Season 1, Episode 4 - The Microwave XXIV - "Koi was Fushigi"

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Isaac hummed a merry little tune to himself as he pulled a cheese-stick out of Domino's fridge. It had been a long day, nothing like a snack to take the edge off. He let out a happy whistle as he passed by Domino's wall clock in the hallway, on his way back to the dojo living room, where the three were about to watch a Halloween movie.

Isaac stopped letting out a happy whistle. He immediately backtracked to the clock and looked at it with worried eyes.

Isaac slammed open the shoji door to the living room. "It's 5:15! Dave’s closes in forty-five minutes!" He started breathing heavily and unevenly. "How are we gonna get across town in forty-five minutes? I've never returned something late!"

“Ah, it’ll be alright, Isaac,” Reed said nonchalantly on the couch. “I’ll just tell him I was watching it with you tonight and we got carried away. He’ll understand.”

Isaac scrambled past her, ignoring her and Domino's complaints when he got in the way of the television while looking for the Heavy Traffic tape. “I’m not taking advantage of Dave’s kindness,” he informed her as he found the cover, two grinning policemen on the cover. Upon making sure the correct tape was actually inside, he sighed in relief, hugging the tape to his chest. “And neither am I letting my good name there go to waste. There has to be something we can do!”

Isaac then noticed Domino looking smugly at him.

“There is a way,” Domino informed them. He ushered them out of his living room, all the way outside onto the training grounds. Isaac tapped his foot impatiently at the sight of the setting sun. Domino, meanwhile, looked through a big pile of junk at the back of the grounds, tossing away things like old nunchuks and potato masher grenades until he finally found what he was looking for her. “Here it is!" he exclaimed, holding it up for the two kids to see.

“A bike?” Isaac questioned. “First of all, I don’t like bikes, I’d rather go on my own two feet.”

“You don’t like bikes?” Reed asked.

“Not particularly. I can’t bring myself to trust anything besides my own two feet.”

“What about the train?”

“Trains are different.”

Reed smirked. “Trains aren’t different.”

Isaac thought he was going to explode. “Trains are completely different! One’s a bike, and the other one is secured on rails-”

“Enough!” Domino interrupted. “Use the bike! It’s perfect timing. Think about it, Isaac. The sun’s setting right now, and you'll pedal, and Reed will sit behind you, her warm arms wrapped around you. As the stars settle in, you'll weave in and out of traffic, and between the crisp air of an autumn evening and the rhythmic drumbeat of a pair of whispering hearts, you’ll both hear the susurrations of your soul-”

“Would you say cars are different?” Isaac asked Reed.

“Sure.”

“Then how could say trains aren’t different?”

“I have a perfectly understandable logic behind all of my opinions-”

“Alright, fine, no bike!” Domino tossed the vehicle that would enable hearing the susurration of the soul back into the junk pile. “I have another method, too. Reed, take out your Domino Sword.”

“You can just say sword,” Reed muttered, unveiling her sword, black as night.

Domino folded his arms sagely. “It’s time, Reed. You’ve trained hard all weekend. Or for at least a couple of training montages. It’s time to take the next step.”

Reed cocked her head to the side. “Next step?”

Domino nodded. “You’re ready for the next wave. Magnetic.”

“Magnetic?”

“There’s a wide spectrum of electromagnetic waves,” Domino explained. “And there's a whole lot you'll eventually be able to do with it. But we’ll start with the simplest one. Reversing polarities.”

Reed eyed her sword. “That doesn’t sound simple.”

“Quiet, woman. You see, every human has a natural magnetic field. Everything has a natural magnetic field. They attract and repel. Normally, they’re too weak to really do anything...but not with the power of the Domino Sword!”

Reed sighed. “Sensei, it’s a Sunday night, that’s not the time I want to learn something new-”

Domino linked his arm with hers. Reed audibly hissed and tried to pull away, but Domino held on tightly. “Grab the boy’s arm, too.”

Isaac and Reed looked at each other, then awkwardly linked their arms. Reed stood in the middle of the two, feeling a little red from both anger and embarrassment.

“Now, all you have to do is just listen closely,” Domino said. “Imagine the magnetic waves. Feel the pull and push. Expand their power and reverse our polarities so we’re repelled by the ground!”

“Is that scientific?” Reed asked.

“Rddhi’s not all about science,” Isaac said in encouragement.

Reed sighed. “Alright, alright...”

So stupid. Magnets. I don’t even like magnets. What has a magnet ever done for me-

“Focus, woman, or else it won’t work!”

Reed rolled her eyes then closed them. Fine, fine, I’ll try it.

She breathed in deeply, feeling the power of nature course through her body, down to her extremities, deep in her stomach, deep in her heart. The black field of Rddhi appeared before her, filled with the spinning swirls of stars.

Faces swam across her vision. Isaac’s, Domino’s, Audrey’s, Dave’s.

