AN: Here's the second chapter I hope that you like it. Oh and I forgot to
mention this in the first chapter; thoughts are in italics. I just wanted
to let you know so you wouldn't get confused. For those of you who want to
know what Crim looks like, he looks like the character Fred from Suikoden
III, which happens to be one of my favorite RPG series, except he has red
hair and brown eyes.
Disclaimer: I don't own Zone of the Enders, if I did I'd have more money than I'd know what to do with and I'd be making another game instead of writing this.
Chapter 2: The Two Pilots Meet
" So when are you going to meet the new pilot who's supposed to train you, Leo?" Celvice asked her friend sitting in front of her. The two of them were in the ship's mess hall and lunch was nearly over, and since neither of them had any real duties to perform on the ship at the moment, so they decided just to talk and also, Celvice had asked Leo to do a favor for her after lunch, which he had agreed to do.
" To be perfectly honest, Celvice." Leo answered. "I have no idea when I'll meet with him. Elena told me that he had arrived yesterday and that he's supposed to meet with me sometime this week."
" Well, I'm sure that the two of you will probably get along just fine," Celvice said, hoping to brighten Leo's prospects of what was to come.
"Yeah, maybe, but I seriously doubt it." Leo answered. "The odds are that this guy is probably going to be some veteran pilot who's too old to pilot an LEV in battle and he's probably going to do everything in his power to turn me into another soldier that kills people. I wouldn't be surprised if the guy tries to make me a pilot like Viola, but there's no way I'm going to let that happen to me."
"Leo..." Celvice began but didn't finish, even though her expression showed that she wanted to say more to her friend.
For some reason unknown to Leo, Celvice's saddened expression started to make him feel a strange sense of guilt, so he decided to change the subject.
"So, um, you wanted me to do a favor for you right?" Leo asked. " So why don't you tell me what it is."
The changing of the subject seemed to brighten up Celvice's mood.
"Oh, of course Leo," Celvice answered. "Well, since the two of us are going to be living on this ship until further, I decided that I should help out around the ship and, after talking with Elena, I ended up working in the ship's kitchen."
"Well that's nice," Leo said. "I guess it makes sense that you'd get that job. I mean since you helped with the cooking at those church events back on Antillia. So what do you want me to do?"
" Since I'm helping with the cooking," Celvice answered. "I need to be able to be good at making food. So I was wondering if you could try some of the food I made."
"Is that it?" Leo asked. "Alright, I'll try some." (And besides), Leo thought. (If it tastes bad, all I have to do is choke it all down and say that it was okay, and I've probably had worse food back on Antillia so there's nothing for me to worry about.)
Leo had probably eaten worse food before, but what Celvice brought for him to try looked worse than anything he had ever eaten that tasted awful. His best guess as to what it was was beef stew.
"Well, beef stew," Leo said hiding his reluctance to try the bowl of food in front of him. "I'm sure that this will taste good."
"Actually Leo," Celvice said. "It's chicken, not beef."
Leo felt a sudden sense of doom that he hadn't felt even before fighting Viola, and he began to sweat nervously.
Celvice seemed to sense what Leo was thinking.
" You know Leo, if you don't want to try it you don't have to," she said with a hint of disappointment in her voice. "I'm sure I can ask someone else."
For some unknown reason, the feeling of guilt that Leo had felt earlier came back and intensified to the point where Leo decided that he'd rather bad taste and very possible food poisoning that would follow.
(All right! Fine!) Leo mentally shouted to himself. (If all I have to do is eat this stuff, then I'll eat it!)
And with that, he grabbed the bowl of mystery food and shoveled it all into his mouth. Leo was about halfway through with eating when noticed he that the food didn't actually taste very bad at all. He could even say that it tasted good, despite its looks.
When Leo finished eating, he looked over at Celvice, surprised that the food that she made tasted a lot better than it looked.
"Well what can I say?" Leo commented. "It tasted great"
"Thank you, Leo." Celvice said. "Oh and could you help me like this again when I decide to try making something different."
