The Next Generation 14

Magicman: I would like to dedicate this chapter to BabyBlue, who is leaving fanfiction.net for an unknown period of time. Good luck and God speed.

Mark stood back and wiped his hands on his pants. It was finally finished! Filled with self-pride, he surveyed surveyed Akagi.

When she was brought in a few days ago, she had been little better than an oversized pile of slag. Now she looked as though she could take on the gods. Her titanium blue armour flashed in the light of the 'melef shed. Thick steel pads covered the shoulders, protecting the energist power chambers. Mark had decided that it could use more power output, so he'd added another. The machine's arms and legs looked almost spindly in comparison to the thick torso, and its helmet held five horns curled back, making it look almost like hair. The long, curved sabre hung from its scabbard, and the chakrum and chain rested in its place in Akagi's shoulder- mount.

Mark smiled to himself at Van's reaction when he'd seen the restored guymelef.

***FLASHBACK***

Van strolled into the 'melef shed, whistling. Casually he glanced over at the corner of the shed that was occupied by Mark, and he instantly stopped all motion. His eyes bugged out and his jaw hit the floor.

Mark had broken out in laughter, nearly losing a finger to a power cutter.

***END FLASHBACK***

A pair of soft arms wrapped around Mark from behind, and lips kissed his cheek.

"So you've finally finished it."

Grinning, Mark turned to his girlfriend. "Yep!"

Yukari smiled sweetly. "Really? Well then maybe you could take me for a ride in it some time." Her eyes widened in an innocent pleading look. "Please?"

Mark nearly laughed. "Alright then. Let's pack a lunch and then we'll be off!"

***

It had been a week since Mark and Yukari had got together, and they were inseparable. One could always see them feeding each other bits of food in the 'eating hall', or walking hand in hand through the city. At one point Folken had been evicted from his place in the library so they could have a make out session, and Chesta and Dalet nearly stepped on them in the training room, involved in a similar situation.

Van was unsurprised that they had finally got together. Hell, it reminded him of him and Millerna in the months after their wedding! But he was a bit astonished at the enthusiasm they seemed to be throwing themselves into this, now that they'd actually made up their minds.

Thinking such thoughts, Van sighed and lifted his feet down off the table. He shouldn't let his mind wander. He did have work to do after all.

As he sifted through the papers, Van noticed that they were very different from the reports he'd received the day this all started. Then it was just alliance requests, or trade proposals. Now he was looking at the training progress of new recruits, and the progress of guymelef and leva ship construction.

The Battle of the Shrine, as it was now being called, had scared the hell out of the city's people, and they were demanding increased protection. Rumours were circulating on the streets about Basram being the cause of the attack, and public opinion (already low where Basram was concerned) had turned irrevocably against the foreign country. Some of the more radical citizens were calling for war, and it was Van's job to do something to alleviate fears.

A knock came at the door. "Come in" Van said.

A messenger (ironically the same one who had delivered the news about Hitomi) entered. He bowed. "My lord, I bring a message from your wife in Asturia."

Van smiled. "Oh? And do I have any other wives I should know about?"

The messenger frowned slightly. "Sir?"

"Never mind. It was a joke." Van waved a hand placatingly. "Please continue."

"Your wife, queen Millerna of Asturia, sends you greeting." The messenger began to talk. "Her highness brings word of an offer by the Basramian minister to Asturia, one Andrakus Kasar."

Van sighed. "Can't say I'm surprised. That man really gets around!"

"Yes sir. Mr. Kasar's offer was an alliance with Basram. Her highness thought you should know about it given the rumours of battle in Fanelia, and the matter of the abduction of Hitomi Albatou. At the same time, however, she sends a report of soldiers on the Asturia-Basram border, and she requests some military aid in case these troops should turn hostile."

Van thought for a moment before nodding. "Alright then. Send for Folken."

"Yes sir." The messenger bowed and left the room.

About fifteen minutes later, Folken entered. "You summoned me little brother?"

Van tried his best to look solemn. "I did yes."

The older Fanel gave a sarcastic bow. "What then is your will oh king of Fanelia?"

