Vera spun around. She having the fire dream again. The fire surrounded her,
burning and blistering, but Vera knew it wouldn't touch her. All the same,
her leg and shoulders throbbed like they always did when she saw fire.
" The enemy revealed himself." The deep voice whispered to Vera.
" Yes. I know who you are." She suddenly stated.
" Oh, do you? Who am I?" the voice taunted.
" You're either Folken Fanel or his ghost haunting me. What do you want from me?" Vera asked the black sky.
" I want to steer you from the path I took." The voice replied.
" You mean the dragon that took your arm? I already avoided that." Vera told the voice.
" No. Your strength will soon be put the test. I told you before, do not stray from your guardian angel." The voice told her.
" What'll happen if I do?" Vera asked defiantly.
" You will suffer a fate similar to mine. To this day I wear the scar of my mistakes." The voice told her.
" What scar?" Vera asked.
" My wings. My stupidity and blunders caused them to turn black. I bear the pain while I speak to you." The voice said.
" So you are Folken. You're my uncle. Are you alive or dead?" Vera wanted to know for her father's sake.
" That question will be answered later. Your father knows better than to question such things before the appropriate time, so I think you should learn it." The voice, now known to Vera as Folken, said.
" Don't compare me to him!" Vera cried into the sky.
" I'm not. You are comparing yourself." Folken said. Vera watched the sky and fire fade, and she drifted alone...
Vera's eyes snapped open and she sat up. Her body was drenched in sweat, and she could still feel the heat of the fire as if it was real. Vera buried her face in her arms and breathed in one shaky breath after another. She was unsure to the meaning of the dream. She stood and walked to Michael's door and knocked softly. Her long shirt and loose pants swished around her thin body. Vera would wear shorts to bed, but the scars on her left leg left her unwilling to wear shorts of any kind since she was five. Michael groaned inside his room.
" Michael, it's me. Can I come in?" Vera called quietly. A drowsy, mumbling Michael opened the door and let Vera in.
" What's the matter?" Michael asked her.
" I had a dream. It's kind of upsetting me." Vera said. Michael lay back down in his bed. He motioned for Vera to sit on the bed next to him. He was wearing pants and his chest was bare. Vera had visited Michael before on many sleepless nights so he was used to seeing her like she was and she was used to seeing him like that. Vera walked over and sat.
" Tell me about it." Michael demanded gently. Vera poured out the dream, how her dead uncle's voice floated down from the sky and told her things. Michael sat silently with his eyes closed. When Vera was done, he breathed deeply.
" Why is it so strange that you aren't afraid of the fire?" Michael asked. Vera hung her head silently.
" It's a long story." She said.
" One that you don't want to tell?" Michael suggested, opening his eyes and looking at her.
" Well, when I was five, I was trapped in a forest fire. Ever since then, I've been afraid of fire." Vera said. She pulled up her pant leg and showed him the scars. " These are some of the scars. The worst is on my shoulders." Vera looked away and then turned back. Michael watched her.
" It's okay to be afraid of something. I'm scared of dogs, if it makes you feel any better. I was a victim of a dog attack when I was six." Michael explained, pointing to a scar above his eye.
" Really?" Vera asked.
" Yeah. Everyone's scared of something. It's normal. Just don't let the fear get to you." Michael cautioned. Vera nodded. She lay down next to him and he put the blanket over her. Vera wondered what her parents were afraid of. She decided not to think about it.
" Back to the dream, I can't help but wonder why Folken's spirit haunts me. I don't even know the real story about him." Vera said. Michael cocked his head.
" Maybe that's it. Maybe he wants you to know about him, for some reason." Michael suggested.
" He did say he wanted to steer me from the path he took." Vera admitted.
" You see? Maybe he thinks you're in danger of making his mistakes and, because you're his niece, he wants to protect you." Michael explained. Vera nodded again. " Now I suggest you go back to bed so I can get some sleep." Michael said in fake anger. Vera smiled and stood.
" Okay. Goodnight, Michael." Vera said, walking out the door.
" 'Night, Vera." He replied. Vera lay back down in her bed in her room and pulled the blankets up to her chin. She settled in and as she slowly drifted back to sleep, she thought to herself, if Folken wants to protect me then Michael can relate to the feeling. Why do so many people want me to be safe?
Michael groaned audibly and rolled over in his bed, burying his face in his pillow.
" Go away." He told the sunlight streaming in his window. I really need some curtains, he thought grumpily, remembering his blackout curtains back home.
" Michael, wake up." Vera called through the door. Michael groaned again, pulling the blanket up over his head.
" Sure, you're cheery. You're used to being woken up in the middle of the night." He growled. What was it with that girl and mornings?
" Aw, don't be such a baby. You lose a half an hour of sleep and you act like you haven't slept at all." Vera scolded. Michael grunted. Vera came in and pulled the blanket off him and yanked the pillow away, leaving Michael exposed to the harsh morning light.
" Go away!" he yelled at her. Vera just laughed at him and tossed the pillow at his face.
" You're really annoying, you know that?" Michael asked.
" Well, you're not exactly going to win an award for sweetness." Vera said. She was in an unusually good mood. Michael made a bold effort to sit up. He saw the perfectly round scar on his stomach that was barely a month and a half old.
" What's got you in such a good mood?" Michael asked.
" Oh, I'm just feeling really good." Vera said happily. Michael watched her jog out of the room energetically. He felt his heart tear. He really wanted to love her, but she had dangerous written all over her. Michael yanked a shirt over his head and left the room to get breakfast. He grabbed his customary orange and leaned against the counter to eat it when Merle and Zam came in, arguing.
" No way. Not all pink. Other colors, please, Merle." Zam said calmly.
" Why not? Pink is a wedding color. What's wrong with it?" Merle said angrily.
" I don't think everything should be pink. There are other colors, like white. White goes good with pink." Zam suggested. Merle frowned. She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room without another word. Zam sighed and followed her. Michael figured they were arguing about their wedding. It wasn't much of an argument, since Merle had done all the fighting. Neither one of them had noticed Michael. Finished with his breakfast, Michael left the galley and went to the control room. Only a few crew members were there, so Michael stalked out of the room, still sleepy. He wandered around, thinking absently about Vera and his old home on Earth. His mind wandered as aimlessly as his body. Depressed, Michael found himself thinking about those rare seconds when he had connected to Vera, when he felt like they were one and whole. He remembered the affectionate embrace when he had found her on Zensho's ship. He remembered leaning against her locked door, waiting for her to tell him why she was depressed. He remembered when she had first found the dagger charm and he had stood with his hands on her shoulders. His body had been agonizingly close to hers then, the closest he had ever been to her. He remembered brushing her hair and telling her she was beautiful both on the inside and on the outside. He remembered her different expressions, agony, rage, desperation, and once, helpless love with tears streaming down her face. He had wanted so much to brush those tears away, and he had tried, but he was too weak. How would he ever tell her he loved her?
Vera's energy from the morning was gone. She was sitting in a chair in the galley, absently twirling her dagger charm and thinking. Different scenes played through her mind and Michael was in most of them. Vera held her charm in front of her and sighed. She looked at it wistfully and wondered where Michael had disappeared to. He probably went back to sleep, the lazy oaf, she thought. She didn't really mean it. Michael had stood faithfully by her side for over five months without a thought to his own safety. Some of the things he had done made Vera angry, but she knew he had done them for her, with the best intentions. The scenario that had haunted her without mercy rose in her mind again. She vividly remembered that instant when he had held her face in his hands and kissed her. He had kept it sweet and simple for one glorious second, only to leave Vera more confused than ever. She stared straight ahead and wished she could understand what Michael wanted, and what she wanted. Vera stood and sat again. Part of her wanted to go find Michael and ask him what he wanted, but another part was unsure. Well, she thought, what harm could a simple question do? Standing again, Vera searched for Michael. She found him perched on Arch Angel in the docking bay, staring sullenly into blank space.
" Hey Michael!" she called.
" What?" Michael called back, turning his head to look at her. Vera's courage faltered.
" Um, could you come down? I want to talk to you." Vera said, trying hard not tell Michael never mind and run away as fast as the wind.
