Um, to answer sherry's comment – I believe that the cockpits do have doors
– to just have that jelly-like substance there wouldn't do when they went
out into space (space is a vacuum, right?). Sorry, I'm no major in
whatever area that is, but even if there IS no cockpit door…Erts, um,
slapped the metal beside the cockpit! So there! * shakes head sadly *
Really lost it there, Andrea. Wait a moment! They did have doors! I
swear they did! In the episode where Zero had to be pulled out of the
Ingrid, Gareas was pulling on a DOOR to the cockpit to pull him out. So, I
guess, the cockpits do have doors.
Ch.12: It's My Fault, But I'm Not Sorry
When I stepped into the hangar, Leena gave me a hug and promptly burst into tears. She even went as far as to kiss my cheek and squeeze me as tight as she could and wouldn't let me go until I told her I was choking. Then she leaned against the Eeva Leena for a moment, her namesake, wiped her eyes, and ran off to tell everyone else that I had come back. I smiled almost sadly as I looked after her; she didn't know what I was coming back here for.
I was here for one reason, and that was to obtain permission for Ernest. He was not here, but I knew every bit of him like my own, so I would act as him in all decisions. "I trust you" was what he said before I left, and I could not but say "and to you too". Even now I could feel that golden thread stretching across the eons, connecting us spiritually. I closed my eyes for a moment and leaned against the vessel that had brought me here safely. I felt its security just like Ernest was beside me now.
On a sudden curiosity, I went over to the Reneighed Klein and put my hand. I jolted back when a sudden spark alighted across my hand. I frowned, and thought for a moment; had Erts put up a ward to keep me out? If so, why, and what was he hiding?
Then that idiot that fell into MY Eeva Leena the first time came bouncing in, talking about HIS new Goddess, the Ernn Laties. When I asked him about Teela he just shrugged, said a nonchalant "She's dead, I think" and continued to admire his new Goddess. Something rippled through me at that moment; as far away as Teela's death was, it suddenly made me realize that she was not invincible like she put out after all. And even as I berated myself for not realizing that sooner (it was plain common sense that everyone has to die someday), her death seemed to echo another, one that had not completely gone away. After throwing the idiot 88 out, I thought for a moment, then decided to see just who was doing this. This whole atmosphere wasn't right, I finally noticed. It was twisted, bent out of shape. Someone had been tinkering here, tweaking things. I palmed the door open suspiciously, as if it would close on my foot as I tried to walk out or something, and stopped.
Erts was there, panting, having run all the way from somewhere to see me. I felt mildly flattered; was I that popular, to be greeted personally by my best friend's brother? Then I realized something: he was not staring at me with incredulous affection, but with fear.
Now, the brothers were never afraid. Ernest used to go out into the Luhma Klein and fight for his life, yet he said he never felt truly scared. Erts hadn't even been in the cockpit of the Reneighed Klein, as later the Luhma Klein would be renamed, back then. Ernest didn't feel fear; he felt apprehension, he felt the glory and the ultimate rush of battle, but never fear. He never HAD anything to fear, he told me once, because he would die any moment. He took this job, knowing the consequences, knowing that he could die any day, yet he still took it because he felt it was the right thing to do. He took the job, knowing that if he did leave, there would be no regrets, no regrets at all, and that made him unafraid and give it his all every battle. If he survived, he survived. If he died…that was the end.
Never, never had I seen eyes that scared before. It was almost as if –
– and suddenly it clicked into place, the pieces of a puzzle. Erts, the brother of Ernest Cuore, one of the best pilots in the history of G.O.A., was getting lessons from someone, who was probably our old Instructor, Azuma Hijikata. I knew, as well as any, that telepaths were destined to be the top someday – but apparently Erts had decided to speed that up. Suddenly I felt very afraid for Rio and Yu, and perhaps for myself as well; there was not much a person could hide from a telepath in full power, like Instructor Azuma used to be.
"Erts", I said casually, and leaned against the wall. I tried to keep trepidation out of my voice; I couldn't be afraid, at this time. What could he possibly be afraid of? That I would tell the high-and-mighty? It wasn't as if he wouldn't become the leader of all of us someday, so I just took it as a fact of life. I knew that I could never become the leader, or rather, Head Pilot – only a person with certain skills could do that. I was too impulsive, too eager to let lives loose and never get them back. Guilt ate me up easily, and mercy was not a good trait in a pilot. Sometimes I felt sorry for the Victims, but that would quickly disappear with each wound they inflicted on the Eeva Leena, and on me.
