Bonus Features - Jazz Hands

“Are you ready?” M’natherine asked. Both her tone, and facial expression were serious. That was a rare thing for her. Her face was eerily lit by the red glow of the drop-ship’s cockpit. The sound of whirring propellers almost drowned out Rayne’s thumping heartbeat.

Almost.

The drop-ship slowed to a stop in the air, causing them to lean just a little before sitting straight again. Then it began to descend.

“You don’t have to do this you know,” Marcus said. He was pacing, actually pacing with nervousness. “I know I’ve been training you, but…” he pressed a hand to his mouth, unable to say much more.

“You’ve trained me well,” Rayne said. A genuine smile on her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She was afraid that if it did, the water she was holding back would be let loose. “And I can do this.”

She nodded to herself, and M’natherine gave her a fist in the air. A powerful salute, an acknowledgment of everything that Rayne was, and everything that she could ever be.

“If…” Marcus finally spoke again. “If you make it back, I will consider you a full fledged Explorer.”

Rayne’s eyes gleamed as the red light clicked to green, the aura in the ship changing as she felt the shudder of landing gear as it touched the ground.

“Then I have no choice,” Rayne said. “I will make it back. I have to.”

The ramp began to lower with a whine, and she took a step. Then another and another and—!

“Whoop! Whoop!” Dustbunny cried. He was sitting atop David’s head wearing star shaped sunglasses even though the sun had gone down hours ago. “It is officially part-ay time!” The two of them were waiting at the bottom of the ramp, next to Rick and Vivien.

“I really don’t think that karaoke was the best choice,” Rick murmured. “I mean, Vivien can’t really…"

“Oh…” David blinked. He hadn't even thought of that. “Oh, um…”

“I can sing just fine thank you,” Vivien rolled her eyes. “I have my hearing aid. And…” she struck a pose and did a flurry of gestures with her hands. “You’ve never seen jazz hands like these.”

“You can do jazz with your hands?” Dust was astonished.

Rayne sighed. It was gonna be a long night.