Interdimensional Chapter 3

“I'm 99 for a moment
And dying for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are.” – 100 years (Five for Fighting)

It’s still dark when Ford woke up. He wondered how much more time will be before the sun rises. He slept well, very well, that he never gained on Earth, he suddenly noticed that he had spent (and wasted) a lot of time building a Portal that he barely had enough sleep. He held up his hand, staring at his feature, he’s still in his Kalefyn form, he should get used to it, for he’ll be looking like this for a long time. Yet he wish he could be able to roam in his human form. Why is it that Meerians so harsh with his race? Yet somehow they have reasons to hate humans. He got up and peek through the glass window. He saw some of the neighbors were outside and getting ready, he noted by any hour now the sun will rise. His watch was no use on this Dimension, whatever time it reads, he didn’t know, whether it’s morning or afternoon or evening. He learned that this Dimension has a longer time of day, yet he didn’t know how long. He didn’t asked Leaj about it, yet. He glanced up towards the loft bedroom, she still on her sleep right now.

After a few minutes of pacing and wondering around the house, Ford decided to do something. For once in his life, he never gotten bored until now, he’s not used to not doing anything, like researching, and studying stuff. But of course, he couldn’t do such thing by now, especially he’s in unfamiliar environment. So he decided to head to the kitchen.

He opened the storage cabinet which he still amused of, remembering how amazed he was when Leaj showed this on him last night.

The kitchen was almost the same as the common human kitchen. Leaj reached for the button on the left cabinet. As the button sounded, it opened and cold air rushed through, Ford could only left his mouth open.

“That’s a built-in refrigerator?” He pointed.

Leaj raised her brow. “No, this is a storage cabinet... You see, these buttons are for temperature adjustments, depends of what kind of things you’ll store.” She pointed on a three button below the cabinet door. “So whenever you like to get your stuff cold, you just press the blue one. To make it stay warm, press the red, and for just room temperature you can stay as neutral which I usually used.” She explained.

“That’s so amazing; I kinda wanted to have a house like this.” Ford looked around.

“Every house in this world has these.” She said.

Snapping back to the present, he shakes his head noting he looked so stupid. He opened the cabinet and took out some meat and veggies. Leaj told him some of Meerian cuisines, from meats to green leafy veggies. It’s a bit similar to Earth’s. He just hopes that it tasted the same as the human dishes.

He put it on the table thinking what would be the best recipe suits these foods. Ford might be guy keyed up to his studies and books, but he wouldn’t let himself to get starve. So he had learned several recipes to cook for himself, ever since he studied college, became independent, until he reached Gravity Falls, he learned to survive, he’s a fast learner anyway. So he started to cook to whatever knowledge he has, using these Meerian ingredients.

Leaj woke up at the sound on her alarm. She groaned as she pressed the holographic clock to shut it off. She stared at the ceiling. She’s not the early bird, she barely got up on mornings, she’s more of a night owl, burying herself in studies, researches or designs, until her eyes got tired that’s when she finally stops. But last night was different. She couldn’t do her job with Ford around. She never get used to others seeing her do personal work, except for Nima’re and her sister. Nima’re never even cares to stared at her screen and designs while she works. She get used to be by herself for a long time. She got used to her loneliness and guilt. Resulting to her being paranoid, yes, she’s paranoid at times, and last night wasn’t an exemption. She glanced up to her holographic wall up to her loft bedroom to watched Ford. Of course it’s just normal to be alert knowing she has a stranger in her house.

She watched him as he looked around, until he falls asleep. She thought it would be so good if her sister Dia was the one who got pulled in by the Portal instead of this guy. But she just wouldn’t let him leave behind, especially he came out from her Portal, if the Council saw him walking around, they’ll interrogate him for sure and they’ll find out that she’s still working on the Portal. Yes, she was caught the first time, the time when she lost her sister. The Council firmly told her to stop building such Portal, resulting to her sister’s disappearance.

But she didn’t listen; she knew her sister was still out there, somewhere. She knows how complicated it is to build it, yet she’s building a Portal, not because she wanted to, but she wanted to bring back her sister.

She snapped out from her thoughts, remembering she has a guest to take care of. She was heading downstairs when she smelled something savoury. She head to the kitchen to find out Ford cooking. She blinked; she also noted the slight mess on the table and on the sink. Ford didn’t notice her, yet she stared at his silent gesture.

“Wow.” She said.

Ford turned, his eyes wide, looks surprised seeing her. “Uhmm. I thought of preparing breakfast since it’s still early.” He said chuckling nervously.

“You... You shouldn’t bother.” She gestured. “I didn’t know you can cook.” She said, looking at the pot.

“I... Mostly live by myself so I learned how to cook.” He answered, turning the stove off.

“Sorry for the mess though. I’m gonna clean that up.” He said.

“Judging it, seems like you have a hard time using those tools.” Leaj pointed out the cooking tools that laid around the sink clumsily.

“Yeah, I might get use to it one day.” Ford rubbed his nape. He felt stupid using the tools, first time, the only thing he managed to use easily was a knife. It’s just the same as the knives use in Earth but the difference is, it could slice even a gristly meat. He still have to find the ‘on’ button for the stove to use though.

