Chapter 14:: Missing Again
"Well anyway." Billy said as he stumbled down from the ladder, wincing and grabbing his stomach in pain. "Ugh. OK, I guess it's late."
"Yeah." Karina said gently and watched the small group filter out. "Are you OK?"
Billy winced, then smiled a little. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Karina smiled and held out her hand. "Walk me to my room?" She smiled.
"Sure." Billy nodded and took her hand.
"Ooooo~oooh!" Bart whooped and appeared from behind the corner with Fei, the two grinning.
"Oh look, it's Fei and Bart, here to harass me some more." Billy mumbled.
"Hands cupped or fingers laced, my little lovebirds?" Bart sang as he pointed at their hands.
"Neither!" Billy blushed and pulled his hand away. "Why don't you just leave us alone, Bart?"
"You know what I find funny, Billers?" Bart murmured and folded his arms. "It's that you deny liking Karina, and yet you write about her in your little journal all the time."
"WHAT?!" Billy blushed.
"Oh, poor Billy, don't overreact, you might break your stitches!" Bart gave a yelp of laugher and ran away.
"W-Wait up!" Fei blinked and ran after Bart.
Billy whimpered and looked down. He turned around and folded his arms. "I-I don't really write about you, Miss Karina."
"It's OK, Billy." Karina said and turned towards the elevator. "You still wanna walk with me?"
Billy nodded slowly and followed Karina hesitantly, thinking Brad might leap out of the shadows and murder him.
"So Billy." Karina said gently as she walked into the elevator and Billy pushed one of the buttons.
"Yes?" Billy looked at her and smiled.
"What made you want to." Karina trailed off and bit her lip. She looked down and twiddled her fingers.
"Shoot myself.?" Billy said bluntly.
Karina cringed and looked at him hesitantly. "."
Billy frowned a little and walked up to her. "I don't know exactly." He said quietly and took her hands. "I didn't want you to get hurt."
Karina blushed and looked down. "Billy." She whispered and tightened her hands in his. She looked back up, her deep indigo eyes teary. "Please don't ever hurt yourself to protect me."
Billy smiled a little. "And don't cry because of me, Miss Karina." He whispered. "I'd never want you to cry. You're like another little sister."
Karina blinked, then smiled weakly. "Oh. Alright then." She whispered and bit her bottom lip again, looking away.
"Are you OK?" Billy murmured.
"Fine." Karina replied quickly. The elevator came to a stop and the doors opened.
"Shall we?" Billy stepped forward and smiled.
Karina smiled and shook her head. "I-I think I can handle it. Um. Goodnight, Billy." She said quickly and walked away.
"Good. night." Billy whispered.
"Bad luck?" Bart asked and popped from out of nowhere yet again.
"How do you do that?" Billy looked at him.
"Dude. You don't ask how. Just accept that I'm Bart, I'm cool and I can do anything." Bart said and then stood in the silence and blinked. "OK, fine, I stalk you and Karina, I'm bored, OK?"
Billy frowned. "I said she was like another little sister."
"Ooh, bad thing to say, buddy." Bart said slowly. "Either she thinks you're into that nasty family thing, or you don't like her at all. You might as well say you're gay now." Bart shrugged. "But then again, romances can start with the whole 'Oh, you're like my little sister.' thing. Pretty soon that whole charade becomes 'Take off your clothes and get in my bed NOW!', don'tcha know?"
"Bart, but I don't think of her like a sister at all." Billy snapped and walked down the hall. Bart followed him and stopped.
"Then just tell her already." Bart snapped and folded his arms. "Stop being a coward and tell the girl."
Billy looked back and frowned. "I'm going to when the time is right." He said and continued, but paused and turned around. "Oh, and if you EVER look in my journal again." He trailed off, made a gun with his fingers and pointed at Bart. "You're not going to be able to have children, 'cuz consider Mr. Bart Junior a goner."
Bart whimpered and walked back to his room.
The following day::
"I've gotta do it soon." Sierra looked down and stood up. She turned around and began to leave the room when she bumped into Sigurd.
Sigurd smiled. "Good evening, Sierra." He smiled and Jessie walked by.
"Sick freaks." Jessie muttered and continued on his way to wherever he was heading.
"Oh, uh, hey Sigsipoo!" Sierra grinned and punched him in the shoulder. "How's it?" She grinned.
".It's fine." Sigurd smiled a little and nodded.
"Well, I got a lot to do, so. uh. See ya!" Sierra grinned and walked off.
Sigurd blinked and shrugged.
