EPISODE III: THE MECHANICS OF LIFE

"Good morning, Meia," Duello said with a smile as he walked into the infirmary with a plate of hot food. "Would you like something to eat?"

She shook her head without looking up. "No thank you... " Her eyes stayed locked onto Rick's still form.

"... he still hasn't awoken, hmm?" He patted her shoulder gently. "Give him time. He's fine, he just needs rest is all."

She finally tore her gaze from the cot. "I know... it's just... it's so hard to see him like this. He did it to protect me, you know." She turned back toward the bed as her eyes began to water once more.

He nodded sympathetically. "Meia, listen to me. It wasn't your fault. Whatever his reasons were, it was his decision to make. I'm sure he wouldn't want you blaming yourself for what happened." He turned to leave the room. "You can't keep everyone safe, you know. You have to learn to do what you can and accept whatever happens."

"But... " She buried her face in Rick's chest. "What if... what if something happens to him... " her voice trailed to a soft murmur, "... and I can't save him?"

Duello looked down sadly. "That is something only you can know... and only when that time comes." Having said that, he left the room quietly, pausing in the hallway as the door slid shut behind him.

Meia sniffed disconsolately. "I'm so sorry, Rick... I wish I could have helped." She jumped as she heard him whisper, "I'd say... you did a pretty good job, all things considered."

"Rick!" She looked up to see him gazing gently at her, a small smile playing across his face. "How... how long have you... "

"... been awake?" he finished for her. "A minute or two, that's all." His eyes twinkled as a look of horror crossed her face. "Oh, don't worry, though. I've only been conscious since Duello left."

She sighed in relief. "Don't scare me like that. You were in pretty bad shape last night, you know." A look of concern crossed her face. "Don't ever do anything like that again, please."

He frowned slightly. "Meia, I had to do what I did. I didn't have any choice." He paused, then continued softly. "I didn't want them to... " At that, he abruptly stopped and closed his eyes.

"Want them to what? Who are 'they'? Please, tell me, Rick," she begged him earnestly.

After a moment's consideration, he spoke carefully. "I didn't want them to kill you, too." He looked away and fidgeted nervously. "They... are modified recon droids built by Earth. They have been retrofitted with a wide variety of tools, all used to maim, slaughter and bring harm to people." He blinked. "They would have hacked you to pieces in a heartbeat."

"But... " She looked at him with wide eyes. "How do you know this?"

He sighed heavily. "I... I once knew someone. She and I were... very close." He cleared his throat. "It's a somewhat lengthy story."

"I don't mind listening, if you don't mind telling." She glanced at him questioningly.

"Well... if you recall, my homeworld Nesaki was attacked by an Earth fleet when I was only five." She nodded, listening attentively. "After my parents died, my uncle raised me. We moved to a lunar colony called Brenar in another system shortly after the attack. You see, Brenar orbited a desert giant, Kakoru. Due to its harsh conditions, the first colonists decided to settle on Brenar.

"Some people did decide to inhabit Kakoru, but they were few and far between. As a result, Brenar outpopulated Kakoru by nearly four hundred percent, despite being six times smaller. It was really something, seeing Kakoru rise twice a day. At the peak of its trajectory, Kakoru filled more than two thirds of the sky. The sheer magnitude and beauty was astonishing.

"While most of the colonists on Kakoru lived in large settlements, the residences of Brenar were, for the most part, small homesteads scattered across the countryside. The landscape was beautiful and lush, and the weather was nearly always clear. Some people lived in somewhat larger townships near the spaceports, but the greater portion of the populace preferred the country.

"My uncle and I lived on a small tract of land about seven kilometers from the main spaceport, and on occasion we would travel to town for supplies. We didn't make many friends, living in the country as we did. It was a bit lonely at times. However, whenever we went to town I would always talk to people, and when we were at home I built all sorts of things to stave off the loneliness.

"Then, shortly after my fifteenth birthday, my uncle disappeared. One night I went to bed, and the next morning he was gone. To this day I still don't know what happened to him, although I have my suspicions. You see, it was not long after that I met Claire Hayward. The day we met, the days that followed... it almost seems like a dream now.

"Brenar being the type of colony that it was, everyone knew everything that was going on at all times. As a matter of fact, my uncle and I were known as the 'Anti-Earth Armorers' to most of the locals. We built equipment ranging from spacecraft and mechs to energy weapons and portable shield systems. Of course, we weren't in it for money. It was just our way of avenging our losses.