Folken at forty-five looked remarkably like Folken at twenty-five. His hair was starting to turn grey, he had a tiny scar by the end of his lip where an infection had been drained, and a diamond, and onyx ring adorned his finger. But everything else about him was the same. He was taller than most men were, his tattoo was still there, he still wore a long black cape, and, of course, his metallic arm was still attached to his shoulder.

Van cut right to the point. "I need you to take the Dragonslayers to Palas."

"Folken raised an eyebrow. " Oh?"

"Yes. Soldiers have been sighted on the border, and Millerna thinks they might be Basramian. She wanted me to send some extra troops, so I thought-"

Folken cut him off. "Alright, I get the picture. I'll see what I can do to keep the peace." He paused. "Do you want me to take Setto and Yukari?"

Van considered. If he sent them, then they'd likely get a chance to take revenge on Basram for stealing their parents. But if he kept them here, they'd be a bit safer. Unless Basram dropped an energist bomb. "Take them with you."

Folken nodded and stood up. "I'll see if I can find them."

***

Folken headed toward the Slayers' guest quarters. Opening the door, he was greeted by the familiar sight of revelry.

The eternal card game was going on in the corner, and, for once, Chesta seemed to be losing. Dalet was combing his hair.again. Miguel and Deeva were talking about something or other, Ryoun was studying some book, and a few couples made out on the various beds.

In the old days when they were still a part of Zaibach, Dilandau would have beaten them all within an inch of their lives if he'd caught them in such a lapse of discipline. Nowadays he had cooled off a bit, and would only give them a chewing out.

Folken's cough shut everyone up. In seconds, they were all lined up in a row facing their superior, with the exceptions of Eriya, Naria, and Merle. The former was sleeping and the latter two were hurriedly straightening their dresses.

Folken nodded to the two cat women, which flustered them even more. Naria and Gatti were going steady these days, but that didn't stop her from piloting Teiring. Merle had moved to the Vione when she fell in love with Guimel. She handled the comm systems. Eriya piloted her Teiring beside her sister, but she had lost the top half of her ear in a battle one day.

His gaze drifted over to the other Slayers. "Alright then boys and girls" He began, "Start packing up. We're headed for Palas." As the soldiers dispersed and gathered up their belongings, Folken walked over to Rika, the living radar detector. Called so because she had an uncanny ability to find any of the Slayers, no matter where they were. "Rika?"

The blond girl turned a questioning to Folken. "Sir?"

"Do you happen to know where Yukari and Setto are?"

Rika frowned. "Yukari's easy enough. She went out with Mark earlier this morning. I don't see her coming back until about supper time."

Folken nodded. "And Setto?"

"I have no idea."

Folken blinked. "What?"

Rika shrugged helplessly. "I haven't seen him for days! The last I saw him was a day before General Veers' daughter left. It's been driving me crazy!"

Folken waved it off. "Everyone's bound to screw up eventually. Relax." He gave her a pat on the shoulder and left the room. 'Since Yukari's going to be a while' he thought, 'I may as well catch up on my reading.

***

Mark had taken Yukari to a beautiful glade by Dragon's Stream.

Akagi had run like a dream. The machine had taken Mark, with Yukari riding on its shoulder, to the stream with no malfunctions at all. In fact, her engine had purred like Merle after a full meal. When they'd arrived to the spot, they'd had a picnic lunch. And so they spent the afternoon feeding each other bits of food and talking about the things young couples talk about.

Now Mark was lying against a tree. Yukari lay beside him, her head on his shoulder. He sighed.

Life just didn't get much better than this.

***

It was about three in the afternoon when Yukari suddenly straightened. Her red eyes opened wide and she groaned softly.

Mark, who was half-asleep at the time, nearly jumped out of his skin. "'Kari? What's wrong?" Yukari stared ahead. He grabbed her shoulders and gave her a shake. "Calm down and tell me what's wrong!"

That seemed to bring her back to her senses. "There are men approaching." She said in a low voice. "Six of them. One's in a guymelef. They're heading straight for us."

"Bandits?"

