Sapien

Rorudesu-chan


Chapter 2

Year 2082. Berlin Base, Germany.

The intruder had so carelessly tripped the cockpit's security system, quickly alarming the Bradyon Next's pilot. Dio fired three warning shots before finally deciding to tackle the intruder.

Du Hurensohn!

The blonde Ensign had the trespasser on his chest, face flat against the cold, concrete pavement. He twisted the arms and locked them to the small of the intruder's back, earning him another fair amount of German insult. The intruder's legs kicked wildly, but Dio hit the spot around the hips causing a temporary paralysis from the waist down. Fick Dich!

"Well, fuck you too," said the Ensign in his own language. Dio wasn't particularly fond of cursing. In fact, he was above it. Verbal tactics like that was just as bad as going against an enemy with a wooden sword. Not that he had anything against the Kendo Era of Japan. The future was about the Nectoribium and the Valiancer. Speaking of which, the latter seemed to radiate an appeal so irresistible it attracted even common thieves such as the one he had currently pinned down on the ground.

"You're after this?" Dio looked up, having less regard for the intruder now. The Bradyon Next towered over them in all its combatant glory. It came as a surprise to the Ensign that a petty thief would actually attempt to steal his Valiancer unit right then and there inside the Swan, without even any accomplice. Who on earth would send this guy? The Zogilians could not be this stupid and desperate.

Without wasting another breath, Dio took full custody of the intruder. He took pleasure in pulling the black ski mask off his head in one swift motion. Long, golden curls tumbled down, falling past her shoulders.

"Liesel?"

He took a closer inspection by carefully turning the girl about. Dark emerald eyes stared back at him in disdain. She kept a stiff upper lip and her mouth parted only to release another string of German insults.

"Haven't you learned to tame that tongue?" Dio held her head down by the neck. He was careful now not to put so much of his weight above her.

"Only when I'm around you, Dio," she replied in the same language that he spoke.

Dio felt somewhat at ease. He didn't have to fumble words in German and lose his poise along the way. It was nice to know that Liesel hadn't forgotten her Japanese even though she and her nanny had parted a long way since.

"I don't know what got in this head of yours, but I suggest you go back to your room before anyone else sees you."

"I can't go walking around wearing this tacky costume?" Liesel referred to her almost ingenious fashion choice of a black ski mask, a loose jersey and a pair of shabby-looking trousers.

"Did you think you could really pull this off? From what I remember, you can't even get your father to let you take driving lessons."

"Oh Dio, stop underestimating my talents. I have countless ways." Liesel tried to wring her wrists free of her capturer's firm grip.

"One that includes a secret alliance with the Zogilians?"

"You read me well." She rolled her eyes in disgust. "As always."

Dio took her sarcasm as consolation for tonight's poor performance. He stood first before bringing the girl back to her feet. The pilot spun her by the shoulders and shook her. "You are mad. And you failed to amuse me, Liesel."

A strange silence passed between them. Liesel's blonde eyebrows met at the middle. "I wasn't kidding about stealing the Bradyon Next."

Dio gave her a push forward. He led her up the bridge and toward the elevator. "Once you reach your room, get rid of that outfit immediately. And if anybody asks, tell them you wanted a tour of the Cygnus and that you asked me to take you to the basement." It went unsaid that he would have a little talk later on with the man in-charged of the video camera surveillance.

"I'm not thanking you for this," said Liesel.

"Das ist gut," said the Ensign.

It did not matter whether she appreciated his gesture or not. He was simply trying to avoid conflict onboard. Regardless of her real intentions, Dio had to help protect the von Hirsch family name even though he was personally against their pacifist advocacies. Captain Kuramitsu and the rest of the Cygnus crew were tasked with the assignment of escorting Miss Liesel von Hirsch, the young German diplomat, back to Munich. That was also another reason why he couldn't allow Liesel's actions tainting her image, though it was pretty obvious she herself committed such petty crime of trying to steal a Valiancer.

Dio's only wish was that this encounter with Liesel von Hirsh aboard the Cygnus would be their last.

-o0o-

Year 2089. December 25th. New York Base, United States of America.

Sure enough, the following day, his partner revealed to the Cygnus crew Dio Weinberg's most embarrassing moment of his life yet. According to Aoba, he received the text message from out of the blue sometime in the wee hours of the morning. It only meant that the blonde Ensign had been out all night. Aoba's curiosity levels spiked at the misguiding phrase, 'panties on herrr grrava,' and at the true nature of Dio's relationship with this so-called mother.

