Chapter 4:: Sierra LeRage- Pilot of Blitzkrieg
"They are just sitting ducks. Idiots." A gear hovered over the Yggdrasil. "Time to send out the distortion waves." A woman looked up and shut her eyes. "They'll never know what hit 'em." The gear landed lightly on the top. The cockpit opened and a young woman came out and ran up to the middle of the Yggdrasil. "Let's see, there should be a ventilation duct around here somewhere… There!" She looked down and found a small opening. She opened the door and slipped in quickly.
"What in the?" Sigurd looked up. "It seems there are distortion waves… Maybe. I can't get a reading on anything in the vicinity. Either the scanner is going on the fritz or… We have a Blitzkrieg coming our way." He looked up. "But that style… Could it be…?"
"Billy…" Karina sat down on her bed and set the flower on her bed side table. She lifted a water glass up to her lips. "…Oh well." She shrugged and stood up. "What was… That?" She jumped at a small sound. She looked around the room slowly. "I… Guess it was just my imagination." She stepped back near the wall. She suddenly felt a stab of pain in the back of her neck and her vision blurred. She fell back into someone's arms. Her water glass fell on the floor and all of the water spilled on the floor.
"Don't put up a fight, and I won't have to kill your friends." A woman lifted her up and put a cloth over her face. Karina felt her mind slipping and she fell forward slightly. She was asleep. "That was easier than I thought, hehe, cool." She set a small device on the ground and a small green ring appeared around her. She pulled Karina up against her as green light surrounded her. "Take me back to the roof of this ship." She whispered. There was a short flash of light and they were gone.
"Prim, hey, have you seen Karina? I've looked everywhere and I can't find her." Billy walked into Primera's room.
"…." Primera pointed at the door.
"She's in her room?" Billy said slowly. "…Alright, thanks Primera, goodnight." Billy nodded and left the room.
"Young master, get to the gear dock immediately!" Sigurd's voice came over the intercom.
"What's up, Sig?!" Bart looked up.
"Young master, get there, and then I'll inform you. Go, now!"
"Fine." Bart shrugged and ran out the door.
"I feel I must go too." Citan stood up and followed.
"Karina..? Are you in here?" Billy stepped into the dark room. "Karina?" His foot kicked something hard across the floor. "Huh?" He kneeled down and picked up the hard object. "A water glass?" He put his hand on the carpeting. It was damp. "What the?" He stood up. "Oh no." He turned and ran out of the room.
"Sig, could you fill me in on why I'm in here?" Bart folded his arms impatiently.
"Karina's nowhere on this ship!" Billy ran in.
"What?!" Brad stood up.
"She missing! I looked everywhere on the ship. She's just gone!" Billy said, slowly.
"…Just as I suspected. Young master, get in Andvari, now." Sigurd turned to Bart and pointed at the red gear.
"What am I gonna do?! We don't know where she went, hello, Sig!" Bart said, walking up to Andvari and turning back to Citan. "Any suggestions, Doc?"
"I am as puzzled as you are, young one." Citan folded his arms and gave Bart a quizzical expression.
"…Great." Bart rolled his eyes.
"You guys are just sitting on your butts while Karina is missing?!" Brad yelled.
"Calm down, listen, young master, I know this style used." Sigurd looked up.
"Style? What the hell are you talking 'bout, Sig?" Bart blinked.
"Karina was kidnapped, by a person whose style of combat and stealth I am quite familiar with." Sigurd folded his arms.
"Kidnapped? And you think we can stop this person??" Bart stepped up to Andvari's cockpit.
"Yes, just get in the gear, and I will tell you what you have to do." Sigurd nodded.
"Whatever you say, Sig." Bart shrugged and jumped into the cockpit.
"Wait a minute! You're gonna send HIM out to save my sister! No way! Give me a gear! I'll go!" Brad ran up to them.
"Calm down, Brad. Bart is a very competent gear pilot." Sigurd stopped him. "Karina is as good as saved."
"She had better, or it'll be your braid." Brad glared at Bart.
"Oh, just think of the money I'll make." The woman leaned back and sighed. "Why is this chick worth so much? I mean she ain't very well- endowed, and she is pretty yeah, but she also ain't very strong." She glanced back at Karina. "Oh well. Money, money, money! That's all that really matters! Haha!" She grinned. The panel started to make a beeping noise. "Hmm?" She looked down. "Something's following me… At high speed. Dang, how could something be so fast?" She growled. "And how would it know where I am?" She growled.
"Sig! Are you sure I'm right next to it?!" Bart looked around his panel. "Andvari ain't picking anything up!"
"Just trust me. I'm activating the magnetic scanner now, you'll see it!" Sigurd said gently.
"Remember, Fatima, save my sister or you're gonna get it!" Brad's voice came over it.
"Would you give me that, Brad?! Give it!" Sigurd's voice was muffled.
"No way, man!"
"Give it!"
"Now we don't need to get violent.."
"Ouch! My hair! Why you!!"
"Young one, please, calm down!!"
"Hey, Bart, you had better hurry up, or Brad's gonna go berserk on us and hurt someone.." Billy's calm voice followed all of the other squabbling voices.
"Yeah, right!" Bart leaned forward. "Hey, I see it!"
"Better give it a warm welcome…" The woman spun around. "Take this!" She shot the swords of the gear forward.
"Whoa! There it is!" Bart yelled.
"Give up now, you!" A woman's voice came over the intercom.
"Not until you give back Karina!!" Bart said back.
"Oh, so the little girl has a name? Well, you'll have to beat me to get her back, punk!" She said, pounding into Andvari.
"You are pretty tough, but not tough enough!" Bart said and unleashed the 'Dance Wave' deathblow.
"You little idiot! Trying to save her, if you kill me, you kill her! " She yelled.
"Ugh… Finally got it back! Young master! Wrap the gear in your whips and send an Anemo pulse in it to destabilize its functions!"
"Gotcha, Sig!" Bart sent Andvari around to the back of the gear and he threw the whips around the gear. "Anemo pulse! NOW!" He looked down. "Come on, Andvari!" He yelled. Shocks of electricity shot out of the whips and surrounded the enemy gear.
"Agh! Come on Blitzkrieg! Move!!" The woman yelled but the gear didn't respond.
"You've got her, bring her back to the Yggdrasil now, young master." Sigurd sighed.
"Gotcha! If you know what's good for you lady, I wouldn't resist!" Bart said, dragging off the silver-purple gear.
"Dammit!" She pounded her fist on the console.
"Good job, young master." Sigurd said as Bart jumped out of the cockpit.
"Thanks Sig." Bart grinned. The cockpit door to the other gear flew open and a young woman walked out, with her arms folded and a calm look on her face. She unfolded her arms and clapped slightly.
"Congratulations, you caught me. I'm sure this is a big accomplishment for you." She said cynically.
"…Just as I thought. It is you. Sierra LeRage." Sigurd stepped forward.
"Whoa…" Sierra blinked. "Is that you?! It can't be! Sigurd Harcourt?" She grinned. "Whoa, Siggy, lookin' good, I like the whole pirate ensemble you have going. Love the eye patch."
"…It is nice to see you too, Sierra." Sigurd said in a low tone.
"Wait! That ain't… It is! Is that you, old butt kissing talker, you?! Hyuga!" Sierra pointed at Citan. "Good god… You look old! What did you do to your hair?! And what's with the whole glasses thing?!" She blinked.
"Hello, Miss Sierra, you're looking… About the same." Citan said, folding his arms.
"Hah! She hasn't changed one bit in the past 14 years! Well, except, you have bigger… Haha!" Jessie cackled.
"Who the hell are you?! Wait… That voice… That annoying loud voice… Jesiah!" Sierra held out her arms. "But what happened to your face?"
"Ask him." Jessie whacked Billy on the back.
"Hey… Is this your kid that caused your shotgun wedding?" Sierra pointed at Billy.
"Why does everyone ask that?! Dad, what do they mean by 'shotgun wedding'?!" Billy folded his arms and glared at Jessie.
"Calm down, boy, you're face is getting pink." Jessie put a hand on Billy's shoulder.
"Haha! What the hell?! Who raised that kid?! Certainly not you, man! You never would have allowed your kid to have a bowl cut like that!" Sierra grinned. "And you also wouldn't have let him tromp around in pastel colors and a bow!"
"…Do you have a problem with my-" Billy started but Jessie grabbed him.
"The boy was just raised incorrectly. Obviously me kicking him in that lake when he was five didn't teach him a thing." Jessie tapped Billy on the head.