Yukari concentrated. She shook her head. "No. They're wearing uniforms. These are Basramian rank-and-file soldiers. Except for the one wearing robes, I think he's a mage."

"Great" Mark sighed. "I don't suppose that they've come to apologise for trying to kill us at the shrine?"

"Not bloody likely. You know what this means, right?"

"What does this mean?"

Yukari stood up, a smile on her face. "It means I get some exercise!"

Mark laughed and gave Yukari a quick kiss. She opened her mouth and made it a long one. When she finally broke away, Mark was dizzy from lack of oxygen. "You take out the 'melef. The rest are mine."

"Aren't the odds a little unfair?" Mark asked, teasingly. "Maybe you should take them on barehanded, just to give them a chance." Laughing, he climbed into Akagi and prepped the war machine for battle.

The men came into sight just as Akagi came fully online. The footmen wore the traditional Basram green and grey, and the guymelef was of Basramian make. Smaller in size than Akagi, it still packed plenty of power. In front of the fighters walked a man in robes. He was fairly short, pudgy, and with watery-blue eyes, but he walked with confidence, and he was surrounded by an aura of power the other men did not have. He was most definitely a mage.

The mage eyed Yukari. "And who might you be?"

Yukari crossed her arms and smiled dazzlingly. "I could ask you that question, you know."

The mage was not impressed. "I asked you first. Kindly oblige my question."

Yukari pretended to consider. "What happens if I don't want to?"

"Then I will be forced to consider you and your friend to be spies and take you in for interrogation!"

From within his guymelef, Mark spoke up. "By what right does Basram search for spies in Fanelian territory?"

The mage glanced at Akagi, then directed his gaze back to Yukari. "You haven't answered my question. Who are you? Answer now or you will regret it."

Yukari frowned. "Answer him" she pointed to Mark "And I'll answer you."

Eye twitching, the mage glared at Mark as if he was the cause of his current frustrations. "The power of my country and of myself gives me the right! I have been ordered to find potential threats to my kingdom in this one, and I will do so!" He returned his attention to Yukari. "For the last time, who are you?"

Yukari shrugged lazily. "Since you asked SO nicely.I'm Yukari Albatou."

The man's eyebrows lifted and a smile creased his face. "Ah! I know that name." He rubbed his hands together. "Master Kasar has a particular interest in you. And in your male companion. Maarken isn't it? He would like to speak with the two of you. Come with me." He started to turn.

"No".

The mage, obviously used to being obeyed, whirled and stared piercingly at Yukari. "What did you say?"

Yukari yawned. "I said no. Now, I'm telling you to get out of Fanelia and stay where you belong."

The mage was turning purple. "That wasn't a request!" he hissed.

"I thought it might not be."

"And still you refused?!"

Yukari stepped closer, her hand on her sword and all trace of teasing gone. Her red eyes flared dangerously and her lips curled in a snarl. "I take orders from very few people, sir. You aren't one of those people. I'm still pissed off at your country for taking my parents, so I wouldn't suggest that you try my patience. No, I'm not following your order, but if you don't follow mine and get out of Fanelia then you will die!"

"You dare to threaten me?!" The mage was apoplectic with rage. "I've studied magic with master Kasar himself! I could destroy you with a gesture!"

Yukari smiled and prepared to dance. "If you think you can then let's go!" She charged forward, sword extended.

The man in the 'melef pulled out a long spear and attacked Mark, while the soldiers on the ground attacked Yukari.

Yukari spun past the first man, jumped over the second, and slammed her sword home in the third. She spun around, using the newly made corpse as a shield against the men left in her wake, kicking the fourth man in the groin. Unfortunately, he was wearing protection. Yukari had to let go of her sword, still jammed in the chest of the corpse, or take a sword to her leg. Jumping sideways, she momentarily left the three soldiers tangled up in the corpse. She turned to the mage.

She ducked a ball of fire. 'Damn it! This guy really does know magic!' She cut left around a bolt of lightning. 'I hope he's not as good as Kasar.'