"At any rate, I heard one day that a new family had moved to Brenar - an older man named Jarrod and his daughter Claire. They purchased a tract of land nearby and became my neighbors within the week. I kept to myself after my uncle disappeared for the most part, but my new neighbors were determined to get to know me and become friends.

"They came visiting the day after they were settled and had everything unpacked. Jarrod brought Claire along and introduced us. She was fourteen, had ash blonde hair and the most riveting pair of amber eyes I have ever seen. I fell in love with her the instant I saw her. I can't speak for her, but... well, we got along rather well. We were quite close, and spent most of our time together.

"Then, one dreary afternoon - everything seemed less bright and vivid for some reason, perhaps it was in prelude of what was to come - she called to say she was on her way over. I waited a few hours, and when she still didn't show I decided to see what was taking her so long... so I started down the trail we had made between our homes.

"It was beginning to get dark, so I grabbed a light on the way out and, for some reason, I picked up my beam sword as well. Perhaps I already knew subconsciously what had happened. Either way, I headed outside and began walking toward her house. I remember how quiet everything seemed; there were no sounds, no wind... all was deathly still. It was as if time itself had stopped.

"I was about halfway to her house when I noticed something in the dark next to the trail. As I drew closer, I began to feel an overwhelming sense of dread. It took every shred of courage for me to kneel and push aside the grass obscuring it from view." Rick's voice faltered for a moment, then continued determinedly. "It was Claire. That is, it was her head.

"Her beautiful amber eyes, once shining vibrantly with trust and friendliness... they were gone. In their place, a pair of glazed, bloody orbs filled with helplessness and fear." He shook his head sadly. "I was mortified. I don't remember much of what took place then. I only remember feeling a tremendous sense of loss, then everything was swallowed by blackness.

"Apparently I must have passed out from the shock, because I awoke some time later, cradling her severed head gently in my arms. I felt something cold and wet on my face and realised that I was crying. Claire meant the world to me. My parents, my uncle, and now her... gone, forever irretrievable. I couldn't take it. I felt the last remaining vestiges of my sanity crumbling away.

"It was then that I heard it - the first sound apart from my heartbroken sobs to reach my ears since I had left my house. There was something moving in the grass several meters away, making a peculiar humming sound as it approached. I jumped to my feet, one hand on my beam sword, the other on the light, and stared intently into the darkness. As it came into the light, I gasped.

"It was a peculiar looking droid, about a meter and a half tall, with several wicked, razor sharp claws, blades and other menacing devices attached... all of which were covered in blood. Her blood... I felt my despair and sadness melting away, only to be replaced by the overwhelming fierceness of a burning, savage hatred for this piece of machinery that had taken her from me.

"The moment I gasped, it whirled and headed straight for me, beeping indifferently all the while. I activated my sword and, with a cry of rage, leapt into the air and thrust my blade deep into the droid. It struggled viciously as I twisted the sword, gouging a great hole within it, then finally let out one last feeble beep and deactivated. Exhausted, I fell to the ground and closed my eyes.

"When I opened them again, it was daylight. I felt weak as I gazed at the droid lying on the ground, then noticed that my arm was bleeding. Apparently I had been wounded in the struggle. The flow hadn't quite stopped, but it had slowed and thickened over the hours. My blood pooled on the ground, mixing with Claire's as well as the fluids leaking from the droid.

"I bandaged my arm and gathered as much of Claire's body as I could find, then returned to my house and gave her a proper burial in the yard. I called Jarrod immediately afterward. I expected him to be shattered as well, but for some reason he was strangely calm. 'How... are you taking it, Rick?' he asked me carefully. 'I... I can't... ' I replied, but could say no more.

"We went back out to the trail a few days later and examined the droid. It had unmistakeable marks and designs, and we both agreed that it was of Earth origin. I destroyed it that afternoon, and Jarrod returned to his house. He moved not long after that. I spent the next few years working on Hermes, among other things, and looking for people who could help me fight the Earth forces.

"Then, a month ago, I met Rabat. I told him what my plans were and, after some discussion, he mentioned the Nirvana. I immediately decided to find you. As we parted ways, his last words were, 'Good luck, kid... you're gonna need it.'"

"Rabat, huh?" Hibiki burst into the infirmary suddenly. "Oh, uh, hi, Meia. Sorry... I was walking past and I couldn't help but overhear the story." He shrugged.