" Yeah?" Michael asked when he got down to Vera. His blue eyes sparkled. Vera swallowed.
" About the other day, in here... Well, I was wondering why you... Why you..." Vera swallowed again and looked up at Michael helplessly. He thought for a moment and then smiled gently.
" I know what you want to say." He said quietly. Vera breathed deeply. There was no turning back now.
" And?" Vera said. He stepped a little closer to her, and Vera's heart started to beat faster.
" And, I did it because... It's hard to explain." He frowned as he searched for words. " I did it because I really care about you, and not just as a sister or a friend. I'd do it again, too." Was he saying he loved her? Vera stared at his face. She suddenly realized he was standing much closer than before, his head down to look at her. Vera suddenly felt everything, like her senses were ten times more acute. Her skin tingled when Michael touched her, as if a hundred tiny lightning bolts were shooting through her skin. Vera reached up and put her arms around his neck. Michael held her gently but firmly, like he didn't want to take it too far but at the same time, he wanted to make sure she wasn't going anywhere. Just before kissing her, Michael stopped, inches away.
" You're beautiful." He told her. Vera's eyes opened wide in shock. Her beauty had been commented on before, but never so simply. So simple, and yet so meaningful, those two words meant more to Vera than anything else. Vera felt Michael's lips press against hers and she relaxed. Her tense body was suddenly much more limp and she felt very comfortable, as if kissing Michael was the most natural thing in the world. Michael's kiss was gentle and sweet but forceful, like his personality. Michael pulled his head away. Vera still stayed in his arms was it was warm and safe. She leaned her head against his chest and smiled. Something she had told him a long time ago popped into her head. I want answers no one can give, she had said. Here were the answers she had wanted. Now Vera knew what she truly wanted. Michael laid his head on top of hers and sighed contentedly. He held her close for what seemed like hours, until Vera moved to look at him. She was happy. Michael looked like something he had wanted for a long time had finally been given to him. He kissed Vera's forehead tenderly.
" I've got you now." He whispered. Vera smiled and looked into his eyes.
" I'm so happy." She told him. He kissed her again for an answer. Vera silently prayed it would never end, even though she knew it had to. Michael pulled away from Vera, holding her at arms length. He examined her, not the way her suitors had always examined her like she was a prize they wanted to win, but like she was a person he loved and wanted to remember every detail of her. Vera felt beautiful under his gaze. For once she was totally happy, the kind of happiness that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time, the kind that is so pure it's addictive. Vera knew that she belonged with Michael, now and forever. The cards had said so.
Michael was eating dinner quietly. It had been an hour since he had last seen Vera, and almost four hours since their time in the docking bay. Michael still wasn't sure it was real. He had looked for Vera every time he thought maybe it was a really realistic dream. If it was a dream, it was a very good one. But the looks Vera gave him, the happy smiles she gave to thin air for no apparent reason, confirmed that he had not dreamed what had happened. He was unusually happy, and the adults were sensing the sudden change in the teens. Van was giving Michael a curious look, almost as if suspected something was going on between Vera and Michael. Michael had always talked to Van, but this was his joy and he was not going to share it anytime soon. Michael returned Van's look with a smile. Van shrugged and left the galley. Michael stood to find Vera. He found her in the recreation room, looking at wedding dress pictures with the other women. Vera saw him come in and gave him a private smile. She held up a picture of a wedding dress for everyone to see.
" I love this one." She stated, catching Michael's eye. It was a pretty dress, simple and elegant. Millerna laughed.
" Vera, that looks like a more modern version of the dress your mother wore on her wedding day." She laughed. Hitomi nodded. Michael smiled at Vera and left, knowing she would come to him if she wanted to. He wandered to his quarters and lay down on the bed, content to know Vera was not far away. He had gotten up this morning agitated and tired, and it had turned out to be the happiest day of his life he had yet to experience. Michael opened his eyes to see Vera. She sat down on the edge of the bed and Michael sat up and touched her hand. She didn't say anything, she didn't need to. Michael saw everything he wanted to know in her eyes. Her lips found his and held contact for a minute. Michael pulled his head back a little. He leaned his forehead against hers and smiled gently.
" Hi." He whispered. Vera leaned against him and grinned. Nothing would ever be like it was before, and Michael knew it. He felt the dagger charm on Vera's neck and reached down and held it up for both of them to see. The sapphire sparkled in the fading light and the gold shone brightly. Vera reached up and held it in her hand. Michael groped for words but found none. He wanted to say he loved her, but it seemed to soon. He'd had girlfriends before, but he had never felt like this about someone. Never had just touching a person meant so much to him, never had he wanted so much to protect someone. He felt Vera's heart beating and he heard her breathe next to him. Everything about her was perfect in Michael's eyes. He caressed her face and kissed her again. Vera looked up at him.
" Dad's going into enemy territory tomorrow. Mom's going with him." She said.
" Why?" Michael asked.
" To spy from the air. They're going on Escaflowne." Vera looked upset. Michael understood.
" They'll be fine. The enemy doesn't have flying guymelifs, and Escaflowne is really agile so the bad guys can't get them. They'll be just fine." Michael said. He hugged her for reassurance. He wasn't really as sure as he sounded.
Vera looked out the window of the control room.
" They've been gone all day!" she cried angrily. The pilot sighed.
" Lady Vera, they're fine." He said in a slightly agitated voice. A more patient Michael stepped up behind Vera and took her hand.
" Relax, Vera." He told her gently. Vera breathed deeply and tried hard not to scream.
" I'm just so worried." Vera confessed. Michael gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and when no one was looking, kissed her on the cheek. Vera acknowledged this reassurance and was about to say something to him when Allen walked in.
" Any sign of them?" Allen asked. Michael let go of Vera's hand and stepped away from her guiltily. Vera covered for him.
" No, not since we lost sight of them." She said a little to loudly. Allen gave the pair a curious look and then turned away.
" Don't worry about your parents, Vera. If Van doesn't see danger coming, Hitomi senses it. They're an invincible team." He said. I know, Vera thought ruefully. She had known all her life. They won the war together. Vera had heard the stories again and again. Vera looked to Michael, who was still avoiding Allen's gaze guiltily. She rolled her eyes and turned back to the window. Something black against the blue sky caught her eye.
" Hey," she said quietly. She squinted at the object. Her eyes suddenly shot open. " Hey! There's a ship! There's a ship out there!" she screamed. Allen dashed to the window.
" I don't recognize that ship. They might be the enemy. Get them on communications immediately!" he hollered to his crew. Allen picked up the voice transmitter.
" Ship ahead, ship ahead, this is Allen Schezar, captain of the Crusade. You are entering our territory and we request your identification and your captain's name. If you do not comply, we will be forced to send our guymelif force." Allen stated in a monotone voice. His eyes were narrow. The crew and Michael and Vera froze, waiting for the response.
" Crusade, this is the Blade, and its captain goes by the name Tygir. We apologize for approaching you in a threatening manner, but we have two people and a guymelif that say they are associated with you." A female voice answered.
" I request the names of these people and the guymelif." Allen said.
" They tell us they are called Van and Hitomi Fanel, and the guymelif is Escaflowne." The other answered. Allen's eyes opened wide and Vera tried her best not to cry.
" I must ask that you land alongside us. You have with you people of importance that do indeed have association with us. I have their daughter right at my side." Allen demanded.
" Our captain agrees. We will land in the clearing below. There is enough room for both ships." After the ships had landed, Vera dashed outside, with Michael straining to keep up.
" Vera, get back here!" Michael demanded, but Vera wasn't listening. The keel plate slid open to reveal a row of guymelifs. Vera saw several forms rushing around, but two ran forward. One was taller and ran with a lopping, wide-spread gait, and the other ran with an organized, neat gait that carried the figure swiftly. Vera instantly recognized them as her parents.
" Mom! Dad!" she cried. Her mother hugged her tightly and her father stood protectively over them, nodding to Michael. Allen jogged up beside the group.
" What are we dealing with?" he asked Van tersely.
" You're not going to believe this, but they're cat-people." Van said. Vera looked up in shock.
" Huh?" she asked stupidly. Just then, a cat-girl came bounding out of the ship.