"Of course," Leo answered. (But I'd better not ask her to work on how the food looks in the process.) Leo thought to himself. (If I do, there's a good chance that the taste and looks arrangement might go the other way around.)
" 'Scuse me Miss." Said a voice that came from behind Leo. "But would you have anymore of that food that you made for your boyfriend left? You see, the mess hall's lunch today is chicken fried steak and in my opinion, any type of chicken fried steak that's made in any cafeteria is bound to taste like crap. So could you possibly..."
Leo turned around to look at the speaker, and at the same time missing Celvice blush from hearing the speaker refer to Leo as her boyfriend. The speaker turned out to be a red haired young man who looked to be around seventeen or eighteen years old. He was standing right behind Leo, rubbing the back of his head and grinning sheepishly.
Leo didn't know exactly what to make of the newcomer.
" And who would you be?" Leo asked.
" Oh, sorry," the man said. " Please forgive the lack of introductions." And the man extended his right hand out to Leo. "Crim Graves; just transferred to this ship. Now, about that food?"
" I'm afraid that what Leo ate was about all that I made," Celvice answered, recovering her composure. "I'm sorry."
"That's alright," Crim said. " Guess I'll just have to hold out until dinner. Oh well. Anyway, why don't you tell me your names? After all, I told you mine."
"Leo Stenbuck," Leo answered. "I'm sure you know who I am."
" Yep, sure do." Crim said and then he turned to Celvice. " And your name, Miss?"
"Celvice Klein," she answered.
A mischievous glint came into Crim's eyes.
"Let me guess," he said. "The two of you are an item right?"
This caused Leo and Celvice to blush furiously.
"It's nothing like that!" Leo shouted at Crim. "In fact, it's none of your business anyway."
Crim held up his right hand in apology. "I wasn't trying to offend anyone," he said. "Tell you what, as your new friend, I'll make it up to you taking the two of you to a movie on me. What do you say?"
"Hold on a minute!" Leo said. "Since when were we friends?"
"Since now of course," Crim answered. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go grab the movie disc from my cabin and I'll meet you at the ship's theater in about fifteen minutes. See ya then!" And with that Crim turned and left the mess hall.
Sweat dropping, Leo turned to Celvice, who was also sweat dropping.
"Well, what do you think of him?" Leo asked.
"He seems nice enough," Celvice answered. "A little silly though. I think we should take him up on his offer. Who knows, the two of you might end up being friends."
"It's more likely than me ending up as friends with that new instructor," Leo said. "Alright, let's go, I hope the movie's good."
At the theater:
Crim was waiting for them at the theater when they got there.
" Oh, good, you came after all," he said once he saw them. "It's a good thing that this theater isn't used very much. Good for us anyway, so we can watch a movie whenever we want."
"That's because there aren't very many movies to watch, and I've already seen them." Leo said. "The most recent one that they have came out five years ago, so if you've got anything new I'll watch it."
"No problem," Crim answered and he held up two discs. "The movies are: Pirates of the Caribbean 15: The Secret of the Devil's Triangle, or Star Wars Episode 12: The Fall of the Yuuzhan Vhong. Well which one?"
"Hold on!" Leo said. "Those movies just came out last week! How did you...?"
"Get these." Crim finished. "Oh nothing special. I just had a little help from our good friend the Internet, a certain site that shall remain anonymous, and two blank movie discs. And there you have it, two movies ready and waiting to be watched."
"That's called piracy!" Leo shouted.
"Why, yes, I do believe that's what some people call it," Crim agreed. "That's also what they'd call my career before joining the Space Force. Of course with the word space in the front of it."
"You mean you're a space pirate?" Leo asked in disbelief.
"Former space pirate," Crim corrected. "Now then, what was your point on the subject of piracy?"
"It's illegal," Leo answered. "Just like your former job."
"So was most of what you did on Antillia with Jehuty," Crim added. "Now if you want my personal opinion, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie is the better of the two. Not to say the Star Wars movie is bad, but despite the special FX it's nowhere near as good as the original first trilogy, as old as it is."
