Author Kitsurugi Yui GSA Command 1st Expeditionary Fleet Star Army Research Admin. Kitsurugi Fleet Yards (10/28/03 7:57) Blood on Chocolate -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ON> Ralfaris A small young woman knocked on the door to the home where Wazu's family lived. She had a bag of candy in her hand. It took a few moments but eventually a young elf girl with long green hair opened the door, "Hello, how may I help you?" she asked the girl as she opened the door only a little bit at first showing only a white wall on the right side of the house. An Elf? How strange. "Hello," greeted the girl outside the door. She was wearing the uniform of a local girls' organization. "My name is Jennifer. My group of scout is trying to raise money for a trip to Geshrintall by selling chocolates and cheesecakes. Would you like to maybe buy some?" "Sure!" The elf's eyes lit up at the mention of chocolate, "um..hold on one moment." The elf turned and walked away from the door and deeper into the house. After a quick conversation with another women who spoke with a very deep gothic accent the elf came back to the door with a purse, "What exactly do you have?" she asked. Delighted, Jennifer retrieved a catalog from the bag, full of pictures of delicious-looking cheesecakes and ice cream and various sweets. She also pulled out some good-smelling chocolate bars. "Take a look...may I come in?" "Oh sure," the elf said. She seemed a bit more interested in the catalog than in the girl's requests. As she stepped back the door swung open a bit more showing the insides of the house. It decorated with paintings of a place far away with several nice couches and chairs facing a holographic viewscreen in one corner of the house. A wall obstructed the view of the kitchen and stairs that led to the rest of the building. "Wow!" Jennifer exclaimed, whirling around, looking at the place. "You have a Bee-YOU-tee-ful house!!" "oooo" the elf said as she looked through the catalog still oblivious to the girl. A older women walked out into the living room from the kitchen, "why thank you." She said as she slowly made her way to one of the couches and sat down. The hyper little salesgirl waved to the older woman. "Hi!" she smiled. "I'm Jennifer." Holding a big bar of dark chocolate, she waved it around and said "These are suuuuper-good and only 1 KS!" "Kes," the older women said as she brushed some of her short blond hair to her side, "huh?" the elf said as she looked around, "oh right!" she then walked over to the girl and handed her a four KS in exchange for some of the candies. "My name is Lisa." She said with a smile. The girl grinned happily, pocketing the coins in her tiny purse. "You will LOVE the cheesecakes..." she started. "Hey!" she realized, "You're related to that cute Taisho scientist guy, aren't you?" she nodded, "I am" The elf started to write down everything she wanted from the catalog as the older women started talking again, "No thank you. I am alergic to cheesecake." "Allergic!?" the salesgirl was crushed. Clearly, sales were not going much. "Oh..." Jennifer pouted... "So you're his mom? Does he take you on space trips and stuff?" (to be^) "usual not." She replied. The elf walked back over to the girl, "can I get one of these one of these...." she went on and on till she had asked for nearly 75 KS in candy, Lisa only ordered a little bit. "Eep," Jennifer let out as her bag became lighter and lighter, somewhat surprised by the amount of candy bars and such that Lisa was buying. She kept the conversation going with Kes, "So, he's too involved in his work to visit much...my dad is like that. Do you have other kids? How old are they? Any girls that are my age?" Jennifer naughtily giggled., "boys?" Lisa smiled a bit, "Your very curious, just like him. I have one other child that is only 8 years old but he is in another universe or something... I can never understand Wazu when he is trying to explain it..." she admitted "Oh..." Jennifer seemed disappointed. She looked to Lisa, wondering if she was done ordering. '...one of these two of those and.... 5 of these." She said with a smile as she finally finished. "Thank you. The delivery should come in three days or so. Could you sign here?" Jennifer handed Lisa a clipboard and a pen. Lisa signed the clipboard and then handed it back to Kes. The clipboard never made it back to Jennifer. Once Lisa had her hands full, Jennifer jerked her arms outward, and a small pistol slid into each of her childish hands. In an instant, the little girl had aimed each of the weapons at the two women's heads, and fired. It was quite fast. Jennifer was quite the professional. Kes's head snapped backwards as she fell and Lisa just slumped over to the side. Jennifer's name was not a fake name the girl had made up...there was a Jennifer. The girl who had escaped when the rogue neko called Eve had been taken down. The girl who carried Eve's consciousness. The girl reached into the bottom of the bag of candy, and pulled out a bomb of some sort, attached it to a nearby wall, and then retrieved the brass casings from her rounds. END JP by Zack (Kes, Lisa) Wes (Eve/Jennifer) GSA no Taisho Kitsurugi Yui Commander, Star Army 1st Expeditionary Fleet Author Mitsu Amaya GSE Citizen (12/5/03 19:57) [GSS Seigi, Ralfaris] A new Psion? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kai had been settling in for a little period of rest and had just gotten out of the baths aboard the Seigi. "Ahh." He said as he got out, wearing nothing but a towel.. There wasn't any day or night on a starship, but it was setting into the dusk hours on the surface of the planet. The situation was still rather tense, but the relations were starting to ease ever-so-slightly. Amaya slid back further into the shadows of the partially ruined building, even this amount of movement was difficult. It has been over 24 hours since she had left the centre and had her last dosage of the drug that suppressed her abilities. ~Damn~ she thought to herself silently as she wrapped her arms tighter around her knees to keep herself from shaking too much. ~Why didn't I bring any of that drug with me!!~ Amaya sighed, she knew even if she had brought it with her it would have run out eventually. She had two choices, to deal with the withdrawl from the drugs and try and control her abilities or return to the centre, and she would die before she returned there. She laid her head down on her knees and closed her eyes, night was falling on the planet and she was tired. Unable to stay awake any longer after over twenty four hours without rest, Amaya slid into blissful sleep, releasing her rather tenuous hold on her abilities. Kai yawned, he was feeling much more refreshed after bathing, the warm water had really helped sooth his aching muscles. Keiko was waiting for him and smiled and tugged on the towel; as sign she wanted a lift. Kai chuckled and knelt down and picked the little neko up and set her on his shoulder and tickled her slightly, eliciting a giggle. He smiled and went to dress himself; being nude in the presence of others unsettled him, but in GSA, it wasn't really something to worry about. He dropped a pouting Keiko onto the bed and and went to dress and came out from behind a partition a few moments later wearing a royal blue and gold outfit the rank pin clearly visible. His little assistant whistled appraisingly at him, making him blush. Amaya ran down a long white corridor, doors running along each side. She looked back and could vaguely make out Dr Xian walking slowly towards her. No matter how slowly he walked and how quickly she ran she could not get away, in fact he was closing in on her. She turned back and tried to open the first doorway on her right, locked. She then tried the next and the next, all locked. Dr Xian began to laugh as he came towards her, two guards appearing at his back. They reached towards her... Amaya woke up screaming, clutching her head in pain. All the voices came back into her brain, searing into it like a white hot poker. She knew the drugs had finally worn off, the voices were the thoughts of all the people near her, the thoughts she could not turn off. She clapped her hands over her ears, trying to keep out the voices, but in vain she heard them, until darkness claimed her. Kai jolted, his psionic senses kicking into high alarm, there was another psion he did not know of...somewhere, not close but still within range of his sensing. He tentatively reached out with his own calm mind, wading through the mental static trying to pinpoint the source. Keiko looked at him as his features became still...this worried her, she'd never seen him using his power before. She jumped up and climbed onto his shoulder and hugged him gently, being slightly scared for him. "Master? what's wrong?" She asked...but Kai could not hear her, all his energy was focused on finding this source. He opened his brilliant emerald eyes and looked around. He could sense a high amount of psionic power coming from the planet, he now had to find the source. Kai sighed, poked little Keiko who giggled and hugged him earning a smile that delighted her. He rose from his chair and swept out of the room heading for the shuttle bay to get a shuttle to the surface; one he found easily enough as he was the second-in-command on the ship. Kai didn't feel he needed a security team with him for this, he was leaving and coming back, no major operation. He, Keiko and the neko pilot were soon on their way down. After what seemed to be hours, the little team soon landed in a open area of the city. Kai turned to the pilot and gave her orders to wait here until he came back, the area was empty and posed not much of a threat. Kai focused his mind on the psionic power and followed it to a abandoned building after searching several others. "What are you looking for?" Keiko asked, kicking her little feet as she sat on his shoulder. "There's someone else like me here and I want to find them." He replied in a gentle tone of voice as he reached the building that was radiating a strong psionic pulse. "Hello?" He asked softly. The building was still and quiet no noise was heard except for the gentle breathing of someone hidden in the shadows. Keiko's hearing was much sharper than Kai's; she jumped off his shoulder and followed the sound to the curled up form of a young human woman. Keiko smiled and hopped on the form's shoulder and touched her gently, probing seeing if she's injured. "Find something?" Kai's voice could be heard, along with his footsteps drawing closer. Amaya stirred gently and opened her eyes briefly before another sharp pain seared through her brain. She grimaced in pain and a few stray tears trickled down her cheeks. She raised herself slowly and looked at the little neko before backing up further against the wall. Keiko looked at her quizzically, cocking her head to the side, making her brown hair flutter a bit. Kai walked up to Keiko and knelt down and smiled a bit. "Hello there." He said being as nonthreatening as possible. Amaya could feel a distinct, gentle probing in her mind as he gauged her situation. Amaya rose, edging slowly up the back of the wall until she was standing. She then tried to push him out of her mind, succeeding only to bring her to her knees. In a broken voice she finally spoke, "I won't go back..." Kai sensed that she didn't want him in her mind immediately and withdrew himself from her mind. "Go back where?" He asked gently. She looked up, her haunted violet eyes were clouded with tears, "You do not work for Dr Xian?" "Dr. Xian?" The little neko asked, confused. She looked up at her master for an explanation. "I do not know of any Dr...Xian." Kai said. A police helicopter flew overhead, flashing it's search light into the building, just to make sure that there wasn't anything suspicious doing on down there. She could see his gentle face, flaming red hair and those eyes.... "I know of no Doctor of that name." She hugged her knees up against her, "Then why did you come here? And who are you?" "I could feel your power from orbit, I just had to find out who was making such a racket. I'm sorry I'm Shosho Ashigari, and this is Keiko." He said as the coal black neko walked up to her and smiled. "Who are you?" They both asked, then chuckled at that. She looked at them cautiously, "I am Amaya..." The little neko smiled and hugged her leg gently. "Glad to meet you." She said, rubbing herself against her leg affectionately. "Pleasure to meet you Ms. Amaya." Kai said. "Are you an orphan? Why are you alone?" He asked. She looked at the Neko, touched by the sweet gesture and she smiled at her. The beauty of her smile was diminished however by the pain in her eyes, "I am... I was a lab experiment..." She looked down at the ground, ashamed of what she was. Kai looked at her sympathetically, and subconsciously reached out to comfort her, but stopped short. "That's horrible." He said. "They messed with your mind and forced psionic ability on you didn't they? From how badly it was flaring, you can't control it." He said, getting right to the heart of it. She nodded, "They created us far too powerful... We can not shut it off. Dr Xian created a drug to supress the talent, however it lasts for only 24 hours and is highly addictive. He wanted to make sure I had no where to go." "A psionic suppressant? I've never heard of it." Kai said. Keiko jumped up on her knee and slid down her legs and cuddled against her, trying as a small neko could to comfort her. "Sounds like the ADN on our ships." She wrapped a shaking arm around the Neko and loooked at Kai confused, "Ships? ADN? Who are you exactly?" Kai sighed. "I am a GSE officer. The ADN device disables or suppresses psionic ability, preventing telekinesis and telepathy." Kai explained. She continued to look at him confused before laughing suddenly, "I am afraid you lost me somewhere in there." Her laughter broke off as quickly as it had started as another jolt of pain took her and she buried her face close to the Neko. Keiko looked confused and laid a tiny kiss on the girl's nose, trying to cheer her up. "What is it?" Kai asked moved over to her and looking at her cautiously. He felt a spike of psionic power and raised a mental barrier to shield himself from it, seeing as it had sent a couple of small rocks flying. She looked up at him, "I have no way to shut off my abilities, when strong emotion is felt near me I become...unpredictable." Kai thought about it for a moment. "It's a lack of control, you need to learn how to control them; I could teach you if you want me to." He offered; sensing she needed a friend at the moment. She smiled and spoke quietly, "I wouldn't want to burden you with my problems..." "It's not a problem, it's my responsibility to seek aid for those who need it." Kai said. "My ship, the Seigi could be your home until you learn how to control it. I'll find a way to help you." He said with a warm smile. She slowly began to rise, keeping one arm around Keiko so the little neko wouldn't fall. She leaned back against the wall for support, "If you are sure I would not be too much trouble... I have nothing to stay here for and learning to control these powers would be safer for everyone." Kai nodded, "How'd you control them before? There must have been someway." He said, thinking. Amaya looked at Kai, her expression thoughtful, "Dr Xian used drugs to supress my talent." She smiled, "I remember mentioning earlier that they are highly addictive..." Keiko looked up at Amaya and jumped onto her shoulder and played with her blonde hair. "I remember that." She chirped happily. Kai's expression continued to get thoughtful, as if he was planning something. "I suppose we'll need some of that at first then wean you off it." He said. She looked at Kai, her eyes wide with horror, "I won't go back there..." He rose up to his full height; and looked