" Hello, you must be the Crusade's people. My name is Tygris, pleased to meet you." the girl said. She had white fur that was stripped with black, like a white tiger. Merle hopped down and squealed upon seeing Tygris. Tygris looked at her and smiled. She appeared to be about Vera's age. A large, black cat-man strode down from the ship.
" Tygris, your father is not going to be pleased." he said in a deep voice. Vera was shocked by his size. He looked a little like Zam, except much bigger and he lacked the white tipped tail. Allen, Michael, and Van all instinctively reached for their swords.
" Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't notice you. I'm Dromada, and I'm supposed to be watching Tygris. She doesn't want to cooperate though. Don't worry, young man, I mean you no harm." the huge cat-man stated, addressing Michael, who was nearest. Vera found her courage and stepped away from her mother to Michael's side.
" Who are you?" she asked. Dromada laughed.
" Have no fear. We're really quite peaceful, even if we do appear frightening. Oh, I see you have some of our kind with you." he noted, nodding to Merle and Zam, who had just arrived. Zam was a realitively large cat-man, but he was dwarfed by Dromada. As was the reaction of any tom, Zam's ears lay back flat against his head and his claws outstretched unconsciously. Vera saw her father step up, Allen at his side.
" I demand to speak to your captain. I was told his name was Tygir." Allen said. Dromada rolled his eyes.
" Ah yes, our captain. He'll be here soon." he said distatefully. Vera stored Dromamda's tone of voice away to consider later.
" Yeah, Dad'll be here soon, but not sooner than Chuba, I bet!" Tygris added. Just then, a shot of golden fur streamed from the ship and halted beside Tygris. A tall, lean cat-boy who looked like a cheetah glared at them. Tygris smiled.
" This is Chuba." she said, gesturing to the cat-boy next to her. Chuba gave a smile that could light up an unlit cave by itself. Vera felt happy just watching him smile. He looked past them and saw Merle and Zam and waved.
" Hi, everyone. What brings you to this side of town?" he laughed. Van remained still, eyeing the cat-people warily. Vera noted he seemed tense, like he was waiting for something bad. Hitomi stood alert. Vera tensed and waited for whatever it was her parents were anticipating. Another figure leapt from the black ship.
" Tygris, what are you doing out here? Get back in the Blade!" a voice boomed. Chuba cringed a little but Tygris stood tall.
" Why, Dad? I'm just fine! I can take care of myself." Tygris said angrily. The burly figure that had yelled turned his attention to Vera and the others. He was a cat-man with tiger-like fur, dusky orange with black stripes, and a large build of body. He wasn't quite as large as Dromada, but he was still very large.
" I'm Tygir, captain of this ship, the Blade. I'm sorry that we had your people. I'm sure you want the guymelif back as well." Tygir said. Vera saw her father's back stiffen. Obviously, Van and Tygir had met and didn't really like each other.
" Yes," Van said stiffly, in a voice he used when addressing people he didn't like. " We will be taking my guymelif. Thank you for picking us up. We will be glad to return the favor if you need us." Vera watched her father talk to this tigerish cat-man. Allen drew his sword slowly, a gesture that clearly stated he didn't like Tygir and was prepared to fight. Vera and Michael followed suit. Vera suddenly had a swift vision. Unfamiliar guymelifs stormed around and fought with each other. Vera saw Double Edge, Arch Angel, and Escaflowne amid the mayhem, fighting ferociously. Tygir's voice laughed in the background, a sound that made Vera quake. Vera snapped out of the vision and leaned toward Michael.
" I don't like him." she whispered, nodding to Tygir, who was speaking angrily to Dromada about something. Michael nodded.
" I know. He smells bad." Michael said. Vera looked at him.
" What? He doesn't smell at all." Vera said, confused. Michael rolled his eyes.
" It's a figure of speach. I mean, I don't like his looks." Michael said. Vera nodded. Nobody liked him. Zam was unconsciously kneading his claws and staring at Tygir, ears flat against hs head. Merle had retreated back a few steps and was peering over Zam's shoulder. Allen and Van both held their swords and watched Tygir warily. Michael stood in front of Vera protectively and watched Allen out of the corner of his eye, waiting for a signal to charge. Hitomi stood bravely right behind Van, her green eyes glistening dangerously. Vera herself sensed danger radiating from Tygir. The other cat-people seemed nice enough. Vera had taken an imediate liking to Tygris, who seemed to be Tygir's daughter, and Chuba, who seemed to be solely interested in making people laugh. She wasn't sure of Dromada at first, but he also appeared nice. Vera watched Tygir retreat back to his ship, the Blade, and then stepped forward.
" Hi. My name is Vera Fanel. And this is my friend and guardian, Michael." she said, smiling broadly. " Those two back there are Merle and Zam, and this is my mom and dad, Van and Hitomi. That's Allen, and Millerna is inside the Crusade." Vera gestured to the people around, who in turn said hello. Van and Allen put their swords away, and Micahel rushed to do so himself. Tygris laughed.
" We already introduced ourselves. Oh, you'll have to excuse Dad, he got up on the wrong side of bed this morning." she said. Chuba rolled his eyes.
" So what else is new? He always gets up on the wrong side of bed. I think it's habit." he said thoughtfully. Dromada stifled a laugh.
" You'd better not talk about Captain Tygir that way, he might hear you." Dromada scolded, even though he was trying not to laugh. Chuba groaned audibly. Vera laughed at this exchange. Everybody visibly relaxed. Vera smiled at Tygris, who returned it with a grin. Merle leaped up and started talking and Zam sulked back into the ship. Vera didn't think about it. She concentrated on talking to Tygris with Merle while Michael and Chuba got to know each other and Van and Allen talked about the Blade, which was a really unique ship, with Dromada. Vera happily made a new friend and ignored the morbid feeling in her heart.
Tygris leaned back against a large rock and listened to Vera scramble to the top. Vera had become a fast friend to Vera and Merle, and she was glad. Chuba was the only one her age that Tygris had been around in a long time, and Vera was like waking up and smelling the breakfast dish, as Chuba would say.
" Hey Tygris, how do you know Chuba?" Vera called down.
" Oh, we met when we were younger. He's an orphan, but he never talks about it." Tygris informed her. Merle gasped.
" He's an orphan too? I'm an orphan and so is Zam!" she cried. Tygris looked at her.
" Zam? Oh, isn't he that black tom you were with?" she asked. Merle nodded.
" Well, I was wondering, are you and Chuba an item?" Merle asked mischeviously. Tygris blushed.
" An item? Um, well, no." she stuttered. Vera covered her mouth and tried not to laugh, but a tiny giggle escaped.
" Oh, and that reminds me, Vera. How about you and Michael? I saw that look you gave him yesterday." Merle said. Vera's eyes opened very wide and she turned her head away.
" Me and Michael? I, uh... I don't have to answer that." Vera said. Tygris laughed.
" Or you don't want to answer it?" Tygris added. Merle giggled.
" Spit it out Vera." she said. Vera shook her head.
" If you make me spit it out, I'll tell Zam about that other tom you met last summer while he was away." Vera said threateningly. Merle blushed a deep crimson.
" Okay, I'll shut up." she said quickly.
" That's better." Vera said. Tygris looked up at her.
" She won't be bothering us about our love lives for a while, will she?" she asked Vera, who smiled.
" Not until she thinks I've forgotten about that information," Vera said knowingly. " Which I won't!" she added loudly. Merle cringed a little.
" Yeah, yeah, I know. Hey, guess what?" Merle asked, suddenly brightening.
" What?" Tygris and Vera asked in unison. Merle's grin grew.
" Zam and I are going for a moonlit walk tonight." she said in a mysterious voice.
" Oooohhhh." Tygris said. Vera smiled.
" Did he ask you, or did you make him?" she asked.
" He asked me, for your information." Merle responded angrily. Vera cocked an eyebrow.
" After how much prodding?" she asked. Merle frowned angrily.
" None of your buisness." she shouted.
" That means she's been pushing for this walk for a long time." Vera told Tygris. The two of them laughed while Merle fumed and stormed off. Vera jumped off the rock.