"A pirate who likes movies about pirates," Leo commented. "Will wonders never cease. Alright, we'll watch the one you recommended." Then he turned to Celvice. "Unless you'd rather watch the other one, Celvice. It doesn't matter either way."
" I think it'll be all right if we watch the first one," Celvice answered.
"That's the spirit," Crim said. "Now you two go take your seats; I'll load this into the movie player now. Oh, and I'd offer you popcorn but there's no popcorn machine. Sorry." And Crim headed into the film-playing compartment.
Leo and Celvice found some seats that had a good view of the screen (which was easy since they were the only people there), and sat down. After a few minutes the lights dimmed and then Leo heard a door open and close.
"The movie will be starting soon," Crim's voice called. "Don't worry, I've already found myself a seat. Enjoy!"
"You could just come over here and sit with us," Leo offered.
"Thanks, but no thanks." Crim answered. "Besides, I wouldn't want to intrude. After all, this is like a date for the two of you if you think about it."
Both Leo and Celvice were glad that the dim lights could conceal their blushing.
"You!" Leo shouted at Crim, and he stood up looking around in vain for Crim's seat.
"Better sit down before the movie starts," Crim's voice called out.
Leo grudgingly took Crim's advice and sat down to watch the movie.
All in all, Leo enjoyed the movie, and he could see that Celvice liked it as well. He made a mental note to himself to thank Crim, even though he didn't appreciate that date remark that Crim had made.
After the credits were done rolling and the lights turned back on, Leo and Celvice exited the theater to find Crim waiting for them.
"So what did you think of the movie?" Crim asked
"It was good," Leo answered. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Crim said. "So I guess that means your date went just fine, right?"
Celvice blushed while Leo shot Crim a look that could kill, to which Crim just smiled at.
"Well I'll be sure to get more movies to watch in the future," Crim said. "Just ask me for one and I'll get it."
"But couldn't you get arrested for that?" Celvice asked. "And I don't think being a former space pirate would be very helpful to you."
"The moment I joined the Space Force, those guys cleared my record so I can't be found guilty of space piracy anymore," Crim answered. " And besides, these days, with the whole chaotic situation between Earthers, Enders, and Martians, the police have bigger fish to fry than Internet pirates. So there's no need to worry."
"If you say so," Leo said then he remembered something. "By the way Crim, you said that you just transferred to this ship. What exactly are you here for?"
"Oh that's simple," Crim answered. "I'm here to be both an orbital frame pilot and I'm also supposed to train a certain young pilot. A kid named Leo Stenbuck, who I assume is you, unless there's another Leo Stenbuck on this ship, which I highly doubt."
Leo looked at Crim in disbelief.
"But, ... but that's..." Leo stuttered trying to find the right words. "You're..."
"Let me guess," Crim said. I'm supposed to be some "veteran pilot who's too old to pilot an LEV in battle" who's "probably going to do everything in his power to turn" you "into another soldier that kills people." I happened to overhear that. Sorry to burst your bubble, kid, but I'm not that kind of pilot, and I have no intention of brainwashing you and turning you into a killing machine or anything like that. So you don't have to worry about it."
"Alright, when do we start," Leo said reluctantly
"Next week," Crim answered. "I'll fill you in on the details later, see you at dinner!" And Crim walked down the hallway that led to his cabin and was gone.
Sweat dropping, Celvice said to Leo. "Well at least I was right about the two of you getting along."
"Yeah, for now," Leo answered. "What the hell was Elena thinking anyway? This whole thing is gonna suck."
AN: Well that's the second chapter of "After Antillia" I hope you enjoyed it. Don't worry the next chapter will have some mecha-action in it; I promise. Secondly, for those of you who have read "The Story in Between" for ZOE that's on the site for Konami, I know that Thunderheart is supposed to be the one who trains Leo in piloting. Unfortunately, I'd already written a lot of this story by the time I found out about it. Don't worry I'll have it explained in the next chapter why Crim is the instructor instead. Please review.
