Chapter 35

Move Along

Yucatan looked down at the meal lain before him. Visions of his old comrades' faces flashed in his mind's eye. Sorrow and angst started filling his heart. Biting his lower lip and clenching a fist he cried out loud. "Damn those bastards!" He pounded the table. The noise startled a few other individuals in the cafeteria. "Sorry." he murmured. "Why? Why did they have to die? What happened to the peace?" Questions raced through his mind. His stomach growled. Even though filled with heart ache, his empty body still demanded sustenance. Yucatan picked up his utensils and began to eat. The tears that had fallen upon the food gave it a salty taste. Still, he found it a bit hard to swallow due to his emotional state. But, it was good though. He shook his head in an attempt to clear his current thoughts. "I gotta cheer up. After all, I'm going to see Renton and Alex soon."

The Gekko...

"Heads up guys, it looks like they're back." James sat up and pointed his finger out at the LFOs approaching the ship. He saw a familiar old lady waving to them. "Well I'll be." said Ken-Goh. "Whose that?" Alex asked. "That's an old friend of ours, Miss Tiptory," Gidget answered. Something about her made Alex feel warm inside. "Weird, I haven't felt this way since..." A 'bleep' from Gidget's monitor interrupted his train of thought. "Looks like the Super Izumo here as well."

Location: CLASSIFIED Neo-Ageha HQ

"Brother, it seems that our little Neo-SOF Recon has returned." stated the older girl. "Has it now, Pacif?" asked her younger brother. "Yes, Atlan and with interesting news too" said another brother, the eldest. "Arcti! You've returned!" said another sister, the youngest. "Hello, Indi. Did you enjoy the new dolls I sent you?" Arcti asked her. "Yeah!" Indi pointed at a pile of plastic figures on the floor. The heads were decapitated and most of their limbs had been torn off. "I'm glad to see you've been playing with them so much. I know how you like to hear them 'pop' don't you?" said Pacif. "She must be practicing." suggested Atlan. "How else are we going to operate our VC10's properly if we do know the basics." stated Indi. They laughed evilly. Arcti, the oldest was about 15-16 yrs old, had white hair, and bright green eyes. Pacif, the older girl was just over 14 of age, had long blond hair, one red and one hazel eye. Atlan, the younger was 12. He had black hair with a gray tip at the top, and brown eyes. Indi, the youngest of the four siblings was 9. She had hair the color of flames, and yellow irises. Each wore vacant expressions on their faces, mostly void of any such emotion.

"What news did our little peons bring?" asked Atlan and Indi. "It seems "they" have returned and "it" is with them." answered. Arcti. "So, the Thurston boy, that 'creature', and pitiful failed experiment have come back?" asked Pacif. "So it seems but, it matters not, nothing will stop us this time." he reassured his siblings. "Oh really? I heard that their Nirvashs returned as well and you know how much trouble they caused our great king the first time." Atlan said with a smirk. Indi burst out laughing. "I doubt those rusty old relics will be in league with our new and improved VC10 Kai." Arcti grinned and patted Indi's head. "Well said little sister. Lord Dewey's death will not be in vain."

Back in Ciudades del Cielo...

"Super Izumo this is the Gekko. You're clear for landing, continue with your decent. Over" radioed Gidget. "This is the Super Izumo. Roger that. It's good to hear a friendly voice. Special cargo is safe and eager for a family reunion." Maria radioed back. "We read you loud and clear. Welcome back. Gekko over and out." Gidget responded.
"Tsk. That means I'll be seeing Yucatan again." Alex grunted. "What, that a problem?" asked Doggie. "Well... no, not really. Let's just say that we never saw eye to eye." Axel shrugged. "Ah, I gotcha." James nodded in acknowledgment.

The Super Izumo landed on the dusty runway and lowered their launch pad. Out stepped Jurgens, Maria, and their kids. "Hey, so how did it go?" Doggie asked. "We won, thanks to these two." Jurgens pointed over his shoulder. "Hey pal. Remember me?" the guy asked. James' jaw dropped. "Huh? No way! It's them!" he stammered. "Doggie? Do you know them?" Gidget asked clinging to his arm. "Sorta. They helped Sumner, Ruri, and I in Cornwall. So they're cool." he explained. "We have names ya know." the man retorted. "Sorry. Hooky wasn't it?" Doggie asked. Hooky nodded. "And you're Gillian right?" he asked pointing to the female. She smiled. "You did remember. Now let's see if I can remember you. It's Moondoggie correct?" Gillian asked. "Yeah that's right." he answered.