“What do you think?” Ford looked at Leaj as she takes a mouthful from her bowl.

She raised her brow, looking at her food. “This is good.” She’s amused and takes another spoonfull of soup.

“Thanks! I never thought I’ll cook something in other dimensions.” He snickered.

Leaj made a slight chuckled. Her eyes downcasted.

“You know you can tell me honestly if it wasn’t good.” Ford joked.

“No. It’s great!” Leaj snorted. “It’s just that, it’s been a long time since someone cooked for me.”

Ford’s face changes. “Ohhh. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Leaj waved her hand. “My sister used to cook stuff here. I hate cooking, so she’s the one who mastered all the cooking.” She said.

“It’s been a long time, since she’s gone, I have to cook for myself, and I hated that.” She added.

“Won’t Nima’re cook for you? She seems to be here often.” Ford asked.

Leaj shook her head. “As if she’ll cook for me. Nima’re and I are the same, we both hated cooking. Yet she have to learn to cook coz eventually she’ll have her own family.”

Ford raised his brow.

“She’s getting married soon.” Leaj noted his expression.

“Ohh. Congratulations to her.” He said.

Leaj nodded. “She deserves it. She longed for it.” A slight chuckle followed. “I guess if it wasn’t for me, she already got married.”

Ford furrowed. “Why’d you say that?”

“She always thinks of me, since Dia disappeared. A part of me got lost and she filled it, she could be annoying sometimes with those gig invitations all over again, but I love her.” She takes another spoonful of soup. “She deserves to be happy though. Someway we’re not getting younger anymore.”

Ford began to wonder how long could a certain Meerian lives. Judging by her looks, she could be at the same age as him. “Leaj, I know this could be awkward and rude to ask. But I was wondering how long could be the lifespan of Meerian be? I know that it differs what kind of race you are. Yet this world is so different right?

Leaj stayed silent for a few seconds. “You’re right it depends on the species, yet, generally, we lived for thousands of years, yet we never make it to a hundred thousand years..”

Ford’s eyes widened. “You lived that long?!”

She added. “It’s not like we’re immortals, we still know the meaning of death.”

Ford glanced. “But… Mind if I ask, how old are you?... Sorry I’m just curious.” He felt like he shouldn’t ask.

“I’m 840 this year.” Leaj takes a final spoon of soup.

“840?!” This Kalefyn is something. “You’ve been living like many generations.” He said.

“Noting the way you react, I’d say, you didn’t quite live that long?” She raised her brow.

“We don’t, though thousand years back, people were living about a hundred years, but not today, it is rare that someone will get the age of 100 these days.” Ford explained. “Your race is pretty amazing.”

“Thanks. Though I don’t know how long will I live. Who knows.” She said. “I wonder how it feels like to live in a short time? You’ve never lived that long?”

Ford chuckled. “I don’t know, I guess, because we live that long, we don’t exactly think of that much, though, it feels like, there’s a lot things to do, yet life is so short.”

“You’re right.” She rested her elbow on the table, thinking for seconds.

“How old are you then?”

Ford pursed his lip. “I’m 30 years old.”

Leaj looked at him. “You’re so young!”

“I know you’d say that.” He gulped.

“I never get to study human ages and lifespan when I traveled to Earth. It’s just a short time. Your world has a short time, literally.” She said.

“I know, you must be surprised when you realize how fast the time in Earth could be.” He noted.

“I admit, I am. Which feels weird.” She remarked.

“Same as I feel in here.” Ford said. “Speaking of time, how long a day takes in this world? Do you also have a calendar?”

“We do have a calendar.” She takes her device and tap a few buttons, then a holographic chart of days pops in. Ford easily gets the picture since it a bit similar to Earth’s calendar, they also have 7 days in a week yet a month consist of more than 4 weeks, Ford assumes that the columns are the months.

“We only have four months in a year, and 60 days in a month. These months were named after the seasons. Although seasons may vary each year.” She pointed each columns and days. “And you know there were 46 hours a day.” She then tap the buttton turnng off the hologram.

“I tell you all these details so you not be surprised eventually.” She noted Ford’s silence.

“I’ll always be. This world is full of surprises.” Ford snorted. Leaj smiled, shaking her head as she got up.

“Well, get ready yourself for some surprises then.” She said, taking Ford’s empty bowl and washed it.

“Where are we going? To the city?” He asked in curiousity, twitching up those furry ears.    

“No. I’m gonna take you back to the lab for a while, while I work. You’ll get easily notice in this place. And, I don’t want Nima’re catching you here.”

Ford let out a small pout, lowering his ears. “Oh... Is it very dangerous here?”

“Not at all, everywhere you go, there’s danger. I just want to keep your secret safe, for your sake and for me too.” She sneered.

“I agree. That, I get. Alright.” He chuckled.

“Don’t worry, eventually we’ll going anywhere. We have to, there are few parts of the portal we needed though.” She said finishing the dish. “For now, I also need you to stay on the lab until I get back from work, so you can study and made a research for the solutions of that portal.”

“Don’t expect me to find a solution that quickly. I still have to figure out how your portal functions. And also these... Technology.” He waved gesturing the things around the house.

“I know that’s why I need you to stay there.” She said bluntly. “Get ready yourself and we’re going in a few minutes.”