Two

The rest of that night had passed relatively uneventfully. At one point an inebriated Jun had come on to the bridge, sunk down beside her and started bawling out how unfair it was that he'd finally lost Yurika to Akito for good. Ruri had pretended to listen to his whines until he'd eventually staggered off to search for more booze.

It was nearly noon the next day by the time someone else came to the bridge. Minato had walked in, seen Ruri and realised she'd been there all night missing the party completely. She'd been beside herself with guilt and had apologised for a good few minutes and gone on about how she should have just left it to the autopilot, or come and fetched one of the other helmswomen. No matter how much Ruri affirmed that she hadn't minded, Minato still insisted that she'd make it up to her someday. Ruri hadn't been in the mood to further relieve her of her guilt. She'd been on the bridge for a good fifteen hours now and was more than ready for some well-deserved sleep.

Eight hours shut-eye and a quick meal later, she was summoned to the bridge by Prospector for a meeting between the key members of the crew. Akatsuki and Erina were absent and the reason for that became clear when Prospector announced the purpose of this gathering.

"We'll be arriving back on Earth within twenty-four hours now," he said. "It's high time we worked out a plan of action."

"For what?" asked Captain Yurika, clueless as usual.

"We won't just be able to waltz back in as if nothing's happened, Captain," the accountant continued. "After stealing back the Nadesico from Nergal, we're criminal's of sorts."

"This ship is ours," Ruri said. It had been those very words that had reunited the crew in the first place.

"On some levels maybe, but she is still property of Nergal Heavy Industries," said Prospector. "Needless to say, the UEAF won't be too happy with us."

"So what are you saying?" asked Akito, his brow furrowing. "That we'll be arrested the moment we set foot on Earth soil?"

"That's pretty much the case. I'm not sure how seriously they'll take this transgression, but we're certainly looking at a period of detention for the crew. However, on the grounds that our actions halted the war, they may be prepared to be a bit more lenient with us. Especially if we don't resist arrest."

"Hey wait a minute! Are you suggesting we just give ourselves up!?" Ryoko snapped.

"It's our best chance of avoiding a long prison sentence." Prospector replied, pushing his glasses back up to the bridge of his nose.

"Well, I for one would prefer a few months detention to several years in the brig," said Minato.

"What are your thoughts, Yurika?" asked Jun.

Yurika rubbed her chin anxiously for a moment, before saying, "Well I don't see that we have much of a choice. If we don't turn ourselves in, we'll just be hunted down like we were before. I suppose its better that we cooperate this time."

"Then we'll play along?"

Yurika nodded, a little glumly. "It's the best thing for the crew. We'll return to Hiratsuka and let the UEAF and Nergal do what they want with us."

"Is that your final decision Captain?" asked Goat Hoary, his voice typically low and level.

"I guess so," she said weakly.

"A wise course of action Captain," said Prospector. "If there are no objections then I'll go and inform Mr Akatsuki immediately." He began to walk over to the door, signalling a conclusion to the meeting.

Judging by the looks on peoples faces, Ruri could see that none of the others were overly pleased with their future prospects. There were grim expressions all round, and Ryoko seemed to be fighting a losing battle with her contained anger. Ruri knew they were feeling the same way as she was inside. Somehow, idiotically, they'd assumed that once peace had been restored they'd be able to return to a hero's reception and a peaceful, civilian life. Just like in anime. But that wasn't to be the case; before their new lives could begin they would have to pay for their past actions. Course, by now they should have been used to it. Things had a habit of turning out more complicated than they should be for this crew.

Complaining wasn't going to change their fate, so everyone returned to their posts without a word. Like it or not, their best hope of a normal life sometime in the future was to return to the scene of the crime

* * *

No sooner had the Nadesico landed at Hiratsuka Docks, half a day later, than a communication screen flashed up, displaying a tanned man in uniform with horrible slit-like eyes, like those of a snake, and a shiny, shaven scalp which reflected light like a still puddle.

"Nadesico crew, may I have your attention please. This is Commander Kazuo Yano, here on behalf of the UEAF. I bring instructions for you to power down all systems on the Nadesico and assemble in the main hanger with any belongings you wish to take off the ship within the next half hour. Captain Misumaru will deliver the Nadesico's master key to me personally within that time. In a half-hour we conduct a register in the hanger to account for all crew-members. After that has been completed to our satisfaction, we will escort all crew-members to the detention centre where we will provide further details. We appreciate your cooperation."

"Well, I hope no-one has dinner plans!" joked Minato with a sweet smile. Her attempts to lighten the mood failed – no-one wanted to be cheered up at the moment.

