Vertin: Spathodea, it's not all your fault.
The tools are scattered all over the place, but no one is working at the site. The young girl sits on the ground, leaning against the timber and burying her head into her palms.
Spathodea: No, you don't have to be nice. I'm not capable of the job.
Spathodea: I should've known when I couldn't even fill in some forms correctly. I don't know how to supervise the construction team. They all left and my schedule is in a mess now.
Spathodea: I'm hasty and careless. I actually lost my temper with the people who tried to help me.
Spathodea: And, I also did that to Ezra ... sobs
Lowering her head even further, Spathodea sobs and rubs her eyes.
Spathodea: I know he has no ill intention, and he's not a bad guy. Maybe some humans mistreated us, but that has nothing to do with him ... and all the others ...
Spathodea: I should've got out of his face right away! I screwed up the Uluru Games. What I did was not out of friendship or sportsmanship at all. I'm just a nuisance not qualified for the Priestess.
Ulu: Flammy, listen. Come here, listen to me.
The flame flies near her and wipes the tears and snot off her face.
Ulu: Everyone makes mistakes. That's what your mom told you when I was still asleep, remember?
Spathodea: sobs Yes ...
Ulu: Everyone makes mistakes, especially young people.
Ulu: We were of the same age in the past. It feels awkward to talk like an elder to you, but now, I have to address you as "child."
Ulu: You are 14 now. Remember what I was like at your age? I appeared out of the campfire, so young and naive. My flame was beautiful, yet lethal as well. I couldn't control myself, not to mention understand others.
Spathodea: But my ...
Spathodea: My situation is different. I said something really bad, and I already ...
Ulu: It's impossible that you make no mistake or do everything perfectly. You just need to face them and learn from them. You stepped into the muddy river, that's fine, just keep going towards the clean stream.
Ulu: The point is, you must know your mistake and apologize to the friends you've hurt.
Ulu: You still have room for improvement and the opportunity to avoid the lasting regret.
Spathodea: Lasting regret? What's worse than what I'm dealing with? I can't think of anything. Ulu, I'm screwed.
Spathodea: Maybe Flammy is a better choice for you than Spathodea. My name has changed, and I can no longer be your best partner, neither can I be Vertin's good partner, nor Ezra's, nor Desert Flannel's.
The little girl asks her question, with uncontainable tears running down her cheeks.
Spathodea: This is my second life, but I still feel like an idiot. What was I like in the previous life? Did I grow up? Did I hurt my friend? Did I have fights with you?
Ulu: ...
Ulu: Remember our fight, Flammy?
Spathodea: Yes, we were arguing who contributed the most to the first Games. What a trifle!
Ulu: That's right. We had a huge fight, over this trifle.
Ulu: We never meant to win the fight. All we wanted was recognition and love, but in the end, we didn't talk anymore. This lasted for several days.
Ulu: Then I tried to find you to make it up.
Spathodea: Make it up? I-I don't remember that at all!
Ulu: Because I didn't make it.
Ulu: You were in the distance when I found you. The next second, you were attacked by a toxic red snake ambushing from the bush. Its venom made you pass out within seconds.
Ulu: The witch doctors stayed by your bed for three days before they sent you to the grave. I didn't even have the chance to apologize.
The dim flame keeps flickering.
Large tears roll down Ulu's face and drop into the fire, evaporating into steam, sizzling.
Ulu: You never grew up, my friend.
Ulu: I'm already an old flame after such a long time, while you are still a teenage girl.
Ulu: So, I'm really happy to see you again and really sorry that we once grew apart.
Spathodea: I see. Thank you for telling me, Ulu.
Spathodea opens her arms and wraps her friend.
She feels tears dripping on her chest, but soon they get warm inside the heat of the flame.
Spathodea: You were in my heart, dear friend. We once burned together as a whole.
Spathodea: No one knows my heartbeat better than you do. I will grow up, as you wish.
Spathodea: I will find Ezra and make it up to him.
Desert Flannel: Ha ... Isn't that convenient ...? Here we are!
Hair messed up, the owner of the voice supports herself with hands on her knees, panting.
Vertin: Desert Flannel? Ezra? What's the hurry?
Desert Flannel: That ... That was ... Hell, those guys were chasing us like crazy!
Desert Flannel: Anyway, that's why we are out of breath. A paparazzi was following us, and as we were running in the desert, we-we ran into a bunch of Thorny Devils!
Vertin: I see. We'll deal with this problem before we talk.
Vertin: Give me five minutes. They will no longer be a problem for us.
COMBAT
Spathodea: Hah! Fireee uppercuuut!!
