Blitz and the rest of the group had returned to headquarters, where the new Reploid was being analyzed. Although she had been invited to help with the test, Blitz had solemnly refused, retreating to her private quarters, where she remained in something of a trance, staring blankly at the wall opposite her.
A knock on the door didn't rouse her from the peaceful stupor she was in, but Blitz called out. "Come on in Telith."
Stepping in, the blonde closed the door behind her and sighed. She carried several books in her arms. "You always know it's me, don't you?"
Smiling, Blitz nodded. "Sure do."
Sitting next to her friend, Telith spoke. "Look, if we're alone can I call you by your real name?"
"Fine."
"Good…." Casting a glance at her friend,
the blonde tentatively brought up a dangerous subject. "BC…do you
think that's…?
"No doubt about it. That's Star."
"So you think…?"
"It's entirely possible that the others are awake and are trying to find their way into some sort of Maverick Hunters unit, yes."
Both girls were silent before the blonde shifted uncomfortably.
"You know…we never talk about the past any more."
"What's there to talk about?"
"BLITZ CHICK! You know perfectly well what I'm talking about!" The blonde slammed down one of the books to emphasize her point.
"What's the point Hannah!" Blitz Chick finally turned to face her friend. "It's been a hundred years since I saw him! He's gone!" A few tears glistened in her eyes.
Calming down, Hannah laid a hand on her friend's shoulder. "You miss him…don't you?"
Shaking her head, BC sighed. "He made me feel so…special. I don't know how else to put it. But neither of us wanted to get hurt…so we never took it farther than friends."
Sliding a book towards BC, Hannah's pale blue eyes sought Blitz Chick's deep blue ones. "Maybe it's time to stop running from the past and start looking it in the eyes."
Opening a book, Blitz Chick swallowed hard as it listed names of military officers. Glancing quickly at Hannah, she flipped through until she found the page she was looking for. The picture was a portrait of a man with light brown hair with a slight curl in it. His eyes were a chocolate brown color and seemed a bit mischievous.
Scanning the paragraph, Blitz Chick frowned. "Says he got in easily enough…he was a captain… but…" She blinked a few times. "Hannah, am I reading that right?"
Hannah nodded. "You are. It says he went missing in November."
Looking up in disbelief, the brunette felt the weight of realization slam into her. "Three months after we went to the future…my God… you don't think he…?"
The curly haired blonde shrugged. "It's totally possible that he made it. I mean, he was smart enough to figure it out on his own."
Blitz Chick leaned against the side of her bed, completely bewildered. Finally she looked at the other books. "What are those?"
Smiling softly, Hannah opened them. "I made these myself…It's all our friends…what happened to them after we left."
Putting the book between them, Blitz began to read.
"Shlee…went on to be a great novelist…"
"Coulda seen that one coming."
"Josh-sama was a great manga artist and story writer…that's good. He was always good at that."
"Yeah…we should see if we can find some of his manga."
"Yeah…look, Tony DID become a priest! I knew it!"
"You said he was going to become one, right BC?"
"I know, it just feels nice to be right. Oh, look! Courtney-senpai became one of the greatest manga and anime artists ever! I always knew she'd be the next Miazaki…"
Both girls were silent, thinking about the friends that they had left behind and what they had become.
"BC…we've really changed, haven't we?"
"Yes…I wonder if anyone would recognize us now…"
"Didn't we promise to never change? Right before we went into hibernation, we promised."
"I remember…"
"…There's still time to make good on that promise BC."
Blue eyes met.
"We'll do it together. You and me, Hannah!"
Grasping BC's hand in a firm grip, Hannah smiled, eyes sparkling. "You bet."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, the ending is a little abrupt, but the message is true. My senior friends are graduating, and this chapter is dedicated solely to them. If you are reading this, thank you for everything you've shown me and all you've done for me. I cannot thank you enough. Good luck out there in the world and I hope you never forget those of us who will forever look up to you.