at her squarely. He could feel her horror at the thought of returning. "I understand how you feel, you don't want to go back there for fear he'll try and take you again. But I am truly sorry that I need to go back there and get at least the chemical makeup of the serum so we can reproduce it if we have to." He said with a downcast look, feeling her fear. She looked at him directly, "And you need me to go back with you to show you where it is..." Kai nodded. "Yes, I'm sorry to have to make you go back; but it'll be good in the long run." Amaya nodded, "I... I will take you..." "Thank you Amaya, I'll make sure that that 'doctor' doesn't try and hurt you again." Kai said. "Please show us Amaya." Keiko chirped giving the girl another hug. Amaya walked out of the ruined building slowly, exhausted by the mental drain of her headaches and began to lead them through the winding streets. Amaya felt a force surrounding her, supporting her as she walked, keeping her steady. Kai had noticed she was wobbling a little bit and decided to give her a little support. "Is it far?" Keiko asked. She nodded and looked at Kai gratefully and smiled gently, "Thank you..." "Not a problem." He smiled back as they walked along. Kai didn't even seem to notice he was using his ability. Amaya slowed her pace and walked next to Kai, "Its just up ahead..." She pointed up at a large building partially charred by fire, from looking in it seemed almost deserted. "Keiko. Check it out for possible danger." Kai said with a nod. Keiko smiled, and leapt off Amaya's shoulder gracefully, turning invisible while in the air and ran off toward the ruins and entered, scouting ahead. "How far in do we have to go?" Kai asked Amaya Amaya looked at the building, "The lab is down the main corridor, to the left. After about 20 metres you'll find two double doors, the lab is behind them..." "Ah." Kai said and mentally fed Keiko what he was told. Keiko sended back a mental ~alrighty~ and sprinted off through the corridors, her stealth rendering her invisible to all the security sensors. Keiko wandered into the lab completely unnoticed and standing in the centre of the almost bare, sterile room was a man in a white lab coat. His short dark hair was a mess, and he looked like he hadn't slept in awhile. He seemed to wander around looking for something, oblivious of Keiko's presence. Keiko giggled and ran over and knocked over an empty vial making it clatter to the floor, just having a little fun. "Ready to go in?" Kai asked her, letting her prepare herself for it. Amaya nodded and touched Kai's arm gently, "Don't let him hurt me... Please..." "I won't let him do anything to you." Kai said, looking into her innocent eyes. "Let's go then." He said. ~Keiko, is everything safe?~ He thought to the little neko. ~Yep, just some hobo in a white labcoat.~ She thought, the tone of her thoughts playful. Indeed she was as she walked around the lab, knocking over empty vials. Dr Xian turned around as the vials clattered to the floor, "Who is there?" Keiko knew better than to show herself and stood there silently, still invisible. Meanwhile, Kai was pushing aside rubble with a wave of his hand, moving it telekinetically; more like tossing them lightly. He walked slightly in front of Amaya intent on protecting her. Amaya slid her hand into Kai's, drawing strength from his physical presence as they neared the lab doors. Kai blushed ever-so-slightly and went through the doors, following Keiko's trail and eventually got to the double doors outside the lab. "Ready Amaya?" He asked. She nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on the door in front of her, "As ready as I ever will be..." Kai reached out with his hand and pushed the doors open and walked through with Amaya in tow. "Alright Xian, where's the serum?" He asked, his voice more authoritative than before. Dr Xian turned around slowly, "Ah you brought my pet back, how can I ever thank you?" Amaya moved closer to Kai, until they were touching softly. "Your pet?!" Kai said, his tone making it clear he was outraged. "You're not getting her back...ever." He looked at Kai, anger flaring in his eyes, "Who the hell are you?" "I'm the commander of the Seigi, my name isn't important to you. And I am ordering you to hand over the serum you used to control her powers." Kai said with a definate bite in his voice. Keiko was busy looking around and grabbed a small hyperdermic syringe and filled it with what she knew was a powerful sedative..just in case. Dr Xian laughed, "You are in possession of MY property and you think I am going to give you the serum?" "You're wrong old man." Kai said. "She is in the protection of the Grand Star Army; and as thus, she is no longer YOUR possession. She is an individual and has freewill; and she wants to come with me." Kai said. "I'll ask you one more time, give me the serum." Amaya slid closer to Kai as soon as she saw the outburst coming and flinched when Dr Xian yelled, "OVER MY DEAD BODY...." "I wouldn't say that." Kai warned as Xian felt a dim ringing in his head. "please reconsider." Keiko was inching closer and closer armed with her syringe. She was right behind Xian now and ready to sedate him at Kai's order. Dr Xian laughed, "Without the serum she will die, and without her my experiments are nothing." He smiled evily, "And just remember the chemical composition of the serum dies with me." "Just hand over the serum." Kai said flatly, his hair starting to dance and his diamond started glowing. He slid his hands into his lab coat, "No..." "I advise you to simply hand it over, you don't want me to force you to Xian." Kai said as Xian's hands ripped out of his labcoat and held stiffly off to his side. Keiko pounced on Xian at that moment and began searching him on after a moment. After rummaging through his pockets for awhile, Keiko felt a vial of something hidden within a secret pocket within the lining of the coat. ~Found something.~ Keiko dutifully reported and climbed out and ran over to Kai turning visible and hopped up on his shoulder after a small CRT jump. "Here." She said depositing it in Kai's open hand. "Is this it Xian?" Kai asked with a sharp tone as Xian felt a wave of cramping run up his body. Amaya answered before Xian could, "Yes that is it..." Kai nodded and turned to leave halfway turned, he paused. "I'd advise you to find a better profession doctor." He said as Keiko bounced over to Amaya and looked innocent. "Did I do good?" She asked seeking praise. Xian slid his hand onto a lab table next to him and grabbed a syringe quietly. He silently slid it into his pocket and looked at Amaya as she turned away, "Tell me something, did we treat you that badly?" Amaya kept her back turned on Xian and spoke quietly, "Yes..." Keiko turned around on Amaya's shoulder and shot Xian a dirty look. Kai smirked as he made Xian trip. Xian rose and pulled the syringe from his pocket, moved the distance towards Amaya quickly and reached out to grab her arm. Keiko jumped into his face and bit his nose hard. Kai felt her get grabbed and spun around, pulling her away from Xian standing in front of her. "I warned you old man." He said, his green eyes melting into a brilliant blue, his hair flowing around like in a moderate wind. "GIVE ME BACK MY TEST SUBJECT!" Dr. Xian shouted "Do you value your sanity doctor?" Kai asked in a voice that chilled Keiko and Amaya to the bone. ~Take her and get out of here.~ He mentally ordered Keiko. Keiko got off Xian's face and hopped over onto Amaya's shoulder. "Let's go!" She said. Amaya was scared of Dr. Xian and hoped that somehow Kai could make him stop coming after her; she heeded Keiko's alert and ran for the door. Dr. Xian howled in anger and tried to run after her, but smashed headlong into Kai's psionic barrier. "You...you..." He growled, pissed off and frustrated that his life's work was slipping away. He ran over and hit a button on a console, trying to shut the security systems on. All around the laboratory, sensors and alarms started going off, the main doors sealing shut, trapping her inside. ~Kai! He's sealed off the center! We can't escape!~ Keiko's urgent thoughts came to him. Xian collapsed to his knees holding his head, suddenly screaming at the images Kai was fixating in his mind, those of his deepest fears. As he started reliving his deepest fears, Kai was already leaving the lab. Meanwhile, Keiko was trying to open the doors to get out, she found a small box and was already picking the electronic locks. By the time Kai got there, Keiko was smiling and hugging Amaya who was standing outside waiting for him. "Let's head home." Kai said. After a while of walking; Kai, Amaya and Keiko reached the waiting ship and climbed inside. Kai administered a shot of the serum into Amaya, who smiled thankfully, but was very tired and soon was asleep hugging her "hero" gently. "Awwww." Keiko said and snuggled into Amaya's blonde hair and they both slept, while leaving Kai to turn red.... JP Tyler (Kai and Keiko) Jennifer (Amaya and Xian) Author Kitsurugi Yui GSA Command 1st Expeditionary Fleet SARA - KFY (12/6/03 23:58) [GSS Seigi, GSS Chiharu] The Saddest Day -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ON> Ralfaris System In a tremendous flash of light, the three Iori Star Fortresses disappeared, headed elsewhere. Meanwhile, watching in stealth, an Elysian ship watched, and sent a message the Nariel's fleet. "Cue" "Is their 4th Fleet's computer network operational?" asked Nariel. Kai was sitting in the captain's seat of the Seigi, thinking about what he was going to do now. "Well, there's nothing I can do. It's out of my hands until I hear something official." He mused and sat up straight in the chair and looked over the bridge crew. There was so much to do, and so little time to do it in... "Intelligence indicates no. A rebellion of their ships occurred recently..." responded an archangel. "There seems to be no master unit in the 4th fleet's network." "Excellent." Nariel smirked. Kai looked over at the nekos manning the consoles. There were all there except Lavinia wasn't present. Figuring it was time she stopped fooling around he sent out an announcement. "Juni Taiensho, report to the bridge." His voice called over the speakers. He paused and gave it some thought... and decided to call Yuuko to the bridge as well. "Yuuko, please report to the bridge." He added. After a few moments a perky Lavinia entered the bridge. "Sir." She said, and knowing her duty, sat at her piloting chair and interfaced with the system, it was a bit new but she quickly got used to it. Kai sighed and absently watched a sensor console. An Elysian fleet of some 1,800 ships appeared over the Qel'noran Industrial Area of Ralfaris, and began attacking the ships of the fourth fleet with their superheavy weapons. Some ships were also taking out some of the planetary defense platforms over the QIS. Yuuko walked onto the bridge to find the entire thing filled up with holograms and tactical charts. The 4th Fleet was being ravaged. Kai almost leaped out of his seat when the elysian fleet flashed out in huge numbers on the sensor readouts. He rolled his eyes, this was the best day EVER..pish, yeah right. Kai quickly got on the communications from his console and sent a warning out to the ships of the first division; but with the tension high....he didn't know if they'd respond. "All ships of the 4th fleet 1st division, we have Elysians attacking. Take'em out." He ordered.. Missile batteries on the surface opened up and launched their complements of ender missiles as soon as the angel ships were detected. some 200 missiles were launched in the first wave, each one traveling at over 20,000c toward their targets. The other ISFB's in the 4th fleet started deploying their minion's. Most of the ships were still on high alert from the last angel threat so the response time was minimal. All of the smaller destroyers activated their CDD's and accelerated to combat speed. The Antaeus class battleships were little more than large targets at this range, they immediately TTDed to a safer distance to launch the rest of their missiles. "Shields up! Prepare for battle!" Kai ordered his own crew. Lavinia nodded and prepared to start evasive tactics. The Seigi's crews were quick to get into action, and in a matter off minutes, it's own Minions deployed. The missiles, designed to go light speed, disintegrated in the atmosphere before their CCDs even got the up to 1c. The ships of the fourth were already halfway gone by the time anyone saw it coming. There were ten times as many Elysian ships as the 4th had, and they had unleashed a devastating main gun attack as the battle began. Fast Attack frigates targeted the missile launch sites and began melting them with their nose beams. Meanwhile, the Orbital Defense Platforms deployed their cannons and began to return fire. Lavinia wasn't too familiar with the new AI program but needed to quickly adjust to be able to evade the shots fired at it. Yuuko looked to Kai, stammering, "I...is this it?" The Seigi found itself assigned to five battlecruisers, which all were firing their main guns in about five seconds. The holographic displays on the bridge of the Seigi were showing that this was completely a losing battle for the 4th fleet. They were totally outnumbered....Kai looked over at Yuuko. "Not for us. But I have a bad feeling we're severely outclassed here. "Send and emergency signal to the nearest friendly fleet." Kai said. "Sending!" Yuuko said. The Antaeus class battleships started to fire their missiles. They were aimed for the largest ships in the angel fleet, Several of the missiles went straight through several ships before detonating, making maximum use of their abilities. The surviving ships unleashed a long range torpedo barrage against the angel ships while the 1st division moved into the combat area from reserve. Swarms of minions descended on the angel fleet. their nearly 700 GWB's fired trying to take out as many ships as possible. The Seigi's Minions among them, its Ronin fighters were also being deployed to engage the enemy. "Let's provide what aid we can." Kai said, his eyes narrowing. His weapons officers were running the GWB's against the Elysian frigates as well from long range. The Elysian Fleet, knocked down to about 1600 ships, returning fire as they split into several groups. Some sort of new class of Elysian ships was breaking through the planetary defense system and headed for the surface. The Antaeus ships were rare, big targets and were dogpiled by groups of battlecruisers intent on taking them out. A hundred thousand CX-7 fighters seemed to counter the minions and Ronins. As the Seigi's pursuing battlecruisers opened fire, the ship was surrounded by a soft white light. Lavinia screamed and somehow pulled a nice evasive move and picked up speed, the superconductor railguns opening up to return fire. Kai swore. "Damn! I hate to say it, but let's get the hell out of here!" He barked. The ships TTD drives prepared to fire off to get them away from the pursuers. The Antaeus class battleships simply teleported away each time an angel battlecruiser got close enough to have any chance of hitting it. Their missiles continued to take a large toll on the Angel fleet from long range. The minions heavily outclassed the fighters and easily started taking them down with GWB and turret fire. Wazu and Wakizashi started to make passes against the ships heading for the planet. The anti-teleportation system kept the angel feet from getting to close so they had some time to slow down the angel advance. The Seigi's weaponry, punching some holes in the battleships that were trying to engage them. Lavinia snarled and tensed up evading the shots from them remembering her training, doing her best to keep one ship between her and another one. The corvettes and the Ronins fighting back against the attackers