The Brob Girl Ch 28: City Stealing, A Sorrowful Dream

The towering figure of a Brob loomed over the small Lilliputian city of Marwood, her immense frame casting a long shadow over the landscape. Her name was Cassara. She stood still, listening to music through her earbuds, bobbing her head slightly to the beat as she absentmindedly chewed a piece of gum. Her dark brown hair was tied back into a ponytail, and her glasses reflected the fading light of the setting sun. From her perspective, the city at her feet was nothing more than a cluster of tiny structures, barely the size of pebbles to her.

Cassara glanced down, noticing how close her boot was to the edge of the city, only a few inches away—well, to her, but to the Lilliputians, it might as well have been miles. The entire city seemed so fragile, almost delicate beneath her gaze.

She reached into the black backpack slung over her shoulder and rummaged for a moment before pulling out a small, clear container. It looked like something anyone might use for a simple errand, but to her, it was an essential tool for the job.

As she set the container on the ground, her wrist buzzed with a soft, warm glow. She turned her arm, noticing a small light flashing on her wristband. A smirk crept across her lips as she realized what was happening.

Tiny Lilliputian aircraft, no bigger than specks of dust to her, swarmed around her like gnats. They flew in erratic patterns, launching what were probably their most advanced weapons in a desperate attempt to stop her.

Cassara chuckled, a low sound that echoed across the landscape. "How cute," she muttered under her breath.

The Lilliputians' efforts were useless—she barely felt anything. She wasn't here to play games with them; she had a task to complete. She ignored the tiny ships, continuing with her work as if their attacks were nothing more than a slight breeze.

Cassara carefully placed the container on the ground, making sure it sat securely in the dirt just outside the city limits. As she stood back up, her phone rang, vibrating softly in her pocket. She paused the music in her earbuds and answered the call, already knowing who it was.

"Cassara," the voice on the other end greeted her. It was her boss.

"I'm at the location now," Cassara replied, glancing down at the city again. "The retrieval will go as planned. It's only a matter of time before the whole place is in the container."

"Good," her boss said, his voice steady. "This has been a tricky one. We can't afford mistakes."

"No kidding," Cassara said, rolling her eyes. "You wouldn't believe the hoops I had to jump through just to get here. Ever since Lilliputian city selling became illegal, they've tightened security everywhere. It's harder for us Brobs to even enter the Lilliputian realm, let alone take anything out without getting noticed. We're going to have to start being more careful."

Her boss sighed. "We'll adapt. But speaking of careful, we've got a new job lined up for you right after this one."

"Oh?" Cassara's interest was piqued. She dug her fingers into the ground, the earth giving way to her touch like soft sand, as she lazily traced her hand through the dirt.

"We've found him," her boss continued after a brief pause. "The originator."

Cassara froze, her fingers still buried in the soil. A wicked grin slowly spread across her face. "You've got to be kidding me," she said, her voice dripping with excitement. "The originator? The one they've been chasing for years?"

"The very same," her boss confirmed. "But we'll talk more once this city is secured. Focus on the task at hand."

Cassara nodded, even though her boss couldn't see her. "Understood." She looked down at Marwood again, her smile never fading. This city would soon be gone, and now, with this new mission on the horizon, things were about to get even more interesting.

***

Michael stood in the warm sunlight, looking up at his father. The sun’s rays beamed down from behind his father, casting a shadow over his face, hiding his eyes. His father’s smile, however, was clear as day.

“Remember, Michael,” his father said, his voice steady and calm, “listen to your mother.” He placed a hand on Michael’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “And maybe, just maybe, I’ll let you in on what I’ve been working on in the lab.”

Michael’s face lit up with excitement. He had always been curious about the secret projects his father was involved in. The chance to finally know what his father had been working on felt like the greatest gift.

“It’s something big,” his father continued, his gaze softening as he looked at his son. “Something that will improve the lives of so many of our kind.”

But then, the scene changed.

Michael stood on the edge of a cliff, looking down at a massive crater. It stretched far and wide, shaped like a giant footprint. Where once a bustling city had been, now there was nothing but devastation. Mountains lay split in half, the ground torn apart, deep cracks running through the earth.

Tears welled up in Michael’s eyes as he stared at the destruction. In the distance, he could see his father standing at the edge of the crater, his back turned toward him. Slowly, his father began to turn around, his own eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry…” his father said, his voice filled with sorrow and regret. He paused, wiping at his eyes. “But one day, you will understand. One day, you will be ready.”

The words echoed in Michael’s mind, heavy with meaning. But before he could say anything, everything around him began to blur.

Michael jolted awake, his heart racing. He found himself lying on a soft white napkin, the fabric beneath him almost as large as a football field. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. It had been just a dream—just a dream.

From where he lay, he could see Abbie and Monica sitting on a nearby couch, their voices low as they chatted with each other. The TV flickered in front of them, casting a soft glow across the room.

“A dream…” Michael whispered to himself. He wiped his eyes, trying to shake off the lingering feelings. “Just a dream.”