Eureka Seven: Blank Pages Chapter 14, an eureka seven fanfic

Eureka Seven: Blank Pages

Fan Fiction by Dan

Chapter Fourteen

Naomi Taisa

Holland awoke with a start.

Coming out of a deep sleep, he leaned up out of bed. Blinking his sky blue eyes a couple of times, getting his bearings, he looked around his quarters thinking…That was a really weird dream… He reached up running his hand through his unruly mane of gray hair.

Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and stretched. "Ah man, I was killing it though," He said out loud.

Smacking his lips a couple of times he brought his hand up covering his mouth and yawned. "Brrrr…its freaking freezing in here," Shivering, his bare shoulders shaking from the cold, he threw the warm winter-weight covers off. Wearing nothing but a pair of yellow boxers he jumped out of bed running over turning the heat on, then rubbing his arms with his hands, teeth chattering, ran jumping back into bed bringing the blankets up covering his head.

One eye peaking out from under the covers he looked at his alarm clock sitting on the nightstand and checked the time.

0552.

Letting out another yawn he thought…Just a few more minutes and the room will be warm enough to get around.

Curling up underneath the warm blankets, recalling the dream he mumbled… "I could've sworn I heard Lieutenant Yuki yelling at me to get my ass to work."…

…as he slowly.

…drifted.

…back.

…to sleep.

…beep…Beep…BEEP…BEEP…

Both eyes snapped open.

0745.

"Crap!" He exclaimed a he stood up throwing the blankets off onto the floor and bouncing off his bed, reaching over slamming off his alarm clock, shot into the bathroom.

Hopping into the shower he cursed as he turned the knob towards the "H", "I can't believe I slept through my alarm clo…WHAT THE!" Holland suddenly began yelling as ice cold water hit him full in the face.

"Did someone use up all the hot water on the base this morning?" He began ranting as he alternated between getting wet, lathering up and taking several deep breaths, tried to stay under the cold water as long as he could.

"Good…g-g-g-grief…that's c-c-c-old," He said through clenched teeth as he finished rinsing.

Drying off, he quickly brushed his teeth. Looking into the mirror, he rubbed his hand on his chin checking out the beginnings of a goatee.

Leaning back, looking out the bathroom at his clock…

0805.

…and shaking his head said. "Screw it." Rinsing out his mouth, spitting into the sink, he continued. "I'll just shave when I get in."

Throwing on his uniform, boots and grabbing his parka he ran out of his room and bounding down the stairs, out the door of the officers barracks.

'Man…it's just as cold out here," He exclaimed as he put on the Federation issue parka.

Getting into a personally owned vehicle that Chief Taylor had loaned him, praying that the small blue car would start in the cold, Holland turned it over and made the quick trip to where the Combined Special Operations Forces Group Seven, or ComSOGSeven in military speak, were currently calling home on the Bellforest Research Facility grounds.

Parking next to the Assistant Instructors vehicle he noticed that the spot that Marcus normally parked in – the spot reserved for the Commanding Officer – was empty.

Tuning off the ignition, getting out of the loaner vehicle, shutting the door he mumbled as he started walking towards the entrance.

"I guess I'm not the only one running late this morning,"

"That makes two of us, Commander Novak." A female's voice quietly said from behind him.

Holland froze as the smell of some exotic, very expensive perfume filled his nostrils. Slowly turning he found himself gazing into a set of eyes so impossibly green it gave him pause.

Long dark brown hair in a single tightly woven braid hanging off her right shoulder, wearing a black, all leather knee length overcoat, the silver rank insignia of an Information Bureau Officer emblazoned on the epaulets, the grey collar of a United Federation class 'A' dress uniform peeking out from the overcoat, a matching combination cover tucked up under her left arm, regulation prescribed flesh-toned hosiery accentuating her finely toned calves, the morning light reflecting off a pair of highly polished grey pumps, the woman patiently stood there, her head cocked to one side, smiling at him.

"Uh…" He stammered as he slowly looked her up and down wondering where in the world the rather attractive female officer could have come from since, he noted, there wasn't anyone else in the parking lot when he pulled in.

Inclining her head, narrowing her eyes she sternly said. "Aren't you forgetting something…Commander."

Eyes going wide, Holland suddenly realized.

This attractive female officer was a full bird Colonel.

"Ma'am!" He snapped to attention, sharply saluting.

Smiling with her eyes as she put on her combination cover, she returned the salute. "Carry on Commander." Indicating her uniform with a nod she continued saying. "Although I imagine I must look quite the sight. It is quite more impressive than what I was wearing last time we served together,"

Placing her hands in the pockets of the coat, she turned on her heel and looked back down over her left shoulder, the soft black leather conforming to the athletic curves of her body.

Smiling at the stupefied expression on the grey haired S.O.F. Commander she coyly asked. "Don't you think so?"

Holland screwed his face up, felt his cheeks becoming warm…Damn, she definitely makes that uniform look as hot as Lieutenant Yuki does…He rolled his eyes…where did that come from…setting that stray thought aside he focused back on the beauty standing in front of him…but I can't remember her for the life of me.

Nodding his head he replied. "Ma'am, I'm sorry, but I don't recall having ever served with you before."

Feigning hurt in her voice, the female officer said. "Really Commander, you don't remember," Turning she stepped closer to him, the shiny black rim of the cover almost touching his nose, her eyes giving him quick once over the stern tone returning. "Like you don't remember that you need to shave before coming in to work?"

Oh crap…He thought his face turning a bright red.

"Ma'am, I was planning on shaving once…"

"Now now, Commander, don't worry," She said interrupting him. "I know that your former CO would probably excuse you, since he seems to let Captain Edward get away with it more often than not. Besides," She paused and stepped back. "It is rather…"

She furrowed her brows together in a way that for some strange reason Holland found somewhat…familiar.

Finding the right words from all the many pages, she continued saying "Rather…becoming…on you." Looking over his shoulder she asked. "Don't you think so, Jonathan?"

"Be nice now," The Master Instructor quietly said from over Holland's right shoulder.

Damn, where did he come from…Holland quietly mused as Marcus stepped up next to him, the Master Instructor crossing his arms, left hand stroking his chin as he looked her up and down…I didn't even hear the door shut. Wait a second, didn't she just say…Former CO?

"Information Bureau…Nice…" Marcus nodded his head. "… and a Colonel too,"

Turning on her heel, Holland felt his face beginning to turn warm again as the overcoat remolded itself.

"Super Kawai'i, isn't it, Jonathan?" the Female Colonel playfully cooed as she cocked her head inquisitive to the side.

Holland frowned…That's so weird, she's acting just like…Hearing the crunch of snow as someone else stepped up next to him, he turned.

"Good morning, Colonel," Talho said as she snapped to.

Marcus laughed as Talho saluted. "I wouldn't bother Lieutenant,"

"Jonathan, please, where is your sense of decorum?" The Female Officer asked, again feigning hurt in her voice. Returning the salute, she said. "Good morning…Lieutenant?"

"Yuki, Ma'am," Talho smartly replied.

Green eyes widening, the female Colonel smiled. "Lieutenant…Snow?"

Holland noticed as Talho raised and eyebrow, slightly inclined her head, smiled back.

"Hai! Naomi…Taisa."

Mouth agape, hearing as Talho said her name Holland suddenly remembered where he had 'served' with the tall, attractive female Colonel.

Recalling as he had quietly sat in the Master Instructor's LFO, the TypeALPHA, watching as Marcus and the Sage Councilwoman Koda's First Attendant had had to coax Eureka out of the Nirvash during the atmospheric flight, remembering the feeling…She took 'My' hand…the S.O.F. Commander slowly balled up his right hand.

Genuinely surprised, the First Attendant looked between the I.B. Officer and the Master Instructor. "Sugoi, Yuki Sho-i," Crossing her arms across her chest, narrowing her eyes she said to Marcus. "Jonathan, you never told me that you have been teaching your I.B. Officer Nihon?"

Marcus shook his head. "It hasn't been me teaching her,"

Holland narrowed his sky blue eyes as Naomi's mouth turned down in an all to recognizable frown.

"Ah, Sokka…So how has your…" The First Attendant paused, pages turning. "…Fiancé…been doing?"

Hearing as the First Attendant placed a harder emphasis on one of the words, Holland glanced over at Talho who, also picking up on the verbal clue turned her head slightly, looked up at him, then cut her eyes back towards Naomi.

Marcus glanced down at the snow covered ground, back up. "Busy. But you already know that, don't you?"

Inclining her head towards him, the beginnings of a smile touching her full lips, Naomi replied. "Perhaps…Perhaps we should discuss Sensei Hayase's…activities at a later time?"

Holland raised an eyebrow of his own as the Master Instructor slightly shifted his weight. Catching his non-verbal clue and watching Marcus and Naomi, their eyes locked, sharing a knowing look between them, Holland thought…What the hell is going on?

He glanced down at Talho who was intently staring - brows together, mouth a straight line - at the First Attendant.

"Tabun?" Marcus blinked and taking a deep breath continued. "So, Colonel," He smiled. "…why are you here?"

Returning his smile, Naomi walked over. Stopping, standing almost toe-to-toe with the Master Instructor, the First Attendant reached up gently laying her hand on the left side of his face. "Tabun…Tabun watashi wa chodo anata o nogoshita, Jonathan-Kun."

Holland heard Talho huff under her breath. "I bet."

Marcus brought his hand up covering hers. "Hontoni? Do iu wake ka, watashi wa sore o utagau."

Withdrawing her hand, she stepped back. ""Really, Jonathan, you are still…such a tease. But you already know why I am here, don't you?"

Crossing his arms again, Marcus remarked. "Maybe, but I think we should continue our discussion indoors where it's a little warmer," He looked amongst the trio. "Unless you all prefer to stand out here freezing in the cold?"

Holland grinned. "Not particularly, especially not after my shower this morning,"

"Oh, and why is that?" Talho asked as the four of them walked over to the entrance of where ComSOGSeven were temporarily calling home.

Running his hand through his unruly main of hair, he continued. "I think somebody must've used up all the hot water on base this morning."

Talho suppressed a laugh. "Oh really?"

Holland stopped to let the two female I.B. Officers walk through the entrance, the Master Instructor holding the door open for them. "Yeah, the water was freaking freezing."

The I.B. Lieutenant began laughing harder as they walked down a short hallway leading to the offices, the end of the hall terminating in the entrance to a large hanger bay. "I'm sure it was, Commander."

Finding himself laughing along with her…I guess I never noticed how her tattoo pulls upward when she smiles…Holland remarked. "It's not that funny. It was really cold you know."

"Oh, I know Commander," Talho stopped laughing as the girl, hearing them laughing stepped out from the Master Instructors office. Turning, looking at Eureka, then back at Holland, she formed a lopsided grin. "But this should be pretty hilarious,"

"Eureka-Chan!" Naomi excitingly exclaimed. Walking over she took off her cover tucking it up under her left arm and knelt down in front of the girl. Tilting her head the Kunoichi asked. "Daijoubu?"

Tilting her head…

This is really starting to freak me out…Holland thought.

…in exactly the same manner as the First Attendant, the girl frowned.

"Die…joe…boo?"

Naomi smiled, carefully tucked a stray teal colored strand of hair back behind Eureka's ear. "So much like we were," She whispered under her breath.

"Hey kiddo," Talho walked over and stood next to the girl. Placing her hands on her hips she bent over slightly. Looking back over to the grey haired S.O.F. Commander, a humorous glint in her hazel eyes, she continued saying. "Guess what Commander Holland was just telling me,"

Catching the glint, Holland rolled his eyes and brought his hand up to his forehead. "Oh no…" He began as Edward came in from the hanger.

"You have got to show me how you do that sometime." The Assistant Instructor said to Marcus, who was standing next to Holland. "One minute I'm talking to you then next, poof, you're gone," Looking down, seeing a familiar face he flashed a toothy grin. "Wow, look at who's all dressed up today,"

The First Attendant smoothly stood. "Thank you Edward. Pretty Impressive, no?"

Compressing his lips, slightly widening his eyes as Naomi pirouetted, Edward let out a whistle. "Impressive, yes!"

"Hey Edward," Talho looked over at him, the glint still in her eyes. "Guess what Commander Holland was telling me?"

Seeing the humor behind the pink X, and always quick on the uptake, glancing down at the girl, getting a serious tone to his voice, Edward asked. "What was Commander Holland telling you?"

Holland rolled his eyes towards the ceiling.

"Well…" Talho began. Putting her hands back on her hips she leaned back over towards Eureka, who was next to the Kunoichi, the two standing side by side, both heads tilted inquisitively to the side. "…Commander Holland was taking a shower, and guess what?"

"What?" Edward asked.

Talho got a serious look on her face as she looked the girl in the eye. "Somebody used ALL the hot water up on the base this morning! You wouldn't happen to know anything about that now, do you…Eureka?"

Eureka's mouth dropped, her eyes going wide. "But, Talho, I…"

Edward suddenly exclaimed. "That was you!" Glancing between the Master Instructor and First Attendant, he continued excitingly exclaiming. "I was wondering why there was no hot water for my shower too!"

Talho put her hand up waving it back and forth. "Ah ah ah, I told you that you not the only one who lives here you know."

Marcus grinned. "Eureka. You used ALL the hot water on base?"

"I'm really sorry…" Eureka lowered her head. Looking back up at Edward and Holland she continued. "I didn't know."

Holland brought his hand up to his forehead. "It's ok Eureka, you didn't do anything wrong. But that water…was really cold." He chuckled.

Naomi quietly shook her head and smiling, placed a hand protectively on the girl's shoulder as Talho, Edward, Holland and Marcus began laughing.

It's ok Eureka; I know… exactly…how you feel.

"So," Holland stopped laughing. He turned towards the Master Instructor. "Former CO?"

Marcus shook his head. "In my office. You too Edward, we've a lot to talk about." Turning towards the girl and the two women, he touched the brim of his hat. "Ladies, if you would excuse us for a moment."

"What," Talho humorously bristled. "No girls allowed?"

"Yes Jonathan, what are we to do?"

The Master Instructor looked the Kunoichi in the eye. "Well, if you wouldn't mind, I laid out some sticks in the hanger and was planning on showing Eureka some techniques."

Naomi narrowed her eyes, handed him her combination cover. "Bokken?"

"Hai!" Marcus winked. Taking her cover, he thought to add. "But don't touch my soul, ok?"

"Very well Jonathan," Turning, Naomi looked at Talho and Eureka. "Let the boys go talk,"

"Oh," Talho curiously remarked.

"How would you both like to learn…" Naomi paused and furrowing her brows together for a moment, the pages turning, finding the right word, asked. "…Kenjutsu?"

Puzzled look. "Ken…juice?"

The Kunoichi smiled.

"So much like we were," Naomi repeated under her breath as Talho opened the door to the hanger.

