Chapter 27: A gift (part 2)
This day is special, it's the day when Zet is planning to get a birthday gift for Sarah, her birthday is next week, but he and Kipo won't be here, they will be in Alaska, looking for the third wonderkid, Niora.
It's 7 AM, Zet and Sarah were awake, they were walking together, Kipo and her father were still asleep.
Sarah : so....when are you going to tell Leo about your trip ?
Zet : I don't know how to tell him.....I'm going with his daughter to the coldest place on earth....how do I tell him this ?
Sarah : you can tell him and take the risk....he might get upset for it.....and he may not.....it's a 50 50 chance.
Zet : no....I won't do this.....I know that he doesn't like the idea of me spending more time with Kipo than him....but he has to understand what we do.....he doesn't know how dangerous our job is.
Sarah : he's being a dad Zet.....he is doing what a normal dad would do.....being overprotective.....and thinking that his daughter would never grow up.....no matter how much she does.
Zet : I think I do know a bit about this.
Sarah : you do ?
Zet : remember when you told your parents about your secret ?...the way they reacted....it was because they worried about your own safety.
Sarah : I guess you're right.....they never saw me getting older...better...or stronger.
Zet : and...they never knew me.....you never told them right ?
Sarah chuckled.
Sarah : no....of course I didn't.....they will try to hunt you down If they knew.
Zet : I won't be even surprised.
They both laughed.
Sarah : by the way....you didn't tell me what happened yesterday.
Zet : you mean when I went with Kipo ?
Sarah : yeah...and when you were with Leo.
Zet : well....when I was with Leo....he asked me why did you call me and Kipo love birds previously.....I
told him that Kipo kissed me and all.....and he wasn't happy about it.
Sarah : he didn't like what ?.....you ?.....or what Kipo did ?
Zet : both actually....he was mad that Kipo kissed someone he thought she didn't know....then I had to explain to him that she is the only person in this world that actually know me.....she know me even more than you.
Sarah : and who's fault is that ?
Zet : hey....it's not a fault if it's not considered a mistake in the first place.
Sarah laughed.
Sarah : alright.....fair enough...continue.
Zet : then I had to convince him that Kipo is a way better person than the last time he saw her.
Sarah : actually.....all credits are yours here.
Zet : what do you mean ?
Sarah : you are the reason Kipo is like this now....she's a way stronger person now.....it's all because of you.
Zet : well.....you did the same to me....now I'm passing it around....anyway....It took him a long talk until I was able to convince him eventually...I think he now understands.
Sarah : I don't think he is ready for Kipo to leave the whole country though.
Zet : how do I tell him that her chances of survival there is higher than mine...we are going to her natural habitat.....this is where she is supposed to be.
Sarah : well.....there might be another solution.....but you won't like it at all.
Zet : ok ?
Sarah : you can go alone.....you don't need Kipo in this journey.....you can get Niora by yourself.
Zet : I thought the same thing...but this will be my last choice.....she is our leader....how would our leader not even leave her own place.....she needs this.
Sarah : so back to the story.....I want to know why did you hug me yesterday.
Zet : we were training yesterday....I taught her CQC...she is really good.....and now she has her own knife.....the emerald knife.
Sarah : oh yeah....about that....why did you give her my gift to you ?.....it's supposed to be yours.
Zet : well....it was mine....she didn't have it as a gift....she deserved it....let me continue the story.....after we were done....I noticed that she was frustrated from punching me....so I introduced her to the knife dance.
Sarah : you did the knife dance with her ?.....how many tries did she take ?
Zet : she did it from the first time.
Sarah : what ?!.....do you have any idea how hard it is to do it ?
Zet : I know...I'm as surprised as you are right now...she was doing great the whole way....I was impressed....when we were done she was tired....so I decided to play a game with her.....she had to hunt me in her wolf form in 15 minutes.....she got confident and placed a bet....I win....I take the knife from her....she wins....I hug you and thank you for taking care of me....she told me that you told her about our past....that's why she wanted me to thank you.
Sarah : oh...so you weren't going to do it on your own ?
Zet : I'm not going to lie here and say yes...I wasn't....but Kipo helped me...I just needed a little push....and she did it for me.
Sarah : and that awkward moment where you landed in front of us and she was on top of you.
Zet laughed.
Zet : aww man...that was pretty awkward....the look on Leo's face scared the hell out of me.
Sarah laughed.
Sarah : so when are you planning to leave to Alaska ?
Zet : soon...in like 3 days....I don't want to waste time.
Sarah : let's go back now...they should be awake.
Sarah and Zet then headed back to the tent.
