Hearing the sound of a small bird singing outside of their window, Carina's eyes opened and immediately focused to the boy she slept in bed next to; her arm still lovingly placed on his chest, intertwined in his fingers while the other lay under her head like a pillow. Seeing him softly breathing in and out she smiled, knowing now that yesterday was not a dream and that he really was with her once again. It was just a bit after sunrise in the colony meaning that he had slept for close to fifteen hours; rest that he needed if he was going to heal as quickly and efficiently as possible, especially if he really was in that much of a rush to get back into the fight. It was evident by his fighting spirit and instincts that he was born for this lifestyle and that it was likely passed down from both his mother and his father, so she could understand why he was anxious to return to his machine. More than that however she knew that he was not in this fight simply for the thrill. He was fighting for what he believed in, for the people of the colonies and what she knew he believed was most important; her.
Knowing that he would do absolutely anything to keep her safe played back to their little conversations and meetings before they departed on this whole adventure. He promised to not let anything happen to her, and her belief in that promise brought her much needed comfort and strength in knowing that no matter what he would be there for her, even if at first it was as a friend.
"Good morning." She whispered as she leaned forward and kissed his cheek gently, as she snuggled back into a cozy position for a few more minutes of warmth and safety. It really was a good morning. Not only was Amaury back in her arms where he belonged, she had also slept better then she had in her entire time as part of the Movement, and she had no doubt that it was because she lay next to the man that she loved with all of her heart. A man that was hungry, given the low growl she heard come from his stomach.
Laughing quietly under her breath she knew it had been ten days since his last true meal and had been fed nothing but liquid nutrients since that day. Having felt weak and feverish the day before he still had yet to eat, despite having gone close to twenty four hours without even receiving the liquid nutrients that had once been vital to his survival. He needed to eat if he was going to get better and since she refused to eat without him she too was hungry, giving her an excellent idea.
Kissing his cheek once more, she slowly uncovered herself and stood from the bed, making sure to tuck the boy in as she did so. "I'll be right back." She whispered as she slid her slippers and his jacket on, zipping the front to conceal her somewhat revealing clothing before heading out into the hospital in search of something fresh for the two of them to enjoy. She wouldn't be gone too long and hopefully he would still be sleeping when she got back as to both keep him from worrying as well as to maintain the complete surprise.
Making her way through the hospital hallways, she followed the signs towards the hospitals atrium where she knew there was a kitchen of at least modest size. Being early in the morning the atrium was mostly empty save for a few employees enjoying their own breakfast and coffee, much to her relief as she has yet to shower and her hair was a wreck. Spotting a grilling station where a line cook was cooking what smelled like breakfast, she quickly approached and looked through the glass at the grill top where fresh eggs and bacon sizzled, causing her to subconsciously lick her lips.
"Hungry?" The cook asked with a grin as she looked up to the older gentleman with a nod. "Yes sir. My boyfriend and I are starving." She replied, the words tingling pleasantly on the tip of her tongue. It had been years since she was able to freely admit that she had a boyfriend, since her last was a boy she dated throughout high school before separating to go to different colleges. Monty never really allowed her himself to carry that title; which was good because it would have been ruined by his betrayal. "Well you came to the right place at the right time. It typically doesn't start getting busy till about eight or so when the majority of the staff report for work. That means, little lady, that what I've got is fresh and delicious." The chef replied with a small laugh as Carina grinned.
"Perfect! Can I get, uh…" She began, looking down at the choice displayed on a daily menu taped to the glass. "Oh! Can I get two orders of two over easy eggs, some bacon and toast?" She questioned as the cook nodded. "You sure can. Going classic; I like it. Give it a few minutes and it will be right up." He instructed as the clerk at the counter next to him waved to the girl and motioned for her to come closer. "I'll help you right down here." She instructed as Carina nodded to the cook and walked to the next counter as the young girl on the other side typed the cost of their meal into a cash register, causing Carina to grimace as she stuck her hands in her pants pockets and then Amaury's jacket. "Crap, I… I forgot my wallet in the room!" The girl complained as the Clerk shook her head and reset the cash register to clear the total. "Don't worry about it, it's on us." She said as the girl looked to her and blinked.
"No, I have money, I will pay for it, it's okay." She objected as the cook looked over at the girl through the glass. "You are part of the Movement right?" He asked as Carina turned to look at him with a nod; the public knowledge of the Movement still an odd feeling. "I thought you were the one who's been lingering close to that injured boy in room two-ten. Your meals are on us. You people are heroes and risked everything for the rest of us. The least we can do is let you eat for free." The cook replied with a nod as clerk did the same, making Carina smile.
It seemed that many more people believed in the New Republic than she first imagined when she joined the Movement, and knowing that everything they had done and fought through was not in vain was another great weight lifted from her shoulders.