***

Meanwhile, Mark was advancing slowly on the enemy. His sabre flashed probing strikes, as he tauntingly stayed out of the spear's reach. He was trying to get the other man to do screw up, but he wasn't obliging. Mark cursed. "Time for plan B."

Mark reached up and pulled out his chakrum. With a flick of a wrist, the whirling blade slashed through the haft of the spear, momentarily disarming the other man, who now held a useless metal bar. Lunging forward, Mark slashed downward.

The pilot was faster than Mark had thought. He lurched backward, drawing his own sword in the process, and Mark was barely able to parry in time. He nearly lost his head on a back swing.

"Gee, this guy's good." Sweat rolled down Mark's face as he fought to keep back his opponent. "Let's find out if he's better than me!" Suddenly he laughed. "I'm starting to sound like Yukari!"

***

Yukari back-flipped over a soldier, kicking him into a tree. There was a hollow knocking sound as his head made connection, and he slumped downward.

Not stopping to breathe, Yukari kept back flipping. She soared over the heads of the other two soldiers, and landed by her katana. Picking up the sword, she lunged forward just as another fireball exploded. That mage was really starting to try her patience!

She dashed toward one of the two remaining Basramian soldiers. The man held out his blade, beckoning her forward. Yukari eagerly accepted.

Their swords crossed, once, twice, three times. Then he punched her in the shoulder, spinning her to the side. A fireball impacted on her leg making her cry out. Somehow, she managed to stay on her feet. The man charged to face her again, sword extended. It came down in a hard arc she would have been hard-pressed to back away from.

So she didn't. Yukari stepped forward, within the sword's range. She drew her dagger and thrust it between the man's ribs. She smiled viciously at his gasp of pain. "Didn't your mother tell you not to hit girls?" she whispered before picking him up and hurling him at the last enemy.

The two bodies connected with a crunch. The last man did not get up.

Yukari turned to watch the mage roll another fireball in his hands. Pissed off, she sheathed her sword. The man smiled victoriously and threw the fireball. It screamed through the air, tumbling and rolling as it flickered in all the colours of the rainbow.

Yukari focussed her force magic into creating a shield. She pumped into her shield every scrap of power she possessed, including some she didn't know she had. She held it together with pure, unstoppable will.

The fireball struck with a blinding flash of light. Then it screamed off in the direction it came from. Stunned, the mage didn't know what hit him.

The explosion of magical energy echoed through the forest, sending small animals into hiding.

***

Sword's locked, Akagi strained against the opposing guymelef. Mark suddenly stepped back, allowing the other to stumble forward. Then, with a quick sword to the energist, he destroyed the other machine.

He turned just in time to see the explosion. When the smoke cleared, Yukari stood there her clothes charred and blackened, her hair was bloody and streaked with dirt. But her eyes blazed as brightly as ever, and she smirked as she watched the remains of her opponent, the mage.

She stretched her arms out over her head. "You know, if you'd just left when I told you then you'd still be alive." She shrugged. "Oh well. Life goes on."

"For you. Not for him". Mark walked up to Yukari and hugged her from behind. She giggled girlishly.

"You've got a point there."

When they were finished with all the lovey dovey stuff, Mark walked over and inspected his guymelef while Yukari watched. "How did it work?"

Mark beamed. "It worked like a charm!"

Suddenly Mark frowned. Intense thought formed on his face. Yukari looked at him in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"How did you know those men were coming?"

Yukari started to speak but she stopped. "I.I don't know." She touched her head gently. "It's like I could see them coming in my mind."

"But you were asleep."

"I know. That just makes it weirder." She shrugged. "I'll figure it out later. Come on, let's get back to the castle."

As she rode on Akagi's shoulder, however, Yukari was more worried than she let on. How did she know those men were coming? It had happened before too, she realised. That night this all started, she had dreamed of the black assassins and when she woke up her dream came true.

She shivered. She didn't know what was going on with her. And that always freaked her out.





Dun, dun, dun! And so you have it! Mark and Yukari tangle with the Basramians. Something strange is happening with Yukari. What could it be? If you think real hard I bet you'll find out! If not, find out next time.on Escaflowne!