Anime Quote of the Day:
"Every time he swings that sword, somebody dies!" (Random Unknown Guy referring to Gutts while he's fighting a hundred soldiers and winning (possibly his last words (and in my opinion the stupidest thing ever said by anyone in an anime) (Berserk)
Disclaimer: I don't own Zone of the Enders, if I did I'd have more money than I'd know what to do with and I'd be making another game instead of writing this.
Chapter 2: The Two Pilots Meet
" So when are you going to meet the new pilot who's supposed to train you, Leo?" Celvice asked her friend sitting in front of her. The two of them were in the ship's mess hall and lunch was nearly over, and since neither of them had any real duties to perform on the ship at the moment, so they decided just to talk and also, Celvice had asked Leo to do a favor for her after lunch, which he had agreed to do.
" To be perfectly honest, Celvice." Leo answered. "I have no idea when I'll meet with him. Elena told me that he had arrived yesterday and that he's supposed to meet with me sometime this week."
" Well, I'm sure that the two of you will probably get along just fine," Celvice said, hoping to brighten Leo's prospects of what was to come.
"Yeah, maybe, but I seriously doubt it." Leo answered. "The odds are that this guy is probably going to be some veteran pilot who's too old to pilot an LEV in battle and he's probably going to do everything in his power to turn me into another soldier that kills people. I wouldn't be surprised if the guy tries to make me a pilot like Viola, but there's no way I'm going to let that happen to me."
"Leo..." Celvice began but didn't finish, even though her expression showed that she wanted to say more to her friend.
For some reason unknown to Leo, Celvice's saddened expression started to make him feel a strange sense of guilt, so he decided to change the subject.
"So, um, you wanted me to do a favor for you right?" Leo asked. " So why don't you tell me what it is."
The changing of the subject seemed to brighten up Celvice's mood.
"Oh, of course Leo," Celvice answered. "Well, since the two of us are going to be living on this ship until further, I decided that I should help out around the ship and, after talking with Elena, I ended up working in the ship's kitchen."
"Well that's nice," Leo said. "I guess it makes sense that you'd get that job. I mean since you helped with the cooking at those church events back on Antillia. So what do you want me to do?"
" Since I'm helping with the cooking," Celvice answered. "I need to be able to be good at making food. So I was wondering if you could try some of the food I made."
"Is that it?" Leo asked. "Alright, I'll try some." (And besides), Leo thought. (If it tastes bad, all I have to do is choke it all down and say that it was okay, and I've probably had worse food back on Antillia so there's nothing for me to worry about.)
Leo had probably eaten worse food before, but what Celvice brought for him to try looked worse than anything he had ever eaten that tasted awful. His best guess as to what it was was beef stew.
"Well, beef stew," Leo said hiding his reluctance to try the bowl of food in front of him. "I'm sure that this will taste good."
"Actually Leo," Celvice said. "It's chicken, not beef."
Leo felt a sudden sense of doom that he hadn't felt even before fighting Viola, and he began to sweat nervously.
Celvice seemed to sense what Leo was thinking.
" You know Leo, if you don't want to try it you don't have to," she said with a hint of disappointment in her voice. "I'm sure I can ask someone else."
For some unknown reason, the feeling of guilt that Leo had felt earlier came back and intensified to the point where Leo decided that he'd rather bad taste and very possible food poisoning that would follow.
(All right! Fine!) Leo mentally shouted to himself. (If all I have to do is eat this stuff, then I'll eat it!)
And with that, he grabbed the bowl of mystery food and shoveled it all into his mouth. Leo was about halfway through with eating when noticed he that the food didn't actually taste very bad at all. He could even say that it tasted good, despite its looks.
When Leo finished eating, he looked over at Celvice, surprised that the food that she made tasted a lot better than it looked.
"Well what can I say?" Leo commented. "It tasted great"
"Thank you, Leo." Celvice said. "Oh and could you help me like this again when I decide to try making something different."
"Of course," Leo answered. (But I'd better not ask her to work on how the food looks in the process.) Leo thought to himself. (If I do, there's a good chance that the taste and looks arrangement might go the other way around.)