with fervor. The silhouette of the Seigi shimmered at its form eroded in the beams of the cruisers, which continued to tail it. The docking ring broke into shards, the fighter bays melted. The Seigi was in ruins and began to fall to the surface. "We've lost power!" Yuuko shrieked. The bridge was filled with smoke. The Minion's started to form a protective screen of ships between the majority of the angel fleet, backed up by fighters and Wakizashi while the Antaeus and Wazu's formed a perimeter around the attacking ships and started to pummel them with long range attacks. Ralfaris started to fire more missiles, letting them breach the atmosphere before the CDD systems activated. They made sure not to hit the planet. "DAMN!" Kai cursed. "We need to get the hell out of here and evacuate!" Kai ordered. Elysian ships began using their own systems to trap the Antaeus ships. The battleships found their TSDS systems malfunctioning...subspace charges were going off around them. The Seigi wasn't alone. Thousands of damaged ships and fighters began to fall from the sky like screaming comets. The Elysian weapons seemed to be every bit as effective as the Star Army's, and Minions were being swatted down as fast as the Elysian guns could find them. There were now only about 1000 Elysian ships remaining, sandwiched between the 4th Fleet's handful of remaining ships and the hundreds of thousands of orbital platforms that made up the temporary defense system. Yuuko nodded, checking her control panel. "YES!" she yelled. "My shuttle's still ok!" It was a miracle. "What a shame," the Seigi's new avatar softly sobbed. "Let's go then!" Kai said. "All the rest of you get to the escape. Yuuko..take the girl with you, please. Head back for the surface." Kai said and went over to his room to get Amaya and came out with a sleepy girl on his arm. "Keiko, take care of them." He said, getting a sad nod from the neko. Yuuko sent a message over the intercom, "All crew abandon ship immediately!" "I am so sorry WIES." Kai apologized to the AI, can we get this ship to land as safe as possible?" "Sir," Yuuko said as the gravity on the ship started to fail, "Don't you think she'd be better off with you?" The Antaeuses were far to valuable to let be destroyed. They teleported back to Geshrintall. The minion's were fairing fairly well. Their small size was deceptive. Damaged ships started to fall back for repairs from the few fleet tending units that made it out of the initial attack while the ground forces started to prepare for an attack. "Probably, I'm going to go with you instead of that original stupid idea of going down with the ship." Kai said fiercely. "Let's go to the Kitty." He said, scooping up the sleepy girl into his arms. "Right!" Yuuko crawled out into the hallway. The gravity was now pulling them toward the front of the ship. Kai's eyes glowed bright blue as he lifted Yuuko into a psionic field and used telekinetics to hurry them toward the bay...and then the ADN activated. "ACK!" Kai grunted. "WIES turn that thing off!" He said now fighting gravity to get himself and the person in his care on the move. "Sir." the computer did so. Kai's telekinetics came back in time to propel him, Amaya and Yuuko the rest of the way to the bay. Yuuko strapped in and headed out the melted bay door into the skies of Ralfaris, with the two passengers in the back. Kai breathed a sigh of relief. "I hope everyone else makes it." He commented. Lavinia and Ritsu had gotten a ride with another lucky pilot who had fled. "AHH!" Yuuko shrieked, dodging a Ronin that was headed back up. Elysian ships were now nearly to the surface. "Holy!" I hope they can hold them off." Kai commented. Yuuko's shuttle took a hit from a passing Elysian fighter. All around the shuttle were vapor trails form missiles and engines. "Hit!" Yuuko told herself. The shuttle was trailing smoke as it headed to the surface. Ground forces started firing at the angel ships although their weapons didn't take to heavy a toll on the ships. Several Ronins fell downward into the QIS buildings shields as the aerodynes started to make passes on the landing ships. Kai held Amaya to him protectively as the shuttle jolted. "Yuuko, can you land it somewhere safely?" The landing ships seemed to have the most (but not heaviest) weapons of any Elysian ship. As the beam eyes began popping off shots at any threatening objects in their range, thousands of white bouncy balls began pouring out of the ships onto the surface below. Each hit with a few bounces, before morphing into a humanoid figure. Seraphs. Yuuko nodded, lowering the landing gear of her smoking shuttle, and lining her course up with a street. QnSe forces were well dug in inside of the city while the LZ's of angel ships were pummeled by long range artillery. "You have any good weapons on this shuttle Yuuko?" Kai asked, sensing that they may need to defend themselves. The rioters had found better places to be... The seraphs began to spread out far and wide, largely shielded by the by the carriers that had dropped them off. The ships began to rise through the atmosphere again, mauling the orbital defenses from below with their beam cannons. The Elysian Fighter horde had air superiority now, and the Ronins had fallen back to guard key QIS structures. The seraphs began slipping into the sewers, the alleys, and various sneaky hiding places. Many of them changed their appearance to Qel'noran. There were still hundreds of Minions left and combined with the large force of Aerodynes the sky's above QIS remained contested. Seraphs were shot at almost as soon as they came in. Nearly every building was garrisoned and every street turned into a kill zone. The GSS Ketsurui Chiharu received a short, desperate message. "GSS Seigi, Mayday! Ralfaris being invaded!" "I hope help arrives soon." Kai murmured, now truly worried... Amaya placed her hand gently on Kai's shoulder and spoke to him softly, "I am sure help will arrive. You hardly expect your comrades to not answer at a time like this..." Taisho Ketsurui grimaced at the message as soon as it came in over the lines. "Alright folks, time to rock and roll! Izumi reroute the 1st fleet to assist and have the 2nd fleet reroute themselves to protect Geshrintall! Aya, get us back there NOW." The crew didn't reply but only did as they were ordered. The seraphs were not easy to kill, however. As they spread out through the QIS in hundred of thousands, they kicked over APCs, and killed QIS crews outright. They were invisible, after all. The ones who weren't were, of course, in QnSe uniforms. Some Seraphs were especially large this time. The GSS Ketsurui Chiharu activated its TDD and disappeared as it sped back towards Ralfaris space. Kai looked at Amaya and smiled...then his eyes began to glow bright blue as he formed and invisible aura around the ship to detect threats and spike their minds. After all, this was self defense. The Chiharu, arriving first, found it was the only GSA ship left on in Ralfaris space. There were roughly 700 Elysian ships remaining. Meanwhile, on the surface, Yuuko grabbed her ammo belts and rifles. Few APC's were lost. QnSe was starting to get pushed back from angel landing zones but they took plenty of Seraphs out along with them. The largest area's of angel troop concentration attracted the attention of columns of Sphinx tanks. Two columns made a push to retake one of the landing zones. Kai didn't say anything, the was totally focusing on the aura that extended out about 15 ft from the shuttles base. This was very, very taxing on him, this was a power seldom used. Keiko jumped off Yuuko's shoulder and walked over to Amaya. And jumped into her lap to help her if she needed it. The Taisho frowned knowing that this did not bode well but, she barked a command. "Ishida, open fire using the Legacy cannon." Ishida nodded and powered the cannon up and opening fire on the Elysian ships. Aya instinctively raised the ship's shields. Amaya wrapped her arms around Keiko and hugged her close while watching Kai, "Lets hope he doesn't tire himself with this effort Keiko." Keiko looked up slightly scared. "I hope so too." Keiko looked over at Yuuko. "Yuuko, could you please send another signal to any friendly ships? I think that's what Kai would have asked." A baker's dozen of Elysian battleships concentrated on the Chiharu. The beams surrounded the ship in an eerily soft white light. The legacy cannon fired, weakening the shield of the Yuumi to their breaking point... "Yes sir," Yuuko nodded. She sent a transmission to the nearby Nerimian ships. "Ralfaris being invaded. Any assistance would be appreciated." Since the message was from a mere shuttle, it was scratchy, weak, and distorted. Ketsurui Chiharu:: In the blink of an eye, the Ketsurui disappeared from the universe forever, as the rest of the first fleet arrived and opened fire on the Elysian ships using the various weapons arrays. "Damn it," Nariel cursed. Only 450 ECN ships remained. "Very well," said the commander of the lead vessel of the Nerimian squadron. "We will be there shortly..." The remaining vessels of the Nerimian squadron moved into relative close proximity to the Prometheus cruiser, who began to power her inter-phased drive. Space distorted as a fold bubble surrounded the twelve vessels. By the time it took the bubble to surround the vessels completely they were gone. Less than one minute later, the squadron was at Ralfaris, crewmembers racing to battle stations and VF pilots getting ready for launch. The enemy ship formation had already been identified and targeting solutions were being calculated. More waves of freshly synthed missiles started to come in from the now advancing Antaeus class ships. The Minions had been whittled down to a few hundred ships, much less than half of their original numbers, and the aerodyne squadrons were more than happy to see help coming in for their side. "FIRE!!" yelled the commander of the Prometheus, the mighty cruiser's main gun focusing on the lead ECN vessel and releasing an incredibly destructive blast of plasma energy at the enemy vessel. The other ships followed suit, even the Desperado frigate letting loose with its planet-shattering Stellar Converter cannon. The first fleet fought valiantly, being one of the most seasoned of the Star Army. The numbers of Elysian ships began to be whittled away even more. A battlecruiser exploded in the Desperado's face as the cannon blasted away. Yuuko burst into tears when she read the latest intel, screaming "Kai!!" Amaya looked at Yuuko, "What is it?" Kai was too busy concentrating on his shield, just in case. "The Chiharu! It's...it's gone!" Yuuko bawled. Keiko started to cry knowing Kai liked Chiharu Amaya walked over and placed a hand on Yuuko's shoulder, "I am truly sorry..." An Elysian Fast Attack Frigate's nose beam fired to pierce the desperado's upper hull. Several more swarmed around the Nerimians, while the bigger remaining ships fought tooth and nail against the 1st Fleet. The Nerimian squadron quickly began to maneuver, volleying its missiles towards the Elysian fleet. "The Desperado has lost its shields! 20 seconds before Zyro Shields are back online!" An energy beam struck the assault frigate's upper hull as layers of Xintium and Zanarium armor were liquefied by the blast, but didn't falter. "They're fighting just like the damn Jaaq'tah!" said one of the ship captains, each ship firing their beam turrets at the swarming frigates, launching and reloading missile tubes in order to deliver as much destructive energy to their foes as quickly as possible. The remaining ships of the 4th fleet started to pull back and reform themselves, out of the 4 battle groups they had they started with only 1 was able to be formed now. The ships started making faster than light runs against the angel ships near Ralfaris. The ground forces were starting to feel the effects of the seraph attack. Infantry had started to pull back further from angel landing zones. They had to rely on their comlinks to identify friend and foe, reducing their combat effectiveness. The columns of Sphinx tanks moved through the city largely unchallenged becoming mobile strong points for QnSe troops. The Elysian landing ships began to discreetly slip out of the anti-FTL fields, while above the remaining battlecruisers were creating fields of destruction with their main guns, serving more to keep the 1st Fleet back than to damage them. The seraphs stopped fighting and began to concentrate on blending into their surroundings. Sphinx's started to hunt the remaining seraphs while the call went in to bring out more APCs with the command modifications to try and clean up the seraphs before a significant amount of them were able to slip away. Very, very few of the seraphs were dead. The tanks just weren't equipped to follow an enemy that was not only invisible to the tanks, which had no sensors. They sought to return another time. Above, the last of the Elysian ships either escaped or were destroyed, leaving the Nerimian ships and the 1st Fleet victorious. The angel landing zones were quickly retaken and sweeps for seraphs started. Keiko wiped her tears and looked at Yuuko. "I think we need a new ship." She quipped, trying to lighten the atmosphere Amaya laughed, "I think you are right Keiko." "I feel sick." Yuuko groaned. "Casualty count?" asked the squadron commander. No vessels had been lost to combat, though the Desperado frigate suffered damage to its dorsal hull. Luckily, that could be repaired rather easily. The squadron itself had claimed nearly three dozen enemy vessels, including one of their capital ships -- that kill belonged to the Desperado. Keiko jumped off Amaya's lap and walked over to Yuuko. "What's wrong Yuuko?" She asked. "So many dead." Salvage corvettes began to leave their berths from the larger cruisers, seeking to collect portions of smashed enemy vessels for analysis. Keiko frowned and tried to hug Yuuko. "I know Yuuko...It was a total overrun...poor Chiharu..." Keiko said, starting to cry again. "At least maybe now the GSA will give us a little leeway.....we did help defend one of their planets......" More debris started to rain down from orbit as some of the larger wrecks started to enter the atmosphere. Very close to Yuuko and Keiko a small escape pod sized piece impacted and created a large crater. Keiko jumped and stealthed in fright then clung to Yuuko and reappeared. Amaya tore her eyes away from Yuuko and Keiko and calmly walked over to a small window and looked out, "A piece of debris landed outside... I am not sure what it is..." "These ruins will be a legacy to our brave nekos." Yuuko told Amaya. Kai started to waver, the use of power at this level and started to sway, his eyes bleeding back to a dim green. He promptly slumped into the seat, breathing hard. Amaya looked at Yuuko, "They all fought bravely, and they will be remembered as sacrificing thier lives for..." Her voice trailed off as she saw Kai slump over in his seat and she crossed the distance quickly and kneeled next to him, "Are you alright?" Keiko nodded. Then jumped off Yuuko and ran over to her master who was laying in a seat, resting and looked up at him, afraid he'd hurt himself. 