Nineteen
The pale dawn light was splashing over Ruri as she approached the rail track. She was worn-out after spending tonight running, rather than sleeping but now she had reached her first target. Her transport to her next destination was sitting on the tracks in front of her. The string of colossal wagons continued well beyond the vanishing point. Somewhere up there was the train control room, but she couldn't see it from here. But that factored in her plan – she was hitching a ride and didn't want to be detected.
Making sure her backpack was secure on her back, she climbed up the side of the metal wagon using the available footholds. It wasn't really that high, but her computer weighed her down and her arms nearly gave out before she'd reached the rim. She grimaced at the strain and once she was safely on top, flung herself down among the ore, completely spent. She knew that she'd done her bit for now and could rest up until this train reached her destination.
Once the intense ache in her arms had died down enough so she could use them again, she opened up her backpack, took out the blanket and wrapped it around herself as a shield against the nippy morning. She then took out a cereal bar and ate it with nervous, nibbling bites, her snow-white hands constantly trembling with anxiety and sleep deprivation.
After finishing her surrogate breakfast she curled up into her blanket and lay down, using her backpack as a pillow. With any luck she could catch a few hours sleep before she reached her ultimate destination.
* * *
"What do you think it's about this time?" Akito asked the group, who were sitting together in the same common room as before. It was far too early for lunch, so presumably this meeting was for some unknown special purpose. Akito had been speculating ever since they'd been let out off their cell, but ten minutes later down the line he still hadn't formed a decent guess.
"Sheesh, you're as dense as ever Tenkawa!" murmured Ryoko, throwing one of her aggressive glares his way. The motley trio of Aesti pilots were currently the only other group in the room – Ryoko and Hikaru were slouched on the couch opposite them while Izumi was in the next chair, her legs drawn up to her and her slender hands dancing together in a random pattern. She giggled constantly, altering her volume so that it was as annoying as it was creepy.
Akito looked over to the green-haired pilot, dejected by her fierce comment. "Why, what'd I do?" he asked feebly.
Ryoko shook her head, as if unable to believe his ignorance. "The Earth Government meetings, you idiot!" she shouted. "Obviously they'll have made their decision by now, so we're finally gonna find out whether or not we're going to rot in a cell for the rest of our lives! You got that?!"
"Oh," murmured Akito. Now that she mentioned it, it was pretty obvious.
"Yeah, that's why Ryoko's all tense today!" laughed Hikaru. "Prospector's going to come in and tell us whether we're here for a longer or shorter time then we thought." She bounced up and down eagerly on her seat. "I'm really excited!"
"I hope they see fit to do the." muttered Izumi, cutting off suddenly.
"Huh?" asked everyone else, united in confusion. Izumi stared into space a moment longer and then replied in a low voice.
"Sorry. I reduced the length of my sentence,"
After a brief pause to let it sink in, she began to cackle hysterically, bashing the chair under her for all she was worth. Everyone else just groaned in anguish slumping in their respective seats as the peculiar Aesti pilot revelled in her own apparent hilarity.
"No doubt about it. She's definitely getting worse," murmured Jun, mainly to himself.
There was no hope of saving any conversation after that, so luckily the door slid open to admit some newcomers and inject some life into the room. Everyone turned around as Yurika and Megumi walked in. Predictably, their former captain took one glance at the assembled group and emitted a delighted shriek.
"AKITO!"
His pleasure of seeing his girlfriend was temporarily overridden by his despair at the high-pitched mention of his name. Why did she insist on saying it every time she saw him? Oh well, at least she was here and in good health. Akito stood to greet her, a little reluctantly since he knew he was just going to be knocked down again.
"Hi Yurika," he said with a slight grin.
"Oh Akito!" Yurika darted over to him, engulfed him in her arms and kissed him adoringly on the cheek. Sighing happily, he put his own arms around her and pulled her closer. She was so predictably passionate, but he loved her for it.
"Did you hear, Akito? Mr Prospector is going to tell us what the Earth Government has decided today! That means we'll know just how much longer we'll have to stay in here!"
"Yeah, I heard," said Akito, scratching the back of his head and keeping his eyes off Ryoko. "Are you nervous?"
"Oh yeah, a little I guess. I mean one way or another it's going to really affect our futures! We could be let out next week or imprisoned for life based on today's decision! Isn't that scary!?"
"Yeah I guess," said Akito. It seemed unreal, the impact today's news would have on their lives.