" Well, now that she's gone, are you and Michael together or not?" Tygris asked. She watched a deep blush creep up Vera's neck.
" Well, uh, I..." she started. Tygris grinned.
" I knew it! I could tell by the way he looked at you!" she squealed. Vera jumped and covered Tygris's mouth.
" You wanna keep it down? Do you have any idea how good Merle's hearing is? And you had better not say a word to anyone!" Vera threatened.
" Yes, I know how good Merle's hearing probably is. I am, after all, a cat- girl too. And don't worry, your secret's safe with me. How long?" Tygris asked, tearing away from Vera's iron grip.
" Actually, nothing is official yet. And if it is, less than twenty-four hours." Vera said " What about you and Chuba?"
" Huh, I wish." Tygris said. " I've known the guy for years, but still it's like he thinks I'm just a friend." Vera nodded.
" It's confusing. About this time two or three days ago, I was too confused to think straight." she told Tygris. Tygris sighed. She had been confused for nearly a year now, ever since she started liking Chuba.
" I wonder what Michael and Chuba are doing right now." she said thoughtfully.
Chuba watched Michael spar. He was watching noow, so he'd know what to expect when he offered to be Michael's sparring partner. The other boy was pretty good.
" So, want a partner?" Chuba asked. Michael nodded. This guy didn't seem to be very into talking. After a little sparring, in which Chuba got badly beaten, the two stood apart, watching eachother.
" Mind if I ask about your relationship with Vera?" Chuba asked, hoping to strike up a conversation. His silent partner smiled quite suddenly.
" She'd kill me if I said anything." he told Chuba, who nodded.
" Oh, that kind of relationship." he said thoughtfully.
" How about you?" Michael asked.
" No relationship. At least, not the kind of relationship I want." Chuba said. Michael nodded.
" Know the feeling. How long have you known her?" he asked.
" Years. I met her a little after I was orphaned." Chuba said, remembering the day. He hadn't really liked Tygris's father then, and he still didn't.
" Maybe we're too different." Chuba added thoughtfully.
" Opposites attract." Michael said brightly. Chuba shrugged, thinking that those thoughts were wishful thinking. Tygris was very different from him, right on down to the way her white fur contrasted his gold fur. And then there was the whole matter of her father, Tygir, who would never approve of Tygris having a boyfriend of any kind. Tygir didn't like many people at all, and had a low tolerence for incompetence and inferiority. And in his mind, Chuba was very incompetent and inferior. Chuba, in part, strongly believed that Tygir was a liar, a cheater, and overly obsessed with fighting. Whenever Chuba managed to make Tygir mad, which was at least three times a day, he liked to run around the Blade and then hide in his quarters until his opressor cooled off. As a result, Chuba spent a lot of time in his quarters. Chuba often found himself thinking, if it wasn't for Tygris I'd have blown this joint years ago.
" You know, you're pretty fast, Chuba." Michael commented, shaking Chuba from his thoughts.
" Go fast, or go home. That's what I always say." Chuba said with a smile. Michael's blue eyes sparkled and Chuba wondered, for the millionth time that day, what Tygris really thought of him.
Vera stared thoughtfully out the window in the dark night. She wondered where Merle and Zam were. Someone knocked on the door.
" Vera, you decent?" Michael asked.
" In body but not in mind." Vera dutifully responded. Michael stepped into Vera's quarters and closed the door behind him. He sat on the bed next to Vera and put his arms around her and Vera leaned against him. She was tired but determined to wait for Merle.
" You should be asleep." Michael told her.
" So should you." Vera retorted. She craned her neck to look at him. " They were supposed to be back half an hour ago."
" Don't worry. Merle and Zam are big cat-people. They'll be just fine." he said comfortingly. Suddenly, Merle appeared on the tree line. Vera sat up.
" There they are." she said, relieved. Then she saw something was very wrong. " Wait, she looks like she's hurt. And where's Zam?" Vera suddenly panicked. She jumped up and rushed out to meet Merle. Vera ran up to Merle but just as she got there, Merle collapsed. Vera dove to catch her.
" Merle, what happened?" Vera asked, seeing the cuts and bruises all over Merle's body.
" The enemy... came. They tried..." Merle attempted to talk, but she kept breaking off. " It was... horrible. Zam... they threw him up against a tree. And the guymelifs..." Merle's voice trailed off and she fainted. Micahel ran to Vera's side.
" What happened?" he asked. Vera shook her head.
" I don't know. Help me carry her in to the Crusade." Vera told Michael. He nodded and picked Merle up. Whoever did this to Merle will pay, Vera thought.
Later...
Vera stood outside the medical room with Hitomi. The men had all gone to look for Zam. Tygris ran up to them.
" Any news?" she asked breathlessly.
" No, Millerna's still checking her out." Hitomi said slowly. Vera silently stared at the door, willing it to open. Just then, it did open, revealing a somber-looking Millerna.
" Well?" Vera asked impatiently. Millerna looked up sadly.
" No serious injuries. A lot of cuts and more bruises than I've ever seen. Whoever attacked her showed her no mercy. And..." Millerna looked away, as if she couldn't bear to look into Vera's eyes.
" And? And what?" Tygris asked loudly. Millerna looked up and Vera saw that she was crying.
" They did the worst possible thing to her. They raped her." she said quietly. Tygris gasped and Hitomi moaned, but Vera simply sat down, right where she was.
" What kind of monster would do such a thing?" she asked mournfully. She looked up, rage and sorrow in her eyes. " Someone will pay for this." she growled.
" Yes. Someone will pay dearly." Tygris agreed. Even though she had just met Merle, Tygris had already developed a strong friendship with her. Vera heard someone coming down the corridor. It was Chuba.
" We found Zam." he said. Vera could tell by his voice that he did not come bearing good news.
" Well, where is he?" Hitomi asked, her voice unusually high. Chuba shook his head.
" I'm sorry. He's dead. We did everything we could to save him, but we were to late. It took too long to find him." he told them. Tygris covered her mouth with her hand.
" Vera, Hitomi, I'm so sorry." she muttered. Vera suddenly stood and ran away. She found herself in the docking bay, running for the exit. She tripped and fell flat on her stomach. Tears ran down her face. Zam was dead and some monster had raped Merle. Vera raised her head.
" So this is war." she thought out loud.
Michael stood outside the medical room. He felt sick. He had just helped carry Zam's broken body back to the Crusade. Nausea washed over him and he ran out of the corridor. Michael kept running blindly unyil he found himself outside, on his knees and vomitting violently. After that he washed his mouth out in a stream and went to look for Vera. He had been told she had run off alone. Michael knew she could be anywhere, but he had hunch that she wasn't far. Sure enough, he found her in the docking bay, face streaked with tears. He sat down beside her.
" I feel sick." Michael said shakily. He felt like he was going to throw up again.
" Me too." Vera said dully. Her eyes were glazed over, as if she was in shock. Michael put his arm around her shoulders, which were shaking.
" God, Michael, who would stoop that low? She never hurt a fly!" Vera moaned. Michael let his head hang.
" I know. It's too awful to think about." Michael said, trying to comfort her, but in truth, his body was shaking more than Vera's.
" I had no idea! I was so clueless! How could I have thought that war was just battles and decisions and killing enemies with no faces? My hands are stained with as much blood as our enemy!" Vera cried. Michael listened and felt the realization that he had avoided for so long dawn on him. War was killing, and he had killed. He had killed fellow humans, sentinent beings, and just turned his back. He had stooped as low as his enemy. How many fathers, brothers, and sons would never come home because of him? How many little children would go to bed tonight, crying for the daddy or mommy? How many lives had been at his mercy, and yet he had snuffed them out without a thought? We're monsters, Michael thought, we're as brutal and vicious as the enemy. Vera's right, our hands are stained with as much blood as them. Suddenly a figure stood before the two teens.
" War." it said. " I'll tell you this, war is actually this question and this question alone: how far into savagery must you go to defeat the savage?" Michael looked up to see Van standing over them.
" How far? How far do we have to go?" he asked Van. Van shook his head.
