Chp. 2: I Dub Thee...
A name. It's something that should be thought as a single idea or a fleeting thought. A name also signifies the person, object, or animal with whom it is given to. Once that name is set upon, it stays with that person or thing until the very end...
The first floor of the Terak Bay Government Building was nearly empty, save for a few office workers who were talking on their break or were just relaxing. It was furnished with chairs, couches, and a round table in the center of the large room; stairs were just at the far left of the receptionist's desk, the elevator adjacent to the stairs. A few plants here and there. The girl yawned softly, fixing the brown bag on her back. She walked over to the front desk as a few workers noticed the girl.
"Ah, good afternoon, Ms. Lena," a female worker with dark brown hair said. "Come to see your father again?"
"Yup. Our daily grind," the white-haired girl replied.
"Tell your dad he needs his sleep," another worker with blonde hair--male--said. "Maa, he's too excited, really, with his project." She walked up to the front desk, the black-haired male receptionist smiling at her. "Good afternoon. Want me to call Professor Greyhouse down?" Lena shook her head some. "Nah, I called him before I got here, so he should be coming down anytime now." A sudden squealing noise came echoing down the stairs caught the attention of the two speaking as a flash of white flew down the stairs and skidding across the shiny, waxed floor.
Oh dear god, Dad, the girl thought looking shocked along with the receptionist.
"Lena, you finally came!" Greyhouse exclaimed. He jumped up onto his feet, straightening his coat. "Have a good day at school?" She shrugged. "Eh, they were trying to get me to talk about your pet project."
"Now, now, it's not really a pet project but your very big brother/sister!"
"Does my big brother/sister stand at 18.94 meters and weighs 76.22 metric tons?" The white-haired girl asked folding her arms. "...Okay, it's a pet project then."
The receptionist smiled lightly. "So, you're done with your meeting, Professor?" he asked. "Yes, I am. I had fun too. I'm surprised they put up with my attitude." Lena smiled at her father then looked back at the entrance with a frown. "How are we supposed to get out?" Greyhouse looked at the doors only to have a smirk come onto his facial features.
"Lena...do you still have that little thing I gave you in case this happened?" he asked in a childish voice as she looked up at him, raising an eyebrow.
"Wait..what thing--" She gasped suddenly then covered her mouth. She looked down at the bracelet she wore, a smile coming across her face. "Yeah...I still have it, Dad," she told him.
"Good, Lena. I would like it if you would activate it for me."
Outside, the guards pushed the crowd back then looked back as the doors slid open. The black-haired receptionist walked out, bowing to the silent crowd. "I'm sorry, but you've just missed Professor Greyhouse," he told them. They gasped loudly. "What?! What do you mean we've missed him?!" one reporter exclaimed. The crowd began to complain only to have a female reporter with pink hair gasp.
"Someone just touched me!" she cried out.
The crowd turned their heads at the same time as Greyhouse and Lena suddenly appeared, the white-haired girl tapping the bracelet she wore.
"Oh no...it went out! And you just had to grope that lady, huh?!"
"Couldn't help it...she was asking for it," he told the girl nonchalantly.
"There they are! Get them!" a random reporter yelled out. The two squeaked loudly as they broke into a sprint towards the black/white scooter. Lena jumped on the scooter, throwing the helmet at her father who caught it before it hit him across the face then pulled it on. He jumped on the bike behind his daughter and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Hurry!"
"I AM hurrying!" she growled at him as she started the scooter, revving it up and speeding out of the parking lot, much to the crowd of reporters' dismay. "Damn, they're gettin' away!" The white-haired girl sped into traffic as she dodged several cars, whimpers of fear echoing from Greyhouse's mouth. "GYAHHH, L-LENA, YOU'RE GOING TOO FAST!!" She grinned lightly. "Can't hear you!" He groaned lightly then held onto her tighter once he felt her accelerate again.
Like mother, like daughter...