He answered with a soft "Garu", looking like he was petrified, and stared at me. Just when the gaze was going a BIT long, the door behind me opened and out stepped the person I was hoping to ask – Instructor Azuma. He gave a little inclination with his head, and I began to follow him. He probably knew the thoughts right off of my head, if he was training Erts and his EX was still intact. I could feel Erts' eyes following me, and suddenly I was aware of just how this looked: his brother's best friend, walking off without even a goodbye. On a sudden burst of confidence (I knew Erts would be able to read me if I touched him), I reached out as we passed and I ruffled his hair affectionately, as I had done before, like his brother before me had done.
I didn't stay to see his face.
We first went to the memorial hall. It was empty now, devoid of all people. As we got there, Instructor Azuma gestured over to the computer in the corner. The most recent death was Teela Zain Elmes, of course. I looked at the name sympathetically. She HAD been one of us, hadn't she? That made her an ally, at the least. The name seemed to shimmer in front of me, and I left before any tears could be shed. I figured I had cried enough, after all, when I was still on Hestia and had just seen Ernest again.
I closed my eyes and tried to figure out how long it had been since I had seen him last. Only a few days, as it only took a few days to get here. I had been put into a sleep, only to wake once we were back in base. The Victims did everything while I was asleep: they stimulated my voice giving out commands to dock, into position and greetings to my repairer. They had studied us well, I figured. Just the mere thought of Ernest alive made me giddy, but as a person sobered after too much alcohol, I realized possibly the only person who might possibly enjoy his brother's return was Erts, who was currently a very suspicious suspect.
The next door we went to was a door I was quite familiar with. Yu was the only one on the ship to share a room with his repairer, who also happened to be his sister. The Instructor palmed it open (I wonder where he got the clearance) and motioned me in. I entered, a little scared; I had never been in Yu's room before. As my eyes settled to the only light, a lamp by the bed, I saw two figures, one on the bed and one sitting to the side of it. The one on the bed was Yu, and the other one was Kazuhi, his sister. She gave me a glance and scooted over to give me room.
Yu looked exhausted. His mouth was partially open as he slept, and his breath came out ragged. As I watched, his face contorted and his mouth tightened into a line, like in battle. To his side, his sister diligently held his hand and stroked it, murmuring soft words that were only meant for him. I looked to the right, to the nightstand, and stopped short.
Pills. There was a bottle of pills on the table. How innocent. I didn't have to read them to know that they were sleep pills. A little shocked, I walked out of the room as fast as I could, but not before putting a soft hand on Kazuhi's shoulder. Her brother didn't deserve this, especially. I wished I could have split myself in half and let half of me stay here while the other half of me got kidnapped. Yu's exhaustion was probably due to the fact that I had been gone, and thus forcing more work on the four remaining Goddesses. I stopped outside of the door and absentmindedly traced the palmer by the door, as if it would change everything. Then the Instructor led me down the hall.
The sick bay wasn't crowded, especially now because all of the students were in class. There were always quite a few people there, not including Dr. Rill – students fought all the time, as well as Pro-Ing injuries (an injury your machine gets you get), and of course, people just there temporarily, just to get a bandage or their some gauze for slippery hands. There were several beds for people too weak to move, which was rather a rarity, but today, there was someone in the last bed.
I gave a strangled cry. "Rio!"
Running over to the beside, I placed my hands dejected over the glass covering they had installed over the bed. I frowned; he didn't look critically injured, so why did they encase him in a box? Did they WANT to send him off into a coffin? "What happened?", I demanded the Instructor.
He shrugged. "Overuse of EX", he answered vaguely, and I narrowed my eyes. At my vicious look, he continued, "Rio has precog ability."
That made sense. What didn't make sense was why they didn't allow people to touch him. I could guess he was in a coma, but that was no reason we couldn't touch him or at least hold his hand. I could feel anger building up in me. Erts had done this, and for a reason I didn't understand. It wasn't hate, that red-hot burning sensation in the back of your mind, but anger, the emotion that left a narrow streak down to revenge.
