Chapter Text
“Guess what day it is, Gremlin?” Senku grinned at her, wrapping his arms. Summer had ended with a flurry of work. Kim and Ruri had made double and triples of all her equipment and notes.
She had been given, rather demanded, a room near the mobile lab at the bottom of the ship, and even through the thought of being below sea level made her skin crawl, she wanted to be close to Senku’s work space. Just in case, of course.
“Ugh, I don’t know.” Kim groaned, tying up her hair. “September something.”
“September 10, 5741. The official date our ship is complete.”
“Dork.” Kim giggled. She pulled out a sheet of paper down from its place, and wrote down the date, shoving it in the cover of her encyclopedia. “There. Now, when we write out our adventure, we’ll remember the date.”
“I’ll remember.” Senku chuckled.
“Only you. Everyone else won’t.”
They reached the dry dock as everyone else did. The warm sun beating down on them. A crowd gathered around the ship, Senku stared at it, pride swelling in his chest to the point of bursting.
“This beauty only took us a year. We finished quicker than I thought.” Senku grinned, sweat beading down his cheek. Taiju’s loud laugh crashed through the crowd.
“I feel like we’ve heard that line before.”
“Me too.” Kim giggled, poking Senku in the ribs. Batting her hand away, he huffed. Last night was a fluke, but he blamed Kim, ten billion percent. Whatever she had done with her hips was his undoing.
“Right! It’s almost time to set sail for those that are leaving.” Minami said softly, her camera already set up in its tripod. “Gather ‘round for a pic now that it’s finally done. I want everyone in the shot with the boat!”
“How many pictures does one reporter need?” Senku groaned. Kim shoved one of his hands off his hips.
“Don’t give me that!!” Minami shrieked. “This is goodbye! Not everyone is shipping out. This might be our last one together.” She sniffled and Senku softened.
“We may never see each other again so, I think that’s worth a picture!” She continued.
“It won’t…” Kim stared
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Senku cut her off. “I’m ten billion percent sure that we’ll solve this big mystery and return from the other side of the world.” Kim nodded.
“We’ll be back, even if I have to drive this thing myself.” Her eyes caught Ruri and Cho’s. They would be staying behind, taking care of the clinic and keeping everyone in line. Kim had put Ruri in charge of the village until their return and taking care of Mirai.
Cho was to keep Adam’s grave clean and to help Ruri with anything she may need. Especially with the GPS. They would be helping them navigate to their next adventure.
“Ok then! Let me take just one picture with everyone in it.” Minami laughed, tears still in her eyes. “Since I have to press the shutter, I guess it won’t be everyone, technically.”
“I foresaw this exact situation!” François bowed next to a bamboo contraption. “Please make use of this automated camera timer.”
Bodies shoved into each other as they all clamored to get in the shot.
“Say cheese!!” Minami called out.
Ruri pulled Kim aside as they launched their ship. Cheers were covered by the sound of water rushing around the hull. She held onto Kim’s arm as they watched the ship rock and resettle into the water. The grins on their faces hurt their cheeks, neither willing to acknowledge that they would be separated for the first time since she joined the clinic. Well, anything longer than a few weeks. This could take months to years to finish. Kim’s chest tightened painfully.
Ryusui’s loud laugh brought them out of their thoughts.
“As Captain of this vessel, I took it upon myself to come up with a list of who’ll be coming aboard.
“Though I’d love to have had all of you fine people on my crew, of course.”
“Except all of humanity would go extinct in the ship sank! And the ship can only accommodate so many.” Senku yelled back at the Captain. Kim pulled Ruri with her towards the ship. They rejoined their friends as the gangplank slammed against the ground.
“Needless to say, this unprecedented mission will be beyond dangerous. We may never make a return trip and I can’t guarantee we’ll all survive.” Ryusui continued loudly. Ruri clutched her arm tightly, Kim squeezed it back.
“So, even if your name is on the list, you’re free to stay behind, if you choose. That is a choice each of you has to make!”
Senku and Gen grinned as they spouted their plan to trick anyone who refused to join into being on the ship as they sailed.
Ruri pulled at Kim’s arm as she rolled her eyes.