"So what's up?" Holland asked as he shut the door. Coming around he sat down in a chair next to Edward. "And in my defense," He laughed stroking the stubble on his chin. "I had no idea that the First Attendant was an I.B. Colonel."

Edward gestured back out the door with his head, smiled. "She's not,"

Holland narrowed his sky blue eyes. "Huh? I don't understand."

The Assistant Instructor looked across the desk. "You want to take this?"

Turning the combination cover over in his hands, raising a single eyebrow noticing her name correctly stenciled on the inside, inclining his head up, the Master Instructor smiled at the grey haired S.O.F. Commander.

Carefully setting the cover on his desk he began speaking. "So Holland, how much do you know, or more precisely, how much do you think you know about the Information Bureau? I mean besides provide intelligence, or doing investigative work. Like Lieutenant Yuki has done for our unit,"

Holland stroked at his chin again, thinking for a moment.

"I dunno, I guess I never really thought about it." He grinned. "I mean Talho, or Lieutenant Yuki…"

The two Instructors both traded looks. Edward grinned while Marcus quickly shot an eyebrow up.

"…seems better than average on her intelligence gathering and reporting. And from what I've heard from you and Edward, you've both been the victims of faulty intel before, right?"

"That's for sure," Edward pointed out. "More than once."

"Yes, Lieutenant Yuki," Marcus shot Holland a sly grin. "isn't your typical I.B. Officer." Crossing his legs, he leaned back in his chair. Looking back out the window he noticed Naomi - the First Attendant playing the part of an I.B Colonel to the tee – speaking with Chief Taylor and Chief Roberts.

Looking back at his Assistant Instructor he continued. "We used to joke, called them the Idiot Bureau. And for the most part, most junior I.B. officers are. Like Edward said. There has been more than a few times we've had to modify our operational plans on the fly due to faulty intelligence. No, Lieutenant Yuki isn't an idiot by any means."

Edward leaned towards Holland. "Which is extremely lucky for us."

"But I still haven't answered your question yet, have I?" Marcus looked out the window of his office into the hanger towards where the First Attendant had the I.B. Officer and the girl standing next to one another as the Kunoichi, one of the wooden weapons in her hands, was apparently explaining proper grip and stance as Chief Taylor, along with Chief Roberts and a few other techs looked on.

"Anyway, generally once they reach the rank of Major," the Master Instructor paused compressing his lips and making a sucking sound continued. "Things get a little bit more…complicated."

Naomi walked in behind Eureka and Talho, the Kunoichi slowly scanning the converted commercial hanger that was currently home to ComSOGSeven's mixed complement of LFO's and four-legged walking weapons platforms, the big machines quietly setting in their respective berths, huge power cables hanging along with exhaust hoses from several gantry braces snaking out from each unit as enlisted rating techs stood by for morning quarters, the men and women lined up in rows of four to five, two or three ranks deep, receiving instruction and direction from each individual unit's Crew Chief on the day's maintenance requirements, specific orders and what was contained in the Units Plan of the Day, or POD.

Catching a whiff of an exotic, expensive perfume, the soft fragrance penetrating through the various lubrication, paint and other smells associated with the upkeep of the large machines, the scent tickling his nose almost immediately as the doors opened, the TypeALPHA's Chief Tech, his finely trimmed brows arching in recognition, turned towards the source…

…Honey, really! Talk about rocking that uniform harder than Talho does, whew!…

…noticing the silver glint on the epaulets of the leather overcoat, his voice resounding through out the hanger, the Diva called out.

"ATTENTION ON DECK!"

As the respective Crew Chiefs quickly about faced, the sound of booted feet coming together at attention as one echoing in the warmth of the hanger, tilting her head to the side, then looking up into the eyes of the muscle bound man as he quickly walked up and saluted, Naomi turned to an old, dog eared bookmarked page in her mind, the heading written in the hand writing of a child, the block letters spelling out…

'When you turn old enough to understand'

…and quickly scanning over the yellowed parchment, returning his salute, smiled. "Carry on everyone, please." She said as the Diva dropped his salute.

One hand on his hip, the other under his chin, giving the First Attendant a quick once over, Chief Taylor excitingly exclaimed "Girl friend, you have got to let me know where I can find that fragrance. Fierce!" Glancing over towards the I.B. Officer and the girl he continued. "And Talho, you really should be taking notes," Looking back at the Kunoichi, gesturing at the uniform with his huge hand as he pointed out. "I mean, Naomi, you do things for that uniform that…" He paused midsentence noticing as Eureka, in her customary inquisitively manner, looked between the two women.

"What does Naomi do that is…different…from Talho's uniform? They are both with-in regulations," the girl looked up him a questioning tone in her normally flat voice. "Aren't they?"

"Well…uh…" The Diva stammered out, uncertain how to answer.

"Careful Taylor," Naomi cautiously told the big man as Talho brought her hand up to her forehead and closing her eyes shook her head back and forth.

"Kiddo, I don't think it has anything to do with uniform regs."

"I understand," Eureka dejectedly huffed as she looked at each in turn. "Not until I turn twenty."

"Well Eureka-Chan, at least you only have to wait until you turn twenty."

"Oh?"

Crossing her arms across her chest, mouth turning down in a frown, the same flat, unemotional tone in her voice as the girl, Naomi continued telling her.

"Father had me wait until I turned…thirty,"

"Whaaat, thirty?" The Diva squealed out as Talho narrowed her hazel eyes, the comment not lost on the Information Bureau Officer.

"Girl you don't look a day over twenty-five." Taylor said as one of the other Crew Chiefs walked over and stopping next to the Diva, pausing for a moment, the man mesmerized by the brightness of the Kunoichi's eyes, before he smartly snapped to, saluting.

"Pardon me Colonel, Lieutenant?"

The two female officers returned his salute as Talho introduced him.

"Ma'am, this is Chief Roberts, crew Chief for Commander Holland's Nine-Zero-Nine."

"Ma'am," Roberts looked back to where all the crews stood in front of their respective charges. "My apologies Colonel,"

Naomi tilted her head. "Oh,"

"Yes Ma'am" Roberts shot Talho a look. "Your visit wasn't in our POD,"

"Then I should be apologizing to you then, Chief," the First Attendant inclined her head. "It was an unannounced visit in order for me to prepare a more accurate FITREP for Lieutenant Yuki." She smiled at the man. "I don't get out of the office much anymore Chief, so when I heard about all the good things my I.B. Officer has been doing here with Team Seven, well…"

Wow…Talho silently mused…She's definitely pretty smooth.

"Yes Ma'am, I understand." The Nine-Zero-Nine's Crew Chief remarked. "Would you like to have the crews to stand by for inspection?"

Listening as the Terminus's silently called out to her, emerald green eyes lingering a moment on each armored archetype as they acknowledged her presence, her gaze lingering for a moment on the TypeZERO and TypeALPHA, Naomi shook her head. "No Chief, all seems in good order so, please carry on with the Plan of the Day."

"Yes Ma'am!" Saluting, silently grateful not to have the Colonel poking around the hanger, and taking a mental snapshot of the two attractive female officers standing side by side…What a recruiting poster that would make…Chief Roberts turned on his heel. "Ok, back to work people!"

"Taylor, if you would excuse us," The Kunoichi began. "I am about to give an informal lesson."

"Sure thing! If you need anything, just let me know, and don't forget, I want to know where you got that perfume…its pretty fierce!"

"Ryoukai." Naomi replied as the muscular chief went back over towards the TypeALPHA. "Now where are did you leave your soul, Jonathan?" She whispered.

Looking over, quickly finding the 'sticks' that the Master Instructor had laid out on the hanger floor - four white oak bokken laying along with a purple cloth case resting on a standard military issue green eight foot by eight foot wool blanket, the blanket folded in half- she walked over and smoothing out the back of the black coat, knelt down picking one up with her right hand.

Lowering her left knee onto the wool blanket so as not to cause a run in her hosiery, she held the wooden weapon up, eyes looking down the length of the back side of the wooden blade. Rolling the hilt around in her hand, she looked down the cutting edge and satisfied that it was straight and true smiled and gracefully stood rotating the cutting edge back towards the floor.

"Very well," Naomi said. "Would you both stand over here, please."

"Uh, sure," Talho remarked as she and the girl walked over standing together across from the First Attendant. "Is this ok?"

"Hai, Talho kohai,"

Eureka looked between the wooden stick and the eyes of the Kunoichi. "Co…high?"

Speaking out of the corner of her mouth, her hazel eyes transfixed on Naomi's green eyes, Talho told the girl. "Kohai. It means junior, I think."

Eureka tilted her head. "Kohai."

"That is correct, Talho." Naomi smiled with her eyes. "Since you two are beginners you are junior to myself. Kohai," She indicated towards them with her head. "And because I am senior in the arts, you can refer to myself as…Sempai."

"Sim…pie."

"Sugoi, Eureka-Chan. Sempai." Turning sideways to them she brought the wooden weapon up, her right hand high up on the hilt, left hand gripping the bottom, her pinky finger off the end, the distance from the end of her left hand to the waist buckle on the leather coat one fist length.

"Jonathan could probably talk for hours on the Sempai-Kohai relationship and the oral and physical transference of techniques." She stopped and turned her head towards the two as several of the crew chiefs began to quietly gather around them. "But where is the fun in that?" Naomi smoothly slid her right foot forward, the leather sole of the highly polished grey pump scraping softly on the concrete hanger floor.

Unseen hands working across the blank pages of her mind, the girl intently transcribed every little detail – the way the Kunoichi's hands were positioned, shoulders, hips and knees facing forward, weight evenly distributed between her leading leg and rear leg – and pausing, recalling a question, asked.

"How can learning to use…bokken…better my fighting skills."

The First Attendant cocked her head to the side and looked over at the girl. Noticing as the Master Instructor looked out the window of his office at her, she shot him a wink.

"Complicated, how?" Holland asked.

Marcus grinned as she winked at him, cut his eyes away from the Kunoichi…I swear, why did you have to come back now?

Leaning forward putting both elbows on his desk he rubbed his hands together then putting his right hand over his left, rested his chin on folded hands.

Staring down at the combination cover, the Master Instructor took a long breath in through his nose, exhaled. "Well, at that point the I.B. higher ups figure you have what it takes." Leaning back he folded his arms. Glancing at Edward for a moment, he turned and looking Holland square in the face, he continued saying. "To be initiated into the more…esoteric…aspects of the Information Bureau and what the organizations true purpose really is."

"Esoteric?" Holland repeated the word slowly.

The Assistant Instructor stifled a laugh. "You know secret squirrel kind of stuff." Then getting a serious look on his dark face, Edward looked over at Marcus.

"Although I've never seen a squirrel topple a government, or assassinate its leaders," He flashed his toothy grin. "Me and Marcus, shoot the whole S.T.A.T. team organization, have contributed more than our fair share to advancing their agenda, but," Edward slowly made a fist…"This is how we get things done,"…driving it into his open palm, the impact echoing in the office. "Like a hammer. Loud and sometimes very messy. But, people like Naomi; they are like a dagger…"

Bringing his left hand up, palm out, pretending to hold a knife in his right, he made a motion with his left hand…

Holland's eyes widened in recognition of the technique.

…sweeping over the top of an imaginary head, cupping his left hand over the mouth, pulling back and up.

Edward continued speaking as he completed the motion. "…a dagger quietly slipped in behind the ear." He folded his hands. "Clean and silent, but just as effective,"

The S.O.F. Commander looked at both in turn. "So what you're saying…"

"What we are saying, Holland," The Master Instructor smiled with his eyes. "Is that the First Attendant…is an assassin."

Maintaining her stance, Naomi looked over at Talho as she repeated the girl's question. "So, Eureka-Chan, you would like to understand how using bokken can help you better your…skills?"

"Yes, Naomi…Sempai."

Relaxing her arms, keeping her hands still waist height, the Kunoichi brought the bokken down pointing the tip towards the ground. "Talho, if you would." She nodded towards the wool blanket.

"Uh, ok," Talho nervously walked over and kneeling down picked up one of the wooden weapons. Standing up, gripping the weapon, she asked. "Like this?"

"Hold your right hand a little higher on the tsuka," Naomi indicated with her hand. Then looking over at the girl she explained. "Handle. Sue…ka."

"Sue…ka,"

"Tsuka," Naomi quickly said. "It's spelled…T, S, U, K, A. The T and the S are said almost simultaneously." She said the first syllable a few times, and then repeated it. "Tsuka."

Eureka repeated it…exactly. "Tsuka."

"Sugoi… Excellent Eureka," Smiling she looked back over at the I.B. Lieutenant. "Now Talho if you would, please," Using the tip of the bokken she pointed to a spot on the floor.

Walking over, standing in front of the Kunoichi, ignoring the men in the small crowd of techs as they silently began excitedly talking, Talho looked down glancing between Naomi's highly polished grey pumps and her own Federation Issue winter boots.

"You gonna be ok to move in those, Naomi Taisa?" She grinned.

Still smiling, Naomi replied. "If the area I am forced to engage in is unknown, then going bare foot is the most sure way, however, since this is a known area," She paused her smile fading.

"One must always be prepaired, regardless of ones manner of dress, Yuki Sho-i."

"Even in a skirt?" Talho sarcastically quipped eliciting a few snickers from the female techs as she brought the bokken up, aiming the tip of the wooden weapon at a point between Naomi's impossibly green eyes.

Her mouth a flat line, eyes void of emotion, the First Attendant answered as the assembled crowd suddenly became deathly silent, all eyes in the hanger glued on the two attractive female officers.

"Even in a skirt."

Glancing out the window, seeing as Talho awkwardly brought the bokken up and got into fairly good Seigan no Kamae – right foot forward, the tip of the wooden sword held at a point between your opponents eyes – the Master Instructor sat up in his chair. Swiveling around so as to get a better view, he continued talking. "But Naomi isn't what you would consider a typical assassin, either."

Following Marcus' gaze, Holland and Edward both turned in their seats.

Not turning his head, Edward told Holland. "Yeah, she was never trained in the Military."

"Really?"

Marcus answered, his eyes riveted on his former sister-in-law, who had assumed the low-ready position or Migi Gedan no Kamae – right foot and hip forward, left hand to left hip, bokken still directed towards the opponent, tip towards floor, head leaning forward – patiently waiting, baiting Talho to make the first move.

"Yep. I'm not sure how, or who she impressed, but as far as I know from my contacts in Capitol City's Protective Services Division, she quickly established herself and has apparently become Koda's own personal bodyguard."

"Yojimbo," Edward matter-of-factly remarked. Catching the Master Instructor looking sideways at him with a genuinely surprised look on his face, he humorously told his best friend. "Subtitles. Great movie too."

"Wow," Holland, sounding impressed, said. "And how did she manage that?"

Edward turned around settling into his chair. "Just watch, you'll see."

Eureka silently stood off to the side, unseen hands poised over the blank pages of her mind, ready to copy down everything she saw. Seeing the look on the face of the First Attendant, she inhaled.

