"Imagination Box?" March 7th echoed, leaning in until her sparkling eyes almost touched the cardboard. "Sounds amazing! How do you use it? If I just think of something, will it pop right out?"
"Not quite. It lets us daydream."
March 7th:?
"Come on, both of you hop in and try."
The box had room for three.
Standing outside, Dan Heng stared at the two heads poking out—one pink, one grey—both gazing at him with glittery expectation. His temples throbbed.
These two… are really enjoying themselves.
"Dan Heng, get in! It's windy out here!" March 7th patted the empty seat beside her.
"…"
Under their hopeful stares he finally sighed, surrendered, and climbed in.
"Close your eyes and… picture yourself on a Hawaiian beach."
"Where's Hawaii?"
"Uh, then imagine blue sky, ocean, sand, warm sun on your skin…"
She had no such memory, yet with her eyes shut March 7th could almost see it.
"…"
"Dan Heng, close your eyes."
"…Fine."
"And remember: do NOT picture a giant blue elephant stepping on your back."
Do NOT picture?
A giant blue elephant?
—"Grandpa, I'm here to give you a back rub."
"Pfft—!"
An invisible weight slammed Dan Heng forward; his face nearly ploughed into the corner of the box, exactly as if a huge blue elephant had parked itself on his spine.
"Can you hear it~ You must hear it~ The distant roar~"
Dan Heng's eyes snapped open.
Tsk.
Caelus was singing perfectly calm words, yet they sounded downright ominous.
"Captain, Captain! I can really see the beach! And seagulls! They're calling! I smell salty sea air!"
She inhaled deeply, as though the warm imaginary breeze could fill her lungs.
"Feels so nice… all warm and fuzzy, like being hugged by a giant marshmallow."
Watching her blissful face, the corner of Dan Heng's mouth twitched.
Why do I get the elephant trampling?
He chose silence, emptying his mind, focusing only on breathing—one more stray thought and he'd have a herd of blue elephants lining up for a full-body massage.
Oh no.
Alarm bells rang in his head.
"Dan Heng, why do you look like you've been stampeded by elephants?"
Crushed by his own imagination, Dan Heng crawled out of the box, expressionlessly smoothing clothes creased by sheer thought, soul scarred for good.
"Captain, Captain! This box is so fun! Can we keep it on the ship?"
"Well, we need cargo; bring it aboard!" Caelus waved as though the tattered carton were some priceless relic.
"Yay!"
By now Dan Heng had more or less figured out what sort of person his captain was.
Sings, dances… and rummages through trash bins.
Yet treats employees well—even if he calls his own benefits… hell.
H-hell, huh.
Then what does that make the Interstellar Peace Corporation's package?
"Next destination!" Caelus's voice brimmed with excitement. "Prometheus, set course! Target—the nearest, biggest, most deserted galactic junkyard!"
Hm, Prometheus—the ship's AI assistant?
Anyway, she's Caelus's wife.
A human dating a computer—odd by any standard.
Still, Dan Heng had seen plenty of people in love with Intellitrons.
"Captain, enemy ahead."
It was a colossal beast drifting in space.
"Prometheus, you're coming out to fight with me this time."
But once in open space Prometheus made a demand.
"What? I have to say sweet nothings before you'll turn into a weapon?"
"I want to hear it."
"But the comm channel's still open to the ship…"
"…"
In the end the exasperated Caelus drew a deep breath.
"I love you! Prometheus! Love you so, so much!"
Sound can't travel through vacuum, yet it rang crystal-clear over the comm.
Satisfied, Prometheus flashed in his hand and swiftly transformed.
"Would've been easier if you'd just cooperated," he muttered, then swung the huge golden scythe, carving a brilliant arc. "Now… let's work!"
"Whoa—!" March 7th's exclamation came through the comm. "So you just shout 'I love you' and get that strong?"
"…"
So awkward.
Felt like having an ex and a best buddy watch you yell "I love you" to your current girlfriend.
The airlock hissed shut behind him. Back inside, Caelus met two very different pairs of eyes.
"Anyway, obstacle cleared. Let's hurry to the next treasure spot."