Calm yourself. Listen closely. Feel everything and nothing at all.

…what the hell does that even mean-

“Focus!” Domino barked.

“I’m trying!” Reed complained. “Sensei, I can barely even use sound waves right, what makes you think I can just go and use something else-”

“Because I believe you can,” Domino simply answered. “Or rather, I know you can. You’ve been ready to use magnetic waves for a while now. You just haven’t had any belief in yourself.”

Reed looked at him dryly. "I'm the most confident person I know."

“That’s your front,” Domino corrected. “You tell everybody else you believe in yourself. Now it’s time to tell yourself that.”

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Reed grumbled, then collected herself.

Well, Reed, are you gonna do it or are you gonna keep being a disappointment?

She answered with another deep breath, all the way down to her fingers. Red energy circled around her hand, and she could feel the stars and spirals in the black field of Rddhi calming their rotations. She felt warm, like there was a calming presence such as a hand on her shoulder. Two hands on her shoulders, she realized, remembering that her arms were linked with the arms of others.

Nice people. Such nice people.

Reed slashed her sword downwards and there was a large explosion of light, both in the real world and the metaphysical.

And suddenly, the three found themselves gently floating upwards from the ground, their shadows appearing below them on the dirt. The shadows grew smaller as they ascended upwards, passing above trees and powerlines. Domino Dojo faded away; seemingly the whole world did as they entered the vast space above them known as the sky.

They could see the entire city stretching out before them; skyscrapers, train lines, apartment blocks and houses. People appeared like little dots, and there were so many dots! Reed never realized just how many people were out there...and this was just one city! The whole world was filled with cities, and those cities were filled with dots.

There’s so many people...and all of them are living their own lives. What a world.

Reed noticed the dumb grin Isaac was giving her and realized she herself was smiling wide. How could you not, with the whole world on display? To their left were the skyscrapers and calm waters of Narraganset Bay, meeting together at the horizon with the light purples and deep blues of the approaching twilight that gently embraced the city. To their right was the rest of New England, bathed in the orange glow of the fading sun.

“Alright, phase two,” Domino said. “Pass me the Domino Sword.”

Reed was so caught up with her own thoughts that Domino’s request barely registered. She absent-mindedly handed the sword over, her eyes never leaving the world below her.

This is real. This is the world we live in. And it’s all...just out there.

“Diàn Fēngzhēng!”

With a sudden shout, the three suddenly blasted off across the city. Reed and Isaac felt the heat of the lightning as Domino propelled them using his powers. This is a real force of nature, Reed realized with a smile. This is what the world feels like. It’s not always so heavy. It can be real graceful, too.

They passed over rivers, whole neighborhoods of people. There seemed to be a real big commotion on the ground in Elizabeth Pond, and Reed wondered if the three of them sailing across the sky caused it. She thought of her younger sister Bramble and hoped she could see them from Kendall Bridge downtown. Everyone should see this...how could you not want to just go out and do something after seeing something like this?

Reed realized they were slowing down; so engrossed in the present, she didn’t notice Domino had ended his lightning beam. And then Reed realized they weren’t just slowing down; they were going down.

“Your geomagnetic reversal is wearing off,” Domino explained calmly as he passed the sword back to her. “You need to cushion our fall with another one.”

Reality continued to hit Reed as they rapidly picked up speed, winds slapping at her face. “We’re falling out of the goddamn sky!” she cried out. “Tell me something like that before we start flying!”

Domino gave a nonchalant shrug. “Would you have agreed to this if I told you the whole plan?”

“I’d agree to put my foot up your-”

“You got this, Reed,” Isaac said firmly. She realized their arms were linked together, and she could feel his warmth, the shortness of his breath. “Cuz if you don’t, I’ll kick your ass after we land!”

“I won’t have an ass to kick at this rate,” Reed answered, but for some reason, she felt calm, despite reaching terminal velocity. Even with the wind speeding past them, Reed trusted in the Rddhi and took a deep breath, letting those same feelings of warmth wash over her, head to toe, stomach to fingers.

Reed spotted the large oak tree right outside of Isaac’s apartment complex and angled the group towards it. Focus, focus...it’ll be okay. They’re here with you right now.

It’ll all be okay.

Reed slashed her sword again, the magnetic wave rippling through the tree. Now repelled by the oak’s field, the three slowed down, just enough that the treetop served to break their fall rather than break their backs. They tumbled down through the leaves and branches, flashes and streaks of oranges and reds from leaves obstructing their vision as they kept going down.

They broke through the treetop and finally hit the ground with a thud. Reed had angled things so she could use Domino to break her fall; she wasn’t a complete jerk, though, and angled it just right so that Isaac could also use Domino to break his fall.

Sitting on Domino’s back, Reed sighed in relief.

Isaac stood and dusted himself off. “Stay right here, I gotta get my rewards card from my room!”