Thorny Lizard: GAAAAARH!
The counterattack finally stops the Thorny Devils. Hissing and moaning, the monsters turn tails to hide in the darkness.
Spathodea: Yes! Finally drove them away!
Journalist: Two weeks ago, you were in the column WHOSE HEART IS HURT BY FIRE, KANGEROOS AND HOUSING STRESS?.
Spathodea: ...?
Yet another trouble is approaching, accompanied by dazzling flash lights.
Journalist: Would you care to make a statement?
Ulu: That was just an accident! Not a misconduct!
Ulu: F-Fire goes out of control very easily, as it's fire, after all. Young people ...
Makower: Besides, you and your fellow team members were seen chasing after a metal UFO on the back of a wooden horse.
Makower: Rumor also has it that an alien power is behind the revival of the Uluru Games, and the very power has also controlled your mind. Would you run a check-up to clarify?
Ezra: What do you mean? Mr. aliEn T is good and kind. He has never had any ill thoughts!
Journalist: Huh? Mr. aliEn T? Is that the name?
Excitement beams from the journalists' eyes. Countless microphones are reached out towards Ezra.
Ezra: ... Uh ...
Makower: So you've known this alien well. Are you involved in the evil plans of taking over Earth? Are you an evil scientist?
Makower: When and where did you first meet this alien as an evil scientist working for Laplace? What was your first thought of the meeting?
Vertin: The answer is much simpler than you think.
Slouch Hat: An arcane ritual shimmers, silhouetting a figure against the light.
Vertin: Mr. aliEn T and I met in a very simple way.
Vertin: It was in the office of a Foundation branch, New Mexico, USA.
Vertin: My first thought ... Well, "There's a 'UFO' here."
Spathodea: Vertin, you're back! Hmm? What's that thing beside you?
Slouch Hat: Greetings, Ms. Spathodea. I've heard about the legendary story of yours.
Slouch Hat: An Australia slouch hat decorated with a parrot feather is floating in the air beside Vertin.
Vertin: He's a hat ...
Vertin: As well as a helping hand.
Slouch Hat: And greetings to everyone. I'm Slouch Hat.
Makower: D*n it, go, go!
Slouch Hat: Unlike them, I'm sure most of you in the media industry know or at least have heard of me.
Slouch Hat: Slouch Hat flies in the air elegantly, as if its invisible owner took it off from their head, put it before his chest, and bowed to the people.
Slouch Hat: I'm a member of the Northern Australia Rangers, also the spokesman of the St. Pavlov Foundation Australia Branch.
Slouch Hat: These days, the re-opening of the Uluru Games has attracted much focus, and speculations have reached such a pitch that we have to respond.
Slouch Hat: Here I will answer your questions about the Uluru Games ...
Slouch Hat: Starting from you, the ardent Mr. Makower.
Called by their name, the leader of the crowd slowly turns around.
Makower: Of course, it's my pleasure.
Desert Flannel: Haha! Did you see Makower's face?
Desert Flannel: Aah, it made my day. I feel happy! Contented! Overjoyed! Now that we have the Foundation's people on our side, he can b***r off for good!
Vertin: You know him well?
Spathodea: He's her enemy, Vertin.
Vertin: He's your enemy?
Desert Flannel: Ah ... Ah-ah, mind what you're saying! We are not enemies. I don't even know him.
Spathodea: You don't even know him? And he's not your enemy? I don't quite get your relationship.
Ulu: Things can be complicated between men and women nowadays. You're still too young to understand it. Don't worry. You will get it at my age.
Vertin: So it's a kind of experience one must grow old enough to learn.
Vertin: The current life expectancy is 50-75 years. I don't think I will ever reach your age ...
Desert Flannel: No no no! Don't put it like that! You're confusing the kids!
Desert Flannel bounces up from the sofa, waving her arms between Ulu and Ezra to separate them.
Desert Flannel: Alright! Now, I, as one of the parties involved in this story, will explain it to you very clearly. Ahem …
Spathodea: Wait!
Desert Flannel: A-ah ... coughs What?!
Spathodea: Where's Ezra? He's not here!
Desert Flannel: He just went back to his room. He didn't come out when we left.
Rubbing her neck to clear her throat, Desert Flannel nods in the direction of Ezra's room.
Desert Flannel: Are you going to talk to him first, or will you stay for my little anecdote? I won't tell the story again, it's way too embarrassing to tell it twice.
Spathodea: I, emm ... I ...
The girl hesitates.
But kids can never say no to a story.
Spathodea: I'll listen to your story first, and I'll go talk to him right away!