15min later a flatbed truck and 3APC's approached the wreckage. "HEY THERE ARE PEOPLE OVER THERE!" one of the soldiers shouted as he dismounted from the APC. The squad’s medics hurried over to where Yuuko was as the flatbed started to recover the soul savior pod that had crashed nearby. "Who's in command?" GSS Crusader asked. "I'm....alright. Just…tired." Kai replied to Amaya. Amaya nodded, "Is there anything I can do?" Yuuko opened the shuttle's back door as she saw the APC approach them. Apparently one had spotted her through the windshield of the shuttle. She gave them a sad wave of her hand. The Nerimian squadron approached Ralfaris itself, hailing the GSA vessels in orbit asking if they could offer any further assistance. "Nerimian vessels, you're welcome to visit the planet if you'd like," the GSS Crusader (GD-203) offered the Nerimians. "By the goddess." Kai stood up, his eyes turning back to the normal green, he wavered a bit then regained his footing and stepped out and looked around and noticed the QnSe guys. Amaya followed behind Kai, standing behind him ready to help him if he needed her. QnSe responded to the hail from the Nerimian ship, "The main attack has been repulsed but Seraphs are blending into the city, we require additional ground forces to search the city." Kai turned to Yuuko as Keiko sat happily on his shoulder. "Yuuko, Please come along. " He said in a tired voice "My shuttle..." Yuuko weakly protested. Kai walked over and put a hand on Yuuko's shoulder. "You can fix it can't you?" He asked. The lead Lightning cruiser released two A5 Aerodyne transports from its forward berths, the two transports heading towards Ralfaris' atmosphere. The equivalent of a battalion of Marines were en route to the planet. A small welcome wagon of 8 APCs and 2 sphinx tanks were waiting for the Nerimian's at their LZ. The A5s queried QnSe on landing clearance and deployment zones. "Please head to the landing area just outside of QIS, a landing beacon has been deployed for you." one of the QnL public relations officers said. "I can fix it." Yuuko seemed to be in a sort of trance. "Poor, poor, Chiharu." Both A5s landed safely, letting their engines idle as four companies of Marines in Golem powered armor suits deployed. Out the back of each A5 came two GEV-17 LGEV-PCs, designed to facilitate rapid movement for the marines. (LGEV-PC = Light Ground Effect Vehicle - Personnel Carrier) "Yuuko...If you want to fix it, you should go ahead and repair it I suppose." Kai said and headed out to greet the QnSe guys. "Excuse me, but you wouldn't happen to have a working radio on you, would you?" "You have been given free range to scan the city as you'd like however the underground tunnels are off limits, So far they have not been penetrated by our forces." one of the officers in the APCs informed the Nerimians. Amaya followed close behind Kai, not wanting to leave him alone right now. The Lieutenant Colonel in charge was distinguished by the blood red Warhawk-class armor she wore. "I'm Lt. Colonel Madelyn Price, what ever you need finding, we'll find and kill. Just tell us the description of the target." "here is your target." the officer said as he transmitted what data they had on seraphs to the Nerimians. One of the soldiers was leaning against the side of the APC that Kai was approaching, "Ya sure, Its right in there." he said motioning to the APC's door. The data filtered through the SLICS network into the tactical computers of each suit. "Understood. Alright, boys, you heard 'em, MOVE OUT!" The marines responded with a resounding cry of "HOO-AH!" before breaking off into their component units. Two platoons manned the LGEV-PCs and moved out the fastest, while the others moved out using their jump jets to cover ground more quickly. There was a rifle seeming floating in midair, just over the top of an overturned APC some 400 meters away. It was pointed toward Price's neck; a small target, but not a difficult one for the Seraph. A quick calculation of wind speed, and then the trigger squeeze. Kai nodded and went to the door and got on the horn to any GSA ships. "This is Shôshô Ashigari of the Seigi. We are safely on Ralfaris, I request a pick up if possible." He sent. "Sir, this is the GSS Crusader. We've assumed command of the first. Not much of your fleet is left sir. Shall our destroyer retrieve you?" came a response to Kai. "If that's possible. I have 3 survivors with me, tell me have any escape pods of the Seigi been recovered?" He asked, hopeful The Antaeus battleships started to come back to Ralfaris to rebuild the fleet. Most were intact however GB-17 was missing the front half of the ship. A yellow-white field emerged from the point of impact of the round and Colonel Price immediately raised her SIAR, her sensors sweeping for signs of the target -- she found it! But before she could pull the trigger, the marines were already upon the target, using their wide array of sensors to detect, and then eliminate the target. The seraph was quite surprised and quickly darted through the rooftop it was on. A variety of round impacted as it squirted itself inside. The result was a very small seraph composed of the original one's remains. Colonel Price growled, "They shot at the wrong woman." And the marines were on the hunt.... a QnT APC was taking notes on the Golem's, this data would be most useful in the next few weeks. END -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JP Wes Tyler Kim Derran Jennifer GSA no Taisho Kitsurugi Yui Commander, Star Army 1st Expeditionary Fleet Author Comment Ketsurui Chiharu GSA Command GSA 1st Fleet (12/7/03 1:59) More Survivors. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kyoshi was the only one in his escape pod that was still conscious when it made contact into the planet's soil. His head spun as he felt himself thrown forward but was held in place by the pod's harness. His vision went black but when it regained focus again, he saw the other occupants of this pod hanging limply in their harnesses. Two of the other techs (Hikari, Tomoyo) had managed to fit into the pod along with a single neko Medic (Inari). He wasn't sure if anyone else had managed to escape from the ship in time. He felt very sick as he noticed that none of the others were moving. He unhooked himself from the harness and hurriedly scrambled to check their vitals. Hikari was the first one he checked and then.. he panicked. Hikari wasn't breathing and she didn't have a heartbeat. He couldn't let her die, not now after escaping the Seigi before it was destroyed! He frantically started CPR once he clumisly pulled her out of the harness and laid her on the floor of the pod. His heart was frantic and the nausea wouldn't go away as he performed the chest compressions and rescue breathes in the correct intervals. ~Please wake up Hikari! You can't die on me!~ Kyoshi didn't notice when Inari woke up. Inari also felt ill but her ears registered the sounds of a panicked First responder and her eyes snapped open. She tried to free herself from the harness but her entire body felt weak. "Hold on." She forced herself to unhook from the the harness and moved to the floor beside Kyoshi and Hikari. "Kyoshi, let me handle this.. you should rest.." Kyoshi stopped and allowed Inari to quickly place her hands over Hikari's heart. She focused and saw where the difficulty was and concentrated on that spot, repairing the Geshrin from the inside with the hemosynth techniques he had been taught as a child, to use the patient's own blood to knit the body back together. "Check Tomoyo." Inari's voice sounded strained and distant but Kyoshi nodded, moving to comply. Tomoyo was breathing but she still was unconscious from the impact and the stress of the situation. Kyoshi frowned and returned his attention to Hikari and Inari. The neko looked drained but when Hikari coughed, his heart skipped a beat. Hikari's eyes opened as she coughed up some blood that had been stuck in her lungs. Inari let herself fall back against the side of the seat, wanting to go back to sleep. "Sgt. Inari, are you okay?" Kyoshi asked as he remained frozen to the spot, still in shock with joy that Hikari was alive. "I'm just tired.. you all need to rest for now, but we need to try to signal somebody to recover us.. the pod will only sustain life support for 48 hours." Inari yawned, closing her eyes for a moment and reopening them again. "Do you think anyone else made it out?" Kyoshi asked, finally moving to check on a dazed Hikari. "Where are we?" Hikari whispered, it hurt to talk. "I think we landed on Ralfaris.. hopefully someone will be by to recover us soon?" Kyoshi hugged Hikari gently. "I'm so glad that you're alive! I thought I'd lost you for a moment there.." Author Tasuki Uso Ship's Cook GSA 4th Fleet (12/7/03 16:33) [Ralfaris] employment oppertunities -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ON> Ralfaris Kai turned off the radio and hung it up, not getting a response to his inquiries. He sighed and walked back over to Amaya; "I feel a distinct sense of loss and sadness here, what happened to cause this? Do you know?" He asked, he had been in a trance-like state when the Intel of Chiharu’s death was broadcast. A medic was checking Amaya for injuries, a small sensor was placed on the inside of her arm and connected to a wrist-mounted computer. "She seems fine... But what is this drug in her system?" he asked himself. Amaya ignored the medic and looked at Kai carefully, "The GSS Ketsurui Chiharu was destroyed Kai... I am so sorry." Kai closed his eyes, holding back the sudden, sharp pain of loss. "It's....ok Amaya, “He said, trying to keep from breaking down into sadness. "I feel...responsible for it...I ordered the call for help that lead to her doom.." Kai murmured, his voice starting to break and tears watering in his eyes. Amaya reached out and put her arms around him, "You are not responsible, those monsters that did this are." "Thank you Amaya.." He said softly and opened his eyes to show sad green eyes that spoke volumes more than his words said. "How is she?" He asked the medic, wanting not to think about the pain right now. "physically she's ok." he said, "But she has some weird neural suppressant in her system. I would remove it but she seems to psyker, We should get her to the QnT guys, They'd be able to help her with this." The cord attaching the sensor to her arm retracted and the Qelnoran stood up Amaya looked at Kai and then at the medic, "QnT?" "HEY Karjak!" One of the soldiers yelled out as he ran up tot he shuttle, "We need to get moving, the pod's data has been recovered and Sensors show Serph's heading our way." Kai nodded. "Don't remove the suppressant, it's suppressing her abilities." Kai said. "She's in my care for now." Kai said, then jerked up at the mention of seraph. The medic nodded, "The Technology division of QIS, They have a good psyker unit and are in charge of research." The flatbed and one of the APC's turned around and headed back into the city over the sand dunes of the desert. "Perhaps. But if there are seraphs around, maybe we should get somewhere safe? Can you tow that shuttle to a hangar for her to fix?" Pointing to Yuuko. "sorry sir, we don't have the recourses to do that, A lot of the soul savor transmitters were damaged when they hit the atmosphere and the recovery units are all tied up getting to them." the soldier said. "It's ok, can you assign a few soldiers to watch out for her while she repairs it?" He asked, gently holding Maya’s hand. "We have to be getting out of here too." He said Amaya looked down at his hand and wrapped her other over the top of his, "We might need to bring Yuuko with us, for her own safety..." "She won't like it, but you are correct." Kai nodded. Then sent a mental order to Yuuko. ~Yuuko, come along with us, we'll return for your shuttle~ He thought. "Well I think we should get out of here then." Kai said, gently leading her to the vehicle. "How far is the ITS building?" "20min from here by APC." Karjak said as he headed for the APC with the soldier. "Alright." Kai said. "I CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT!!" The driver of the APC yelled out from the top of the vehicle. Karjak looked over at Kai and Amaya, "...better wear your harness..." Kai strapped himself in and looked at Amaya. Amaya strapped herself in with a hesitant look at Kai. "What's wrong Amaya?" Kai asked her softly. Amaya smiled, "Just don't like the sound of 'better wear your harness.'" The rest of the Qelnorans did the same, a few had tensed up having gotten used to the drivers style. A small smirk was on his face as he gunned the engines. The APC accelerated quickly pulling all of the occupants toward the rear. "Well it's for safety, this guy's a fast driver." Kai said he got jerked toward her and ended up leaning on her shoulder softly. Amaya smiled at Kai and spoke happily, "This is fun..." To the drivers credit they did make it back in less than 20min. 15min later they had reached the QnT building and headed around back to enter the underground garage. It was little more than a large open area with a ramp that led up to the surface. Security camera's covered the area and a group of QnSe guards were standing by the elevator shaft and stairwell entrances in flack coats and helmets. The APC's door opened and the troopers started to file out and were approached by a security team, "ID?" one of the guards asked, He was given a small card which was scanned by the guards computer, A small sensor as attached to the soldiers neck from the guards wrist mounted computer and in a few moments he motioned the soldier forward towards the lift. The guard repeated the process for all of the QnSe troopers until he came to Kai and Amaya. "ID?" The guard asked Kai. "I don't have one, I'm GSA personnel. And she's under my care." Kai said, not really know what else to say. "So I don't have one." He added, hoping they'd notice the rank pin. "Crap... What’s your name then?" The guard asked. "Shosho Kai Ashigari." Kai replied. The guard attached a small sensor to Kai's neck. All Kai felt was a slight tingle from the device. "All right you can go," The guard said as he moved to Amaya, "Name?" he asked. Kai patiently waited for her. Amaya looked hesitant and spoke softly, "My name is Amaya." "She's with me." Kai said. The man attached a sensor to her neck and looked at his wrist-mounted computer, "We have no record of you." He said as he took a step back and put a hand over his pistol. Amaya stepped back a few paces, "I mean you no harm..." "I understand this is for security reasons, but I assure you gentlemen that she is of no threat." Kai said smoothly. He walked over to Amaya again and stood slightly in front of her. The man relaxed a bit as his computer displayed some message to him, "You’re free to go, sorry ma'am but needless to say we've been having Seraph problems so security is kinda tight." The guard then turned and went to scan the driver. "Oh." Kai said. He reached back and offered Amaya a hand or arm for her to hold onto. It would be easier to keep her out of trouble this way. Amaya took his hand gently and followed after Kai, "Thank you..." Kai nodded and continued on with her along side. The medic also looked down at his computer, "hmm... Ms. Amaya it seems that you have a friend somewhere in the corporation," Karjak said with a slight chuckle as he waited for the elevator to arrive. Once checked the APC went to the back of the parking garage to a doorway that led into the tunnel system. It was scanned again then let inside. Amaya looked at the medic, "A friend? I am afraid I don’t follow you." "I wonder who that could be, I hope it's not Xian; it couldn't be." Kai mused. The elevator doors opened and a fresh QnSe APC rolled out, all of the soldiers climbed in, except for Karjak, and rolled off back into the city. Karjak stepped into the elevator, "Please come with me.” He said. Kai nodded and followed Karjak into the elevator cautiously, holding Amaya a bit closer to him. "Who would know her here?" Kai asked Karjak Karjak chuckled, "Who can tell? QnT guys are weird..." The elevator doors closed and it started moving down. Above them were several sensors and automated gun turrets. When the doors opened they didn't open into the usual drab gray of the city streets or garages but into a very nicely built room. The walls and floor looked like they were made out of marble and off to one side were a few couches a table and some of the very rare non-desert plants of Ralfaris, "Please sit." Uso