The blonde pilot was making his way to the ship's cafeteria. He grasped the walls' metal railings with one hand while the other massaged his temples. His skull felt like it was being cracked open from its base. He thought he'd hit his head hard the previous night, but if recollection served him right, he had actually been drinking his woes away in a strange city's pub along god-knows-where street. Fiona didn't call back, much to his disappointment. The only thing that could get him through the rest of the day was an injection of aspirin into his system and a good cup of coffee.

He found two of his co-pilots seated across one another at the long table. "Oi, Weinberg!" Lt. Jarl Duran called out to the Ensign.

"Come join us, Dio!" exclaimed the other Ensign, Fromm Vantarhei.

Dio raised a brow at the sight of their empty plates. Bits of scrambled egg and traces of what seemed to be pork grease indicated that the men already had their fill of breakfast. He was yet to have his, but joined them anyway as soon as he satisfied his plate with the same viands as theirs for that morning. He plopped down beside the redhead who was trying to tuck away a rather mischievous smile.

"You don't look so well, Dio," said Fromm.

"Yeah," nodded Jarl. "How was yesterday? We heard about—erhm, your mother." Jarl made a quick turn of his head and chortled in that direction.

"How did you…" Dio tried to recall if he ever informed anyone, besides Captain Kuramitsu, about his mother's death anniversary which was every twenty-fourth of December.

"Mind if we ask about the colors?" asked Fromm.

The lieutenant quickly added, "No, Fromm! It ain't about the colors. It's the type of cloth. The fabric's the key!"

"Oh yes, yes!" The redheaded Ensign snapped his fingers, holding back a peal of laughter. "Were they silk, Dio? Or did she like cotton? I reckon the ladies adore silk panties better… for their grrava."

Jarl bent forward and held himself by the stomach. Tears were welling up in his eyes and he was begging for Fromm to stop. The redhead also had just about enough. He was already snorting unabashedly, and had Corporal Rossetti been there, she would most likely be put off by Fromm's ungentlemanly way of handling Aoba's ridiculous revelation. Fromm and Jarl put all the blame on Aoba. Dio Weinberg was in no way amused at the breakfast table. He'd check in later with the captain to see if anyone had been going through his personal data files.

The blonde pilot forked a couple of scrambled eggs into his mouth and proceeded to take in chunks of the pork viand simultaneously. His senses welcomed the saltiness of the egg and the sweetness of the ham. Food was a long overdue presence in his body. He remembered not having dinner in the midst of his sole journey of merrymaking in New York.

Dio felt his headache was subsiding in an excruciatingly slow pace. He had to get that aspirin now or else he'll be tossing and turning in his bed. That didn't mean though he wouldn't come back to that bar anymore. Otherwise, he'd had to find a way to make the remaining two days worth his time and money, if not exactly productive.

"Excuse me," Dio dropped his fork and knife on his plate and rose from his seat, unable to fend off his hangover any further.

"Hey man, we're sorry!" Jarl whispered upon disclosing the culprit responsible for the joke of the day. "It's Aoba's fault."

"Aoba?"

The redhead noticed the puzzled look in Dio's eyes. "He's not fooling around, Jarl," said Fromm. "Dio looks like he doesn't really have any idea of what's going on."

"Well, should I, uh, brief him on the panties matter?"

"No, no." Fromm's voice suddenly grew stern. He glanced at his wristwatch. "We should be heading off to the basement now."

"But don't you think Captain Kuramitsu will find it suspicious that we're all down there?"

"Not all of us, Jarl." Fromm smiled. "You're welcomed to join us Valiancer pilots, if you want, Dio."

"Just what exactly is going on? You planned a secret meeting behind the captain's back?" Dio's voice rose. His state of apparent confusion was only making his headache worse.

"Because we don't know until it's been confirmed, Dio," Jarl assured the blonde Ensign.

Fromm looked around the cafeteria and huddled closer to his companions. "It's just a hunch." Fromm lowered his tone. "But we think the captain's hiding something from us."

"What would that be?" asked Dio.

"It didn't take long for the genius Elvira to find out. Now she's having doubts whether she's supposed to tell Lt. Kleinbeck about it."

Dio grunted and rubbed his temples. He was already thinking of strangling Fromm if he kept up with his slow rate of disclosing 'unofficial' top secret information.

Jarl relieved him. "The Free Pact Alliance is losing the war. We're not here for a holiday at all. We're currently at the New York base hiding from the Zogilia Republic."


author's note:

This story moves back and forth in the present and past. I hope it won't cause confusion in the chapters to come. As always, reviews are love love love! :)