"Thank you. It means a lot; both the meal and your support. We didn't do it to be heroes." Carina replied, watching as the chef cracked four eggs onto the griddle and rearranged the bacon so that it would cook more evenly; the sizzle filling the air with a wonderful aroma. "Of course not. But that's what you've become and that is in fact something to be proud of." He added as the girl looked down and smiled, waiting patiently for their food to be done so that she could return back to her own starving hero.
Returning back to Amaury's room carrying a dinner tray with the two covered meals as well as something to drink, she was delighted to see that he still slept and was none the wiser to her little mission. Setting the tray on small table next to the bed she crawled back into bed next to him, running a hand through his hair softly as she did so. "Hey, Amaury." She called to him in a gentle whisper although the reluctant boy didn't budge. He really was tired, wasn't he? With a smile she leaned forward and cupped his face in her hands as she pressed her lips to his, waking him with a kiss as his eyes slowly opened and winced at the bright light of the morning sun piercing through the window.
"Wake up, sleepy." She giggled as his eyes came back into focus on his love's smile, her face illuminated brightly in contrast to her long dark hair by the window light. "Hey." The boy replied as he sat himself up a bit, careful not to twist or stretch any way that would cause him pain, as difficult as that task may be. "Is everything alright?" He asked while rubbing his bloodshot eyes, catching his first whiff of the pleasant smell that originated from the diner tray next to them. "Mhmm." Carina hummed in reply, braiding her hair into a loose braid so that it wouldn't get in the way while they ate.
"I got us something to eat. I know you weren't really hungry yesterday, but I would feel much better if you at least ate something. I don't want to watch you become sick from malnourishment." She replied with a small half-smile as Amaury watched her fingers move delicately through her hair, forming the long braid he had become so accustomed to. She was right; he hadn't felt up to eating the day before and although he felt a tiny bit better now he still didn't have an overwhelming desire to eat, despite his growling stomach.
However, he knew that he probably should and that if he didn't eat then neither would she, and he didn't want to see her go without a meal again. "Alright, I will try." He replied despite his persistent fever, bringing the full smile back to his lover as she brought the tray over from the table just as he spread his legs and patted the area between them for her to sit. Blushing, she carefully did as he asked, sitting down and crossing her legs to set the tray on her lap.
"I hope you like bacon and eggs!" She said excitedly as she uncovered their food and set the lids aside, watching his eyes and smile widen. "I do. I haven't had them in a long, long time." He replied, remembering how this was a common Saturday morning breakfast when he was small as his mother only typically had time to cook breakfast on the weekend. "Good, I made the right decision then." She replied as she handed him a set of silverware to eat with, and began to cut up her own food as Amaury did the same with less efficiency because of his left forearm.
"If you like eggs and bacon, you'll love this breakfast tart my mother taught me how to cook. I'll have to make it for you when we get out of here." She said with a smile as she too remembered her mother, recalling how they use to cook together regularly while her father sat at the kitchen table and worked on various things; his thick Australian accent and the childish banter of her breaking up their singing from time to time with cheeky comments or attempts to break into song with them.
The thought also brought with it a sad realization; with the New Republic's departure from the Earth's Sphere to begin soon, it was highly unlikely she would ever see them again. She knew when she signed up for the Movement that there was always a chance that would happen, but deep down she hoped it would have never come true. It would have been nice to at least say goodbye; to tell them how much she loved them and hoped for great things for her siblings' future, since she would never see them grow up.
In an effort to snap out of her thoughts she took her first bite of food as she looked over to Amaury, watching him struggle to cut up his food. Setting her knife and fork down without a second thought, she gently took his utensils from his hands and began to cut it for him, smiling up to him as she did so. "Is cooking something that couples usually do together?" He asked in curiosity, watching as she divided his eggs into equal pieces before stopping and looking up to him at his question. "I mean some do, but usually it is one person; typically the head woman of the household if you follow longstanding tradition in my family." She replied as she looked back down at his plate, nearly finished with her task. "Do you think we could cook together?" He asked despite knowing nothing about cooking unless it involved heating up a can of beans or canned ham over a fire.
Again she looked up at him, this time with more intrigue as to why he was asking such a question. Was this his way of saying he wanted to do things together? Why else would he ask? With a smile she picked up a quarter strip of bacon and a piece of egg with the fork in her hands as her eyes drifted up to him. "Is that something you would want to do, Amaury?" She questioned in reply as he looked down to his plate, seeing the food she had placed onto his fork for him. "Yes. I mean... I don't know how, but if you are going to be cooking I want to be right there with you helping. Just tell me what to do and I'll do it." He replied with an embarrassed smile as her own face lit up at his adorable and loving gesture, holding out the forkful of food for him to take with his mouth.