Isaac sprinted off, leaving Reed and Domino laying there.

Reed watched a caramel-colored leaf float past her. “I just wanted to say...thanks, Sensei. I had a real fun weekend thanks to you.”

Domino watched the same leaf glide away in the breeze. “Same here. It’s always a pleasure when a student comes to visit the old master. Now get off me, woman.”

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Isaac raced up the staircase to the second floor of the complex, damning himself for living in the apartment at the farthest end. He passed by several closed doors and a forlorn-looking Esther sitting against Audrey’s door as he slid to a stop in front of his own door. He searched around his pockets for his keys-

Wait, a forlorn-looking Esther?

Esther was indeed forlorn-looking. Still in her usual school uniform, she sat on the concrete ground of the walkway, hugging her knees against her chest, her head pressed down.

“Esther? What happened?” Isaac asked.

Esther noticed his presence and wiped her eyes. “Um...I think I messed up, Isaac.”

Isaac sat down next to her. “How’d you mess up?”

Esther spoke quietly. “Audrey and I...we had a real bad fight. And I said a lot of things I didn’t mean to say.” She still hugged her knees, but her grip slightly loosened and she leaned her back against the wall, her face tilted upwards to look at the sky, or maybe to nowhere in particular. “I’m just not good with words. Or with people. People are so hard to understand...”

Isaac looked up at the sky with her. “I bet Audrey understands. She’s real good at understanding. Well, maybe not at everything, but when it comes to what goes on inside here, she knows.” To emphasize the last part, Isaac pointed at a particular spot in his chest.

Esther’s gaze followed Isaac’s hand. “Your arteries?”

“...your heart.”

Esther giggled and wiped her eyes again. “Your heart’s not that low in your chest...but I see what you mean.” She sighed. “I just hope she doesn’t hate me now. She means a lot to me...but I don’t think I realized that until just now...maybe it’s too late.”

“I’m a younger sibling too,” Isaac explained. “And sometimes you fight with your siblings, that’s just what siblings do.”

“They do?” Esther asked. She looked at her knees. “Audrey and I haven’t seen each other in over two years...and even in Salem Slot, we were really distant. She was always out and I was always in...she was working odd jobs and all that, and I was studying...I really just made her hate me, didn’t I? She’s right. She did so much for me back in Salem Slot...and I’ve been ungrateful...”

“That’s not true,” Isaac said. “Or at least, you don’t have to be anymore. You see, older siblings, the only thing they want to see is their younger sibling going farther than them in life. That’s why the older sibling sacrifices for the younger sibling. But it’s a willing sacrifice. I’d bet Audrey would say the same thing. And c’mon, you’ve studied real hard and now you’re the big Rddhi researcher person here. When it comes to being ungrateful, you didn’t let Audrey’s work go to waste at least.”

Isaac stood. “So now, all you gotta do is go apologize and eat lunch with Audrey at school once in a while.”

“Eat lunch?” Esther asked, still sitting.

“Yeah, I really think the only thing Audrey wants in return from you is just seeing you every so often.”

Isaac held his hand out.

Esther looked at it for a moment, then wiped her eyes again and took it gently. “I think...I think I’ll try to see her more than just once in a while.”

Isaac brought her to her feet, Esther very nearly reaching his height. She felt a little disappointed when he let go of her hand, but the fact he held it for a moment all the same...

“Alright, so, where’d Audrey go?” Isaac asked.

“Um...she activated a microwave Rddhi golem, and it headed toward the station...”

Isaac slowly nodded. “Well...that sounds like Audrey.”

Isaac heard approaching footsteps and saw Reed reach the top of the stairs, something in her hands. “We got a problem, Isaac,” she explained.

“Is it the microwave Rddhi golem?” Isaac asked.

Reed thought about it. “Well...that would explain the screams. No, I was saying we got a problem in the sense that I can’t stop eating these fucking chili dogs." She held it out for them to see. "Some cart guy is selling them near the apartments. I’m surprised he’s still there, considering the circumstances, but hats off to him. What a warrior. And they’re outstanding.” Reed gestured at the chili dog. “You want a bite?”

Isaac eyed it. “...later. For now, let’s go stop that microwave.”

Reed shrugged. “Suit yourself. Domino said he was going out to protect civilians or take a leak or something like that, but then he looked at me with those thousand-yard old man eyes and said he’d leave the actual fight to the ‘misty-eyed blonde woman.’”

“Audrey,” Esther realized with a gasp. “She went out to fight it...and I’ve just been sitting here this whole time...”

Esther moved towards the stairs, Isaac following her.

“Oh, hey, Esther,” Reed greeted. “You want to try this chili dog?”

Esther walked past her. “Later. I need to help my sister first.”

“Ain’t that swell.”

Reed watched as Esther and Isaac bounded down the steps, toward the growing sounds of combat and gunfire. She finished her chili dog, shrugged, and followed after them, Esther leading the way.