Chapter Ten
Beta Posted 08/01/2007
Author's Note
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The end is near! I expect two or three more chapters till this fanfiction is finished. I acquired the services of one Beta reader but he might be inactive for a while. More won't hurt so if you're interested, contact me. Anyways, this chapter was a bit tough for me since the anime and manga had different versions and both were really good. I tried blending them together so you'll see how that worked. I think that toward the end, it came out a bit confusing and poorly done. I'm pretty sure that the next chapter will be of better quality and that this one will have to be completely redone later, choosing either the manga or anime but not both. If any of you want more information about Hoshi no Koe [Voices of a Distant Star or wish to watch/read/edit it, please feel free to contact me.
- Free Corp Knight -
- - - - - - - - - -
- Chapter 10 -
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Month: September
Year: 2047
"As you already know, our fleet will stop at Agharta, the fourth planet of the Sirius system. Due to the recent hyperspace jump, further lightspeed travel is impossible until the engines recover. Our job is to thoroughly investigate the planet's surface for Tarsians. We don't want any surprises appearing and interfering with repairs." Miwa paused, making sure everyone was paying attention. "We've known for a century that Sirius had a planetary system, and Agharta was judged the most likely to support life. We'll be the first humans to see if that's true with our very own eyes."
"I wish you all the best of luck. We've been through some tough times, but this seems like the last stop before heading back home... to Earth." She looked everyone in the eye. Her gaze lingered on Mikako longer than others. Of all the gathered men and women, she sympathized with her the most.
"I truly hope that we find nothing and make our way back safely. I'm proud... to have known you all and it's been an honor to be your commander. I hope... no. I know..." Miwa corrected herself. "I know that we'll come home... together... all of us..."
"So please... be careful." Miwa finished. Composing herself, the commander snapped a salute, a rare moment when she followed protocol. "Dismissed!"
- - -
Minutes later, Mikako was in her Tracer and slowly launched from the Lysithea. Her eyes, closed at first, opened and stared blankly at her surroundings.
The alternating blue magnetic coils and dark gray walls soon vanished. She was now in space, drifting toward the planet before her. Immediately, Agharta's gravity pulled but Mikako didn't care. She drew closer and closer until her screens glowed orange, making contact with the atmosphere. The other Tracers around her followed suit, their forms turning red then white as they plummeted downwards.
From a distance, they looked like shooting stars.
- - -
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed in the forest, startling the resident wildlife. Birds took flight and deer with huge ornate antlers stared at them before fleeing. One robotic head turned, tracking one as it darted away. Even though three days passed after the first team landed on Agharta, the experience was surreal. The planet had skies, clouds, and seas very similar to Earth but as Mikako observed, they were completely different.
Attention to all exploration squadrons, one through twelve. Currently, no evidence of Tarsian presence have been found in this area. All units are to continue their investigation in the next region.
Mikako briefly acknowledged the call and boosted upwards. Four other tracers copied her action and the small formation flew toward the setting sun.
Just a few more days... and they could go home.
- - -
The next day, Mikako's Tracer explored alone amidst a hilly plain. The grass had to be two meters tall, but her robot had no problems walking through it, leaving a trail of footprints as she continued the search for Tarsians. Cresting a hill, she stopped and activated her sensors. While they scanned the area, Mikako watched as some dark clouds moved overhead.
No Tarsians have been detected in the vicinity. Please continue to a new location for further observation.
She kept looking at the sky, paying little attention to the results. As more clouds gathered around, Mikako watched as the heavens opened, a light drizzle quickly turning into a hard downpour.
"Wow..." She awed, her hands stretched upwards. "I want to be outside. I want to feel the rain on my skin..."
While she watched the sheets of water come down, memories of her time on Earth resurfaced. Her face fell as she remembered her last moments.
"I wish... I could go to the convenience store and buy ice cream..." The girl whimpered, curling up in her seat. Pulling out her cell phone, she felt a strong urge to talk to him, to let him know about her true feelings. Somehow, she felt as though this was her last chance. "And then..."
"I'll see Noboru again..." Mikako finished as she began a new message.