"Yo, Sig." Fei grinned as he walked up.
"Hello, Young Master." Sigurd murmured.
"Uh. no, it's not Bart, it's me.. Fei." Fei blinked and shrugged. "You're out of it, Sig."
"Oh. Oh, yes of course." Sigurd shrugged.
"Man." Fei blinked and walked away.
Billy walked down the hall, his nose in a book. "Hmn." He flipped a page.
"Hi, Billy." Karina's voice startled him, so he dropped the book. "Oh, wow, I'm sorry." Karina smiled and bent over to get his book.
"Uh, hey Karina." Billy blushed.
Karina smiled as she lifted up the book. "Hey, Ellisia La'Mour. I love her books." (Of course Ellisia La'Mour isn't a real author, but you all knew that.)
"Really.?" Billy smiled a little as Karina gave the book back to him.
"I didn't know you liked those kinds of novels. They're full of romance." Karina smiled and folded her arms. "And I haven't read the one you have."
"Uh. well. They. They're about other things too. The romance is just there to support the rest of the book." Billy smiled.
Karina smiled back. "Have you read 'Inferno Wings'?"
"Uh. not yet." Billy smiled and looked down. "Uh, hey Karina?"
"Yes?" Karina smiled.
"Could you. um. meet me. umm. Outside the ship after dinner. You know, next to the little cluster of pines?"
Karina blinked and shrugged. "Sure. I guess." Karina smiled again and continued on her way to the dining room.
"Uh, it's dinner time already?" Billy blinked.
Karina paused. "Yeah, didn't Sigurd tell you?"
"Um. Okay." Billy said gently and followed her into the dining room. "Uh, Karina?"
"Yeah?" Karina blinked and looked at him.
"Do you. wanna borrow the book? I mean, I've read it a bunch of times." Billy smiled.
"Really?" Karina blinked and looked at the book.
"Yeah." Billy nodded.
"Thanks, Billy." Karina smiled and took the book.
"Sure." Billy smiled weakly and followed Karina.
At dinner::
"Sooooo, my people!" Bart grinned.
"Pass the stuffing." Fei said while stuffing food in his mouth. Elly glared at him and he rolled his eyes and added, "Please."
Rico nodded and slid the stuffing Fei's way.
"Interception!" Bart shouted and grabbed the stuffing before Fei could get it.
"Hey!" Fei whined, watching in despair as Bart emptied out the bowl of stuffing onto his plate.
"Sorry, Fei. Supply and demand." Bart grinned.
"That's nothing like supply and demand!" Fei whined.
"Here, Fei." Elly smiled and pushed the stuffing from her plate onto Fei's.
"You didn't have to, Elly." Fei grinned.
"So, do any of you young ones have any plans for this evening?" Citan smiled.
".Doc, we're not your kids, stop acting like we are. And you're only 29, it's not like you're a geezer." Bart folded his arms.
"Excuse me for asking." Citan shrugged.
"I'll bet Billy has something planned." Bart grinned and looked at Billy, who immediately blushed and dropped his fork.
"Um. No.. Not really." Billy smiled innocently, and then glared at Bart.
"And don't forget, Billers, it's your turn for dish duty, buddy." Bart laughed.
Karina smiled. "Don't worry, Billy. I'll help you with the dishes."
"Um, that's OK." Billy stammered and looked back down at his food.
"Are you sure?" Karina whispered.
"Yeah."
".OK." Karina shrugged.
"Well. Good dinner! I've got to get back to work. hehe." Sierra giggled innocently, picked up her plate and left the room.
"Does anyone else think that she's acting odd today?" Sigurd said gently after she left the room.
"Sierra is always odd. Sierra's one messed up chick." Jessie said and glared at Bart. "And if you even think of stealing my stuffing you're gonna end up with your butt mounted on my wall, Fatima."
"Dude!" Bart blinked and looked around. "I wasn't going to steal anything!" He said innocently.
"Then get your one eye off my plate!" Jessie snapped and hit Bart's hand with his fork.
"Um. If you'll excuse me. It was a wonderful dinner." Karina smiled and stood up, doing the same as Sierra, taking her plate and leaving the room to the kitchen.
*********
Karina walked down the hall, carrying the book that Billy had let her borrow to read. Sierra came up behind her and tapped her shoulder.
"Hm? Oh, hey Sierra." Karina smiled and clutched the book to her chest.
"Hi there, Karina." Sierra smiled and folded her arms. "What are you doing?"
Karina blushed, and then looked down. "I'm going outside."
