Name: Androgene (formerly known as Cyberoid13)
Website:
Email: androgene@lycos.com
Title: The Day After (side story 1)
Summary: the morning after Saber's return in 'Reunion'.
Date of completion: 28 October 2001
Category: Drama
Rating: G
Author's notes:
This is a filler fiction, between 'Reunion' and 'Remembrance', to wrap up some dangling questions from 'Reunion' and was not addressed in 'Remembrance'. It occurred to me that the Star Sheriffs' reaction to Saber's gifts is quite important, given the fact that they still consider Nemo an enemy. It's not long enough to warrant being placed in the main story body, yet it is important enough to be mentioned. So here it is, a side story – the first in the 'Re' arc.
Disclaimer:
All 'Saber Rider and Star Sheriffs' characters belonged to World Event Production. I make no money from them and I do not own them.
~ The Day After ~
(Side Story 1)
"Colt! Wake up!"
Colt nearly fell off his chair, as he was abruptly and rudely shaken awake. Grabbing the sides of his chair, he peered up in bleary annoyance. "What's wrong?"
"Where's Saber?" Fireball demanded.
"Asleep in his ward."
"No, he's not, cowboy. He's gone."
Colt woke up at once. Jumping to his feet, he crossed the corridor to said ward. The bed was unmade and glaringly empty.
"I checked in on him at six this morning," he said. "He was in his bed."
"He wasn't when April and I came in at nine." Fireball raked a hand through his tousled hair. "Where the hell is he? He can't have been kidnapped again. The hospital security had been tightened for the night. And I don't think you'll be able to sleep through any disturbances either, Colt."
"He's around, Fireball. Somewhere." Colt assured the worried man.
He paused when he saw something tucked away underneath the cupboard at the window. It was just a glint of light, nothing more. If Colt hadn't been searching the room for any clues to Saber's whereabouts, he might have missed it completely. Curious, he went over to the cabinet.
"What is that?" Fireball asked when the cowboy pulled out a large metal case.
"Whatever it is, I don't think it is part of the room's décor." Colt undid the catches and lifted the lid. "What the -?"
Fireball stared at the contents within the case, a chill settling somewhere in his stomach.
The case contained weapons of a style they have never seen before.
Both weapons were compact, sleek and glinted with a burnished silvery light in the gloom of the night. One was a foot-and-a-half silver rod of indeterminable function. The other was a blaster of an exaggerated design that was strange and alien. It had a massive and solidly built body; the grip and angle of the curve more pronounced. The magazine chamber was larger and instead of just one barrel, it had two – one sitting upon the other.
It was the style of the weapons that was the dead giveaway. Distinctively alien and if Fireball's imagination were to take a leap of fancy, he would think that the style was also highly suggestive of Outrider origins.
Eyes wide, Colt carefully took out the blaster and examined it. "Where did these come from?"
"Only one way to find out."
Colt looked up at his friend. "You don't think these belong to Saber, do you?"
"That's what I'd like to know."
"April to Fireball."
Fireball dug out his communicator. "Fireball here."
"I found Saber, Fireball, and you got to see this to believe it."
They exchanged mystified glances.
"Where is he now?"
"The hospital fields where they have horse-riding for the physical therapy classes."
"We'll be right there." Fireball cut the channel. "Bring that along, Colt."
"Right."
* * *
There was no one about when they reached the riding fields, only April standing by the entrance gazing at the fields. Fireball slowed to a walk, and quietly approached her. There was a strange expression on her face, one he couldn't identify.
"Where is he?" he asked in a low voice.
Wordlessly, April tipped her chin in the direction of the riding fields.
They looked out and easily spotted the lone horse and its rider cantering about the fields in easy circles. The fields were close enough for them to recognise the rider atop the black horse with yellow mane and tail. They were also close enough to see the utter relaxation in that rider's posture.
Now Fireball could identify April's expression, for the sight was a familiar and nostalgic one. They all remembered the morning rides Saber took Steed out on, be it on the ground or inside the asteroid belt.
Suddenly Fireball's eyes narrowed.
Wait a minute, a black horse with yellow mane and tail?
He swore briefly and headed straight for the fields. April followed, her expression puzzled as to his sudden change of mood.
Reaching the fence, Fireball cupped his hands about his mouth and yelled, "Saber!"
The horse's easy canter slowed as the rider looked back and guided the horse towards them. As they came closer, Fireball's suspicions were confirmed. Saber was riding a mecha horse, something he knew this hospital did not own. He noted his friend's dishevelled appearance – the windblown hair and face flushed from his exertions. Saber probably had been out riding since dawn. There was a relaxed calmness in the blue gaze, a spark of life that hadn't been there in the night before.
