Chapter 11, The Olive Branch

Fortunately, it was a Friday, so Ariana had no classes that day. She was still tired from her little trip last night. She woke up, still wearing her suit, her helmet sitting on her nightstand. Her Silver Dove suit made perfect pajamas. The doorbell rang. Ariana grabbed a robe to cover her costume, put it on, stumbled downstairs and answered it.

"Yeah we don't want wrapping paper…"

"Miss Roth," said Aya sternly.

Ariana blinked, trying to focus her eyes. She saw those guys from before at her doorway.

"I said no already."

"Really," said Ryu, "Because we've heard otherwise. You've activated your cross-changer."

"I did not."

"I can see your boots," said Aya, as she pulled open Ariana's robe.

"Wow, you're silver!" exclaimed Raita.

"Wasn't it awesome, flying for the first time?" asked Ako.

"No, it was not," said Ariana, awkwardly lying, "I… uh… barfed in the helmet. Uh, okay, how do you get out of this suit?"

"You don't smell like vomit…" said Kaori, politely.

"Press this button, here," said Ryu, as he pressed the button on the cross changer, under her glove.

"So that's where it is…"

Ariana transformed back to her normal clothes, and sighed.

"You can take— "

The Jetman were surprised by a moaning in the kitchen.

A tall, waif-y woman with dreadlocks tied in a ponytail, wearing a long cloth tied around her head rose out of a pile of McDonald's French Fries in the kitchen.

"Whoa, how did all these French Fries get here?" she asked, opening her eyes, which were red and glazed.

"Is that…" Raita sniffed, "McDonald's? I haven't had McDonald's in such a long time!"

"Yeah, you want some, man from Japan?" asked Lilith.

"Sorry guys, I really need this!"

Raita ran to the table and practically inhaled the French Fries.

"Something's wrong with that girl…" said Ryu.

"Oh… My… God!" shouted a girl behind them in the doorway. She was small, moonfaced, and a little chubby, with messy red hair. She was wearing short over-ralls over a Hello Kitty T-Shirt.

"AKO-CHAN!" she screamed, "My name is Justine, I'm your ichi-ban American fan! Kakkoi! You're here for Ariana, right? If she won't join the team, I will! Nihon Ga sukidesu!"

"Aw…" said Ako, "She's precious."

"Would you like to see my collection? I have all your albums, DVDs, even that old ramen that came out—"

"Don't drink it!" shouted Ryu, Kaori, and Aya, nervously.

"What the hell was going on last night?" said a high, scratchy voice behind them.

The girl standing in the doorway behind them looked like she didn't belong with the rest of the housemates. She had long blonde hair, wore a pink blazer with a matching mini-skirt, and high heels, although she was tall enough. Her voice sounded like she had a sore throat.

"I had a friggin midterm, I could not get any sleep!"

"I'm pretty sure you did well, Heather," said Ariana.

"Pssh… I'm pretty sure I nailed it, but you guys- oh my god… is that a Dolce and Gabbana purse? Wait, that purse isn't even out yet!"

"Well," said Kaori, tugging at it, "I have some connections."

"Connections, eh? Ariana, what is this Japanese woman with a Dolce and Gabbana purse doing here?"

"We're here because Ariana needs to join our team," said Aya.

"I'm Kaori Rokumeikan, nice to meet you."

"Kaori Rokumeikan, as in Rokumeikan enterprises?" said Heather, her mouth gaping open, "Your business model is possibly one of the best ones ever. Would you like to talk?"

"Yes, I would actually…"

Heather and Kaori walked into the living room.

"Looks like your friends like my team," said Aya, "They would be pretty upset if you didn't join."

"No, they respect my beliefs."

"Your friend Justine, a self-described 'wapanese' girl, majoring in Japanese studies, although I doubt what she can do with that major. Despite she lives in anime land and you live in give peace a chance land, you have been best friends since grade school. The fact she loves everything and anything Japanese, she has taken quite a shine to Ako, and it looks like Ako finds her eccentricity interesting, much like how you and her have managed to stay friends for so long. And she'd be close to her fantasies. Giant robots, lasers, spandex suits, calculated attacks, and a Japanese idol. Who knows if she would stay friends with you any longer if you let this opportunity slide?