As we walked down hallways, I stopped suddenly. Rio's mind could not have been infiltrated that many times that he would pass out; Erts would be in a coma before that. I knew very well that Rio's mind was stronger than he looked. Erts would have to be worn out too, by using his OWN EX to provoke another person's EX…he would be overworking himself as well! In sudden revelation, I realized it was not one person, but TWO people who had planned this. Quickly my mind searched for clues, anything, that might point to who he was close to: there was Ernest, who Erts didn't know was alive; there was Rio, Yu, and Teela, all in various states of uselessness at the moment; and then there was –
– Instructor Azuma.
"You", I hissed from my breath. "You've been using Erts, haven't you?"
The Instructor looked vaguely amused. "Very good, Garu. I would think you could figure it out." At sight of the beginning of what I knew would be a protest out of my mouth, he waved a hand and continued, "It was me who taught Erts everything, which meant I could do all of it myself. With experience, I have much more mental endurance than Erts does." He gave a grizzled, sly smile that I never noticed being there before on the Instructor's face. He had not been kind when we were candidates, yes, but never had I seen such a malicious look. "I myself influenced his mind not to suspect me, even when it became apparent that he was overworking his own EX by using Rio's. Foolish boy." He gave another grim smile.
The world before my eyes flashed red. Hate was here, in my arms, in my head, in my heart, ready to strike down this man. Erts was not the ruthless one, he was! The very person that Erts had begun to trust as a mentor and teacher, was his own mind-reader. A telepath reading a telepath…it seemed ironic to me. But my anger I kept in check, and trusted Instructor Azuma to follow me to the study hall. As a pilot true to his word, you had to be chivalrous – I intended to save Erts' pride.
"One duel", I told Instructor Azuma. "Guns with one cartridge kept at belt until needed. Fencers will be our weapons." After all equipment had been put on, we stood in the arena, and watched each other.
For a moment, I could imagine the world was right, and Instructor Azuma was still only my instructor. I could still be a candidate, for a moment, still wondering how to solve the mystery that was called Ernest Cuore and his little twin Erts, still wondering how to pass Old Planet history class (which I was notoriously bad at; I barely scraped past), still dreaming about which Goddess would be mine, which Goddess one day I would be in the cockpit off, ready to save the world from all destruction.
And then he lunged, and we began to 'study'.
My movements were unlike Ernest or Erts'. When I practiced with them, they were light on their feet, instantly knowing when to strike and when to feint, an ability bordering on precognition. Actually, I was pretty sure it was just this set of brothers – they were naturally quick and agile, lifting the fencer like it was nothing, and knowing each step by heart as if they had done it over and over before. My movements were different. They were heavier, but just as fast; I had the advantage of power. I knew how to use my weapon in all forms; how to glance off of the handle, how to 'cross-over' and send my opponent's fencer into the ceiling, how to make the opponent's fencer my own to throw out of the ring, instantly giving me victory. But this would be different; even after I threw the sword out of the ring, he still had one cartridge, one bullet, to shoot me with.
I had to keep that in mind.
Apparently Instructor Azuma had not been practicing, because as much as he tried, he could not copy moves while trying to avoid my every move. He tried several of Erts' tactics, as I had identified, but none worked; I had seen them all before. With a swift flick I sent the protective glass over his face shattering, and his fencer into the far wall, behind me where he couldn't get it without me striking him down. He gave slow, heaving breaths, and closed one eye from the line of blood that trickled down from the cut on his head. His mouth made a grizzled smile.
"I'm calling Erts over here now", he said, almost laughing, and I bristled.
"Don't bring that boy into this! He would still be innocent, if it wasn't for you!"
He gave me a wry look. "He was desolate without his brother Ernest. I think I did him a favor."
My fencer inched closer to his neck. "The day that was a favor is the day you go to hell!"
"Erts", he called, and I saw the silhouette of the boy in the doorway. "You killed me, Erts, by not coming here fast enough." I was close enough to feel that he was sending something mentally to Erts. No!, I tried to say to the boy mentally, but I could tell by his trembling that whatever the Instructor had sent to him had been received. With a movement took quick for me to catch, Instructor Azuma whipped the gun out and fired it. I watched in horror for a moment as Erts froze in place. For a moment I thought the bullet had not struck, then I saw Erts' hand slowly, slowly come up to cup his bleeding shoulder.
