Binary Star

Chapter Five: Captured

"I would like to go to the biology lab," I said. "I could get some important scientific research done." Jinnai scoffed. "Yeah, just watch our for Dr. Nutbag. Can't believe that guy actually goes around with a nickname like 'Aka no Kyuuketsuki.' Someone's got a severe case of 8th Grader Syndrome."

From then on, it was just a short trip to the biology laboratory, which was in tatters for some reason. Glass beakers had been knocked over, scientific papers and schematics were scattered across the floor, and the place was just a mess in general. I meekly peeked my head out of Jinnai's breast pocket. "What happened in here?" He shrugged. "Beats me. Hey, Red Bloodsucker! What the hell's going on here?"

Heavy footsteps scuffed across the floor as the wild-haired mad scientist Ayato Tsukiyami showed up. "Ah, you're here, that's good. You see, exams are coming up soon and...I've kinda got a problem. I was supposed to present the Antigravity Levitator at the science fair next week, but it's a little...broken." He motioned to a burnt pile of scrap metal and circuit boards on the counter. "I was doing a little bit of tweaking on it, just to tune it up a little bit, but someone left their damn coffee here, I knocked it over, it spilled on the Levitator, and well...I think you can figure out the rest."

Jinnai leaned over and inspected the charred device. "And why do I give a crap about your stupid science project?" Ayato clenched his teeth. "It's not stupid! That was supposed to be my magnum opus! You don't understand, if I don't present something to the science fair, I can't pass exams, and if I can't pass exams, my mother is going to suspend all the money for my experiments! I can't let that happen! I just can't!"

Jinnai rolled his eyes. He sat down at the counter alongside Ayato and pulled me from his pocket, placing me down on the counter next to the fried contraption. "Even if I wanted to, I don't know what I'm supposed to do to help you. I mean, I'm no scientist, but from what I can tell, that thing is toast. You're gonna have to either rebuild it or make something else."

"But I can't do that!" Ayato whined. "I spent two months building the Antigravity Levitator, there's no way I could make a new one in a week! And I didn't ask for your opinion anyway! I called you here for Spica! Surely she's far more well-versed in science than an art student!"

I inspected the broken device, poking around in the shattered circuit boards. "Jinnai is right. The entire system is fried. Even if you attempted to fix it, I don't see how this could be salvagable. From what I could tell from your title, this is a device meant to negate the effects of gravity, correct? That is incredibly primitive, as we Lilliputians have mastered antigravity technology for our spacecraft. I doubt such an antiquated contraption as this could even work effectively."

Ayato was completely flustered by my assessment. "But that's impossible! I worked so hard on it, and it was working perfectly fine until some dolt had to leave his coffee here! I swear, when I find him, I'm going to dissect him! And if you little extraterrestrials possess such wonderful antigravity devices, why can't you spare one for me? I promise I'd make it worth your while!"

My sapphire eyes narrowed into slits. "You call yourself a scientist, but you all are is a fool. I can't rip out the crucial hardware of the S.S. Lillium's propulsion systems simply to satisfy your petty needs. And even if I could, I highly doubt you have anything that would make it worth my while."

Ayato growled, baring his teeth. I started to wonder if I had made a mistake by angering him. I remembered how frightening he was the first time I met him. "Why, you little..."

"I don't know what to tell you," Jinnai interrupted, putting his hands behind his head. "If Spica says you're screwed, then well, you're really screwed. What do you want me to do, pay off the headmaster or something? You can ask your rich mom to do that."