A/N: Haha...it's been quite a while... Many apologies to those who prompted an update but got it only now. I'm telling 'ya, school is literally eating away at my time!

Anyway...this chap turned out pretty (very) short. I decided to chop up a rather long chapter to make two, though the other one got the lion's share. Meaning it's longer than this one. But it's still pretty unfinished as of late...

...and I'm getting ahead of everything else. Hm...shout outs!

>Iketani – Uh, this update wasn't as "soon" as it might've been. :-) I'm glad you're enjoying the story thus far...that's what gives authors the drive to continue; that other people like their work. Many thanks for the review:-)

>Godzilla2 – Thanks yet again:-) I'm really sorry for the delay in updating...and that this chapter is even shorter than the previous one. Haha...though I'll try to have next one up sooner than...well...sooner. :-) Thanks again!

>Raven – Yeah, I'll be keeping this up and updating until it's finished. When that will be...I'm not also very sure. :-) Thanks for the inspiring review:-)

>Gojiro17 – wow! Your rev conveyed a lot of urgency...sorry if this update wasn't as early. Anyways, lots of thanks for it:-) I'll really try to update more often. :-)

>azure – haha...nice suggestion:-) Yea, he will also be able to combine like Hibiki's Vanguard...but with different results. :-) Dunno exactly how yet, but I'll get there eventually. Thanks for the review:-)

>anonymous – Hmmm...when's the next update? Uh...now. :-) And the next? Hm...that I can't really answer...it would depend on how hard they work us at school; hopefully before September. :-) Thanks lots for the review!

Whew! Again, many thanks to everyone reading and reviewing...and I guess that's it for now. Enjoy the continuation! Hopefully the next part will be done before the month's end, but I'm not making any promises. :-)

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CHAPTER 9

Assimilation

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'Akira...'

Am I dreaming?

'...Jai...'

What is this?

There was nothing...only total darkness...an empty void...and the voices...

'...yours is the knowledge of the past...'

If I'm here in the future, then that would make sense.

'...and yours is the understanding of the present...'

How can I understand the present? If what they told me was all true, even knowing it now, I can't really comprehend exactly how and why! What's more, you're not really even helping!

'...the ability to comprehend...to make sense...'

You're not listening! Very little makes sense! And what the heck am I supposed to do now!

'...all will come in time...'

Again...in time...I thought you'd say that...

He sighed mentally.

Well, no sense in getting all uptight now...these are things out of my control. Should just try to make the most of things...

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Jai stretched out before even opening his eyes upon waking from a surprisingly restful sleep. Not feeling his alarm clock where it should be, he ventured to take in visual information.

He sat up as fast as his eyes shot open. 'Where the hell am I...?'

'...oh, yeah...' he thought as recent events presented themselves in his memory. 'Now it's really surprising how I could forget something as strange as this...'

He got up immediately, and, only after a shower and change of clothes, noticed something blinking on what seemed to be a computer terminal beside the doorway.

"Hmmm...'one message'," he read from the screen. Pushing a button, some text replaced the menu display. "Let's see...'Jai, Meia probably forgot to...or maybe just didn't...mention yesterday, but you're free to roam the ship on your own. You've become pretty popular around here, and I doubt anyone would do anything rude, especially after what occurred yesterday. What I can say is that the Boss can personally guarantee it, so don't worry one bit. But also don't, DON'T get into trouble, or else. Oh, and most of all, enjoy! Parfet.'

'P.s. – This is just between you an' me, (well, and Meia also) but Meia didn't want to send the message herself, so I sent it for her. She also says hi! '"

"That's, uh, nice of them..." Jai said, scratching his head.

He then opened the door. Tentatively, he looked in both directions before stepping out. Suffice to say, being alone made things more difficult...he was more nervous about his mere presence there, for example.

While wandering the corridors and looking around aimlessly, he came across a few crew members. Expecting them to give him baffled or warning looks, he was partly taken aback when they all smiled instead. They all seemed genuine enough, though a little nervous...or hesitant...maybe what Parfet mentioned earlier was true after all. He wondered if he was the only one asleep through the whole announcement or something.

"Uh...hello..." he said, smiling back warmly.

