Our Defining Moment

“No, no! Not now!”

She dropped back behind the cruiser.

Buzz rifle had run out of jazz. She was out of the fight. Of all times…

“Syg! You out?!”

Henry yanked down next to her.

“Yeah! I forgot to juice it up!”

“Seriously?! Crap! You got anything else on you?!”

“No, nothing!”

Bolts ripped into the cruiser and over their heads.

“What are we gonna do, Henry?”

“I don’t know! Bureau’s got us pinned. We’ll get speared any way we try to escape.”

“What about Chichi and Aki?! They always come and help us!”

“THEY’RE!…” He blinked back tears.

…they’re gone, kid...The blast zapped ‘em. Everyone else, too. Nobody’s comin.’”

He could see her eyes watering.

End of the line.

“Kid, I think…hey, remember what I told you when you first joined? About our defining moment? Man, you were…”

He threw his head back.

“...MAN, you were a brat! Hah hah! The ripe old age of 10, just a street mouse!”

He saw her first day between the screaming bolts and stars above.

“But look at you now.”

All she ever wanted was to grow up. Be just like all of them.

“Syg…”

That was a year ago. He looked at the little girl next to him. 

Still couldn’t even remember to juice her rifle.

Even still…

“...everyone would be so proud of you.”

She was barely holding together.

Crap, too sentimental. Always hated that.

“Anyway, that moment…I think now’s our time. You and me.”

Excitement lit up the mist in her eyes.

Lip curled, eyes squeezed, she swallowed her fear. Just like Chichi.

Then her gaze met the dirt.

“I can’t. I’m out.”

One blaze of glory left between them.

Henry’s shock rifle pushed into her view.

“No, Henry!…”

His eyes glistened in the red glow of the bolts.

“Trade ya.”

“...I didn’t earn it. I’m still a kid.”

He shook his head and smiled.

“Take it, Syg. Glow ‘em up. I’ll be right here next to you.”

She drained the rifle to half a charge.

She probably only hit about two agents, but her smiling little face said the whole world.

He caught her on her way down.

“Nice shots, Syg! Never seen it done better.”

She didn’t hear him. She’d followed her gaze to the stars.

Bolts stopped. The air was cool. Agents rounded the cruiser.

“Thanks a million, Syg. See you soon.”