said. "Uso. I should have known." Kai mused. Amaya looked at Kai, "Who is this?" "This is Uso Tasuki, ex-ship's cook for the Seigi." He said. "You said check in every six hours, this is something like 8 or so but I think you'll forgive me." She said with a smile, "Either way I'm just acting as a messenger for the moment." Amaya brushed her blonde hair out of her face and behind her ears, "Messenger for whom?" "What is the message?" Kai asked, he wasn't going to play with her today. Keiko turned and scowled darkly at the much bigger neko. "Actually, Its for her." Uso said, pointing at Amaya, "You've impressed someone in QnT, Not many people can generate a psionic signal that can be detected from incredibly long distances. They think you have what it takes to become a very high level psyker." Amaya nodded, "They are correct..." Kai grunted. Uso leaned back in the couch and put her feet up on the table in front of her, "Needless to say they want to offer you a job and any recourses that you might require." kai stood there, somewhat irritated with all this. "I can do it too, but I didn't get any offers." Kai chuckled amusedly. Amaya looked at Uso calmly, "I had decided considering recent events to join the Grand Star Army. Please convey my thanks to the corporation and whomever sent this message." A slow smile started to cross Kai's face when she said that. "He said you'd say something like that," Uso said with a smile, "He also told me to tell you that most of the 4th fleet works for QIS as well. There would be no drawbacks from working as part of QnT and for the GSA." "Who said that?" Kai asked, "Spit it out Uso." Amaya looked at Kai, "Is what she says true?" "Yes, but it's up to you. I'm leaving the 4th fleet after I leave this planet." Uso gave Kai an odd look, "I can't pronounce his name..." she said, "He would come and visit you himself but he's kinda busy at the moment." "Why?" Amaya asked Kai curiously. "Spell it then." Kai said, getting suspicious. "Because I prefer one of the other fleets honestly." "I didn't bother to learn how to spell it either," Uso said, "Also, why leave the 4th? You'd miss out on a lot of fun." Amaya looked at Uso and smiled, "Once again I thank you for these offers, but I can not leave Kai." "And be surrounded by double agents Especially when the GSA and QIS are against each other on something?" Kai said. "Look Uso, I just want to recover my crew from the destruction of the Seigi and get back into space." He added. "Well if you don't want to play that’s fine by me." Uso said as she stood up and headed to the elevator, "They were Alexis's Crew. Anyways he said if that was the case to wish you good luck and to see to it that you make it back to the lobby safely. If you ever reconsider Amaya drop QnT a line sometime." "I don't like your meaning of play Uso." Kai said flatly. Amaya watched Uso walk over to the elevator, "Maybe one day when 'he' is available I'll reconsider. I like to know who I am dealing with and exactly what would be asked of me." "He should have a opening in his schedule in about an hour or so... You can never tell with him." Uso said, "I could have it arranged if you'd like." Amaya nodded, "Very well, thank you Uso." "I suppose I'll wait as well, I'm curious about 'him'" Kai said. "its no problem really." She said, "You can wait here then unless you'd like to have a look around." "Tell me Uso. How does it feel?" Kai asked, feinting friendliness "How does what feel?" Uso asked. "working for QIS." Uso smirked, "fun." "What type of fun?" He asked "All types," she said, "Its just like old times." "Oh yes, playing people into bad situations huh?" He smirked. Amaya leaned against the wall watching these two play their little game. "Something like that." Uso said as she went back to the couch, "I see you found yourself a new girl." "You're incorrigible." Kai muttered. But also blushed ever so slightly. "let her sleep in your bed yet?" Uso pried jokingly. "Actually, yes, she was tired and I didn't know where else to put her Uso." Kai said casually, knowing Uso was going to blow it out of proportion. Amaya looked at Uso shocked, "There is nothing going on between Kai and myself..." She then added quietly, "How could anyone care for a lab experiment..." "That's not true Amaya." Kai said turning to her. "I care about you." "I'm a lab creature too." Uso said, "and so is he," referring to the QnT guy. Keiko jumped off Kai's shoulder and climbed down his leg and ran over to Amaya and yanked her pant leg wanting to getup. Amaya sighed, "Tell me Uso, how long until you were given your freedom?" She reached down as she said this and picked Keiko up. Keiko smiled and gave Amaya a tiny hug. Uso chuckled, "I still something like 20 years to go. According to the GSA at least..." "Is that because you joined the army?" Amaya asked softly. "forced into it," Uso said. Amaya looked shocked, "How were you forced into the army?" "No, Nekos are owned by the military for 8 years then they are freed, but most remain in because it's the only life the know." Kai said. "Uso got in trouble, I read the report." He smiled. "Forced, it isn't like we have a choice." Uso said. Amaya looked at Kai, " I see. Forgive me I know nothing of the universe at large. " Kai shook his head. "It's understandable Amaya." He smiled at her. Amaya looked at Uso, "What sort of work does QIS do?" Kai looked at Uso as well. "I am curious as well, I have only seen the military side of it." "Almost everything, they supply the planet with food, clothing, ships, buildings, and everything needed for its survival. Quite simply without QIS the population of the planet would die out." Uso said. Amaya nodded, "Tell me would you have much use for my talents as a geneticist?" "Hmm sounds nice, maybe I have been wrong all this time." Kai mused. "Very much so, QnT has been looking for a way to boost the Qelnoran immune system for a while now." Uso said, "And all sorts of other things." "Can't they as PNUgen about how they created the immune system of a geshrin?" Kai asked. "Is there something genetically wrong with the Qelnoran immune system?" Amaya asked. "Uso, about that working for both QIS and GSA, you know that GSA comes first according to law." Kai said. "No, But they aren't as strong as that of the Greshen or other races, And for political reasons they can't let PNUgen do it." Uso said. "According to the law yes, In most of these peoples minds no." Amaya laughed, "I have a lot to learn about the universe I think." "Well this is a very casted system; I'm sorry but I can't imagine it any other way. Must be from being in the military since birth." Kai laughed. "besides, what can I do in QIS?" He chuckled. Uso chuckled, "It has nothing to do with the military." She said, "QIS is looking for new crewmembers to man the 4th fleet..." Amaya looked at Kai and walked over to stand next to him. "It might be the right path..." "I'm already one." Kai said. "I prefer life in space anyway." He said. "Where is 'he' anyway?" Kai asked. "In the 'Psyk ward'," Uso said with a chuckle, "its down about 20 levels from here I think." "What is a Psyker anyway? A psion like Amaya and I?" "it's the same thing basically. The only difference is how the energy is taped." Uso said. "hmm I thought it was all the same." Kai mused. "I don't know how I draw my power." Amaya looked at Kai, "And I cannot turn mine off." "You'll learn that Amaya." Kai smiled at her. "Or we can find a way to." "All of that should change in time." Uso said and without skipping a beat she turned to look at Kai, "He is has an opening now." "How do you know? If so, take us to him, or get him up here." Kai said. Uso headed to the elevator, "He just told me." She said with a smile as she motioned for them to follow, "I think you'll understand why he didn't come to meet you himself once you see him." "Hmph." Kai said and offered an arm to Amaya. Amaya took his arm and followed Uso. "Why didn't he come here Uso?" Kai asked, his curiosity unsated. The elevator took them all further down into the building, "Try not to freak out ok..." Uso said as the doors opened, In front of them was a set of high security doors made of impervium and protected by energy shields. They had already been opened as if they were anticipating Amaya's arrival. "This way." Uso said as she led them down one of the corridors in front of them. The entire area was a bright white color and all of the walls and floors were padded, "Sore wa Hemitsu Desu." she said with a slight chuckle as she opened one of the doors on the sides of the corridor, leading to a small chamber that looked like an airlock. "what in the?" Kai asked Uso chuckled, "your the first one not to ask about the padding right off the bat." "I'm not curious about it, it looks like the guy might be insane." Kai mused. Uso closed the door behind them as they stepped into the chamber. There was a loud pop as the other door opened, Kai could feel himself being shot in the head, neck ,chest. Amaya could feel the same thing as if all of their possible deaths occurred in that instant. Every possible future replayed itself in the blink of an eye for them and they felt every bit of it. Amaya closed her eyes and felt it all, tears forming in her eyes. Death was not something she wanted at this time in her life, not after finally being free from her imprisonment. Kai held her close to him to give her strength. "It's ok Amaya…” He soothed. Inside of the small room was a Qelnoran, His eyes were rolled back as if having a seizure and various cables and sensors were attached to his body. Scars and implants were visible for the many surgeries that he had gone though, ~Hello~ he thought at them all. ~Greetings sir. ~ Kai thought back respectfully. Amaya's eyes opened as she heard the voice in her head. She looked at the Qelnoran and spoke aloud, "Hello..." He chuckled a bit, "Now you see why I sent Uso... ~ He thought good naturedly ~You didn't need to send her. ~ Kai thought with a bit of bitterness. ~You wanted to offer her something? ~ Sensing that this old guy was reading their auras, Kai tried to show off, turning his eyes blue again and making his aura shine brightly. ~She had offered to do it herself, something about reporting in.~ He thought, ~and yes I wanted to offer Amaya a job, QnT has been looking for people with her exact talents." ~I have the same talents, I just have absolute control over them~ Kai thought, offended slightly. ~What exactly do you want her for? ~ Kai thought. ~Your have the same talents as her right now, however she hasn't been trained or had access to any power enhancers. ~ He thought, ~She could become incredibly powerful if her talents are fully developed~ ~Perhaps those enhancers could help me as well~ Kai thought back. ~Talent is what you can do, not the raw force of mind~ Kai thought. Amaya stood there watching the Qelnoran and Kai, realizing there was a conversation occurring she could not participate in. ~You've already had enhancers and training, you‘ve reached the limit of your potential~ He thought mentally displaying the jewel in Kai's forehead, ~I was born with that~ Kai thought. ~ I am Neplesilian, we all have some weird traits.~, He obviously didn’t know what he was talking about. Keiko smiled and blew on Amaya's ear. "This is strange." The Qelnoran chuckled,~It was grafted to your body when you were still in the womb. You cannot give birth to a mineral~ Amaya looked at Keiko and smiled, "They are speaking with their minds." ~Hmm maybe more jewels could enhance me further...but I fear I can't. ~ Kai said. He was afraid to release his true power and really use that jewel. "I wonder what they are saying?" Keiko whispered/ He knew Kai didn‘t have the amount of ability that they required, ~Anyways Amaya we would like you to join QnT so we can help develop your talents. ~ He thought at her. ~If she joins, I do as well, I am her guardian at the moment. ~ Kai pointed out. Amaya nodded and spoke aloud, "Yes... Yes I will join you." ~That is great! ~ He thought, ~Welcome to the corporation. ~ Amaya smiled softly, "Thank you, I trust you will put my abilities as a geneticist to use as well?" ~But sir, I must reassemble my crew from the Seigi. ~ Kai thought. ~Am I welcome as well? ~ He asked mentally, as if unsure. ~You are welcome to join as well. ~ He thought, ~your geneticist skills would be very useful. QnT isn't as strong as PNUgen in that area and we are looking to close the gap.~ ~Thank you sir.~ Kai nodded. ~What else would you have me do?~ ~You would be best suited for some fleet duty.~ He thought, ~The Seigi will be back up again soon~ ~Can Amaya be stationed about the ship as well?~ He asked hopefully. ~Her station is of little concern right now,~ He thought, ~she may be assigned anywhere.~ ~I am aware of that, but I want to have her close to me....~ He thought ~For the moment she has the authority to go anywhere in the corporation.~ He informed Kai Kai smiled. ~oh, then please excuse me. ~ ~Perhaps you'd like to clean up Ms. Amaya.~ He thought, ~A room has been prepared for you to use temporarily until you decide where you'd like to be assigned and a change of clothing is waiting for you there.~ ~Anything in specific you wish me to do. Mr....~ Amaya looked at him, "Thank you very much." She looked down at her clothes and laughed, "I think I need to clean up a little." Her expression became thoughtful, "My drugs should wear off within the next 18 hours, that will not be a problem will it?" Kai withdrew a small vial from his pocket. ~I have a sample of it right here, but I need it synthesized for her.~ "This building is equipped with a ADN system so your abilities are not in danger of harming anyone, ~ He thought with a smile. ~I guess I need to brush up on my physical skills~ Kai thought with a bit o humor. Amaya smiled at the Qelnoran, "I think I will go clean myself up if you have no other need for me." ~I suppose I'm stuck here until the 4th is rebuilt~ ~Not for the moment, however we would like to begin training once the drugs in your system ware off~ he thought Amaya nodded, "Very well, I look forward to the opportunity to use my abilities." ~I guess I can help her train, you never know I myself my improve. Isn't that right? Uso coughed rather loudly ~Right Uso... They will have it for you at the door~ He thought to her. Kai felt ignored. Amaya looked at the Qelnoran, "Is there someone who could show me the way to my quarters?" "Right then time to go!" Uso said, "I'll take you there," Amaya smiled at Uso, "Thank you." Kai sighed and headed for the door as well. "What'd you get paid Uso?" He asked mildly. "Time to find a hotel." He added with a chuckle, referring to his situation. Amaya may have a room, but he didn't They all walked back into the air-lock chamber and once the door shut it felt like reality had returned to normal, "I got paid in help." she said with a smirk as the outer door opened. "Help? how so?" Kai asked. "Information to be exact." she said as she led them to the elevators again. "What kind?" Kai asked curiously, and walked a bit closer to Amaya. "The kind that I want to know." She said "Please Uso, Just tell me." He said "aww but I like this little game." she said as they reached the elevator. Amaya looked at Kai, "I do not think she is going to tell you." "Probably not." Kai said. "I'm gonna tickle you if you don't tell me Uso." "You had your chance to tickle me when I was in your bed Kai." She said with a smile as they all reached the elevator and started traviling up. Kai blushed. "You'd have slapped me stupid Uso, you and I both know it." Amaya looked sideways at Kai after the previous comments. ~Has someone not told me something~ She thought silently to herself. "I might have, who knows what could have happened had you tried." She said. "Why should I have tried?" Kai said. He then caught Amaya's look and thought he needed to explain. "I let her sleep in my nest once and slept in a cot. She has a dirty mind thought.." He said. Uso chuckled, "Well when you put it THAT way..." Kai glared at her in a sidelong glance. "Do you two always fight like this?" Amaya asked. "Not really." Kai said, deciding not to let Uso get to him. "Well ya kinda... ever sense he tried to have me imprisoned." Uso said. "You should have told me sooner what you were planning Uso." Kai said defensively "If I had told you it wouldn't have worked..." Uso said. "I thought you had betrayed me, honestly woman." He scoffed in a mocking tone. A trait he had gotten from his dad showing "Who says I didn't?" Uso asked with a smile. Kai ignored that and kept walking. Kai ran into the door of the elevator, getting a giggle from Uso Kai spun on her and glared. "shut up Uso." A small ding and the elevator doors opened, "here we are." she said. they had reached what looked to be living quarters for those who worked into the building. "You room is that one I think..." Uso said, pointing. Amaya smiled at Uso, "Where is Kai going to be staying?" "guess it's time for me to leave then." Kai said, not knowing where else to go. "dunno." Uso said, "He could find a place in the city if he wanted, I know the hotel's there are great." Amaya looked at Kai, "If you have no where else to go you could share my quarters if you'd like." Kai smiled shyly, blushing slightly, the look befitting him. "I'd be honored Amaya." He said. Amaya smiled at him, "Its no problem. Now if you'll all excuse me I'm going to go change." She turned away and walked into her room Uso nodded and headed back to the elevator. Kai chuckled and waited outside for her to finish. END GSA no Shoi, Uso Tasuki Head Cook, GSS Seigi (GB-07) Author Lavinia Taiensho GSA Starship Pilot GSA 4th Fleet (12/7/03 19:14) [Ralifaris]... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After the evacuation of the Seigi Lav and Ritsu had barely made the last escape pod. The escape pod pummeled toward the planet, the outer hull white hot from the atmosphere, Lav was terrified and clinging to Ritsu in a deathgrip: Ritsu was holding her close, trying to comfort her then they both jolted hard and ended up with Ritsu on top of Lav as they plowed into a sanddune? Ritsu let go of Lav who was clinging to something in the escape pod. He opened the door to the pod as the locks automatically opened after the movement stopped. He stepped out into a dark, hot desert, and looked around; wondering where he was. Lavinia soon got out and stayed close to him... and in a shaky voice she asked. A small barking was heard as a very very lucky Siaga jumped out and pounced on a still wary Lav. "SIAGA!" Lav cried and hugged the puppy close, earning a few dozen licks. "Where are we, and what do we do now?" GSA no Juni Lavinia Taiensho Chief Pilot, GSS Seigi (GB-08) Author Kai Ashigari GSA Command GSA 4th Fleet (12/8/03 17:16) {Ralifaris} A quiet time and talk. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After Amaya went in to change, Kai patiently waited outside for a sign she was decent. He didn't want to just go in and risk seeing her..less than dressed. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, with little Keiko on his shoulder. She was happily humming and kicking her feet; "Why don't you go in with her? I know you like her Kai." Keiko teased lightly. "Because it's rude Keiko." Kai chuckled. Nekos were very open about that kind of thing, but he was still modest about it. Kai's eyes still looked sad, he was thinking about the death of Chiharu...he still felt a bit guilty about it. Amaya had removed her garments and changed into the clean garments provided by QIS and stood looking in the mirror. She pulled her blonde hair back and braided it into one long braid hanging down her back. Locks of hair still framed her face, but she now felt cleaner and more at peace than she had in a long time. She smiled softly to herself and looked at the door, ~Better go collect Kai.~ She thought to herself and quickly crossed the distance and opened the door. "You can come in now." She said it softly not wanting to startle him. Kai was a little surprised, but mostly due to his thoughts distracting him. "You done?" He asked, turning slowly, giving her time to retreat if she wasn't. He faced her and looked her up and down appraisingly and smiled; Keiko grinned. "You look pretty Amaya." She giggled lightly, poking Kai in the ear. "He thinks so too. He's tell him in my mind." Kai blushed slightly and walked in. "Feel better?" He asked. Amaya smiled, "Yes, actually I am." She looked at him thoughtfully, "How are you holding up?" "I'm feeling tired." Kai admitted, yawning a bit; but being polite about it. "And a little sad." Amaya looked at him sadly, "I..I am so sorry for your loss Kai." Keiko looked ready to cry again, she was a very emotional little neko, capable of changing from them easily. She caught herself and jumped off and onto a soft seat and curled up for a nap. "It's ok Amaya, she'll be remembered forever." Kai said. "But don't let my troubles worry you, you're going to have to train hard to control that power of yours." He said. Amaya nodded, "I look forward to it actually. But why dont you come in, you said you were tired and you certainly look it." Kai nodded and walked in and smiled at the little neko who was curled up resting. He looked around the room taking in the setting. Amaya smiled at Kai, "You should probably grab some sleep, the effort you expended on the shuttle was great I imagine." Kai chuckled. "what I need is a shower and something to eat." Amaya smiled, "Why dont you go take one, I'll keep Keiko occupied." Kai nodded and went to the shower, having noticed it in the back. He disappeared through the door and started the warm water. Amaya looked at Keiko, "Are you tired Keiko?" Keiko yawned a bit. "Yeah I am a little, but I can talk if you want to." She giggled, sitting up Amaya smiled, "Or I could put you in bed and go find Kai some food." "He does like you you know." Keiko giggled. Kai had taught her to tell the truth in presence of friends. But she hadn't yet learned what not to say. Amaya smiled and walked over to Keiko, "I'm glad he likes me, he is a good friend." "He's a very nice man; if anything; he cares a bit too much." Keiko said. Amaya looked distant and thoughtful, "And perhaps that isn't a good thing." She said it softly, almost as if her mind was somewhere else. She shook her head and looked at Keiko, "So how does that bed sound?" Keiko looked confused. "How can that be a bad thing?" She asked, not understanding. Amaya smiled, "Sometimes caring too much can drive people to do odd things in despair Keiko. You are right though Kai does care far too much about people sometimes." "Could you please explain a bit more?" keiko asked, now wanting to understand her logic. Amaya sat down next to Keiko, "Alright, if someone dies and the person closest to them feels it far too acutely, they can be driven to do things in their depression that they wouldn't normally do." She paused a moment and collected her thoughts, "I suppose Keiko, I feel that caring too much can be self destructive." "You sound like you're worried about him." keiko said. "You're afraid for him almost aren't you?" Amaya laughed, "Yes and he spends most of his time worried about me. I worry for him because one day all his feelings for one person will work against him and... I shudder to think about what will happen to him." She smiled, "I just know I'll be here to help him." "Someone could use it against him..?" Keiko asked beginning to think it out more clearly. They could hear Kai singing an old tune in the shower. Amaya looked at Keiko, "Yes Keiko and unwittingly he will use it against himself one day. He isn't one to hide his emotions, rather he is a person who feels them with the very core of their soul." She laughed softly, "Or perhaps I am not making any sense." "Maybe it does make sense." Keiko mused. "He told me one time that he was afraid one day he'll lose control himself; he knows what he can do and if he did..." Keiko shuddered, remembering what he'd told her. Keiko looked at the whip laying on a table where Kai had set it. Amaya sighed, "Psions can do amazingly horrible things. It is the purpose to which I was manufactured." "Sometimes..I think he wishes he wasn't psionic." Keiko said sadly. Amaya sighed, "Sometimes I wish I wasn't as well. Sometimes I wish life was completely different and I was normal..." Keiko sighed. The normally cheerful little girl was becoming depressed... "I think he worries so much about you is because he wants to have a real connection, he's been lonely for a long time. I try to keep him company, but it seems that I can't be what he needs." Keiko said. Amaya picked Keiko up and hugged her close, "We'll both just have to try and make him happy won't we." Keiko giggled. "We will, but how?" Amaya sighed, "I do not know Keiko, but we'll think of something." Keiko smiled brightly and hugged Amaya back. "We will I just know it. A good man like him deserves something nice. I think he needs a little time to relax is all. He never gives himself time to do so." Amaya smiled at Keiko, "You are right, very perceptive for a little Neko." Keiko giggled at Amaya's praise. "What do you think of him?" Keiko asked, now making girltalk. Amaya smiled, "I like him, he is probably the nicest man I have ever met." "Point." Keiko smiled. "He's the only guy you've met." Amaya laughed, "Except for the ones who studied me all my life." "They don't count, they were mean." Keiko said, sticking out her small tongue. Amaya laughed, "You are a treasure Keiko." Keiko giggled "He's a good singer isn't he?" She asked, listening to him sing the old song. Amaya smiled, "Yes quite good." Keiko laughed. "He'd turn as red as his hair if he found out we're listening to him." Amaya put Keiko gently back down on the couch and walked over to a window and looked out, "I wonder what Kai will do, if he'll stay here." "He would be a counseler I think." Keiko said. "You sound like you want him to stay." Amaya smiled, "His true love is in space, I think he should return to active duty." "Kai's not in love with anyone." Keiko said. Amaya laughed, "I fear I was not concise enough, I meant to say his true love is space." "I do not understand." Keiko said with a pout. Amaya continued to look out the window, "He was born in space, he hates being planetside. If my abilities were working I'd be trashing this place from the high amount of raw emotion coming from him." She turned and looked at Keiko briefly, "And I don't need to be a psion to know how conflicted he is feeling. You can just see it." "He's just stressed out." Keiko said, hoping it was true. Amaya turned back to the window and sighed, "Maybe, maybe not. We'll see I suppose." "I think he's done." Keiko said. And sure enough, Kai had just stepped out of the shower wearing only a pair of pants with the towel slung over his shoulder. "Ahhhh that feels sooo much better." He said with a true smile. His hair let loose falling down his back and over his chest a bit. Keiko blushed at the look, she liked it. Amaya did not turn around as Kai entered the room, but spoke quietly, "I will go find you something to eat, Keiko do you require anything?" "Japanese food!" Keiko chirped happily as Kai pulled his shirt back on, it was sleeveless as usual. then the cloak over it. "Think I should cut this hair?" He asked idly. "And if you want to." Amaya turned and left the room quietly and went to find Keiko and Kai some japanese food. Keiko looked up at Kai. "You look goodlike that, take the shirt off again." She giggled, having a little joke. Kai laughed at her and walked over and sat down and started tickling her gently, illiciting gails of giggles from the little neko. He stopped after a minute or two. And Keiko took a little longer to recover from it and stood up. "A new look may be nice. Ask Amaya to do it for you, it's hard to do it alone." She said. "I may just do that." Kai said amused. Kai leaned back and stretched as Keiko jumping onto his belly and did a little dance just because she felt like it. Amaya returned after five minutes or so carrying a heavy looking tray, she closed the door with a slight kick, crossed the room and placed the tray on the table. "There you go, should be enough for both of you." Keiko stopped her dance and jumped onto the table, happy as a kitten and started eating daintily. Kai looked over at Amaya. "Thank you." He said and got a little something to eat. "Not a problem." Amaya said quietly as she walked back over to the window. Keiko looked up at Amaya with a noodle still hanging out of her mouth, making her look silly. "You should both get some sleep after you eat, you both look tired." Amaya continued to look out the window. Kai finished his plate after a few minutes and stood up and walked over to Amaya. "Something troubling you?" He asked. Keiko had eaten her fill for her tiny little tummy and jumped onto the couch and curled up for a nap. Amaya turned around briefly and looked at Kai, "Merely contemplating our situation." "Ah." He said. "Amaya, can I ask you something?" Amaya smiled, "Of course." "Would you cut this hair for me? Just to top of shoulder length?" He asked. Amaya laughed, "Me, cut hair? I don't think you should be trusting me with that. And besides what is wrong with it the way it is?" "It's been like this forever, and maybe I need a new look." Kai chuckled. "but if you don't want to." He said, levitating a pair of scissors over and cut his hair on his own, actually getting it right. After a couple moments a mass of flaming red hair fell to the floor. Kai now had short hair that was slightly spiked, but curved back leaving a couplebangs over his forehead. "What do you think?" He asked, he was also missing those long sideburns. And she could see a golden earring in his right ear. Amaya smiled, "Probably better than I could have done it." "That'll come with practice." Kai smiled back. JP Tyler (Kai, Keiko) Jennifer (Amaya)*edited as well* GSA no Shôshô Kai Ashigari Commanding officer, GSS Seigi (GB-08) Author Tasuki Uso Ship's Cook GSA 4th Fleet (12/8/03 18:18) [Ralfaris] a swift kick... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ON> Ralfaris A small chime went off inside of Amaya's room, someone was at the door. Amaya looked at Kai, before crossing to the door and opened it. "Hmm?" Kai looked over at the door, Keiko groaned and sat up. Karjak was outside, "Hello again," He said, "May I come in?" Amaya stepped back and smiled at Karjak, "Of course." "Hello Karjak." Kai said from the window. Karjak walked in and stood close to Amaya, "The guys down in genetics wanted me to conduct some scans and get a DNA sample before we try and apply any enhancers to your body." Amaya looked at him and nodded, "Alright I can understand the necessity." Kai watched patiently, this was Amaya's choice and he could not make it for her. Keiko yanked on Amaya's pant leg. Amaya looked down at Keiko, "Yes Keiko?" "Please sit down then, this will only take a few moments." He said as he pulled several small disk shaped sensors from the machine and attached them to Amaya's neck and arms. "Can I ride on your shoulder?" The sleepy neko asked. Amaya picked Keiko up and went to sit down, "Keiko will not be in the way will she?" "No Ma'am," He said as the devices started to take DNA samples and scan her nervous system. Kai walked over, absently fingering the gold ring in his ear, he had never taken it off. Amaya sat there and closed her eyes calmly, enduring the testing Keiko curled up on her shoulder and went back to sleep, snuggling into her blonde hair. All she could feel was a slight tingle as the machine did its job. In about 4 minutes Karjak had gotten all the data he needed and removed the sensors, "Thanks," He said as he headed out the door, "I'll be back when those drugs wear off so feel free to poke around the building." "What is there to do in this building?" Kai asked. "well there is a food court two floors down and the recreation area is up a few floors." he said. "Hmm." Kai said. Amaya nodded, "Thank you Karjak." "Well I suppose poking around can't hurt, the seraphs couldn't have gotten in here right Karjak?" Kai pointed out "In theory..." He said, "But this would be the safest place you can get not counting the military tunnels" "Well. Where to go where to go?" Kai mused, rubbing his chin. "Where are you heading to Amaya?" Amaya laughed, "I have no clue, possibly to the recreation floor, I'd like to see it I think." "Well that's where I as headed anyway." Kai said. And started for the door. "Sorry about the hair on the floor." He chuckled to Karjak. Amaya shook her head and exchanged a quick look with Karjak before following after Kai. Karjak shrugged and left as well, cleaning was left to the bots. Kyoko had just been transferred to the 4th fleet and her shuttle was coming close to touching down on the surface. Out of the windows she could see the surface for miles in each direction, The sprawling QIS city and small forest, the desert wall beyond that and endless sand further out. Fire streaked the sky as more debris fell towards the planet. Kai strolled out into the hall, his cloak billowing out behind him slightly as he crossed his arms behind his head. He headed for the elevator to go to the rec areas. Amaya followed silently behind him and stepped into the elevator. She looked over at Kai, "You seem more relaxed now." Kai chuckled. "yeah, I needed that shower bad, the sound of rain always relaxed me, it's one reason why planets aren't that bad." Amaya smiled, "I'm glad to see you feeling better." #Kyoko:: She began to fidget as the shuttle touched down. She stood up, holding her 9mm close. She moved slowly, cautiously out of the shuttle, holding her arm up to stop the bright sunlight. She looked around, squinting, trying to get her bearings straight. "I am too, I see Keiko's relaxed too." He said, looking at the little neko that had snuggled into her hair. Kyoko's shuttle touched down on the roof of the Qelnoran technologies building. Almost immediately after her shuttles doors opened the security units were checking things over to remove any threats of a Seraph sneaking in through the roof entrances. "Ms. Kyoko?" One of the soldiers asked. Amaya looked at Keiko, "She looks quite relaxed doesn't she." She spun around, looking at the soldier with an upturned brow "Yes?" Keiko purred, having nice dreams and rolled over and her shoulder and not fall off. "I can tell you two like each other." Kai smiled. Amaya gently pushed Keiko further on her shoulder, "She is sweet, almost like a sister." Keiko giggled. "She is." Kai said The man attached a small sensor to the Neko's neck and after a few moments, "Come with me," he then led her to the main elevator shaft in the center of the roof, "You got here at a bad time. A large force of Seraph’s have landed on the planet and the ship that you were assigned to has been shot down. Your going to be stuck planet side until the 4th fleet has been rebuilt." He explained. Amaya smiled at Keiko, "I missed having people around in that lab, after I lost my siblings." "ah." Kai said and pushed the button to go up. "Man, feels good to have that hair off." He said. She shakes her head a bit, grumbling under her breath "What am I? The harbinger of bad luck?" She shook her head and looked up at the soldier. "Any active orders?" Amaya smiled, "I always liked my hair long, I can do so much with it. Not that I ever had occasion too of course." "You'll find some occasion." Kai said to her. Keiko absently started giggling in her sleep. "stop tickling me." She squealed, laughing. A few moments later they arrived at the recreation floor, It was a small bar with a few black walkways extending over area's that they couldn't quite see, a group of people were crowded around the short fence that encircled the bar and were obviously looking down into whatever was going on below. "Ladies first." Kai said as the door opened. Amaya looked over at the crowd of people as she stepped onto the recreation floor, "I wonder what is going on over there." "Your on shore leave for the moment," The officer replied as he escorted her to the elevator, "for the moment you will be given quarters in this building, It isn't advised to leave but you can if you want. I suggest heading to the rec room on your way down." Kai looked over. "Let's go check it out." He grinned and headed over there. Amaya followed Kai, staying a few paces back, careful not to wake the sleeping neko. Kai approached one of the people in the group. "What's going on here?" Kai asked. Below the small bar and walkways were several rooms with a small staircase leading up from each one and to the walkways, Each one had some sort of activity from sparing to videogameing going on inside of them with the action highlighted on a large holographic display, "I have 2 to 1 odds on green hair!" one man yelled out as they looked down into a padded dojo. She nodded to the soldier "Thank you. Keep you head down out there. I don't want any needless Casualties" She said before activating the elevator, and making her way to the Rec Room "Hmm?" Kai said and looked down into it. Amaya looked down and then looked at Kai, "What in the world is going on?" "Looks like people are sparring." He said. Amaya sighed, "Violence is not a game..." A few KS were hurriedly exchanged before the man yelled out that the odds were now 3 to 1 against her. In the small dojo a neko was facing off against a rather large Qelnoran. She had on a white tank top and baggy cammo pants with a small chain tieing her arm behind her back. "They don't kill each other." Kai pointed out. "True enough I suppose..." Amaya conceded. He shook his head and started silently reading the big qel'noran's mind in the arena, being careful not to be noticed. The Qelnoran was at least twice as big as the smaller neko and unknown to most was that he had several strength enhancers running at that time. He made a backward lunge toward the neko only to have her lean to the side and extend one foot to trip him sending him face first into the wall. Meanwhile Kyoko's elevator reached the rec room. Kai oddly wasn't able to read anything from the Qelnoran's mind. She taps her foot before finally punching the wall of the elevator. Not being able to do anything annoyed her, especially now. As the elevator stopped the door opened. She peered out into the room, holstering her pistol Kai chuckled at that withdrawing his mind. "That's odd, Kai said. Amaya looked at Kai, "What is Kai?" "He's not showing any thought activity. OH yes, isn't there a adn in his building?" He asked. Amaya nodded, "Yes, its why they are not bothering to make a batch of my suppressant." "Well it's ok for now, I suppose." Kai said. "How's it feel to be normal?" He laughed. The Qelnoran turned around and charged at the neko again only to have her roll backwards and use her feet to toss the Qelnoran over her and onto his back. He quickly got up only to have her roll forwards to her feet. She steps out, moving over toward the group. She moves slowly though, tending to be cautious around anyone she doesn't know Amaya laughed, "Alright I suppose." She looked back down to the fight and watched the fight. Keiko woke up hearing the footsteps and turned sleepily on Amaya's shoulder and looked over at Kyoko. The neko turned and unleashed a series of high kicks against the Qelnoran, landing two on his head before he grabbed her leg and tossed her against the wall. Amaya turned and looked in the direction Keiko had, right at Kyoko. She touched Kai lightly on the shoulder. "Hmm?" Kai said and turned slowly. Kai could barely see her face from this far away but the neko in the pit looked familiar. Keiko giggled. "Is that Uso in the pit?" She asked now that she was facing it. She hit the wall and rolled forward. She was on her back now and fired off a small amount of her CRT fuel to send her flying across the floor and under the Qelnoran, Her foot was raised and it impacted him squarely in the crotch. The audience seemed to sympathies with the pain he must have felt. Keiko winced. "That looked painful." Amaya looked at Keiko, "It probably was..." She stopped, looking into the pit to see what seems to be drawing everyone's attention. She bit her lip, quickly looking away. Kai looked through the crowd and picked out the neko in the GSA uniform. "Hmm interesting, wonder why she's here. Must have been assigned to the 4th." The Qelnoran toppled over and some of the gamblers looked regretful about their bets. Uso then walked up the staircase and onto one of the walkways, heading for the bar. Kai turned to look now. "I knew it, only Uso's kicks make that much noise." Kai laughed. The crowd gathered around the exchange their bets while Uso Sat down at one of the barstools to get a drink. Kai walked down and over to Uso. "Good fight." He said as he approached. Uso chuckled, "He was drunk." "easy, child's play." Amaya watched Kai walk over to Uso and spoke quietly to Keiko, "I think he likes her and doesn't want to admit it." She nodded, "I could still take anyone here," she said with a smile. "Feh." Kai said. "Come on admit it..." She said pryingly. "You cheat outrageously." He said. Keiko giggled. "Maybe, I don't know. I don’t like her." "Beating the crap out of your opponent isn't cheating." Uso said. Amaya smiled at Keiko, "You sleepy?" "true." He grinned. Keiko yawned. "a little." shook her head, her attention drawn to Amaya. She approached her quietly, and rather timidly "H, hello" Uso was handed some blue drink and she put a small pill in it before she downed it in one gulp. "More caffeine Uso?" He sighed. Amaya looked at Kyoko, "Hello." She looked down at the uniform, "Were you assigned to the 4th fleet? Or were you on board one of the ships when they Elysian’s attacked?" Uso nodded. Keiko looked at Kyoko and jumped up happy to meet a new person and waved. "HI!" J, just assigned. I landed to learn the ship was destroyed, so I'm on shore leave "Who's your next fight green hair?" Kai teased. smiled gently down at Keiko "hello" Amaya smiled at the Neko and then smiled at Kyoko, "I am Amaya, this is Keiko and the man over there is Shosho Kai Ashigari, he would have been your CO had things gone differently." Uso seriously considered kicking Kai in the balls and calling it a victory, "Dunno... I just got here, I can't leave for a while." "Why not?" he asked. "Good point." Uso then gave Kai a swift kick to the crotch. She nods gently "It's nice to meet you both" Amaya smiled, "And you are?" "Kyoko" She said, almost trying to tell herself Amaya smiled reassuringly at the girl, "Forgive me if I gave you information overload a minute ago, I tend to just throw everything out there and let people ask all the relevant questions." Uso chuckled and ordered another drink. Kai fell backward and rolled off a table then shrugged, not embarrassed in the least. "Don't try that again Smiles "it's quite alright. I'm normally not to talkative" Amaya nodded, "You might wish to speak with Kai, he may have something you can do while you are on Ralfaris." She nods, stretching as she lets out a yawn. She swings her arms a bit in their sockets Uso popped another pill into a fresh drink and gulped it down quickly, following it up with a refreshed "ah..." Uso grabbed another bottle and headed over to Amaya, "hello again." she said. Kai looked around the area and up at Amaya and walked over to the little group Her gaze shifted over to Uso, waving timidly "H, hello" Amaya smiled at Uso, "Hi Uso, nice fighting down there." "You new here?" she asked Kyoko, "And thanks, It was nothing." She nods "ya, just assigned" "great timing!" Uso said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Amaya suppressed a laugh at Uso's comment. Kai just remained silent. Amaya looked around at everyone, "I am starting to get tired, I think those drugs might finally be coming out of my system so I am going to go sleep." She looked at Keiko, "You coming Keiko?" Keiko nodded and played with her hair. "night then." Uso said Amaya smiled at Kai, "Goodnight Kai." She then looked at Uso, "Night Uso, as always its been...interesting." kyoko nods, yawning again "goodnight Amaya." Kai said. Then looked over to Kyoko. "Hello." Amaya looked at Keiko, "Come on then lets go take a nap." She crossed the room and got on the elevator and went down to her quarters to sleep. “hi,” Kyoko said. "That’s the point." Uso said as she looked to Kyoko. She popped a few more pills into her drink and handed it to Kyoko, "Here drink this." END GSA no Shoi, Uso Tasuki Head Cook, GSS Seigi (GB-07) Author Kai Ashigari GSA Command GSA 4th Fleet (12/9/03 14:11) [Ralfaris] Time to Talk... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amaya walked back to her quarters with a sleepy Keiko clinging to her shoulder and nuzzling into her hair. She looked at her and smiled gently, she liked having Keiko around, she was almost like a new sibling. She sighed as the doors to the elevator opened and she stepped off the lift, walked over to the door to her quarters and opened the door. She carried Keiko over to the bed carefully and rested her gently against it. She stepped back and looked at the sleeping neko, her _expression softening, ~I just pray I don't lose her and Kai~ She thought to herself. Her thoughts now became fixed on the man who saved her. There was no doubting their ability to get along and that she truly loved the time she spent in his company. She shook her head, clearing the thoughts of the man from her mind and walked over to the couch and laid down. Amaya stretched out and put her arms under her head forming a pillow. She stared up at the ceiling, her violet eyes losing their new found happiness to be once again replaced by the haunted sorrow usually seen within their depths. ~Kai has been so wonderful~ she thought to herself. ~He has saved my life twice, not even thinking about the personal risk to himself. He is the first person to truly care for me~ she closed her eyes as tears slowly began to well up in them, as a sudden realization hit her. The worry she felt for him and the pain at seeing his, it was more than friendship. She opened her eyes and wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, ~Shut off the feelings~ she told herself silently. ~It will never work, you can never allow yourself to get too close, in the end it will only hurt him.~ She swung her legs off the couch and sat up quickly as she heard Keiko giggle again. ~She's having another tickling dream it seems~ she thought silently. ~I might as well join her.