" That remains to be seen. But I promise you, you will never have to stoop as low as those monsters just did." Van said angrily and then walked off, leaving Michael alone with a crying Vera, who eventually cried herself to sleep.
" The enemy revealed himself." The deep voice whispered to Vera.
" Yes. I know who you are." She suddenly stated.
" Oh, do you? Who am I?" the voice taunted.
" You're either Folken Fanel or his ghost haunting me. What do you want from me?" Vera asked the black sky.
" I want to steer you from the path I took." The voice replied.
" You mean the dragon that took your arm? I already avoided that." Vera told the voice.
" No. Your strength will soon be put the test. I told you before, do not stray from your guardian angel." The voice told her.
" What'll happen if I do?" Vera asked defiantly.
" You will suffer a fate similar to mine. To this day I wear the scar of my mistakes." The voice told her.
" What scar?" Vera asked.
" My wings. My stupidity and blunders caused them to turn black. I bear the pain while I speak to you." The voice said.
" So you are Folken. You're my uncle. Are you alive or dead?" Vera wanted to know for her father's sake.
" That question will be answered later. Your father knows better than to question such things before the appropriate time, so I think you should learn it." The voice, now known to Vera as Folken, said.
" Don't compare me to him!" Vera cried into the sky.
" I'm not. You are comparing yourself." Folken said. Vera watched the sky and fire fade, and she drifted alone...
Vera's eyes snapped open and she sat up. Her body was drenched in sweat, and she could still feel the heat of the fire as if it was real. Vera buried her face in her arms and breathed in one shaky breath after another. She was unsure to the meaning of the dream. She stood and walked to Michael's door and knocked softly. Her long shirt and loose pants swished around her thin body. Vera would wear shorts to bed, but the scars on her left leg left her unwilling to wear shorts of any kind since she was five. Michael groaned inside his room.
" Michael, it's me. Can I come in?" Vera called quietly. A drowsy, mumbling Michael opened the door and let Vera in.
" What's the matter?" Michael asked her.
" I had a dream. It's kind of upsetting me." Vera said. Michael lay back down in his bed. He motioned for Vera to sit on the bed next to him. He was wearing pants and his chest was bare. Vera had visited Michael before on many sleepless nights so he was used to seeing her like she was and she was used to seeing him like that. Vera walked over and sat.
" Tell me about it." Michael demanded gently. Vera poured out the dream, how her dead uncle's voice floated down from the sky and told her things. Michael sat silently with his eyes closed. When Vera was done, he breathed deeply.
" Why is it so strange that you aren't afraid of the fire?" Michael asked. Vera hung her head silently.
" It's a long story." She said.
" One that you don't want to tell?" Michael suggested, opening his eyes and looking at her.
" Well, when I was five, I was trapped in a forest fire. Ever since then, I've been afraid of fire." Vera said. She pulled up her pant leg and showed him the scars. " These are some of the scars. The worst is on my shoulders." Vera looked away and then turned back. Michael watched her.
" It's okay to be afraid of something. I'm scared of dogs, if it makes you feel any better. I was a victim of a dog attack when I was six." Michael explained, pointing to a scar above his eye.
" Really?" Vera asked.
" Yeah. Everyone's scared of something. It's normal. Just don't let the fear get to you." Michael cautioned. Vera nodded. She lay down next to him and he put the blanket over her. Vera wondered what her parents were afraid of. She decided not to think about it.
" Back to the dream, I can't help but wonder why Folken's spirit haunts me. I don't even know the real story about him." Vera said. Michael cocked his head.
" Maybe that's it. Maybe he wants you to know about him, for some reason." Michael suggested.
" He did say he wanted to steer me from the path he took." Vera admitted.
" You see? Maybe he thinks you're in danger of making his mistakes and, because you're his niece, he wants to protect you." Michael explained. Vera nodded again. " Now I suggest you go back to bed so I can get some sleep." Michael said in fake anger. Vera smiled and stood.
" Okay. Goodnight, Michael." Vera said, walking out the door.
" 'Night, Vera." He replied. Vera lay back down in her bed in her room and pulled the blankets up to her chin. She settled in and as she slowly drifted back to sleep, she thought to herself, if Folken wants to protect me then Michael can relate to the feeling. Why do so many people want me to be safe?
Michael groaned audibly and rolled over in his bed, burying his face in his pillow.
" Go away." He told the sunlight streaming in his window. I really need some curtains, he thought grumpily, remembering his blackout curtains back home.
" Michael, wake up." Vera called through the door. Michael groaned again, pulling the blanket up over his head.
" Sure, you're cheery. You're used to being woken up in the middle of the night." He growled. What was it with that girl and mornings?
" Aw, don't be such a baby. You lose a half an hour of sleep and you act like you haven't slept at all." Vera scolded. Michael grunted. Vera came in and pulled the blanket off him and yanked the pillow away, leaving Michael exposed to the harsh morning light.
" Go away!" he yelled at her. Vera just laughed at him and tossed the pillow at his face.
" You're really annoying, you know that?" Michael asked.
" Well, you're not exactly going to win an award for sweetness." Vera said. She was in an unusually good mood. Michael made a bold effort to sit up. He saw the perfectly round scar on his stomach that was barely a month and a half old.
" What's got you in such a good mood?" Michael asked.
" Oh, I'm just feeling really good." Vera said happily. Michael watched her jog out of the room energetically. He felt his heart tear. He really wanted to love her, but she had dangerous written all over her. Michael yanked a shirt over his head and left the room to get breakfast. He grabbed his customary orange and leaned against the counter to eat it when Merle and Zam came in, arguing.
" No way. Not all pink. Other colors, please, Merle." Zam said calmly.
" Why not? Pink is a wedding color. What's wrong with it?" Merle said angrily.
" I don't think everything should be pink. There are other colors, like white. White goes good with pink." Zam suggested. Merle frowned. She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room without another word. Zam sighed and followed her. Michael figured they were arguing about their wedding. It wasn't much of an argument, since Merle had done all the fighting. Neither one of them had noticed Michael. Finished with his breakfast, Michael left the galley and went to the control room. Only a few crew members were there, so Michael stalked out of the room, still sleepy. He wandered around, thinking absently about Vera and his old home on Earth. His mind wandered as aimlessly as his body. Depressed, Michael found himself thinking about those rare seconds when he had connected to Vera, when he felt like they were one and whole. He remembered the affectionate embrace when he had found her on Zensho's ship. He remembered leaning against her locked door, waiting for her to tell him why she was depressed. He remembered when she had first found the dagger charm and he had stood with his hands on her shoulders. His body had been agonizingly close to hers then, the closest he had ever been to her. He remembered brushing her hair and telling her she was beautiful both on the inside and on the outside. He remembered her different expressions, agony, rage, desperation, and once, helpless love with tears streaming down her face. He had wanted so much to brush those tears away, and he had tried, but he was too weak. How would he ever tell her he loved her?
Vera's energy from the morning was gone. She was sitting in a chair in the galley, absently twirling her dagger charm and thinking. Different scenes played through her mind and Michael was in most of them. Vera held her charm in front of her and sighed. She looked at it wistfully and wondered where Michael had disappeared to. He probably went back to sleep, the lazy oaf, she thought. She didn't really mean it. Michael had stood faithfully by her side for over five months without a thought to his own safety. Some of the things he had done made Vera angry, but she knew he had done them for her, with the best intentions. The scenario that had haunted her without mercy rose in her mind again. She vividly remembered that instant when he had held her face in his hands and kissed her. He had kept it sweet and simple for one glorious second, only to leave Vera more confused than ever. She stared straight ahead and wished she could understand what Michael wanted, and what she wanted. Vera stood and sat again. Part of her wanted to go find Michael and ask him what he wanted, but another part was unsure. Well, she thought, what harm could a simple question do? Standing again, Vera searched for Michael. She found him perched on Arch Angel in the docking bay, staring sullenly into blank space.
" Hey Michael!" she called.
" What?" Michael called back, turning his head to look at her. Vera's courage faltered.
" Um, could you come down? I want to talk to you." Vera said, trying hard not tell Michael never mind and run away as fast as the wind.
" Yeah?" Michael asked when he got down to Vera. His blue eyes sparkled. Vera swallowed.
