A/N: Thank you, Slim Gohan, for pointing out what I forgot.
Chapter Six: Standing Alone, Together
"Not go back to the base?" Eledore was muttering angrily to himself. "Is he crazy? Eventually we'll HAVE to go back to the base!"
About 20 yards away, Sanders was also muttering. But his angry tone was for a different reason than Eledore's.
"Really, another one! That'll get everyone back on that 'Reaper' business again, and before you know it Karen'll give me another good punch...which made no sense to begin with...and with the commander's rep, and his cousin's, and Aina's, and now this stuff about Lorian being Zeon...we're gonna be the laughing stock of the whole federation by tomorrow morning...not to mention that now, with two, no THREE that could desert, my rep just MIGHT come back if it happens again...on the third mission with Lorian..." Sanders continued to grumble for about fifteen minutes, not hearing Kiki and Michel coming closer.
"Sanders? Is that you? What are you muttering about?" Michel asked. He and Kiki were walking hand-in-hand.
"Oh, nothing important to you lovebirds," he said annoyedly. Michel blushed, and Kiki's eyes widened in anger.
"HOW DARE YOU-" she started, but Michel clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her away.
******Flashback to Michel and Kiki******
Michel sat on the roof of the Hovertruck, gazing at the sky.
I think she likes me, he thought to himself. But last I knew, Shiro was her favorite. Who knows with girls?
"I resent that, Michel Ninorich!" Kiki called from below him. Michel started, nearly falling, and glared at her.
"How dare you interrupt my private thoughts!" he yelled, embarrassed.
"This thought thing is weird, isn't it? We never could do it before. At least, not until Erica got here."
"I know, but I like it," Michel said, jumping from the Hovertruck. "It's easier to discuss stuff that way. The enemy can't hear you."
"Maybe. Do you like her?"
"Who?"
"Erica. The Phoenixbird."
"Sure I like her. Everyone likes her. Even Sanders, and he hates everybody. Everyone but Shiro, anyway."
"That's not what I meant, and you know it!"
"Ok, ok! I like her as a friend, same as everyone else, alright??!! Leave off the subject, would you? I'm not in the mood to talk."
Well than who were you thinking about just now? Kiki thought.
It's...well...I suppose it is your business...but...
It was me, wasn't it.
Well...um...I...yes.
******Flash back to the present******
"Shiro?" Aina asked softly.
"Yeah?"
"I, um...that is...I...well...we haven't had much time alone together, lately, and...I...uh..."
"Stop right there. I know what you're saying," Shiro replied, and swept Aina into a deep, passionate kiss. They separated, and kissed again. By now Aina was blushing.
Shiro? Aina? What are you DOING that you blocked me out? Could one of you PLEASE tell Sanders to SHUT UP ALREADY?? Everything he says, he thinks, and it's getting annoying. Remind me to teach you people about guarded thought. Erica's thoughts were frustrated, angry even.
"Sanders must be saying some pretty good stuff if it makes HER mad. Come on," Shiro commented, taking Aina's hand and pulling her along towards where Sanders was positioned. Suddenly he stopped. "On second thought, you stay here, in case the enemy comes."
************
"Eledore?" Karen asked.
"Yeah?"
"Do you really think we should have trusted Lorian with this?"
"I figure she would have given us up by now. She had as many chances."
"Uh-huh. And YOU'RE an ace pilot."
"I resent that."
"Big words for a small brain."
"Oh yeah? Well, goddess is a pretty big word too, and in case you've forgotten-"
"I don't wanna hear it!" Karen screamed, going red. That memory was embarrassing! "All you're ever good for is being annoying!"
"Really, miss hotshot hot-head?"
"Yes really, Mr. Truck-butt!"
"Can you two stop fighting for just two seconds?" Erica's voice interrupted. "That's all you ever do anymore!"
"What's it to you, you Zeon-lo-OW!!! Karen, what was that for?" Eledore whined. Karen had punched him-hard-in the stomach.
"For not being able to keep your enormous mouth SHUT! We're a team, remember?"
"Chill, Karen. I learned a long time ago to ignore him." Erica grinned. "Maybe you should try it." She walked off into the trees, headed Michel's way.