"Erts", Instructor Azuma said hoarsely, and smiled. He knew his death was coming. I threw the fencer to one side and pulled out the gun by my side as he spoke his last words. "Ernest is at the 360 coordinates, the LaGrange System. 46W, 25N."
By this time I was well and thoroughly fed up. This man had just destroyed a boy who also happened to be my best friend's little brother, had just SHOT the poor boy, and was now telling him where Ernest was, which I presumed he had gotten from my head. I had had ENOUGH of his mind- reading tricks. If I hadn't been so bent on achieving justice my own way, I would have let the authorities deal with the manipulative bastard and have him rot slowly in jail. However, I believed in mercy, and I hoped this would suffice for 'mercy'.
I fired the gun, and the Instructor crumpled to the floor. I felt no remorse for a monster, this THING who had corrupted Erts in the worst way he could have. He used the very memory of Ernest and twisted everything that Erts loved in his brother. I watched as the younger blonde fell to the floor, and I know he was receiving the aftershocks of a loss of 'presence' in his mind (if a person has had a lot of influence over one particular mind, when that user dies, the person's mind becomes unstable because there is no support). Stripping off the stupid white suit, I yanked the fencers from their positions and threw them onto the rack. "Erts!", I called, running over to him. "Erts!"
But the boy was nowhere to be seen. There was no trace of him, not even a drop of blood to show where he had gone. Before I could contemplate this mystery, though, it was solved as the familiar voice of Leena came over the comm. "Gareas Elidd, pilot 02, please report to the docking bay immediately. I repeat, pilot 02 report to the docking bay immediately. The Reneighed Klein has begun to lift off!"
/ \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \
Author's note:
This was more of an informational chapter, I think...not much emotion in this one because I had to fit so much in it. As for the Reneighed Klein...well, let's say that the reason Garu got shocked was because Erts slapped it earlier, right? To answer...well, I think it was someone who reviewed, actually: why did I use Erts and Garu? Well, I used Erts because I already wrote one story on him (My Brother's Replacement, but that was one-shot) and because I find him very, very interesting (I sound like Clay). As for Garu...well, you can't really say he's the main character but you can't say he's the supporting character either because he gets a chapter all to himself every other chapter. So the answer to that question would be...I don't know. Maybe I wrote about them because they're both related to Ernest in some way?
*sighs* I think another three chapters will end this. This is the story on its last few lines. I'm sorry I couldn't put more in this chapter...but a)I didn't quite feel like it and b) is there anything I should say more? Gomen, minna.
Andrea Weiling
Ch.12: It's My Fault, But I'm Not Sorry
When I stepped into the hangar, Leena gave me a hug and promptly burst into tears. She even went as far as to kiss my cheek and squeeze me as tight as she could and wouldn't let me go until I told her I was choking. Then she leaned against the Eeva Leena for a moment, her namesake, wiped her eyes, and ran off to tell everyone else that I had come back. I smiled almost sadly as I looked after her; she didn't know what I was coming back here for.
I was here for one reason, and that was to obtain permission for Ernest. He was not here, but I knew every bit of him like my own, so I would act as him in all decisions. "I trust you" was what he said before I left, and I could not but say "and to you too". Even now I could feel that golden thread stretching across the eons, connecting us spiritually. I closed my eyes for a moment and leaned against the vessel that had brought me here safely. I felt its security just like Ernest was beside me now.
On a sudden curiosity, I went over to the Reneighed Klein and put my hand. I jolted back when a sudden spark alighted across my hand. I frowned, and thought for a moment; had Erts put up a ward to keep me out? If so, why, and what was he hiding?
Then that idiot that fell into MY Eeva Leena the first time came bouncing in, talking about HIS new Goddess, the Ernn Laties. When I asked him about Teela he just shrugged, said a nonchalant "She's dead, I think" and continued to admire his new Goddess. Something rippled through me at that moment; as far away as Teela's death was, it suddenly made me realize that she was not invincible like she put out after all. And even as I berated myself for not realizing that sooner (it was plain common sense that everyone has to die someday), her death seemed to echo another, one that had not completely gone away. After throwing the idiot 88 out, I thought for a moment, then decided to see just who was doing this. This whole atmosphere wasn't right, I finally noticed. It was twisted, bent out of shape. Someone had been tinkering here, tweaking things. I palmed the door open suspiciously, as if it would close on my foot as I tried to walk out or something, and stopped.
