Chapter Twenty Four

Everything had been prepared, and now all of them would travel to Colony 5, though after that they would have to travel on foot to Colony 4. The trek alone would take several days, though it would be best to do it at night since it would be cooler and a bit easier to travel.

The station where the vehicles were stationed along the outer-wall of the Colony, there was at least ships, or there were originally, since a number of them had already left to warn the other Colonies leaving only a few left for Colony 12 if something were to happen.

Though as they waited for them to take off something began to urk in the back of her head once more. Only this time it was something that she had thought about after meeting a certain someone.

Looking through her bag she dug out the book that she had brought along and continued from where she left off.

Why as to now she recalled him she wasn't sure, but since the trip would at least take several days to arrive there it was best to keep her mind preoccupied with something, since every time she asked to assist people would always say that they didn't need it and told her to relax until the time came to leave.

As if she could.

After proclaiming that she wished to head to Colony 4, a place which was still considered a hotbed for a Telethia nest within the mountain. If her brother was here he'd probably be completely enraged that she did this.

Then again she wasn't truly sure if he'd be that angry, since that little incident with Igholt and Linada she didn't know how her brother was fairing with his injuries. She truly hoped that he was alright.

Though that thought changed when she came across what she was looking for, and what she found shocked her. Getting up from where she sat she went looking for Rei.

It took some time for her to find her friend. Rei was in the midst of eating with Ethon, when Rei saw her she came right on over. "Hey Meyna, you hungry? You should probably eat something before we head out."

Meyna shook her head. "No, not right now, actually Rei, I wanted to ask you something. About Alvis…"

"What about him?"

"Well…"

"Meyna?" Yuma called out to her. "There are some things we need to go over with the pilot, can you come with me?"

"Uh… sure," she had really hoped to tell Rei what she found but seem how Yuma looked Meyna would have to wait about it later.

"I know the others told you that you didn't need to help, but with heading to Colony 5 to Colony 4 it's going to be very difficult. And you've said before that you have traveled between them correct?"

"Yes,"

Yuma nodded. "I was thinking of trying to get an idea as to where we could go that would be best to get there faster. Do you think you can do that?"

"I can." Though as Yuma led her to a map, a sudden image flashed in Meyna's mind, she stopped dead in her tracks as images continued to move through her mind. It was her and her brother and someone else… someone was carrying her and taking care of her brother. Who was that person?

She grasped the side of her head as she frowned. Was that another memory that she had forgotten, it had to be, she felt like she knew that memory but at the same time couldn't recall anything else.

"Is something wrong?" Yuma asked when Meyna made no move to follow. Looking at the Hom's girl she felt that something was wrong for her, at least her expression said that.

Meyna shook her head. "No, I'm alright, sorry. You want me to look at a map to try and get a good rought right?" Meyna then waited for Yuma to show the way, though as Yuma did so she felt as if her mind as slowly going numb as that same red haze began to cloud her vision.

Yuma started too only to stop and look back at Meyna. "You mentioned before that you have amnesia right? If you'd like there is a type of procedure that could be done to bring back some memories, though it's not the best in terms of getting all of them back."

"I'm fine without it." Meyna said softly, though her body was turned in another direction, her gaze looking to the vehicle that would be taking them shortly. "I know there are things that could return my memories but there are side effects, for all we know it could erase all of them rather than restore it. I'm sorry, but I feel as if there would be too much of a risk. Even though it is similar to the technology that Egil had used a long time ago with the Faces. But… it's not that I don't trust it, I just don't wish to mess with my mind any more than it already is."

Yuma could understand that, but how Meyna spoke seemed a little strange. "All right, but if you change your mind all you have to do is ask. You once said you intended to go to Colony 6, they have a device there that could be of use."

"Thank you, but I'd rather not."