"It's quite alright." Rick sighed softly and looked at Meia. "So, now you know. When I saw that droid on the planetoid, all I could think about was Brenar, and... I couldn't let that happen again. Not to you."

She blinked back her tears and smiled. "I understand... but next time, let's take them on together. I'm not completely helpless, you know."

"I don't blame him, Meia," Hibiki said staunchly. "I'd have done the same thing for Dita." As soon as the words left his mouth, his face began to flush, as did Meia's. "Aw, hell. Forget what I said. Rick, you're alright in my book. Make sure you take good care of Meia, okay?"

"Of course," came the reply. Meia looked down at him. "At least promise me you'll be more careful, please?"

He nodded. "Don't worry, Meia, I can take pretty good care of myself - and with Hermes, you, and the rest of the Nirvana to look after me, well, it will take more than an army of killer droids to stop me."

A suspicious look crossed Meia's face. "An army? How many of those things did you take on back there, anyway?"

Rick thought for a moment. "Oh, I wouldn't say more than two or three hund-" He stopped as he noticed Meia's horrified expression. "Oh, come on, what was I supposed to do? Honestly!"

"You could have asked me for help!" She frowned. "Just don't do it again. It was reckless and stupid, and... " She smiled almost imperceptibly. "... it was very brave of you."

He chuckled gently in relief. "Next time-"

"Next time we'll fight them together. Okay?" She folded her arms defiantly.

"Fine, we'll fight them together."

Hibiki laughed. "Well, that's that, I guess. See you guys later, I have to go see D- er, do some work on my Partner." With that, he turned and hurried out into the hall mumbling to himself all the way.

"Hibiki!"

He smiled. "Well, I see you remembered to call me by my name this time."

Dita laughed and grabbed his hand as she dragged him into her room. "I'm just so happy you decided to come back again, and I didn't even have to ask you this time."

"Yeah, well, I didn't have anything better to do, so I figured... " He chuckled at the look on her face. "Damn it all, who am I kidding? I just wanted to spend some time with you."

She smiled brightly and threw him onto her bed. "Me too. So... what do you want to do?"

"What... do...?" He sat up nervously. "Uh, let's see... I, uh... " He fiddled anxiously with his ID tag as she sat down beside him. "Whatever you want to do, I guess."

She leaned over him. "Okay, then how about you tell me how that thing between your legs works?" She poked him playfully.

"Wha- HELL NO!" Hibiki jumped up, blushing furiously. "I mean... ah, I'll tell you later, okay?" He stood by the window and looked out quietly.

"Hibiki?" Dita looked at him questioningly. "What's the matter?"

He continued to gaze out into space, but his voice was low as he replied. "I... Rick's awake. I saw him earlier. Meia was there too."

"Really? That's good." She looked at him closely. "I thought you didn't like him."

He shrugged softly. "I didn't... but... well, I guess I was wrong about him." He turned to face her then, and repeated the story he had heard in the infirmary earlier. After he finished, Dita looked at him sadly.

"His parents died too? That's so sad." She leapt to her feet as a thought struck her. "Hey, let's throw him a get well soon party!"

"Uh, Dita, Duello told me that he'll be fine in a few hours."

"Oh." Her face fell. "Well, I just thought it would be nice to cheer him up."

Hibiki grinned mischievously. "Don't worry, Meia's got that under control, I think."

She looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, let's just say she's taking extra good care of him." He laughed.

"You don't mean... " Dita gasped and clapped a hand to her mouth in shock. "Meia? Really?"

He nodded. "I think so. She sure acts like it." After a moment, he added thoughtfully, "Meia... who would've thought... "

"I know. I'm so happy for her!" She frowned in concern suddenly. "Does Rick know?"

He shook his head uncertainly. "I'm not sure. I think... I think maybe he's not quite ready for that sort of thing just yet. After all, he's been through a lot."

Her frown deepened slightly. "Yes, you're right. Still, he has to have some idea... doesn't he?"

"I don't know, Dita. I just don't know." He patted her head reassuringly. "I'm sure he'll find out eventually... that is, if she ever realises it herself."

Her eyes widened. "You mean she doesn't even know?"

"I doubt it. Meia's been keeping her emotions pent up for so long, there's no telling when she'll finally figure it out. She's smart, though... she just needs to think it through."

"Wow... " She laid her head on his shoulder. "Hibiki?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think they'll... " She stopped.