Flipping back several chapters she quickly found the page…

…his face void of all emotion, eyes blank as he had told an S.O.F. academy student to punch him in the face…

…describing the exact same look on the face of the Master Instructor.

Her mouth a flat line, Naomi told Talho, her tone flat, unemotional. "I want you to cut me," She took her right hand off the bokken, indicating a line from her forehead to a point just above the metal waist buckle of the leather coat.

"From here to here. And please Yuki Sho-i…do not hold back."

The Kunoichi took a long, slow breath in quieting her thoughts as she re-gripped the wooden blade.

The girl took a long, slow breath in, unseen hands ready to begin writing.

Talho formed a lopsided grin on her face, the tattoo tugging at the corner of her eye as she nervously asked. "You sure about that?"

Naomi allowed the beginnings of a smile to touch her full lips. "Quite,"

"Uh…Ok,"

The I.B. Officer awkwardly raised the weapon over her head, held it there for a moment as she took a deep breath, then aiming at the spot right where the Kunoichi had indicated, stepping forward exhaling, started to swing…

In her mind, Eureka put pen to paper.

…just as Naomi quietly exhaled and smoothly slid her right foot forward slightly off the line to Talho's left, and with no wasted movement, timing it out…exactly…just as the I.B. Officer started to begin the downward stroke, brought her bokken up thrusting the tip at a point just below Talho's chin interrupting the downward flow of the strike.

The small crowd of techs let out a collective gasp.

"Ack…" Talho bit out, her body frozen mid-swing, arms still above her head, hazel eyes practically crossing as she got a close-up view of the tip of the white oak bokken's wood grain pattern.

The girl blinked and furrowed her brows together, the page of her mind still blank, the First Attendant's movements so subtle that she didn't know what words to use to even begin to describe what had just happened.

Noticing the look on the face of the girl, the Kunoichi stepped back lowering the wooden blade. "Thank you Talho," She inclined her head.

Talho shot a breath out blowing a stray strand of hair out of her face. Regaining her composure, unconsciously tugging at the hem of her service dress uniform jacket, she said. "That was really weird you know,"

"Oh," Eureka asked as the pen hovered over the white page. "How was it…weird Talho?"

Holland narrowed his eyes. "What was that? What just happened?"

Edward elbowed him. "I know right, its pretty crazy."

"But nothing happened. I mean, why couldn't Lieutenant Yuki hit her? Naomi never even touched her."

"Exactly," The Assistant Instructor pointed out.

The two looked at the Master Instructor for an explanation.

Marcus thought for a moment before speaking.

"So, you all think I'm pretty smooth, right?"

Holland and Edward both nodded their heads.

"Of course," Holland commented.

"Well," the Master Instructor leaned back in his chair. "When I was training alongside both Naomi and Katrina, in their fathers training hall, I always thought that if I could be as half as smooth as Naomi was, I'd be doing ok." Marcus smiled at Holland's dumbfounded expression. "I mean I try to be smooth when I train you guys, but really I'm like a bull in a china shop compared to Naomi…she's like silk."

"So what just happened?" Holland asked again.

Marcus shook his head. "It's kinda hard to explain. Ok, its like this. Of the three precepts for combat: Timing, Distance and Speed," The Master Instructor indicated with his thumb, index and middle finger. "Which one is more important?"

The Assistant Instructor nodded his head. "I remember this," He cut his eyes at the S.O.F. Commander. "Didn't Marcus ever go over this with your class?"

Holland frowned. "I don't think so."

"Anyway," Marcus continued. "Most people think that speed is the most important, however as you get older…"

"Like you." Edward humorously interjected.

"…and as you incur injuries, your speed isn't what it used to be."

"What about distance?" Holland thoughtfully asked.

The Master Instructor shook his head. "No, that's relative based on the weapon system currently being employed. Wither empty hand or beam cannon, or the speed you are moving at, so the most important aspect is…"

"Timing."

"That's correct Holland. And Naomi has exceptional timing." Glancing over at his best friend Marcus told him. "Better than mine, I might add."

"Yeah, you really had me going the first time we met. I couldn't understand then how, no matter how fast I tried to hit you, I would always wind up on the ground." Edward laughed. "It really pissed me off."

"Again its hard to explain," Seeing a flash of teal out of the corner of his eye Marcus turned his head. "But as Sensei always liked to say…" He began as the girl, a bokken held in her small hands, walked over getting into Seigan no Kamae – exactly – as the Kunoichi had done moments earlier.

The Master Instructor looked back at the two men as he finished saying.

"…To experience, is to truly know."

Walking back over Talho knelt down placing the bokken back onto the wool blanket. "I dunno kiddo," Standing back up looking at the First Attendant she continued telling her. "I'm not even sure what happened myself."

"But, I don't understand," the girl tilted her head. "Why did you…stop?"

A lopsided grin on her face, shrugging her shoulders Talho stepped back over to stand next to her. Crossing her arms she continued. "Like I said, I dunno. I really wanted to hit her, but for some reason, I just couldn't."

"But Talho,"

"Eureka-Chan,"

The girl turned her head. "Yes, Naomi Sempai."

The Kunoichi pointed with the wooden weapon towards the wool blanket.

"Please,"

Eureka walked over and kneeling down placing both her pale knees on the woolen blanket ran her right hand over the full length of each of the other three sticks, which she noticed had writing of some sort burned into the handles. Picking one the girl stood and quickly going over the freshly inked page in her mind – placing her hands in exactly the same place on the bokken as the First Attendant – walked over and stood in front of Naomi.

"I am still not sure how this will better my skills at fighting." The girl dryly said as she got into the correct stance.

Green eyes shining brightly, the Kunoichi, her voice as void as emotion as the girl, told her.

"As father used to say. To experience is to truly know."

Settling down into her stance, Naomi calmly said.

"Now, if you would…and please Eureka…don't hold back."

Taking note of how the First Attendant slightly inclined her upper body towards her, the girl furiously flipped back through the pages of her mind to when she had first observed the Master Instructor as he had instructed a group of S.O.F. Academy students.

She's left herself completely open, just like Marcus did.

The First Attendant slowly inhaled.

Her stance is perfect, there is no opening.

Talho fidgeted nervously, her mind trying to wrap itself around the scene playing out in front of her, the Information Bureau Officer thinking…It's uncanny how similar they both look, how could Marcus have never not noticed, I mean, damn, except for the hair and eyes….

Taylor and Roberts walked over and joined the growing crowd, which had grown very quiet, the only noise in the hanger a humming sound emanating from the overhead lights.

Eureka, eyes as blank as the green ones across from her, slowly took a breath in, her hands lightly gripped around the white oak stick watching for an opening in the Kunoichi's defense.

Naomi smiled inside, thinking...

…She is just as I am.

Marcus grinned. "Stalemate,"

"Huh," Holland looked between the girl and the First Attendant. "Why haven't they done anything? They're just standing there."

Edward nodded his head enthusiastically. "Just like in the movies!"

The S.O.F. Commander screwed his face up. "You aren't making any sense." Looking up at the Master Instructor he said. "This isn't making any sense to me. Why isn't Eureka attacking like Talho did?"

Eyes glued to the two, noting the perfect stances – Eureka in Seigan No Kamae, Naomi in Migi Gedan No Kamae – the Master Instructor suddenly remembered what he had seen from where he had watched the girl, piloting the Nirvash, on a blasted street as she had engaged a black and silver trimmed Five-Zero-Five…

…Eureka's a quick study. I hope you know what you're about to get yourself into Naomi…

…just as the Kunoichi leaned back ever so slightly.

Marcus and Holland both shot to their feet.

"Oh smack!" Edward blurted out as the sound of wood clashing against wood…

A distinctive "Clack…Clack" noise.

…began echoing through the hanger.

The First Attendant leaned back slightly, her weight shifting almost imperceptivity to her back leg…

The girl tightened her grip.

…opening up her defense.

Seeing the small opening, the girl moved.

The Kunoichi raised a finely trimmed eyebrow.

Eureka pushed off her back foot and sliding her front foot forward – in the exact same manner as the First Attendant had done with Talho – thrust the tip of the bokken directly towards Naomi's face.

Continuing to let her weight fall onto her left leg, the Kunoichi dropped her right leg back and extending her hands, turning them so the cutting edge faced her left, the wooden weapons touching, met the girls attack allowing the natural curvature of the bokken to cause the thrust to slide just centimeters away from the side of her face, the force of the attack literally clipping the end off several stray hairs from Naomi's tight braid.

Maintaining contact with the girls bokken, the First Attendant dropped her hips and lifting her left elbow, dropping her right, hands turning, began rotating the wooden weapon, using the back of her blade, sweeping the girls bokken down and to her right while simultaneously, her left foot sliding back, brought her feet together.

Not holding back, her weight carrying her forward, Eureka continued on the straight line of her thrust.

Not resisting as the Kunoichi, their weapons touching, began sweeping her blade down and to her right, the girls mind furiously recording every little detail…

…seeing as Naomi brought her feet together, weight shifting to her right leg preparing to step out on her left leg, bokken quickly being brought over her head, the back of the blade resting along her left forearm, left hand grasping the hilt, pinky off the end as she brought her right forearm up touching her forehead…

…and reacting to the counter, the girl brought her left leg up even with her right and in a mirror image of the First Attendant, Eureka shifted her weight to her right leg bringing the white oak bokken over her head, resting the back of the blade along her left forearm as well.

Stepping out and back, transiting her weight from her right to her left leg, the supple leather of the coat straining to keep pace with her movements as it molded itself along her legs, her upper body leaning to her left, already committed to the strike, the First Attendant marveled at how quickly the girl was adapting, reacting in time with her movements as Eureka…

…the girl stepping out and back with her left leg, the bokken resting along her forearm…

…prepared to strike in the same way.

Simultaneously shifting their weight forward onto their leading – right- legs the two rolled the wooden blades out, the sound as they impacted…

CLACK!

…loud in the huge hanger.

Feeling as the impact reverberated through the bokken and down into her small wrists, the girl narrowed her eyes, and seeing another opening quickly brought the blade back resting the hilt alongside the right side of her head just above her ear, pausing for just a heartbeat before, her right foot sliding forward, she cut quickly down, aiming the tip of the blade at the Kunoichi's exposed right hip.

Heart pounding with the excitement of armed combat…Sugoi Eureka, Sugoi…Naomi smoothly drew her right leg back turning her wrist down blocking the blow to her hip with the back of her white oak bokken…

CLACK!

…and keeping her left wrist braced along her right forearm, again maintaining contact with the girls bokken, began sliding the cutting edge of the wooden weapon up aiming at the inside of Eureka's slender right wrist.

Seeing the flash of wood as it slid up her own weapon - her mind furiously trying to keep pace with the First Attendant, the once blank pages filling up – and noticing where she was about to be 'Tagged', her minds eye looking back one page, Eureka quickly reacted.

Damn they're fast…Talho thought as the girl, mimicking the movements of the Kunoichi…exactly…smoothly drew her right leg back lifting the bokken up resting the hilt just above her ear, the wooden blade held to the rear parallel to the deck as the First Attendant, her hands and feet in the same position as she slid forward, lifted the tip of the bokken straight out pointing it right between Eureka's forehead, the cutting edge facing the ceiling.

The girl gasped, the red ring encircling her iris expanding, as she crossed her eyes looking at the tip of the Kunoichi's wooden sword.

Naomi slowly exhaled and smiled as the onlookers began clapping.

"Excellent Eureka…Very good," She told the girl as they both lowered their bokken.

Waving his muscular arms in the air, the Diva yelled out. "Ok, shows over everybody back at it."

Clapping her hands, Talho walked over to Eureka enthusiastically saying. "That was awesome, kiddo!"

Eureka looked up at the I.B. Officer. "Really?"

"Are you kidding? You two moved so fast."

Placing the wooden stick back onto the wool blanket, picking up the purple cloth case, Naomi stood and smoothing out the back of her leather coat walked over and stood next to Talho.

"Does that answer your question, Eureka-Chan?"

Hands lightly holding onto the wooden blade, the girl looked down slowly turning the white oak stick over in her hands.

Looking up at the First Attendant, Eureka quietly replied. "Yes, Naomi…Sempai."

Inclining her head towards the girl then looking over at the window where Marcus and Holland stood, the purple case in her hands, the Kunoichi smiled slyly at the Master Instructor before she turned back towards Talho and Eureka.

"So Talho, Eureka-Chan, would you like to see Jonathan's…Soul?"

"Wow," Holland commented as he leaned back away from the window. "That was pretty impressive,"

"Just like in the movies." Edward repeated.

"Really Naomi," Marcus said under his breath as the First Attendant put the wooden weapon down and standing up, holding the purple cloth case in her hands, looked him straight in the eye, seductively smiling at him before turning back towards the girl and the I.B. Officer. "Good grief," He silently exclaimed as she began unwrapping the white cord. "Why did you have to come back now,"

"What was that?" Holland asked as he came back over sitting back down next to the Assistant Instructor.

Compressing his lips, the Master Instructor shook his head. "It's nothing, never mind."

Sitting back down in his chair, Marcus pulled out the folder that Talho had brought to him the night before. "Now about this," He took the papers out, handing them across his desk to Holland who, scanning the documents for a short while, handed them over to Edward.

Leaning back in his chair the S.O.F. Commander crossed is arms. "How long will you be gone for?"

"I don't know Holland, but from this moment on," Marcus looked around his office. "All this is now yours, Commander." He said as he stood and went to attention, the young S.O.F. Officer seated across from his, now Holland's, desk following suit.

Snapping a sharp salute the Master Instructor said. "I relinquish all command authority of Combined Special Operations Group Seven."

Returning the salute, Holland replied. "I accept all command authority of Combined Special Operations Group Seven. Permission to relieve you sir,"

"Permission granted. I stand relieved,"

The two dropped their salutes almost simultaneously.

"And just like that, I'm in charge," Holland remarked.

"Just like that," Marcus said as he walked around the desk grabbing the younger mans hand as Edward patted Holland on the back in a congratulatory manner.

"I had Lieutenant Yuki take some notes down for you and Edward, so you all can continue on with Eureka's training." The Master Instructor told him.

Edward nodded his head. "I think we can handle this, since we've been doing most of it anyway,"

"Oh?" Marcus asked.

Holland narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, Edward and Chief Taylor always seem to find an excuse to do some impromptu training with Eureka." He laughed at the Assistant Instructors surprised expression. "Especially whenever there is paperwork involved."

"Hey!" Edward blurted out causing the three men to laugh.

Marcus stopped laughing and looked out the window as the First Attendant, his 'Soul' held in her hands, turned towards one of the east facing hanger windows. He shook his head again, whispering. "Why did you have to come back now."