"Maybe she has a point," Karen said, loud enough for Eledore to hear. He only made a face, and walked away.
************
"Is it jus' me, or di' I jus' see the base explode?" Qess asked in shock.
"I'll give you a hint-it's not you," Richard said dryly.
"Aw, c'mon Richie, don' be all smart!" Qess said mockingly.
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!!!! My name's Richard, or Ricky if you want," he said, blushing slightly.
"Can we get back to the serious matter, maybe? How do we get back to space?" Jonathan had a good point. How WOULD they get back to space?
"Hmmm...maybe..." but whatever Kelawney had been about to say was cut off by Qess's shout of, "Kelawney, look ou' behin' you!"
He ducked, just in time to avoid a flying fist. The person behind the fist was none other than Nera Lezero.
"You! Do you realize how many people you killed in that explosion??" Jonathan was mad. Madder than any of them had ever seen him.
Somebody get me outta here, Qess thought desperately.
************
Somebody get me outta here, Erica thought-heard.
"What?" she said aloud, startling Michel, who'd been standing nearby. "Sorry," she said, then changed her speech to thought. What?
Erica? I thought you were out somewhere in the desert or something. Qess's thought-voice was faint.
The distance makes it hard for me to hear you, Qess. What's going on?
Can't really hear you very well, Erica. Miller blew up the base. She's trying to attack Kelawney. Can you find someone to help us?
I can try. But we're kind of alone out here.
I know. Do you think you can- the thought was cut short.
"No!" Erica cried, at the same time thinking Qess? Qess? What happened? Qess?
"Erica? Is something wrong?" Shiro asked, surprising her. She looked at him with fear-filled eyes.
"I know it's against your orders, Commander, but...we've gotta get back to the base."
************
"Qess! Jonathan! Kelawney! Are you guys ok?" Three heads turned at the sound of the familiar voice. Two fighters, four Gundams, and a Hovertruck were approaching.
"Erica! Man, are we glad to see you," Richard called. Jonathan grinned as Erica jumped from her Gundam and hurried over to them, the rest of the team shortly following.
"Hey, where's the base?" Michel asked. Kelawney, Jonathan, and Richard looked at each other.
"Um...it exploded. Lez-I mean, Miller blew it up." Kelawney blushed slightly at his lame explanation.
"Miller who?" Lorian asked.
"Not 'Miller who', 'who Miller'. And I know exactly who," Shiro said angrily. The others, grim-faced, nodded.
"Miller of the intelligence agency. Or formerly, anyway. Miller who almost got Shiro killed...she tried real hard for that title..." Sanders was actually grinning.
"No kiddin'." The voice was Qess's. They all turned to look at her. She was sitting up, rubbing her head. "She tried real har' for th' title of killin' us, too."
"Sorry, Qess, we kinda forgot about you. Are you ok?" Jonathan asked.
"Feels like somethin' squashed me flat, bu' otherwise I think I'm alrigh'. Head's killin' me, though." She slowly stood up. "What're YOU doin' here? I though' you were off lookin' for HER brother an' sis'er."
"Well," Erica explained, "when your thoughts were cut short, I knew something was wrong. So we came to find you. Looks like we didn't need to."
"All those people..." Kiki whispered. Michel looked at her.
"All what people, Kiki?" he asked.
"The people who died in that explosion...what Miller caused...where IS Miller, anyway? I'd like a word with her about what she tried to do to Shiro."
"Don't know. She knocked us all out. When we came to, she was gone. Guess she thought she killed us." Jonathan's voice was grim.
"We have to get back to our mission, no matter what happened here. If you guys want to come along, you can." Shiro eyed Qess, who was looking kind of dizzy. "You can ride along in the Gundams."
"Thanks, Shiro. We'd like that. But we'll only be a hindrance to you. We can't pilot planet-operable Mobile Suits." Richard shrugged. "Fighters maybe, but not Suits."
"We'll get to another base and send you back into space, if you want," Erica suggested. "Or you can stay and fight here on Earth."
"Alright," Kelawney, the Commander, said. "We'll come with you."
"Ok then. Kelawney, you come with me. Richard goes with Sanders. Um..." Shiro paused, unsure.