"We can cook together whenever you want. I will teach you." She replied as he took the bite, kissing his forehead while he was close and the opportunity presented itself, causing him to blink from the unexpected surprise. "How is it?" She asked, handing him his fork back while using her own to take in a bit more of her own food. Chewing slowly as he looked back up to her he nodded before swallowing in order to answer. "Amazing." He replied as they both laughed and continued to eat their food.
Over the course of their meal Carina began to explain to him what exactly had been going on while he was unconscious; about how the remainder of the battle had played out, how Tome, Marcus and Douglas rescued him, the state of their forces, the public reception to their victory and most importantly Krupp's plan to move the colonies out of Side 3 to their new home at the mining asteroid Hagen, well outside of the Earth's Sphere.
At first the boy was confused, unaware that the nuclear-pulse engines aboard the colonies were capable of producing enough thrust to carry them anywhere other than where they were built. He had always just assumed that they were intended purely to keep a colony from falling out of orbit and avoid collision with large objects should the need arise, but as Carina explained otherwise he felt silly for such assumptions. The plan seemed relatively solid and made sense; the Federation would be less prone to attempt a war with a non-aggressive nation fleeing from their tyranny, though he had no doubt that by now the Earth's leaders were meeting to discuss what the survivors had surely called a fourth Neo-Zeon uprising, bringing back scars and fears from long ago. Regardless, he would do whatever needed to be done until they were all safe and until Carina and his dreams were free to come true.
The news that did bring somewhat of a shock to him however was that both Geoff and Elise had been placed under arrest pending an investigation into their involvement with the now hunted traitor Edwin 'Monty' McNeil. Geoff had been a personal friend of Monty's for years and was recruited directly into the Movement without review under his recommendation leaving questions about his loyalty, while Elise's own motives remained a secret that she refused to reveal to anyone; despite the fact that Admiral Krupp was the reason she was there.
"This is not right." Amaury argued as he neared half way through his meal, pacing himself to avoid becoming sick to his gentle stomach that had become used to a liquid diet. "They… they gave their own blood, sweat and tears for us. Can't Admiral Krupp see that?" He asked angrily as Carina sighed and shook her head, knowing that she had the same reaction when the news of their arrest first reached her own ears. "I know, just please calm down. Please." She said with a frown, taking his hand in his to calm him before he suffered another bleed in his healing brain. "It's just a precaution because of what Monty did, that's all. Don't worry, I'm sure they will find them innocent any day now and release them. The investigation is probably taking a bit longer because of all the work that needs to be done before we set off for Hagen."
Turning his head back towards her as she took his hand and told him that it would be alright, he sighed and nodded. She was right; they would soon be found innocent and it would all blow over, or so she hoped. With Monty gone Geoff was the bond holding their ragtag group together, and if they were forced to change leadership once more in such a short period of time, it would likely lead to quite the internal power struggle.
"I sure hope so. We will need Geoff for this incase the Federation tries to stop us from leaving." He replied, taking another bite of his food as he looked up to see that she was done with hers. "Sorry I'm taking so long." Amaury stated as he lifted his eyes up to hers to explain why but paused, seeing tears forming in her eyes. "Carina?" He questioned softly as she turned her vision back to him from the window, where it had focused a few moments prior at his mention of leaving the Earth's Sphere.
Sniffling, she wiped her eyes with the sleeve of his jacket; the result of once again thinking back to her mother, father and three brothers on Earth. "I'm sorry. Take your time eating." She answered with a small smile, knowing very well that he was not going to continue to eat while she sat and silently cried, despite her wish that he would. "What's wrong?" He asked, reaching to her hands as he set the plate down on the tray. Something had to be wrong, she wasn't crying just because he was taking forever to finish breakfast.
"I'm alright, it's just... the thought that I may never see my family again hurts. I don't mean to seem like a big baby, especially to you, and... I've… I've shed these tears plenty when I first heard of Krupp's plan. It should be out of my system by now." The girl replied as Amaury's heart began to hurt as, remembering back to when he came to the realization that he would never see his mother again either; drowned by the feeling of being trapped with no way to escape. That was how she must feel with, especially with no way of contacting them to ask them to come with her or even say goodbye. The Federal civilians being allowed to leave the NRZ colonies were allowed to do so with the intention of not returning, so that would not help either, although much to his dismay, there was one hope that she would for sure see them again.
"You… could stay, Carina." Amaury said softly as her eyes widened in question. "W-What?" She asked as Amaury's eyes lowered to the food tray on her lap. "You could stay here. When the fleet has moved on and the Federation returns to Side 3 just… just tell them you were a tourist and you need to return back to Earth. That way you can be with your parents and your brothers. I won't b-break your family like mine was." Amaury explained, his words quiet but full of intent, no matter how much it burned at his soul to speak them. He couldn't live without her, but at the same time he couldn't live with the thought of her being separated from her family because of him, making her resent and hate him for it.