A little while later, at a enormous dome-shaped building outside of the city, people dressed in blackish-grey jumpsuits walked around as some carried tools while some were inside the building. They were working diligently on a rather large machine which was centered in the room. A few people--mechanics--had futuristic torches in their hands, melding together large slabs of ceramite alloy onto the machine's frame. A woman with long black hair stood near the hangar's open doors wearing a black vest with a white dress underneath. She had red-violet markings on her arms, neck, and cheeks. She smiled lightly at the machine, sighing lightly.
"It's coming along nicely, don't you think, Ms. Elisa?" a male voice asked behind her.
"Yes it is," she replied turning to face a man about 20 years of age with short green hair and gold eyes, dark green markings on his neck and face. "Have you seen my husband and daughter yet?" He shook his head. "Nah, not yet. But I'm sure they're on the way here." Elisa nodded then looked back at the machine. "So, has my husband come up with a name?"
"No, ma'am. Even though we're nearly finishing up the mecha's body, he still hasn't chosen an actual name...he only has the model number."
The black-haired woman nodded some as she turned her head to the sound of a revving engine off in the distance. The green-haired man looked with her then smiled some. "Sounds like they're almost here, ma'am." Elisa bit her lip slightly. "Either that...or it's those soldiers that my husband told me about."
"Ah...soldiers?" he asked.
"Yes. For the test, remember, silly?"
"Oh yes...that." Just as the black-haired woman was about to speak, a screeching noise brought everything to a halt. She turned to see the black/white scooter skid into the hangar's "parking lot" with her grinning daughter and near conscious husband on the back. He was shaking with obvious fear from the girl's reckless driving--a trait given to her by her mother while the white-haired girl was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Lena looked up at her mother then waved at her. "Hey, Mom! Look Dad, it's Mom." Greyhouse waved a shaky hand, whimpering in response.
"Well, they've arrived, Mrs. Elisa." The woman simply smiled in response.
After prying Greyhouse from his daughter's back, the scientist stood in front of his pet project with his arms crossed as he chewed on his pink straw. Elisa walked up to him, her hands behind her back. "So, dear...still thinking of a name?" He grunted slightly then scratched at the stubble on his chin. He sighed lightly. "Yeah, I am," he told her. "But I don't know which would be good..."
"Well, what names have you thought of?" Elisa squeaked when a sheet of paper was shoved into her face. "Ah..and this is?" she asked taking the paper.
"The list of names."
The black-haired woman blinked a few times before looking over the paper. "Freedom, Universe, Justice, Wing, Black Moon, Trinity...some of these are X'ed out..." She glanced at her husband who scratched his hair while messing it up and pulling at it. "But they're good names!"
"But they won't stick," he said through gritted teeth. "...this mech...needs a better name..."
You're gonna get an ulcer just thinking about it, Elisa thought. She sighed softly then looked over to see Lena looking up at the machine as well, a look of excitement on her face. The woman smiled lightly as she smacked the back of Greyhouse's back slightly. "Ran." He squeaked when she hit his back and looked at her. "What?" Elisa pointed to the white-haired girl who was listening to her headphones, a wide smile on her face.
"Ah, is my little girl getting excited about her dad's project?!" Ran asked enthusiastically only to watch the girl look at him and hiss. She picked up her book, walking out of the hangar as a white cat followed after her. The white-haired man rubbed the back of his head. "Seems like she's still mad with me about earlier..."
"With the reporters?" the black-haired woman asked as he nodded.
"Yeah, that. Can you blame her though? I practically screamed on my way here..." Elisa snickered. "Just like us, huh?" Ran shivered visibly, shaking his head. "Yeah..."
Outside of the hangar, Lena rested against a large tree with the cat as she looked up at the deep blue sky, clouds appearing like lines or small puffs of white. She sighed softly then ran her fingers against the cat's back gently, hearing the cat purr contently. The white-haired girl looked down at the cat and smiled. "You're content, I see." The feline meowed at her, rolling over on its back as Lena began to rub its stomach.
"Sis! Sis!" she heard. She lifted her head to look up at a boy around the age of seven with shaggy black hair that had white streaks in his dark locks, light blue eyes filled with curiosity and mischievous intentions. He wore a black shirt with khaki shorts as he nearly tackled Lena while squeaking in distress.
