(TATB) Ch 18: Communication & Understanding!

(Sydney)

Stepping into my room, I could barely keep myself contained. My hands trembled slightly as I placed the communication device—still resting on the napkin—next to the edge of their little city. The fact that I was actually talking to the Lilliputians in my closet? It felt like a dream. Not just seeing them build and thrive but hearing them. Understanding their voices. This was the kind of thing I'd only fantasized about since I was a kid.

I crouched down carefully, making sure not to block too much light with my shadow as I looked into the miniature city. "I still can't believe this," I said, unable to stop smiling. "This is incredible. Thank you so much for letting me talk to you guys!"

"It's been a pleasure, Skylar," a voice replied through the communicator—clearer now, though it was still slightly staticky. "My name's Sydney. I worked with my father, Gabriel, to create this communication device. We've been tweaking it for a few days now, and I'm so glad it's working."

Sydney. I grinned at his excitement, which felt so contagious. "Sydney, huh? And Gabriel? So you two are the brains behind this miracle."

Sydney chuckled. "I wouldn't say miracle, but... well, yeah, we did our best."

I leaned in a little closer, my eyes scanning over the tiny structures they'd begun building. "Well, your best is pretty amazing. This place is already starting to look like a real city."

"Thanks! My dad's actually been working on getting more permanent houses set up," Sydney explained, his tone shifting slightly. "Right now, most of us are still living in the tents we brought over, but we're hoping to have everyone in proper homes soon. It's just... slow going. There are only twelve of us, after all."

I bit my lip, nodding thoughtfully. "That makes sense. You're doing so much with so little. I'm seriously impressed."

"Thanks," a deeper voice chimed in. This must've been Gabriel. "But honestly, Skylar, we could use more hands. There's only so much we can do with the people we have. I'm not complaining, but... it'd be nice to have more help."

I sat back on my heels, feeling a pang of guilt. Gabriel wasn't blaming me, but I could tell how much he was struggling to make this place livable for everyone. "I hear you," I said softly. "I promise, I'm planning to bring more Lilliputians here. It's just... complicated. The law's on your side now, technically, but it's not like every Brob follows it. And getting you guys out of those situations isn't exactly cheap."

There was a pause on the other end before Gabriel replied, "We understand. We're just grateful for everything you've done so far. Seriously."

That made my chest warm, but it also strengthened my resolve. "I mean it," I said firmly. "As soon as I get my next paycheck, I'll do everything I can to save more of you."

Sydney's voice returned, lighter now. "You're amazing, Skylar. Really."

I laughed, feeling a little flustered. "Okay, okay, don't make me blush. So, who else is here? I'd love to meet everyone."

Sydney didn't miss a beat. "Oh, absolutely. Let me introduce you."

One by one, the Lilliputians stepped forward—or at least, the ones willing to meet me.

The first was a woman named Meara. Even from my height, I could tell she carried herself with confidence. "Thank you for everything," she said, her tone straightforward but genuine.

Her companions—Connor, Nate, and Holly—were more reserved. Connor was polite but shy, keeping his words to a minimum. Holly barely said anything at all, though her quiet strength was obvious. Nate, on the other hand, started out shy but quickly warmed up, throwing in a few subtle compliments that bordered on flirting.

I couldn't help but giggle. "Nate, you're trouble, aren't you?"

"Who, me?" he replied, feigning innocence.

Meara rolled her eyes. "Don't encourage him."

After that, I met Vu and Nemu, two of the Lilliputians I'd accidentally... well, almost killed. The memory made me cringe. "I'm so, so sorry about that," I said, feeling my face heat up. "I swear, I'll be more careful from now on."

Vu waved it off with a smile. "No harm done. Honestly, we're just thankful for your kindness."

Nemu nodded, but I couldn't shake the feeling that they were holding something back. Still, I decided not to press them. They'd share when they were ready.

By this point, I was keeping a mental tally. "Okay, I've met seven of you, but by my count, there should be... what, four more?"

Sydney hesitated, his tone dimming slightly. "Well, three of them are... let's just say, not the easiest to deal with. They're not exactly fans of Brobs, so they've been keeping their distance."

That stung a little, even though I understood why. "Oh," I said softly. "I guess I'll give them some time, then."

"Probably for the best," Sydney agreed. "But there's one more person I really think you should meet."

Before I could ask who, I heard murmurs rising from the Lilliputian crowd. The tone was different this time—lighter, almost happy.

"Good idea," someone said.

"Yeah, where is he?"

I blinked, leaning in slightly. "Who are we talking about?"

"Victor," Sydney said simply.

The way he said the name made my curiosity spike. "Victor?"

"Yep," Sydney replied, his voice tinged with a mix of amusement and respect. "Trust me, you'll want to meet him."

I couldn't explain it, but something about the way they said his name made my heart skip a beat.