"Are we docked, Ruri?" the captain asked.

"Aye Ma'am,"

"Power down P-T engines, Minato."

"Yes Captain." With the touch of a button, the constant humming of the Nadesico's background noise ceased.

"I guess that's it then," Yurika moved over to the console behind her and reached down to grasp the handle of the master key. She took a deep breath, then with one deft movement she turned it square. Gradually the lights that covered the bridge dimmed as the power and major systems of the Nadesico were shut down. Ruri felt Omoikane's presence fade gradually and unstoppably, like water trickling through her fingers. Within a few seconds, she had disappeared completely. After battling hard for a year, the Nadesico was finally put to rest.

For a while, no-one moved or said anything. Ruri hadn't even blinked - she simply sat there, staring disbelievingly at the lifeless console before her, as if she'd just seen someone killed before her very eyes. To her left Megumi stared mournfully down at her headset, resting on her lap. Minato was resting her head gloomily in her hands while above them Yurika and Jun exchanged solemn expressions.

Eventually, it was Yurika broke the awful silence. "Well, I guess that's it everyone. You've been a really great bridge-crew!" she added with forced enthusiasm. "Thanks for all your help over the past year. Without you, we would never have made it this far!"

"And thank you for being an excellent captain, Yurika," said Jun. Half-hearted murmurs seconded his proclamation.

Yurika smiled wanly. "We were a great team," She tossed the Master Key up into the air and caught it again with one hand. "Well, I guess we'd better get down to the hanger now."

Grudgingly, the bridge-crew began to leave their posts and make for the exit. Everyone that was, except Ruri who remained in her seat with her eyes downcast. Minato noticed this and put a hand on the child's shoulder.

"Are you coming, Ruri-Ruri?

"Yes," Ruri brought her head up slowly. She placed her hand on the control surface one last time before leaving the bridge with Minato.

"Goodbye Omoikane,"

* * *

Ruri and Minato were the last to leave the bridge. As they stepped out into the corridor, they saw Erina Won, co-helmswoman and secretary to the Nergal Chairman, leaning against the wall. Everyone else had already dispersed.

"I'd like to speak to Ruri for a moment," she said, rather ominously.

"Yes?" Ruri said, giving her her attention.

"Alone," Erina stated, eyeing Minato.

Minato looked down at the girl. "Is that okay with you?"

Ruri looked at Erina, then back to Minato. "Yes. I'll catch up with you in the hanger,"

"Okay then Ruri-Ruri!" Minato winked at her then continued walking down the corridor.

"What is it you want to speak to me about?" asked Ruri, as soon as Minato was an appropriate distance away.

Erina smiled down at her, making the girl feel a tad uneasy. It wasn't a friendly smile, more like the one she always wore when she had the upper-hand. "I have some good news for you. You may just be the luckiest person on the ship!"

"Why is that?" asked Ruri. She hated talking to Erina, perhaps even more so than Akatsuki. She was as unscrupulous as they came, especially when it came to dealing with other people. She managed to make the mention of good news sound like she was about to receive the worst punishment in her life.

"You're off the hook," she said. "Since you're below thirteen years of age, you're exempt from UEAF detention laws in this situation."

"I see. Thank you for telling me." No triumph rode in Ruri's voice, but neither did the discomfort she felt at hearing this news. She wasn't to be detained? But where would she go?

This wasn't the time to decide that. The last person she was going to discuss her fears for the future with was this despicable woman in the hallway. Instead, she continued walking again, not deigning Erina another glance.

She'd barely taken a few steps before Erina spoke again – she hadn't finished with her yet. "Of course Nergal is responsible for it's employees and couldn't just let a young girl out into the big, wide world by herself. So we've organised a home for you."

"A home?" Ruri stopped dead in her tracks.

"Yes, an orphanage in the Northern Area." She seemed to be taking sadistic pleasure out of this. "If you'll come to my office now we can discuss it further,"

Ruri swallowed nervously. "Okay," she said. What choice did she have?

* * *

So that was that. The morning after her meeting with Erina, the youngest crew-member of the Nadesico was whisked away to a remote village, in which the Seven Oaks orphanage was stationed. UEAF detention laws forbid her to see any of her fellow crewmates, even for the briefest moment. She was never given a chance to say goodbye to them, the only real friends she'd ever had.

Twenty four hours was all it had taken for her life to transform completely. No longer was she the computer operator for the world's most powerful battleship, she was now merely Ruri the orphan-girl. Would she adapt? Or would the trials of adjustment prove to be too great a challenge for Nadesico's wonder-child?