Sarah : by the way....thanks for the hug....I needed it.
Zet : don't thank me...thank Kipo.....I would've never done it without her.
They arrived at the tent, Leo was awake, but Kipo was still asleep.
Leo : oh hey.....having a walk ?
Sarah : yeah...just doing our morning walk.
Leo : so...how are you today ?
Zet : we're doing pretty good....you ?
Leo : had a great night sleep.....I'm good...thanks.
Zet then looked at Sarah, she looked back at him, Leo noticed.
Leo : is there ?....
Zet : Leo....can you meet us outside when you're ready ?...we need to tell you something.
Zet and Sarah then left.
Leo was confused and concerned, he has no idea what are they going to tell him.
After 5 minutes, Leo came out of the tent and started to walk with them.
Sarah : so we want to tell you something.
Leo : I'm listening.
Zet : there is no nice way to say this...so you remember that there are 8 wonderkids right ?
Leo : yeah ?
Zet : I....we.....have a mission....to gather all the 8 wonderkids in one place.
Leo : what do you mean by "we".
Zet : I'm not talking about Sarah.
Leo's eyes widened, he realized.
Zet : me and Kipo are going to Alaska soon.
Leo : absolutely no....there is no way she's going that far.
Sarah : we thought you were going to say this.
Zet : but I need you to understand something...we are going where Kipo actually belongs.....and she's our leader....she has to come with me.
Leo : what do you mean she's your leader....she's probably the youngest one out of all of you.
Zet : and the purest one out of many of our generations.....she is able to change hearts.
Sarah : the broken.....the dark....and dead hearts.....she is the only one that can lead them.....you can't keep her here like this.
Leo : wait.....are you going too ?
Sarah : no.....I'm just a normal human.....I won't survive in such cold weather.
Zet : but Kipo and I can.....and Kipo's chance to survive is even higher than my chance....she is not affected by the weather there.....it's like a normal sunny day to her there.....which is why I need her....I need her help.
Sarah : the point of what we're trying to tell you here.....we understand why you would say no.....but we can't let it happen....after all.....gathering the 8 wonderkids is her idea in the first place.
Leo : wait really ?....she came up with this idea ?
Zet : yeah.....see what I'm trying to say here ?...out of all our generations.....we all thought it's never going to happen.....none of us was optimistic enough to try it....until Kipo did it.....she'll be the first wonderkid to lead the whole 7 wonderkids together.
Leo closed his eyes, he is about to make a decision that he might regret for the rest of his life, he sighed.
Leo : Zet....if anything happens to her....I would never forgive you.
Zet : I'm ready to lose my life in order for her to live hers.....don't worry....she will be safe.
Sarah : you've made the right choice Leo.....we really appreciate it.
Zet : now that we got that sorted out.....I know you didn't spend enough time with her since we broke you out....so take your time with her today.....she will be happy with it.
Sarah : let's head back.
Leo : wait....before we go.....have you decided how will you go ?
Zet : not really....no.
Leo : I have an Idea....when I was in the lab....we were working on a chemical reaction.....it's purpose is to make these giant flamingos invincible to almost anything...fire...ice....heavy impact.
Sarah : did you finish it ?
Leo : we were pretty close....until you broke me out....so I'm guessing that they have finished it by now.
Sarah : a new mission....sure...we can do it.
Zet : all we need to do is break one out.....we can escape with it.
Sarah : but how do we know it's invincible ?
Leo : their color changes.....they become red and calmer than the others.....you will be to spot them easily.
Zet : you said you were in a lab right ?...where did the others go then ?
Leo : this is something you need to not tell Kipo about....they were all killed.
Sarah : all of them !?
Leo : their leader is way too crazy and brutal....he doesn't care who you are or what you are.
Zet : if you are a use to him....he will keep you to work....and if you're not....
Sarah : you are dead.
Zet : did he kill the children too ?
Leo : I didn't see them.....he must be waiting for them to grow up to sort them....the dead and the alive.
Sarah : did you see him by any chance ?
Leo : no....he never gets out of his building.
Sarah : damn it...I need to know who is this guy.
Zet : pretty sure we will meet him soon enough.
They went back, it's 9 AM, they found Kipo awake.
Kipo : *yawn*.
Zet : hey Kipo.....got enough sleep ?
Kipo : hi....yeah I slept good.....you all went for a walk ?
Sarah : no.....Leo just woke up.....me and Zet were outside.
Kipo : so do we have a job to do today ?
Zet : actually.....since you did really good yesterday....take this day off.
Zet then moved his hand behind Leo and poked him, he wants him to spend time with her today.