"Other than the fact I almost drowned." Billy growled.
"…Naw, that ego of yours would've floated for sure." Jessie shook his head.
"I'm going to go check on Karina." Billy frowned and left.
"Hey! Hey hey hey! Why are you palling around with her?! She tried to kill me and abduct Karina!!" Bart pointed at Sierra.
"And… who are you supposed to be?" Sierra said slowly.
"…Grr… I'm Bart!" Bart said, not holding his hand out. "And you're my captive right now!"
"Ooo… Your captive. Do I get a special chair?" Sierra said sarcastically.
"Hey you! You're gonna get it for trying to take my sister!" Brad ran up to her.
"Dear lord! You could put an eye out with that hair!" Sierra blinked.
"Sierra. Come with us, we need to ask you a few questions." Sigurd walked up to her.
"Wait! Sigurd!" Sierra thrust her hand out.
"What?" Sigurd blinked.
"About that night… When I left… It was because… I didn't want you to know…" Sierra shut her eyes and folded her hands to her chest.
"Hmm?" Sigurd blinked.
"I had your son!!" Sierra screamed. Sigurd turned pale.
"AHHHHHHH!!!" His scream echoed through the halls of the Yggdrasil.
"Oh my…" Citan sat on the ground, holding a passed out Sigurd and fanning him with a sheet of paper.
"Hahahahaha!!" Sierra cackled and slapped her knee. "Oh man! That was hilarious!! Whoo! If you could've seen his face!!"
"…I've never heard a man scream quite like that in my whole life." Billy said, now holding Karina in his arms.
"…Oh, Sigurd, you must learn to control how often you pass out." Citan said weakly.
"That was a good one for you!" Jessie said gently.
"Young one, could you take Karina to her bedroom?" Citan said gently.
"Sure." Billy nodded and left.
"C'mon, Sierra!" Bart grabbed her arm.
"Whatever thing of yours that touches me, you're not getting back, kid." Sierra squinted at him.
"Shut up!" Bart growled.
"Hey hey hey! You take care of my Blitzkrieg! It's an Omnigear, and I don't want you guys getting' you're greasy paws all over the paint job! I just got that done and I haven't even gotten the first payment down yet!" Sierra yelled at the mechanics.
"Come on, Sierra!!" Citan stood up, with a limp Sigurd. Sigurd slipped out of his grasp and landed on the ground. "Good lord, Sigurd…" He sighed and looked down. "Jessie? Would you mind?"
"Sure, I'll carry princess wimpy butt for ya." Jessie lifted Sigurd up.
"We just need to ask you a few questions, Sierra, but you are going to stay here. We are not going to just let you go." Citan said sternly.
"Wait a minute! I'm a captive?! That ain't going down too smoothly! I would rather be called prisoner!" Sierra growled. "I personally despise both, but prisoner sound for gallant!"
"Whatever, Sierra!" Brad said angrily.
"Sit here!" Citan pointed at one of the stools in the gun room.
"Hey! I DO get a special chair!" Sierra sat down and folded her legs casually. "Hey, could I get a drink or two over here?"
"My god, she even drinks. How much of a ruffian can she be?" Billy walked in and sat down next to Jessie.
"Boy, you're looking at the eighth wonder of the world. This is the only person who can out drink ME." Jessie said. "But that was back then, she's probably lost her touch."
"Hey, Jesiah, you know I haven't, you're just a sore chicken loser! Maybe your boy could drink better than you!" Sierra grinned.
"Who, Billy? Naw, that boy only drinks sissy crap." Jessie sighed. "He's going down the path of the dark side."
"You mean tea is the path of the dark side?" Billy said sarcastically.
"Enough of this blabber! Why did you try to take my sister?" Brad said angrily.
"…Cause my employer wanted me too, and he was gonna pay me big bucks to get her." Sierra said casually.
"Your employer? Who do you work for?" Citan folded his arms.
"Eh? I don't know much about the guy. I'm a mercenary, so I just do the job without asking any questions, all that matters is the money." Sierra sighed. "But his name is Rangar. Lucious Rangar. He is the captain of some ship called the Infinity."
"The Infinity?" Brad said gently. "I've done work on that ship, it's just the Thames' sister ship. It was built for the exact same purpose as the Thames. Why would they want my sister?"
"Don't ask me. I didn't give them 20 questions, unlike some people I know of." Sierra glared at Citan. "You know, Hyuga, you've become an uptight world-class rank A fuddy duddy." She said, tapping her foot on the metal bar of the table.
"…I wouldn't describe me that way, but Miss Sierra, if we were to let you go, you wouldn't try to take Karina again, would you?" Citan said slowly.
"Hey, I've got nothing personal against that young lady except, I wanna know how she does her hair, that's kinda cool. And as of five minutes ago, my contract with that guy was broken, I had to have her to him by 12:20 or I wouldn't get paid so I would have nothing to gain by taking her again." Sierra winked. "Besides, do you guys REALLY think you could hold me 'captive' here that long?"
"…I suppose we could release you then, but if you ever try it again, we will not be so lenient. You will be killed instead." Citan said, folding his arms.
"Ooo.. Ouch! Hyuga, you are harsh!" Sierra winced.
"Hey! How do you guys know her?" Fei piped up.
"We met a Jugend while we were all training for the position of element. Sigurd and Sierra were tied for the element of fire." Citan whispered. "However, Sierra was the favorite, and everyone though she would win hands down. It was a huge surprise when Sigurd defeated her in the ring, optical whip vs. jade sword, and won the title of Element of Fire."
"And so that night, too ashamed to face the public and Sigurd, I left for the surface, and I didn't see Sigurd, Hyuga, Jesiah, or that freakin weirdo Khar again." Sierra growled. "I was supposed to win because I was a 1st class citizen and Sigurd was some sort of test subject. It was such an embarrassment to my family's name when I was defeated by him."
"Yeah! Go Sig!" Bart laughed. "Of course he would beat a girl like you!"
"You wanna come over here and say that, kid? I'd gladly show you how freaking stupid your statement was! I could wipe the floor with Sigurd any day of the week!" Sierra stood up.
"I have no further questions for you, Sierra. Elly, could you show her to a room for the night?" Citan sat down.
"Sure thing, Citan. Could you come with me?" Elly stood up and looked at Sierra.
"Yeah, whatever." Sierra shrugged. "Night night, Sigsipoo! You're son says goodnight too!" She leaned down next to Sigurd.
"AGH!" Sigurd screamed unconsciously.
"Hahahahahaah!!" She cackled.
"Ugh… I don't think I like her." Billy said gently.
"How's Karina doing?" Brad asked.
"She's sleeping like a little baby." Billy smiled.
"Good…" Brad sighed.
"I predict things will get a little louder around here now that Miss Sierra is here." Citan muttered, putting his hand to his forehead.
"I predict you are a damn genius, Citan, you're right and you know it, man!" Jessie looked down. "She is fun to have around when Sigurd is conscious."
"Speaking of which, Sigurd, I think you should get up now." Citan leaned over and looked at Sigurd, sighing.
"Ehh…" Sigurd opened his eyes and sat up. "My, that was unpleasant."
"You were out for forty five minutes, Siggy." Billy leaned over next to him. "You okay?"
"I am fine…" Sigurd said gently.
"Perhaps you would like to go to bed?" Citan suggested. "I'm sure you can make it there on your own."
"Uhhnn…" Karina opened her eyes and sat up in the dark room. "Where… What happened to me?" She looked at the bed sheets.
"You were captured and taken hostage. But Bart saved you and Billy brought you back here." A voice came from the shadows.
"Who are you?!" Karina jumped off the bed and stumbled back against the cold wall.
"Hey, don't be scared." A woman stepped forward. "Hey, I'm Sierra. Sorry about before."
"Si-Sierra? Who are you?!" Karina reached for the light.
"I am… Uh, how do I put this? I'm the person who knocked you out and drug you out of here and tried to give you back to some guys who were going to pay me for you." Sierra grinned. "Hi!"
"…You did that?!" Karina walked towards the door.
"You don't have to be afraid of me!" Sierra said calmly.
"I… Don't trust you! Stay away from me!" Karina opened the door and ran out.
"Sheesh! What a panicky little twit!" Sierra folded her arms.
"She had better not try anything!" Karina walked down the hallway quickly, looking back at her doorway. She ran into something and stumbled back.
"Miss Karina? What are you doing up?" Billy blinked.
"Billy! It's you!" Karina pulled back. "That woman is in my room!"
"Who, Sierra?" Billy said slowly.