After Yurika had settled down, the room became much less active. Everyone just sat around with conversation only occurring in quick bursts separated by long periods of silence. Every so often the tension was interrupted by another of the crew arriving, but apart from that the air of nervousness in the room was completely dominating. Jun kept on clearing his throat, Hikaru chewed on a lock of hair, Seiya cracked his knuckles and Megumi constantly shifted her seating position, crossing one leg, then removing it and crossing the other. A casual observer would have found the scene comical, but at the moment the crew of the Nadesico didn't see much humour in the situation. Well, except for Izumi, who was humming the tune to 'Yesterday' over and over again.
Twenty minutes later, Minato and Yukina arrived, meaning that Prospector and Goat Hoary were the only key crewmembers not present. As usual, Minato's cheerful smile carved through the air of anxiety, helping everyone relax if only a little.
"Hi!" she said, sitting down on the chair which Jun had given up for her. "Is everyone ready for the big news then?"
"That depends on what it turns out to be," said Megumi, whose tattered nerves made her voice tremble.
"By now I'll just be glad to know," murmured Seiya, steadily supporting his chin with his hand in a rare display of dignity. "Whether we're kept in here for a week or an eternity I just want to have a day ringed on my calendar so I know when I'll finally get my freedom. It's the not knowing that bothers me,"
"Yeah, I see what you mean," said Jun. "Though personally I think…"
They never got to find out what Jun thought since at that point the door suddenly slid open again. Everyone went quiet as Prospector strode slowly into the room, closely followed by the massive form of Goat Hoary. In his hand he held a piece of paper – which inevitably contained their fate. He didn't speak, but nodded them a greeting as he went to take his place behind the desk at the head of the room. His stern expression revealed absolutely nothing, not even a clue.
"He's not giving anything away," thought Akito. "Is it bad news?"
"Good morning everyone," the Nergal accountant said in his business tone. "As you will no doubt have guessed the Earth Government meetings regarding the war and the incident on Mars have reached their conclusion, with a near unanimous decision on their stance for the future of humanity. They have also reached their verdict on our second visit to Mars and have prepared a statement which I will read out now," He held up the piece of paper to show them, then unfolded it and coughed to clear his throat. Everyone's eyes were on him now, no-one even daring to breathe. The tension was peaking and even Izumi had a nervous look about her now. Akito felt Yurika squeeze his hand as Prospector began to read.
"In light of the recent decision by the Earth Government to pursue peace in the solar system and following their inquiry into the Martian Incident, it has been decided by Government and UEAF officials that the actions of the crew of the Gunship Nadesico ND-001, though traitorous and illegal, were carried out in the best interests of mankind as a whole. As a result of this, it has been decided that the detention spell of the crew under the UEAF is to be terminated immediately,"
The united roar that came after his final words was deafening. Suddenly everyone was on their feet, cheering wildly. Akito found Yurika in his arms again, kissing him like their lives depended on it. Jun and Seiya both punched the air several times and did a hefty high-five. To one side the Howmei girls were performing a cheerleader routine, while Miss Howmei herself watched them and grinned. Minato and Yukina were laughing and embracing and next to them Hikaru and Izumi were doing a synchronised celebratory dance. Ryoko and Megumi, however, simply slouched further in their seats with their heads lying back, as they released a combined sign of relief to the heavens.
"Well done everyone," smiled Prospector, discarding his grim business mood which had done its job of building the suspense. "We will be formally discharged at one o'clock today. I suggest that you all return to your cells and start packing! Oh my…" He trailed off as Hikaru and Minato hugged him from either side, both of them sporting sunny smiles.
"Isn't this wonderful Akito!" said Yurika, who had released him except for both his hands. "We can finally start our new life together! Oh, I'm so excited!" She threw herself into his arms again.
"Yeah, me too!" said Akito, swinging her around. "I can't wait!"
Meanwhile Megumi, who was still in her seat, looked over to Ryoko. "Relieved?" she asked with a weak smile.
Ryoko cast a dark glance over to Izumi, who was fruitlessly begging Goat to give her a hug. "Like you wouldn't believe," she assured her.
* * *
"Yurika, just how many bags do you have?" asked Akito. He was hopelessly over-laden with baggage of all description. His shoulders were bitching ceaselessly at him and his legs would have buckled long ago had he not realised what a disaster it would be to drop all the bags having just found a way to hold them all.
"Oh that's all of them!" beamed Yurika, who was just pulling along a small wheeled suitcase behind her. "Isn't it lucky that you're so strong?!"
Akito only grunted in return as he struggled after her down the corridor. A security guard at the end of it smirked at his predicament, but was decent enough to open the door for them.