"I think so," he answered her unfinished question. "It's like Duello said. Give it some time."

"I hope so." She looked up at him and whispered softly. "What... what about us?"

He glanced down at her and smiled. "Us? We'll do just fine. I know it." He put his arm around her and held her gently.

She nodded drowsily. "Me too." Her eyes began to drift close as she murmured, "I'm glad... that I met you... Mr. Alien... " and with that, she fell asleep.

Hibiki kissed her cheek and smiled. "... and I'm glad I met you, Dita."

Meia eyed Rick with concern. "Are you sure you're feeling well enough to get up?"

"Of course." He sat on the edge of the bed for a moment before standing. "See? All better."

"Oh, good!" She hugged him happily, then stepped back and looked at him, her eyes shining. "I'm glad you're well."

He shrugged. "What can I say? I heal quickly. Besides, I had the best nurse one could possibly ask for." He smiled at her.

She blushed lightly as she protested, "I didn't even do anything."

"Nonsense," he replied. "You sat here with me the entire time to make sure I had a speedy recovery. Now, I need to go to the bridge."

"I'll walk you there." She walked alongside him as they headed for the elevator. "Rick... "

"Hmm?" He turned to look at her.

"What... what do you think happened to your uncle?"

His face fell slightly as he spoke. "Well... there were reports among the people of Brenar... they said that the droid had probably been wandering the countryside for some time. Several people I spoke with claimed to have caught glimpses of it intermittently, and... " He shrugged. "I think my uncle may have seen it and, knowing what it was, set out to destroy it."

"You don't think... " she left the question unfinished, afraid to voice her thoughts.

"I don't know. No one ever found his body, so... there's a possibility that he may still be alive." He shook his head. "He wasn't a warrior, though. He was just a man who knew how to build things. He wouldn't have stood a chance."

Meia fell silent as they arrived at the elevator. As the door slid open, Rick stepped through and turned to face her.

"I'll be back shortly," he said, his face impassive. "I'll meet you in the docking bay."

She blinked. "Oh... okay." The door hissed shut, and Rick sighed as the elevator began moving upward.

"Uncle... what happened to you...?" He closed his eyes tiredly. He opened them again as he heard an unfamiliar voice addressing him.

"Um... Mr. Forrest?" Parfet's face appeared on a small holographic screen on the wall.

He smiled halfheartedly. "It's Rick, just Rick. I haven't seen you before."

"Oh, that's right. I'm the ship's engineer, Parfet." She pushed her glasses up owlishly. "I was wondering... do you think I could take a look at your mech sometime today? When you're not busy, of course."

"Certainly. Hermes could probably use a tune up anyway. Meet me in the docking bay in a half hour, and you can look him over."

"Thank you very much." She raised an eyebrow in question. "You look exhausted. Maybe you should return to the infirmary later? Duello can run some scans to make sure you're doing okay."

He shrugged and waved his hand dismissively. "I'm fine... just a little tired, is all. Thank you for your concern, however."

"No problem. I'll see you in thirty minutes, then." The screen went blank, and with a heavy sigh Rick slumped against the wall.

After a few moments, he stood back up and pounded a fist against the wall. "Get a hold of yourself... you're better than this." He frowned and rolled his sleeve back, staring at the long, ugly scar on his bare arm.

"Why... " he murmured, and his head dropped as he pulled the sleeve back into place. "Why did things happen the way they did?" He kicked dejectedly at nothing in particular and shook his head angrily. "I can't... " His head snapped up, his eyes burning with determination. "I can't give up. I have to keep it together, for my parents and uncle... and Claire..."

With that, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle. He opened it and shook out two small pills, hesitating a moment before swallowing them. After closing the bottle and returning it to his pocket, he paced around the elevator, waiting for it to stop impatiently. A few moments later, the door opened and he walked out onto the bridge.

"Rick." The Captain turned toward him. "What is it?"

He cleared his throat. "I was wondering about our progress toward Saren, the planetary system I came from. How far away are we?"

The Captain nodded. "Ezra?"

"We are still several days away." She looked at him apologetically.

"I see. Thank you." He began to leave the bridge, but stopped as the Captain said quietly, "We have all suffered our losses, Rick. Don't forget that you are among friends here, and that you needn't bear your burdens alone. We are all in this together."

He turned to face her slowly, his face an indiscernable mask as he looked at her for a moment, then inclined his head almost imperceptibly in assent before returning to the elevator.