Untying the white cord wrapped around the top of the cloth case Naomi slowly, almost reverently Talho noticed, started sliding out what was encased in the silk fabric, the girl transcribing what she saw onto the pages of her mind – a black shiny version of what she held in her hands, the tsuka tightly wrapped with black cord with white diamond shaped patterns visible between the cord, a round metal object where the cord and shiny long piece met, a longer thicker cord tied and running almost the entire length terminating close to the end - the Kunoichi placing her thumb and index finger of her left hand over the metal disk and turning, finding where the early morning sunlight shone brightly through one of the hanger windows, brought her feet together as if coming to attention.

Rotating her left hand palm up, the shiny black part of the weapon reflecting the light, placing her right hand towards where the thick black cord was tied at the end, Naomi lifted it up and bowed her head in a solemn manner.

Lifting her head, maintaining the thumb and index finger around the circular disk, Naomi smoothly brought the weapon to her left side.

"That is…" The girl paused, frowned. "That is Marcus's…soul?"

Arms folded across her chest, Talho leaned over towards the girl. "I don't think that's really his soul, kiddo."

Confused look. "I don't understand."

"Talho is correct." the First Attendant walked back over to the wool blanket. "If you would, please," She reached down grabbing a corner of the folded blanket.

"Oh, sure," Talho reached down grabbing the other corner. "Hey kiddo, you mind getting the other bokken?"

"Ok,"

As the girl gathered up the wooden weapons the two women quickly unfolded the wool blanket out across the cold hanger floor.

Kicking off her pumps she stepped onto the blanket and knelt down setting the weapon in front of her knees with the tsuka facing her right. "However," She continued. "In very ancient times Nihon warriors called Samurai…" Naomi paused as Eureka tilted her head.

"Like in the movie, Seven Samurai?" Talho asked as she smoothed out the back of her skirt and knelt down across from the First Attendant.

The Kunoichi smiled. "I see you have been hanging around Edward."

The I.B. Officer shrugged her shoulders. "A little, but you were saying?"

"Ah yes. Samurai believed that a part of their soul was embodied within the metal during the forging of the blade."

"Blade?" The girl asked as she walked over and kneeling down next to Talho, placed the bokken out in front of her. "Like Nirvash?"

Naomi smiled with her eyes. "Well, yes and no,"

Eureka tilted her head. "Oh?"

"Let me show you," The Kunoichi began as she picked the weapon up and bringing it even with her eyes, right hand gripping just above the metal disk, began to slowly draw out what was contained in the black shiny wood, the highly polished metal blade reflecting the image of the girl as she slowly inhaled.

As soon as the tip cleared the black wood, sitting the scabbard to her left, Naomi rotated her right hand thumb up, the tip pointing towards the ceiling.

"Otachi," Eureka said.

"Otachi," The Kunoichi repeated. "Jonathan's…soul is what Father would say as being…Ryu-ha…or style specific to a certain Kenjutsu style."

"Which style?" Talho, herself transfixed by the blade, asked.

Naomi paused finding the page. "I believe Father called it…Katori Shinto Ryu."

Looking closer at the blade, the I.B. Officer asked. "Naomi-Sempai, why is there a groove on the blade?"

"It called Bo-hi, Lieutenant," The Master Instructor answered as he came into the hanger. Walking up to them he continued explaining. "It makes the blade lighter without sacrificing strength."

"Cool," Talho shook her head as Marcus knelt down next to the First Attendant.

"Naomi-Sempai," The Master Instructor smiled.

"Yes Jonathan-kun," The First Attendant, her green eyes shining, smiled back.

"Can I please have my soul back?"

N Heart J

Hood of his parka pulled up around his neck, a black knit watch cap covering his bald head, Marcus quietly stood on one of the many mounds of snow covered coral that overlooked the converted hanger gazing up into the cold, clear night sky, his eyes fixated on several bright stars.

Recalling the days events - the feeling as a huge weight was lifted off his heart as he finally gave into the emotions held for so long in check, then the tear that had leaked its way out, recalling the ghostly image of his daughter in the diner as she had hugged the one born from the earth - he slowly exhaled through his mouth, the cold causing the moisture in his breath to hang around his head.

"What a horrible wave flow," He silently exclaimed as a bank of clouds began slowly unfurling across the sky.

Inhaling through his nose, the chill causing him to close his eyes, he slowly began exhaling. "I swear," He began as he started thinking about his former sister-in-law as she knelt next to him in the hanger just as the smell of some exotic perfume, the scent hanging in the still of the night, slowly crept up around him as he continued saying. "Why did you have to come back now?"

"Can I have please have my soul back?" The Master Instructor had asked, the look in his eyes pleading with the one holding it.

A sly grin tugging at the corners of her full lips, Naomi shrewdly replied. "Why. Are you afraid I might damage your soul, Jonathan?"

Marcus bared his teeth. "No, I don't think that you would purposefully damage my soul. I just…"

He cut his eyes towards where the girl was sitting, her hands neatly folded in her lap, big lavender eyes locking onto his.

"I just wanted to show Eureka myself that's all." He said with a disappointing tone.

He smiled.

'I'…made him smile.

Noticing the look shared between the two, Naomi slightly narrowed her eyes…

…Yes, it is rather obvious the attachment you have developed with her…

She cocked her head slightly…

…But it is with no wonder as you look just like Irina…

The Kunoichi turned her head…

…A fact I have no doubt that you have noticed as well…

The Information Bureau Officer's hazel eyes locking onto her impossibly green ones.

…Yuki Sho-i.

Bringing the black shiny wooden scabbard up with her left hand Naomi told him. "You could have said so, Jonathan."

"I did, remember?"

Allowing the grin to return, the Kunoichi brought the mouth of the scabbard to the brass retaining collar next to the metal disk. Quickly she ran the back of the blade along the meaty portion between her thumb and knuckle of her left hand and as the tip of the blade dropped into the mouth of the scabbard, reversing the motion, quickly sheathed the blade stopping about two inches from the brass collar.

"Sokka Jonathan-kun," Naomi smiled fully as she seated the collar into the scabbard, the brass spacer snapping sharply against the black lacquered wood. "Gomennasai,"

Talho sat there feeling her calves begin to tingle from lack of circulation…Oh brother. She definitely has it bad for you.

Slightly rocking back and forth trying to keep the blood flowing down her legs the I.B. Officer continued thinking…I wonder what Lisa would have to say about that.

Marcus continued to look his former sister-in-law in the eye as he grinned and shook his head back and forth slowly as Naomi extended his soul towards him, the Kunoichi having re-gripped the scabbard, left hand with thumb and index finger wrapped around the metal disk, her right near the end next to where the thicker cord was tied around the scabbard, the cutting edge facing her.

Inclining his head, the Master Instructor reached out taking the weapon from her, right hand on the tsuka, left near the end, and positioning it so as the metal disk was almost eye level, the end of he scabbard between his knees, he looked over to where Talho and Eureka quietly sat.

"So, how are you two enjoying setting in seiza?" He lightheartedly asked.

Talho frowned. "I can't feel my legs, if that is what you mean by enjoy."

Marcus and Naomi shared a knowing chuckle.

"It gets easier with practice," the Master Instructor told her. "What about you Eureka,"

"I can feel my legs just fine, thank you."

The Master Instructor looked at the First Attendant. "Well since Naomi already introduced you to my 'soul'," He winked at the girl, who tilted her head to the side. "I might as well give you a break down on the different fittings that make up Kusanagi-no-Tachi."

The girl knitted her brows together bringing her hand up to her chin. "Kusa…gnaw…gi…no…touchy?"

Marcus laughed as Naomi frowned at him. "I can't believe Father let you name you soul…that."

"And why not, the original Kusanagi was a legendary Nihon blade." He chided her as he laid the sword long ways on the wool blanket, the tsuka facing his right.

"That's not what I meant," The Kunoichi brought her finely shaped brows together. "It's just, back then I thought that Father was making fun of you,"

Talho leaned forward placing the flat of her palms on the wool blanket trying to get the blood flowing back into her legs. "Why, what does Kusanagi mean?"

Still setting in seiza, Marcus straightened his back and crossed his arms. "Literally, it means 'Grass cutting sword'." Uncrossing his arms, placing his hands on his knees he continued. "So, there I was in the back of the training hall one day after class practicing Shodan-uchi…" Seeing Eureka tilt her head he quickly explained.

"Shodan-uchi…" He turned his hat around backwards and reaching down picked up one of the white oak bokken. Bringing his hands up placing the back of his left hand just above his right eye, his right just behind his right ear, the tsuka tight against the side of his head.

Holding it there for a moment, the girl transcribing it all down, he extended his hands out and down, the sound of the bokken cleaving through the air a sharp whiffing noise. "Front cut. Show…"

Eureka and Talho both repeated. "Show…"

"Dan…"

"U as in coo. Chi like saying key except replace "K" with "Ch". Uchi."

"Uchi,"

The girl and I.B. Officer looked at each other. "Shodan-uchi," They both said simultaneously.

"Sugoi, Kiddo," Talho laughed and smiled.

"Sue…go…ee, Talho," Eureka slowly repeated, her head cocked to the side, causing Talho to laugh even harder.

Smiling with his eyes at the girl, his mouth turned down in a frown of his own…

So much like Irina…Naomi suddenly thought, finding herself fighting her own internal battle to keep from leaking tears…and Jonathan, the look on your face, it's a wonder you haven't broken down yet yourself.

…quickly pushing the emotions, the feelings rising in his throat, that he had experienced earlier that morning back down, the Master Instructor continued.

"Well anyway, there I am swinging away and all of a sudden her Father, he like appears out of no where." Marcus snapped his fingers, laughing at the memory.

Looking at the girl and I.B. Officer, the Kunoichi tilted her head. "Father was quite…resourceful that way."

"I can imagine," Holland humorously commented wondering how in the world the First Attendant had snuck up on him in the parking lot as he and Edward walked over. "Mind if we join in on your little sit down?"

"Sure, go ahead." Marcus joyfully said.

"You mind, Lieutenant?" Holland, gesturing at a spot on the blanket next to her, asked.

Talho smiled up at him. "Well, you are in charge now," She shrugged her shoulders as he shot her a lopsided grin. "I'm joking Commander, of course I don't mind," She scooted over making room as he sat down next to her crossing his legs.

"Eureka, got room for me?" Edward asked.

"Yes Edward." The girl moved as the Assistant Instructor dropped down into seiza.

"You sure that's a good idea," Marcus jokingly asked his best friend. "I seem to recall a couple of knee surgeries a while back."

"You are so funny," Edward deadpanned as Naomi moved over closer to Marcus.

Folding her hands neatly in her lap, the First Attendant looked around at the group. "This certainly brings back memories, doesn't it Jonathan?"

Marcus nodded his head. "Yeah, all we need is your Father here to make some tea and we'd be all set."

Naomi smiled and began reading off the old yellowed page in her mind.

"After class, Father would lay out a blanket and make some of his favorite tea, and we would all set around and talk. It's how Katrina and I first met…"

She turned the page, paused for a moment before she finished, saying.

"…Jonathan."

"I don't think I've ever heard this story before?" Edward curiously asked.

Forgetting about the numbness in her legs Talho quickly perked up. Looking at the Kunoichi she enthusiastically said. "Yes. Do tell."

The First Attendant momentarily held Talho's gaze, then knitted her brows together, the words leaping off the old parchment…

Written on the page…

…That was the first time…

The letters all caps…

…ever in my life…

Only four words…

…that someone…

Surrounded by a heart…

…caused me to...

With an arrow drawn through the center…

…Smile.

Looking down at her hands, pale cheeks suddenly flush with color from the many words written down on the once blank pages, she sheepishly said. "I am sorry. Please Jonathan, finish your story."

Talho kept a straight face observing how uncharacteristically…timid… Naomi suddenly became as she tried to hide her emotions, the Information Bureau Officer in her thinking…I wonder what that is all about?

"Thanks," The Master Instructor picked up where he had left off. "So I'm practicing,"

"Shodan-uchi," The girl thoughtfully pointed out.

"Right, so Naomi's Father tells me that I look like I'm trying to cut grass with my sword. At first I thought he was joking, but I looked it up and in reality he was paying me a compliment."

"Really?" Holland remarked as he leaned in closer to the I.B. Officer. Putting his elbow on his knee, bringing his hand up stroking at his goatee he asked. "How so?"

Marcus gestured with his hands for emphasis. "Apparently on Earth, a long time ago…"

"In a galaxy far…far…away," Edward interjected causing everyone within ear shot to begin laughing except the girl, who frowned and tilted her head, and the First Attendant who, lingering on the image drawn on the page of her mind, found herself staring longingly into the eyes of the 'one' who first made her smile.

Talho brought her hand up to her head as she laughed. "You two are a real riot you know,"

The Master Instructor bit off his laughter. "I know, hilarious. So as I was saying, on Earth Kusanagi-no-Tachi was one of the three," He paused and leaned up against the First Attendant. Seeing his image reflected back in her emerald eyes, he asked. "Hey, what was it, I can't remember if it was three deities, or warriors?"

Naomi blinked. "Huh,"

"I think she's having an 'Eureka' moment," Edward whimsically pointed out to the group.

"That's not funny, Captain," Talho said through her own laughter as she glanced between the girl and the First Attendant, the I.B. Officer taking note as they both tilted their heads to the side as if sharing a common thought between them.

Leaning over he lightly elbowed the girl. "What do you think?"

Not averting her gaze, lavender eyes locked onto the First Attendant's emerald green ones, her mouth a straight line, elbows crossed, Eureka turned her head and cupping her hand over her mouth whispered.

"Edward…Naomi, 'Is'."

Narrowing her eyes, watching for any reaction from the Assistant Instructor, and closing the pages of her mind, then reopening, Naomi flipped furiously through the many chapters. "I'm sorry," She began.

Hearing her put emphasis on the last word, a certain tone in her voice he hadn't heard from her before, the Assistant Instructor cocked his head to the side. Noticing as Naomi's eyes shifted over to his dark ones, he leaned in closer to the girl as the First Attendant began speaking.

Finding the correct page the Kunoichi continued. "Actually Jonathan, it was originally named Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi… Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven…And on Earth, it was considered to be one of three Imperial Regalia of Nihon."

"Is, what?" Edward whispered back.

The girl looked him hard in the eye. "She…Is."

Edward looked down at Eureka, who raised both her brows, her unearthly eyes wide as she stared at him then without turning her head cut her eyes over to Naomi.

Marcus shook his head, impressed. "So, Father had you learn all that, huh?"

"I am more than just a pretty face, Jonathan." The First Attendant smiled with her eyes. "Which reminds me. Edward."

Straightening up, he shot her a toothy grin. "Naomi,"

"I was instructed to by Madam Councilwoman Koda to, and I quote "Give Captain Edward my best" unquote," She smiled at the Assistant Instructor…

Edward leaned back, narrowed his eyes.

…It wasn't friendly.

"Eeee," Marcus visibly shuddered as images of the green lipstick wearing crone flashed through his mind.

"Are you cold from your shower too?" The girl asked.