Erts was there, panting, having run all the way from somewhere to see me. I felt mildly flattered; was I that popular, to be greeted personally by my best friend's brother? Then I realized something: he was not staring at me with incredulous affection, but with fear.
Now, the brothers were never afraid. Ernest used to go out into the Luhma Klein and fight for his life, yet he said he never felt truly scared. Erts hadn't even been in the cockpit of the Reneighed Klein, as later the Luhma Klein would be renamed, back then. Ernest didn't feel fear; he felt apprehension, he felt the glory and the ultimate rush of battle, but never fear. He never HAD anything to fear, he told me once, because he would die any moment. He took this job, knowing the consequences, knowing that he could die any day, yet he still took it because he felt it was the right thing to do. He took the job, knowing that if he did leave, there would be no regrets, no regrets at all, and that made him unafraid and give it his all every battle. If he survived, he survived. If he died…that was the end.
Never, never had I seen eyes that scared before. It was almost as if –
– and suddenly it clicked into place, the pieces of a puzzle. Erts, the brother of Ernest Cuore, one of the best pilots in the history of G.O.A., was getting lessons from someone, who was probably our old Instructor, Azuma Hijikata. I knew, as well as any, that telepaths were destined to be the top someday – but apparently Erts had decided to speed that up. Suddenly I felt very afraid for Rio and Yu, and perhaps for myself as well; there was not much a person could hide from a telepath in full power, like Instructor Azuma used to be.
"Erts", I said casually, and leaned against the wall. I tried to keep trepidation out of my voice; I couldn't be afraid, at this time. What could he possibly be afraid of? That I would tell the high-and-mighty? It wasn't as if he wouldn't become the leader of all of us someday, so I just took it as a fact of life. I knew that I could never become the leader, or rather, Head Pilot – only a person with certain skills could do that. I was too impulsive, too eager to let lives loose and never get them back. Guilt ate me up easily, and mercy was not a good trait in a pilot. Sometimes I felt sorry for the Victims, but that would quickly disappear with each wound they inflicted on the Eeva Leena, and on me.
He answered with a soft "Garu", looking like he was petrified, and stared at me. Just when the gaze was going a BIT long, the door behind me opened and out stepped the person I was hoping to ask – Instructor Azuma. He gave a little inclination with his head, and I began to follow him. He probably knew the thoughts right off of my head, if he was training Erts and his EX was still intact. I could feel Erts' eyes following me, and suddenly I was aware of just how this looked: his brother's best friend, walking off without even a goodbye. On a sudden burst of confidence (I knew Erts would be able to read me if I touched him), I reached out as we passed and I ruffled his hair affectionately, as I had done before, like his brother before me had done.
I didn't stay to see his face.
We first went to the memorial hall. It was empty now, devoid of all people. As we got there, Instructor Azuma gestured over to the computer in the corner. The most recent death was Teela Zain Elmes, of course. I looked at the name sympathetically. She HAD been one of us, hadn't she? That made her an ally, at the least. The name seemed to shimmer in front of me, and I left before any tears could be shed. I figured I had cried enough, after all, when I was still on Hestia and had just seen Ernest again.
I closed my eyes and tried to figure out how long it had been since I had seen him last. Only a few days, as it only took a few days to get here. I had been put into a sleep, only to wake once we were back in base. The Victims did everything while I was asleep: they stimulated my voice giving out commands to dock, into position and greetings to my repairer. They had studied us well, I figured. Just the mere thought of Ernest alive made me giddy, but as a person sobered after too much alcohol, I realized possibly the only person who might possibly enjoy his brother's return was Erts, who was currently a very suspicious suspect.
The next door we went to was a door I was quite familiar with. Yu was the only one on the ship to share a room with his repairer, who also happened to be his sister. The Instructor palmed it open (I wonder where he got the clearance) and motioned me in. I entered, a little scared; I had never been in Yu's room before. As my eyes settled to the only light, a lamp by the bed, I saw two figures, one on the bed and one sitting to the side of it. The one on the bed was Yu, and the other one was Kazuhi, his sister. She gave me a glance and scooted over to give me room.
Yu looked exhausted. His mouth was partially open as he slept, and his breath came out ragged. As I watched, his face contorted and his mouth tightened into a line, like in battle. To his side, his sister diligently held his hand and stroked it, murmuring soft words that were only meant for him. I looked to the right, to the nightstand, and stopped short.
