Nexus Girl's Lament (short story)
Nexus Girl's Lament was a short story starring Nexus Girl, written by James Bridger as a companion to the narrative of his Kate Five comics.
Contents
Plot
As she and Battle Angel are flying to Sark Island in Marcus's helicopter, Nexus Girl looks back on the events of the last six months, troubled by all the tragedy that has befallen her, but also lingering insecurities about the rest of Section P viewing her as a child to be protected rather than a member of the team, combined with an uncomfortable awareness that she does like the attention it brings her. Eros tries to confront her in his broken English, but isn't much help. She thinks back to her first meeting with Aqua Marine, in 2001, shortly after she was found by the British government and completing the first round of physical and medical examination. Unlike everyone else, he did not seem scared of her despite the power of the Nexus Stone she wielded, which the grown-up Nexi realises must have been the source of much of the anxiety she sensed from the other humans at the time, something her younger self had not consciously processed as the Nexus Stone was a natural part of her life to her. Later, in 2008, now (in human terms) thirteen years old, she went on her first patrol in Cardiff with Aqua Marine and Rhys. She flashes from this memory to Aqua Marine's death and his cremation, at which she swore to try and find some magic that could bring him back to life. She also vows to take revenge on the symbiote-bonded Kate for killing him, unless Kate can be separated from the alien.
Worldbuilding
Universes
- This story takes place in Reality Z-25 31-H.
Other
- Before his death six months ago, Nexus Girl had a crush on Aqua Marine despite their age gap, but she was aware that he only saw her as a “little sister”.
- Marcus first took Battle Angel and Nexus Girl to Paris in his private jet, and it is from Paris that they are now flying to the Channel Island of Sark in Marcus's helicopter.
- It is suggested that Nexi is only nineteen in the sense that this is the “human equivalent” of her biological age, and her chronological age may be different.
- “Most extraterrestrial races” in the Galaxy know “a bit” of English, but no one is certain of when and how the language left Earth.
- Nexi's birth name would sound like “a garbled string of ten syllables” to humans.
- Aqua Marine doesn't like his code-name because it makes him sound like a soldier, which, in point of fact, he isn't, lightly criticising Captain Rhys for being one.
- Aqua Marine's costume was “tight-fitting”, made of black and blue latex, and resembled “a cyclist's shorts and vest”.
- Nexi's outfit when she started superheroing at the age of thirteen, which she designed herself, included a white ballet outfit that left her arms bare, and a pair of pink Converse shoes.
- It's implied that Nexi's blond hair is a wig, worn to better fit in with humans, although she may be joking.
Continuity
- A note makes explicit the fact that this story serves as a prequel to COMIC: Kate Five vs Symbiote - Chapter 5, depicting Nexus Girl's inner monologue aboard Marcus's helicopter as she and Battle Angel make their way to Sark Island.
- Nexi thinks back to the events of COMIC: Kate Five vs Symbiote - Chapter 1.
- Nexi's backstory echoes what was revealed in PROSE: Nexus Girl Bio.
- The story sets up the twist ending of COMIC: Kate Five vs Symbiote - Chapter 6, with Nexi already nurturing unsubstantiated hope that she could one day find a way to bring Aqua Marine back to life.
Behind the scenes
Read online
Nexus Girl's Lament was released on DeviantArt, where it is still available.
