Chapter 9 A Time of Cheer
Another day on the nirvana began and today was a very special day. Nix was on his bed relaxing when."Come come on, don't drop it" said a voice. Nix got up and peered out his cell to see some of the nirvana crew members carrying a huge tree. "Hmm what this, a tree on a space ship?"He thought. Puzzled by this Nix proceed to follow the crew members until they reached the bridge. "Oh I see" he smiled as he gazed at the bridge.
The female crew members were cheering as they placed Christmas decorations everywhere. Not a single inch of the bridge or the garden section below was left untouched by the Christmas spirit. Well all expect for one person. "Not one for festive atmosphere leader" said Nix walking over to Meia who was watching in annoyance.
"Just because it's a time of cheer, does not mean the enemy will not attack" she said as Nix stood beside her. "Yes you are right leader" Nix said crossing his arms. Meia seemed happy at his answer, at least someone on this ship cared. "However" said Nix smiling at her. Meia looked at Nix again.
"Such a festive atmosphere really does do the old morale good" he said with a smile. Meia just sighed at him."Your all the same" she said coldly walking off. But Nix just kept on smiling as he stood there, watching the ship become more and more like a Santa's grotto.
Meanwhile on the top deck of the bridge the other men looked around astounded about what was happening.
"They said it was some kind of celebration, but the only kind of celebration we had on Tarak isn't what I would call enjoyable" said Bart remembering the hard times. "Interesting and so beautiful"said Duelo looking at the sparkling lights and tall Christmas tree. Hibiki sighed, he really did not like the sound of this festival.
It was then Nix went up to them. "Good morning, how are we all enjoying Christmas?" he smiled. "Ur well" the men really did not know what to say. "You troops do know that it's only polite to give someone special a present today" Nix said still looking at the lights above him.
"What!" said Burt shock at the idea but then he reconsidered. "Well in that case" he thought and he left. "I suppose I must leave as well " said nix looking at the watch he got from the missionary. I must see miss Gasocongne for the parts I need" Nix said walking back down to the lower bridge.
As nix made his way to the Reg block,Nix saw Meia going into the training room. "She's certainly determined" thought Nix as he walked on.
In Reg block the walls were covered with tinsels and brightly coloured lights. "Well look who's turn up girls" said Gascongne looking over at Nix from her desk as he entered. "Welcome Mr dark heart" said the girls happily.
"Merry Christmas to you all" said Nix smiling. "Merry Christmas to you too" said the girls back smiling. Gascongne smiled as Nix walked over to her desk.
"So what can the Reg block do for you today dark heart?" she said with a grin. "I need some scarp metal if you have any please" said Nix. Gascongne looked at him. Nix looked back at her.
"Well" she said waiting. Nix sighed then gave a huge smile. "Ah now that what I like, come on through" Gascongne said getting up. "I really do hate smiling his much" through Nix as he rubbed his cheeks.
Meanwhile in the garden area, Duelo was watching Parfet and her assistant work on some cone shaped machines. "So these machines make snow?" said Duelo having no idea what snow was.
"Yes it's my present to the crew, you can't have the parade without it" she smiled as her assiant passed her a spanner.
"Tell me parfet, what is this snow?" asked Duelo interested. Parfet looked at him astonished. "You don't know what snow is? Well it like magic" she said and with this she began to describe snow.
"Well I hope that enough for ya" said Gascongne handing Nix an arm full of metal. " Its perfect, thank you miss Gascongne" said Nix bowing. "My pleasure dark heart" she smiled. Nix said his farewell and made his way back to his cell.
As he sat down on his bed he noticed Duelo walking past his cell carrying a canvas with some paint. "Going somewhere Doc? said Nix setting down his metal on the cell floor. Duelo walked back to see Nix with all his metal on the floor.
"To work" said Duelo in his cool manner. Nix smiled. "Good luck then doc" he said with a smile. "Thank you" said Duelo walking on.
Finally the two got to work, Duelo began his painting while Nix began to craft the metal into a shape. They both worked hard but soon Nix ran into trouble. "Dam I left my spanner in my van-defender" he said slowly getting up and making his way to the hanger.
As he arrived he saw Gascongne talking to Meia. They seemed to get along but when Meia noticed Nix she left in her dread. "All work and no play" said Nix walking past Gascongne in a dread. "Tell me about it dark heart, tell me about it" she said.
Gascongne sighed heavily when her assistant told her the new chair wouldn't fit in the dreads cockpit. "All right,let me see" said Gascongne grabbing the chair from her assistant. Nix retrieved his spanner from his van-defenders storage space in its right arm and he also retuned to work.