"Yes! You know the demon's name?!" Karina panicked.
"She's not a demon, she's strange, but she's not a demon." Billy shrugged. "She doesn't want to take you anymore."
"You believe that?" Karina blinked. "Oh ho ho… Billy, you fall for stuff way too quickly, she's lying! I know it!"
"This is a side of you I've never seen before." Billy stepped back. "Listen, you want to go get some hot chocolate or something and settle your nerves a little?"
"Yes… That would be nice." Karina sighed.
"Good, then come with me." Billy said, turning around.
"Hi, Maison." Billy walked in.
"Boy! You came back!" Jessie grinned from his stool.
"I have hot chocolate and tea waiting on the burners, I need to go to bed, Master Billy." Maison nodded sleepily.
"Right, Maison, thanks…" Billy nodded.
"Well, well you brought the little angel with you. How cute, Billy, a date!" Jessie set down his wineglass.
"Whatever, dad." Billy said sarcastically. "Right…"
"Boy, you need to loosen up, once again!" Jessie winked.
"Dad, just don't talk to me, okay?" Billy said gently, sitting down on one of the stools.
"…Are you always up this late, Mr. Black?" Karina sat down next to Billy, who was slumping and glaring at his father.
"Not usually, Karina. I just stay up sometimes to bug Billy into high heaven!" Jessie cackled and winked at Karina quickly.
"Well, you have succeeded, congratulations, dad, could you go away now?" Billy said, sounding rather agitated.
"Well, yeah, I think it is about time to turn in! Turn off the lights when you leave, boy! That is… If you are in a rush to get Karina into your bed…" Jessie grinned and stood up.
"Dad!" Billy blushed.
"…Night, Mr. Black." Karina smiled.
"G'Night!" Jessie turned to leave.
"Jeeze…" Billy sighed. "I really don't like him!"
"He's fun, Billy." Karina said, swirling the hot chocolate in the mug around unconsciously.
"Fun? You don't have to live with him." Billy looked down.
"I have to live with Brad, the most overprotective person in this whole world. We were walking in downtown Cimerion once, and some guy just looked at me and Brad literally grabbed him by the neck and said 'You lookin' at my sister, punk?!'." Karina smiled and set down the mug. "You're lucky that you have such a sweet sister."
"…Yeah, I guess." Billy put his elbow on the table and leaned his head on his hand.
"…You never told me about how you lost your mother." Karina said, quickly adding, "But you don't have to tell me if it hurts to tell!"
"She was killed by reapers when I was 12. Primera was only 3. The trauma of losing mother made her lose her voice, and now the only thing she says is Papa… I remember everything about that day… The rancid smell of blood, the scream of my mother, the cartridges landing on the floor… 1.. 2..3." Billy shut his eyes and gritted his teeth. "Father wasn't there to protect us. He disappeared when I was very young… I don't exactly remember when. Bishop Stone saved Primera and I. He raised me in the Ethos church, teaching me in the ways of the Etone. I was one of the youngest people to be a priest and an Etone." He opened his eyes and smiled slightly. "Hehe… When I was fourteen, on one of my very first missions to terminate a –Wels- , I ran into an enormous Reaper about 8 feet tall, which is large for a reaper. The others had been separated from me when I ran into it. I… Tried to kill it with my shotgun… Hitting its legs to try and disable it… And when I reached for my pistol, to finish it off, it grabbed me by the legs with its arm and when I tried to scream for help, it slammed me against the floor, so I could only manage a painful gasp. It was about to kill me off when, in reflex, I lifted my shotgun and shot its head off. God… All of the gore… the blood, fell onto me, seeping into my shirt, my jeans, my hair, covering my skin and my soul…" He looked at Karina. "And when I got back to the Ethos church, an old woman who was in the main hall saw my body, covered in dirt and blood. She made a disapproving sound and scolded me, playfully. She and I became very close; she was like my grandmother. Every time I came back from a mission, she always had cookies or something waiting for me. I remember thinking about what I would do when one of the girls from the orphanage reached puberty… I would send them to her, probably." Billy shrugged. "But it all ended, when a reaper managed to get past the Ethos gates and get in, it killed granny. I held her bloody body in my arms and the last thing she said to me was, 'Little Billy, be good and be happy and never lose your faith.' God, I wanted to die. No matter how hard I would wash, that blood never left my hands, none of the blood ever did. Though nobody can see it, I can still see it. The smell of blood and gore and rotting corpses remains in my mind. The horror that I saw every time I went on a mission… I'll never be able to washout those memories."
"Oh Billy… That is so sad…" Karina blinked, looking down sadly.
"…The worst part about it is… These hands, these bloodstained hands, are the same hands which holds a child close when they wake up from a bad dream, the same hands that help lift them up. These bloodstained hands of mine…" Billy clenched his fists. "When I find that person… I really wanna be with… How could I hold her close and not feel guilty? How could I hold her hand and not feel like I'm dirtying her hands with my sins?"
"Billy, your sins are only inside your soul, you'll never be able to get rid of them. But how can you truly call them sins? But… Billy, when you do find that person, they would be stupid not to want to be in your arms just because of past problems. You're a wonderful, honest, sweet person. And if they don't see that, and if you don't see that, then I pity them and hope you open your eyes soon." Karina took his hand in hers. "I'm holding your hand, Billy, and I don't feel like a sinner, and neither should you."
"Karina…" Billy looked up and blushed.
"And.. Uh.. About your girl-puberty problem, I'll be there for you." Karina winked.
"Huh?" He blinked confusedly.
"I'll be there to help you, you just call me. That's what friends are for, after all, Billy." She grinned playfully.
"…Thanks, Miss Karina." Billy smiled, relieved that the locked gaze had been broken. "That will help me out a lot…" He sighed and ran his hand through the hair on the back of his head slowly.
"Anything, Billy." Karina said sleepily. "Well, I'm getting tired, Billy, I think I'll go to bed now…" She stood up, her hand still linked with Billy's.
"Me too." Billy stood up and set the glass in the sink behind the counter. "I'll get these cleaned, you go to bed…"
"Night, Billy" Karina started to pull away, but Billy's hand, still holding her, though he was unconscious of the fact they were still linked, tugged on hers gently.
"Uh… Sorry!" Billy blushed and let go of her hand.
"It's… alright." Karina smiled weakly.
"Hey, Karina… About earlier… Before we went to Cimerion…" Billy trailed off.
"…You mean when we were about to…" Karina said quietly.
"Yeah… That's been on my mind all day…" Billy said, his voice making him sound very uncomfortable.
"Well… To be perfectly honest with you, it was with me all day, too." Karina looked away from him, not wanting to make contact with those lovely blue eyes.
"Oh…Really?" Billy blinked.
"Yeah." Karina nodded and winked.
"Right. Uh…" Billy said, his voice faltering.
"Uh huh…" Karina looked back at him.
"Umm… Karina?" Billy looked up.
"Yes?" She sighed sleepily.
"…Umm…" Billy moved a little closer. Karina sighed softly and leaned closer to him. The two were in the same moment as before. Their lips almost touched when Karina moaned gently and fell onto the table and started breathing lightly. She was asleep. "…Uh.. Karina?" Billy said softly and noticed his hand was laced in hers again. "Hmm…" He blinked sleepily and laid his head down on the counter. "I'll just shut my eyes for a minute and then—" He said slowly and then shut his eyes and his breathing slowed. The two were asleep, their hands laced lightly.
*********************
"Hel-lo?" Bart said quietly and poked Billy's back. He leaned close to Billy's ear and said sharply, "Wake up!"
"Ah!" Billy popped up and smoothed out his hair as a reflex. "What are you doing in my--.." Billy said, trailing off, looking around. "What am I doing in the Gunroom?"
"You must've been getting' it hot 'n heavy with Karina and then you fell asleep before the two of you could shimmy out of your cute little undies!" Bart teased.
"WHAT?!" Billy turned bright red. "The last thing I remember was talking to Karina and then she fell asleep and then… I don't remember."
"Well, you were all huddled over Karina like you were hugging her! It was so cute! But I had to break you two apart before Brad woke up and had a coronary." Bart folded his arms. "You were so cute!!"
"Whatever, Bart." Billy muttered and stood up.
"Hey, hey, Karina, wake up!" Bart nudged her gently.
"…Hmm?" She opened her eyes slowly. "Bart? What are you doing in my-- Gunroom??" Karina blinked. "What?"
"You fell asleep and I didn't want to disturb you, so I left you asleep." Billy smiled.