“Are you sure you’re going?” she asked, softly.
“Yes, of course.” Kim smiled. “Even if I said no, you heard those two. I’d be forced to anyway.”
Names were called. Senku, Chrome, Kasaki, and Yuzuriha. Ukyo. François. The battle team. Each made their way up the gang plank. Kinro and Ginro, through the latter cried until he was reminded he didn’t have to come along.
“And we can’t forget our medic, Kim!” Ryusui grinned. Hugging Ruri tightly, she smiled.
“I’ll see you soon, promise.” Cho tackled her from behind.
“You come back and make sure everyone else too!” Tears fell down Cho’s cheeks.
“Of course!!” Gripping her in a tight embrace as well. Kim walked through the crowd. Ryusui held out his hand as she dropped to the deck.
“Glad you chose to join us, dear.” He said softly.
“Like I actually had a choice.” She grinned. Senku chuckled looking down at the remaining people.
“Well, I suppose that’s everyone, then? Let’s give our friends a nice send off.” Gen clapped.
“Don’t play dumb, Gen. You’re the last one on my list.” Ryusui called down to him. As Gen slunk up the gangplank, Kim turned to head to the command center. Passing in front of Hyoga and Homura, she paused, crossing her arms.
“Kimberly.” Hyoga nodded.
“Hyoga.” She greeted. “Looks a little cramped in there, you good?” She leaned down, smirking.
“Better than the cave.” Homura huffed. “How’s your son?” Kim stiffened, baring her teeth.
“Resting peacefully, thanks for asking.” Standing swiftly, she marched off.
Huffing a heavy sigh, she plopped down next to Ukyo as the ship lurched forward. She watched the coast disappear then turned towards the open sea.
“Hey, Ukyo!” Senku called through the tubes around them. “Point that radar over at the mainland, wouldja?”
“Huh, why?” Ukyo turned to Kim, who shrugged. Turning the crank, he did and they watched the green line.
“Just a hunch.” Senku cooed. Ukyo stiffened.
“Whats that?” Kim asked, pointing at a peak on the thin line.
“We’ve got something approaching from the cliffs! I think someone is coming after the ship in hopes of climbing aboard!” He called back through the communication tube. Kim stood and looked behind them, and watched Taiju leap overboard.
“Jesus Christ, man!” She gripped Ukyo’s chair. “Does he not fucking think?”
“That’s Taiju.” He laughed, watching the radar as Taiju swam to whoever was swimming after them. Kim sighed, rubbing her face, agreeing and walking to the front window.
Senku looked up from the deck and smiled at her. Grinning back, she waved.
“Adorable.” Ukyo teased.
“Don’t be jealous. You had your shot, unless you’re talking about him. Then you and I will have a problem.” She turned to him.
“I’m quite happy with my own. Don’t think Senku swings that way anyway.” Kim hummed.
“I’m not so sure about that.” Turning back in time to see Taiju drag Ginro over the railing of their ship.
“Did you happen to catch the name?” Ukyo asked quietly.
“Yeah. Fitting, I guess.” She crossed her arms. “If you don’t know the other side of the story.” He hummed in agreement, Kim laughed as everyone danced around Ginro. They clapped and chanted as they did so.
Senku went back to the communication tube, speaking near it for them to hear the already started conversation.
“Our first destination is a treasure island.”
“An island?”
“Which one? Where?”
“And why?!” Voices clamored up the metal tube as everyone spoke at once.
“We need to get our hands on a godly item that’ll help save all humanity! It’s on the island where my dad and his pals made their emergency landing. Where the astronauts and the Soyuz capsule slumber.” Senku paused, dramatic as always. “The place where the Hundred Tales began.”
~ “We’ll get platinum there. A metal even rarer than gold. We only need a tiny piece of it. That’ll be the catalyst for making more nitric acid then we’ll ever need.
“Then, a machine capable of producing unlimited revival fluid will be ours!” Senku explained once they had made it to the control room, which Ukyo told her was the actual name for the area.
She screwed up her face, mocking him in a high pitched voice. He pinched her leg, laughing at her imitation.