Hooky poked his head up the launch pad. "Hey, you coming with us or not mister?" he shouted. There was a brief moment of silence. "Yeah. I'm coming." answered a mysterious male voice. As the dust cleared Axel saw a familiar face descending the platform. The man looked up and grinned at him. "Hey pops, it's been awhile." he said. "Yucatan." said Axel. Yucatan Iglasias was Rose's (Adrock's wife) brother. "So how you been?" Yucatan asked him. "Good. You?" he asked. "I've had better days." Yucatan pointed to the bandages around his shoulder and stomach. "What the hell happened to you?!" asked Axel. "Just got into a little skirmish that's all. You think I look bad? You should see the other guy." Yucatan laughed coughing.

The two stood there awkwardly for several seconds before Axel broke the silence. "Come on Yucatan, let's go see Renton. He's been waiting for you." he told him walking back to the Gekko. Yucatan followed behind. "You think those two will be alright?" Maria asked her husband. "Yeah, probably." Jurgens said. "They'll just have to forget past differences and move along.

Thirty minutes later Holland and Renton's groups returned to the ship and Miss Tiptory was with them. Maurice, Maeter, and Linck's eyes lit up with joy running to them with open arms. "Mama, Papa, Miss Tiptory!" they squealed greeting them with a hug. "Welcome back Renton." said a voice. Renton froze. He knew that voice. Renton looked up to see a familiar face smiling at him standing alongside his grandfather. "Hey kiddo." he said.

"U-Uncle." A tear fell down Renton's cheek. He darted towards him and buried his head in Yucatan's chest hugging him. "Looks like you really do forgive me." Yucatan said. Eureka accompanied their children over to meet the man. "Oh, hello again young lady. I hope you can forgive me for last time too." he apologized. "Of course." Eureka answered with a smile.

One of the children tugged on her dress. "Mama, who is this?" Linck asked. "This is Mr. Yucatan Iglasias, your grand-uncle." she told them. "Huh?" Yucatan turned to his nephew confused. "Uncle I'd like you to meet our children. The oldest is Maurice, this little lady is Maeter, and this is the youngest, Linck. Well at least for now that is." Renton added. Linck grinned. "We're expecting two new additions any day now." Eureka rubbed her belly.

Yucatan looked at his nephew stunned. This was a lot to take in at once. "Twins? You're having twins?" he asked. "Yeah, a boy and a girl." Renton answered. "Well you've certainly been busy haven't you?" He rustled his nephew's hair. "I don't suppose you've picked names for them yet?" his uncle joked. "As a matter of fact, yes." Eureka answered. "Really mama? What are they?" Maeter asked. "Mm-mm." Eureka shook her head. "It's a secret." Renton winked at them. "You'll just have to wait until your little brother and sister arrive." Eureka told them. "Don't worry. You'll meet them soon enough."

Renton saw his uncle chuckling. "What?" he asked. "It's nothing. I'm just a little surprised that's all. Never figured you'd have this many kids already. Guess I really have been away for to long. So you married yet?" he asked. "We will be soon. We're heading for the Vodara Shrine for the ceremony right now. I wanted our entire family to be there." Renton told his uncle. Yucatan smiled. "Thanks Renton."

Suddenly one of the Super Izumo's crew members came running out. Before anyone had a chance to ask he yelled. "Captain we've got company. At least twenty NAS fleet ships are closing in on our location and fast!"

"Holland get Tiptory and the rest of the Vodarc abourd the Gekko and Super Izumo. Head for the Shrine." Eureka yelled. He was hesitate. "NOW!" Renton ordered. Holland didn't look pleased that Renton had just ordered him but did so just the same. "You heard him. Everyone on the ships." The Vodarc scurried aboard.

The children had already strapped themselves in typeHOPE. "What are you doing? Get on the Gekko." Eureka demanded. "We're coming too!" they said solemnly. "Don't worry we can protect them." Renton told her. Eureka and Renton jumped in their Nirvash. Dominic and Anemone did the same. "Hey just where do you guys think you're going?!" Holland demanded. Renton shot him a glare that clearly stated. "Where do you think?"

The two teams launched their Nirvashes off the ground. Once in the air they switched to jet mode and blasted away from site. "Be careful." Yucatan said looking up.

NEXT CHAPTER: AS THE VODARAC ARE EVACUATED TO THE SHIPS ANEMONE AND DOMINC EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN BURST OF ENERGY FROM HOPE. OUR HEROES RUSH INTO BATTLE HOPING TO BUY THEIR FRIENDS ENOUGH TIME TO ESCAPE. WHILE IN THE SKIES THEY MEET A TERRIFING NEW FOE AND A CRUEL FATE SOON BEFALLS THE BOY AND THE GIRL. CHAPTER 36: THE JETSET LIFE IS GONNA KILL YA