Somehow, some way, he always got stuck with the manual labor. First it was digging trenches and holes for the improvised land mines, that still worked and occasionally exploded in the hands of the unwitting carrier, and then it was actually carrying those land mines on drills and missions, now it was crates.

And seawater.

And sand.

It could be worse, of course. He could be doing all of the work with one hand, like some of the other guys had to. He could be like Mr. Nadi and have metal legs rusting out from underneath him because of the seawater.

No, Ride considered himself lucky to only have to worry about stacking the crates. It helped make him stronger while he contributed. Contributing was a big thing around here. Almost everyone had more than one thing they were good at. Even Aurora was almost as good as Mr. Nadi at fixing the machines and mechs, whenever she wasn't fixing up the scrapes and broken bones that were part of the life they all led.

This is how I help, he thought to himself during the trudge through the strange sticky water and shifting sand out to where the entry ship was set. He held his arms up to try and keep them out of the seawater. He couldn't help but wish there was something more he could do.

If he was being honest, he didn't really want to be carrying things, and, he supposed that was pretty typical for anyone doing manual labor in the full Earthly Sun. What he really wanted to do was be a pilot. Like Mr. Mikazuki and Mr. Akihiro. Maybe even like Shino, but definitely like Mr. Mikazuki.

He wanted to go out and stop the people who tried to hurt his family, not just wait for the threat to be stopped by someone else. That way he wouldn't have to go to as many funerals.

"Tamaki! What's left?" he yelled up when he finally made it to the ship. The water was just barely below his shoulders and each wave threatened to go over his head, but for now he stayed above the water.

Takaki, checked his clipboard, Aurora told them the E-pads weren't good to use around the seawater, "Just some spare parts, you can probably take a break after this one."

Ride grinned up at his friend. Takaki almost died a little while ago too. He still moved a little slowly and didn't come to the fighting classes Shino gave them as often anymore, but he made up for it by working with Biscuit and Aurora on paper work and reports. The lucky dog probably got to talk to Ms. Meribit too. Ride felt a little jealous about that but he supposed his friend deserved the chances after what he went through.

"Gotcha, I'll see you over there then." He balanced the crate on his head with a hand to either side to steady it and began the trudge back to the beach. A wave struck him from behind soaking his hair and making it hang in funny strings while the front stayed dry, a little stronger than before, but he refused to let the crate touch the water.

He nearly bumped into the Boss for all his effort.

"You good, Ride?" The waves didn't even go over his waist, though it looked like one got up to his red scarf and dyed it a darker color, almost like a bloodstain. He'd left his shirt and jacket on the dry sand and the bright Earth Sun made his scars stand out even more than they did on Mars, especially the one on his arm.

"Yup, got it." The Boss would probably take the crate from him if he wasn't all right, but Ride could never ask him to. Orga was the one who saved them all and he couldn't possibly put more on his Boss's shoulders. He had two crates that were much larger than Ride's one, no doubt they weighed more too. But the Boss shouldered them without so much as a complaint, he even told Takaki to take a break since this would be the last trip.

Ride envied his Boss's longer legs and silently wished for his own to grow faster. He grit his teeth and pushed through the mire of sticky water and soft sand that sucked at his feet, he couldn't fall too far behind.

He threw himself at the dry sand next to Yamagi and almost instantly regretted it when the grits stuck to him. The sand stuck to everything: clothes, hair, skin, crates, mechs. Mr. Nadi and Aurora would have a heck of a time keeping the Mechs running smoothly.

"Why does the water have to smell so weird?" Yamagi asked him. He stared out at the now receding shuttle. It would probably be towed somewhere before being launched back up into orbit. I wonder how Mr. Eugene is doing up there.

"Everything is so different here. I thought Earth would be more developed than this." Ride said.

"Could be it's just this place. Mr. Biscuit said there were many large cities all around the world."

Ride made a noncommittal noise. He wanted to be able to celebrate in a city, somewhere fancy where everyone would have a good time.

His gaze idly wandered over to where Aurora stood. The guys who worked around her tried to hide their glances in her direction but Ride thought they were doing a pretty poor job of it if even he could notice it. Aurora wasn't paying attention to them though; she was too busy talking to the Boss.

Aurora wasn't strong Shino and Akihiro were but she was intimidating in her own way. Even if the Boss wasn't there Ride doubted anyone would give her trouble. She was talking to the Boss about something, using her hands to emphasize some detail. He laughed, probably the first time in a long while that he was able to do that, and entwined his hand with hers.

The Boss looked different while he was around her: more sure of himself, at ease. Ride wasn't exactly sure what was going on, Mr. Nadi always laughed and said he'd get it in a few years but Ride wanted to "get it" now.

The pair broke apart when Biscuit ran up to them. He was panting and speaking animatedly. The Boss lost any of the easiness he gained when Biscuit replied to whatever it was Aurora asked.

Ride picked himself up and started the walk back to where the main group was. He supposed it was time to get back to work.