"Qess, you're with me," Erica said firmly. She didn't need to speak mind-to-mind with Shiro to know what he was thinking, but she did reassure him. Chill, Commander, I don't need to be able to read your mind to know when you're actually thinking sensible thought. I'll watch her, trust me.
Ok, Phoenixbird, Shiro thought. Out loud he said, "Fine. Then Jonathan's going with Karen. Kiki, ride in the Hovertruck," he added as an afterthought.
************
"Man, what a day," Lorian muttered as she rolled out a sleeping bag. They had made it as far as the Asian desert, and it was HOT. "It seems to me that a day ended like this not too long ago..."
"That, my friend, was yesterday. Long time ago, huh?" Kiki smiled. Lorian nodded, smiling back.
"I wonder what they think of me now that they know I'm Zeon."
"You're not."
"Not what?"
"Zeon. You're one of us. A member of the 08th Team."
"I sure don't feel like one. I feel like an outcast."
"Phoenixbird was an outcast here, too, as outcast as she could have been. But she kept trying. That's gotta be her best point, the fact that she won't give up. I admire her for it. And you've got some of that in you, too."
"What do you mean? I give up all the time."
"You kept that secret inside you for how many years and never told, going on each day as a different person because you knew what you were, and no one else did. And you didn't give up. Erica and Shiro already understand, and I think Michel does too. Didn't you say you had a friend in space?"
"Mm-hmm. His name is Simon. He actually works on a ship with that famous Gundam pilot...but I can't remember his name. Something Ray."
"Imagine if he knew you were on the same team as the Phoenixbird!"
"He'd flip, I know it. Jim would too, wherever he is."
"You'll find him again, Lorian."
"I know," Lorian said softly, but it seemed to her the only one to hear her was the wind.
************
"Commander..." Karen started, then stopped.
"Yes?"
"What exactly are we going to DO? By now everyone knows about Miller and what she did, but they also know about YOU."
"I suppose we'll just have to go it alone."
"Not alone," a third voice interrupted. It was Erica, with the entire team, plus the GM squad, behind her. "Together. We'll stand alone, together."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Ta-da! Now...what do YOU, the readers, think should happen next? Give me some hints, people! ~DM
Chapter Six: Standing Alone, Together
"Not go back to the base?" Eledore was muttering angrily to himself. "Is he crazy? Eventually we'll HAVE to go back to the base!"
About 20 yards away, Sanders was also muttering. But his angry tone was for a different reason than Eledore's.
"Really, another one! That'll get everyone back on that 'Reaper' business again, and before you know it Karen'll give me another good punch...which made no sense to begin with...and with the commander's rep, and his cousin's, and Aina's, and now this stuff about Lorian being Zeon...we're gonna be the laughing stock of the whole federation by tomorrow morning...not to mention that now, with two, no THREE that could desert, my rep just MIGHT come back if it happens again...on the third mission with Lorian..." Sanders continued to grumble for about fifteen minutes, not hearing Kiki and Michel coming closer.
"Sanders? Is that you? What are you muttering about?" Michel asked. He and Kiki were walking hand-in-hand.
"Oh, nothing important to you lovebirds," he said annoyedly. Michel blushed, and Kiki's eyes widened in anger.
"HOW DARE YOU-" she started, but Michel clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her away.
******Flashback to Michel and Kiki******
Michel sat on the roof of the Hovertruck, gazing at the sky.
I think she likes me, he thought to himself. But last I knew, Shiro was her favorite. Who knows with girls?
"I resent that, Michel Ninorich!" Kiki called from below him. Michel started, nearly falling, and glared at her.
"How dare you interrupt my private thoughts!" he yelled, embarrassed.
"This thought thing is weird, isn't it? We never could do it before. At least, not until Erica got here."
"I know, but I like it," Michel said, jumping from the Hovertruck. "It's easier to discuss stuff that way. The enemy can't hear you."
"Maybe. Do you like her?"
"Who?"
"Erica. The Phoenixbird."
"Sure I like her. Everyone likes her. Even Sanders, and he hates everybody. Everyone but Shiro, anyway."
"That's not what I meant, and you know it!"
"Ok, ok! I like her as a friend, same as everyone else, alright??!! Leave off the subject, would you? I'm not in the mood to talk."