" About the other day, in here... Well, I was wondering why you... Why you..." Vera swallowed again and looked up at Michael helplessly. He thought for a moment and then smiled gently.
" I know what you want to say." He said quietly. Vera breathed deeply. There was no turning back now.
" And?" Vera said. He stepped a little closer to her, and Vera's heart started to beat faster.
" And, I did it because... It's hard to explain." He frowned as he searched for words. " I did it because I really care about you, and not just as a sister or a friend. I'd do it again, too." Was he saying he loved her? Vera stared at his face. She suddenly realized he was standing much closer than before, his head down to look at her. Vera suddenly felt everything, like her senses were ten times more acute. Her skin tingled when Michael touched her, as if a hundred tiny lightning bolts were shooting through her skin. Vera reached up and put her arms around his neck. Michael held her gently but firmly, like he didn't want to take it too far but at the same time, he wanted to make sure she wasn't going anywhere. Just before kissing her, Michael stopped, inches away.
" You're beautiful." He told her. Vera's eyes opened wide in shock. Her beauty had been commented on before, but never so simply. So simple, and yet so meaningful, those two words meant more to Vera than anything else. Vera felt Michael's lips press against hers and she relaxed. Her tense body was suddenly much more limp and she felt very comfortable, as if kissing Michael was the most natural thing in the world. Michael's kiss was gentle and sweet but forceful, like his personality. Michael pulled his head away. Vera still stayed in his arms was it was warm and safe. She leaned her head against his chest and smiled. Something she had told him a long time ago popped into her head. I want answers no one can give, she had said. Here were the answers she had wanted. Now Vera knew what she truly wanted. Michael laid his head on top of hers and sighed contentedly. He held her close for what seemed like hours, until Vera moved to look at him. She was happy. Michael looked like something he had wanted for a long time had finally been given to him. He kissed Vera's forehead tenderly.
" I've got you now." He whispered. Vera smiled and looked into his eyes.
" I'm so happy." She told him. He kissed her again for an answer. Vera silently prayed it would never end, even though she knew it had to. Michael pulled away from Vera, holding her at arms length. He examined her, not the way her suitors had always examined her like she was a prize they wanted to win, but like she was a person he loved and wanted to remember every detail of her. Vera felt beautiful under his gaze. For once she was totally happy, the kind of happiness that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time, the kind that is so pure it's addictive. Vera knew that she belonged with Michael, now and forever. The cards had said so.
Michael was eating dinner quietly. It had been an hour since he had last seen Vera, and almost four hours since their time in the docking bay. Michael still wasn't sure it was real. He had looked for Vera every time he thought maybe it was a really realistic dream. If it was a dream, it was a very good one. But the looks Vera gave him, the happy smiles she gave to thin air for no apparent reason, confirmed that he had not dreamed what had happened. He was unusually happy, and the adults were sensing the sudden change in the teens. Van was giving Michael a curious look, almost as if suspected something was going on between Vera and Michael. Michael had always talked to Van, but this was his joy and he was not going to share it anytime soon. Michael returned Van's look with a smile. Van shrugged and left the galley. Michael stood to find Vera. He found her in the recreation room, looking at wedding dress pictures with the other women. Vera saw him come in and gave him a private smile. She held up a picture of a wedding dress for everyone to see.
" I love this one." She stated, catching Michael's eye. It was a pretty dress, simple and elegant. Millerna laughed.
" Vera, that looks like a more modern version of the dress your mother wore on her wedding day." She laughed. Hitomi nodded. Michael smiled at Vera and left, knowing she would come to him if she wanted to. He wandered to his quarters and lay down on the bed, content to know Vera was not far away. He had gotten up this morning agitated and tired, and it had turned out to be the happiest day of his life he had yet to experience. Michael opened his eyes to see Vera. She sat down on the edge of the bed and Michael sat up and touched her hand. She didn't say anything, she didn't need to. Michael saw everything he wanted to know in her eyes. Her lips found his and held contact for a minute. Michael pulled his head back a little. He leaned his forehead against hers and smiled gently.
" Hi." He whispered. Vera leaned against him and grinned. Nothing would ever be like it was before, and Michael knew it. He felt the dagger charm on Vera's neck and reached down and held it up for both of them to see. The sapphire sparkled in the fading light and the gold shone brightly. Vera reached up and held it in her hand. Michael groped for words but found none. He wanted to say he loved her, but it seemed to soon. He'd had girlfriends before, but he had never felt like this about someone. Never had just touching a person meant so much to him, never had he wanted so much to protect someone. He felt Vera's heart beating and he heard her breathe next to him. Everything about her was perfect in Michael's eyes. He caressed her face and kissed her again. Vera looked up at him.
" Dad's going into enemy territory tomorrow. Mom's going with him." She said.
" Why?" Michael asked.
" To spy from the air. They're going on Escaflowne." Vera looked upset. Michael understood.
" They'll be fine. The enemy doesn't have flying guymelifs, and Escaflowne is really agile so the bad guys can't get them. They'll be just fine." Michael said. He hugged her for reassurance. He wasn't really as sure as he sounded.
Vera looked out the window of the control room.
" They've been gone all day!" she cried angrily. The pilot sighed.
" Lady Vera, they're fine." He said in a slightly agitated voice. A more patient Michael stepped up behind Vera and took her hand.
" Relax, Vera." He told her gently. Vera breathed deeply and tried hard not to scream.
" I'm just so worried." Vera confessed. Michael gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and when no one was looking, kissed her on the cheek. Vera acknowledged this reassurance and was about to say something to him when Allen walked in.
" Any sign of them?" Allen asked. Michael let go of Vera's hand and stepped away from her guiltily. Vera covered for him.
" No, not since we lost sight of them." She said a little to loudly. Allen gave the pair a curious look and then turned away.
" Don't worry about your parents, Vera. If Van doesn't see danger coming, Hitomi senses it. They're an invincible team." He said. I know, Vera thought ruefully. She had known all her life. They won the war together. Vera had heard the stories again and again. Vera looked to Michael, who was still avoiding Allen's gaze guiltily. She rolled her eyes and turned back to the window. Something black against the blue sky caught her eye.
" Hey," she said quietly. She squinted at the object. Her eyes suddenly shot open. " Hey! There's a ship! There's a ship out there!" she screamed. Allen dashed to the window.
" I don't recognize that ship. They might be the enemy. Get them on communications immediately!" he hollered to his crew. Allen picked up the voice transmitter.
" Ship ahead, ship ahead, this is Allen Schezar, captain of the Crusade. You are entering our territory and we request your identification and your captain's name. If you do not comply, we will be forced to send our guymelif force." Allen stated in a monotone voice. His eyes were narrow. The crew and Michael and Vera froze, waiting for the response.
" Crusade, this is the Blade, and its captain goes by the name Tygir. We apologize for approaching you in a threatening manner, but we have two people and a guymelif that say they are associated with you." A female voice answered.
" I request the names of these people and the guymelif." Allen said.
" They tell us they are called Van and Hitomi Fanel, and the guymelif is Escaflowne." The other answered. Allen's eyes opened wide and Vera tried her best not to cry.
" I must ask that you land alongside us. You have with you people of importance that do indeed have association with us. I have their daughter right at my side." Allen demanded.
" Our captain agrees. We will land in the clearing below. There is enough room for both ships." After the ships had landed, Vera dashed outside, with Michael straining to keep up.
" Vera, get back here!" Michael demanded, but Vera wasn't listening. The keel plate slid open to reveal a row of guymelifs. Vera saw several forms rushing around, but two ran forward. One was taller and ran with a lopping, wide-spread gait, and the other ran with an organized, neat gait that carried the figure swiftly. Vera instantly recognized them as her parents.
" Mom! Dad!" she cried. Her mother hugged her tightly and her father stood protectively over them, nodding to Michael. Allen jogged up beside the group.
" What are we dealing with?" he asked Van tersely.
" You're not going to believe this, but they're cat-people." Van said. Vera looked up in shock.
" Huh?" she asked stupidly. Just then, a cat-girl came bounding out of the ship.