"Welcome home, Miki," she said smiling at the boy who looked up at her with messy hair.
"Hey, sis. Did you come home with Dad today?" he asked snuggling in her lap. The white-haired girl nodded at him while he picked up the cat, holding the animal in his arms. "Yeah. I had to go pick him up." The cat purred in Miki's arms as he looked up at his sister. "Did you give 'em a heart attack?" Lena simply chuckled then leaned her head back to look up at the tree's branches. "Mm, barely," she said. The black-haired boy giggled only to turn his head to hear the sound of a truck approaching on the highway in front of the hangar.
"Sis...that truck..."
"I know. We better go tell Dad, eh?"
"What? They're already here?" A surprised Ran asked his children who nodded their heads in response. "Yeah, me and Lena saw the black truck headed this way." The white-haired man rubbed the back of his head some then walked over to a large computer on the side wall next to the nearly finished mecha. All it needed now was some paint. "The council said it would be either today, tonight, or tomorrow morning when the soldiers would come," he told them as he typed at the console. Lena watched the screen with interest; the layout of the unnamed machine, its configuration/system, controls, and such pop up in holographic form.
"So, Dad...this'll help us find out if there's life on other planets out in the big, black yonder?" she asked with her hands on her hips.
"But of course! No machine of mine will fail in its task!"
The white-haired girl groaned lightly, shaking her head. Her father was an intelligent man--very--but he seemed...a bit out of sorts. He cackled loudly much to his son's statement then pushed up his glasses and folded his arms, a smug look on his face. "This machine--which remains unnamed until I can figure out a suitable name--will be the envy of the military itself! It will fly across the sky and stars, reaching to the horizon as the pilot goes up and up and up straight into Nirvana!"
"...Sis, how come we don't act like Dad?" Miki asked Lena who sighed again.
"Because we have all of Mom's common sense and 1% of Dad's insane persona," she answered. The white-haired man turned to his children as a sly grin came across his face. "You say that now, Lena, but when you hit the age of 18, you'll act just like me! You've got my smarts but your mother's tendency to--"
"Act like a normal person does." Ran's face sudden went from happy and ecstatic to sad and forlorn. "That hit a soft spot, Lena...you're my baby!" The white-haired girl bit her lip then hugged the teary eyed man as Miki hugged him too. "Sorry Dad...but it's natural for kids to be embarrassed by their parents." Ran nodded and patted his kids' heads gently. "So true, Lena. So true."
A little while later, Ran and Elisa along with their children and a few mechanics stood outside the hangar as the black truck turned off the highway and onto the dirt of the backyard/hangar front. Lena bit her lip softly, the truck stopping in front of them with a hissing noise, the engine rumbling softly. A young man dressed in a blue military uniform with the rank of General on his shoulder step out of the vehicle. He had his dark red hair smoothed back with gel, red scar-like tribal markings lined his cheeks and forehead.
"Hello there, Greyhouse," he said in a deep voice. "It's nice to see you again."
"The same to you, General Resuka. How's your wife?" The red-haired man chuckled lightly. "Ah, you know...driving me crazy while making me the happiest man alive." The white-haired man smiled then placed an arm around Elisa's shoulders. "You remember my wife, Elisa, don't you? And my kids?"
"How could I forget? A beautiful wife along with very colorful children." Resuka smiled at Lena and Miki as the two grinned widely at him while making strange faces before he turned his head back at their parents. "Your little girl's growing up quickly. Already 15, and a heartbreaker."
"I could break something other than hearts, you know," the white-haired girl said with a smart-ass grin. The man laughed as Elisa thumped her daughter across the forehead, making the girl whine in distress. "And she's got quite a mouth on her!" Resuka chuckled and ruffled Miki's hair gently. "I bet you're nicer than your sister, huh?" The boy shrugged lightly. "Heh, the silent type, huh? Understandable."
"You have the soldiers the council selected?" Ran asked.