"I-I can't stay. They will be looking for anyone who killed their men, a-and I've slain too many to ever return. My name is now known throughout the colonies… ironic for someone who grew up in the gutter." He jested with a single small chuckle as he felt the fate of his dreams hang in the balance. "If they see me with you, they will assume y-you killed too. I can't let that happen. Just know… that even if you c-choose to leave, I will always love you my Carina, and that there will never be anyone else to replace you in our dream."
Hearing his words and seeing his gloomy face caused the trace amounts of leftover tears to flow down her cheeks. "Stop." She instructed before he could say anymore, moving the tray to their side in the process. At first she was upset with him, angered that he would be so easily willing to allow her to walk away, but upon hearing his reasoning she hated herself for ever thinking he could ever. Just like everything else he had done since that night in the bar, it was all to protect her.
Once again fighting back a sob, she took a deep breath. "My father always told me that I should follow my dreams, no matter where they take me; even if it meant going to the most distant star. That's how he got my mother, he claimed." She replied with a small laugh, bringing a small smile to Amaury's lips despite the tears dwelling in his eyes. "When I told you yesterday that my heart desires your dream of our future, I meant it. Y-Your dream is now mine, and if I stay and give up that dream I could never live with myself. I love you too much to know that I hurt you by letting you go on to that new world without me." She replied as she lifted Amaury's chin up to stare into his brown eyes; sliding herself closer towards him so that she would have been sitting his lap would his legs not have been spread.
"I'm not going anywhere without you. We are going to make it Hagen, build a city and a world we can call home, and we are going to make that dream come true." Carina stated her decision before sealing it with a long, passionate kiss as she held his face with her hands; the boy's own finding their way to her lower back and locking together to hold her close as she did so. She had made her choice, and she knew that whether her parents approved of this decision, it didn't matter. She was following her heart.
Breaking the kiss she smiled, wiping away both of their tears in the process. "You are stuck with me, Amaury Dietrich. Like it or not." She added as he laughed, placing his forehead to hers. "How c-could I not like it? I love you, you know." He replied as she giggled and reached down to his fork, food still between the silver spokes from when he set it down. "Good. Now finish your breakfast!" She commanded as he laughed and took the bite into house mouth with a smile, his eyes once again locked into those captivating green orbs of hers.
By the end of the next day Amaury was both sitting up and able to stand on his own with some of his strength returning, although it was slow to do so in his opinion. "Are you okay?" Carina asked as Amaury continued to stand still with his new prosthetic limb attached to the mount, having just fallen to his good knee a few moments prior. "Y-Yeah, I'm alright. I… I think I'm getting the hang of it." He replied as she smiled, happy he was evolving to move past his injury, though she wished it never would have happened to begin with. "Alright, see if you can walk to me." She instructed as if he was a newborn learning to walk for the first time towards its mother. "Take your time." Taking a deep breath, the boy began to walk the maybe twenty feet between them, pacing himself to catch an understanding of the process.
It was different than walking with his real leg as his new foot did not flex like a natural one, requiring him to learn how to pivot on the ball of his artificial heel and rock the foot to mimic natural movement. He had always heard that people who lost limbs had a hard time with depth perception since they could not feel the artificial extension of their body, but for him it didn't seem too hard. Taking a few steps forward was the hardest, but as he continued he was doing better and made it almost all the way to his blushing prize before stumbling slightly as a sharp pain shot through his leg causing him to lose his balance.
"Amaury!" She gasped as she quickly stepped forward to support him, keeping him from falling as his hands found their way to her hips. "I-I'm alright, it just hurt for a moment. I'm alright." He replied with a smile as Carina sighed in relief, glad she caught him before he fell this time. " You did really good, but let's get you back in bed. You've done enough for today and you don't want to overdo it. Since, you know, you seem so prone to do that." She teased as Amaury shook his head, looking to her as she helped him walk to the bed.
"I'll be alright, really. The only way I'm going to learn is to keep… going." He stated, pausing as he sat down on the edge of the bed and twisted the wrong way, causing his side to ache tremendously. "Are Tome and Marcus still coming tonight?" He asked as he rubbed his healing ribs, feeling the staples in his skin through his grey t-shirt. They had come to visit them every night that they had been in the hospital, so he had assumed that today would be no different.
"Yeah, they should be here soon." She replied, using her phone to text Tome and see where she was at. They were supposed to have been there by now and it was unlike Tome to be late as she usually was the one keeping Marcus punctual. "Why do you ask?" She questioned as the boy looked up to her and followed her with his eyes as she sat beside him, taking her hand in his with a smile. "I think we should go see Geoff and Elise." The boy replied causing his lover to look to him with some worry. He had just taken his first steps in nearly two weeks, was it smart for him to push himself?
