Chapter 10: A Bit Of Peace And Quiet

After a brief celebration over their victory, the party of Topaz, Shion, KOS-MOS, chaos, Ziggy, and MOMO decided to head back to the bridge and check in on Matthews and the rest of the Elsa crew. As they approached the bridge, they could hear some shouting coming from the other side of the door.

"Er... We're back, you guys..." Topaz weakly said as she came in with the others.

When chaos saw Tony and Hammer look like they were nearly about to kill each other, he asked, "Hmm? What's going on...?"

"Huh? Nothin'. It's nothin'. Good work, all of ya," Matthews said to the group. He then took notice of MOMO and Ziggy, then asked, "Who're these two? The ones that were on the ship?"

chaos answered, "Yes. She's MOMO and he's Ziggy. It would seem that they're both with the Federation government."

After Ziggy and MOMO took turns thanking Matthews and personally introducing themselves, chaos told the Captain that the two were being held by the U-TIC Organization. Matthews got quite angry and murmured to himself about how he thought that he would never have to hear their name again. Hammer asked the Captain about what U-TIC was, only to be told that it wasn't anything he need concern himself with, and stop wasting time to plot their course. After being teased by Tony, Hammer went back to his seat and gave harsh orders to Allen to clean up the stuff from the panels. Allen meekly told Hammer to not take his anger out on him and got to work.

A brief time after the 'skirmish' on the bridge, the rather large group headed over to the Elsa diner to get some food. Everybody was, for the most part, in little cliques. Matthews and Hammer ate together, and Shion sat with a very depressed Allen, while Topaz ate with chaos and Tony. MOMO and Ziggy kept to themselves, unless spoken to first, of course. KOS-MOS was serving everybody, since she didn't need to eat.

Topaz had a brief conversation with Tony and chaos over the previous turn of events. Tony told Ziggy that he had some 'pretty sweet moves... for an old man'. Ziggy leaned back so Tony could give credit to whom deserved it. Upon learning that MOMO was the one responsible for such impressive piloting skills, a shocked Tony made a remark about 'kids these days'. No way! That's amazing! This kid just might be my competition for best piloting ability. I'm gonna have to challenge her to a race sometime, to see who's the best! Topaz thought to herself with a grin.

Tony left shortly afterwards, apparently after receiving a body blow to his pride. Shion then sat with the Cyborg and the Realian to chat with MOMO about her piloting, when she noticed the insignia on the little girl's uniform. Topaz caught this, as well, warranting a discussion between the three.

"Hey, MOMO. That insignia on your uniform..." Shion said.

"Um... yes?" The Realian asked.

Topaz suddenly blurted out, "Oh! Are you from the Mizrahi Lab?" This received a brief, nearly unaudible gasp from MOMO.

MOMO responded, "Mm-Hm. I'm a 100 - I, I'm an Observational Realian."

"Oh, that's alright. If you're worried about government secrets, KOS-MOS is one, too. So, you're a 100 series Observational Realian from the Mizrahi Lab, right?" Shion asked, but before MOMO could answer, Topaz added in one more question.

"Say... you wouldn't happen to be a Hilbert-equipped model, would ya?" Topaz asked the Realian, who then gave a brief nod to confirm both the questions from both Shion and Topaz.

Shion stated, "KOS-MOS is also equipped with it. The Hilbert Effect. Ours is a Vector original, though."

MOMO asked, with sudden curiosity, "Oh! You're with Vector Industries?"

"That's right! See Allen over there? He is, too," Shion replied. Allen simply mumbled in response.

"By the way, where are the two of you headed? We could probably get you there for a small fee if it isn't all that far out of the way... Right, Captain?" chaos asked.

"Of course. I mean, we are in the transport business, after all," responded Matthews.

MOMO asked Matthews, "Transport...? Oh! Then could you take us to Second Milt... I mean, would you take us to the Second Miltian star system, please?"

"You guys are headed for Second Miltia, too?" Topaz asked MOMO.

"What do you mean by that?" Ziggy asked Topaz.

Topaz responded, "Huh? Oh, it's just a coincidence, I guess. That's where Shion and Allen are headed, 'cuz some new equipment for KOS-MOS is located there."

chaos answered, "Well, that's lucky for you guys. It'll actually end up costing less if everybody's going the same way."

Shion hesitantly said, "Well... I guess that's right... What about you, Topaz? I didn't know you were headed for Second Miltia, too."

"Er... I'm not going to Second Milita... I'm heading Fifth Jerusalem. I, I'll go fix up my AGWS soon, I promise! I should think I've been a burden for long enough," answered Topaz weakly.

"Hey, don't worry about it, Topaz. You can stay here as long as you want; we'll take you back to Fifth Jerusalem. That is, if you can pay us once we get there!" Matthews said, with a small chuckle.

"Really?! So I don't gotta go now? That's awesome! Thanks, man!" Topaz shouted with a grin.

Once the discussion about who was going where ended, Matthews decided that the Elsa needed to stop at a nearby dock colony to get some repairs done. In the meantime, Shion and Topaz were to take Ziggy and MOMO on a tour of the ship.