The red-haired man nodded some. "Yes. They're just waiting for orders," he said. "Once you're ready. Greyhouse." The white-haired man blinked then turned to the mechanics. "Alright, everyone. We're gonna give these men a real workout, eh? So, treat 'em with respect!" The mechanics raised their hands with a small cheer as Resuka chuckled, saluting them. "Thank you, members of the Greyhouse Mechanics. I really hope you treat us well."
"Mama, I don't like that guy," Lena said sitting beside her mother with Miki resting by her as she peeled red apples on the large back porch of their house. Elisa hummed lightly and dropped the peelings into a pail by her chair. "Well, why don't you like the General, Elena?" The white-haired girl twitched at the name, nearly hissing. "...Mama, don't call me...Elena. It's too girly!" The black-haired woman giggled lightly.
"I did that just to get a rise out of you, my dear. Now, can you tell me why you dislike the General?" She sighed lightly and rubbed the back of her head. "Well...I don't know myself...I just don't like him." Elisa looked to her daughter with a small smile. "Maybe you don't like the military itself?" she asked. Lena groaned, shaking her head.
"And again, I don't know." Miki moved lightly then cuddled up closer to the warmth of his older sister. Lena smiled gently, looking up to the hangar that was placed a few feet away from the house with a pathway connected to the door on the side. "But Mama...I..." The black-haired woman raised an eyebrow only to smile.
"I don't mind it...just don't get yourself hurt."
Inside the hangar, Ran spoke with the soldiers about several different things: how the machine--his baby--was built and why; how the controls work; and why he was asked to build the mecha. "Why did I built it? Hmm...maybe it's because I want--no, the whole world to see a new horizon!" The soldiers blinked a few times then looked to one another and back at the seemingly crazed man. Lena sat behind him, sighing lightly.
"Dad, get to the point already...you're borin' them to death..." He glanced back at his daughter then nodded.
''I assure you no harm will come to you. But with this machine, it can transcend both the Heavens and the stars above, you know! We'll find others like us!' Greyhouse exclaimed. 'I bet my pretty daughter could handle this mech with ease! Though it's kinda strange that she won't bring home a boyfriend...''
''Geez, Dad...knock it off!''
Now the soldiers were sure of it: Professor Ran Greyhouse was crazy and full of himself. The soldiers flinched slightly when Lena threw a book at the back of her father's head as she fumed angrily. She pouted then stood up and walked out of the hangar, slamming the door in the process. Ran looked at the door with a nervous look. He rubbed the back of his head (he ducked about 5 seconds before the book hit him, therefore nicking the side of his head) then looked to the soldiers.
"Sorry," he said. "My daughter...is like her mother." The soldiers looked to one another and back at him. That's putting it lightly... Ran immediately recovered, clapping his hands with a wide grin on his face. "SO! Shall we start our little test drive?" The white-haired man led the soldiers up a stairwell connected to a pathway. The pathway was centered around the midsection of the newly painted mecha, the outline of a door in the middle. "So," a soldier said (this one having blonde hair and yellow markings), "this is going to help us find new life out there?"
"Yes, it will. I assure you." The white-haired man pushed up the sleeves of his coat to show a white and grey watch around his right wrist as he smiled lightly. He pressed a button on the side, the door hissing softly and opening slowly. "Now, I've made prototypes of this watch I'm wearing," he said holding up his right hand. The watch was a grey/black color; white lines giving the clockwork detail. On the side was the symbol of Greyhouse Mechanics: a bold white capitalized 'G' with the outline of a light grey gear behind it. "This will help you connect with this machine. Basically, you'll be it's heart and soul!"
The soldiers looked to the man's back as the door--or rather the cockpit--of the white mecha opened to show a somewhat large yet cushiony brown/black seat with straps laying against the cushions (connected to the sides and shoulders); two monitors on either side of the seat and rounded rectangle controls sitting upright on either side of the seat. The soldiers stood in awe of the strange-looking cockpit while Ran stood beaming with pride.
"Amazing, isn't it?" he asked them. "This mecha is a state-of-the-art mobile suit!" The white-haired man punched his fist into his open palm. "Now....who's first?"