"I'd like to see them too, but are you sure you are ready for that? Tome has one of the cars we acquired, but it still will involve you walking a bit." She questioned just to make sure to which Amaury nodded in reply, feeling up to the challenge. "I will be okay. But you'll help me if I need it, right?" He replied, forcing Carina to smile and turn red as she shook her head. "Of course I will, my Amaury." She hummed, kissing his lips and resting her forehead to his as they waited for their friends to show up.
"So how's it feel to be back on your feet? Well, foot and piece of metal, same thing." Marcus questioned as he drove their vehicle down the busy streets towards the Dresden Police Department Headquarters; a large compound in the center of the city surrounding a fifteen story main tower which since the Liberation of Side 3 had served not only as the Dresden colony command post but also as the New Republic's military administration point. "It feels good. I was getting tired of being a burden." He replied with the smallest grin as he looked out at those walking in the street in the setting sun, some of which waved and cheered as they took notice to the former police armored car now painted NRZ Grey with their flag draped over the hood, taking Amaury by surprise. Carina said that the majority of those living in the colonies supported the Movement and their cause, but seeing it in full effect really drove the message home.
"Amaury, you are not a burden! Stop it!" Carina scolded as she squeezed his hand while Tome, who rode in the front seat next to Marcus, turned around to scowl. "Yeah man, shut up! If you were such a burden me, Marcus and Douglas wouldn't have saved your ass." She playfully dictated while waving her finger at Amaury as Marcus turned at looked at the two women and then to Amaury before returning his eyes to the road. "Relax; I'm sure he was just kidding. Right Amaury?" The man asked as Amaury looked at the back of his seat and nodded, despite the fact that he wasn't joking. Even though he was enjoying Carina's care and savored each second with her, he knew that in his condition that he was a hassle to watch over and that she spent every second worrying about his progress.
Looking over to the woman who had taken such good care of him he brought himself to smile as he mouthed an expression of love for her which she didn't hesitate to return upon seeing his lips move. "You know, even in silence I know what they are doing back there." Marcus said while looking over at Tome as she stared at the approaching destination; the walls of the almost fortress-like compound breached and reduced to rubble by a fallen Jegan from the battle that engulfed Dresden's streets two weeks prior, awaiting reclamation for spare parts.
"Leave them be." She replied while pulling one knee up to her chest, her vision drifting down to the dashboard in front of her as she thought about Sam and how badly she missed him. She had no doubt that they too would have eventually been holding hands and telling one another that they loved each other if he would have still been alive; the mere thought of which brought silent tears to her eyes which she quickly wiped away before the others could see.
Despite the fact that Tome's watery eyes were hidden from view Carina found herself shifting her attention from her love to her best friend as something inside her mind drew her towards the girl. "Tome, are you alright?" Carina asked as she felt this slight feeling of sadness radiate from her; a feeling that she could not describe or rationalize past the fact that she felt it occur. Hearing her question both Marcus and Amaury turned to Tome as the boy's ears began to ring lowly, though it focused his attention to his lover and not their friend.
"What? Yeah, I'm alright." Tome lied, surprised that Carina could see her tears when she was almost certain that she had disguised them well enough to avoid their detection. "Oh I just… I don't know. I just… felt like you were sad, if that makes sense." Carina replied, placing a hand on her shoulder as Tome turned to look at her, and then to Amaury who continued his stare at the realization that this was the same feeling he felt once before when he could sense her existence as a Newtype. Was she able to sense Tome's feelings? Could Newtypes do that?
"Did you sense her feelings?" He asked, bringing Carina's attention back onto him. "Yeah, how… how did you know that?" She asked as the boy looked down at his artificial lower leg tucked into the green uniform pants he had only been brought this morning in an attempt to show a unified New Republic military. "I could sense you when you said you felt her feelings. I think that… maybe we can only sense one another if we are actually using our powers… or something like that." The boy replied as Carina's head tilted a bit.
While that may make sense to him, she still didn't understand; especially since she still could not sense anyone. "But if that's true and you are technically using your powers all the time, why can't I sense you? I mean… sometimes I feel like I can feel when you are sad or happy but I can't explain why I feel it, and I've never been able to 'sense' when you are near." Carina replied as she now began to think that maybe her Newtype abilities were defective while the boy shook his head.
"Elise said that all of us are different. Maybe you can't sense people. I'm not sure." He stated as they pulled into the compound's entrance checkpoint, brining Marcus to roll down the window and check in with the guard, who upon realizing who they were immediately stopped and saluted the four. "Well we are here now, you can ask her yourself." Marcus said with a grin as he parked the vehicle as close to the front of the building as possible and got out, opening the door for Amaury as he did so.