" Hello, you must be the Crusade's people. My name is Tygris, pleased to meet you." the girl said. She had white fur that was stripped with black, like a white tiger. Merle hopped down and squealed upon seeing Tygris. Tygris looked at her and smiled. She appeared to be about Vera's age. A large, black cat-man strode down from the ship.
" Tygris, your father is not going to be pleased." he said in a deep voice. Vera was shocked by his size. He looked a little like Zam, except much bigger and he lacked the white tipped tail. Allen, Michael, and Van all instinctively reached for their swords.
" Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't notice you. I'm Dromada, and I'm supposed to be watching Tygris. She doesn't want to cooperate though. Don't worry, young man, I mean you no harm." the huge cat-man stated, addressing Michael, who was nearest. Vera found her courage and stepped away from her mother to Michael's side.
" Who are you?" she asked. Dromada laughed.
" Have no fear. We're really quite peaceful, even if we do appear frightening. Oh, I see you have some of our kind with you." he noted, nodding to Merle and Zam, who had just arrived. Zam was a realitively large cat-man, but he was dwarfed by Dromada. As was the reaction of any tom, Zam's ears lay back flat against his head and his claws outstretched unconsciously. Vera saw her father step up, Allen at his side.
" I demand to speak to your captain. I was told his name was Tygir." Allen said. Dromada rolled his eyes.
" Ah yes, our captain. He'll be here soon." he said distatefully. Vera stored Dromamda's tone of voice away to consider later.
" Yeah, Dad'll be here soon, but not sooner than Chuba, I bet!" Tygris added. Just then, a shot of golden fur streamed from the ship and halted beside Tygris. A tall, lean cat-boy who looked like a cheetah glared at them. Tygris smiled.
" This is Chuba." she said, gesturing to the cat-boy next to her. Chuba gave a smile that could light up an unlit cave by itself. Vera felt happy just watching him smile. He looked past them and saw Merle and Zam and waved.
" Hi, everyone. What brings you to this side of town?" he laughed. Van remained still, eyeing the cat-people warily. Vera noted he seemed tense, like he was waiting for something bad. Hitomi stood alert. Vera tensed and waited for whatever it was her parents were anticipating. Another figure leapt from the black ship.
" Tygris, what are you doing out here? Get back in the Blade!" a voice boomed. Chuba cringed a little but Tygris stood tall.
" Why, Dad? I'm just fine! I can take care of myself." Tygris said angrily. The burly figure that had yelled turned his attention to Vera and the others. He was a cat-man with tiger-like fur, dusky orange with black stripes, and a large build of body. He wasn't quite as large as Dromada, but he was still very large.
" I'm Tygir, captain of this ship, the Blade. I'm sorry that we had your people. I'm sure you want the guymelif back as well." Tygir said. Vera saw her father's back stiffen. Obviously, Van and Tygir had met and didn't really like each other.
" Yes," Van said stiffly, in a voice he used when addressing people he didn't like. " We will be taking my guymelif. Thank you for picking us up. We will be glad to return the favor if you need us." Vera watched her father talk to this tigerish cat-man. Allen drew his sword slowly, a gesture that clearly stated he didn't like Tygir and was prepared to fight. Vera and Michael followed suit. Vera suddenly had a swift vision. Unfamiliar guymelifs stormed around and fought with each other. Vera saw Double Edge, Arch Angel, and Escaflowne amid the mayhem, fighting ferociously. Tygir's voice laughed in the background, a sound that made Vera quake. Vera snapped out of the vision and leaned toward Michael.
" I don't like him." she whispered, nodding to Tygir, who was speaking angrily to Dromada about something. Michael nodded.
" I know. He smells bad." Michael said. Vera looked at him.
" What? He doesn't smell at all." Vera said, confused. Michael rolled his eyes.
" It's a figure of speach. I mean, I don't like his looks." Michael said. Vera nodded. Nobody liked him. Zam was unconsciously kneading his claws and staring at Tygir, ears flat against hs head. Merle had retreated back a few steps and was peering over Zam's shoulder. Allen and Van both held their swords and watched Tygir warily. Michael stood in front of Vera protectively and watched Allen out of the corner of his eye, waiting for a signal to charge. Hitomi stood bravely right behind Van, her green eyes glistening dangerously. Vera herself sensed danger radiating from Tygir. The other cat-people seemed nice enough. Vera had taken an imediate liking to Tygris, who seemed to be Tygir's daughter, and Chuba, who seemed to be solely interested in making people laugh. She wasn't sure of Dromada at first, but he also appeared nice. Vera watched Tygir retreat back to his ship, the Blade, and then stepped forward.
" Hi. My name is Vera Fanel. And this is my friend and guardian, Michael." she said, smiling broadly. " Those two back there are Merle and Zam, and this is my mom and dad, Van and Hitomi. That's Allen, and Millerna is inside the Crusade." Vera gestured to the people around, who in turn said hello. Van and Allen put their swords away, and Micahel rushed to do so himself. Tygris laughed.
" We already introduced ourselves. Oh, you'll have to excuse Dad, he got up on the wrong side of bed this morning." she said. Chuba rolled his eyes.
" So what else is new? He always gets up on the wrong side of bed. I think it's habit." he said thoughtfully. Dromada stifled a laugh.
" You'd better not talk about Captain Tygir that way, he might hear you." Dromada scolded, even though he was trying not to laugh. Chuba groaned audibly. Vera laughed at this exchange. Everybody visibly relaxed. Vera smiled at Tygris, who returned it with a grin. Merle leaped up and started talking and Zam sulked back into the ship. Vera didn't think about it. She concentrated on talking to Tygris with Merle while Michael and Chuba got to know each other and Van and Allen talked about the Blade, which was a really unique ship, with Dromada. Vera happily made a new friend and ignored the morbid feeling in her heart.
Tygris leaned back against a large rock and listened to Vera scramble to the top. Vera had become a fast friend to Vera and Merle, and she was glad. Chuba was the only one her age that Tygris had been around in a long time, and Vera was like waking up and smelling the breakfast dish, as Chuba would say.
" Hey Tygris, how do you know Chuba?" Vera called down.
" Oh, we met when we were younger. He's an orphan, but he never talks about it." Tygris informed her. Merle gasped.
" He's an orphan too? I'm an orphan and so is Zam!" she cried. Tygris looked at her.
" Zam? Oh, isn't he that black tom you were with?" she asked. Merle nodded.
" Well, I was wondering, are you and Chuba an item?" Merle asked mischeviously. Tygris blushed.
" An item? Um, well, no." she stuttered. Vera covered her mouth and tried not to laugh, but a tiny giggle escaped.
" Oh, and that reminds me, Vera. How about you and Michael? I saw that look you gave him yesterday." Merle said. Vera's eyes opened very wide and she turned her head away.
" Me and Michael? I, uh... I don't have to answer that." Vera said. Tygris laughed.
" Or you don't want to answer it?" Tygris added. Merle giggled.
" Spit it out Vera." she said. Vera shook her head.
" If you make me spit it out, I'll tell Zam about that other tom you met last summer while he was away." Vera said threateningly. Merle blushed a deep crimson.
" Okay, I'll shut up." she said quickly.
" That's better." Vera said. Tygris looked up at her.
" She won't be bothering us about our love lives for a while, will she?" she asked Vera, who smiled.
" Not until she thinks I've forgotten about that information," Vera said knowingly. " Which I won't!" she added loudly. Merle cringed a little.
" Yeah, yeah, I know. Hey, guess what?" Merle asked, suddenly brightening.
" What?" Tygris and Vera asked in unison. Merle's grin grew.
" Zam and I are going for a moonlit walk tonight." she said in a mysterious voice.
" Oooohhhh." Tygris said. Vera smiled.
" Did he ask you, or did you make him?" she asked.
" He asked me, for your information." Merle responded angrily. Vera cocked an eyebrow.
" After how much prodding?" she asked. Merle frowned angrily.
" None of your buisness." she shouted.
" That means she's been pushing for this walk for a long time." Vera told Tygris. The two of them laughed while Merle fumed and stormed off. Vera jumped off the rock.
" Well, now that she's gone, are you and Michael together or not?" Tygris asked. She watched a deep blush creep up Vera's neck.