"If you're sure." With that Yuma led Meyna the rest of the way, Meyna turned to watch Yuma walking away, her face blank as her eyes glowed with a slight tint of red. Before fading back to how they were before, Meyna shook her head and frowned, she felt as if she had said something but couldn't remember. Strange, perhaps it was due to lack of sleep, since she hadn't been resting all too well as they traveled, and the fact that her neck throbbed slightly for a moment, but it didn't last as the pain faded.

It must because of Colony 4, thinking about it so much must be making me lose some sense, when we take off I should rest. I can't be tired when we get there…

Four days, it would take a total of four days to reach Colony 5, and another six on foot if all went accordingly. Though there was also thought for things that could come up considering where Colony 5 was located.

With all of that now, what Meyna had discovered seemed rather inconvenient. She knew it wasn't but adding it on top of what was to come seemed like a very bad idea.

They had taken off not long after, flying high in the sky as Meyna sat near one of the windows watching the clouds go by.

"You seem rather down," Kaistozs said as he approached her. "I thought you might be happy returning to the place you once called home."

She gathered her legs into her arms and rested her chin atop of her knees. "I am but I'm not. I'm returning to the place where my parents died. I grew up there yes, but it's where my mother and father lost their lives trying to defend the Colony from the Telethia that attacked. It's a hard feeling to describe…"

"I suppose your right, I hadn't thought of it that way." He said as he sat down next to her. "Your parents were Isha and Lance correct?" Meyna nodded. "I thought as much, when Colony 4 was first attacked I remember hearing that Lance's children had fled to Colony 5 all on their own. Though I'm surprised your brother isn't joining."

Meyna's gaze shifted away from the Homs man. "He was injured in the attack in Colony 13, though he told Igholt that he would be joining us when he heals. Though I'm not sure when that will be, although I bet he has some choice words about this…"

He eyed her. "You think your brother would disagree in going back?"

"When we were younger, Grithiff told me that one day we would go back, but not long after we were settled my brother had an accident. Apparently after we arrived something was wrong with me, we went to the Clinic and Linada and Igholt took care of me but… there was an accident, Grithiff was hurt. I don't remember how he got hurt, but when he healed he changed somewhat."

"I'm sure he was worried about your safety." Kaisotzs said. "He is your brother." When Meyna didn't respond he added. "You know I remember hearing a rumor about your brother."

"What about?"

"Your brother is known in the other Colonies, as one of the strongest fighters out there, he was known as The Demon of the Gunblade."

Meyna frowned. "I never heard that,"

Kaisotzs smiled warmly at her. "I think that's because he never wanted you to know. Your brother wanted to become stronger, much like your father Lance who, was probably one of the very best when it came to using the Gun-sword since no one dared to use one since that man Dickson shot Shulk, it had basically become outlawed. Though your father thought that if one weapon was outlawed then all of them should be too, since we never knew who would use them. Lance basically went to prove that as long as a weapon was in proper hands anyone could use it."

"But what does that have to do with my brother?"

"About four years after the incident with Colony 4, something happened along the remains of the Bionis. Back then your brother would have been around your age."

Menya nodded. "Yes, I remember, the Skyrays suddenly began to try and swarm Colony 6. My brother was one of the men who offered to assist in dealing with the situation."

"Yes, but did you know that he was also one of the few who dealt against the most on his own?" When Meyna looked at him with a shocked expression. "I fought with your brother; in fact he saved my life. My group had been ambushed by a sudden number of Skyrays, and just when I thought we were going to be killed, suddenly I hear a number of shots go out, a few of them fall and I see a young Homs leaping off of a cliff and slashing down at one of the Skyrays. That young man was Grithiff. I was shocked that someone that young was able to take out three Skyrays all on his own."

"My brother never mentioned that." she whispered softly. Hell, he never even spoke of the event, merely saying that they had been able to beat a number of Skyrays before Colony 6 had finished a new device which could repel them like that of the Telethia thanks to two of their head scientists.

