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MEGAZONE 23
"I ain't ever gonna let you down. All you gotta do is
trust me."
--Tom Petty
SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER 1991
Zoner slept in late Saturday morning; he had taken his
last final Friday afternoon and afterward he and Yuri had
relaxed by consuming a few Southern Comfort and Cokes in
Ellsworth 7 and watching Rock 'n Rule. ReRob hadn't been
seen in quite some time, but Zoner decided not to worry about
it. If his car wasn't there Saturday morning he would just
have to kill ReRob and face up to his parents.
Zoner and Yuri finally woke up around noon, and after
kissing their good mornings Zoner went out into the
environment that was E7. He found ReRob vegging on the couch
watching his Def Leppard Live - In the Round, In Your Face
video, which he also had piped through the stereo.
"Gweepings," ReRob greeted Zoner.
"Gweepings. You know what day today is, don't you?"
"I'm pretty sure it's Saturday. Why?"
"It's the day I go home, remember?"
"Yes."
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Where's my car?!"
"Out back in the parking lot."
"Really?"
"Really."
"My car?"
"Well, not quite. You may notice some differences. I
created it with clucomp using data I got down at Harr Dodge.
It's as close as I could get it. It's sort of a blend of an
'89 and '90 Daytona ES, with a bit of DeLorean and some
British-AnimeTech Turbo 7000 thrown in for fun. I did use
the engine, drive train and tires from your car. You won't
be needing them anyway."
"That's cool...wait a minute, what did you mean, `You
won't be needing them anyway'? And what the hell is an
British-AnimeTech Turbo 7000? Isn't British-AnimeTech that
fake company Ben made up for his Marvel campaign? The one
the Griffin runs?"
"Never mind that now. It's a surprise. I haven't quite
finished yet, but I'm sure you'll like it."
"Whatever, as long as the car out in the parking lot can
fool my parents. I'm going upstairs to shower. Later."
"Later."
After a refreshing shower, Zoner checked in on Yuri.
"G'morning love, howsit with you?" Zoner asked.
"Ok. You're leaving today, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I've got to go home and work for a week. Make
some honest money. Help to pay the bills."
"I'll miss you. Why can't I go with you?"
"Yuri, we've already been over this. My parents are
cool, but I'm not sure they could deal with me bringing a
woman home to live with them for a week. Even if they could
handle it, I don't know if the rest of my family could. It's
just a little bit awkward, especially if I have to explain
where you came from. That would be nearly impossible. I'm
still trying to get a grip on that."
"Still, you're going to be gone for an entire week.
What am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know. Watch my entire videotape collection?
Read some of my books? Here, this one's good, Combat Guns,
I'm sure it will interest you. Or how about the Epic of
Flight series? Or any of the others I've got here. How
about the Illuminatus! Trilogy, or The Hitchhiker's Guide to
the Galaxy? Maybe Red Storm Rising, I've got a bunch of good
books. Listen to music. Roger Waters, The Wall, Live in
Berlin. AC/DC. Go ask ReRob for some of his weird music if
you want, or listen to pfloyd's entire collection of ZZ Top
and Pink Floyd when he's here this weekend. You know my
password, log in...read news, post to rec.arts.anime, I'm
sure they'd think that was cool...I'm sure you'll find
something to do. But whatever you do, don't drive anything!"
"That's not fair! What happened with your car wasn't my
fault! I didn't mean to - mmppphhh...."
Zoner silenced her protestations with a kiss. "I know,
I'm over it now. I just couldn't resist. Tell you what,
I'll call you up a couple of times. I'd have you call me,
but my parents tend to sack out early, they don't keep
college hours. Well, I'd better get going."
He began to pack up his laundry and some of his junk
from around the apartment which he wanted to take home. Once
finished he went back upstairs to say his goodbyes to Yuri.
<<Love and Affection, Def Leppard>>
Zoner sat down on the bed next to Yuri and wrapped his
arm around her. "Well, I'm packed, guess it's time to
leave."
"Guess so," Yuri replied morosely.
"Don't be so glum. It's only for a week. I'll be back,
I don't want to go, but I should see my family, you know.
And I want to finish off my flight lessons. Maybe I'll take
you up some time," Zoner said, followed by a mumbled, "Not."
He grinned and finished with, "Besides, it is money..."
"Yeah, you're right. I guess I'll cope."
Zoner chuckled.
"What was so funny?" Yuri inquired.
"You, you're starting to use slang more often. For a
while I thought you were going to speak normally forever, I'm
glad to see you're picking up the lingo."
"Lingo?"
"Slang terms, you know, like cope, gweep, and the others
you've started using."
"Oh. I haven't really noticed."
"Well, I have, it's one of those things that makes you
so loveable. It's one of the little things an SO notices."
"Like how you use the 'I love you' sign to say hello?"
"Well, yeah, I guess I never really think about it, I
started doing that years ago."
"I think it's cute."
"I think you're cute."
"Really," Yuri intoned slyly, and followed up with a
kiss.
"Really," Zoner replied gently after the kiss, and
kissed her again.
"I thought you were leaving," Yuri said with a grin.
"I'm not in any hurry," Zoner whispered, pulling her
down.