"No, I'm ok, but thanks for asking," The Master Instructor shot her a grin. "Now, before Lieutenant Yuki falls over from lack of feeling in her legs," He picked up his 'Soul'. "Let me show you Kusanagi-no-Tachi's Koshirae."

"Finally," Talho huffed out as she leaned over onto the young S.O.F. Commander's shoulder who smiled and laughed as he ran his hand through his mane of unruly grey hair.

The girl sat up straighter, mind open to a blank page, hands poised over the paper, as Marcus began pointing out the fittings…Koshirae…on the elegantly deadly weapon.

"Handle…Tsuka." He pointed to the disk. "And this is called…Tsuba…"

Hands folded neatly in her lap, looking back at the old, yellowed page in her mind…

"This brass spacer…Seppa…"

…remembering as the young man had gazed upon her, his amber colored eyes brightly shining, laughing at her awkward attempt to repeat some new word…

"Fitting at the end of the Tsuka…Kashira…"

…the young girl; at first feeling embarrassment...

"The Tsuka is wrapped with…Tsukaito…"

…then…

"And these are called…Menuki…"

…a warm, comforting feeling as it sprang up, unexpectedly from her heart…

"This is a piece of bamboo, its called…Mekugi…"

…the same feeling the First Attendant felt now for the man sitting next to her.

"…This cord is called…Sageo, it is attached to the…Kurikata,"

The Master Instructor paused noticing her intently staring up at him.

Looking down into her eyes, he smiled.

"Daijoubu, Naomi?"

Staring back into those same, bright amber colored eyes, smiling back at him, Naomi nodded her head.

"Daijoubu."

"O-genki des'! Now where was I?"

"Kurikata," The girl repeated.

"Sugoi, kiddo," Talho laughed as Marcus continued.

"This is called the…Saya…"

Glancing down one more time at the page…

…the words surrounded by the crudely drawn heart…

Naomi let out a sigh…

…with an arrow drawn through it…

"The mouth of the Saya…Koiguchi…"

The words staring up at her…

…HE…

…MADE ME…

…SMILE…

As she slowly turned the page…

"The end of the Saya…Kojiri," The Master Instructor nodded his head in a affirmative matter.

The next page containing…

"Naomi, did I forget anything?" He asked.

Little 'N' Heart 'J'…

Shaking her head, Naomi quietly answered. "No, Jonathan…"

Drawn all over the page…

"…you didn't forget...anything."

Surrounding four more words…

…and standing, looking down on him, glancing one more time at the words…

I LOVE YOU JONATHAN.

….the First Attendant slowly closed the pages of her thoughts.

Head held back, the Master Instructor found himself getting lost amongst the myriad of stars shining down on him from the sea of the heavens.

"Tell me, Jonathan," A voice quietly emanated out of the darkness.

Not turning around, the scent from her perfume sharp in the cold dry air, Marcus let out another breath.

"Yes."

Standing behind him, wearing the leather overcoat, her pumps replaced with a pair of Federation issued lace-up fur-lined boots, Naomi walked up putting her arms around him resting her chin on his shoulder, the hood of his parka tilting her combination cover back on her head.

Looking up at the sea of stars she asked. "What is it you see?"

Feeling her body so close to his, her chest pressing into his back, the smell of her hair bringing to mind memories of Katrina, stirring up emotions he hadn't felt since the atmospheric flight in the compartment of the Izumo he continued looking up into the night sky.

"What is it you see, Jonathan-kun?" The First Attendant breathed the question in his ear.

"Naomi, I'm engage…" He began as the Kunoichi gently turned him, putting her arms around his neck.

Putting her forehead up against his – the combination cover quietly falling onto the snow covered coral behind her – the tips of their noses touching, closing her eyes the First Attendant softly began saying. "I…I…really missed you,"

"Naomi,"

"I…I…" She quietly whispered. "Just…Just hold me, Jonathan."

Feeling his heart beating in time with hers - their pulses quickening as he put his arms around her, the warmth of her body as it pressed up against him comforting in the cold night air - he leaned his head down next to her ear, the braid tickling his nose.

"Why…Why now, Naomi?" He whispered in her ear. "And why did you…feel you had to…hide. Irina…Irina, she loved…she loved you so much…Naomi…,"

He shook his head as the tears threatened to return.

The First Attendant took a deep breath, inhaling his scent, her heart pounding heavily in her chest, overflowing with love for the man as he wrapped his arms tightly around her, the emotions she was sensing from him as he held her wildly different from last time as they held each other in the zero gravity sharing a simple kiss…

"…Naomi…"

…feeling as her ears began to turn warm as he breathed out her name, her body beginning to softly tremble in his embrace as she felt herself responding to him, reacting to his touch in strange unfamiliar ways, new sensations she had never before in her long life ever experienced as certain parts of her body began doing things that she didn't fully understand…

…becoming sexually…

…aroused…

…in a way altogether different than the physical arousal she experienced during armed combat…

…while the unseen hands of her mind erratically transcribed down every little detail on the blank pages of her thoughts…

…This…this is…why is…my body…He is…I am…

"Naomi…Naomi…I love…"

Marcus suddenly stopped speaking as Naomi put her forehead back against his, the sound as she breathed heavily through her nose loud in the stillness, the stars shining brightly in the night sky reflecting off the snow and into the whites of her eyes as she looked expectantly up at him.

Looking deep into the windows of her soul, a part of his mind noticed, that her eyes…

Those impossibly green emerald colored eyes.

"Jonathan…I…" She began.

…seemed to emanate a light from within…

"…I…wanted you…"

…a reddish hue…

"…to…make…"

…encircling...

"…Me…laugh…"

…her iris.

"…First."

He leaned his head back just as the clouds rolled silently overhead blocking out the sea of stars, the red glow fading away into the darkness of his mind.

"Eh?"

Placing her hand on the back of his head, her body seemingly to react on its own, Naomi stood up on her tiptoes and pressing her mouth against his, forcing her tongue between his lips, vigorously began kissing him.

Blinking his eyes a couple of times, his body unconsciously reacting, feeling as her body shook with desire, his gloved hands slowly tracing the curves of her body, the supple leather having molded itself around her, he closed his eyes and began passionately kissing her back.

"Jonathan…" Naomi breathlessly said his name as their lips parted. "…Please…do not…hold back,"

Pulse roaring in his ears, he looked her in the eyes again for a moment, then reaching up sliding his left hand under her braid, grasping the back of her head, right hand sliding down below the leather waist belt, Marcus pulled her eagerly towards him.

Taking several deep breaths, Naomi felt herself beginning to loose control emotionally, her body trembling uncontrollably as he held her so tight...so close…her eyes practically crossing as she looked between his eyes and lips, their breathing becoming labored in the cold air, the vapor swirling around the two…

…While the planet, sensing the strong emotions…

…flung out into the sea of consciousness …

…of one 'born from the earth'…

…began waking up.

Chaos

"Goodness, what a day," Chief Taylor stretched his heavily muscled arms above his head. Sitting in the TypeALPHA's cockpit he stifled a yawn as he glanced over at the ALPHA's Technical Manual, or TM.

Shaking his head back and forth, he exasperatedly let out a breath. "So ole girl, why are your actuators being so difficult today."

"Chief!" One of the TypeALPHA's techs yelled up at the big man.

Poking his head out of the cockpit, the Diva yelled back. "Justin, why are you still here?"

Shrugging his shoulders the young man looked down at the concrete hanger floor. "There isn't anything to do here, and there really isn't anything in Bellforest to do either."

"Where is everyone else?"

Justin looked back up. "I guess they are back at the barracks,"

The Diva leaned back into the acceleration couch. "Well, since you're here, come up and give me a hand."

"Moving Chief,"

Justin enthusiastically jumped up on the TypeALPHA's right 'leg' and quickly made his way over across the "Hard Point", the weapons mount currently empty, and sitting cross-legged looked down at the TM Taylor had propped up on the right cockpit bulkhead.

"Still working on the primary control actuators, Chief?"

The Diva wiped one of his huge hands down his face. "Yes, but I just don't get it,"

"What Chief?"

Taylor shook his head. "I've never once had a problem, then today…" He placed his hand on his chin. "It's like,"

"Like what," Justin asked as he reached down and picked up the technical manual.

"It's a silly thought," The Diva blurted out. "But its almost as if she doesn't want the Major to leave."

The Tech looked up from the manual. "She?"

Raising a finely shaped eyebrow, the Diva replied. "Eureka,"

"You mean Eureka doesn't want the Major to leave?"

"No honey, that's not what I mean." He shook his head again. "Eureka told me that the ALPHA is a 'she'."

Justin began thumbing through the manual. "I don't see anywhere that mentions the archetypes as being gender specific?"

"Give me that," The Diva quickly reached over snatching the TM out of the Techs hands. "It doesn't,"

"Sorry Chief." Justin leaned back against the weapons mount. "Hey, speaking of Eureka, that Information Bureau Colonel who showed up this morning,"

"Her perfume was pretty…fierce," The Diva absentmindedly remarked.

"Not to mention, her uniform, and the way she handled Lieutenant Yuki with that wooden sword," Justin's ears turned bright red. "That was pretty hot,"

"Calm down recruit," Taylor jokingly told the young Tech. Flipping back to the page in the TM he had been going over earlier, he asked. "So what about her?"

"Oh, well I thought that she must've been here to see Eureka?"

Scratching his bald head as he studied the electrical diagram that laid out the connections of the mechanical actuators to the organic tissues of the archetype, Taylor asked. "Why would you think that, Justin?"

Thinking for a moment, the Tech leaned over looking at the schematic.

"Wasn't the Colonel Eureka's sister?"

"What!" The Diva squealed. Looking up a the young man he began ranting. "Why on earth would you think that?"

"Well, I thought it was pretty obvious, I mean except for the hair," Justin held his hands up and began laughing at the antics of his Crew Chief. "And the way they acted. I mean couldn't you tell. I was talking with a couple of other techs about it too. Their mannerisms, it was almost as if they were twins or something, weird."

Calming down, turning his attention back to the manual, Taylor quietly mulled over Justin's observation…

…You know, I never really noticed, but Eureka, she does kinda look like…

…just as the TypeALPHA suddenly powered up, its Compact drive glowing brightly.

"Whaaat?" The Diva muttered as the hanger spotlights, hanging from power cables suspended from the ceiling, began shaking.

Grabbing onto the ALPHA's weapons mount, eyes wide Justin shouted out.

"Scab Burst!"

Sitting in the middle of a large circular booth of the same diner from earlier that morning, Eureka took a sip of her 8up through a brightly colored straw, the remains of a half finished small pepperoni pete-sa on the plate in front of her.

"I'm trying to tell you that this is no coincidence, you know." Talho excitedly said in between bites of her Bellforest burger, fries and milk shake.

Holland watched in quiet amazement, his grey eyes wide, as the I. B. Officer slowly consumed the huge hamburger…Where does she put it all?

Placing the steak knife back onto the platter, Edward slowly savored the cut of his New York strip. "I tend to agree with Talho. It does seem rather coincidental that Marcus would receive change of station orders the night before Naomi shows up."

"Not to mention, they were classified way beyond all our pay grades," Talho continued stuffing her mouth. "I'm just saying." She gulped down some of the milkshake.

"That not unusual," The Assistant Instructor leaned back into the booth. "Most of the ops we ran for S.T.A.T. were classified."

Talho took another bite of her burger. "True, but I bet your orders never came directly from the top."

Edward rubbed his chin. "I think I'm going to need to see a therapist after what that old woman put me through." He laughed as he picked up the knife and cut another piece of steak.

Bringing the fork up, he paused staring at the chunk of meat. "You're right though, I don't think that those orders could have came from anybody else higher up than Koda."

Holland twirled a fork in his plate of spaghetti and meatballs. "What difference does it make."

Talho and Edward both looked at him.

"What?" He dropped his fork back into his plate. "Marcus doesn't seem too concerned about it."

The Assistant Instructor took a drink of his Rersi. "Exactly, and that is what I'm concerned about."

Squirting more ketchup on the mound of fries, Talho quickly shot out. "He needs to be more concerned about that First Attendant."

"Naomi," The girl quietly said her name.

"Didn't you two notice? She has got it BAD for him,"

Puzzled look. "What does Naomi have…that is…bad…for Marcus?"

"I'll tell you later, kiddo," Talho said as she shoveled a forkful of fries into her mouth.

The girl looked down at the I.B. Officers service dress uniform jacket.

"Uh…Talho," She pointed.

Talho looked down at the spot of ketchup on the grey jacket, her face slowly beginning to turn a shade of red. "Shit!"

"Can I get you all anything else tonight?"

Well, I guess that confirms that…Edward thought wondering how he was ever going to be able to explain to the girl all the four-letter words he had heard Talho use as the I.B. Officer began dabbing at the ketchup stain.

Looking up at the waitress, he told her. "No, I think we are all set, thanks."

"Sure thing honey. Ma'am,"

Mumbling several more choice words under her breath…I just put this on this morning…Talho looked up. "Yes?"

"I can bring you some club soda, if it would help."

"Thanks,"

"Ok, I'll be right back."

"Speaking of Marcus, where did those two disappear off to?" Holland blew on the hot noodles.

Edward dug into the baked potato, generous portions of sour cream and butter oozing out the sides as he cut into it with the steak knife. "I think he wanted to go over the mission parameters and weapons load-out with her."

Stuffing a cloth napkin into the collar of her jacket, Talho snickered. "Oh, she's going to want to see his load-out alright."

Edward dropped both his knife and fork on the platter, his mouth a straight line, whites of his eyes showing as he silently pleaded with Talho. "Please, stop,"

"What!" Talho loudly retorted. "I'm just saying…"

Holland brought his hand up to his forehead. "We get it Lieutenant."

Taking a small bite of her pete-sa, Eureka sat the half-eaten slice back on her plate. "Holland, why wouldn't Naomi want to see his…load-out?"

Dropping his fork back onto his plate, the S.O.F. Commander looked up at the ceiling…Lord help me, please.

"Exactly, kiddo," Talho took a huge bite out of the burger. "See, Eureka understands."

Taking another sip of 8up, the girl matter-of-factly stated. "Yes. I am sure Naomi will be more than satisfied with his load-out."

Lifting the milkshake glass up, digging at the thick liquid with a thin spoon, Talho slyly told her. "More than you know, kiddo,"

Edward shook his head, motioning for the waitress. "Excuse me, Ma'am."

"What is it sugar?"

"Can we get this to go, my Lieutenant has to be back on base early so she can clean up her room tomorrow…before a surprise inspection."

"Sure thing. Ill bring you all some to-go boxes."

Talho slammed the empty milkshake glass down on the table. "HEY! That's not fair!"

Holland shrugged his shoulders as the waitress sat several cardboard boxes on their table. "A surprise inspection?"

Edward opened one of the to-go boxes sliding the remains of his steak and baked potato into it. "Sure. Ask Eureka, she understands…right Talho?"