Well than who were you thinking about just now? Kiki thought.
It's...well...I suppose it is your business...but...
It was me, wasn't it.
Well...um...I...yes.
******Flash back to the present******
"Shiro?" Aina asked softly.
"Yeah?"
"I, um...that is...I...well...we haven't had much time alone together, lately, and...I...uh..."
"Stop right there. I know what you're saying," Shiro replied, and swept Aina into a deep, passionate kiss. They separated, and kissed again. By now Aina was blushing.
Shiro? Aina? What are you DOING that you blocked me out? Could one of you PLEASE tell Sanders to SHUT UP ALREADY?? Everything he says, he thinks, and it's getting annoying. Remind me to teach you people about guarded thought. Erica's thoughts were frustrated, angry even.
"Sanders must be saying some pretty good stuff if it makes HER mad. Come on," Shiro commented, taking Aina's hand and pulling her along towards where Sanders was positioned. Suddenly he stopped. "On second thought, you stay here, in case the enemy comes."
************
"Eledore?" Karen asked.
"Yeah?"
"Do you really think we should have trusted Lorian with this?"
"I figure she would have given us up by now. She had as many chances."
"Uh-huh. And YOU'RE an ace pilot."
"I resent that."
"Big words for a small brain."
"Oh yeah? Well, goddess is a pretty big word too, and in case you've forgotten-"
"I don't wanna hear it!" Karen screamed, going red. That memory was embarrassing! "All you're ever good for is being annoying!"
"Really, miss hotshot hot-head?"
"Yes really, Mr. Truck-butt!"
"Can you two stop fighting for just two seconds?" Erica's voice interrupted. "That's all you ever do anymore!"
"What's it to you, you Zeon-lo-OW!!! Karen, what was that for?" Eledore whined. Karen had punched him-hard-in the stomach.
"For not being able to keep your enormous mouth SHUT! We're a team, remember?"
"Chill, Karen. I learned a long time ago to ignore him." Erica grinned. "Maybe you should try it." She walked off into the trees, headed Michel's way.
"Maybe she has a point," Karen said, loud enough for Eledore to hear. He only made a face, and walked away.
************
"Is it jus' me, or di' I jus' see the base explode?" Qess asked in shock.
"I'll give you a hint-it's not you," Richard said dryly.
"Aw, c'mon Richie, don' be all smart!" Qess said mockingly.
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!!!! My name's Richard, or Ricky if you want," he said, blushing slightly.
"Can we get back to the serious matter, maybe? How do we get back to space?" Jonathan had a good point. How WOULD they get back to space?
"Hmmm...maybe..." but whatever Kelawney had been about to say was cut off by Qess's shout of, "Kelawney, look ou' behin' you!"
He ducked, just in time to avoid a flying fist. The person behind the fist was none other than Nera Lezero.
"You! Do you realize how many people you killed in that explosion??" Jonathan was mad. Madder than any of them had ever seen him.
Somebody get me outta here, Qess thought desperately.
************
Somebody get me outta here, Erica thought-heard.
"What?" she said aloud, startling Michel, who'd been standing nearby. "Sorry," she said, then changed her speech to thought. What?
Erica? I thought you were out somewhere in the desert or something. Qess's thought-voice was faint.
The distance makes it hard for me to hear you, Qess. What's going on?
Can't really hear you very well, Erica. Miller blew up the base. She's trying to attack Kelawney. Can you find someone to help us?
I can try. But we're kind of alone out here.
I know. Do you think you can- the thought was cut short.
"No!" Erica cried, at the same time thinking Qess? Qess? What happened? Qess?
"Erica? Is something wrong?" Shiro asked, surprising her. She looked at him with fear-filled eyes.
"I know it's against your orders, Commander, but...we've gotta get back to the base."
************
"Qess! Jonathan! Kelawney! Are you guys ok?" Three heads turned at the sound of the familiar voice. Two fighters, four Gundams, and a Hovertruck were approaching.
"Erica! Man, are we glad to see you," Richard called. Jonathan grinned as Erica jumped from her Gundam and hurried over to them, the rest of the team shortly following.
"Hey, where's the base?" Michel asked. Kelawney, Jonathan, and Richard looked at each other.
