Return to Normality

When Jet opened his eyes, he saw that he was back in Werner's cabin. Clive and Gallows were sleeping on the floor - - with Gallows snoring so loudly that it was a wonder that anyone else could sleep. In the chair that stood next to the bed, he could see Virginia, sleeping while sitting up.

'What a nightmare,' he thought, 'I dreamt I was fighting the Prophets, and they were summoning a demon. I'd been told I was a machine, they ridiculed me, but Virginia was telling me how she still thought of me as a friend, even as I guarded her from all physical harm. Come to think of it, I rather liked the last part of it, but I can't say exactly why I do.' The young man blushed.

'She really shouldn't be sleeping like this, she'll get a stiff back,' he realized. Jet then picked up the young girl in his arms, and placed her on the bed. He then covered her up with the blanket so she wouldn't catch a cold. After seeing that she was comfortable, Jet lay down on the floor.

He whispered, "Sleep tightly Virginia. I don't know what my dream meant, but it gives me a really good feeling every time I think about it. I feel like I want to protect you forever."

* * *

Virginia woke up some time later, and found herself on the bed. 'Why am I here? Last thing I remember is that I was sitting in the chair, watching over Jet as he's always protecting me. If I'm laying on the bed, then where has Jet gotten to?' She looked on the floor, and saw him.

The young woman sat and watched him as he slept. It wasn't too much longer until he woke up. When he saw that she was also awake, he sat on the bed next to her. Jet couldn't quite understand it himself why he'd done this, but he was well aware of the blush on his face.

"Thank you," Virginia said, "For everything that you did for me. You were really brave back there at the Yggdrasil. I mean, you really knocked around Melody after she called me ugly. And Leehalt, he's gonna need some real bad healing after the attack you unleashed on him."


"What are you talking about Virginia? I never went to Yggdrasil. Last thing I remember was saving you from that canister that Leehalt launched at you in Nidhogg Pass," Jet stated.

Virginia asked, "So you can't remember all those things you said to me then? About how you wanted to protect me from every danger? And all those things we found about your past?"

Jet gave her a questionable look. "What exactly happened anyway? I can't remember anything about this. Is it possible that whatever in the canister that knocked me out could have done something to my memory? Not that I care, but if you're gonna bug me until I can answer you, I have no choice."


'He's being cold again,' she thought, 'I guess that the nanomachines have completely been destroyed by his body, and he's back to normal. And he can't remember what he did while under their influence either.' So she summarized their whole trip from the Nidhogg Pass, all the way up until the battle with the Prophets at the top of Yggdrasil. When Virginia had finished, she looked up at Jet to see his reaction to her story. A sad expression had come over his face, no doubt due to his identity.

"So, that stupid dream I had wasn't a dream at all. I really am no more than a machine. Tell me Virginia, if that's all I am, then why do you care about me?" he inquired.

She pulled him closer to her, so his head could lay peacefully on her left shoulder. Virginia told him, "Because. . .you're my friend. I don't care about some silly stuff like whether you're a human or not. You've been my friend for a long time now, and there's no way I'd be so shallow as to leave you now. This is the time that you're going to need me for emotional support over what you've found out."

Both of them were well aware of the blushes on their faces. Jet did have to admit that he'd felt peaceful lying up against her. Why was he feeling things like this? After all, he was only a machine.

But at that moment, he realized the truth. Although he was a machine, he was also a human being. And this girl meant more to him than life itself. He would protect her no matter what happened to them, even if he had to give his life to assure her safety. It was just like what he said while under the nanomachines' influence. This had to be the emotion that people called love.

Jet smiled. "Thank you Virginia. But you know that we've got to get going soon. There's no way that we'll be able to earn any money if we spend all our time in this stupid little shack."

"You're back to normal!" she exclaimed, "Oh Jet, you're back to normal. What a relief, it was beginning to get weird without you complaining about money or yelling at me for something or other."

Jet couldn't help but let out a laugh. She was always going to be this way, no matter what sort of problem they came across. It was true that they were complete opposites, but maybe that's why they got along so well. Each of their personalities and skills were able to make up for what the other one lacked. Something like that could help them greatly on further missions.

"Well, well, well, look at the lovebirds. So, when are you guys going to kiss?" asked Gallows.

Both he and Clive had woken up. Well, Gallows had got up and seen what was going on, and then he'd shook Clive awake. The two Drifters were staring at their very red comrades.

Jet told him, "Just shut up Gallows. I am not going to kiss her. And even if I was, I wouldn't be doing it in front of you." But the expression on his face betrayed his words.

Clive cleared his throat. "So now that everything has been cleared up, where are we going to go next? Are we going to go look for some more artifacts, or on a job to earn us some Gella."

"We'll see what we can find," Virginia decided, "We can decide what to do then."


They left the cabin, and headed back through the Nidhogg Pass. As they walked, Jet found himself acting even more protective of Virginia than he'd been before. 'Guess that I'm gonna have to get used to these new feelings. No complaints at that, at least I'll know that Virginia is safe.'

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

He needs her around to guard him mentally and emotionally, even as he guards her physically. Now to our thank you section. Ok, first to Media Vision for making this game. Then, to the sites that got me into Wild ARMs in the first place. And also to the people who read and enjoyed this story. You know, there isn't much outside impute with this one.