Leo : good morning Kipo....why don't meet me outside when you're done.
Leo left.
Kipo was confused, she knows something is going on.
Kipo : um.....anybody wants to explain ?
Zet : we're clueless too.....sounds like he just wants to chat with you.
Kipo : suurrre...just...chat.
Kipo then got out of the tent while Zet and Sarah stayed in it.
Sarah : you think he'll do good with her ?
Zet : at this point.....he will decide this.
Leo : you're here.....let's walk.
Kipo : sure.
Leo : so how are you today ?
Kipo : good....so you want to tell me what's going on ?
Leo : what.....I can't spend time with my daughter ?
Kipo : it's just...you know what.....you're right...I'm just overthinking it.
Leo : you've been spending a lot of time with Zet.....you haven't had time for me.
Kipo : you do get that I spend time with him because we're training right ?
Leo : no I do understand that....you need to become a great....skillful wonderkid.....and I don't want to be in your way.
Kipo : you're not in my way....it's just.....I'm not the same person I was when you were captured.
Leo : and I'm sorry for not being there for you.
Kipo : dad...it's ok.....you were captured by a whole army.....there is nothing you could do.
Leo : Sarah told me you did a mission before you saved me.....where did you go ?
Kipo didn't talk, she didn't want to tell him about the wolves mission, Leo noticed.
Leo : come on now.....you can tell me anything.....I'm here to listen don't be scared.
Kipo got more comfortable, she sighed.
Kipo : we needed to know where is the mutes base.....we needed to locate you.....we went to the wolves observatory.
Leo immediately realized which wolves she's talking about, he remembered his past with them.
Kipo : we disguised so they don't kill us on sight.....they eat humans and we needed to get in...Sarah snuck in while I and Zet distracted them all.....everything went well.....until the wolves leader.....
Leo : Liam.
Kipo : yeah...Liam found out that I am your daughter.....and he told me about your leg.
Leo : yeah....my leg...I was going to tell you about it....but you were young...I didn't want to scare you with my stories.....but I guess now you're ready to know.
Leo then sat on the ground and removed his leg, it was a metal leg.
Leo : they ate my leg....so I made this instead for myself.
Kipo : your past with him allowed him to recognize me...he decided to do the same thing he did to you.
Leo : he hunted you ?
Kipo : yeah....Zet knew we were going to die.....we can't outrun an army of wolves....so he almost died trying to save us....he burnt himself so he can fly us out....he passed out and landed in a lake....but we were safe....luckily...I was able to save him...I blew cold air to his lungs.....and somehow....that stopped his burns and gave him immunity to them....he saved my life....and he knew he was going to die because of it....but he still did it.
Leo : he never told me any of this.
Kipo : Zet isn't the kind of person who likes to talk about what he did....good....or bad.
Leo : I never knew how much Zet did to you.....I never decided whether he is good for you or not.
Kipo : I know...he doesn't seem like a good guy at all.....I thought the same too.....but he's better than you think.
Leo started laughing.
Kipo : what's so funny ?
Leo : when I talked to Zet.....he told me the same thing.....she's better than you think.....he told me that you kissed him and I was mad about it....he tried to convince me that it was your own choice....and it wasn't just a reckless move you did.....but I have one question for you...why did you kiss him ?
Kipo : you know how when you first met mom.....you just knew that she was the one....she is the one that completes you.....she is everything you're not.....that's how I felt about Zet.....he was everything I'm not....but unfortunately.....not all hearts can be repaired.....and he knows how much of softy or a coward I can be.....but he still have faith in me.....because he knows that I can be better everyday.....and this is why I'm ready to learn anything he teaches me....he could see what others didn't in me.....even I didn't see it.....but he showed me.
Leo : he also told me about your trip.
Kipo : wait what ?
Leo : yeah.....he did....your trip to Alaska.
Kipo : ok before you reject his offer...
Leo : save it.....he already explained to me how important you are to him.....specifically in this mission....I agreed.
Kipo : wow.....he's really convincing huh.
Leo : well.....he convinced a daughter's father to agree on her going on a trip to the coldest place in the world.....so I guess he's pretty good at this.
Kipo : so now I'm curious....how did he convince you ?
Leo : it was actually him and Sarah that did...they told me that you actually changed them....you changed their hearts.....you are way too important to them and they need you in their lives...I really think Zet has the same Idea about you.
Kipo : what do you mean ?
Leo : he sees you as his missing part.....you complete him.
Kipo : so now that you know about all of this.....what do you think of them both.
Leo : well...I still have more that I want to know....but for now...I'd say that you could never choose better friends than them.