They'd barely entered the room before the dark-haired girl behind the desk stood up and cheerfully greeted them. "Hello there! Yurika Misumaru and Akito Tenkawa is it?" She spoke with a British accent.
"That's us!" replied Yurika, equally perky.
"Before you can leave you'll need you to sign a few things," the girl behind the desk pushed two clipboards towards them with a bright smile. "If you'd just like to plant your monikers on those please,"
"Sure!" said Yurika, coming over to the desk. Akito groaned as he realised he would have to redeploy his arms. Inevitably succumbing to the gravity he collapsed, spilling bags everywhere.
The secretary looked over concernedly. "Are you alright, Sir?"
"Oh he's fine! Come on Akito, sign the form so we can leave!" said Yurika eagerly.
"Yes dear," he mumbled, extracting himself from the mountainous pile of luggage.
Two signatures and three minutes later the couple were standing on the bustling streets of Hiratsuka, as free agents. The city which had seemed so far away before was now surrounding them, immersing their senses with the ceaseless activity of a vast urban landscape. To Akito, the new sensation of freedom felt incredible, just knowing that they could finally make their own choices – they could go into a café, browse through the shops, walk along the waterfront or take the train out of the city. They could do anything at all, their lives were their own again. And Akito just couldn't stop smiling. He had life, liberty and love. What more could he want?
"Well, we're finally free Yurika!" he stated cheerfully, stretching out as if to embrace his new freedom. "It's been a while, but now we can go anywhere we want! Anywhere at all!"
"Yes!" replied Yurika, shoving a finger towards the sky with a glorious smile. "And I know where our first stop is!"
Akito smiled inwardly, having seen this coming a mile off. He shifted a bag on his shoulder before saying, "I guess we're going to see an old friend, right?"
Yurika gaped over at him, genuinely stunned that he'd guessed her intentions - it was as if he'd read her mind. "How did you know?" she asked, adopting her clueless expression.
Akito scratched the back of his head. "Well, you've talked about Ruri quite a lot recently. And now that we're out of detention we should at least go check on her, right?"
"Right!" chirped Yurika. "We have to make sure she's okay! I think we owe her that much after everything she's done for us,"
"Yeah," Akito agreed with a nod. "Besides, she's a friend. I don't think I'd feel right until I knew for sure that she was happy with life,"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm trying to say! Oh Akito, you can read me like a book! You understand me better then I understand myself!"
Laughing softly, Akito placed a fond arm around her and they began walking down the street. "Come on, let's go rent a car."
"Hey wait up!"
Both of them spun around towards the voice and saw Yukina running up to them, with Minato following at a more leisurely pace. The young Jovian red-head stopped a few paces before them and bent over to regain her breath.
"We're coming too!" she wheezed.
"Huh?" the pair both exclaimed.
"Mind if we tag along?" asked Minato, walking up behind Yukina and placing her hands affectionately on her shoulders. "We both really want to see Ruri again. We didn't get a chance to speak to her before she left and besides, I owe her an apology."
"I want to see Ruri too," put in Yukina, her gaze resting demandingly on the couple. "I want to talk with her about a few things. So we can come, yeah?"
"Er, sure, no problem at all," replied Akito quickly. "Right Yurika?"
"No of course not," said Yurika with a slight grin. "I'm sure she'll be really glad to see all of us!"
"Thank you," said Minato, smiling as she bowed. "We appreciate it,"
"So come on, let's go already!" exclaimed Yukina impatiently. "If we don't get moving soon, she'll be asleep by the time we get there and we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see her! Come on, let's move!"
Akito chuckled to himself as they began to walk again – that girl sure was spirited. It surprised him that she was so eager to go since he'd believed that Yukina didn't get on with Ruri. Well, maybe Minato's affection was infectious. He should have guessed that the helmswoman would have wanted to see Ruri again since she had spent as much time as anyone with her aboard the Nadesico. It made sense that she wanted to check up on her.
As the four walked along the street, he noticed that Yurika seemed a bit subdued. He knew her well enough to know why – while she didn't mind the company of their two new recruits, she would have preferred to be alone with him on this trip. Nevertheless, it was clear that she understood that others wanted to see Ruri too and it would have been selfish to turn them away, especially on a day of such shining fortune.
Akito himself, on the other hand, didn't mind at all who he was going with – so long as he saw his young friend again. He had to know she was doing okay, she was too important to him just to be severed cold turkey from his life. If nothing else, they had to make sure she knew that she hadn't been forgotten, and that they had spared many a thought for her while in detention. And to say goodbye properly.
"It'll be great to see her again. To see how she's getting on in her new situation. I just hope we find a happy girl when we get there."