"Um...it exploded. Lez-I mean, Miller blew it up." Kelawney blushed slightly at his lame explanation.
"Miller who?" Lorian asked.
"Not 'Miller who', 'who Miller'. And I know exactly who," Shiro said angrily. The others, grim-faced, nodded.
"Miller of the intelligence agency. Or formerly, anyway. Miller who almost got Shiro killed...she tried real hard for that title..." Sanders was actually grinning.
"No kiddin'." The voice was Qess's. They all turned to look at her. She was sitting up, rubbing her head. "She tried real har' for th' title of killin' us, too."
"Sorry, Qess, we kinda forgot about you. Are you ok?" Jonathan asked.
"Feels like somethin' squashed me flat, bu' otherwise I think I'm alrigh'. Head's killin' me, though." She slowly stood up. "What're YOU doin' here? I though' you were off lookin' for HER brother an' sis'er."
"Well," Erica explained, "when your thoughts were cut short, I knew something was wrong. So we came to find you. Looks like we didn't need to."
"All those people..." Kiki whispered. Michel looked at her.
"All what people, Kiki?" he asked.
"The people who died in that explosion...what Miller caused...where IS Miller, anyway? I'd like a word with her about what she tried to do to Shiro."
"Don't know. She knocked us all out. When we came to, she was gone. Guess she thought she killed us." Jonathan's voice was grim.
"We have to get back to our mission, no matter what happened here. If you guys want to come along, you can." Shiro eyed Qess, who was looking kind of dizzy. "You can ride along in the Gundams."
"Thanks, Shiro. We'd like that. But we'll only be a hindrance to you. We can't pilot planet-operable Mobile Suits." Richard shrugged. "Fighters maybe, but not Suits."
"We'll get to another base and send you back into space, if you want," Erica suggested. "Or you can stay and fight here on Earth."
"Alright," Kelawney, the Commander, said. "We'll come with you."
"Ok then. Kelawney, you come with me. Richard goes with Sanders. Um..." Shiro paused, unsure.
"Qess, you're with me," Erica said firmly. She didn't need to speak mind-to-mind with Shiro to know what he was thinking, but she did reassure him. Chill, Commander, I don't need to be able to read your mind to know when you're actually thinking sensible thought. I'll watch her, trust me.
Ok, Phoenixbird, Shiro thought. Out loud he said, "Fine. Then Jonathan's going with Karen. Kiki, ride in the Hovertruck," he added as an afterthought.
************
"Man, what a day," Lorian muttered as she rolled out a sleeping bag. They had made it as far as the Asian desert, and it was HOT. "It seems to me that a day ended like this not too long ago..."
"That, my friend, was yesterday. Long time ago, huh?" Kiki smiled. Lorian nodded, smiling back.
"I wonder what they think of me now that they know I'm Zeon."
"You're not."
"Not what?"
"Zeon. You're one of us. A member of the 08th Team."
"I sure don't feel like one. I feel like an outcast."
"Phoenixbird was an outcast here, too, as outcast as she could have been. But she kept trying. That's gotta be her best point, the fact that she won't give up. I admire her for it. And you've got some of that in you, too."
"What do you mean? I give up all the time."
"You kept that secret inside you for how many years and never told, going on each day as a different person because you knew what you were, and no one else did. And you didn't give up. Erica and Shiro already understand, and I think Michel does too. Didn't you say you had a friend in space?"
"Mm-hmm. His name is Simon. He actually works on a ship with that famous Gundam pilot...but I can't remember his name. Something Ray."
"Imagine if he knew you were on the same team as the Phoenixbird!"
"He'd flip, I know it. Jim would too, wherever he is."
"You'll find him again, Lorian."
"I know," Lorian said softly, but it seemed to her the only one to hear her was the wind.
************
"Commander..." Karen started, then stopped.
"Yes?"
"What exactly are we going to DO? By now everyone knows about Miller and what she did, but they also know about YOU."
"I suppose we'll just have to go it alone."
"Not alone," a third voice interrupted. It was Erica, with the entire team, plus the GM squad, behind her. "Together. We'll stand alone, together."
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Ta-da! Now...what do YOU, the readers, think should happen next? Give me some hints, people! ~DM