One of the braver ones greeted back. "Hey there. Where are you off to?"

"Nowhere in particular...though now that I think of it, I am rather hungry..."

She then proceeded to give him directions to the cafeteria.

"My gratitude, miss," Jai said afterwards, giving a slight bow. The group whispered a little among themselves.

"So, uh..." one of them stammered, "...it's really true that you're not a Tarak?"

"Well, I really didn't know what Tarak was until yesterday..."

"And you're really from the past?"

"If all that's happened to me recently was all true, then yeah. Even I should say so myself."

"We all heard your music on the PA system yesterday as well. I think it's really nice."

"Thank you very much. That was my favorite piece; though I think it wasn't all that hard to learn."

After a few more minutes of chatter, they mentioned about already being late for something, and then walked on, waving goodbye and smiling more confidently.

Already, Jai was feeling more reassured. 'Well...I guess that I'm not gonna be arrested or anything for loitering, then...now where was the cafeteria again...? Oh yeah, this way...'

Following the instructions, he came upon what looked more like a small canteen. It wasn't anything fancy; the place retained the overall look of the rest of the ship, aside from having a...calmer...air about it.

A person at his right greeted him as he stepped in. "Hey there, new guy! What brings you here?"

He turned, and was met by one of the pirate officers. "Uh, hello...um...Gascogne, right?" he replied, correctly pronouncing the name. "Actually, I was just looking for something to eat..."

She laughed. "You've got a good memory, you know...or maybe you're just too nice. Most of the others here call me 'Gasco'. It's maddening to hell, I tell you!"

Jai chuckled, remembering Pai's comment the previous night...or whenever that time was. "Maybe I should also start calling you 'Gasco', then."

"Don't push it, kid."

"Hey! I'm no kid, you know. I'm already twenty-three!" Jai replied in mock irritation.

Gascogne sounded only a bit surprised. "That so? Then you're a bit older than most of the others here. But we're still all kids, really..."

"I'm even older than you?"

"Guess."

Jai adjusted his glasses. "I'd saaaaay...thirty?"

She laughed again, her reaction now showing more amazement. "Maybe your intuition is as good as your fighting skill; you're short only two years. Hey, how're you at cards?"

"Sorry, I don't gamble; I prefer having a wallet with something in it...not that it'd have much use now. Besides, I've never gotten the urge to gamble anyway..."

It was her turn to feign annoyance. She snapped her fingers. "Darn...never thought of even trying it once? Hah, you don't know what you're missing, kid."

"As a matter of fact, I do...it's something called food," Jai said just as his stomach rumbled audibly.

They both laughed.

"Hey, today's special over here! This guy hasn't eaten in two thousand years!" Gascogne shouted to some personnel behind the counter. She then flashed him a thumbs-up sign. "You're okay, kid. I really know the others will get used to you too in no time."

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"You'll be staying here," Barnette said flatly.

"Well, well..." Hibiki sneered as he looked around their new living quarters. While not really luxurious, it was enough for them not to be considered 'captives' or 'prisoners'. Bunker-beds which were more comfortable-looking than those in the prison cells and minimal furnishings were present inside. "It would seem the Mejale aren't all that high and mighty after all..."

He found himself staring down the nose of Barnette's gun.

"One more comment like that and I swear..."

She was interrupted by the sub-commander. "Barnette, calm down. We will not kill these men."

"HA!" Hibiki snorted, though a bit shakily. "Don't look down on me! I could kick you all farther than the next moon!"

B.C. simply continued. "Though we can knock them out..." she said as she lobbed a small sphere at the arrogant Tarak.

"Huh?" Before Hibiki could properly react, the ball exploded right in front of his face. A small cloud of gray gas spread just around him.

"Wha...what...I'm..."

He collapsed in a heap on the floor.

"ZZZZzzzzz"

Duero simply watched the scene. "Sleeping gas?"

"Yes, though not a very effective one. He should be up in an hour or so...the effects are immediate, but don't last very long," B.C. replied.

The doctor shrugged. "Thanks all the same. He was beginning to get irritating again."

The sub-commander just nodded as she and Barnette left.

Bart stared nervously at Duero. "You're kinda scary sometimes, you know?"