{"id":4476,"date":"2024-08-05T03:59:40","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T09:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/djangodurango.com\/?p=4476"},"modified":"2025-06-03T09:41:30","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T15:41:30","slug":"airplanes-in-the-ocean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/djangodurango.com\/?p=4476","title":{"rendered":"Airplanes in the Ocean"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

999 was feeling charitable this evening. That was what she told herself at least. The conversation she\u2019d overheard on Christmas Day had left her with a disquieted feeling and after some cursory introspection, she\u2019d decided it was merely residual Christmas spirit compelling her to do a good deed. Seeing Pioneer and Pilot finally – finally <\/em> – together\u2026 999 wouldn\u2019t go so far as to say it was U-505\u2019s interference that closed the deal (submarines were inelegant shunters), but it made one feel very generous with one\u2019s yardmates.<\/p>\n

It would be a favor to 727 though. If the U-boat benefited too, then that was neither here nor there.<\/p>\n

999 felt a lot less nonchalant about it when she found herself having to actively look for U-505. He wasn\u2019t suspended on his rollers outside, much to her annoyance and yet also to her relief. It meant she\u2019d have to track him down and who could guess where he lurked when he wasn\u2019t in his designated space. If he was a prisoner of war, she thought, then he ought to stay where he was expected. It would be a lot less obvious though that she was seeking him out if he wasn\u2019t outside where the only thing she could possibly be out there looking for was him.<\/p>\n

She tried the Ships Gallery first. She thought maybe U-505 hid among the other boats, even if they were only models. That he was not there proved this to be a silly idea. 999 didn\u2019t beat herself about it though; certainly she wasn\u2019t in any sort of practice when it came to thinking like the submarine. She tried the Whispering Gallery next; U-505 liked when things were dark and quiet, she thought. Jenny and Texaco had claimed the gallery for the night though and were giggling back and forth to each other into the parabolic dishes. 999 tried Prenatal Development on the same logic, but realized the folly of this thought when she stood before the array of embryos and fetuses with no submarine among them. So it went with every possible place she could think of, based on every tenuous thread of reasoning: the Jolly Ball, the corn room in Farm Tech, the Baby Chick Hatchery. She had a bolt of inspiration to look in the Nickelodeon Theatre, remembering that he sometimes went there with Pioneer, but U-505 was nowhere to be found.<\/p>\n

Frustrated with how much effort this was turning out to take, 999 huffed back to the Transportation Gallery. Maybe U-505 was looming over the model trains.<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t, of course. The Rocket, 40B, Stuka, and Spitfire were there, gathered around The Rocket\u2019s spot in the hall. The Rocket and 40B were watching as Stuka and Spitfire took turns punching each other in the arm as hard as they could to see who would beg off first.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe submarine certainly makes himself scarce after closing, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d 999 remarked aloud to no one in particular.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe likes to be alone after work,\u201d Spitfire said, flexing his bicep and steeling himself for Stuka\u2019s next throw.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s alone all day during <\/em> work,\u201d 999 said. She rolled her eyes both at the excuse and Spitfire\u2019s grunt of endurance that followed it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know his day is longer,\u201d The Rocket pointed out. Spitfire shook out his arm and reared back to return fire. \u201cHe\u2019s not exactly being admired by the guests.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe used to spend months at a time with people,\u201d 999 disputed. Stuka hissed at Spitfire\u2019s sharp jab and rolled his shoulder a couple times to ease out the sting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith his crew, who I expect quite liked him.\u201d Stuka pulled back and threw his punch, heavy and on target, in the exact same place he\u2019d landed his last sixteen punches.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you, his best friend now?\u201d Gritting his teeth and grunting, Spitfire focused on ignoring the broad, dull pain and gathering the will to punch again.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there a reason you\u2019re <\/em> so concerned about him?\u201d The Rocket countered. Another of Spitfire’s pointed jabs dug into Stuka\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n