The I.B. Officer shoveled more fries into her mouth. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Dabbing at the corners of her mouth with her napkin, Eureka looked up at Holland.

Edward took the check. "Go ahead, tell him about her room Eureka."

Nodding her head, the girl said. "Chaos,"

Talho finished her burger. "Thanks a lot, kid…Eureka! Hey! What the hell! Where are you going!"

Sensing as the planet called out, responding to strong emotions flung haphazardly into the sea of consciousness, the girl slid under the table and crawling out into the aisle, stood up sprinting for the door.

Feeling the diner as it slowly began to rock back and forth, Edward quickly made room for Talho to get out of the booth as Holland made his way out the other side.

"Eureka wait!" The Assistant Instructor shouted out as he ran after the girl as the people in the diner sat there stunned for a moment, then a woman screamed out…

"Scab burst!"

As people began crowding for the door, grabbing Talho by the hand, Holland began pushing his way through the panicked crowd. "Edward, find her, we're right behind you!"

Not acknowledging the S.O.F. Commander, the Assistant Instructor burst out the front door quickly finding the girl.

Standing in the middle of the diner parking lot, her lavender eyes staring out towards the research facility as an enormous tsunami of trappar began rippling out across the night sky, the epicenter located somewhere on the facility. Closing her eyes, the girl quietly listened for a moment, then turning looking up at the Assistant Instructor she pointed back towards the base just as the crowd began bursting out of the diner and into the parking lot.

"Eureka, what is it?"

"I tried to tell you Edward."

He bent down putting his hands on her small shoulders as the ground continued to shake underfoot. "Tell me what, sweetie."

Tears forming in the corners of her eyes, the girl shook his hands off. "But you didn't listen."

"Eureka, I'm sorry," He calmly told her as the world began to shake apart around them. He put his hands back on her shoulders. "I'm listening. Please, tell me."

Unearthly eyes wide, the girl sniffed back her tears. "Really?"

The Assistant Instructor smiled as the shaking suddenly ceased. "Really, Eureka."

"Edward, ten o'clock!" Holland shouted from where he was dragging Talho out of the entrance of the diner just as one of the large pile bunkers, rod-like objects driven into the ground to suppress the tectonic shifts in the Scab Coral, was launched out of the ground and flung high into the night sky.

Seeing the rod as it lazily spun through the air towards where he and the girl were standing, the Assistant Instructor shook his head.

"Well…ain't this some bullshit,"

Almost as immediately as the TypeALPHA began powering up, the center console going from shades of grey, to brighter shades of amber and red, the Diva suddenly found himself trapped, the canopy sliding shut with a sharp hiss snap hiss as the pneumatic actuators sealed the cockpit, the low pressure air flask mounted just aft of the acceleration couch quickly pressurizing the small space.

"Try hitting the power button!" Justin yelled through the canopy.

"I already tried!" The Diva yelped out.

"Try again Chief!"

Turning back to the TypeALPHA's control console he began stabbing at the big red power button with his huge thumb. "It's still not working!"

Thinking quickly the young Tech jumped over the rear air-intake. "Hold on Chief…let me try disconnecting the power coupling,"

"Justin be careful," Taylor yelled out as an information box jumped up at him on the TypeALPHA's main console's screen, the LFO sounding a warning tone through the cockpit. "Now what?"

Quickly reading the information, the Diva slowly crossed his arms and leaned back into the padded seat as the canopy suddenly went from clear mode and into flight mode as the TypeALPHA's main engines came online, the Compac Drive glowing a brighter shade of green illuminating the cockpit.

Watching as the Trappar density gauge began overloading, so high was the reading, Taylor slowly said. "Oh my…that's…Fierce,"

Scrambling down the rear of the big machine, Justin ran over killing the main power to the static frequency converters that stepped-up the normal power feed allowing the batteries to recharge at an increased rate.

Reaching up he began disconnecting the huge, black power cable from its fitting on the LFO just as he heard the unmistakable sound as the engines began slowly whining as they came on-line. "Come on…almost there…got it!" He said as the coupling snapped free.

Almost on clue the TypeALPHA's tires began spinning in its ground chocks, the wheels billowing out clouds of white smoke as the machine skewed towards the left.

"Whoa!" Justin yelled out as he jumped behind the large electrical control panels, the back end of the LFO just barely missing the young Tech as it smashed through its berth and into Commander Holland's Nine-Zero-Nine.

"Chief what the hell!" He yelled as he heard the gear box cycling as the TypeALPHA shifted into reverse, the engine roaring under full military power as it left dark black rubber marks on the concrete hanger floor slipping the front sets of ground chocks before pausing, the gear box shifting again, dropping into first gear; fishtailing slightly on the slick concrete floor, white smoke billowing out behind it, the TypeALPHA shot out of the hanger and into the cold winter night as alarms began echoing across the base.

Running into the middle of the hanger bay, the acrid smell of burnt rubber hanging in the cold air, Justin slowly shook his head as the TypeALPHA switched over to wave rider, boosters flaring bright, and catching the leading edge of one of the largest waves of Trappar the young Tech had ever seen in his short life, shot out in the direction of Bellforest.

Marveling at the speed of the LFO, he remarked. "Well, this sure beats sitting in the barracks,"

Shaking in the small confines of the cockpit, hands wrapped around both the TypeALPHA's HOTAS, twisting the sticks back and forth, forward and back, Taylor tried not to panic as the controls weren't responding. Looking down he began tapping on the foot pedals, trying out various sequences' of clutch, break and throttle to no avail as the LFO shot through the sky, the cockpit bathed in the ethereal green glow of the trappar waves.

Looking around the cockpit, the Diva shrugged his massive shoulders. "I guess I'm just along for the ride,"

Shaking his head, Taylor reached down and picked up the headset placing it over his ears. As he plugged into the headphone jack he was immediately met with a cacophony of voices as the small contingent of Master-at-Arms assigned to provide security for ComSOGSeven was apparently dealing with multiple Scab burst, explosively powerful localized up-croppings of live coral, that were happening across the large research facility and into the outskirts of Bellforest.

"Four-Two…Two-Five…Sitrep?"

"Hey!" the Diva placed his hand over the head set. "I recognize that number,"

"Two-Five…We are all clear here, no injuries, but there are several large pile bunkers that have been thrown out of the ground." A female's voice replied over the transmitter/receiver.

Taylor reached out and touched one of the buttons on the center console bringing up a communications box. He keyed a button on the left HOTAS. "Four-Two…uh…Tango-One,"

The female quickly responded. "Go ahead Tango-One,"

"Oh good," Taylor let out a sigh. "Four-Two meet me on…" He looked back down at the console. "Meet me on TAC five. Copy?"

"Good copy…TAC five."

Taylor looked out the cockpit, the Tower City of Bellforest looming large to his right. "Where are we heading in such a hurry tonight girlfriend?" He silently asked the LFO as a new communications box window appeared over the first one, the young female's voice clear as she began saying.

"Chief Taylor…is that you I heard?"

"Benoit, hey! How's it going?" The Diva ran his hand over his bald head.

"It's pretty chaotic down here. What are you doing in the TypeALPHA?"

Feeling as the LFO began descending he asked. "Have you seen Marcus, or Edward?"

"Are you ok, Chief?"

Taking a deep breath, the Diva tried to keep himself calm. "Benoit, have you seen or heard from the Major?"

"Isn't he at the hanger? I thought I saw him walking around outside by himself earlier. Why, what's wrong."

The big man slowly began repeating to himself. "Calm…be calm…" Just as a new alarm, a proximity alert, he noted, began competing for his attention. "Now what!" Keying the mic he told Benoit. "Hold on a sec,"

"Standing by, Chief," She replied just as the TypeALPHA leaned heavily back on the Magne-traction board slowing its decent, green tendrils of light splashing around highlighting the vaguely humanoid form, the LFO turning its head, the HUD locking onto what Chief Taylor quickly recognized as one of the larger pile bunkers that scientist had discovered kept the Scab Coral dormant, the TypeALPHA outlining the long pole in yellow, a line stretching from the left side of the canopy to the front, as numbers gave the approximate distance relative to the LFO's position as the spike lazily spun end over end high in the night sky.

Hearing the sound as the TypeALPHA's hip actuators began engaging, the transmission downshifting into a lower gear, he instinctively reached out firmly grasping onto the Hand-on-Throttle-and-Stick controls as the big machine's torso began to rotate as the Heads-up-Display painted another target down below on what the Diva recognized as belonging to a popular off-bass diner…

Leaning forward slightly, Taylor began to tighten his abs preparing for high speed maneuvering…

…the Targeting and Acquisition Gear locking onto the target…

The TypeALPHA dropping its left shoulder down towards the parking lot below…

…the target outlined in yellow…

The LFO going almost horizontal as it hung suspended, ref board blocking out the night sky…

…Heads up display scrolling out the range of the target…

And doing an 'Ollie' off the leading edge of the wave of Trappar…

…the Identification Friend or Foe ID'ing the target…

The TypeALPHA topping out off the top lip of the ethereal energy…

…drawing a yellow line extending…

Flexing the armored knee joints, tucking them up into its chest…

… to a small rectangular box…

The LFO twisting back as the Magne-Traction board floated back down into the sea of consciousness…

…the letters all in caps spelling out onto the cockpit's front screen…

And pushing back down into the wave, back boosters igniting…

…E…U…R…E…K…A…

…the TypeALPHA shot down towards its intended target.

Her iris's fully expanded, eyes practically crossing darting between his eyes and mouth, her mouth slightly parted, bottom lip extended, lower jaw slack, breathing in short labored bursts, left hand resting lightly on his right shoulder, right hand fumbling with the buttons on the front of his regulation issued parka…

Left hand firmly gripping the back of her head, right hand sliding down the back of the soft leather coat, feeling the firmness of her thigh through his gloved hand as he began to work his way down as she lifted her boot off the snow covered coral, his hand coming to rest on the outside of her left knee, his breathing becoming heavier, deeper as he slowly felt his way up her skirt, her nylons warm to his touch…

"Jonathan…" She breathed out his name. "…Don't…don't hold…back…"

Bringing his mouth down to hers, he began kissing her, the smell of her exotic perfume filling his nostrils as he tasted her, his tongue tracing around the inside of her mouth, her lips pressing up against his as she gently forced his tongue back inside his mouth as he lifted her up off the ground.

Reaching her left hand back behind his neck she pulled herself up onto him, swiftly wrapping her long legs around his waist locking her feet together as she yanked down the zipper of the thick coat and began working her right arm under his parka, pulling the back of his shirt up, her pale hand warm on his bare skin.

Between all the kissing and breathing, he told her. "Hang…hang on…tight…ok…"

Breaths coming quickly now, her pale skin flush, body completely aroused, lips parting for a moment, putting her forehead back against his she feverishly bit out. "Ryou…kai…"

Naomi tightly holding onto him, Marcus lowered himself straight down to the ground. Unwrapping her legs she straddled him unbuttoning her overcoat as he began undoing the waist buckle.

Pushing him down onto his back, she paused looking down into his eyes. Nylon clad legs still straddling him she leaned down briefly kissing him, leaned up, whispered in his ear between baited breaths.

"I…I…don't know…what I should…I don't know…what I should do…next…"

She rested her forehead back on his, heavily inhaling and exhaling, her bright eyes imploringly looking down into his.

Finding himself exhaling and inhaling in time with her, his own eyes crossing as he stared at the fullness of her lips, feeling the firmness of her chest, his gloved hands playing across her thighs as she pressed herself against him; blinking his eyes a couple of times he softly said in between his own breathing.

"Just…Just try…and relax…try and control…control your breathing…you don't need…to be scared…Naomi…"

"But…but Jonathan…I…I am…not…scared…"

"Then…why…are you…your body is…trembling so…"

"…I am…not…trembling…Jonathan…"

She took a deep breath, pressed her lips against his and continued kissing him.

Laying there her tongue slowly exploring the inside of his mouth as the heat from their bodies began melting the snow covered ground…

The Master Instructor began to notice a sound…

…Marcus opened his eyes looking up into the clouds…

A low rumbling….

…catching the movement as something shot up high into the sky behind them…

Gradually increasing in volume…

…he moved his head as her hands began exploring pulling up the front of his shirt…

And intensity…

…looking over her right shoulder feeling the warmth of her hand on his stomach…

Emanating from the planet itself…

…her fingers sliding slowly down below his beltline his amber eyes widening in realization…

The area around the two beginning to glow a greenish hue…

…at what the large object was flying through the air…

The ground beginning to shake…

…spinning end over end…

As the planet woke up from…dreaming.

…the huge pile bunker bore down on the two lovers.

Feeling the slight resistance from the hand actuators on the inside of the HOTAS, the Diva began flexing his fingers varying he amount of pressure on each of the four studs molded into the controls, the TypeALPHA's armored hands opening and closing in response to the manual input, the HUD showing the distance to where the girl and the Assistant Instructor stood on the parking lot projected on the forward most part of the cockpit view screen, the long metal pile bunker painted on the right side of the cockpit, the TAG projecting the predicted point of impact.

This is going to be close…Taylor silently prayed as the g-forces pushed his large frame back into the LFO's acceleration couch. Gritting his teeth, he shouted out to the archetype. "YOU GO GIRL!"

Watching as the pile bunker inexorably spun towards them, the Assistant Instructor scanned the area directly to his front and reacted.

Grabbing the girl, holding her tightly against him he began running…

"EDWARD, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!" Talho screamed out as Holland drug her across the parking lot.

…directly towards the spinning rod.

Vectoring a little high and to the left of the on-coming spinning projectile the TypeALPHA began leaning into the Magne-Traction board, and extending it arms, opening armored hands, right hand palm down left hand palm up, splayed its fingers wide.

HOTAS twisting in his hands the Diva began realizing what the LFO was setting up for, the relative distance down to double digits as it quickly closed the distance to the spinning pile bunker.

Glancing to the cockpit readout on his left he saw the outlined form of the girl as she was being held…

"Edward!" Taylor blurted out.

…by the Assistant Instructor, the two running towards where the LFO's targeting and acquisition gear had computed as the most likely solution for impact.

"What are you doing? Are you insane!" Looking down at the drive held securely in its Tsurin-type socket the Diva yelped out. "Girl, you need to hurry your big ass up!"

Responding to the emotions of the big man, Compac drive glowing brightly, the TypeALPHA reignited its back boosters, pushing itself even faster towards the large metal rod.

"Hang on Eureka, tight!" Edward yelled to the girl as he ran silently praying that his old worn-out knees would hold out long enough for him to at least get her clear.

Lavender eyes going wide as she glanced over his shoulder, the girl gasped as the grey form of the TypeALPHA, smoke billowing out from behind, boosters flaring brightly in the night sky, the Magne-Traction board cutting into the ethereal energy leaving a bright green line of trappar in its wake as it dove down towards them.

Edward clenched his teeth as he stopped and gripping Eureka as tightly to him as he could, ignoring the pain in his knees, took a deep breath watching as the pile bunker…This timing thing had better work…loomed large over the two of them.