“Just one tiny piece, huh? You weren’t kidding about platinum being godly!” Taiju exclaimed loudly.
“Could have made some from poop, but even a tiny amount would have taken ages.” Senku countered.
“Plus, it’s disgusting.” Kim gagged.
“Who cares about that? Even if it was a small amount, why didn’t we make it anyway?” Kohaku asked.
“We have to consider Dunbar’s number.” Gen cut in. “The largest number of people that the human brain can typically maintain stable relationships with is 150 people.
“That effectively places an upper limit on the size of a community. It’s a number used when putting together military units and squads.” He paused, painting a grin on his face.
“And now, folks, it’s time for a quiz! What’s the total current population of our Kingdom of Science?”
Kim hummed, leaning into her chair. She knew, everyone had a file in her office. Whether they had come to see her or not. She had not only taken notes on their conditions, but also on where they were working, their affiliations and if they were villagers or not.
She probably knew more about their Kingdom’s citizens than Gen, Senku and Kokuyo combined. She listened quietly as they talked about the issues of reviving more people before they were ready.
The conversation finally circling back to the treasure chest they were looking for.
“The container we need is made of the materials that can withstand intense heat when reentering Earth’s atmosphere.” Senku smirked. “Luckily for us, they had the world’s sturdiest treasure chest on hand.”
“The Soyuz Capsule.” Kim answered. Senku glared at her for stealing his answer. She grinned as he raised his middle finger at her.
“So, you’re saying…”Taiju smacked his hand down on the table. “If we can find that capsule and the treasure inside, we’ll have all we need to save humanity!?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I just got done explaining.” Senku sighed at his dense friend. “Thank you for listening.”
“Within reason, of course.” Kim sat up. “We have to think about our resources too. Food, shelter, and the like.”
“Semantics.” Senku said, waving his hand. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
“We should have a plan…”
“We certainly have enough people to start searching!” Kohaku spoke over her. “Well, after thousands of years, who can say if that island is even there? We have no choice to go check!”
“Hey! I have a point to make too!” Kim loudly interrupted, standing.
“It’s far in the future, we can touch on it later.” Kohaku copied Senku’s hand wave.
“It’s a valid point we should touch on now, before we start increasing our numbers.” Gen slinked off to the doorway, brushing past Kim as she waved her hand. “We don’t need another war over control.”
“We won’t let that happen. We’ll just beat them into submission.” Magma grinned, smashing his fist into his palm.
“You can’t just punch everyone into obeying. You have to make it worth it to them. Just like at the Miracle Cave.
“If Senku hadn’t been able to offer Mirai’s revival, you all would have been toast. And don’t say you weren’t” she cut off Magma. “Between Tsukasa and Hyoga, alone, ya’ll would have your asses handed to you. No matter how many people you had converted to your side.
“You got fucking lucky!”
“Kim brings up a good point.” Ukyo agreed. “Brute force only goes so far.”
“Fine. We’ll table it for now. And we can come up with a plan after we get the platinum, deal?” Senku interjected. “Before we revive anyone, after Tsukasa.”
“Fine, deal.” Kim nodded. Gen called out for Senku. He met him near the doorway, Kim tilted her head, eavesdropping.
“One member of the power team over heard our previous discussion and is here to offer valuable information.” Gen explained.
“It’s you…”Senku froze, then jerked. “Wait, who are you, anyway? And why have I never learned your name?”
“He has no name. So, it’s no wonder why it never came up.” Kohaku said folding her arms.
“Yeah, I just put Yamada Taro on his file in the clinic.” Kim shrugged, as the three walked closer to the center of the room.
“I was wondering about that when writing up the crew manifest. I put down ‘No-Name’ as a place holder.”
The bald man with a gnarly scar on his head cleared his throat.
“S-sure, you can call me either of those. I don’t mind. Th-the truth is, I’m not originally from Ishigami Village. I washed up on the beach when I was a baby. A couple took pity and brought me home, claiming I was their child.” He shifted uncomfortable at the attention.
“My true name would have been too conspicuous in the Village, so I’ve lived without a name all these years. But, my actual name is Soyuz.”
END