Aurora have to say she was worried for Nadi to pick up on it. Ever since she was little tiny lines would appear above her nose and around her eyes when something troubled her. Nadi also didn't have to ask what exactly was troubling her, gossip spread quickly enough among the kids that he had a grasp of the situation.

"Those thrusters we fitted aren't any good now" He said.

The monitor in front of him glowed yellow and red when it should have been green. The Barbatos wouldn't be going anywhere for a little while and it was unlikely Tekkadan could hold off Gjallarhorn without Mikazuki. There was so much to be done and so little time left to do it.

"We can replace the other flagged parts with what we got from Montag."

At least the Gusion fared better. Ari only needed to replace a few parts and reapply the nano-laminate coating before it was fully operational again.

"We were in a similar situation back on Mars, I can manage it. Even if the mobility isn't at 100." Mikazuki said.

"I could probably help with that if you'd like" Eco said, she walked over from the now stationary Rouei units. The pilots, Azee and Lafter flanked her on either side.

"If you're already done we'd appreciate the help." There was no point in turning down a helping hand, after all. The Turbines mechanic, Eco, certainly did know her stuff. She and Ari took to each other pretty quickly if he remembered right. They were able to completely reconfigure the Gusion out of that unfortunate bloated toad armor in record time.

"It's no problem, the Rouei were already set up for land use anyways. It looks like the Barbatos needs all the help it can get after that entry." Eco said, she glanced up at the mech. It still steamed in some spots where the sea water hadn't reached.

The harsh Earth Sun brought out every scorch along the armor, even the smallest dings seemed deeper. The pile of ruined hardware was steadily looming larger. It was already taller than Yamagi. With a deep sigh, he stepped out of the hangar for a smoke break to help his old nerves.

"I appreciate it. Check in with Yamagi, he'll give you a rundown of what hasn't been scrapped yet."

The women nodded and set to work.

Nadi fished in his pockets for his half empty pack of cigarettes and tapped them against his palm. He'd probably need a refill before the day is done. Ari would definitely get on him about smoking too much, though to be honest he didn't mind so much. It was good to be reminded to take care of the human part of him every now and again.

He cast a guilty glance toward the Gusion where Ari was arguing with Shino about something or other. Akihiro stepped in every now and then, to Ari's benefit it looked like. So different from the half frozen kid he picked up in an alley a lifetime ago. She held her own against guys three times her size and even made them back down. It was probably difficult to be one of the leaders now but it didn't immediately show on her, if it weren't for those little lines on her face Nadi could have convinced himself that she was fine.

So many of the kids were different now; tougher, harder, a little more aggressive. He supposed it was that bastard Maruba's fault for how they turned out. Always throwing the kids out to be gun fodder while holding the experienced soldiers in reserve. The reckless ones like Mikazuki, Shino, and Akahiro usually made it, as did the ones who were sharp like Biscuit. The ones that were sharp and reckless, like Eugene and Orga ended up in charge of the rest. They were the ones who always scared old Maruba the most. And with good reason, Nadi supposed.

Though he wasn't exactly without blame in the CGS situation, he'd been there too. Was a witness to every surgery, every death and injury that the AV system brought with it. His hands were just as stained as those of the First Unit and Maruba.

Maybe saving Ari, from that alley and whatever her family was caught up in and from that foul surgery, was his own way of trying to make amends. Maybe he was still doing it, possibly the reason he stayed on with the kids even though he'd had other offers. Offers any sane man would not refuse.

But then again those offers wouldn't have brought him anywhere near the Earth. It was something he could brag about to his children's children, if he ever got around to having any of his own.

"Ride grab some gloves and help Aurora with the repairs." Nadi shouted. Ride was a good kid, one of the newer ones who'd survived a few of the missions Maruba liked to throw the kids into. He was reliable, with good hands and a strong back. Would probably stay with this kind of work for the long haul too. He was helping Takaki with one of the carts of supplies before Nadi commandeered him.

Nadi considered Takaki for a moment before yelling for him to come over as well.

"Yes sir!" They said. Ari cast a grateful glance his way for the extra help. She was walking along the Gusion as though unaware or uncaring of the long drop to the ground. Shino and Akihiro lifted crates and parts up to where she pointed them.

He couldn't help but fall into the old habit of wondering which of them would come back on the next mission. Old dogs and old ways, he supposed.

Even with Orga's reckless plans they were losing far fewer kids in every skirmish. The ones that survived fought even harder to protect their comrades.

Thinking of Orga made him wonder if he should talk to Ari about that situation. He'd be damned if he tried to offer any advice or guidance unsolicited. It was probably better to let her ask him than to butt in on his own.

Damn kids.

He took a drag of his cigarette and felt the nicotine calm the anxiety that nipped the edges of his mind. They would make it out of whatever it was they were in this time; whether it was the Barbatos, the fiasco with Gjallarhorn and Miss. Kudelia, or the solar system itself.

It would do for now.