Pills. There was a bottle of pills on the table. How innocent. I didn't have to read them to know that they were sleep pills. A little shocked, I walked out of the room as fast as I could, but not before putting a soft hand on Kazuhi's shoulder. Her brother didn't deserve this, especially. I wished I could have split myself in half and let half of me stay here while the other half of me got kidnapped. Yu's exhaustion was probably due to the fact that I had been gone, and thus forcing more work on the four remaining Goddesses. I stopped outside of the door and absentmindedly traced the palmer by the door, as if it would change everything. Then the Instructor led me down the hall.
The sick bay wasn't crowded, especially now because all of the students were in class. There were always quite a few people there, not including Dr. Rill – students fought all the time, as well as Pro-Ing injuries (an injury your machine gets you get), and of course, people just there temporarily, just to get a bandage or their some gauze for slippery hands. There were several beds for people too weak to move, which was rather a rarity, but today, there was someone in the last bed.
I gave a strangled cry. "Rio!"
Running over to the beside, I placed my hands dejected over the glass covering they had installed over the bed. I frowned; he didn't look critically injured, so why did they encase him in a box? Did they WANT to send him off into a coffin? "What happened?", I demanded the Instructor.
He shrugged. "Overuse of EX", he answered vaguely, and I narrowed my eyes. At my vicious look, he continued, "Rio has precog ability."
That made sense. What didn't make sense was why they didn't allow people to touch him. I could guess he was in a coma, but that was no reason we couldn't touch him or at least hold his hand. I could feel anger building up in me. Erts had done this, and for a reason I didn't understand. It wasn't hate, that red-hot burning sensation in the back of your mind, but anger, the emotion that left a narrow streak down to revenge.
As we walked down hallways, I stopped suddenly. Rio's mind could not have been infiltrated that many times that he would pass out; Erts would be in a coma before that. I knew very well that Rio's mind was stronger than he looked. Erts would have to be worn out too, by using his OWN EX to provoke another person's EX…he would be overworking himself as well! In sudden revelation, I realized it was not one person, but TWO people who had planned this. Quickly my mind searched for clues, anything, that might point to who he was close to: there was Ernest, who Erts didn't know was alive; there was Rio, Yu, and Teela, all in various states of uselessness at the moment; and then there was –
– Instructor Azuma.
"You", I hissed from my breath. "You've been using Erts, haven't you?"
The Instructor looked vaguely amused. "Very good, Garu. I would think you could figure it out." At sight of the beginning of what I knew would be a protest out of my mouth, he waved a hand and continued, "It was me who taught Erts everything, which meant I could do all of it myself. With experience, I have much more mental endurance than Erts does." He gave a grizzled, sly smile that I never noticed being there before on the Instructor's face. He had not been kind when we were candidates, yes, but never had I seen such a malicious look. "I myself influenced his mind not to suspect me, even when it became apparent that he was overworking his own EX by using Rio's. Foolish boy." He gave another grim smile.
The world before my eyes flashed red. Hate was here, in my arms, in my head, in my heart, ready to strike down this man. Erts was not the ruthless one, he was! The very person that Erts had begun to trust as a mentor and teacher, was his own mind-reader. A telepath reading a telepath…it seemed ironic to me. But my anger I kept in check, and trusted Instructor Azuma to follow me to the study hall. As a pilot true to his word, you had to be chivalrous – I intended to save Erts' pride.
"One duel", I told Instructor Azuma. "Guns with one cartridge kept at belt until needed. Fencers will be our weapons." After all equipment had been put on, we stood in the arena, and watched each other.
For a moment, I could imagine the world was right, and Instructor Azuma was still only my instructor. I could still be a candidate, for a moment, still wondering how to solve the mystery that was called Ernest Cuore and his little twin Erts, still wondering how to pass Old Planet history class (which I was notoriously bad at; I barely scraped past), still dreaming about which Goddess would be mine, which Goddess one day I would be in the cockpit off, ready to save the world from all destruction.
And then he lunged, and we began to 'study'.