Just as he was about to make his move, out of the corner of his eye he saw, moving faster than he even thought possible, arms out hands wide open, the TypeALPHA vectored in preparing to catch the huge spinning rod.

Eyes wide, his body held fast in the TypeALPHA's acceleration couch, Taylor literally was getting a first hand view of what was happening as the LFO began reaching out - hands slowly turning as mechanical actuators began sending electrical impulses down into the servos controlling pitch and roll, the organic tissues interpreting the signal as a sign to tilt the Magne-Traction board, the seven groves biting into the side of the invisible wave - the light as the ref-board carved into the energy reflecting off the snowflakes that silently began falling down onto the town from the clouds above, the TypeALPHA turning in synch with the pile bunker.

Holland and Talho stood amongst the small crowd of civilians from the diner watching helplessly as the low-visibility grey painted form of the Master Instructors LFO descended, skimming along just above the street lights.

"He's not going to make it," Someone yelled out from the crowd of people.

"Eureka!" Holland shouted out as Edward threw himself protectively over the girl.

"OH BABY!" Taylor turned his head away involuntarily as the TypeALPHA suddenly twisted its hips ninety degrees, leaning back hard.

"Sweet boardslide!" A teenaged girl yelled out as the LFO started grinding along the ledge of trappar, the energy spilling out along the edges of the ref-board.

Knees absorbing the shock as the inner grooves cut into the Magne-Traction board began kicking up little eddies of energy generating high amounts of friction creating drag, the TypeALPHA began leaning its upper torso far to the left as its legs, the ref-board magnetically locked to the feet of the LFO, began sliding out from under its hips just as the armored hands clamped down hard on the pile bunker, the weight of the huge metal spike causing the ALPHA to pitch violently left.

Gripping both HOTAS tightly the Diva cursed under his breath watching as the smooth metal pole, sparks shooting out between the armored fingers, began to slide through the hands of the TypeALPHA as it began pushing down hard on the ref-board, allowing its momentum to carry it forward slightly, and just as the pile bunker seemed to almost slip through its fingers, the LFO twisted it hips and fired its boosters, swinging the steel rod like a huge club flinging it far out into a large open field behind the diner.

"Whoa…" The S.O.F. Commander remarked, the ref-boarder in him impressed with the move as the crowd began enthusiastically shouting and cheering.

"You two ok?" Talho said as she ran up to Edward, who was helping Eureka up of the ground.

"Great," Edward shot her his famous grin as the girl ran over to where the TypeALPHA had landed, the LFO down on its right knee holding the Magne-Traction board with its right arm, the long board resting against its right shoulder.

Taylor slumped back into the acceleration couch. Taking off the headset, rubbing his bald head he let out an exasperated breath. "Whew. That was…Now what?" He looked back up as the head of the LFO turned, expectantly looking back towards the base.

"What the…" He slowly said as the TAG locked onto another target, the IFF quickly throwing up another box as yellow letters started spelling out.

…N…A…

Suddenly, without warning, the canopy reverted back to clear mode and opened, the console going dark.

The Diva leaned forward looking at the darkened panel. "Huh,"

"Chief…Taylor?"

"Oh, hey sweetie. You ok?"

Surprised to see the TypeALPHA's chief tech sitting in the cockpit, the girl tilted her head and closed her eyes for moment…

Listening.

Opening her eyes, Eureka calmly told him. "She says I need to go."

Shaking his head, Taylor looked back down at the console. "I don't understa…"

"Taylor…" The girl stared down at him.

Seeing the intensity contained in her lavender eyes, remembering the same look on the face of another young girl, Taylor quietly mused…You know, I think Justin was onto something.

"…we have to go…now."

Staring back up into those unearthly eyes, the Diva looked down, thought for a moment…

"Taylor…now,"

…then looking back up at the girl, he smiled.

"Well honey, one shouldn't keep a lady waiting."

"Hey, what's going on up there?" Holland shouted out as the Diva squeezed himself out of the cockpit. "Chief…Taylor?"

Climbing down, the Diva shrugged his massive shoulders. "Hey, I'm just as surprised as you are,"

"Where's Marcus?" Edward asked as the TypeALPHA's cockpit sealed shut.

"He's not with you?"

"Marcus," Holland angrily hissed as the LFO stood up and switching into 'Land Mode', tires smoking tore off down the stretch of road leading back towards the base.

Having scooted the seat all the way foreword, headset adjusted down to its smallest setting, her small hands lightly gripping the HOTAS, looking down at the console, the TypeALPHA's Compact drive glowing brightly, the green glow reflecting off the face of 'one born from the earth', the girl quickly switched over to 'Wave Rider', the magnetic locks snapping into place reverberating up into the cockpit, and triggering the boosters began flying back towards the base…

Eureka furrowed her teal brows together.

…as the IFF suite finished spelling out…

…N…A…O…M…I…

Her hand stopping, Naomi excitingly inhaled, her green eyes going wide in anticipation. Wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue, biting her lower lip, she slowly exhaled.

"Oh my…Jonathan..."

"Naomi!" The Master Instructor yelled out her name as he threw his left arm tightly around her pulling her down on top of him, his right hand pushing her left knee straight back along his right leg while he began arching his back, thrusting up with his hips rolling them quickly over.

"Jonathan!" Naomi excitingly called out his name, wondering at first if he was going to begin to show her 'what she needed to do' by incorporating techniques from some of the ground combat styles she was familiar with as he rolled her over into the snow.

Looking over his shoulder, eyes going wide seeing the pile bunker - the heavier 'L' shaped end impacting into the mound of coral as the heavy metal rod began slamming into the ground - the First Attendant 'Switching Gears' sharply inhaled as she quickly scanned the page she had turned to just moments before containing some of the ancient techniques Father had called…

…Jiujutsu…

…grabbing his parka high up on the collar with her left hand, crossing her right arm over the top of her left, grabbing the other side of his collar with her right hand she started pushing his upper body away while at the same time, bringing both her knees up, sliding her right foot under his left thigh, left foot firmly driving the thick winter boot cleats into the cold snow covered ground...

The Master Instructor smiled down at her as he mentally prepaired himself for the throw he knew was coming.

…and pulling herself up, kissing him, began falling back pulling his upper body down with her, and using the boot dug into the coral as leverage, strongly thrusting her hips up, lifting her right leg straight into the air as she began pushing his upper body up and back, threw him several feet away.

Continuing to drive her hips up, using the momentum created as she easily tossed him off her, tucking her head towards her left shoulder the First Attendant reached back planting her right hand on the cold snow and throwing her right leg over her head rolled over her right shoulder and into a crouch…left knee up, right down…and not wasting a moment pivoted and inhaling deeply, shot out and away from the falling pile bunker as it obliterated the melted spot of snow covered ground the two lovers had occupied only milliseconds before.

Watching as Marcus executed a perfect front roll on the snow covered coral - the Master Instructor standing up and dropping his left leg back hands up pivoted back assessing the area where the large metal rod landed - the First Attendant noticed a bright green glow emanating from several fissures surrounding the area as she began silently descending.

Zipping up the parka, the Master Instructor began dusting the snow off himself as the First Attendant landed in a crouch next to him.

Slowly shaking his head looking at the pile bunker laid out across the area, the large rod having upturned several hundred feet of dead coral, the mounds a darker shade of brown; noticing the brim of her combination cover sticking out of the snow, he walked over and reaching down picked it up.

Shaking the debris out of it he turned it over in his hands a couple of times. Noticing as small snowflakes started landing on the black brim he turned his face up looking into the cloudy sky.

Feeling as the falling snow landed on his face Marcus remarked. "Well now…that was interesting,"

He gazed over at her and smiled.

"Yes Jonathan…quite," She smiled warmly back.

'He' made me smile…

Walking over he started helping Naomi square herself away. Wiping the snow off the back of her leather overcoat he paused for a moment as she opened the coat wide and shook it out as larger snowflakes began falling around them.

Bending over she started pulling down on the hem of her skirt. Arching an eyebrow he reached out slowly brushing a patch of snow off her backside, his hand lingering for a moment. Exhaling loudly through his nose, he gave her a gentle squeeze.

Straightening up Naomi turned her head. "Jonathan…You are such a tease."

"Now where were we?" He slyly asked as she turned wrapping her long arms around his neck as he gently placed the combination cover back on her head.

Giving him a gentle peck on the lips as he grabbed her derrière with both his hands pressing her hips firmly against him Naomi breathed out…

"I think you were about to show me how to…"

…just as an enormous Scab Burst explosively erupted directly underneath them.

Cutting through the raging rapids of trappar that were rippling out from the base, the Master Instructors LFO bouncing off the heads of the waves as the Magne-Traction board's outer edges found purchase in the rough troughs as the girl smoothly rotated the HOTAS left-right-left, the long board carving out graceful 'S' curves in the greenish yellow energy, her small body being buffeted around in the TypeALPHA's cockpit as the Heads-Up-Display continued giving her information, the LFO letting her know where on the Bellforest Research Facility the epicenter of the madly swirling tsunami's of Trappar flowed out from the sea of consciousness, while simultaneously the Targeting and Acquisition gear feed her real-time track details on the relative bearing and range to the target as the Identification Friend of Foe kept repeating, the letters scrolling across the small inset box in seven-second intervals.

…N…A...O…M…I…

Eureka set her mouth in a straight line taking a deep breath in through her nose and gripping the controls, prepared herself as another massive wave bore down on the TypeALPHA out of the vortex of the planets thoughts as the Scab Coral continued reacting to the intense emotions being tossed into it.

Waiting as the leading edge of the wave was almost upon her, lavender eyes looking up…up…up….

Exhaling through her mouth she began hauling back on the controls, rolling the balls of her right foot over to the break pedal from off the acceleration pedal, left foot pushing down hard on the clutch, the whine as the bull-gear spun freely as the clutch plate smoothly began disengaging the transmission, right hand coming off finding the gear shifter she smoothly shifted down into a lower gear. Slowly letting up the clutch the girl felt the skeletal frame shake from the high torque as the lower gear engaged, the manual input interpreted directly from the girls will and amplified through the Compac Drive into the archetype, the TypeALPHA leaned back slightly on the board creating more drag then throwing its upper body left, pointing the tip of the long board towards the eleven-o'clock position relative to the descending wall of trappar and firing its back boosters, the wake cut behind it a whitish-green foam, the LFO road almost straight up the face of the wave.

Her eyes wide in amazement as the TypeALPHA's canopy was pelted with snow, the large flakes reminded her of a scene she had seen in one of Edward's old movies as a flat, saucer-shaped spaceship flew through space, the stars streaking by in what she had heard the actor – who for some strange reason reminded her of the Master Instructor – call what she had transcribed on the blank pages of her mind as "Hyperspace".

Written down as a footnote, to ask Lisa about it the next time she saw her, recalling the older male actor angrily telling the younger blonde haired actor that "Flying through Hyperspace isn't like dusting crops"; quietly setting in the crews lounge stuffing her mouth with buttery popcorn, Eureka had tilted her head thinking…I wonder if Luke is related to Sonja?

As the TypeALPHA shot straight through the curl of the wave, an alarm began sounding in the headset as the LFO began warning her of a sudden tectonic shift in the mounds of Scab Coral, the HUD flashing in big, bold letters…

…WARNING: SCAB BURST IMMINENT...

Tracing the yellow line extending from the IFF inset box to where the on-board computer had calculated the First Attendants position on the left side of the canopy, the girl twisted both HOTAS to the left, the LFO responding by rolling to its left giving her an almost unobstructed view below.

Narrowing her eyes at what she saw, she turned her head and looked down at the TypeALPHA's console. Finding what she was looking for she reached out touching one of the buttons on the LCD screen, the optical enhancement's built into the TypeALPHA's head quickly separating out the background from the electronic reproduced image on the screen, drawing a small square around the smaller area, enlarging the square as it quickly zoomed in on Naomi and...

Eureka let out a gasp, head recoiling in shock, quickly followed by her teal eyebrows knitting together, head tilting in curiosity as the optical enhancements faithfully reproduced – in vivid detail - the First Attendant, her knees on either side of his hips, sitting on top of the Master Instructor.

The girl leaned forward, her nose almost touching the canopy watching as Naomi leaned forward as Marcus hands seemed to suddenly disappear into the folds of the black leather coat as he ran his hands up her legs.

Puzzled look…Are they…fighting?

Eureka frowned as Naomi leaned forward, began kissing Marcus, then pulling her head back slightly, holding it there for a moment, placed her forehead against his then leaning forward resumed kissing him.

Very puzzled look…Why are Marcus and Naomi…kissing?

Intently staring at the two - the unseen hands flying across the blank page recoding in minute detail all she was seeing happening on the snow covered hill far below as the TypeALPHA slowly circled high above – she didn't notice as the TAG, locking onto a huge pile bunker as it shot out of the ground flying high up into air, began tracking the long rod as it slowly, spinning end over end hurtled directly towards where the First Attendant and the Master Instructor lay on the snow covered ground.

The girl raised an eyebrow as Naomi's right hand, pulling up the front of Marcus winter weight thermal shirt, paused for a moment on his tummy, then slowly disappeared underneath the front of Marcus parka.

Blank look…?

Eureka found herself feeling suddenly very confused. Leaning back into the TypeALPHA's padded acceleration couch she looked down at her Federation issued winter lace up boots.

Flipping back a few chapters, finding the page...

The girl let out an exasperated sigh as she remembered.

..."Lisa, I love you…" Marcus had repeated as she had silently watched him pull out a small velvet covered case holding it out in front Lisa…who was leaking tears… as had whispered to her…

"Will you marry me?"

…Love...

Eureka furrowed her brows together…

Continuing in a long slow arc around the center of the trappar waves, the TypeALPHA circled around, the Targeting and Acquisition Gear continuing to track both the spinning pile bunker and the relative position of the First Attendant, the two tracks electronically projected on either side of the canopy HUD slowly began merging.

…Does Marcus…love both…Lisa…and…Naomi?

A proximity alarm started going off in the Master Instructors headset causing the girl to look up…

Eureka let out another gasp…

…just as Marcus rolled Naomi onto her back…

Projected on all three sides of the canopy…

…the pile bunker smashing into the coral…

The archetype calling out…

…the First Attendant causually tossing the Master Instructor…

To 'One born from the Earth'…

…the Kunoichi leaping high into the air…

Flashing in huge letters…

…as the pile bunker obliterated the area.

…EUREKA…

…SAVE...

The girl looked back at the enhanced image of the First Attendant as she shook off the leather coat and leaning forward began fixing her uniform as the Master Instructor slowly began wiping off something from her backside causing her to turn and put her arms around his neck as the flashing letters were suddenly replaced, the Heads-up-Display reading…

...WARNING: SCAB BURST…

…just as the ground exploded violently outward and up, flinging Marcus and Naomi high up into the snowy sky.