To: Noboru Terao
From: Mikako Nagamine
Topic: I am here
Hello Noboru, who is 25 years old. This is the 16 year old
Mikako. Say, even now... Noboru, I really, really like you,
you know. I'm sorry that this takes so long to get to you...
Pressing the send button, she prayed. "Please get there..."
At that moment, someone reached out and touched her, a cooling sensation at her forehead. Looking up, she saw a person floating in front of her. It was a female dressed in a simple gray drab dress, a silver band gracing her ring finger. However, most entrancing detail was that... "Me?"
It was her.
- - -
"Say... You came really far, didn't you?" Her other self asked. "To be an adult, pain is necessary but you'll be able to go much, much farther... even to other galaxies and universes." It said, sweeping its arm as if presenting all the possibilities. Then she smiled and extended her hand. "So please come with me, okay? I'll like to entrust it to you."
"But all I want is to be Noboru again." Mikako cried. If she looked past her tears, she would have found herself in an abandoned classroom. How she got there from the Tracer would be a mystery never to be solved.
Meanwhile, the other Mikako looked at her compassionately before changing, its form taking on a different shape. Once finished, it called out to her in a familiar voice. "Mikako!"
The young pilot looked up to see a boy standing at the door. She couldn't believe her eyes. "Noboru?"
Was this a dream?
- - -
Instantly, Mikako got up and ran to him. She hugged him with all her might, hoping that he was really there. She felt his arms wrap around her.
All I want...
Later, the two found themselves riding down a slope, both on the same bike. Mikako was embracing him from behind, her head resting between his shoulders.
Is to be with him again...
The two shared a smile.
So I can tell him...
Noboru stopped the bike near some train tracks. Mikako watched curiously as he walked to the other side and stopped.
That I love him.
To her shock, his form quickly grew transparent. Mikako made a move forward but stopped. Warning bells rang and the wooden barriers fell down in place, effectively blocking her path. Blinking once, Noboru disappeared and in his place, the alternate version of herself reappeared. She gave a friendly wave. "It will be alright. You'll see him again."
Mikako wanted to ask how and why but the train arrived, its linked cars keeping the other person from view. Once the last boxcar passed, Mikako stood in shock.
No one was on the other side.
- - -
All of the sudden, she was brought back to her Tracer cockpit, the last scene becoming just a memory. "What happened?" She wondered before seeing a Tarsian before her. Reacting instinctively, she brought her gun up. Her sudden motion disturbed some birds. They flew between her target only to rest on its shoulders. Looking more closely, she realized that the Tarsian in front of her wasn't alive. It was just a stone statue.
Bleep!
Without warning, all the systems went online, switching from recon to combat. She briefly looked away to check her controls. However, during that short period of time, the petrified Tarsian managed to disappear. "It's gone?"
Attention! Presence of Tarsians confirmed. All units, head out to the assembly point. Repeat. All units, head out to the assembly point.
There was no time to think as the urgent order was issued. Flying upwards, Mikako had one thought in mind. "It looks like Agharta's the last stop for the fleet."
- - -
No matter how much time and space separates me and Noboru...
"I don't want anything bad to happen..." Mikako told herself. "But if we do find something, then this mission's complete and we can go home... back to Earth." Just as she said that, her Tracer came across an interesting sight.
I just...
Landing on the ground, she looked around observing the familiar odd-shaped structures. "Wow... it's just like the Tarsian ruins on Mars!"
I just want...
Tarsians are existing everywhere on Agharta! Their block exists in orbit and are approaching us.
This was the discovery that the fleet wanted. Now their mission was complete. They could go home now.
I just want... to tell him...
Multiple Tarsians detected! Encountering combat. Engage the enemy immediately! All units please engage!"
Beep! Beep! Be-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-eep! Her sensors cried out before her location exploded in flames and smoke. A blue bolt had struck from above.
That I love him...
Mikako landed on a nearby cliff. Her face was downcast and tears flowed freely. Frustrated by the turn for the worst, she screamed out in her cockpit. "I don't understand!"
Noboru... I love you...