" Well, uh, I..." she started. Tygris grinned.
" I knew it! I could tell by the way he looked at you!" she squealed. Vera jumped and covered Tygris's mouth.
" You wanna keep it down? Do you have any idea how good Merle's hearing is? And you had better not say a word to anyone!" Vera threatened.
" Yes, I know how good Merle's hearing probably is. I am, after all, a cat- girl too. And don't worry, your secret's safe with me. How long?" Tygris asked, tearing away from Vera's iron grip.
" Actually, nothing is official yet. And if it is, less than twenty-four hours." Vera said " What about you and Chuba?"
" Huh, I wish." Tygris said. " I've known the guy for years, but still it's like he thinks I'm just a friend." Vera nodded.
" It's confusing. About this time two or three days ago, I was too confused to think straight." she told Tygris. Tygris sighed. She had been confused for nearly a year now, ever since she started liking Chuba.
" I wonder what Michael and Chuba are doing right now." she said thoughtfully.
Chuba watched Michael spar. He was watching noow, so he'd know what to expect when he offered to be Michael's sparring partner. The other boy was pretty good.
" So, want a partner?" Chuba asked. Michael nodded. This guy didn't seem to be very into talking. After a little sparring, in which Chuba got badly beaten, the two stood apart, watching eachother.
" Mind if I ask about your relationship with Vera?" Chuba asked, hoping to strike up a conversation. His silent partner smiled quite suddenly.
" She'd kill me if I said anything." he told Chuba, who nodded.
" Oh, that kind of relationship." he said thoughtfully.
" How about you?" Michael asked.
" No relationship. At least, not the kind of relationship I want." Chuba said. Michael nodded.
" Know the feeling. How long have you known her?" he asked.
" Years. I met her a little after I was orphaned." Chuba said, remembering the day. He hadn't really liked Tygris's father then, and he still didn't.
" Maybe we're too different." Chuba added thoughtfully.
" Opposites attract." Michael said brightly. Chuba shrugged, thinking that those thoughts were wishful thinking. Tygris was very different from him, right on down to the way her white fur contrasted his gold fur. And then there was the whole matter of her father, Tygir, who would never approve of Tygris having a boyfriend of any kind. Tygir didn't like many people at all, and had a low tolerence for incompetence and inferiority. And in his mind, Chuba was very incompetent and inferior. Chuba, in part, strongly believed that Tygir was a liar, a cheater, and overly obsessed with fighting. Whenever Chuba managed to make Tygir mad, which was at least three times a day, he liked to run around the Blade and then hide in his quarters until his opressor cooled off. As a result, Chuba spent a lot of time in his quarters. Chuba often found himself thinking, if it wasn't for Tygris I'd have blown this joint years ago.
" You know, you're pretty fast, Chuba." Michael commented, shaking Chuba from his thoughts.
" Go fast, or go home. That's what I always say." Chuba said with a smile. Michael's blue eyes sparkled and Chuba wondered, for the millionth time that day, what Tygris really thought of him.
Vera stared thoughtfully out the window in the dark night. She wondered where Merle and Zam were. Someone knocked on the door.
" Vera, you decent?" Michael asked.
" In body but not in mind." Vera dutifully responded. Michael stepped into Vera's quarters and closed the door behind him. He sat on the bed next to Vera and put his arms around her and Vera leaned against him. She was tired but determined to wait for Merle.
" You should be asleep." Michael told her.
" So should you." Vera retorted. She craned her neck to look at him. " They were supposed to be back half an hour ago."
" Don't worry. Merle and Zam are big cat-people. They'll be just fine." he said comfortingly. Suddenly, Merle appeared on the tree line. Vera sat up.
" There they are." she said, relieved. Then she saw something was very wrong. " Wait, she looks like she's hurt. And where's Zam?" Vera suddenly panicked. She jumped up and rushed out to meet Merle. Vera ran up to Merle but just as she got there, Merle collapsed. Vera dove to catch her.
" Merle, what happened?" Vera asked, seeing the cuts and bruises all over Merle's body.
" The enemy... came. They tried..." Merle attempted to talk, but she kept breaking off. " It was... horrible. Zam... they threw him up against a tree. And the guymelifs..." Merle's voice trailed off and she fainted. Micahel ran to Vera's side.
" What happened?" he asked. Vera shook her head.
" I don't know. Help me carry her in to the Crusade." Vera told Michael. He nodded and picked Merle up. Whoever did this to Merle will pay, Vera thought.
Later...
Vera stood outside the medical room with Hitomi. The men had all gone to look for Zam. Tygris ran up to them.
" Any news?" she asked breathlessly.
" No, Millerna's still checking her out." Hitomi said slowly. Vera silently stared at the door, willing it to open. Just then, it did open, revealing a somber-looking Millerna.
" Well?" Vera asked impatiently. Millerna looked up sadly.
" No serious injuries. A lot of cuts and more bruises than I've ever seen. Whoever attacked her showed her no mercy. And..." Millerna looked away, as if she couldn't bear to look into Vera's eyes.
" And? And what?" Tygris asked loudly. Millerna looked up and Vera saw that she was crying.
" They did the worst possible thing to her. They raped her." she said quietly. Tygris gasped and Hitomi moaned, but Vera simply sat down, right where she was.
" What kind of monster would do such a thing?" she asked mournfully. She looked up, rage and sorrow in her eyes. " Someone will pay for this." she growled.
" Yes. Someone will pay dearly." Tygris agreed. Even though she had just met Merle, Tygris had already developed a strong friendship with her. Vera heard someone coming down the corridor. It was Chuba.
" We found Zam." he said. Vera could tell by his voice that he did not come bearing good news.
" Well, where is he?" Hitomi asked, her voice unusually high. Chuba shook his head.
" I'm sorry. He's dead. We did everything we could to save him, but we were to late. It took too long to find him." he told them. Tygris covered her mouth with her hand.
" Vera, Hitomi, I'm so sorry." she muttered. Vera suddenly stood and ran away. She found herself in the docking bay, running for the exit. She tripped and fell flat on her stomach. Tears ran down her face. Zam was dead and some monster had raped Merle. Vera raised her head.
" So this is war." she thought out loud.
Michael stood outside the medical room. He felt sick. He had just helped carry Zam's broken body back to the Crusade. Nausea washed over him and he ran out of the corridor. Michael kept running blindly unyil he found himself outside, on his knees and vomitting violently. After that he washed his mouth out in a stream and went to look for Vera. He had been told she had run off alone. Michael knew she could be anywhere, but he had hunch that she wasn't far. Sure enough, he found her in the docking bay, face streaked with tears. He sat down beside her.
" I feel sick." Michael said shakily. He felt like he was going to throw up again.
" Me too." Vera said dully. Her eyes were glazed over, as if she was in shock. Michael put his arm around her shoulders, which were shaking.
" God, Michael, who would stoop that low? She never hurt a fly!" Vera moaned. Michael let his head hang.
" I know. It's too awful to think about." Michael said, trying to comfort her, but in truth, his body was shaking more than Vera's.
" I had no idea! I was so clueless! How could I have thought that war was just battles and decisions and killing enemies with no faces? My hands are stained with as much blood as our enemy!" Vera cried. Michael listened and felt the realization that he had avoided for so long dawn on him. War was killing, and he had killed. He had killed fellow humans, sentinent beings, and just turned his back. He had stooped as low as his enemy. How many fathers, brothers, and sons would never come home because of him? How many little children would go to bed tonight, crying for the daddy or mommy? How many lives had been at his mercy, and yet he had snuffed them out without a thought? We're monsters, Michael thought, we're as brutal and vicious as the enemy. Vera's right, our hands are stained with as much blood as them. Suddenly a figure stood before the two teens.
" War." it said. " I'll tell you this, war is actually this question and this question alone: how far into savagery must you go to defeat the savage?" Michael looked up to see Van standing over them.
" How far? How far do we have to go?" he asked Van. Van shook his head.
" That remains to be seen. But I promise you, you will never have to stoop as low as those monsters just did." Van said angrily and then walked off, leaving Michael alone with a crying Vera, who eventually cried herself to sleep.