Thanking him, Amaury slowly slid out of the vehicle onto his feet as he used the metal grab bar on the side of the machine to slow his descent to the ground and steady himself. "You alright?" Marcus asked, watching him stand still for a moment as the boy shifted his eyes to Carina and Tome as they came around the back of their vehicle. "Yeah, I'm fine." He replied as his other half stared at him in worry, knowing that he was in pain regardless of if he showed it or not. "Good, let's go then. Keep up, gimpy!" Marcus boomed with a laugh as he began to lead the group into their command center, walking up the first set of steps into the courtyard followed by a long walk down the first hallway of the main tower.
Trying his best to keep pace with the others Amaury ground his teeth, hiding the grinding pain that shot into his bone with each step. Eventually this feeling would subside, but since the metal mount that was permanently installed into his bones was still somewhat fresh he could swear it was splitting them in half, and his pained facial expressions made it clear to Carina that he was in pain. As they progressed further into the HQ, they were forced to descend down a series of seven steps to a sub-level of the facility that housed prisoners of importance and that had been the home to their wingmen for the past week.
Taking a deep breath, Amaury began to slowly descend down the steps as he gripped the railing to the side tightly, wincing progressively more as each one passed until coming to a panting stop three steps from the bottom. Was this really as far as he was able to go? They were so close that he could see the doors at the end of the hallway where Tome and Marcus now stood waiting. No, he would keep going; pain or no pain. About to continue forward he was surprised when Carina forced herself under his left arm, wrapping her right arm around his back while her left held onto his. "It's okay." She whispered with a smile as she gently guided his injured leg down, stepping in unison with the boy as he too expressed a small grin, thankful for her help and caring worry as they finished the stairs and slowly made their way to the door at the end of the hall.
Looking up from his seat at the edge of his bed as the door to the enclosed area around them opened, Geoff grinned. "Marcus, Tome." He stated with a slight chuckle, shaking his head in the process. "Any luck with that coffee?" He asked as Marcus returned the laugh and in turn shook his own head. "Nah, that is kind of on short supply right now. I did bring you something else though. Something I think you will appreciate." He replied as Geoff grinned and stood to his feet, looking over to a rather unamused Elise standing in the corner with her eyes locked to Tome. She could sense the approaching group, including Amaury, who she was unaware had been up and moving.
"Whiskey?" Their leader joked once more, trying to remain in high spirits despite the fact that both he and Elise had spent the last week locked in these cells under intense scrutiny. But as Carina walked through the door helping Amaury to walk, Geoff's smirk disappeared into a small grin. "Well this is a surprise. How are you two doing? I'm sorry I haven't come to see you guys, I've asked several times but at the moment there is too much to do to worry about a day trip for prisoners." He admitted as his vision shifted to Amaury, then to his leg as the boy moved closer towards them in between the two cells; Elise focusing on Carina as she help him stand, making it evident that he was pushing himself to come and see them.
"Don't apologize, we understand. We are both doing better, thank you for asking." Carina replied with a feigned smile, disheartened at seeing their two friends in chains as Geoff again looked at Amaury's false leg before returning his vision to his face. "You look much better than when I first saw you after the battle, though you still look sick." Geoff replied, noticing the boy's flushed appearance almost immediately. "Doctor Emerson said my body is fighting the SICOS, but that I would be alright in time." Amaury answered, still feeling the fever as Elise's gaze was drawn back to him. "SICOS?" She asked, walking towards the cell door with crossed arms. She had heard talk from their guards that his injuries had been extensive both inside and out, but she was unaware that Emerson had implanted the device into the boy's mind.
"That crackpot put that malicious machine in your head? You allowed that?" She asked despite knowing that both he and Carina were unconscious for a period of time following the battle as Amaury shook his head. He knew that Carina already felt horrible about not being there to speak against the SICOS on his behalf and hearing about how it was a bad choice was something she didn't need. "He had no choice." The boy replied as he looked to Carina with a smile and a little nod to show that he would be alright to stand on his own while removing his arm from her shoulder; his hand finding hers to chase any guilt away.
"Emerson said it was between this and never flying again, and this war is far from over. I'm not going to let all of you fight alone. He made the right decision." Amaury continued under Elise's scrutiny while Geoff grinned, glad to hear that one of his best pilots was still in the fight. "I wouldn't have expected anything less from you. I'm sure that if the decision would have been yours you would have made the same choice." Geoff spoke in return as Carina's eyes looked down to the floor. Would he have chosen this? He knew how much she disliked the idea of placing that thing in his head leaving her to believe he would have refused, but with his drive to keep both her and their friends safe, could he have lived with himself on the sidelines?
With a huff Elise looked away, annoyed that his pure Newtype abilities had been tainted by a machine. His bloodline would remain unchanged, but now she could no longer assess his strength based on his abilities alone should he choose to use the system; a decision that she was certain he would make in favor of the system due to his leg.
"Is there any word yet?" Tome questioned, breaking up the slight silence that fell over the group as Geoff sighed. "No, not yet. Krupp is supposed to have some kind of news for us tomorrow." He responded, looking back towards Amaury and Carina as they stood hand in hand in before him. From what he had been told it was very likely that without Monty's betrayal none of the events that lead to their injuries would have occurred, making him feel guilty for his formerly close nature to him.