The Captain stared after him, lost in thought as she contemplated the fates of the entire crew of the Nirvana. "Be strong, young man. The coming days will require all of your will and resolve to carry you through."

Rick walked into the docking bay quietly, pondering the Captain's words as he approached Hermes. Parfet, who had apparently arrived some time before, was having an animated conversation with Hermes, and looked up as Rick approached.

"Oh, Rick! I'm glad you're here, Hermes and I have been discussing his systems and specs. He's simply amazing! I still can't believe you designed and built him yourself!" She paused, flustered. "Not that I don't think you're an excellent engineer, I mean, you MUST be, after all, you... fascinating!" She looked back up at Hermes, clearly astounded.

"Have you seen Meia?" Rick looked around the bay absentmindedly. "She was supposed to meet me here."

Parfet shrugged. "I've been here for a good fifteen minutes at least, but I haven't seen her. I guess I got a little caught up talking to Hermes... Rick, you didn't tell me he was an advanced AI! This... " She stared up at Hermes. "This is incredible! I can't imagine the detail and effort that must have gone into his design!"

"Oh, wait until you see Alice." Rick smiled slightly.

"Alice?"

"Yes, I haven't had the opportunity to introduce her to anyone yet. She-" Meia dashed into the docking bay just then, cutting him off.

"Sorry... I was... held up... " she wheezed as she knelt next to Rick.

"Are you ok?" He placed a hand on her shoulder lightly, and she looked up at him and smiled.

"Yes, I'm fine... I was just a little out of breath. I ran all the way here from my room."

Rick raised an eyebrow. "That's quite a ways. You didn't have to run, you know."

"Well, I said I'd meet you here, but then my door started malfunctioning, and it took a while before anyone realised I was in there." She smiled ruefully.

"Hmm... I'll take a look at that some time. It might cause some problems. Anyway, I was just telling Parfet about Alice. No one has had the chance to meet her yet, so I'm going to introduce the two of you to her now."

"Alice?" Meia tilted her head in confusion. "You've mentioned her once before, but I didn't see anyone arrive with you." Parfet nodded in agreement.

"That's because she's been in stasis the whole time. Speaking of which, I imagine she'll be a bit irritated... " He looked at Hermes in dread, and a deep, rich chuckle filled the docking bay.

"Perhaps it would be best if I did the honors...?" Hermes suggested, and Rick nodded thankfully. "Very well then. Processing." With that, a light shimmered on the docking bay floor, and a prone female body dressed in a grey jumpsuit materialised before them. Her hair was strawberry blonde, and her eyes were a deep emerald green.

After several moments of silence, Meia opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted as the female sat up abruptly.

"RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!!!" With a bloodcurdling wail, she leapt to her feet and took a few steps toward him before noticing her surroundings. "I - where are we? Who are these people?" She looked around in consternation.

"Alice, meet Meia and Parfet. Meia, Parfet, meet Alice. She's my... er, secretary." Rick stifled a grin which quickly faltered as Alice whirled to glare at him sharply before turning back to the other two girls.

"Don't listen to him. I'm his assistant." She smiled politely at the two Mejalans. "Pleased to make your acquaintance." With the formalities out of the way, she turned to face Rick once more. "How could you leave me in stasis for so long??? You know how much I hate it!"

"Yes, well, unfortunately some things came up shortly after arriving on the Nirvana."

"The - well, I knew you'd find them!" Alice beamed in delight, then frowned again. "What could be so serious as to - oh... ooohh... Riiiick... " Her frown deepened and her eyes grew sad. "What have I told you about fighting alone? It isn't safe! You know how reckless you can be!" Meia's eyes narrowed in suspicion as Rick laughed.

"Don't mind her, she worries too much. I'm not really reckless, I just-"

"You call taking on an army of killer droids 'not really reckless'?" Meia glowered slightly. "You could've-"

"An ARMY??? Dear god, what have I TOLD you?" Alice shook her finger at him disapprovingly. "You never change, do you? You could have died!"

"Calm down, Alice... the doc said I'm fine. I just suffered some blood loss and a few cuts and scratches, that's all."

"Well... " She sniffed, then shrugged. "It's not like I can do anything to stop you, anyway. At least you're safe now."

"Yes, thanks to Hermes." Rick glanced at him affably. "You know I can always count on him to watch my back. Besides, Meia was there to take care of me as well."

