"Nivra, hey!" Xaiden responded, still breathless from rushing back to the desk. Jax pulled another chair from the room and sat beside him quietly.
"I have news!" Nirva gushed. "I talked to my mom, and you were right!"
"Right about what exactly?"
"This radio is special!" She continued. "My mom said it was passed down on her dad's side and it belonged to the person who received Writer's transmission way back then."
"I did tell you that."
"I know! I just had no idea something like that could just be sitting in our house, I thought it'd be in a museum or something!" Nirva continued excitedly. "I guess different family members have repaired and maintained the device hoping that you guys would reach out again, and you have! I still can't believe it!"
"Right?" Xaiden replied encouragingly as Jax made circular motions with his hand while mouthing "keep her talking!"
"It's really a shame though," Nivra said sadly. "I mean, the whole program with the government has been disbanded for a while now. Mom said it's great that I'm talking to you, but she said it won't do much good anymore, especially since you don't seem to know anything."
"Umm, what?" Xaiden responded, confused and more than a little offended.
"It's kind of like, a sequel to a story that ended badly, no one really wants to read it. Basically, I can talk to you if I want, but no one else is really interested anymore."
"You're not making sense again." Xaiden replied. "I mean, if you're talking about the Book of Wisdom, it didn't end badly even if it's complete gibberish."
"That's exactly what I mean about it ending badly. You don't even believe it. The book failed, Writer failed. It is what it is, and people are tired of trying."
"Are we not going to talk about our failed meetup?" Xaiden asked, deciding to change the subject away from the cult mindset she was so entrenched in.
"I did go, but I knew I wouldn't see you there." Nivra replied testily.
"How would you have known if I was there or not? We should have thought about this sooner, but we didn't even decide on a way to signal each other. We don't know what the other looks like either."
"I think I would recognize you instantly." She argued. "But for the record, I'm in my last year of high school so I was wearing my school uniform - maroon and orange, I'm fairly tall, and have golden blond hair and hazel eyes."
"That could describe almost anyone. I meant something more specific, like a red handkerchief tied a certain way. Or just holding a sign up, 'Writer' or 'Book of Wisdom' would have worked even better."
"You're kind of missing the point though. You went somewhere you think I meant, but I know that we were in two different places. We were never going to meet."
"What are you talking about? You're the one who picked the coordinates!" Jax said exasperatedly, glancing at Jax and drawing a circle with his finger next to his head while rolling his eyes.
"Tell me what you saw at those coordinates?"
"A big old tree, duh."
"For me, those coordinates lead to memorial grounds, honoring those who lost their lives when our planets went to war."
"Nirva, you can't tell me that you honestly believe that you're on a different planet right now. If you had just met me at the tree, you would see that this is all an elaborate lie you've been taught since you were born."
"You took the words out of my mouth." Nivra replied, her voice cracking a little. "It's really sad that you guys get to believe you are and have been the only planet when you're the ones who pushed us out in the first place."
Xaiden glanced at Jax, who shook his head in shock. "Wow, she really means it." Jax said. "I mean, I guess it's no surprise since she was raised to think that way, but still. What a terrifying way to live."
Xaiden took a deep breath before replying. "Nivra, I understand that this must seem very scary and confusing for you, but I'd really like you to try to meet me on neutral grounds. Do you know how to look up specific coordinates?"
"Ha, that's such an infantilizing question."
"I'm only asking because there's clearly been a mixup with the coordinates we used last time."
"I'm not going to go trying to meet you again, so don't waste your breath." Nivra replied angrily. "I really thought you'd get it if we picked a place and our descriptions didn't match, but clearly not because you think I'm a liar, or worse, crazy!"
"I didn't say you were crazy," Xaiden huffed. "I just think you've been taught something that isn't true and if you'd give me a chance, I could prove it! But if you want to live your entire life in fear, believing there's this planet out there plotting your demise, be my guest."
"Yeah, I can see why Mom said this was pointless." Nivra said, her voice thick with emotion. "I think we're done talking now. Have a great life, Writer."