999 scoffed. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stuka, after much visible and exaggerated deliberation, held up his hand and gave up. 40B offered a polite golf clap for another Allied victory, though 999 thought he would have done the same if Stuka had won.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat show, boys,\u201d The Rocket congratulated. \u201cAll right, 40B, you\u2019re up! Reigning champ goes first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? No!\u201d 40B\u2019s face fell as Spitfire grinned and readied another punch. 40B flinched and braced himself for impact. Spitfire’s fist shot out\u2026 and landed a light tap on 40B\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n

The Rocket and the warplanes laughed and 40B let out a nervous chuckle himself, once he\u2019d confirmed no one actually wanted to fight him. 999 decided then that maybe U-505 had the right idea about being alone.<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

When 999 wanted to be alone, she went to the Fairy Castle exhibit. Most engines had little interest in the grand dollhouse. Truthfully, 999 didn\u2019t either. She liked the sparkly pieces; they reminded her of Worlds Fairs and the variety of curiosities on display at them. The castle itself wasn\u2019t grounded in any sort of reality she knew though so she didn\u2019t understand the point of it. That no one else did either meant one could expect their solitude in the dollhouse\u2019s room.<\/p>\n

\u201cNmr. 999?\u201d<\/p>\n

999 peeked around the side of the dollhouse to see U-505 standing on the threshold of the room. It\u2019d been a while since she really looked at him. While she and Pioneer had been refurbished and even 2903 had been placed in a shed, at least halting his deterioration, U-505 looked more weather-worn and threadbare than she\u2019d ever seen him. 999 truly couldn\u2019t fathom what 727 found so attractive about him.<\/p>\n

\u201cStuka believes you are looking for me,\u201d he explained himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust a little plane flight of fancy,\u201d 999 denied. \u201cThey get an idea and take off with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstood.\u201d U-505 made to leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut as long as you\u2019re here-\u201d 999 piped up, to which U-505 paused. \u201cWhat are you playing at, turning down 727?\u201d<\/p>\n

U-505 turned back at that.<\/p>\n

\u201cSay again?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t there something in your prize rules that say you have to accept if an American wants you?\u201d<\/p>\n

U-505 clearly hadn\u2019t expected that question at all, but if 999 had the element of surprise on her side, he didn\u2019t seem unsettled by it. He looked as though he\u2019d wandered into a minefield and was cautiously picking his path through, a situation not exactly out of his wheelhouse.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he finally settled on. \u201cPrize rules are for capturing parties only.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about whatever rules Stuka and Spitfire have then?\u201d<\/p>\n

U-505\u2019s face took a stony cast. \u201cThey do not observe those rules. Stuka does not think he was captured. And he is not a boat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he still had let Spitfire have him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStuka could have ignored him,\u201d U-505 grumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that what you\u2019re doing with 727? Ignoring her?\u201d 999 pecked.<\/p>\n

\u201c…I do not ignore 727.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why are you turning her away?\u201d 999 barraged. \u201cIf you\u2019re not ignoring her, then you have to let her have you, right? Because you were <\/em> captured. There\u2019s no two ways about that. Stuka\u2019s maybe got a case to argue, but you don\u2019t. And you are <\/em> a boat, whatever that has to do with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

U-505 took this assault in with undivided attention, then regarded 999 carefully.<\/p>\n

\u201c727,\u201d he said, \u201cshould be with someone more like her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d 999 demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe should choose someone more respectable,\u201d he explained. \u201cShe has an admirable service record. She\u2019s been refurbished.\u201d At this he shifted uncomfortably and crossed his arms. \u201cYou could take her to the railway museum. There is someone for her there maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n

999 rolled her eyes. \u201cYou think I didn\u2019t suggest that? She doesn\u2019t want some ancient piece of rolling stock. She doesn\u2019t want long distance either, for that matter. She doesn\u2019t want to sit around waiting to trek out to Union once a month,\u201d 999 explained, only letting a little of her own distaste for that arrangement creep in. \u201cShe wants something that\u2019s here and something that\u2019s hers.\u201d<\/p>\n