My movements were unlike Ernest or Erts'. When I practiced with them, they were light on their feet, instantly knowing when to strike and when to feint, an ability bordering on precognition. Actually, I was pretty sure it was just this set of brothers – they were naturally quick and agile, lifting the fencer like it was nothing, and knowing each step by heart as if they had done it over and over before. My movements were different. They were heavier, but just as fast; I had the advantage of power. I knew how to use my weapon in all forms; how to glance off of the handle, how to 'cross-over' and send my opponent's fencer into the ceiling, how to make the opponent's fencer my own to throw out of the ring, instantly giving me victory. But this would be different; even after I threw the sword out of the ring, he still had one cartridge, one bullet, to shoot me with.
I had to keep that in mind.
Apparently Instructor Azuma had not been practicing, because as much as he tried, he could not copy moves while trying to avoid my every move. He tried several of Erts' tactics, as I had identified, but none worked; I had seen them all before. With a swift flick I sent the protective glass over his face shattering, and his fencer into the far wall, behind me where he couldn't get it without me striking him down. He gave slow, heaving breaths, and closed one eye from the line of blood that trickled down from the cut on his head. His mouth made a grizzled smile.
"I'm calling Erts over here now", he said, almost laughing, and I bristled.
"Don't bring that boy into this! He would still be innocent, if it wasn't for you!"
He gave me a wry look. "He was desolate without his brother Ernest. I think I did him a favor."
My fencer inched closer to his neck. "The day that was a favor is the day you go to hell!"
"Erts", he called, and I saw the silhouette of the boy in the doorway. "You killed me, Erts, by not coming here fast enough." I was close enough to feel that he was sending something mentally to Erts. No!, I tried to say to the boy mentally, but I could tell by his trembling that whatever the Instructor had sent to him had been received. With a movement took quick for me to catch, Instructor Azuma whipped the gun out and fired it. I watched in horror for a moment as Erts froze in place. For a moment I thought the bullet had not struck, then I saw Erts' hand slowly, slowly come up to cup his bleeding shoulder.
"Erts", Instructor Azuma said hoarsely, and smiled. He knew his death was coming. I threw the fencer to one side and pulled out the gun by my side as he spoke his last words. "Ernest is at the 360 coordinates, the LaGrange System. 46W, 25N."
By this time I was well and thoroughly fed up. This man had just destroyed a boy who also happened to be my best friend's little brother, had just SHOT the poor boy, and was now telling him where Ernest was, which I presumed he had gotten from my head. I had had ENOUGH of his mind- reading tricks. If I hadn't been so bent on achieving justice my own way, I would have let the authorities deal with the manipulative bastard and have him rot slowly in jail. However, I believed in mercy, and I hoped this would suffice for 'mercy'.
I fired the gun, and the Instructor crumpled to the floor. I felt no remorse for a monster, this THING who had corrupted Erts in the worst way he could have. He used the very memory of Ernest and twisted everything that Erts loved in his brother. I watched as the younger blonde fell to the floor, and I know he was receiving the aftershocks of a loss of 'presence' in his mind (if a person has had a lot of influence over one particular mind, when that user dies, the person's mind becomes unstable because there is no support). Stripping off the stupid white suit, I yanked the fencers from their positions and threw them onto the rack. "Erts!", I called, running over to him. "Erts!"
But the boy was nowhere to be seen. There was no trace of him, not even a drop of blood to show where he had gone. Before I could contemplate this mystery, though, it was solved as the familiar voice of Leena came over the comm. "Gareas Elidd, pilot 02, please report to the docking bay immediately. I repeat, pilot 02 report to the docking bay immediately. The Reneighed Klein has begun to lift off!"
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Author's note:
This was more of an informational chapter, I think...not much emotion in this one because I had to fit so much in it. As for the Reneighed Klein...well, let's say that the reason Garu got shocked was because Erts slapped it earlier, right? To answer...well, I think it was someone who reviewed, actually: why did I use Erts and Garu? Well, I used Erts because I already wrote one story on him (My Brother's Replacement, but that was one-shot) and because I find him very, very interesting (I sound like Clay). As for Garu...well, you can't really say he's the main character but you can't say he's the supporting character either because he gets a chapter all to himself every other chapter. So the answer to that question would be...I don't know. Maybe I wrote about them because they're both related to Ernest in some way?
*sighs* I think another three chapters will end this. This is the story on its last few lines. I'm sorry I couldn't put more in this chapter...but a)I didn't quite feel like it and b) is there anything I should say more? Gomen, minna.
Andrea Weiling