"Oh…" Karina shook her head, trying to wake up completely.
"Haha, you guys gotta come see this, Sierra's got Sigurd in sweat pants in the training room!" Bart grinned.
"Oh my…" Citan looked up from the table.
************************
"Oh god…" Sigurd looked down. "How did I let myself get into this?" Sigurd folded his arms and blushed.
"Oh, Sigsipoo! You're so cute!" Sierra bounced up and down happily.
"Sigsipoo? Listen Sierra, we don't have anythi-"
"Come on, Sigster… let's see if you're as strong as you were back then!" Sierra lifted her fists and bounced back and forth like Fei in a fighting position.
"I'm not fighting you, Sierra." Sigurd said, sounding rather annoyed.
"Chicken? Bwaaak! Bwak!" Sierra mocked.
"Don't make chicken noises… Jeeze, you're just like the young master." Sigurd rolled his eyes.
"Come on, Sigsipoo, let's dance!" Sierra shifted her head from side to side.
"No, Sierra, I'd rather not…" Sigurd said slowly. "Why don't you chase your braids for a while?"
"Sigurd, Sir!" A mechanic ran in. "We have the damage report!"
"Damage report?" Sigurd said, eyeing Sierra suspiciously.
"Oh.. Haha! I took the liberty to um… Whack some important looking thingies with a wrench before I left!" Sierra shrugged. "Eh.. Sorry?"
"No.. Not exactly, this is damage from the past two battles along with Sierra's raid…" The mechanic tipped his green hat and glanced at Sierra.
"Sierra's Raid? Oo! I get my little escapade named?!" Sierra clapped happily: "Cool!"
"It's not nearly funny… The parts that are damaged need heavy repairs and some need to be replaced." The mechanic shrugged.
"Are you positive?" Sigurd sighed.
"Yes, but since most of our best mechanics are on leave, we can't get a thorough evaluation."
"We could get Brad to evaluate it." Sigurd leaned his head to the side. "I suppose."
"Did someone say 'Brad'?" Brad kneeled against the wall.
"Oh, good morning, Brad. Did you sleep well?" Sigurd said gently.
"Yeah, great! What's up that you need ME for?! None of your little boys touched my sister did they?" He stopped and eyed Sigurd suspiciously.
"No… I don't think so…" Sigurd said, folding his arms and tapping his foot on the ground.
"Billy--" Bart started.
"He's stupid, he doesn't know what he's talking about." Billy said quickly.
"…Right. What do you want, Sig-man?" Brad nodded slowly.
"Well, we need you to evaluate the ship's damage." Sigurd said, walking up to Brad.
"Well… I guess, you saved my sister and all, so it is the least I could do." Brad nodded.
"Thank you, Brad, that is very generous." Sigurd sighed.
"Anything, man!" Brad slapped Sigurd on the back.
"Sigsipoo! We have to go back to my house! Your son is probably so lonely!!" Sierra whined.
"Oh-hh-oohh.." Sigurd blinked and knelt down and whimpered.
"For the love of--" Citan stood up and walked over to Sigurd and grabbed him by the collar and b. slapped him. "Pull yourself together, Sigurd!" He shook Sigurd violently. "Think! If you did have a son with Sierra, he would be Billy's age!"
"Yeah, you could have your own whiny boy, Sigurd!" Jessie grinned from the corner.
"But… The last time Sierra and I saw each other was… When she was 13…" Sigurd sighed.
"Good god! You guys were out… When she was 13?! What's wrong with you, Sigurd?" Jessie sat up and made a disapproving sound. "Stop looking at me like that, Hyuga! I wasn't when I was 13!"
"Just saying, by the way you act…" Citan looked down.
"Dad! How dare you!" Billy scolded. "You should have saved your virginity for until you were married!"
"If that were so, you might not be here, boy." Jessie grinned.
"Excuse me?!" Billy blinked.
"Nevermind, boy." Jessie laughed slightly.
"This discussion is gettin' weird, I think I'll just take this damage report and go check out your little problemos!" Brad snatched the damage report from the mechanic and left the room.
"Thanks, Brad!" Bart called after him.
"Bart, honestly, I don't especially enjoy you acting like Miss Karina and I are… That way." Billy scolded.
"Mmm mm!" Bart nodded.
"And you realize we have nothing like that going on?" Billy folded his arms.
"Yea-a-a-h!" Bart said loudly.
"Good, then I suppose our new problems are at peace now." Billy sat down.
"Wh-oo! Ow ow ow!" Bart said loudly.
"Bart?" Billy eyed him suspiciously.
"Whoo oo oo!" Bart continued.
"BART!" Billy yelled at him.
"Hmm?" Bart pulled off his headphones. "Oh, hey, Billy, when did you get here?"
"Gah…" Billy sighed and cradled his head in his hand.
"Fei, isn't that your headset?" Elly pointed at Bart's headphones.
"Yeah, it is!!" Fei stood up and walked over to Bart. "Hey, Bart! Gimme back my CD player.
"Blluurble!" Bart stuck out his tongue.
"You aren't very polite, Mr. Bart!" Emeralda scolded.
"Aw… Bite me!" Bart said carelessly.
"Do you have no respect for other people's property?" Maria sighed. "You could have at least asked."
"He borrowed my shirt to wax his gear with once." Rico folded his arms.
"I needed a towel sized thing!" Bart explained.
"Couldn't you have taken Billy's shirt?" Rico said, rather angrily.
"Billy's shirts are more like wash cloths." Bart said gently.
"Hey!"
"Haha…" Bart grinned.
"Are you sure, Brad?" Karina walked in with her older brother.
"Yup… Bad news, guys." Brad sighed. "From the looks of it, you guys need heavy repair done to the Aft Burners, the main engine, the propellers, the shielding, the cannons…"
"Hehe…" Bart giggled innocently when everyone glared at him.
"It looks like that cannon was used way too often. Do you guys just attack people and blow them to smithereens randomly?" Brad asked.
"More like shooting at sandworms that look at Bart cross-eyed…" Fei grinned.
"Stupid sandworm…" Bart growled and shook his fist.
"You mean Timmy?" Maria held up the sandworm.
"Timmy? He should be named Lucifer or Damion!" Bart growled at the snake.
"HISS!" Timmy stuck his long tongue out at Bart and slithered onto him.
"EEW! Get that nasty thing off me!" Bart yelled. "NOW!"
"Aww… He likes you…" Elly smiled. "How cute!"
"…More damage. Repairs on the plumbing, the air ducts, the air conditioner, the water heater, and the elevator is in kinda bad shape… Good god… It looks like someone took a wrench to these things…" Brad sighed.
"Hahah!" Sierra cackled wildly while everyone stayed silent. "Took a wrench! Haha! I rock!" She noticed that everyone was now looking at her. "Haha… Gottagobye!" She said quickly and ran out of the room.
"Not funny. This is gonna cost around… $9,888,345.25, without tax." Brad sighed. "That's just for the new parts, but since you saved my sister, I'll install and fix everything for free."
"Good lord! Sig! How much to we have in the bank?!" Bart yelped.
"We have about $8,949, 767.45…" Sigurd sighed.
"Meaning we'd have to make $938,577.08…" Bart said quickly. "What? I'm good at math!"
"At normal payment for bounty we'd have to fight about 667 fights…" Billy sighed.
"Okay! Let's hit the Cimerion Casino!" Bart stood up.
"Wait! Why don't we all get jobs in Cimerion?! If we land good jobs, we could make that much pretty fast!" Karina suggested.
"What, become laser surgeons or lawyers or plumbers?" Fei said sarcastically.
"I am licensed to do all of those!" Citan piped up.
"No, like be waiters of bartenders, or mechanics assistants or bouncers!" Karina smiled. "They all pay well"
"Karina, there is only one garage in Cimerion, and I work there. I don't want any of these bumbling idiots working as my assistant or Ziggy's." Brad shook his head.
"Oh, Brad, we'd get someone like Citan to be your assistant. And Rico, you could be a great bouncer! I'm already a hairstylist from 6:00 A.M. to 2:00 PM, I could work at the bar nights." Karina piped up. "And Billy and Bart could work at the bar all day, and Jessie would be great bartender."
"I am good at fancy alcohol juggling!" Jessie smiled.
"There is no way I'm working at some ruffian bar, do you know what kind of grease monkeys go there and work there?" Billy folded his arms deliberately.
"That was my first job, kid!" Brad growled.
"…I prove my point." Billy muttered.
"Let's just go look for jobs, eh?" Bart shrugged.
