Ranpha's breathing sped when her screen lit up. No one had called her all day, or even bothered to contact her. She felt insulted, and excluded. Her beaming face was pointed towards the monitor, with a welcoming grin. She waited a moment, but nothing happened. She tapped lightly on the screen with her index finger.
"Hello? Mint? Milfie?" she waited for a reply. Nothing. She inclined her head towards the speaker. Maybe it's just…Broken. Yeah. It's probably broken or something. The small reassuring voice in the back of her head didn't make her feel any better.
She slumped back into her chair with a sigh. This was going to take some time getting used to. She always had everybody's eyes glued to her, watching her every move. Having people ignore her like this was just not acceptable in Ranpha's book. It didn't fit her….personality well.
She flicked the screen once more for good measure. Nothing. The sudden beep of the monitor made her jump out of her seat. She screamed loudly, and quickly slapped her hand over mouth. Forte's angry face popped up on the large T.V.
"Ranpha!" her loud deep voice boomed through the speakers. Ranpha reached for the volume button, and stabbed at it. "Where the heck have you been?!" her eyebrows slanted inward.
"I-I I've been here." Ranpha stuttered.
"Why haven't you answered your calls?! We've been trying to get a hold of you for hours!" Forte's face turned a brilliant red.
"It must be broken or something. It's been working fine before…" she trailed off.
"It doesn't matter. Just get to Commander Takuto's office. Now." Ranpha's face flushed a bright pink, hearing Takuto's name. "Did you hear me Ranpha?"
"Yeees." she whined, twisting a lock of hair between her fingers.
"Oh and Ranpha," her change in tone made Ranpha look up in surprise. Forte was flashing an evil smile. "He wants you to come down, now." Her eyebrows waggled like a villain with an evil plot. Ranpha blushed, and lunged at the screen.
"Forte!" she screeched, but the screen was already blank. She huffed loudly and sank back into her chair. Her stomach did spins, and she was suddenly dizzy. Takuto wanted her in his office. Right away. Ranpha started hyperventilating.
She quickly smoothed out her blonde hair, and made sure her hair accessories were in place. She sucked in a gust of air to calm herself, and started her ship.
* * *
Takuto stared at the 3 pencils lined up perfectly on his desk. He rearranged them again and moved his desk lamp up and over a few inches. His paranoia towards perfection whenever Ranpha was around was ridiculous.
There was a soft muted knock at his door, and his heart accelerated dramatically. His hands were cold and clammy and he wiped them on his cape. He answered once he was sure his voice wouldn't crack.
"Come in Ranpha." he called surprisingly calm. The door creaked open slowly, and Ranpha's head popped in. Her long blonde hair swayed slowly, and her big eyes stared at him innocently.
"You want to see me?" the annoyance in her voice was obvious. He wondered why she was always in such a bad mood around him… he smiled to himself and gestured toward the chair across from his desk.
"Yes, we need to discuss something." Ranpha had stepped inside, but stood at the door. "You can come sit down if you want." he pointed at the chair again.
"I'm comfortable where I am." she snapped back.
"Okay. Well, anyways, I wanted to speak to you privately about an issue we're having here on our ship." he smoothly wiped away more sweat from his hands without her noticing. "It seems that lord Eonia and Lulu, have returned for some reason. I had assumed it was for revenge, but Lester thinks it's probably to capture prince Shiva again.."
He stopped abruptly and looked at Ranpha. She was staring out the window, watching star after star pass by.
"Ranpha. Did you hear me?"
"Yes." she growled. "But what does any of this have to do with me?"
"Well Lulu had spoke to us shortly after we learned about her plan, and wanted- well demanded- that we hand over one of the angels." He watched the blood slowly drain from her face.
"W-who do they want?" she tried to keep her calm and brave façade. Takuto cleared his throat clearly disturbed and frightened.
"You." his voice cracked, and he started sweating bullets. "We will do everything to keep her away, Ranpha. She won't lay a hand on you." his face looked saddened and determined, all at once. Ranpha suddenly realized that this might not go her way for once. She put on a brave face, and slowly rose from her chair.
"Is that all?" she asked, her voice a little shaky also. Takuto nodded his head solemnly. "Okay, I'll be on my way." she walked towards the automatic doors, and turned to glance quickly back.
Takuto was looking at her with burning eyes.
"Ranpha, we will keep you safe. I promise." She nodded at him and walked swiftly through the opening of the door. She'd heard Takuto, but she had an odd feeling that this was all just a horrid dream.