"I swear that I had no idea what Monty was planning and if I had I would have tried to stop him myself. When he approached me months ago about this task, he seemed so dedicated to the freedom we all fight for that I could have never suspected this was his end-game. I've known him for nearly a decade and not once was anything like this brought up. I'm at a loss, and until they find me innocent I will continue to be so. Just, please understand that I had nothing to do with this, and I am sorry that the both of you were hurt because of this… bullshit." Geoff confessed, becoming angered near the end at the thought of being played for a fool as Elise watched on in silence.
She knew he was telling the truth not from his words or any action of his own, but by the way Monty had carried himself since the very beginning; his seclusion, his disregard for the lives and his low-key manipulation of the men and women under his command. He was hiding something the whole time that even she could not discover through his lies. "I know, Geoff. Neither of us believe you or Elise did anything wrong." Carina replied as she turned towards the imprisoned woman that stared at her once again. "I will talk to Krupp and see what I can do to get you two out of here. There has to be something." Amaury responded as Marcus chuckled once in disgust.
"I've tried as well. Krupp insists that the investigation has to be conducted right because of the severity of the issue." He added as Geoff shook his head in agreement with him. "Marcus is right, just let it play its course. I've got nothing to hide, and with another battle sure to occur here soon, he's going to need both of us out there. He will come around." Their leader replied, leaving Elise to huff, her arms still crossed in discontent as the group turned to look at her.
"My objective here is done and your war is just that; yours." Elise replied with her piercing stare towards the group of pilots. She had only been requested to assist with the revolution, and now that it had been completed, she had no intention in becoming involved in an open conflict against Federation; at least not yet. That which was to come was still quite a distance away with much preparation to be done still, and to remain in line with her father's orders she was to keep from dragging their home into this war at all costs.
Her only true regret was that she could not have slain her opponent before her departure, knowing now that Tegan had evolved to be a worthy opponent. "You are just to leave us? Like he did?" Tome asked in annoyance as Carina stared at the woman, her face displaying obvious concern and hurt at her desire to leave. Without her help, how would they fair against a well-organized and much larger Federal force? "Monty abandoned you for his own selfish goals. My objective here has been fulfilled and as such I am to return home. There is a difference." Elise explained in an annoyed tone, displeased with being compared to that man. Did they really expect her to be around to hold their hands forever?
Sure, she had taken a frontline role in the liberation effort, though it was out of necessity not free will. Without someone to challenge Tegan the entire revolution would have been in jeopardy and many more of them would have died; a result that she did not wish to see despite her best attempts to remain separated from this group, physically and emotionally. "Isn't there any way you can stay until we at least get to Hagen?" Carina asked as Amaury looked on before shifting his eyes to observe the others in the room, who all shared the same expression of disappointment except for himself. He understood that she was brought here for a reason and that if that reason was now complete why should wish to return from where she came from, wherever that may be. He couldn't deny however that her presence had been a great help between her skills in combat and her explanation of his gifts and Newtypes.
"No." Elise replied sternly while shaking her head, recalling the damage dealt to the Glint; damage that as much as she hated to admit would prevent her from returning without repair. "I can only remain here until the damage to the Scarlet Glint is repaired. Repairs I am entrusting in you, Carina." She added as the girl now shook her own head. She had been receiving updates from the engineers who were repairing their fleet, who stated that while not permitted to touch the Glint it was easy to see it had suffered extensive cockpit damage and had completely lost its head unit. The cockpit could easily be fixed with only nominal effort, however without a functional or even partially intact sensor unit it would be pointless to even waste precious resources to repair the machine.
"I am honored that you want me to oversee the repairs, but with the damaged that has been reportedly dealt, I don't know much I can do." Carina replied, bringing Elise to stare out her without a word for a brief moment or so before replying. "I am aware. And that is why I am allowing you, and only you, to modify the Glint using what spare parts I have brought with me." She replied as Carina's eyes widened. She was going to let her modify her mobile suit? When the Glint first arrived in their care, she was given strict orders not to touch the machine. Did she really trust her enough to not only repair the Glint, but to produce changes for it?
"R-Really?" Carina asked a bit embarrassed to be put under such spotlight, squeezing Amaury's hand subconsciously as the blue-eyed woman nodded. "Yes. With what I have seen, I believe I can trust you. Don't let me down." She instructed once more as Carina looked towards the others before focusing on Amaury; his big brown eyes staring into hers with the most subtle of nods, instilling her with a reinforced faith in herself. If they believed in her then she should to.