"Good morning, mates." Saber greeted as he approached.
April smiled back. "Morning to you, Top Sword."
"You're up early," Colt noted. "What time did you sneak out of bed?"
"Before dawn. My apologies, Colt. I needed to clear my head and the best way to do that is a morning ride. And you were sleeping too soundly; I didn't want to wake you."
"So where did you get that mecha horse?" Fireball questioned. "I know this hospital doesn't have any."
Saber dismounted and led the mecha horse up to the fence. "Chums, I like you to meet Steed."
* * *
"It made no sense!"
They had returned to Saber's room, Steed temporarily stabled at the hospital's stables. It had taken Saber a long time to narrate his meeting with Nemo in the previous night and an even longer time to convince them of Steed's identity. He could understand their misgivings; the Vapour-Beams generally have been untrustworthy adversaries of the Star Sheriffs and a bane to the New Frontier's existence. There was no reason why one of them – even if he wasn't an Outrider – should help a human to escape, returned him his mecha horse to boot, and gifted him with such unusual weapons.
As Fireball kept repeating, it made no sense at all.
"Fireball," Saber said, "I know this is hard to believe but I don't think Nemo means me any harm. I think he really wants to be my ally."
"Saber, you of all people, should know you can't trust the words of an Outrider."
"So he's an exception."
"You believed him?"
"About as far as I can throw him," Saber admitted candidly. "But I really don't think he's my enemy either."
Fireball turned to the other half of their team. "What about you guys? What do you think?"
"Well," Colt scratched his head. "I don't know what to think. Nemo did returned Saber to us. Maybe we should just wait and see. All he did was to give Top Sword weapons and a horse."
"April?"
"I have to agree with Colt. I don't see a reason why Saber can't keep what belonged to him."
Fireball sighed. "I guess I lost this debate. Fine, we'll leave it as it is. I'm going to get your release form."
"Here," April handed a paper bag to Saber. "I went through Colt's closet and got you some clothes. I have to go shopping for you though before we can leave Dagora."
"I'm sure I can still manage shopping on my own, April."
"It's not that. Cavalry Command got back to us yesterday night. They ordered us to keep your return a secret and to return to Yuma ASAP."
Saber paused outside the bathroom. "Why?"
"I don't know."
"That smacks of a conspiracy, April." Colt noted.
"Fireball suspects that they know something that we don't. That's why he was so agitated about your meeting with Nemo. If Cavalry Command gets wind of it -"
"I'll probably be watched very closely," Saber finished.
"I don't like it anymore than you do," she admitted. She rose to her feet. "I better go buy your clothes before we leave Dagora at noon. I'll meet you guys back at Ramrod."
Saber nodded absently, thoughts clearly a million miles away, as he stepped into the bathroom to change. When he stepped out again, Colt looked at him appraisingly.
"The jeans seem a little big."
"You've put on weight, Colt." Saber hitched up his jeans.
"Hey!"
"Not much, but noticeable for someone whose physique hadn't change over five years. I don't remember your jeans being this loose the last time I borrowed it. Has Robin been spoiling you with her cooking?"
Saber blinked, startled when Colt's jovial mood immediately vanished, replaced by anguished fury.
"Colt?"
"Robin's dead." The words were so soft that Saber thought he had heard wrongly but Colt's expression told him he heard right.
"How?" he asked equally quiet.
"Outlaws killed her," Colt's voice was flat and emotionless. "Swept through Tranquillity one day without warning. By the time we got there, it was too late. They had slaughtered everyone – men, women, and children – and razed the community to the ground. Robin...she died in the schoolhouse. From what we gathered, she tried to protect the children from the Outlaws but they killed her and burnt the school down."
"When did this happen?"
"Three years ago."
"I'm sorry." Hesitatingly, Saber laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It must have been terrible on you."
"It's over. Now all I have to do is concentrate on finding the bastards who murdered her. And when I do -"
A terrible glint came into Colt's eyes.
"There will be hell to pay."
The chill in his statement made Saber uneasy.
Fireball entered the ward. "Everything's done. Ready to leave, Saber?"
"Most definitely. I just have to pick up Steed on our way out."
"So what are we waiting for?" Colt said with forced cheerfulness. "Let's go."
Saber paused at the door and looked back. He was glad to be leaving the hospital at last. The place was too sterile and no matter how hard the hospital staff tried, it will always smell of death.
And that was a smell Saber didn't want to think about.