After several hours of the "test drive", the soldiers sat in the hangar; wiping the sweat from their faces and trying not to vomit what they ate for breakfast. Ran's test drive consisted of a virtual reality setting where the soldiers had to learn the basic controls and movement. The white-haired man even added some weapon controls as well along with a battle simulator that had little but destructive aliens. That rattled a few of the soldiers. The others were woozy and disoriented to the space simulator. Ran sat in his office, typing away at his laptop then yawned loudly.
Most of the soldiers didn't pass, he thought to himself. He switched out his pink straw for a cigarette which he smoked in earnest. This is bad...I figured they would be used to my little "test" since they're supposed to be fighter pilots...guess my "test" was too much for them. He leaned back in his chair only to meet the bored gaze of Lena standing at the doorway of his office. "...Lena."
"The only time you smoke is when you're working on something important," she said walking into the office. She wore a black shirt with a pair of orange shorts and white tennis shoes. "So how'd your simulator go?" He waved his hand in front of his face. "I'd like to call it a test, really." Lena let out a small noise of reply then looked up to look outside at the queasy soldiers and the legs of the unnamed mecha.
"...Stargazer."
Ran looked up from his computer at his daughter. "What?" She looked back at him. "Stargazer. That should be the mech's name, right?" she asked. "Soaring through the heavens above and even space...Stargazer's the perfect name for it."
"Ah, that is perfect! I told you you were my daughter, Lena!" the white-haired man cried out with glee. The black-haired girl folded her arms across her chest. "And since I named it...I should be the one to pilot it!"
"Yes, yes, you get to--WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" Ran watched Lena run back inside the house (the office was connected to the basement) as she yelled, "Mom, Mom! He said 'yes'! Find me my suit!" The man slumped back in his chair, a look of complete fear mingled in with worry on his features. He held the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. All this time...she's been wanting to pilot that machine..? Because of... He shook his head.
"No...that can't be it, could it? That she's--" He stopped his epiphany to see Lena standing in the doorway of the office wearing a dark blue suit. The suit had grey kneepads, elbow pads, gloves, and an off-white belt around her waist. White tribal-esque markings detailed the body fitting suit; a diamond shaped hole in the middle of her chest which showed her growing cleavage; small round attachments on her ankles. Ran didn't approve of the showing of her cleavage but the suit was very well made.
"...Did your mother make that for you?" he managed to say after breaking out of his shock. The girl grinned and nodded. "Yup. Besides, that machine should stay in the family, Dad." Ran blinked at her then watched when she took his hand into her gloved ones. "Please," Lena said. "Let me pilot it...or at least let me try. I've read the handbook and everything--"
"Wait, you have?"
She nodded as he moved his hand and stood up, straightening his coat. "Lena...you're proud of your father, aren't you?" The white-haired girl blushed with embarrassment then lowered her head, placing her hands behind her back. "...Yeah, I am." Ran chuckled at her shyness. I knew it...even though she's tough and won't show it... He placed a hand on her shoulder gently. Lena looked up at him as he smiled. She smiled back and hugged her father tightly. ...She's still Daddy's little girl.
"Alright, men! Sorry if I made my "test" too hard for you," Ran said as he stood in front of the newly named Stargazer. He pushed up his glasses. "I've named the machine just now with the help of my beautiful daughter. It's name is...the Junpaku Stargazer, unit number GSX-401EX!" The soldiers looked at one another then back at the white-haired man. "Junpaku...you mean 'Pure White'?" a black-haired soldier (with grey markings) asked in surprise. "Why, of course! Look at the white armor it adorns!" He held his chin. "Even though, I should give thanks to my daughter...Lena!"
The soldiers looked over then gasped loudly when they saw the girl walk out of the office and holding her arms in a very cute fashion. She blushed lightly, placing a finger against her chin. "Umm...can I pilot my Dad's mobile suit, please?" The men--being the closet perverts they are--practically fawned over her. In Lena's mind, she groaned. Fucking loli-cons, she thought. Have thee no shame? Ran clapped his hands loudly which broke the soldiers from their trances.
