VIDEO.

[centurybaby]

[ there's a little curious turning, this way and that, before the handler must decide the camera is properly on and sets the communicator down in their lap. the feed shows a young girl in a pink jumper with an ice cream cone in her hand (slightly melting).

she can't be more than eight or nine, but she seems unfazed by her new surroundings. ]

I thought I got lost in the multiverse or something, but then the machine lady said she brought me here on purpose.

[ she pauses to tilt her hand, licking away some of that melting ice cream-- and when that fails to be effective, she switches hands so she can wipe it on the hem of her dress. ]

It's about time someone decided to let me fight. I mean, I'm basically the most powerful eight-year-old ever, so it's lame that nobody ever lets me do anything. Plus, this is way cooler than going to school.

[ a little grin. ] I can't wait to tell Dad about this.

Comments

[rhombus]

Pfffffffffffffffffffft.

Of course it's dangerous, it's heroing! Duh!

[centurybaby]

I know. It sucks. I know they love me, but I just hate being treated like a little kid-- how come your parents let you do dangerous stuff?

[rhombus]

My dad was all about being a hero! He wanted me 'n' Jake to be totally sweet like him.

...Also they're dead.

[centurybaby]

[ a stunned pause. then, finally: ]

...I'm really sorry. Really sorry.

[rhombus]

[He laughs like it ain't no big thang, but there's a twinge of awkward sadness.]

It's okay! They were dogs! They don't live as long and stuff.

[centurybaby]

[ she pauses. tries to think of the most reassuring thing to say, and finally: ]

You know what? I bet they're alive out there somewhere. In an alternate universe where dogs live forever. I've been to lots of other dimensions and stuff, and you wouldn't believe what's out there.

[rhombus]

[Oh, man, that is reassuring. And really cool, too.]

Y-yeah? Would this alternative universe have Finns that live forever, too? 'Cause I don't want them to be sad if I die while they live forever.

[centurybaby]

Well, sure! There's probably a universe or dimension for everything. I think I even made one once with my brain-- this place where all the Jennys who came before me live.

[rhombus]

How many Jennys were there??

[centurybaby]

Lots. Jenny Stone, Jenny Fire, Jenny Ra, Jenny Crusade, Jenny Inquisition, Jenny Revolution, Jenny Steam-- and the coolest one, Jenny Sparks! She was the one right before me.

[rhombus]

Those are all totally sweet names. Is "Jenny" like a family tradition or something?

[centurybaby]

[ jenny laughs. ]

Well, sort of. We're the spirits of the century. All of us are Jennys. But I'm Jenny Quantum, 'cause I'm the Spirit of the 21st Century.

[rhombus]

Hmmmm, it sounds cool but I'm not sure I'm understanding you here. You don't LOOK like a spirit.

[centurybaby]

Well, I'm in a body, silly. I guess you could say I'm-- [ what's the word. ] --an incarnation of the 21st Century. We're tied together, the century and me. And in a hundred years, when I die, the new spirit of the century will be born!

[rhombus]

Whoah...that's some pretty heavy stuff. I've never heard of such a thing!

[centurybaby]

Well, I bet there's crazy stuff in the place you're from that I've never heard of either.

[rhombus]

Yeah, people always seemed surprised at the stuff I tell 'em but they never seem weird to me. S'just home, you know? People made of candy or hot dogs or ice kings. This place is sooooooooo boring in comparison.

Your whole bag isn't crazy, though! It just sounds like real srz bzns. Do you have, like, super big century responsibilities or do you get to sit around and eat a lot of ice cream?

[centurybaby]

I think I'd like a place like that. With candy people and ice kings. Back home, I used to help my dads on this superhero team called the Authority. We fought bad guys who wanted to mess up the Earth.

[rhombus]

Ugh! I hate dudes that want to mess up the Earth! It's like, you know, why would you want to do that?? You're on the Earth, guys, that's so stupid.

Maybe one day you can 21st century spirit yourself to my place, though! But it's in the future, can you time travel?

[centurybaby]

It is stupid. We should totally fight bad guys together, Finn! I will so dimension-time travel to look for you. I mean, my navigation's kinda bad sometimes, but our spaceship back home could probably find you!

[rhombus]

It's hard to miss the Land of Ooo, so you should find it easy! I'd gladly fight stupid bad dudes with you! You can meet Jake, and Princess Bubblegum, and Marceline and Lumpy Space Princess--well, maybe not her.

[centurybaby]

[ a little laugh. ]

Princess Bubblegum? Is she made out of bubblegum?

[rhombus]

She is! All soft and gooey and fruity smelling. [Oops, some of his lingering crush made its way into his tone of voice there.] But you can't chew her or anything, obvs.