Story: "The Hand of Sedna" (Part 5 of 5): ysabetwordsmith

Story: "The Hand of Sedna" (Part 5 of 5)

I wrote this story for a fat-positive contest last year, although the voting eventually stalled out with some finalists selected but no winner(s) announced. Recently I went back to the story in light of my new Terramagne setting, and it fits that very nicely. Here, then, is a team of fat superheras of assorted ethnicity. The story has been sponsored by an anonymous donor and I'll be posting it in sections.

Begin with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

"The Hand of Sedna" Part 5

Everyone gathered at Kesuk's house for a celebratory party, and they had a lot to celebrate. Naartok, Hamako, and Kesuk had their college acceptance letters. Pakak had lined up an internship at a company that supplied wilderness guides to tourists and scientists.

Even Hamako's girlfriend Michi was visiting for the weekend, with news about green energy. "Several companies in the field are looking for opportunities in Alaska, because drilling for oil has gotten really unpopular after the Deepwater Horizon disaster," she said. "The computer science department is all over these terrific programs to predict what kind of yield the different technologies could produce up here." Michi showed a few examples on her laptop. "See, we have wind on the coasts, geothermal heat near the hot springs, and solar everywhere during the summer months."

"Oyuki did a documentary on green energy in Japan recently," Hamako added. "I think Japan has had it with nuclear reactors."

"Good," Naartok said firmly. Then she thought about another story she'd been following. "I think we should try getting in touch with Oyuki. There are First Nations people protesting the tar sands and pipelines and drilling, all kinds of things. If we can get people to cooperate on green energy plans, we might manage to overwhelm the opposition with alternative resources."

"That's a good idea," Ahnah said. Just then, her smartphone whistled the sweet notes of a song sparrow. She glanced at it and smiled. "According to #savethearctic, Shell just cancelled the drilling plan for our area in hopes of finding a more promising oil field elsewhere." Cheers filled the room.

"I guess that means Mr. Moore is out of work," Kesuk said. "I didn't really like him, but he came through anyhow."

"I still have his home email address from when we hacked his company database," Hamako said. "I'll send him the information about the companies researching green energy here -- maybe he can find a new job with one of them."

"This calls for cake," said Kesuk's mother Chu. From the kitchen she brought a three-layer chocolate cake frosted in dark chocolate, and a cheesecake topped with lingonberry preserves.

Pakak hurried to scoot the heavy coffee table into position. He'd been lifting weights. Naartok grinned at that; he wasn't quite the wisp he was before, with his muscles starting to show. Springs creaked faintly as she sat down next to him. Kesuk's family had a hide-a-bed couch so that the metal bedframe would provide extra support; it could take their combined weight. Naartok looped an arm around Pakak and pulled him close.

Chu dished out the cake and then refilled everyone's glasses. "To the future," she said.

Naartok clinked her cranberry juice against Pakak's glass. "To the future," they chorused.

* * *

Notes:

Alaska looks to green energy as prices rise for fossil fuels. Local companies offer equipment.

Protests are growing against tar sands and other nonrenewable energy in Alaska and Canada.

Lingonberries are popular in northern diets. They make excellent preserves.

[To be continued ...]

siliconshaman

July 2 2013, 11:01:13 UTC 8 years ago

New comment

*Sigh* If only it was that easy... [and I know, waking a Goddess isn't 'easy' but waking a corporations collective conscience is harder.]

Yes...

ysabetwordsmith

July 5 2013, 08:20:01 UTC 7 years ago

Dealing with one powerful, aggressive, occasionally cannibalistic goddess ... probably is easier than giving a conscience to a psychopath. 0_o

Re: Yes...

July 5 2013, 11:01:39 UTC 7 years ago Edited: July 5 2013, 11:02:36 UTC

I dunno, at least getting Her attention is possible.. [ok, you might not enjoy it when you do..] whereas doing anything with a corporation is like punching holes in fog. More like trying to give a conscience to an ADHD psychopath with the inability to form long-term memories.

I'd take my chances with Her as well...