"Really?" Alice turned to Meia then, who began to blush ever so slightly. "Thank you, thank you very much." She shook her head. "Really, I don't know what to do with him sometimes."

Rick laughed. "Oh, come on, Alice. You'd almost think you made me, instead of the other way around."

"WHAT???" Both Meia and Parfet exclaimed simultaneously.

"Oh, sorry for leaving out that little detail," Rick apologised. "You see, Alice is an AI similar to Hermes, except she has her own cybernetic body. I never got around to building one for Hermes, unfortunately."

"AI... cybernetic... " Parfet stammered in bewilderment. "H-h-how... you must be a genius!"

Rick's face flushed. "Well, not really... I just have a knack for certain things, I guess."

"Well, either way it's impressive," Meia remarked. "I thought she was human."

"So did I... " murmured Parfet.

Rick shrugged. "Well, now you know... and now that she's out of stasis, she can get to know the crew."

"Great!" Alice grinned cheerfully. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Oh, I'll just bet you are... " Rick shook his head and patted her gently. "Take your time, it's going to be a few more days until we reach Brenar."

"A few more... hey, how long were you hospitalised?" Alice squinted at Rick in suspicion, then gasped as the truth dawned on her. "You forgot about me, DIDN'T you???"

"I, er, well... " He stammered wiltingly beneath her wrathful gaze. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, it's just... I was getting to know everyone, and-"

"No excuses!" She pummeled her fists against his chest, and Meia and Parfet looked on in amusement and confusion as Rick tried helplessly to console her. "You're always so damn thoughtless, never consider what I want, always leave me holding the bag and whatnot..." Her voice echoed in the docking bay as the Nirvana drifted onward, ever closer to Brenar and the imminent threat of Earth...

What hell. First I fall in love with my best friend (with regrettably foreseen and equally unfortunate complications involving another guy), then a week-long bout with a terrible cold, then the holidays, and as if that weren't enough - surprise! - some MASSIVE writer's block. It took me long enough... but I finally finished it. I could've done without all the angsty "fall for my best friend" BS, though.

I actually finished a good three quarters of it this time before my muse took an extended vacation... but thanks to the unwitting help of Dan Shive (El Goonish Shive comics), I've thought of something for you poor fans to amuse yourselves with whenever my creativity goes on strike - FILLER MATERIAL! Yes, from now on I'll simply write something non-linear to keep you busy in those dull in-between times.

I'll get to Episode Four in a moment, but first things first. Any material used in the original anime belongs to G.D.H., Gonzo/Media Factory and Takeshi Mori. Everything else, including Rick and Hermes, is my own intellectual property. By the way, I've tried to be at least marginally original with names for places, things and people, but if you see something I should change let me know.

Episode Four, "Aberration", was originally supposed to be called something else, but I forgot what it was when I lost my episode title sheet in the Great Crash of '04... i.e. the day my old computer finally bit the dust. I thought about naming it "Bloodlust" for reasons soon to be apparent, but eventually decided on the present name. I think it fits pretty well, all things considered.

Anyway, "Aberration" centers on the Nirvana, but it isn't another backstory episode like this one. For those of you who asked me about the killer droids (that means you, SithKnight-Galen), they probably won't appear in battle for a few episodes. However, I'm sure the enemies that take their place in the meantime will satisfy you. They're unlike anything you've ever seen before.

Yes, I'm going somewhere with all of this, albeit very slowly. There are dark clouds on the horizon for the crew of the Nirvana, darker yet than they have already seen. Some of you may hate me for what I am preparing to do, but trust me... it's all for the best. I tell you this now so you don't get pissed when it happens and stop reading before the end of the series.

To get back to Episode Four, expect action, bloodshed, mayhem, and more. That's really all I can say aside from this: Rick is something else when it comes to fighting, whether it's with Hermes or his beam sword. I won't say which is involved, though... you're more than welcome to guess.

Expect "Aberration" sometime... well, soon, I guess. With any luck I can concentrate and get it finished within a month, but the way things have been going I shouldn't even be giving myself these deadlines. It's hard to write with all the soul searching I've been doing of late, not to mention my current mid (early?) life crisis. Heh. Timing isn't exactly my forte, it seems.

Never mind that, though. The story must continue... and now you have mini-updates to look forward to as well. Until next time then, you know what to do... read and review. Thanks for all of your support, and have a great summer. Ja ne.

- Rick