U-505\u2019s eyebrows pricked up briefly, but his face otherwise remained impassive.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe selection\u2019s getting slim around here though. It\u2019s either you or the Gondola,\u201d 999 concluded. U-505 snorted and 999 found herself feeling some kind of way at having said something he found amusing. Still, he shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Gondola deserves her more,\u201d U-505 said.<\/p>\n

The U-boat\u2019s mopey self-deprecation was so frustrating! 999 wheeshed out her aggravation with it, nearly knocking her cowcatcher askew. Times like these – and only <\/em> times like these, when holding U-505\u2019s history against him was inconvenient – she was forced to agree with Pioneer that the war was over and they should move on from it.<\/p>\n

She had an idea however.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, what you <\/em> deserve doesn\u2019t matter here. This is about what 727 deserves,\u201d 999 argued. \u201cShe deserves whatever she wants. If she wants a smelly old boat full of holes? Well, a captured submarine who lost the war really has no place telling her no.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taken aback, U-505 considered this line of reasoning. 999 was quite proud of herself for having twisted his logic around him. Certainly he was right; he didn\u2019t<\/em> deserve the interests of an engine like 727. If her taste was so bad as to resist all alternatives though, 999 thought to herself, it couldn\u2019t be helped.<\/p>\n

Appearing to have come to a conclusion, U-505\u2019s mouth shifted as if he were calculating a further risk.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are wanting me to accept 727\u2019s interest, yes?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid we not <\/em> just have a ten minute conversation about this?\u201d 999 snipped. \u201cYes. That is what I said you should do.\u201d He made a face as if about to point out that she had not, in fact, actually said this, but he mercifully thought better of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I do this,\u201d U-505 started instead, spiking 999\u2019s already high annoyance with him. Where did he think he had any room to negotiate? \u201c…will you still be friendly with her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFriendl- I\u2019m friendly to everyone!\u201d 999 huffed. \u201cWhen was I ever not friendly? I was built <\/em> to be friendly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have not been very kind to Herr Zephyr.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, well…\u201d 999 flustered, \u201cThat\u2019s different. Pioneer should know better. 727 wasn\u2019t around for all those wars your side kept starting. And who can account for what planes want anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will not<\/em> be a problem for her,\u201d U-505 said pointedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I know,\u201d 999 said. \u201cSo worried about keeping engines you like in good standing. Very noble.\u201d U-505 gave her a funny look, but ignored her barb otherwise.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo then?\u201d he persisted.<\/p>\n

999 sniffed. \u201cFine. Yes. 727 and I will still be friends, even if she\u2019s settled for you.\u201d As if it was even a question. She and Pioneer were friends, weren\u2019t they? He was trying to make something out of nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAcceptable. I will speak to her then,\u201d U-505 said. \u201cDid you need anything else?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. You’re dismissed,\u201d 999 said, waving him off and pretending to be suddenly very engrossed in the tapestries of the castle\u2019s dining room until she thought he was gone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

999 was feeling charitable this evening. That was what she told herself at least. The conversation she\u2019d overheard on Christmas Day had left her with a disquieted feeling and after some cursory introspection, she\u2019d decided it was merely residual Christmas spirit compelling her to do a good deed. Seeing Pioneer and Pilot finally – finally – together\u2026 999 wouldn\u2019t go so far as to say it was U-505\u2019s interference that closed the deal (submarines were inelegant shunters), but it made one feel very generous with one\u2019s yardmates. It would be a favor to 727 though. If the U-boat benefited too, then that was neither here nor there. 999 felt a lot less nonchalant about it when she found herself having to actively look for U-505. He wasn\u2019t suspended on his rollers outside, much to her annoyance and yet also to her relief. It meant she\u2019d have to track him down […]<\/p>\n

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