looking over at the captain for some help he finally understood what the girl wanted and he barely nodded and the girl started to drag him with her.
Apparently there wasn't time for him to even ask what exactly this 'little race' entailed. It felt like a million eyes were on him and more than likely it was true. This little girl was barely to his hip and and then she didn't look anything like him. Somehow this little tradition was feeling more unsettling and then he arrived at the field with her where they were preparing all the little flyers.
The girl's flyer was a small open machine and Illya carefully got into the back. It felt ridiculous with his knees almost to his chin. Other adults looked far more comfortable in their machines, at least their knees didn't come up quite as high. Illya shifted some though it was very little since his shins were pressed tightly against the girl's seat and then he had to somehow strap himself into the seat that he barely squeezed into. His hips were pressed tightly to either side. Almost having to move out of the seat just to buckle himself in he finally nodded to the girl to let her know he was ready. She put on her little goggles and handed a set to him.
Whatever it was that she said just before the machine was turned on and started hovering he didn't know. For the first leg of the flight they were skimming just above the ground at a nearly ungodly pace. Illya at first noticed that they were left behind though it didn't seem to phase the girl. Instead he watched her little hand fly over the controls and change some settings before they started to fly through the greenery and then whip past the others. Just speeding through the first part was fine and then they started to lift in unison with the other flyers. Peering over the edge of the craft he noticed that they were gradual and it didn't feel like the ascent had taken him so high, yet when he peered over the edge they had certainly climbed to an incredible altitude.
A yell from the front drew his attention again and he saw her pointing to a small console where she grabbed a mask. At first Illya took a few moments to find his which happened to be where his shins were pressed against her seat. Struggling to pull his legs apart he ended up sitting with his legs now pressed to either side of the machine while he dug for the mask. The straps that went over his legs and then one around his waist seemed to dig in as he shifted in the seat. Taking the mask he slipped it over his head in time for the girl to look back at him and give him a thumbs up. Illya gave her a smile as best he could from behind the mask and returned the gesture which wasn't at all what he thought. Instead they climbed even higher and he grabbed the center of the seat with his only spare hand and held on tight. A few seconds later she put her thumb up again and he just nodded. By now he was doing his best not to think about how far down it was and the fact that he only had tiny straps digging into his legs to keep him in the ship.
The girl called back to him and pointed to him and herself when she motioned to the side. Illya followed her lead and held the seat even tighter as he leaned to the side. It was enough that they turned upside down and separated from the others. With a little rocking they righted themselves again and the girl gave him a giant beaming smile. She seemed so pleased. Perhaps it was a shortcut that they had to reverse the polarity of the ship for? That was the only reasonable explanation he could come up with for something like that to be done.
Both of them came tearing through a sheet of water and then the girl pointed for him to lean again. Reluctantly Illya nodded and leaned with her. Both of them swerved this time directly in front of the lead racer. As they came near the end of the race the girl took the machine in a harsh dive toward a tube like thing. Illya ducked with a yell that was muffled by his mask.
If he hadn't seen it coming he might have gotten decapitated. That kid must have forgot to tell him to duck, but at least he was in the business of self preservation today. As they were funneled through the tubes he pulled the mask off when he saw the girl put hers away. With the rapid decline he felt like the straps were going to saw his legs off and they were working their way inward. When they landed after what felt like forever the girl bounded out of her ship and over to where he was sitting all munched in the back. She was anxiously pulling at him and Illya couldn't even manage so much as to move his legs. Reaching over with one hand he forced it between his hip and the wall of the ship. After a few moments the latch released though it wasn't without some revenge. Part of the metal snapped back and hit him across the stomach which was still bruised.
Now that he was free of the straps Illya grabbed the side of the ship and began to worm his way out of the seat. When he finally got himself free of it his legs were partially numb and he gimped his way toward the large stadium with the girl. She proudly tried to lift his hand which only brought it to his shoulder height. With a sigh he bent over and grabbed her with one arm and held her on his shoulder. Waving her tiny arms in the air and showing off her trophy she rested one hand in his thick black hair while calling proudly in whatever language it was she spoke.
Finally it seemed she was ready to come down when she tapped his head a few times. Illya got to one knee and let her slide down his right shoulder since that was currently the uninjured side. Before he got up she grabbed his face and pulled him closer. Her tiny little lips planted a gentle kiss on his cheek and then she released the stunned Chip.
Illya wandered off the podium and into the crowd to try and mingle. He didn't really hide that easily in this setting and it seemed that Kalizda found him soon enough. "She's a good flyer." Illya said with a hint of relief. "I uh...Dose tings about sawed meh legs off. Th-thought I might lose meh head too on dat last round."