Having dropped Sarah and Jack off, a wave as they were sent off, Norbert rattled down the short distance until making it back to his childhood home. The truck slowed down well before coming to the driveway, and Norbert turned to his Dad.
“Just a heads up; you should have a good reason for dropping your course.”
“But it's only a gap year”, Norbert interjected
“That might fly with me, but it isn’t going to fly with your mother.”
Norbert grunted in reply, already trying to think of what to say, the entire Kenya trip being made up, but thanks to Sarah blabbing, he just had to roll with it and shaking his head, Norbert nodded with the thought of what he could do.
“Don’t worry, Dad. If the worst comes to worse, I can always just run away.”
His Dad nodded as he started to turn into the driveway. Norbert looked down the winding road, seeing the door to the house open. His mother was leaning against the doorframe, waiting for Norbert.
“Sure you can run?” his Dad asked him, bringing the truck to a halt. The gravel slightly skidded, and Norbert braced himself against the door handle.
Opening it up, Norbert took his backpack with him, holding it in his hand as Obsius and Kit were on each of his shoulders. His mother held back her words for a moment at the sight of them, and Norbert breathed out slightly with the attention away from him.
“Hi Mum,” Norbert said, dropping his backpack on the floor and leaning forward. He hugged his mother before she could say anything.
Coming forward, hesitant and unsure where to put her head as both shoulders were occupied, Obsius moved off her place and onto Norbert’s head. The mother and son came together for a hug, one that Norbert feared may be one of his last.
“We have a bit to discuss,” his mother said, pulling him back and heading inside. Norbert looked around the doorframes, seeing the food already laid out on the table. But first, dinner, and are your two friends mannered and clean?”
Norbert looked at the two of them, who had both returned to his shoulders before the hug. “They will be mannered, now, won’t you?” Norbert said, looking at one and then the other. Both nodded in return, Obsius giving a little chirp of annoyance at being asked such an obvious question.
“They will be; just set two extra plates near mine, and it will work out,” Norbert told his mother, taking the backpack off the ground and his shoes off before entering the house. “Just going to put this upstairs first.”
His mother walked off back into the kitchen. Norbert quickly made his way up the stairs and to his room, not wanting to annoy his family any more. He dumped his bag in his room, had a quick look, and everything was where it should be. Picking up both Obsius and Kit from his shoulders, Norbert looked at the two of them. Now, you both better be on your best behaviour down there. No fighting and no making a mess.”
Obsius chirped at Norbert, shaking his head. “I mean it, now best behaviour,” Norbert replied, placing them both on his shoulder again and heading downstairs before any more arguments could be made.
Norbert looked around the table, seeing everyone already sitting down. The sausages were in the centre of the table with the rice and vegetables. Seeing his spot free with two extra plates, one on each side, he beelined to his seat. Placing both of them on either side, his plate being the divider, Norbert quickly placed some sausage and vegetables on the plates on either side of him before putting his own food on.
The table went quiet as Norbert finished off, putting the first bite into his mouth. He looked at his family one at a time as they stared at the two companions he had brought. Swallowing his food, he said, “I told you that they can eat well.”
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Zoe opened her mouth. “Just didn’t think it would happen.”
Norbert shrugged his shoulders. .“Well, you see it first. They are, and aren’t they both so cute?”? Norbert said, moving his hand forward as they both looked at him. Norbert retracted his hands from them.
“So, Kenya?”
Norbert gulped down his food, ready for the trouble that was to come. “Yeah, Kenya. I had a look online, and it piqued my interest.”
His mother nodded. “And nothing to do with the girl you brought over last time?”
Norbert kept his mouth open, brain whirring as he thought about when Luck was here last.
“Well, would I be in more trouble if it was?” Norbert asked.
***
Lying upstairs in his room, staring up at the ceiling, he breathed out as he was cleaned. He had also cleaned Obsius and Kit in the shower; both were unhappy with the treatment, but both smelled a lot better.
His phone rang on his bedside table. Reaching over, Norbert looked at the message, saw it was coming from Sarah, and placed it to his ear. “Hi, Commander. What’s up with the late-night call?”
“Want to have a bit of a chat with no one around about the next steps.”
Norbert sobered up at the thought, moving his feet off the bed, being careful not to disturb Obsius or Kit, and putting some clothes on for the wind outside. Norbert bundles himself up for the air outside to hit. Opening the window, Norbert took the fly screen off, placing it by the side as he stepped onto the roof. Closing the window, leaving a slit open, Norbert bringing the phone to his ear again. “Where are you?”
“Look up,” Sarah said. Norbert looked up and saw two feet above his head. Pushing the energy around his body, Norbert jumped up, pulling himself above and onto the roof beside Sarah without a sound.
“How much trouble did your mother put you in?” Sally asked him.
Norbert shrugged. After convincing her that Luck was already over there, she took it a bit easier, but it was still going to be a constant reminder for the next few years.” Norbert shook his head. But what is it that you want to talk about?”
Sally turned to Norbert as he watched the wind blow through her chestnut hair, trailing behind her and shining in the moonlight. “The other way we use Earth is a way of communication. As you know, you don't move between the jumps, so I'll need to show you the safe house where we communicate."
Norbert nodded his head as he looked over the rolling, lazy hills bathed in moonlight. " So you're going to give me secret orders and updates? I'm pretty sure there would at least be something else to talk about."
Sally leaned backwards, staring up at the sky. Norbert leaned back as he tried to guess what she was looking for. Staring up there as well, the constellations now looked unfamiliar to him. "One more thing, in a place where I know nobody is listening, this mask of a commander may slip."
Norbert nodded his head, waiting expectantly, still staring up at the sky. He feared his over eagerness could stop Sally from explaining what she intended to.
"As you may have realised, other champions have been gathered under the banner of Morenas. Be wary, for all do vouch for the throne."
"Then why was I separated? Why did Doctor Doctor need to come looking to find me if they aren't part of Sigma Eight?"
"That's a simple reason, Norbert, trust."
Norbert chuckles at the word, "And what have I ever done to earn this trust?"
"How you arrived and who chose you," Sally said, getting up on an elbow and snatching Norbert's gaze away from the stars.
Norbert stared at her. "Being randomly picked, nearly plummeting to my death? And for Luck to choose me as a champion?" Norbert asked.
"Right on the second, but here's some information on the first. No champions are chosen by accident. As you already know, a small amount of the god's power can leak into this world."
Norbert nodded, remembering how Luck created a body to come here.
"Well, they can exert their power to allow those they want to find the tools needed to transfer over, make the deals and the promise for power, and take a couple more with them."
Norbert nods, remembering how Casper acted when the light first swallowed him up, "And because I was one of the extras that was caught?"
"Precisely, you have never been invested in it. It is just a mere happenstance that you and I are talking now. Since you aren't gunning for the throne or my head, I can trust you, yes."
Norbert shakes his head. "That's a lot of weight to put on my shoulders, but why have me join Sigma Eight then and not with the other champions?"
"Because of who is your goddess, but you should be able to figure out why. It's getting late, and tomorrow will be a long day." Sally told him, standing up and jumping off the roof.
"But wait!" Norbert cried out into the night, reaching out for her as she disappeared. Only the faint smell of her washed hair was the only presence that she had ever once been there. Norbert climbed off the roof and into his room without a sound, going under his covers as he looked at the ceiling, the word that Sally had said banding in his mind.