Almost as soon as she wrapped her arms around his neck, the First Attendant felt the abrupt change in the consciousness in the air around them as the world erupted in noise and violence as an enormous, mushroomed shaped Scab Coral awoke from its peaceful slumber, pushing itself out of dormancy and back into the real world, the sudden release of thought overwhelming the Master Instructors human mind, rendering him immediately unconscious.

Feeling his body going limp in her embrace as they were flung high into the night sky, Naomi dropped her left arm down across his waist and controlling the back of his head, pulling him as close to her as she could, desperately clung to him as they tumbled up into air. Looking over his left shoulder she saw a green wake trailing out behind a low-visibility grey colored LFO as the huge wave of thoughts rolled out away from the gigantic out-cropping of Scab Coral.

As they reached the zenith of their ascent, the First Attendant began calling out into the random collection of thoughts, her mind focused on reaching out to her sister 'born from the earth'. Falling back towards the Scab Coral, tightly holding the only man - the 'one'- she loved with all her heart, tears flowing out the sides of her eyes from the onrush of air she looked down at the rough surface highlighted with small particles of trappar, and sensing the heavy hand of Death slowly wrapping his arms around them, welcoming them into his embrace; closing her eyes for a moment…

"I am so happy," She whispered into his ear.

…those impossibly green, emerald colored eyes…

"That you taught me how to smile."

…then opening her eyes as the wind violently whipped across her face as they plummeted towards the ground below…

"I love you with all my heart, Jonathan."

…unearthly lavender colored eyes shining brightly in the green glow, the red ring surrounding her iris contracting…

"Thank you."

…the Kunoichi smiled, staring Death directly in the face.

He blinked.

Eyes going wide as an enormous ripple of expanding consciousness slammed into the TypeALPHA, the girl caught completely off guard by the rapidly expanding trappar wave, the LFO flying along sideways to the rough surf, began rolling, quickly swept up by the onrushing onslaught.

Her small body slamming back and forth between the bulkheads, the cockpit lighting going red as several alarms screamed out for attention as the TypeALPHA, the flat surface of the Magne-Traction board catching the bulk of the turbulence caused by the large swell causing a strain on the LFO's drive-train it was never designed to withstand, went into emergency mode, large yellow letters flashing across all three sides of the canopy informing the pilot that the magnetic locks securing the board to its feet would begin disengaging …

ALERT: BAIL OUT IN 5 SECONDS.

…Eureka gritted her teeth as the turbulence tore off the large headset covering her ears…

BAIL OUT IN 4 SECONDS.

…and pulling back on the controls her small hands shaking tried to keep herself from coming off the seat…

OUT IN 3 SECONDS.

…as the headset plugged securely in its socket flew around the cabin…

IN 2 SECONDS.

…the corner of one of the padded ear muffs catching her right above the left eye…

1 SECOND.

…the girl crying out from the pain…

WARNING: BAIL OUT.

…reverberating through the Compac Drive…

MAGNETIC LOCKS.

…and into the archetype.

DISENGAGED.

Eyes flashing red, the TypeALPHA responding to the strong emotions of the two sisters 'born from the Earth', actuators straining, began moving.

Throwing its arms and legs straight out and back, armored hands gripping the edges of the Magne-Traction board as it flew out from under its feet, the TypeALPHA belly-flopped on top of the board and turning its head into the wave, twisted its upper torso leaning hard to the front, turning perpendicular to the rolling wave, pushed the tip of the board under the ethereal energy flipping it self under the length of its entire armored body, turning upside down, the LFO's feet facing out from the wave as it floated under the board, allowing the up-swell to create lift pushing the TypeALPHA up along the face of the huge rolling wave.

Splashing out the other side, the yellow green light bathing the LFO in a soft glow as it flipped back upright on the backside of the wave, the girl intently focusing on the TAG as it tracked the rapidly falling form of the First Attendant and the Master Instructor, quickly began initiating a sequence of manual inputs – pulling back on the right HOTAS, pushing forward on the left, right hand coming off grabbing the shifter, left foot mashing the clutch to the floorboard, throwing the shifter up and over, foot coming off the clutch as she slammed the accelerator through the firewall, both hands firmly back on the Hand-on-throttle-and-Stick controls - the archetype interpreting the impulses jumped upright on the board…

MAGNETIC LOCKS.

ENGAGED.

…Compac Drive shining brightly, bathing the cockpit in a green glow brighter than the temporal energy swirling around it, left hand leading, right arm back, firing both rear boosters the TypeALPHA shot straight towards the huge Scab Burst.

Optical enhancements projecting the enlarged image as Naomi tightly held Marcus close to her, the two upside down as they fell towards certain death on the fresh mound of coral below, the girl narrowed her eyes, silently goading more speed out of the LFO, and twisting the left HOTAS slowly to the left, the TypeALPHA's wrist twisting in synch, began flexing her fingers against the slight resistance of the finger studs opening the LFO's fingers wide, her eyes darting back and forth between the huge armored hand and the Targeting and Acquisition Gear, the yellow outline drawn around the two falling bodies, the numbers on the Heads-up-Display quickly going from triple, to double digits.

Clutching Marcus to her with all her might, Naomi noticed the bright glare of the TypeALPHA's twin boosters as it silhouetted the grey form of the LFO against the snow filled sky as it shot directly towards them, its hand open wide.

"EUREKA!" She shouted out.

"Almost there…" Eureka breathed out.

The girl calmly kept her eyes on the hand, her fingers light on the HOTAS studs as the Ground Proximity Warning System, a females voice echoing throughout the cockpit began blaring out…

"CAUTION TERRAIN, PULL UP…CAUTION TERRAIN, PULL UP…"

"Almost there…"

…just as the leading edge of the Magne-Traction board buried itself deep into the cap of coral ripping the TypeALPHA's feet right off the board, the LFO sailing on straight ahead, its hand open wide…

Naomi buried her head into Marcus shoulder.

"Gotcha,"

Closing the LFO's hand around them, unseen hands of her mind flying across the pages of her thoughts furiously flipping through the chapters, Eureka quickly found what she was looking for…

Hanging in the office of the Master Instructor she had noticed a picture of Marcus and Edward taken sometime during one of their training sessions.

…setting her mouth in a straight line she pulled back on the left HOTAS, bringing the LFO's left hand protectively in towards the torso…

Tilting her head inquisitively, she had furrowed her brows together.

…while simultaneously pushing in on the right one…

Marcus was laughing at Edward.

…and tapping on the break with her right foot…

As he was being thrown.

…causing the helmeted head to look at its feet…

Right over the head of the Master Instructor.

…mimicking the image of the Assistant Instructor the TypeALPHA executed a forward breakfall on top of the large out-cropping of Scab Coral, rolling across its right shoulder and armored back distributing the force of the crash along the entire axis of its frame.

Turning the book of her mind back to the present, the girl quickly down-shifted and pulled back on the controls, letting its forward momentum allow the LFO to gracefully stand up.

Gunning the engine she pivoted the left leg transcribing an arc, gouging a half-circle into the coral ground, as the TypeALPHA turned looking back along the line of its roll.

Letting out a breath the girl looked up into the rear-view mirror mounted on the upper left side of the cockpit frame. Gingerly bringing her brows together she felt the area where the headset had hit her. Wincing in pain she slowly shook her head side to side.

Bringing the big machine down onto its right knee, the girl brought the left hand up level with the cockpit slowly opening the armored fingers.

Eureka tilted her head quietly watching, Marcus lying on top of Naomi as she gently rocked his body back and forth holding him tightly, her lavender eyes leaking water as she quietly wept as the snow silently fell out of the sky in the stillness of the night.

Slowly opening his eyes, shaking his head trying to clear out the multitude of voices as they had screamed out as one, Marcus looked down out of the haze of his thoughts, directly into the eyes of the First Attendant.

"Eureka," He mumbled, confused as the voices continued shouting out from the sea of consciousness. "Where is…Naomi…Is she…ok…Why…is she…crying…"

Sniffing back her tears, Naomi tilted her head back looking upside down at the girl quietly sitting in the cockpit of the TypeALPHA…

She squinted.

…quickly noticing that her vision was blurry and out of focus, the sharp edges of the LFO fuzzy.

The First Attendant knitted her brows together.

"What…happened…where is Naomi…NAOMI!" Marcus began shouting out her name as Eureka stood up out of the TypeALPHA's cockpit and opened her mouth to speak but the Kunoichi abruptly cut her off…

"Marcus,"

…sounding so 'exactly' like her...

"Eureka, why…am I…why are you…holding me…so tight…" Marcus shut his eyes. "My head…"

…her voice flat…

"Please…try not to move,"

…tone unemotional…

"Where is Naomi…" He began to cry. "I need to…need to let her know…"

…that the girl involuntarily let out a gasp.

"Marcus, Naomi is…fine,"

Sounding on the verge of panic, tears flowing freely Marcus began rambling. "Eureka…I made a mistake…I love…I love…her," Marcus shut his eyes hard. "My God…What have I done?"

Naomi felt her heart begin to pound in her chest.

"Love…" Unemotional.

He continued speaking in between sobs. "I love…I've always loved…her…Why…" He slowly shook his head. "Eureka, WHY?"

Swallowing back the lump in her throat, Naomi took a deep breath.

Puzzled look. "Marcus…Tell me…Who…do you…Love?"

"HEY! YOU GUYS OK UP THERE?" A young female's voice amplified through a loudspeaker echoed up from the ground below.

The Kunoichi looked back as the girl got out of the TypeALPHA's cockpit and making her way over across the 'hard point' began slowly climbing down.

Marcus kept rambling. "Naomi…Is that you…What's happening…where is Eureka…EUREKA!"

Jumping off the foot of the TypeALPHA, the girl ran over to where the Magne-Traction board had buried its nose into the leading edge of the mushroom shaped out-cropping of Scab Coral, the long board hanging out over the lip.

Slowly walking on the board, the surface already covered with a dusting of freshly fallen snow, Eureka cautiously walked the plank. Getting down on her hands knees she peered over the end of the board as a powerful spotlight came on from somewhere far down below.

"EUREKA, IS THAT YOU?" A familiar voice echoed out.

Recoiling from the bright rays reflecting off the falling snow, the girl brought her hand up shielding her eyes from the powerful beam.

"HILDA!" Eureka shouted back down.

Huffing through her nose, Naomi gently rolled Marcus over onto his back. Propping him up on the LFO's thumb, still speaking in the voice of the girl, she told him as she began unzipping the parka. "Marcus, I'm right here."

"Eureka…I don't understand…what's happening…I was…kissing…Naomi…NAOMI!" He looked around, dazed. "Naomi…NAOMI!"

"IS THAT THE MAJOR?" Hilda called out.

Reaching into one of the inner pockets of the heavy winter coat with her right hand, finding what she was looking for, the First Attendant put her left hand protectively on the right side of his face. "I am right here, Jonathan,"

Marcus brought his hand up covering hers and began sobbing again. "Naomi…I'm sorr…I'm so sorry,"

As a tear found its way out of the corner of her lavender eye, red ring contracting, Naomi leaned forward speaking softly in his ear.

"Just relax Jonathan…Eureka is here and help…help is on the way,"

Staring down into his face for a moment - his eyes wide not comprehending what was going on right in front of him, mind still reeling from the shock of the Scab Burst, the sudden release of consciousness as the planet woke up from dreaming overwhelming his senses - the First Attendant leaned forward, and deeply, passionately kissed him then leaned back, cupping the back of his head with her left hand.

"I love you so much, Jonathan,"

Naomi turned the corners of her full lips down and closing her eyes brought her right hand up and back, tightening her fingers together, keeping them straight as she slowly took a deep breath in through her nose.

Eureka shouted back. "HILDA, YES…MARCUS IS HERE," She looked back towards the TypeALPHA.

The girls' brows deeply furrowed.

Her kiss silencing the cacophony of voices in his mind, his eyes slowly starting to regain their focus, Marcus snapped out of the haze, glanced over at her hand.

"Naomi?"

"Gomennasai…Jonathan-kun."

Unearthly eyes snapping open the Kunoichi drove her hand into the soft spot directly under the Master Instructors left ear, instantly rendering him unconscious, his body going slack.

"HEY KIDDO, WAIT ONE, WE'LL BE RIGHT UP!"

Looking back over the edge as the light mounted on the Eight-Zero-Eight's bulbous shaped head went out, the girl saw as Hilda gunned the large LFO and quickly getting up to speed on the snow covered earth below, switching over from land mode into wave rider, a green contrail of trappar trailing out behind, the long board easily finding purchase on the ebbing currents of the invisible consciousness, the Eight-Zero-Eight rose up towards the top of the Scab Coral.

Gently laying his head back against the armored thumb, Naomi opened the black, microfiber cloth case she had taken out of the inner pocket of his parka. Pulling out Marcus' sunglasses, holding them out in front of her face for a moment, squinting as she looked through the amber-tinted polarized lenses, satisfied that they would suffice, she put them on and after tucking several stray strands of hair behind her ear, leaned forward and kissed him gingerly on the forehead, then putting her forehead back against his, her eyes lingering for a moment on his lips, the First Attendant breathed out.

"See you in the morning…Jonathan,"

Standing up, she turned quickly tracking the girls' footprints in the snow. Kneeling down in a crouch the Kunoichi exhaled slowly and closed her eyes, visualizing in her mind the flow of energy as it swirled through the falling snow.

Opening her eyes she sharply inhaled and leapt off the hand of the TypeALPHA silently landing in a three-point stance just behind the girl who was intently watching a large LFO cutting an 'S' through the waves of trappar.

Reaching under the black overcoat, straightening her skirt, she walked up stopping next to Eureka.

Kneeling down next to her, the two of them turning their heads in the same manner…exactly…looking over Marcus sunglasses as the girl inquisitively cocked her head, lavender colored eyes intently looking into each others thoughts, the First Attendant placed her index finger up to her full lips.

The girl looked between Naomi's finger and the sunglasses, the First Attendants cornea appearing an almost darkish purplish blue hidden behind the polarized amber lenses.

"Not a word, Eureka…remember…It's 'our'…'Seek Rat',"

Blinking her own lavender eyes a couple of times; the girl nodded her head, and then turned her face looking up into the falling snow.

"Naomi…Do you…Do you, Love…Him?"

The First Attendant placed a hand protectively on the girl's shoulder.

"With all my heart, Eureka-Chan…" She gave the girl a gentle squeeze.

Turning her face towards the sky, the snowflakes silently landing on the amber lenses, Naomi closed her eyes and exhaled…

"…With all my heart."

Eureka frowned slowly realizing that…

…L…O…V…E…

…was a whole lot more complicated than the sum of the four letters spelled out onto the blank pages of her mind.

Feeling a gentle breeze tickle the hair on the back of her neck, the girl turned.

Lying next to her on the Magne-Traction board as the snow quietly fell out of the sea of consciousness…

Eureka sighed.

…sat Naomi's combination cover.

To be continued…