"That's a good idea." Elly smiled.
"They are just sitting ducks. Idiots." A gear hovered over the Yggdrasil. "Time to send out the distortion waves." A woman looked up and shut her eyes. "They'll never know what hit 'em." The gear landed lightly on the top. The cockpit opened and a young woman came out and ran up to the middle of the Yggdrasil. "Let's see, there should be a ventilation duct around here somewhere… There!" She looked down and found a small opening. She opened the door and slipped in quickly.
"What in the?" Sigurd looked up. "It seems there are distortion waves… Maybe. I can't get a reading on anything in the vicinity. Either the scanner is going on the fritz or… We have a Blitzkrieg coming our way." He looked up. "But that style… Could it be…?"
"Billy…" Karina sat down on her bed and set the flower on her bed side table. She lifted a water glass up to her lips. "…Oh well." She shrugged and stood up. "What was… That?" She jumped at a small sound. She looked around the room slowly. "I… Guess it was just my imagination." She stepped back near the wall. She suddenly felt a stab of pain in the back of her neck and her vision blurred. She fell back into someone's arms. Her water glass fell on the floor and all of the water spilled on the floor.
"Don't put up a fight, and I won't have to kill your friends." A woman lifted her up and put a cloth over her face. Karina felt her mind slipping and she fell forward slightly. She was asleep. "That was easier than I thought, hehe, cool." She set a small device on the ground and a small green ring appeared around her. She pulled Karina up against her as green light surrounded her. "Take me back to the roof of this ship." She whispered. There was a short flash of light and they were gone.
"Prim, hey, have you seen Karina? I've looked everywhere and I can't find her." Billy walked into Primera's room.
"…." Primera pointed at the door.
"She's in her room?" Billy said slowly. "…Alright, thanks Primera, goodnight." Billy nodded and left the room.
"Young master, get to the gear dock immediately!" Sigurd's voice came over the intercom.
"What's up, Sig?!" Bart looked up.
"Young master, get there, and then I'll inform you. Go, now!"
"Fine." Bart shrugged and ran out the door.
"I feel I must go too." Citan stood up and followed.
"Karina..? Are you in here?" Billy stepped into the dark room. "Karina?" His foot kicked something hard across the floor. "Huh?" He kneeled down and picked up the hard object. "A water glass?" He put his hand on the carpeting. It was damp. "What the?" He stood up. "Oh no." He turned and ran out of the room.
"Sig, could you fill me in on why I'm in here?" Bart folded his arms impatiently.
"Karina's nowhere on this ship!" Billy ran in.
"What?!" Brad stood up.
"She missing! I looked everywhere on the ship. She's just gone!" Billy said, slowly.
"…Just as I suspected. Young master, get in Andvari, now." Sigurd turned to Bart and pointed at the red gear.
"What am I gonna do?! We don't know where she went, hello, Sig!" Bart said, walking up to Andvari and turning back to Citan. "Any suggestions, Doc?"
"I am as puzzled as you are, young one." Citan folded his arms and gave Bart a quizzical expression.
"…Great." Bart rolled his eyes.
"You guys are just sitting on your butts while Karina is missing?!" Brad yelled.
"Calm down, listen, young master, I know this style used." Sigurd looked up.
"Style? What the hell are you talking 'bout, Sig?" Bart blinked.
"Karina was kidnapped, by a person whose style of combat and stealth I am quite familiar with." Sigurd folded his arms.
"Kidnapped? And you think we can stop this person??" Bart stepped up to Andvari's cockpit.
"Yes, just get in the gear, and I will tell you what you have to do." Sigurd nodded.
"Whatever you say, Sig." Bart shrugged and jumped into the cockpit.
"Wait a minute! You're gonna send HIM out to save my sister! No way! Give me a gear! I'll go!" Brad ran up to them.
"Calm down, Brad. Bart is a very competent gear pilot." Sigurd stopped him. "Karina is as good as saved."
"She had better, or it'll be your braid." Brad glared at Bart.
"Oh, just think of the money I'll make." The woman leaned back and sighed. "Why is this chick worth so much? I mean she ain't very well- endowed, and she is pretty yeah, but she also ain't very strong." She glanced back at Karina. "Oh well. Money, money, money! That's all that really matters! Haha!" She grinned. The panel started to make a beeping noise. "Hmm?" She looked down. "Something's following me… At high speed. Dang, how could something be so fast?" She growled. "And how would it know where I am?" She growled.
"Sig! Are you sure I'm right next to it?!" Bart looked around his panel. "Andvari ain't picking anything up!"
"Just trust me. I'm activating the magnetic scanner now, you'll see it!" Sigurd said gently.
"Remember, Fatima, save my sister or you're gonna get it!" Brad's voice came over it.
"Would you give me that, Brad?! Give it!" Sigurd's voice was muffled.
"No way, man!"
"Give it!"
"Now we don't need to get violent.."
"Ouch! My hair! Why you!!"
"Young one, please, calm down!!"
"Hey, Bart, you had better hurry up, or Brad's gonna go berserk on us and hurt someone.." Billy's calm voice followed all of the other squabbling voices.
"Yeah, right!" Bart leaned forward. "Hey, I see it!"
"Better give it a warm welcome…" The woman spun around. "Take this!" She shot the swords of the gear forward.
"Whoa! There it is!" Bart yelled.
"Give up now, you!" A woman's voice came over the intercom.
"Not until you give back Karina!!" Bart said back.
"Oh, so the little girl has a name? Well, you'll have to beat me to get her back, punk!" She said, pounding into Andvari.
"You are pretty tough, but not tough enough!" Bart said and unleashed the 'Dance Wave' deathblow.
"You little idiot! Trying to save her, if you kill me, you kill her! " She yelled.
"Ugh… Finally got it back! Young master! Wrap the gear in your whips and send an Anemo pulse in it to destabilize its functions!"
"Gotcha, Sig!" Bart sent Andvari around to the back of the gear and he threw the whips around the gear. "Anemo pulse! NOW!" He looked down. "Come on, Andvari!" He yelled. Shocks of electricity shot out of the whips and surrounded the enemy gear.
"Agh! Come on Blitzkrieg! Move!!" The woman yelled but the gear didn't respond.
"You've got her, bring her back to the Yggdrasil now, young master." Sigurd sighed.
"Gotcha! If you know what's good for you lady, I wouldn't resist!" Bart said, dragging off the silver-purple gear.
"Dammit!" She pounded her fist on the console.
"Good job, young master." Sigurd said as Bart jumped out of the cockpit.
"Thanks Sig." Bart grinned. The cockpit door to the other gear flew open and a young woman walked out, with her arms folded and a calm look on her face. She unfolded her arms and clapped slightly.
"Congratulations, you caught me. I'm sure this is a big accomplishment for you." She said cynically.
"…Just as I thought. It is you. Sierra LeRage." Sigurd stepped forward.
"Whoa…" Sierra blinked. "Is that you?! It can't be! Sigurd Harcourt?" She grinned. "Whoa, Siggy, lookin' good, I like the whole pirate ensemble you have going. Love the eye patch."
"…It is nice to see you too, Sierra." Sigurd said in a low tone.
"Wait! That ain't… It is! Is that you, old butt kissing talker, you?! Hyuga!" Sierra pointed at Citan. "Good god… You look old! What did you do to your hair?! And what's with the whole glasses thing?!" She blinked.
"Hello, Miss Sierra, you're looking… About the same." Citan said, folding his arms.
"Hah! She hasn't changed one bit in the past 14 years! Well, except, you have bigger… Haha!" Jessie cackled.
"Who the hell are you?! Wait… That voice… That annoying loud voice… Jesiah!" Sierra held out her arms. "But what happened to your face?"
"Ask him." Jessie whacked Billy on the back.
"Hey… Is this your kid that caused your shotgun wedding?" Sierra pointed at Billy.
"Why does everyone ask that?! Dad, what do they mean by 'shotgun wedding'?!" Billy folded his arms and glared at Jessie.
"Calm down, boy, you're face is getting pink." Jessie put a hand on Billy's shoulder.
"Haha! What the hell?! Who raised that kid?! Certainly not you, man! You never would have allowed your kid to have a bowl cut like that!" Sierra grinned. "And you also wouldn't have let him tromp around in pastel colors and a bow!"
"…Do you have a problem with my-" Billy started but Jessie grabbed him.
"The boy was just raised incorrectly. Obviously me kicking him in that lake when he was five didn't teach him a thing." Jessie tapped Billy on the head.
"Other than the fact I almost drowned." Billy growled.