"Alright. But under one condition." Carina replied as she redirected her attention back to Elise once more who shifted her head to the side a bit in question. "What would that be?" Elise asked as Carina swallowed nervously, unsure whether or not she would be scolded for what she was about to ask though she gathered her breath and displayed as much confidence as possible. "You have to explain everything; why you were sent here, who you work for and just exactly where you call home."
Narrowing her vision on the girl before her, Elise herself took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She knew ever since Monty's betrayal that there would be no chance for her origin to remain a secret and that it was just a matter of time before she would be forced to explain, though she never would have guessed Carina would be the one who demanded these answer from her, and she didn't blame her in the least bit. "Fine." She replied as she exhaled a deep sigh a cast her gaze back to the group of pilots.
"When the One Year War ended, the Principality of Zeon became fragmented and was cast across the void. Some accepted defeat and formed the Republic of Zeon, remaining at Side 3 while others simply went into hiding on Earth or out into deep space. The majority of those loyal to the ideals of Zeon Deikun fled to the asteroid base Axis, forming their own Neo-Zeon element there." The woman began to explain, focusing on Amaury as she knew that this was where his parents came from and where he was likely conceived, making him a true child of Axis. "But there were those who instead chose to flee to Mars; my home. I was born and raised a Martian and my father is in fact the legendary Zeon ace Johnny Ridden, who now commands the Mars Zeon Independence Army in defense of our world." She added, watching the surprised faces of the group before her light up. Anyone living on Mars was unheard of in the Earth's Sphere and with the exception of the Jupiter Energy their existence remained unnoticed, so she understood why they would seem confused and shocked.
"Mars is so far away from here… it doesn't explain how you found the Movement, let alone why you are helping us." Tome replied to the woman's story, poking at the holes as Elise's eyes turned to the impatient girl. "The Jupiter Energy Fleet frequently stops at Mars on their voyages back and forth between Earth and Jupiter to deliver our own purchased quantities of crucial elements required for fusion reactors, without which life on Mars would not be possible. On one such stop word was relayed to us of the events taking place across the Earth's Sphere, including the Dresden Massacre and the existence of the Movement. An emissary was sent to find the Movement's leaders and a deal was struck in the best interest of the New Republic and Mars. We would help set your people free in exchange for mutual trade, economic and military support agreements. Knowing the stakes, my father elected to send his best pilot; someone he knew that he could trust to get the job done right. Me. Happy?" Elise finished with a stern tone at the end, annoyed by the constant interruption.
With the mention of Axis, Amaury couldn't help but remember his mother's words followed closely behind by his father's face. That place was essentially where his life began and to hear it referenced in her story brought a slight chill up his spine. If her story and accusations of a Mars-based Zeon existence were true, that would mean that they were not alone and that she was essentially a product of the sister society of the one his parents struggled to keep alive.
"Well. That is a lot to take in." Geoff stated with a chuckle as he looked to the woman on the other side of the glass wall from him. They had been stuck in there for days and she made no mention of this, despite some of their more social conversations. "Well it is all true. Believe it or not." Elise replied, once more cycling through all of the eyes in the room until reaching Carina's as she was the one who asked the question in the first place and she sought to know of that was enough. After a brief moment of silent staring between them, Carina nodded.
"I believe her." She stated despite the fact that it truly was a lot of ground breaking information to handle. How could humanity have gone so long without knowing the existence of an entire society on Mars? Elise didn't explain everything she desired to know, but what she had asked was enough for now. "I will repair the Scarlet Glint." Carina added, bringing the slightest of grins to the Martian woman's lips. "Thank you, Carina." She replied as Carina smiled in a friendly manner before turning back to her exhausted lover, who despite his best efforts was showing signs that now even standing still was bothering him.
"We should get you back to the hospital; you've been standing way too long on that leg." The girl said softly, trying not to embarrass him with her worry as she once again swore she could sense an emotion; this time pain. With a smile the boy silently agreed, turning to Marcus as he laughed. "Smart man. You'll keep listening to her if you know what is good for you." He boomed as the others laughed as well, save for Elise him simply continued her small grin, for once not entirely displeased with their childish banter.
They had grown quite a bit the last few weeks she had known them, transforming from children into a force to be reckoned with though whether it was the combat they had experienced or the loss of their friends she did not know, and for the first time she was beginning to see what her father hoped to find in this group. "You guys go, get some rest. There is a lot of hard work on the horizon, battles to be fought and won. Enjoy your time off." Geoff instructed as the group looked at one another and agreed in silent unity. "Alright, but I expect to see you out of here soon, Captain." Marcus replied to their leader with a laugh as the imprisoned man nodded. "You will. Take care." He replied once more, waiting until after their departure to look at the woman in the cell next to him.
"Mars, huh? That would have been nice to know three days ago." He joked as Elise looked at him from the corner of her eye, turned and walked to a window to stare out at the colony. "You didn't ask." She responded, bringing Geoff to laugh once more. "Fair enough."