"Although Lilith might not take it as hard. She seems pretty relaxed about the whole thing. I mean, she's always relaxed, considering she smokes illegal cannabis daily, yet she someone manages to pull off a 4.0 grade point average. But your newest housemate might lose all respect for you. Heather, or should I say her birthname, David, doesn't really belong in this er…. earthy house. She would be happier living in a sorority. From a rich Beverly Hills family, she was able to get the extensive plastic surgery from her uncle as soon as she graduated high school. Breast implants, shaved Adam's apple, shortened vocal chords, and that stuff down there. All she wanted was to join a sorority, but after making it into Delta Delta Delta sorority, after rush, her invitation was recinded when it was discovered that she was born a male. That's when you came in, and started a protest against the Delta Delta Delta sorority. It was somewhat newsworthy, although futile, and you offered Heather a room in your house. It's the last place Heather would be, and I doubt she shares some of the same views as you and your friends, but she gladly accepted it. And a chance to meet the CEO of Rokumeikan really sweetens the deal for Heather. And if you refuse to join us and save the world, Heather's not the anti-war freak you are, so of course she would be upset. But not only that, Heather might lose all respect for the girl who stood up for her, despite the fact she did it in order to be politically correct, but eventually discovered that she truly liked the would-be sorority sister. If you refuse to join us, most of your friends will hate you for that."

"Wow, Chokan, that was really expositional," said Ryu.

"Yeah," said Ariana, "if this was a story, or a work or fiction, the readers would be pretty pissed."

"Yes, they would, because you're undermining their abilities."

"Finally, we agree on something!"

"Yes!" Ryu paused, and looked over at Chokan, "I mean, I'm sorry Chokan please forgive me for my momentary insubordinance."

Ariana giggled.

"I may be an expert in military operations, and aviation, but I'm not good with storytelling," admitted Aya, "Wait, did you just agree with Ryu on something?"

"NO!... Yeah…."

Ariana looked at Heather and Kaori, explaining business models and marketing, and which designer made the best suit jacket. They were giggling, happily, and if Kaori found out that Heather wasn't born a woman, her happy expression wouldn't phase. She would shrug it off.

Ariana looked at Raita and Lilith shoving fries in their mouths. They seemed happy. Although Raita might be a little miffed if he found out why Lilith was so hungry.

Lastly, she walked upstairs and saw Justine showing Ako her collection of anime posters, manga volumes, and cosplay outfits.

"Gundam Wing is one of my favorites!"

"I actually sang the theme song to one of the movies…"

"No way! I can't believe I don't know this!"

"You are the cutest thing," Ako laughed.

Ariana laughed to herself.

If the Vyram took over the earth her friends wouldn't be happy. She wouldn't be able to play, dance, eat, study, and smoke with them. And they were so happy with the Jetman. And it seem the Jetman were happy with them.

Ariana walked downstairs.

"I'm joining the team!" she announced.

Everyone gasped. Except for Justine, who ran to the stairs and clapped.

Aya's communicator went off.

"And just in time, coincidently, the Vyram are attacking Japan!"

"Wait, what?"

"Ariana Roth, your duties as a Jetman start now!" said Ryu.

He pulled Ariana by the arm. Outside, a jeep, a black motorcycle, and a blue motorcycle were waiting. Ryu, Kaori, Raita, and Aya jumped in the jeep, and Ako hopped on the blue motorcycle.

"You ride?" asked Ako, motioning to Gai's old Jet Speeder.

"Yeah, is it environmentally friendly?" asked Ariana.

"Yeah!" lied Ako, as she put on her helmet.

Ariana sat on the motorcycle, and put on the helmet that was on the handles, sliding down the visor to cover her face.

"To LAX!" shouted Aya, as they road off.

"Come on, let's go to LAX," said Justine.

"Wait, what?" asked Lilith.

"Come on, wouldn't it be awesome to watch a giant robot fight?"

"Wait, giant robot, yeah, I'm totally in!"

"Uh-uh," said Heather, "There is no way you guys are going to sneak aboard a plane to go to Japan and watch a giant robot fight."

Justine and Lilith got into Lilith's big old Volkswagon Van.

"Fine, not without me. Just so you two don't get killed or make an ass out of yourselves or anything…"

Heather sighed and hopped in the backseat of the van.

"At least it's Friday," she said to herself, knowing if she got jet lag from going to Japan, she would be able to get over it, hopefully.

"Be sure to keep a few miles behind them, I don't want them to get suspicious or anything," instructed Justine, happily, like a girl going to Disneyland.