"…Naw, that ego of yours would've floated for sure." Jessie shook his head.
"I'm going to go check on Karina." Billy frowned and left.
"Hey! Hey hey hey! Why are you palling around with her?! She tried to kill me and abduct Karina!!" Bart pointed at Sierra.
"And… who are you supposed to be?" Sierra said slowly.
"…Grr… I'm Bart!" Bart said, not holding his hand out. "And you're my captive right now!"
"Ooo… Your captive. Do I get a special chair?" Sierra said sarcastically.
"Hey you! You're gonna get it for trying to take my sister!" Brad ran up to her.
"Dear lord! You could put an eye out with that hair!" Sierra blinked.
"Sierra. Come with us, we need to ask you a few questions." Sigurd walked up to her.
"Wait! Sigurd!" Sierra thrust her hand out.
"What?" Sigurd blinked.
"About that night… When I left… It was because… I didn't want you to know…" Sierra shut her eyes and folded her hands to her chest.
"Hmm?" Sigurd blinked.
"I had your son!!" Sierra screamed. Sigurd turned pale.
"AHHHHHHH!!!" His scream echoed through the halls of the Yggdrasil.
"Oh my…" Citan sat on the ground, holding a passed out Sigurd and fanning him with a sheet of paper.
"Hahahahaha!!" Sierra cackled and slapped her knee. "Oh man! That was hilarious!! Whoo! If you could've seen his face!!"
"…I've never heard a man scream quite like that in my whole life." Billy said, now holding Karina in his arms.
"…Oh, Sigurd, you must learn to control how often you pass out." Citan said weakly.
"That was a good one for you!" Jessie said gently.
"Young one, could you take Karina to her bedroom?" Citan said gently.
"Sure." Billy nodded and left.
"C'mon, Sierra!" Bart grabbed her arm.
"Whatever thing of yours that touches me, you're not getting back, kid." Sierra squinted at him.
"Shut up!" Bart growled.
"Hey hey hey! You take care of my Blitzkrieg! It's an Omnigear, and I don't want you guys getting' you're greasy paws all over the paint job! I just got that done and I haven't even gotten the first payment down yet!" Sierra yelled at the mechanics.
"Come on, Sierra!!" Citan stood up, with a limp Sigurd. Sigurd slipped out of his grasp and landed on the ground. "Good lord, Sigurd…" He sighed and looked down. "Jessie? Would you mind?"
"Sure, I'll carry princess wimpy butt for ya." Jessie lifted Sigurd up.
"We just need to ask you a few questions, Sierra, but you are going to stay here. We are not going to just let you go." Citan said sternly.
"Wait a minute! I'm a captive?! That ain't going down too smoothly! I would rather be called prisoner!" Sierra growled. "I personally despise both, but prisoner sound for gallant!"
"Whatever, Sierra!" Brad said angrily.
"Sit here!" Citan pointed at one of the stools in the gun room.
"Hey! I DO get a special chair!" Sierra sat down and folded her legs casually. "Hey, could I get a drink or two over here?"
"My god, she even drinks. How much of a ruffian can she be?" Billy walked in and sat down next to Jessie.
"Boy, you're looking at the eighth wonder of the world. This is the only person who can out drink ME." Jessie said. "But that was back then, she's probably lost her touch."
"Hey, Jesiah, you know I haven't, you're just a sore chicken loser! Maybe your boy could drink better than you!" Sierra grinned.
"Who, Billy? Naw, that boy only drinks sissy crap." Jessie sighed. "He's going down the path of the dark side."
"You mean tea is the path of the dark side?" Billy said sarcastically.
"Enough of this blabber! Why did you try to take my sister?" Brad said angrily.
"…Cause my employer wanted me too, and he was gonna pay me big bucks to get her." Sierra said casually.
"Your employer? Who do you work for?" Citan folded his arms.
"Eh? I don't know much about the guy. I'm a mercenary, so I just do the job without asking any questions, all that matters is the money." Sierra sighed. "But his name is Rangar. Lucious Rangar. He is the captain of some ship called the Infinity."
"The Infinity?" Brad said gently. "I've done work on that ship, it's just the Thames' sister ship. It was built for the exact same purpose as the Thames. Why would they want my sister?"
"Don't ask me. I didn't give them 20 questions, unlike some people I know of." Sierra glared at Citan. "You know, Hyuga, you've become an uptight world-class rank A fuddy duddy." She said, tapping her foot on the metal bar of the table.
"…I wouldn't describe me that way, but Miss Sierra, if we were to let you go, you wouldn't try to take Karina again, would you?" Citan said slowly.
"Hey, I've got nothing personal against that young lady except, I wanna know how she does her hair, that's kinda cool. And as of five minutes ago, my contract with that guy was broken, I had to have her to him by 12:20 or I wouldn't get paid so I would have nothing to gain by taking her again." Sierra winked. "Besides, do you guys REALLY think you could hold me 'captive' here that long?"
"…I suppose we could release you then, but if you ever try it again, we will not be so lenient. You will be killed instead." Citan said, folding his arms.
"Ooo.. Ouch! Hyuga, you are harsh!" Sierra winced.
"Hey! How do you guys know her?" Fei piped up.
"We met a Jugend while we were all training for the position of element. Sigurd and Sierra were tied for the element of fire." Citan whispered. "However, Sierra was the favorite, and everyone though she would win hands down. It was a huge surprise when Sigurd defeated her in the ring, optical whip vs. jade sword, and won the title of Element of Fire."
"And so that night, too ashamed to face the public and Sigurd, I left for the surface, and I didn't see Sigurd, Hyuga, Jesiah, or that freakin weirdo Khar again." Sierra growled. "I was supposed to win because I was a 1st class citizen and Sigurd was some sort of test subject. It was such an embarrassment to my family's name when I was defeated by him."
"Yeah! Go Sig!" Bart laughed. "Of course he would beat a girl like you!"
"You wanna come over here and say that, kid? I'd gladly show you how freaking stupid your statement was! I could wipe the floor with Sigurd any day of the week!" Sierra stood up.
"I have no further questions for you, Sierra. Elly, could you show her to a room for the night?" Citan sat down.
"Sure thing, Citan. Could you come with me?" Elly stood up and looked at Sierra.
"Yeah, whatever." Sierra shrugged. "Night night, Sigsipoo! You're son says goodnight too!" She leaned down next to Sigurd.
"AGH!" Sigurd screamed unconsciously.
"Hahahahahaah!!" She cackled.
"Ugh… I don't think I like her." Billy said gently.
"How's Karina doing?" Brad asked.
"She's sleeping like a little baby." Billy smiled.
"Good…" Brad sighed.
"I predict things will get a little louder around here now that Miss Sierra is here." Citan muttered, putting his hand to his forehead.
"I predict you are a damn genius, Citan, you're right and you know it, man!" Jessie looked down. "She is fun to have around when Sigurd is conscious."
"Speaking of which, Sigurd, I think you should get up now." Citan leaned over and looked at Sigurd, sighing.
"Ehh…" Sigurd opened his eyes and sat up. "My, that was unpleasant."
"You were out for forty five minutes, Siggy." Billy leaned over next to him. "You okay?"
"I am fine…" Sigurd said gently.
"Perhaps you would like to go to bed?" Citan suggested. "I'm sure you can make it there on your own."
"Uhhnn…" Karina opened her eyes and sat up in the dark room. "Where… What happened to me?" She looked at the bed sheets.
"You were captured and taken hostage. But Bart saved you and Billy brought you back here." A voice came from the shadows.
"Who are you?!" Karina jumped off the bed and stumbled back against the cold wall.
"Hey, don't be scared." A woman stepped forward. "Hey, I'm Sierra. Sorry about before."
"Si-Sierra? Who are you?!" Karina reached for the light.
"I am… Uh, how do I put this? I'm the person who knocked you out and drug you out of here and tried to give you back to some guys who were going to pay me for you." Sierra grinned. "Hi!"
"…You did that?!" Karina walked towards the door.
"You don't have to be afraid of me!" Sierra said calmly.
"I… Don't trust you! Stay away from me!" Karina opened the door and ran out.
"Sheesh! What a panicky little twit!" Sierra folded her arms.
"She had better not try anything!" Karina walked down the hallway quickly, looking back at her doorway. She ran into something and stumbled back.
"Miss Karina? What are you doing up?" Billy blinked.
"Billy! It's you!" Karina pulled back. "That woman is in my room!"
"Who, Sierra?" Billy said slowly.