" 'Scuse me Miss." Said a voice that came from behind Leo. "But would you have anymore of that food that you made for your boyfriend left? You see, the mess hall's lunch today is chicken fried steak and in my opinion, any type of chicken fried steak that's made in any cafeteria is bound to taste like crap. So could you possibly..."
Leo turned around to look at the speaker, and at the same time missing Celvice blush from hearing the speaker refer to Leo as her boyfriend. The speaker turned out to be a red haired young man who looked to be around seventeen or eighteen years old. He was standing right behind Leo, rubbing the back of his head and grinning sheepishly.
Leo didn't know exactly what to make of the newcomer.
" And who would you be?" Leo asked.
" Oh, sorry," the man said. " Please forgive the lack of introductions." And the man extended his right hand out to Leo. "Crim Graves; just transferred to this ship. Now, about that food?"
" I'm afraid that what Leo ate was about all that I made," Celvice answered, recovering her composure. "I'm sorry."
"That's alright," Crim said. " Guess I'll just have to hold out until dinner. Oh well. Anyway, why don't you tell me your names? After all, I told you mine."
"Leo Stenbuck," Leo answered. "I'm sure you know who I am."
" Yep, sure do." Crim said and then he turned to Celvice. " And your name, Miss?"
"Celvice Klein," she answered.
A mischievous glint came into Crim's eyes.
"Let me guess," he said. "The two of you are an item right?"
This caused Leo and Celvice to blush furiously.
"It's nothing like that!" Leo shouted at Crim. "In fact, it's none of your business anyway."
Crim held up his right hand in apology. "I wasn't trying to offend anyone," he said. "Tell you what, as your new friend, I'll make it up to you taking the two of you to a movie on me. What do you say?"
"Hold on a minute!" Leo said. "Since when were we friends?"
"Since now of course," Crim answered. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go grab the movie disc from my cabin and I'll meet you at the ship's theater in about fifteen minutes. See ya then!" And with that Crim turned and left the mess hall.
Sweat dropping, Leo turned to Celvice, who was also sweat dropping.
"Well, what do you think of him?" Leo asked.
"He seems nice enough," Celvice answered. "A little silly though. I think we should take him up on his offer. Who knows, the two of you might end up being friends."
"It's more likely than me ending up as friends with that new instructor," Leo said. "Alright, let's go, I hope the movie's good."
At the theater:
Crim was waiting for them at the theater when they got there.
" Oh, good, you came after all," he said once he saw them. "It's a good thing that this theater isn't used very much. Good for us anyway, so we can watch a movie whenever we want."
"That's because there aren't very many movies to watch, and I've already seen them." Leo said. "The most recent one that they have came out five years ago, so if you've got anything new I'll watch it."
"No problem," Crim answered and he held up two discs. "The movies are: Pirates of the Caribbean 15: The Secret of the Devil's Triangle, or Star Wars Episode 12: The Fall of the Yuuzhan Vhong. Well which one?"
"Hold on!" Leo said. "Those movies just came out last week! How did you...?"
"Get these." Crim finished. "Oh nothing special. I just had a little help from our good friend the Internet, a certain site that shall remain anonymous, and two blank movie discs. And there you have it, two movies ready and waiting to be watched."
"That's called piracy!" Leo shouted.
"Why, yes, I do believe that's what some people call it," Crim agreed. "That's also what they'd call my career before joining the Space Force. Of course with the word space in the front of it."
"You mean you're a space pirate?" Leo asked in disbelief.
"Former space pirate," Crim corrected. "Now then, what was your point on the subject of piracy?"
"It's illegal," Leo answered. "Just like your former job."
"So was most of what you did on Antillia with Jehuty," Crim added. "Now if you want my personal opinion, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie is the better of the two. Not to say the Star Wars movie is bad, but despite the special FX it's nowhere near as good as the original first trilogy, as old as it is."
"A pirate who likes movies about pirates," Leo commented. "Will wonders never cease. Alright, we'll watch the one you recommended." Then he turned to Celvice. "Unless you'd rather watch the other one, Celvice. It doesn't matter either way."