"Now, my daughter will go through the same "test" like you all did," he explained as the girl walked to the emergency cord which led into the open cockpit of the white machine. She placed her foot in the triangular shaped end, feeling the cord suddenly jerk and pull her up slowly. Ran turned around to look at Lena with a look of uncertainty on his face. "Professor Greyhouse, do you think your daughter can actually do it?"
"I know she can," he answered. "She's a Greyhouse after all."
On level with the cockpit, Lena climbed inside and strapped herself in. She moved her hand across a numeric pad on the armrest as she remembered the code to close the hatch. 1-1-5-6-0-9. With that, the double door hatch closed with a loud hiss and the screens came to life; shining a dim blue hue. The white-haired girl placed her feet against the foot controls, a small sigh of nervousness coming from her mouth.
"Are you nervous, Lena?" Ran's voice echoed over the radio. "A little, but not so much." The man chuckled and folded his arms as he held the headset against his ear. "Now, it may seem a bit confusing at first, but knowing you...you would be used to confusion." Lena grinned slightly. But of course, she thought. The white-haired man sat down, typing at his computer then pressed enter; a larger holographic screen coming up in front of the Stargazer. A line separated the screen right down the middle. On the left was Lena calibrating the system to her own needs and placing a blue visor over her eyes; on the right was a screen that said 'WAITING . . . . ' in big bold white letters.
"With this screen, we can watch the action unfold. My daughter will be entering a virtual reality setting--similar to that of a video game--and do battle with aliens. Basically, it'll be the same test as yours."
"Alright, Dad," the white-haired girl said over the radio. "I'm ready."
Ran nodded then looked up at the two screens with worry, his hand shaking slightly. Lena smiled at her father as her grip tightened on the controls; leaning her head back and closing her eyes. He smiled back at her then said, "Activating space simulator level 1. Test pilot: Elena Greyhouse. Start simulator."
Lena suddenly felt...weightless. She cracked open one blue-green eye as she saw a brilliant mixture of lights along with a sea of black. She turned her head slowly; eyes widening at the sight of her planet...or what the planet would look like out in space. Dad really put detail in this... The white-haired girl looked at the screen again, noticing that the Stargazer was apparently sideways from the view. She moved the controls back as the mecha moved forward and stood straight up. The soldiers watched in amazement; most of them had forgotten what to do or turned the machine on its back.
She's doing okay for the first part, Ran thought to himself. He glanced over to another monitor at his side which contained the girl's vitals. So far, so good. Lena sighed in relief then grinned at the camera that was placed above the main monitor. Suddenly, alarms began to go off, making the girl jump in response. She looked over at the left screen; the radar showing 2 red dots moving towards a pulsating blue dot: the Stargazer.
"Oh, shi--!!" The white-haired girl pushed forward on one control and back on the other as two red lasers passed by the mecha. The Stargazer turned around to face two squid-like aliens who began to circle like sharks. "Damn," Lena muttered to herself. She moved the controls up, hearing them go up and lock; the main controls being replaced by gun-esque controls. The white mecha held out its hands as large grey machine guns appeared. Grabbing them, the Stargazer aimed and fired off large bursts of gunfire much to the soldiers' amazement. The scene looked like something straight out of a science fiction movie, abeit more realistic. The aliens squealed as they were pelted with bullets--some going through and some getting stuck in their flesh--and blew up. Lena let out a sigh of relief.
Thank god...
"Watch your back, Elena," Ran said over the radio. "They could've called reinforcements." She pouted at the radio, groaning. "...Your fault, you know." The white-haired man simply shrugged; the radar blaring in the girl's ears. The soldiers spoke amongst themselves while watching the simulator.
"...Think he's trying to show off?"
"...Just because she's Daddy's little girl..."
"...Nah...it's just pure luck..."