"Yes! You know the demon's name?!" Karina panicked.
"She's not a demon, she's strange, but she's not a demon." Billy shrugged. "She doesn't want to take you anymore."
"You believe that?" Karina blinked. "Oh ho ho… Billy, you fall for stuff way too quickly, she's lying! I know it!"
"This is a side of you I've never seen before." Billy stepped back. "Listen, you want to go get some hot chocolate or something and settle your nerves a little?"
"Yes… That would be nice." Karina sighed.
"Good, then come with me." Billy said, turning around.
"Hi, Maison." Billy walked in.
"Boy! You came back!" Jessie grinned from his stool.
"I have hot chocolate and tea waiting on the burners, I need to go to bed, Master Billy." Maison nodded sleepily.
"Right, Maison, thanks…" Billy nodded.
"Well, well you brought the little angel with you. How cute, Billy, a date!" Jessie set down his wineglass.
"Whatever, dad." Billy said sarcastically. "Right…"
"Boy, you need to loosen up, once again!" Jessie winked.
"Dad, just don't talk to me, okay?" Billy said gently, sitting down on one of the stools.
"…Are you always up this late, Mr. Black?" Karina sat down next to Billy, who was slumping and glaring at his father.
"Not usually, Karina. I just stay up sometimes to bug Billy into high heaven!" Jessie cackled and winked at Karina quickly.
"Well, you have succeeded, congratulations, dad, could you go away now?" Billy said, sounding rather agitated.
"Well, yeah, I think it is about time to turn in! Turn off the lights when you leave, boy! That is… If you are in a rush to get Karina into your bed…" Jessie grinned and stood up.
"Dad!" Billy blushed.
"…Night, Mr. Black." Karina smiled.
"G'Night!" Jessie turned to leave.
"Jeeze…" Billy sighed. "I really don't like him!"
"He's fun, Billy." Karina said, swirling the hot chocolate in the mug around unconsciously.
"Fun? You don't have to live with him." Billy looked down.
"I have to live with Brad, the most overprotective person in this whole world. We were walking in downtown Cimerion once, and some guy just looked at me and Brad literally grabbed him by the neck and said 'You lookin' at my sister, punk?!'." Karina smiled and set down the mug. "You're lucky that you have such a sweet sister."
"…Yeah, I guess." Billy put his elbow on the table and leaned his head on his hand.
"…You never told me about how you lost your mother." Karina said, quickly adding, "But you don't have to tell me if it hurts to tell!"
"She was killed by reapers when I was 12. Primera was only 3. The trauma of losing mother made her lose her voice, and now the only thing she says is Papa… I remember everything about that day… The rancid smell of blood, the scream of my mother, the cartridges landing on the floor… 1.. 2..3." Billy shut his eyes and gritted his teeth. "Father wasn't there to protect us. He disappeared when I was very young… I don't exactly remember when. Bishop Stone saved Primera and I. He raised me in the Ethos church, teaching me in the ways of the Etone. I was one of the youngest people to be a priest and an Etone." He opened his eyes and smiled slightly. "Hehe… When I was fourteen, on one of my very first missions to terminate a –Wels- , I ran into an enormous Reaper about 8 feet tall, which is large for a reaper. The others had been separated from me when I ran into it. I… Tried to kill it with my shotgun… Hitting its legs to try and disable it… And when I reached for my pistol, to finish it off, it grabbed me by the legs with its arm and when I tried to scream for help, it slammed me against the floor, so I could only manage a painful gasp. It was about to kill me off when, in reflex, I lifted my shotgun and shot its head off. God… All of the gore… the blood, fell onto me, seeping into my shirt, my jeans, my hair, covering my skin and my soul…" He looked at Karina. "And when I got back to the Ethos church, an old woman who was in the main hall saw my body, covered in dirt and blood. She made a disapproving sound and scolded me, playfully. She and I became very close; she was like my grandmother. Every time I came back from a mission, she always had cookies or something waiting for me. I remember thinking about what I would do when one of the girls from the orphanage reached puberty… I would send them to her, probably." Billy shrugged. "But it all ended, when a reaper managed to get past the Ethos gates and get in, it killed granny. I held her bloody body in my arms and the last thing she said to me was, 'Little Billy, be good and be happy and never lose your faith.' God, I wanted to die. No matter how hard I would wash, that blood never left my hands, none of the blood ever did. Though nobody can see it, I can still see it. The smell of blood and gore and rotting corpses remains in my mind. The horror that I saw every time I went on a mission… I'll never be able to washout those memories."
"Oh Billy… That is so sad…" Karina blinked, looking down sadly.
"…The worst part about it is… These hands, these bloodstained hands, are the same hands which holds a child close when they wake up from a bad dream, the same hands that help lift them up. These bloodstained hands of mine…" Billy clenched his fists. "When I find that person… I really wanna be with… How could I hold her close and not feel guilty? How could I hold her hand and not feel like I'm dirtying her hands with my sins?"
"Billy, your sins are only inside your soul, you'll never be able to get rid of them. But how can you truly call them sins? But… Billy, when you do find that person, they would be stupid not to want to be in your arms just because of past problems. You're a wonderful, honest, sweet person. And if they don't see that, and if you don't see that, then I pity them and hope you open your eyes soon." Karina took his hand in hers. "I'm holding your hand, Billy, and I don't feel like a sinner, and neither should you."
"Karina…" Billy looked up and blushed.
"And.. Uh.. About your girl-puberty problem, I'll be there for you." Karina winked.
"Huh?" He blinked confusedly.
"I'll be there to help you, you just call me. That's what friends are for, after all, Billy." She grinned playfully.
"…Thanks, Miss Karina." Billy smiled, relieved that the locked gaze had been broken. "That will help me out a lot…" He sighed and ran his hand through the hair on the back of his head slowly.
"Anything, Billy." Karina said sleepily. "Well, I'm getting tired, Billy, I think I'll go to bed now…" She stood up, her hand still linked with Billy's.
"Me too." Billy stood up and set the glass in the sink behind the counter. "I'll get these cleaned, you go to bed…"
"Night, Billy" Karina started to pull away, but Billy's hand, still holding her, though he was unconscious of the fact they were still linked, tugged on hers gently.
"Uh… Sorry!" Billy blushed and let go of her hand.
"It's… alright." Karina smiled weakly.
"Hey, Karina… About earlier… Before we went to Cimerion…" Billy trailed off.
"…You mean when we were about to…" Karina said quietly.
"Yeah… That's been on my mind all day…" Billy said, his voice making him sound very uncomfortable.
"Well… To be perfectly honest with you, it was with me all day, too." Karina looked away from him, not wanting to make contact with those lovely blue eyes.
"Oh…Really?" Billy blinked.
"Yeah." Karina nodded and winked.
"Right. Uh…" Billy said, his voice faltering.
"Uh huh…" Karina looked back at him.
"Umm… Karina?" Billy looked up.
"Yes?" She sighed sleepily.
"…Umm…" Billy moved a little closer. Karina sighed softly and leaned closer to him. The two were in the same moment as before. Their lips almost touched when Karina moaned gently and fell onto the table and started breathing lightly. She was asleep. "…Uh.. Karina?" Billy said softly and noticed his hand was laced in hers again. "Hmm…" He blinked sleepily and laid his head down on the counter. "I'll just shut my eyes for a minute and then—" He said slowly and then shut his eyes and his breathing slowed. The two were asleep, their hands laced lightly.
*********************
"Hel-lo?" Bart said quietly and poked Billy's back. He leaned close to Billy's ear and said sharply, "Wake up!"
"Ah!" Billy popped up and smoothed out his hair as a reflex. "What are you doing in my--.." Billy said, trailing off, looking around. "What am I doing in the Gunroom?"
"You must've been getting' it hot 'n heavy with Karina and then you fell asleep before the two of you could shimmy out of your cute little undies!" Bart teased.
"WHAT?!" Billy turned bright red. "The last thing I remember was talking to Karina and then she fell asleep and then… I don't remember."
"Well, you were all huddled over Karina like you were hugging her! It was so cute! But I had to break you two apart before Brad woke up and had a coronary." Bart folded his arms. "You were so cute!!"
"Whatever, Bart." Billy muttered and stood up.
"Hey, hey, Karina, wake up!" Bart nudged her gently.
"…Hmm?" She opened her eyes slowly. "Bart? What are you doing in my-- Gunroom??" Karina blinked. "What?"
"You fell asleep and I didn't want to disturb you, so I left you asleep." Billy smiled.
"Oh…" Karina shook her head, trying to wake up completely.