"No one usually likes to talk about what had happened, much like your home. From what I know his entire regiment had been wiped out. He was the lone survivor. Some say it was luck, but when I saw him fight and the look in that young man's eyes, it was like he had made it his personal war to fight them off. I didn't know that he was one of the few survivors of Colony 4, now though his gaze back then makes sense."

"Why tell me that?" Meyna asked. "I knew my brother hates the Telethia for what they had done, but why tell me something he never spoke of?"

"No reason, although I think your brother isn't the type to become angry at you for trying to find the truth. Though the truth can be scary sometimes, he probably doesn't want you to become hurt at what you find."

Kaisotzs words made sense, there were probably going to be things that she didn't want to, but there was no backing out now.

"Thank you Kaisotzs, for telling me that."

"Meyna," Igholt called, and motioned her to come to him. "Could you come here please?"

After giving a nod of thanks Meyna went over to Igholt tugged Meyna down a corridor and into a nearby room.

"Is something wrong?" she asked when he closed the door only to turn and be suddenly embraced by him. "Igholt?"

His hold tightened. "I'm sorry." he said softly. "If I was there, back when Colony 4… then maybe some of what happened with you and your brother would be different."

"You had business at Colony 9, it's not like you could have known. We've been over this before Igholt."

"I know, but the fact that we will be returning to that place it must make you feel sad."

"Actually, I don't feel sad." She said as he pulled away slightly. "I feel anxious, and worried at what I might find but… I think I can handle it. Even if I do become upset at what I find, I know I've made my choice and going back on it now would be childish."

Igholt laughed slightly. "I keep reminding myself that you aren't a child anymore. But it's hard sometimes, I see you turning into such a wonderful adult and yet I also keep seeing that little girl who used to tug on my wings to get my attention."

Meyna's face turned red. "I didn't do that! Did I…?"

He nodded. "It was cute; part of me wished that you would remain that way, always needing me no matter what."

Her face turned even redder. "I can't believe I actually did that to you… I don't even remember it."

Igholt laughed again his smile becoming even more genuine. "Perhaps, but you were young then, it's alright if you don't remember. Because I do, though when you first did it I did think that it was annoying because I was always working."

Feeling more embarrassed she looked away, feeling guilty over something she couldn't even remember. "You were our doctor in Colony 4 right?"

He nodded, but spoke since Meyna wasn't looking at him. "Yes, are you starting to remember?"

"No," she said honestly before looking at him. "I heard you talking to Rei about it."

Igholt looked both stunned and shocked at this. "You… you heard us?"

Meyna nodded. "I did, I hadn't fallen asleep that fast, you spoke about being my doctor, and how you spoke about me being a kid, I'm sorry. For forgetting about you, it must have really hurt when I said I didn't know who you were."

"Was that all?" Igholt asked. "Was that all you heard?"

"I was drifting in and out of sleep that was all I heard…" she was cut off when Igholt pulled her back into his arms and hugged her again.

"I'm not upset by it Meyna, even though you couldn't remember me, you got to know me again over time. That's more than enough for me; I'm with you now I won't go anywhere."

"You're not normally this sentimental; did you hit your head or something?"

He laughed once more and pulled away. "Sorry, I'm just happy, worried but happy. You really are coming into your own Meyna, you should be proud."

Meyna looked at him with a slight frown. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine, now you should go and get some rest; you need to be ready when we reach Colony 5."

"Okay," she went to leave only to stop and look back at Igholt, she wanted to say something to him, but the words she had wouldn't come out. Shaking her head she made the words come out as she kept her back to him. "I don't know if I really am someone that others can be proud of, I mean, I was sheltered for most of my life, at least with the parts I can remember. But I will try… to be someone that others can depend on, that much I promise."

Soon after saying that she left the room without another word.

When Igholt was alone he smiled and said softly. "I'm sure you will…" his gaze then flicked to the case that he had, which was open, a small red light blinked as he went to the case and closed the lid before his smile returned. "You really have grown up Meyna…"