Ran turned to the soldiers as they silenced their individual conversations. Arms folded across his chest, he narrowed his light blue eyes and shook his head slowly. "You think this was planned out by me?" he asked in an annoyed voice. "Really now...I thought Terra Green soldiers had more pride than you lot." A blond soldier raised his hand. "But the Council along with the General will be asking why this happened." Ran shook his head again then turned to the two screens; the simulation Stargazer fighting back against the reinforcement aliens as Lena had a look of determination on her face, teeth gritted and black bangs clinging to her face.
"She wants to experience something like this..."
"...What?" the blond man asked. The white-haired man looked back at the soldiers, pointing at the Stargazer. "She wants to experience piloting a machine--no, let me correct myself: a mecha such as this. Mind you, I seriously didn't know that she would do this but to tell you the truth...I'm beaming with pride yet I'm filled with worry. So if you have anything else smart or negative to say, then leave; I won't take bullshit from soldiers who think that a 15-year-old girl will break their pride and manhood."
The soldiers immediately went quiet while muttering "sorry" and "my apologies", continuing to watch the simulation. The white mecha flew backwards from a laser that slammed into its shoulder pad; smoke rising from the singed metal. The white-haired girl cursed under her breath and pressed forward on the controls, the mecha flying towards the aliens. She let out a battle cry as the machine guns appeared in the Stargazer's hands.
"I'll unleash everything I got on me!" Lena yelled. Individual hatches opened on the white mecha's legs and sides; a wide yet maniacal grin coming onto the pilot's face. On the screen in front of the girl were lock-on indicators which targeted the enemy. Ran watched in awe as he gasped loudly. How could she have...?! He looked to her book then removed the covering around to reveal the typed out manual for the Stargazer with a shocked look. "...That's what she was doing this whole time...?"
"Blast Limit activated. Targets in sight...and FIRE!"
The white mecha fired both guns, unleashing missiles and lasers from its compartments as the weapons flew at the aliens. They squealed in fear, trying to scramble away from the attack only to be bombarded and instantly destroyed in a brilliant display of power. The soldiers suddenly cheered, startling Ran who looked back at them then back at the screens. The left screen showed Lena breathing heavily from the stress; the right screen showing the Stargazer standing in the middle of carnage, burn and scorch marks on its metal frame.
"Simulation complete," the computer said. "Ending simulation and initializing pilot data." Ran looked to his computer screen then gasped lightly as the cockpit hatch of the Stargazer opened. On the screen, Lena's picture was shown while on the right was her status points and such. He shook his head, chuckling lightly. The white-haired girl climbed down from the hatch and landed on the floor with a soft thud. She steadied herself while her head spun from the simulation.
"Nnghh...so, how'd I do, Dad?"
The soldiers looked at Leona then at the back of Ran Greyhouse who turned around, leaning against the table. He moved some of his hair from his face and laughed cheerfully...which scared the crap out of his white-haired daughter. "Actually...she did a whole lot better than you all did," he said with a wide grin. "Her connectivity levels are 90% higher...somewhat."
"EH?! WHAT THE HELL?!" the soldiers yelled much to Ran's chagrin.
He cleared his throat as Lena covered her ears; her father yelling: "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN HOW YOU FEEL! IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, THEN GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HANGAR!" The soldiers immediately shut their mouths at the sudden outburst from such a quiet man. Ran settled down as he looked over at his daughter with a smart-ass grin.
"You pass, my sweet little girl! What are you gonna name the machine?"
Lena blinked a few times then steadied herself as she looked up at the ceiling. She then looked at the white mecha standing before her. "...Junpaku...Stargazer," she said. A look of pure bliss was on her face...until she suddenly blanked out and collapsed onto the floor; a smile on her face.
*~Chapter Two: End~*
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This...was a bit longer than I had anticipated. (shrug) Oh well, at least I got it done, right? Expect Chapter Three in a few days. I've been working it out on notebook paper (at school and in class D) so...yeah. (grin) Read and review, please!
Teaser for Chp. 3: -Lena...you managed to surpass soldiers chosen to test pilot the Stargazer...but you didn't answer me when I asked you 'why'...-
-'I don't have a reason; I felt like piloting that mech.'-