~ She rose from the couch and walked back over to the bed and curled up around the Neko. She knew she was dreaming, somehow she had learned to tell reality and dreams apart, she could however not awake from this dream. She was standing in a dimly lit room, she could smell the sweet scent of flowers all around, they seemed to numb her senses, taking the edge off. A door behind her opened and she turned around quickly and she saw Kai walk through the doorway. She looked at him and spoke having no control over what she was saying, "I missed you!" She crossed the distance and was soon in his arms, her concious mind enjoyed the feeling of his closing his arms around her gently and holding her close. "I was only gone a little while" he said quietly, she needed to strain to hear his words. She laughed and leaned up on her tiptoes and smiled up at him, "Yes but a moment away is too long..." He smiled and bent down until his lips were brushing hers, "Is it now?" She smiled and gave in, throwing her arms around him and kissing him deeply. Amaya awoke with a start, sweat was beading her forehead, her heart racing. She slid her legs off the bed and stood up, careful not to wake Keiko. She walked over to the couch and sat down and sunk her head into her hands, "It was only a dream..." She muttered it, only to herself. After Amaya awoke, she found Kai sleeping lightly sitting in a chair, his eyes closed sitting crosslegged. Keiko was giggling lightly. Amaya looked up when she realized she was not alone, she rose quietly and began to tiptoe towards the door,Keiko stirred, sitting up yawning, her hearing could hear a pin drop in the room next door if she wanted them too. She sat up and rubbed her eyes looking at the blone trying to sneak out. She smiled and stealthed and gently clambered onto Amaya's foot without her feeling it. Amaya looked down at the neko and spoke quietly, "Go back to bed Keiko..." Keiko reappeared and pouted cutely. "I wanna go too." She said. Amaya smiled at the neko, "Why don't you curl up with Kai..." The smile fell from her face, "I..I truly wish to be alone right now Keiko, I have alot of thinking to do..." Keiko nodded, she understood that and followed Amaya's request and ran over and climbed up Kai's clothing and gave him a tiny hug and curled up in his hair. Amaya exited her room, walked over to the elevator and made her up to the recreation facilities. She couldn't think of anywhere else to go. Amaya sighed as she stepped off onto the floor and walked over to the bar. She ordered a drink and sat there quietly sipping it, her thoughts elsewhere. Amaya stared at the wall blankly, ~I can't do this~ she thought silently. ~I can not be near him, not this close.~ She sighed once more and took another sip from her drink, she rested her elbow on the bar and laid her head on top of her palm. She peered down into her glass, ~It was only a dream Amaya.~ She thought to herself, ~Yes, but dreams show what we want in reality.~ She sighed again, she couldn't love him, she couldn't care for him, in the end it would only hurt him. Meanwhile, Kai shifted slightly and stretched out, Keiko smiled and held onto his shoulder. His eyes fluttered a bit. Kai was looking over all his recent experiences from an outside point of view. He sighed; Seeing the worry that crossed his face often when dealing in matters with Amaya. He liked her indeed he did; he could feel a warmth in himself. It was a feeling he thought he liked; he hoped that someway he could find a way for it to continue...when he was with her, he could see the softness in his eyes; how he had become protective of her; even seemed to love her.... Keiko couldn't get back to sleep, Amaya's change in attitude confused her. She gently slid off Kai's shoulder and walked out of the room and headed for the elevator, having a feeling she had gone to the rec rooms. Keiko jumped up and down trying to hit the button, then pouted, being short did have it's downsides. Keiko decided that she needed to use some help so she CRT jumped and hit the button, making it chime as the door opened she ran into the elevator and repeated the performance to go to the rec room. When she got there she danced happily over to Amaya and pulled on her pants leg. Amaya looked down at Keiko, "Yes dear?" ":Can I get a drink?" Keiko asked innocently. Amaya smiled, "What would you like?" "I don't know. What do they have? I'm too short to see the menu you know." She giggled. "I think that they would have almost anything you could like. But..." Amaya reached down and picked up the little neko and sat her on the bar. "Now you can see the menu." Keiko smiled and looked up at the menu; "I want a glass of water." She said, looking at Amaya. "What are you thinking about?" Keiko asked, "I'm confused..again." She smiled. Amaya smiled at Keiko, "Why are you so confused Keiko?" "I don't quite understand the problem between you and Kai; you seem to like each other. But you keep pushing him away...I think.." Keiko said, cocking her head to one side giving Amaya a cute confused look. Amaya sighed, "I.. I like Kai, I just cant be near him." "Why not?" Keiko asked. Amaya looked at Keiko, "Remember that talk we had about Kai liking someone too much?" "I remember. But I still don't see the problem." Amaya laughed, "I know you don't Keiko, I just dont ever want to be a problem for him. Its why when the 4th fleet is finished we will need to part ways..." "You're scared that if he becomes too close, he'll only end up hurt. I think he understands that." Keiko said. "You think that'll help him?" she added. Amaya nodded, "Yes Keiko I think it will help. It will remove him from the problem...me.È "You're not a problem for him, I think your leaving would do more damage than good. But that's my confused opinion." Keiko said. "Why do you think that?" Amaya asked. "Because...I don't know; I think he wants to keep you close to him. I notice the way he acts around you. You help him relax." Keiko said and kicked her foot on the counter she'd jumped to. "I don't want you to go anywhere either." Amaya smiled, "You could always come and visit me." "But if he goes back up, I think I have to go too. And I don't want to leave you." keiko said. "You're fun to be around." Keiko smiled. Amaya reached out and hugged Keiko close to her, "I don't want you to leave either but your place is with Kai." Keiko hugged her back the best she could for being so small. "I want to see Kai happy, but..." Keiko said. Amaya looked at Keiko, "But?" Kai stirred awake and yawned, feeling much better and rested. He sat up and looked around; "Amaya? Keiko?" He asked. He stood up wondering where they had gone; and figured that since Amaya only knew this floor and rec floor he made his way to the elevator.. "I'm so confused. I don't know what to do." Keiko said. Amaya smiled at her, "Don't worry everything will be alright." "I hope so. But I still think you shouldn't just let him go like that; it's almost like you're just...throwing him away like a few other women have done. It hurts him you know; he tells me." Keiko said. "I..I am not throwing him away, I am doing what I feel is best for him." She looked at the ceiling, "He is a wonderful man, he doesn't need someone like me..." "I think he does; He needs someone who can understand why he is the way he is and can accept it." Keiko said. "There he is now." She said as Kai stepped off the elevator and looked around the area, just wandering knowing that he could trust Keiko and Amaya to stay out of trouble. Amaya turned and looked at Kai, "He looks a little less tired I suppose. He should still be asleep." "Nah, he sleeps deeply, but not for very long...I think he overworks himself." Keiko said. "I'm worried about him honestly." Kai was looking in on the sparring going on. "Do you want me to take you over Keiko?" Amaya asked. "Hmm?" Keiko asked, looking up at Amaya. "I'd like it, but I belong to him; he's like a father to me." Amaya tapped her shoulder, "Come on I'll take you over and you can talk to Kai for awhile." Kai finally got tired of watching the pointless fighting and walked over to them. "Hello." He said. Keiko smiled and waved happily. "Hi!" She said. Amaya looked at him, "Hello, I was just about to bring Keiko over to you." "What for?" Kai asked, sitting down and ordering a glass of red wine. "She wished to see you Kai." Amaya said it softly, almost too quietly. "So did she" Keiko giggled. Kai chuckled. "Why'd you both want to see me?" He asked. Amaya looked at Kai, "Truthfully I'd rather see you still asleep, you have been through alot recently." "I suppose you're right." Kai said. "Should we go somewhere we can talk without all these half-drunk qel'norans?" Amaya looked at him, "If you would like." She looked at Keiko, "Want a lift?" Keiko was already climbing onto her shoulder. "Ready!" She announced, being cute. Kai nodded and stood up, paid for the drinks. Amaya rose from her seat and looked at Kai, "After you..." "Ladies first." He smiled. Amaya nodded and walked over to the elevator and waited for it. "Back to the room then, I am afraid I don't know where anything else is." Kai nodded and waited with her. Kai sat down in a chair and looked at Amaya with soft eyes. "What'd you wish to speak about?" Hard, violet eyes stared back at him, "I am not sure really..." She looked at Keiko, "Any ideas?" "You wanted to flirt with him remember?" Keiko giggled, poking Amaya lightly. Amaya turned and looked at Keiko, "What gave you that impression dear?" "The way you were watching him out in the hall." Keiko chirped. Amaya smiled at Keiko, "Your overactive imagination is adorable." Keiko nodded and jumped up and kissed her on the cheek. "well you know you want to." She giggled. Kai was sitting there silently amused. Amaya looked at Keiko and smiled, "Where are you getting these ideas Keiko?" Keiko looked up at Amaya with a big mischieveous grin. "You're body language, your skin is getting hotter and your cheeks are turning red." Kai was chuckling now, finding this highly amusing. Amaya turned and looked at him, "What is so funny?" "Nothing." Kai said, stiffling a chuckle. "It's just adorable how she's poking her fun at you. Amaya smiled at Keiko, "She needs to behave." Keiko turned to Kai. "Why don't you come over here and sit next to her? You know you wanna."Keiko pouted at Amaya's comment. "meanie." She said sticking outher tongue playfully. Amaya laughed and looked at Keiko, "Aren't you tired yet?" "I don't mind, I like to see her having fun. I told myself I would never order her around; I want her to be herself, not a creature of my creation." "Not anymore." Keiko said and jumped onto a table and decided to be funny, this chuckling and smiles encouraging her and pulled off her body suit until she was a little nudist and marched around the table. Kai laughed outloud. "I remember this." Amaya shook her head, "Keiko aren't you at all modest?" She said it jokingly. "There's no problem with it. We nekos are very open about our bodies, I once saw a magazine with two neko enjoying each other's bodies, now I wonder what that feels like." Keiko giggled. Kai turned bright red remembering that. Amaya blushed a nice shade of pink as she listened to Keiko, but said nothing. "Keiko, get dressed and calm down some." Kai said, still red. Keiko stopped dancing around and put her clothes back on and sat there happily mocking Kai's meditation position, legs crossed hand together. Amaya looked at Kai, "I'd say she had too much caffeine but she only had water." Kai nodded. "I like her like that." Kai said fondled running a finger over keiko's soft hair, elliciting a content purr. Amaya nodded silently, before she rose and walked over to the window. Kai's eyes followed her. "Amaya, something's wrong, please tell me what it is, you can trust me. what's on your mind?" Amaya didn't look at Kai, "No, I can not tell you." "Amaya...." He said, his voice sounded a bit pained. She now turned and looked at him sadly, "Why does it matter?" "Because I care about you Amaya. more than I realized...you are such a joy to be with." Kai said. Amaya sighed and turned back to look out the window, "You shouldn't care about me Kai." Kai stood up and walked up behind her. "I shouldn't maybe, but I do." He said. She reached out and placed a hand on the glass and then laid her forehead against the glass, "This will only hurt you in the end, I know it." Without a word, Kai slipped her into a gentle hug from behind. "Maybe it could, but I'd just have to deal with it myself." Amaya put her free hand on his, "You don't handle emotion well, I do not want to be responsible for your sorrow." "You aren't responsible for anything that happens to me." Kai said. Amaya leaned back against Kai and sighed, "I am sorry but I feel like what happens to you might end up being because of me. You have taken far too many risks on my behalf already." "No risk is too great for a person in need Amaya." Kai reassured. "Yes, but I worry that.. Maybe any relationship we might have would place you in danger. You feel too much..." Amaya sighed. "I can handle any danger thrown at me." Kai said. Keiko looked on and sat on the table where she was and listened, hoping to learn something. Amaya looked over at Keiko, turned back and turned her head so she was leaning further against Kai, "She is studying us I think." Kai chuckled. "Nothing wrong with that, maybe one day the knowledge will serve her well." Kai smiled, running a hand through her hair subconsciously. His heart pounded in his chest as he held her..this was the same warmth as before... She closed her eyes and sighed in content. She loved the feeling of him so close, she could have had that moment extend forever. Her eyes snapped open and she turned so she was facing him, "We...we can't." He loosened his hold on her gently and looked into her eyes. "You're still afraid I'll get hurt...I've always heard that sometimes having someone to 'come home' to can make someone strive harder to survive." Amaya sighed and looked down, "I am defenceless at the moment, all someone needs to do to get at you is use me. I will never allow that to happen, I will never be a tool leading to your destruction." "Amaya, I'm not going anywhere for a while, it'll take weeks for the fleet to be rebuilt. I'm going to be here to protect you." He said looking at her. She smiled slightly as she watched the floor, "I want to leave with you, but that may not be possible, I do not know what QIS wants me to do... "Neither do I, but I assure you I will be here if you need me." He said. She looked back up at him, "Life is so hard isn't it. I feel like I can't breathe when you are gone. But I fear being with you." "I know life is hard Amaya, but we grow to become better people. We also learn lessons from it; like how to care for someone, to love even." Kai said. "I know ...how you feel." Kai blushed slightly, he was enjoying having her this close. She wrapped her arms around him, "I never thought caring for someone could be the hardest thing in the world. But I can't just deny what I feel. No matter how much I want to, no matter how hard it is." "Love can be the greatest pain and the greatest pleasure in life." Kai said, holding her close to him, caressing her back gently. This action got an "awwwww." from Keiko Amaya looked at keiko, laughed and buried her head in Kai's shoulder, "Keiko's enjoying this I think." Kai laughed as well. "So am I." He said, his hand going through her soft hair again. Amaya smiled and looked up at him, "So...what now?" "I don't honestly know Amaya..." Kai chuckled. Amaya smiled at him, "Well, life has never been anything but predictable..." "Really?" Kai chuckled. "Did you predict this?" He asked, holding her away from him a bit and slowly going in to for a kiss. She kissed him back, a kiss that increased with passion as it continued. Keiko started doing dance cheering them on. Kai tried not to laugh but ended up kissing her and laughing at the same time. Amaya laughed and pulled away gently. "She is quite distracting isnt she." Keiko giggled and knew they wanted to be alone so she walked out into the hallway and stealthed for a little while. In the meantime; Kai kissed her again, becoming more passionate. She wrapped her arms around his neck, for once in her life letting herself go, dropping all her well guarded defences. Kai gently started to push her toward the couch gently. Amaya allowed herself to be moved backwards, until she hit the couch and slid down onto it, it wasn't long before she found herself pinned under Kai, still kissing passionately. Kai blushed slightly as he passionately kissed Amaya, his hands caressing her back gently, sensually... the feeling of her love permeating his mind, the closness of her body and mind... Amaya closed her eyes and gave in, opening her heart and mind to him. She kissed him passionately, her hands moving over his back gently. His lips found their way away from hers as they trailed down her neck and cheek, his hands subconsciously moving to he