"Haha, you guys gotta come see this, Sierra's got Sigurd in sweat pants in the training room!" Bart grinned.
"Oh my…" Citan looked up from the table.
************************
"Oh god…" Sigurd looked down. "How did I let myself get into this?" Sigurd folded his arms and blushed.
"Oh, Sigsipoo! You're so cute!" Sierra bounced up and down happily.
"Sigsipoo? Listen Sierra, we don't have anythi-"
"Come on, Sigster… let's see if you're as strong as you were back then!" Sierra lifted her fists and bounced back and forth like Fei in a fighting position.
"I'm not fighting you, Sierra." Sigurd said, sounding rather annoyed.
"Chicken? Bwaaak! Bwak!" Sierra mocked.
"Don't make chicken noises… Jeeze, you're just like the young master." Sigurd rolled his eyes.
"Come on, Sigsipoo, let's dance!" Sierra shifted her head from side to side.
"No, Sierra, I'd rather not…" Sigurd said slowly. "Why don't you chase your braids for a while?"
"Sigurd, Sir!" A mechanic ran in. "We have the damage report!"
"Damage report?" Sigurd said, eyeing Sierra suspiciously.
"Oh.. Haha! I took the liberty to um… Whack some important looking thingies with a wrench before I left!" Sierra shrugged. "Eh.. Sorry?"
"No.. Not exactly, this is damage from the past two battles along with Sierra's raid…" The mechanic tipped his green hat and glanced at Sierra.
"Sierra's Raid? Oo! I get my little escapade named?!" Sierra clapped happily: "Cool!"
"It's not nearly funny… The parts that are damaged need heavy repairs and some need to be replaced." The mechanic shrugged.
"Are you positive?" Sigurd sighed.
"Yes, but since most of our best mechanics are on leave, we can't get a thorough evaluation."
"We could get Brad to evaluate it." Sigurd leaned his head to the side. "I suppose."
"Did someone say 'Brad'?" Brad kneeled against the wall.
"Oh, good morning, Brad. Did you sleep well?" Sigurd said gently.
"Yeah, great! What's up that you need ME for?! None of your little boys touched my sister did they?" He stopped and eyed Sigurd suspiciously.
"No… I don't think so…" Sigurd said, folding his arms and tapping his foot on the ground.
"Billy--" Bart started.
"He's stupid, he doesn't know what he's talking about." Billy said quickly.
"…Right. What do you want, Sig-man?" Brad nodded slowly.
"Well, we need you to evaluate the ship's damage." Sigurd said, walking up to Brad.
"Well… I guess, you saved my sister and all, so it is the least I could do." Brad nodded.
"Thank you, Brad, that is very generous." Sigurd sighed.
"Anything, man!" Brad slapped Sigurd on the back.
"Sigsipoo! We have to go back to my house! Your son is probably so lonely!!" Sierra whined.
"Oh-hh-oohh.." Sigurd blinked and knelt down and whimpered.
"For the love of--" Citan stood up and walked over to Sigurd and grabbed him by the collar and b. slapped him. "Pull yourself together, Sigurd!" He shook Sigurd violently. "Think! If you did have a son with Sierra, he would be Billy's age!"
"Yeah, you could have your own whiny boy, Sigurd!" Jessie grinned from the corner.
"But… The last time Sierra and I saw each other was… When she was 13…" Sigurd sighed.
"Good god! You guys were out… When she was 13?! What's wrong with you, Sigurd?" Jessie sat up and made a disapproving sound. "Stop looking at me like that, Hyuga! I wasn't when I was 13!"
"Just saying, by the way you act…" Citan looked down.
"Dad! How dare you!" Billy scolded. "You should have saved your virginity for until you were married!"
"If that were so, you might not be here, boy." Jessie grinned.
"Excuse me?!" Billy blinked.
"Nevermind, boy." Jessie laughed slightly.
"This discussion is gettin' weird, I think I'll just take this damage report and go check out your little problemos!" Brad snatched the damage report from the mechanic and left the room.
"Thanks, Brad!" Bart called after him.
"Bart, honestly, I don't especially enjoy you acting like Miss Karina and I are… That way." Billy scolded.
"Mmm mm!" Bart nodded.
"And you realize we have nothing like that going on?" Billy folded his arms.
"Yea-a-a-h!" Bart said loudly.
"Good, then I suppose our new problems are at peace now." Billy sat down.
"Wh-oo! Ow ow ow!" Bart said loudly.
"Bart?" Billy eyed him suspiciously.
"Whoo oo oo!" Bart continued.
"BART!" Billy yelled at him.
"Hmm?" Bart pulled off his headphones. "Oh, hey, Billy, when did you get here?"
"Gah…" Billy sighed and cradled his head in his hand.
"Fei, isn't that your headset?" Elly pointed at Bart's headphones.
"Yeah, it is!!" Fei stood up and walked over to Bart. "Hey, Bart! Gimme back my CD player.
"Blluurble!" Bart stuck out his tongue.
"You aren't very polite, Mr. Bart!" Emeralda scolded.
"Aw… Bite me!" Bart said carelessly.
"Do you have no respect for other people's property?" Maria sighed. "You could have at least asked."
"He borrowed my shirt to wax his gear with once." Rico folded his arms.
"I needed a towel sized thing!" Bart explained.
"Couldn't you have taken Billy's shirt?" Rico said, rather angrily.
"Billy's shirts are more like wash cloths." Bart said gently.
"Hey!"
"Haha…" Bart grinned.
"Are you sure, Brad?" Karina walked in with her older brother.
"Yup… Bad news, guys." Brad sighed. "From the looks of it, you guys need heavy repair done to the Aft Burners, the main engine, the propellers, the shielding, the cannons…"
"Hehe…" Bart giggled innocently when everyone glared at him.
"It looks like that cannon was used way too often. Do you guys just attack people and blow them to smithereens randomly?" Brad asked.
"More like shooting at sandworms that look at Bart cross-eyed…" Fei grinned.
"Stupid sandworm…" Bart growled and shook his fist.
"You mean Timmy?" Maria held up the sandworm.
"Timmy? He should be named Lucifer or Damion!" Bart growled at the snake.
"HISS!" Timmy stuck his long tongue out at Bart and slithered onto him.
"EEW! Get that nasty thing off me!" Bart yelled. "NOW!"
"Aww… He likes you…" Elly smiled. "How cute!"
"…More damage. Repairs on the plumbing, the air ducts, the air conditioner, the water heater, and the elevator is in kinda bad shape… Good god… It looks like someone took a wrench to these things…" Brad sighed.
"Hahah!" Sierra cackled wildly while everyone stayed silent. "Took a wrench! Haha! I rock!" She noticed that everyone was now looking at her. "Haha… Gottagobye!" She said quickly and ran out of the room.
"Not funny. This is gonna cost around… $9,888,345.25, without tax." Brad sighed. "That's just for the new parts, but since you saved my sister, I'll install and fix everything for free."
"Good lord! Sig! How much to we have in the bank?!" Bart yelped.
"We have about $8,949, 767.45…" Sigurd sighed.
"Meaning we'd have to make $938,577.08…" Bart said quickly. "What? I'm good at math!"
"At normal payment for bounty we'd have to fight about 667 fights…" Billy sighed.
"Okay! Let's hit the Cimerion Casino!" Bart stood up.
"Wait! Why don't we all get jobs in Cimerion?! If we land good jobs, we could make that much pretty fast!" Karina suggested.
"What, become laser surgeons or lawyers or plumbers?" Fei said sarcastically.
"I am licensed to do all of those!" Citan piped up.
"No, like be waiters of bartenders, or mechanics assistants or bouncers!" Karina smiled. "They all pay well"
"Karina, there is only one garage in Cimerion, and I work there. I don't want any of these bumbling idiots working as my assistant or Ziggy's." Brad shook his head.
"Oh, Brad, we'd get someone like Citan to be your assistant. And Rico, you could be a great bouncer! I'm already a hairstylist from 6:00 A.M. to 2:00 PM, I could work at the bar nights." Karina piped up. "And Billy and Bart could work at the bar all day, and Jessie would be great bartender."
"I am good at fancy alcohol juggling!" Jessie smiled.
"There is no way I'm working at some ruffian bar, do you know what kind of grease monkeys go there and work there?" Billy folded his arms deliberately.
"That was my first job, kid!" Brad growled.
"…I prove my point." Billy muttered.
"Let's just go look for jobs, eh?" Bart shrugged.
"That's a good idea." Elly smiled.