Calling the Neko Knights

Ten years ago, a great invasion by the Harpy people of Planet Siren forced the evacuation of all civilians on Planet Miaw, home of the Neko People. The defenders of the planet - - the Neko Knights - -all stayed behind to buy time for their people. All of the children on the planet went in a ship along with the orphanage owners as well as a few well- meaning volunteers. The many other ships contained the adults - - many who chose to undergo the heavy training in order to become Neko Knights and defend their people. It was a great and perilous journey in order to find a new home for their race.

Five years after that, a Harpy fleet found the escaped Nekoes. The ship carrying the children fled the scene - - as was the plan. They spent five whole years on the run, trying not to get caught. Now they are trying to find the lost ships of the Neko fleet in order to reunite.

Now the Nekoes looked just like humans, with ears and tails like a cat. The colors on said appendages didn't usually match their hair, and sometimes could be quite weird - - such as red and blue. They had the grace and agility of any housecat. But their manner and interests seemed more human than cat in retrospect.

Let's take Stahn Aileron. He's a twenty year old Neko with long blond hair and blue eyes. His ears and tails are a bright red-orange color. This young man is one of the most loyal and friendly individuals in the known universe - - a trait that usually applies to a dog.

His best friend in the world is Rutee Katrea. She has short black hair and violet eyes, and is also twenty. Her ears and tail are sky blue. She and Stahn have been friends since they were little children, even before the invasion.

The only problem - - well problems - - the two have is Rutee's eighteen-year-old twin brothers Leon and Emilio. Both look just like their sister except they have gray ears and a tail. Emilio also wears glasses- which is the only way to tell them apart. Of course, he's prone to taking them off or letting Leon wear them if they can annoy their sister.

Now let's enter their world, the world of the Neko people. These four youngsters are going to be going on a great adventure. For the Harpies aren't going to give up their pursuit of the Neko people so easily.even if their victims are nothing more than youths.

* * *

Stahn stood in the hanger of their ship. He looked at the great fleet of mechanical dragons. It was one of the Neko Knights' greatest weapons. They were space faring mecha that were painted the colors of the Knight's uniform - - which was the same color as the ears and tail. When the Nekoes had fled their planet, they had taken as many of these as they could carry in each ship. The orphanage ship had also been forced to take its share of mecha, although no one on the ship was going to use them. They were more or less backup machines.

"Here again, eh Stahn?" questioned a voice behind him.

Stahn turned around to see Rutee Katrea. The two of them had dreamed of becoming Neko Knights when they got older. But all this time in space had practically grounded their dreams. No one was going to attack this ship, since all of the valuable items were aboard the ships with actual Knights on the crew. No one would want a ragtag bunch of orphans and separation anxiety prone children to care for their racial treasures.

"Yeah," he told her, "I wish I could pilot this thing, just once. You know, be a Neko Knight for just one day. But thanks to those Harpies, I'll never get the chance."

Rutee replied, "Don't worry. One day we'll find the others and our new home. Then you and I can become Neko Knights, just like we dreamed."

Suddenly, something rocked the ship. Stahn slipped and fell into Rutee's arms. At once, an announcement everyone dreaded came over the Intercom. "Attention all residents, we are under attack. Please proceed calmly to the shelters. We'll try to lose them."

But Stahn didn't go to the shelters. Instead he ran to the nearest dragon. "What are you doing you idiot?!" asked Rutee.

"Don't you see, this is our big chance," answered Stahn, "We can be Neko Knights and defend the ship and its passengers." With that, he got in the cockpit and prepared for launch.

Rutee sighed. "Well, I guess we can try." Then she too ran to a dragon and prepared for launch. Using the authorization codes Leon had stolen off the captain as a prank, they opened the front hatchway, and flew out into deep space.

* * *

"Captain, two dragons were just launched and are doing battle with the enemy!" exclaimed a crewman, "What should we do?"

The captain looked at his screen. To his amazement, the two dragons were doing quite well in the hands of the beginners. He watched as they obliterated enemy after enemy. Finally, the whole enemy unit had been destroyed.

"Find out who those two pilots were," said the captain, "I want to see them in my office on the double. No excuses."

* * *

"That was a rush!" cheered Stahn. He and Rutee had just exited the dragons after their battle. None of the Harpies who'd attacked had come out of it alive. They were proud of all they'd achieved without undergoing the demanding training of a Neko Knight.

Rutee agreed with him. Finally, after all these years, they had become the protectors they'd always wanted to be. Now maybe her brothers would take her seriously when she disciplined them for their pranks.

Suddenly, a large group of adults surrounded the two. All of them were members of the immediate crew of the ship. "You're coming with us to see the captain," one of them told the duo.

Stahn looked at his friend. "Well, it was nice while it lasted."

- - - -

Well, this story was inspired by several factors. First of all, all of the mecha shows out there including Robotech, Pilot Candidate, and Gundam Wing. Second, the Fellpool tribe in the Star Ocean series. In the original, there was a tribe with cat tails as well as one with cat ears and a tail. In the second one, the character had cat ears. Oh, and Leon is playing two characters for the sole reason that I think having twins to bug their sister is a funny subject. They will be OOC for Leon, since I reasoned that if he wasn't raised by his possessed father, Leon would've probably have been a bit more fun loving, especially if he lived in close quarters to his sister.