All the while Hibiki was on the hunt for a gift for Dita. "Stupid Christmas,stupid presents" he moaned as he walked onto the bridge. BC was trying to analysing a ice covered comet flying near the ship. But she was having no luck.
"How long time does it take to get a report" she sighed as Hibiki walked past her. "Whoa now that's a comet" he said looking at the ice cover comet out the bridge's window. "Yes. I just wish I could get a report on it" said BC looking around for anyone who wasn't so busy with decorations.
Just then it hit Hibiki. "Gotta go" he said as he dashed off to his vanguard. Meanwhile in his cell Nix was busy working on his gift. When "hello dark heart" said a voice.
Nix looked beside him to see the small Paiway looking at him with her child like eyes. "What can I do for you miss Paiway?" asked Nix busily working. "I was just wondering what you were making" she asked looking at Nix's almost finished gift. "It's a statue miss Paiway" said Nix watching as she crept closer. Leaning her head on his shoulder paiway watched nix work until.
"I want one!"she said as nix glanced at her a second then returned his vision to his work. "Perhaps another time miss Paiway" said Nix finally finishing his gift. "If you don't give me one, I tell everyone your being mean to me" she said with an evil grin.
Nix laughed at this. He enjoyed her childish threats. "All right miss Paiway i'll make you one, on one term" he said looking at her.
She looked at him with a stern face. "You must keep away from the training room after midnight" he said looking at her. Paiway thought about the offer then said. "Sure. Its not like anything happens in there anyway". So with paiway's word, nix began to make Paiway her statue.
Meanwhile on the nirvana giant video screens appeared above the bridge as well as throughout the ship playing a video of a small family enjoying their Christmas together. At first it was a woman holding an infant with a little girl sitting next to her on a brown sofa. Then after a few seconds a man walked over and sat next to them. They seemed happy together which shocked almost everyone on the Nirvana.
But from his cell Nix heard some crew members talking about what they had seen on the video. "Sounds like a Christmas back home" he thought working on Paiway's statue.
It took a long time, but finally Nix finished her statue.
"Its me" Paiway said an amazed paiway as Nix gave her the finished statue. It was of her holding her frog puppet. "I'm glad you like it miss Paiway, now I must be off" said Nix grabbing his gift and running off towards the parade.
Nix listened as he ran the count down had begun and he was going to miss his chance.
"Zero" shouted the crew and with that the captain and Gascoigne began throwing presents randomly to each member of the crew. However seeing a bright flash of light outside everyone turned their attention to the comet out in space. Just then it exploded scattering ice across space making it look like it was snowing outside the ship. The entire crew was in awe at it's beauty.
Yet even with it's beauty Parfet was still sad. "Aw I thought I had it" she said standing back from the broken snow machine, only to bump into Duelo. "I hope this isn't a bad time, but I have this for you" he said handing her a portrait of falling snow.
"I imaged the snow as blood in the body and from what you told me I painted this" he said seeming nervous. Parfet justed smiled and hugged him. "I love it" she whispered. Suddenly the snow machines began working. They all watched as the machine threw snow out.
Meanwhile in the hanger Hibiki had just returned and seem tired. "There you are Mr alien" said Dita running up to him cheerfully. "Here" Hibiki groaned holding his hand out to her. "Most of it melted away already" he said in a regretful tone as he lay back down feeling tired.
From his hand hand Dita took the small piece of ice and watched as it melted away leaving the seed that was frozen inside. "Huh? Oh wow" she gasped as the seed quickly bloomed into a yellow flower that glistened in the light. "It's so pretty, thank you" she said gently closing her hand around it and holding it to her chest.
She was about to say more but Hibiki fell asleep. So she put his present on his chest and left. But she was not the only girl on the ship receiving a surprise gift.
As Meia walked into the training room again a figure was already there waiting for her. "Merry Christmas leader" it said holding a bright blue box out to her.
"Dark Heart" she said shocke, flipping on the light to see the man sitting on her desk. "I'm not one for presents" she said coldly as he dropped it into her hands. Nix smiled at her comment. "That's fine, consider it my thanks for being a good leader" he said walking out.
Meia watched him leave then put the present down on her desk. However as she worked she couldn't get it out for her mind. She looked at it, then at the door then back at the present.
Finally she gave in and opened it. "Ah" she gasped taking her gift out the box. "It's my dread" she said amazed. Nix had made her a model of her dread, all to perfection, the colours, the shape.
She looked at it from all angles."The detail is amazing" she said looking over the statue. "But why would he do this?" she thought about it. But then she smiled.
Perhaps it was the kindness Nix had shown her, or perhaps her head had finally lost a battle with her heart. But for once Meia smiled as she held the gift close to her heart whispering.
"Merry Christmas Nix"
