Chapter Three

Beta Posted 07/02/2007

Author's Note

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Reviews: 2

Wow. I churning out these chapters faster than I expected. Then again, this and the last one was a bit shorter compared to my first two. Either way, I guess more goodies for you. I've written Chapters 3 and 4 in the same afternoon last week but forgot to post them.

- Free Corp Knight -

- - - - - - - - - -

- Chapter 4 -

- - - - - - - - - -

Month: July

Year: 2047

In her Tracer, Mikako stared the largest planet of the solar system, Jupiter. Before her, great thick clouds of red and orange churned, an occassional lightning flashing in between. Behind her, a great armada of ships were getting into position, doing a final check before they all move out. The Lysithea, Himalia, Leda, and Elara stood at the center of the formation, their large sleek forms overshadowing all the other vessels. Along with the four Cosmonaut-type ships, twenty smaller supply ships would accompany them until Pluto. There, they will transfer supplies one last time before making their way back. Their engines were not equipped with the same hyperdrive technology so it was impossible for them to keep up should an emergency jump be necessary.

Beep! Mikako tensed up, first thinking that it was the Tarsian warning system before hearing a female robotic voice. "Vice Admiral Struman of the Lysithea would like give a revised estimated time of departure. In two hours, the fleet will leave the Europa Satellite Station. All non-essential personnel are advised to use this time for personal use. That is all." Another beep signaled the end of transmission.

Blink! Blink! Mikako stared at her instrument panel, the flashing button indicating a request for a private communication channel. Checking the sender, she found that it was requested from Hisa. Pressing the green 'Accept' button, she heard her friend's voice.

"Hey Mikako-chan! Took you a while. You weren't ignoring me, were you?" After replying that she in fact wasn't, Mikako asked what was the matter. "You heard the vice admiral. This is your last chance to send that lover boy of yours..."

Fzzzt! Mikako slammed her fist on the red 'Terminate' button, her own cheeks turning a bit of red. Beep! This time, a message came from the communication channel reserved for the squadron, an open channel that she can't block.

"Hey! That was mean! You could at least let me finish..." Hisa's voice reached her cockpit again. Sometimes, her friend could be so frustrating.

"Hey you, pipe down! This channel is for official use only. Keep personal matters in the private channels." Miwa's order put an end to their talk.

Blink! Blink! Her message panel again flashed a request for a private message. Knowing who the likely sender was, Mikako pressed the 'Deny' button. Blink! Blink! Another request probably from the same person. She ignored it this time. Instead, she got out her cell phone, deciding to follow Hisa's advice even though Noboru wasn't her... lover. She blushed thinking of their relationship that way. They were just good friends... right?

Noboru

Finally leaving Jupiter, the Lysithea will

travel way beyond Pluto after this but the

specific destination seems to be secret.

It will take longer and longer for mail to

reach you. From the farthest corner on

the other side of the Oort Cloud, it's

about half a year.

Mikako

"Will it reach?" Mikako wondered, worried for the first time about the distance between them.

- - -

Noboru was walking back from school when he spotted the convenience store that he and Mikako used to visit on their way back home. It's been nearly a year since she had to leave. Giving in to impulse, he entered. Browsing the shelves, he could see the snacks that Mikako and him usually ate during junior high. Moving toward the magazine racks, one booklet caught his eye. The front page featured a picture of the Lysithea and a main article about the Tarsian Investigation Project. He later walked out the store with the magazine in his hands. Just then, his cell phone vibrated, recieving a new message. Just like the other times Mikako emailed him, he immediately read and replied to it.

Mikako

I wish I can travel to Pluto. Don't

worry. It's like air-mail in the 20th

century. Yeah! It'll be alright!

Noboru

After he sent it, a shout caught his attention. "Hey Noboru. Is that you?" He turned and saw a familiar face. It was one of his friends from junior high.

"Noboru, you look great! Look at you in that Jouhoku uniform. It's so much cooler than mines!" His friend pointed out his less sophisticated uniform that came from another school, one of the average ones. Jouhoku High School, proud of both its academics and sports, put more work into their school clothes. It wasn't showy but rather, made the student who wore them look more mature and professional.

"What've you got there?" His friend looked curiously at the magazine. After catching a glimpse of the title, he lost interest. "Man, that stuff looks so boring."

"I've bought it since it reminded me of Nagamine. Don't you remember her?" Noboru spoke for the first time.

"Who's that? I don't think I know that person..." The other guy scratched his head, searching his memory to see if the name rung any bells.

"Nagamine? She was in our class until the third year of junior high. She had good grades and was good in sports too. Then, she had to leave because she became a Select Member." Noboru clarified.

"Oh! Now I remember. I don't know her too well. It doesn't matter anyways. That Tarsian stuff doesn't affect me since they're all in space somewhere." His friend dismissed, obviously not concerned at all about his former classmate. "Whatever they do find out there, it shouldn't affect me til much later. I'll give it ten to twenty years... Anyways, I'm going to meet some friends. We're going to go with some girls from my school. Want to come?"

After considering his words, Noboru was not in the mood to be sociable, declining the offer. Watching his friend leave, he felt the seeds of doubt in his confidence to wait for Mikako, wishing that she would message him soon.

- - -

The following week, Noboru saw a boy and girl talking at the gate of his school. The two were having a fun time, smiling and laughing at each other. Reminded of Mikako, he reached for his phone.

Loading...

No new messages have been recieved!

The further Mikako goes from Earth, the more time it takes to exchange mail lenghtens. At least, that's what he told himself.

- - -

A few days later, Noboru checked his inbox again.

Loading...

No new messages have been recieved!

He sighed as he settled at his usual spot on the school rooftop, staring at the blue skies above. Noboru wondered as he watched the clouds pass by, if he became someone who only waits for Mikako's mail...