" I think it'll be all right if we watch the first one," Celvice answered.
"That's the spirit," Crim said. "Now you two go take your seats; I'll load this into the movie player now. Oh, and I'd offer you popcorn but there's no popcorn machine. Sorry." And Crim headed into the film-playing compartment.
Leo and Celvice found some seats that had a good view of the screen (which was easy since they were the only people there), and sat down. After a few minutes the lights dimmed and then Leo heard a door open and close.
"The movie will be starting soon," Crim's voice called. "Don't worry, I've already found myself a seat. Enjoy!"
"You could just come over here and sit with us," Leo offered.
"Thanks, but no thanks." Crim answered. "Besides, I wouldn't want to intrude. After all, this is like a date for the two of you if you think about it."
Both Leo and Celvice were glad that the dim lights could conceal their blushing.
"You!" Leo shouted at Crim, and he stood up looking around in vain for Crim's seat.
"Better sit down before the movie starts," Crim's voice called out.
Leo grudgingly took Crim's advice and sat down to watch the movie.
All in all, Leo enjoyed the movie, and he could see that Celvice liked it as well. He made a mental note to himself to thank Crim, even though he didn't appreciate that date remark that Crim had made.
After the credits were done rolling and the lights turned back on, Leo and Celvice exited the theater to find Crim waiting for them.
"So what did you think of the movie?" Crim asked
"It was good," Leo answered. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Crim said. "So I guess that means your date went just fine, right?"
Celvice blushed while Leo shot Crim a look that could kill, to which Crim just smiled at.
"Well I'll be sure to get more movies to watch in the future," Crim said. "Just ask me for one and I'll get it."
"But couldn't you get arrested for that?" Celvice asked. "And I don't think being a former space pirate would be very helpful to you."
"The moment I joined the Space Force, those guys cleared my record so I can't be found guilty of space piracy anymore," Crim answered. " And besides, these days, with the whole chaotic situation between Earthers, Enders, and Martians, the police have bigger fish to fry than Internet pirates. So there's no need to worry."
"If you say so," Leo said then he remembered something. "By the way Crim, you said that you just transferred to this ship. What exactly are you here for?"
"Oh that's simple," Crim answered. "I'm here to be both an orbital frame pilot and I'm also supposed to train a certain young pilot. A kid named Leo Stenbuck, who I assume is you, unless there's another Leo Stenbuck on this ship, which I highly doubt."
Leo looked at Crim in disbelief.
"But, ... but that's..." Leo stuttered trying to find the right words. "You're..."
"Let me guess," Crim said. I'm supposed to be some "veteran pilot who's too old to pilot an LEV in battle" who's "probably going to do everything in his power to turn" you "into another soldier that kills people." I happened to overhear that. Sorry to burst your bubble, kid, but I'm not that kind of pilot, and I have no intention of brainwashing you and turning you into a killing machine or anything like that. So you don't have to worry about it."
"Alright, when do we start," Leo said reluctantly
"Next week," Crim answered. "I'll fill you in on the details later, see you at dinner!" And Crim walked down the hallway that led to his cabin and was gone.
Sweat dropping, Celvice said to Leo. "Well at least I was right about the two of you getting along."
"Yeah, for now," Leo answered. "What the hell was Elena thinking anyway? This whole thing is gonna suck."
AN: Well that's the second chapter of "After Antillia" I hope you enjoyed it. Don't worry the next chapter will have some mecha-action in it; I promise. Secondly, for those of you who have read "The Story in Between" for ZOE that's on the site for Konami, I know that Thunderheart is supposed to be the one who trains Leo in piloting. Unfortunately, I'd already written a lot of this story by the time I found out about it. Don't worry I'll have it explained in the next chapter why Crim is the instructor instead. Please review.
Anime Quote of the Day:
"Every time he swings that sword, somebody dies!" (Random Unknown Guy referring to Gutts while he's fighting a hundred soldiers and winning (possibly his last words (and in my opinion the stupidest thing ever said by anyone in an anime) (Berserk)