"To read?" Sierra gestured at the book.
"Um, yeah!" Karina nodded, her smile coming back again.
"So, continue on." Sierra smiled.
"OK." Karina smiled. "Have a nice evening, Sierra." She turned away and walked to the elevator.
Sierra growled and looked down. "Yeah, have a nice evening. That was the perfect chance!"
"For what?" Sigurd's voice came from behind her.
"Whoa!" Sierra spun around and glared at Sigurd. "SIG! Dammit, you nearly killed me of fright, you ass!"
Sigurd chuckled and stepped back. "Sorry, Era."
Sierra blinked. "So, where's the geek parade?"
"Fei, Elly, Emeralda, Maria, Ziggy, Brad, Kajumei and Citan and trying to play Twister, Rico is reading in his room, and Billy is doing the dishes with the assistance off the sand worm, Primera and Jessie." Sigurd smiled.
Sierra smiled back, a plan suddenly coming to her mind. "OK, Sig."
"That's a strange expression you've got on there, Sierra." Sigurd noted.
"I'll bet. Say, Sig. Why don't we go to your room?" Sierra grinned.
Sigurd blushed and stepped back as Sierra advanced on him. "Uh. What?"
"Why. don't. we. go. to. your. room." Sierra repeated and ran a finger down his chest.
"Um. Okay." Sigurd blinked and backed up against the wall.
"Great." Sierra grinned, took his hand and made a motion for him to lead the way.
Karina sat down at the base of one of the tall pine trees outside of where the Yggdrasil landed. She breathed in the evening air and sighed.
Karina looked down at the cover of the book that Billy had let her borrow. In wild letters designed to look like they were made of water were the words 'In the Sea of Stars'. A young woman was standing on a ridge, her short dark hair fluttering in the wind, the stars and the moon reflecting off the calm ocean water. A young man stood next to her, his wild blond hair like wisps of lightning in the dark.
She opened the book and turned to the first page and began to read as she waited for Billy to arrive from washing dishes.
"So, Sigurd." Sierra smiled and turned away, placing a small capsule in her mouth.
Sigurd stepped back and blushed. "Sierra, I just want you to know that I don't want to push you into anythi--" Sierra grabbed onto Sigurd and smashed their lips together, pushing him against the wall.
Sigurd blinked, surprised at Sierra's forwardness. After a few moments, he shut his eyes and took charge of the situation.
Sierra flicked her tongue a little, causing the capsule to enter Sigurd's mouth. After a few more moments, after she was sure that he had swallowed the capsule, she pulled away.
"Era." Sigurd blinked, then stepped back, as if he were about to keel over. "Wh-what?" Sigurd said weakly before falling over onto the floor. He was asleep.
Sierra smiled a little and folded her arms. "Sorry, Sigurd. I liked you, but I like the idea of a bathtub full of money even more." She bent over, took his keycard and left the room.
She walked to the elevator and pressed the up button. When the elevator doors opened, she pulled out a small device from her belt, opened the door to the bridge slightly and threw it in.
"Have a nice sleep boys." She whispered as she pushed a small remote. A few minutes passed, and when she thought it was safe, she entered the room. As she thought, the group of men that worked in the bridge were on the ground or slouched in their chairs fast asleep.
Sierra grabbed the keycard and swiped it through the security clearance slot. She shut off the security system and placed the doors in the living areas locked for the next hour. She continued on her way, running down to the Gear Dock.
She threw another sleep gas bomb into the supply station of the dock, where the workers were resting. She passed the clearance to release Blitzkrieg from the holds and opened the dock to the outside. She ran out through the Gear Dock and to the small pine cluster where Karina was sitting.
Karina immediately stood up. "Sierra, what's going on? Why is the Gear Dock open?" She asked and stood up.
Sierra said nothing but walked up and grabbed her by the hair.
"Ow! Agh, Sierra!! What are you doing?!" Karina screeched and twisted around, trying to get away from Sierra.
"Ugh, be a good little girl!" Sierra snapped and reached for a capsule.
"Let go of me!" Karina twisted, dropping her book. Sierra twisted Karina's arm behind her back and slammed her against the ground.
Sierra took another small capsule, grabbed Karina's face, and forced the small pill into her mouth. Try as she might, Karina couldn't get away, and she accidentally swallowed the pill, not able to spit it out since Sierra was covering her face.
"Mmmf!" Karina struggled, her squirms becoming weaker and weaker until she fell silent.
Sierra lifted up Karina's now limp body and drug her back to the Gear Dock. As soon as she managed to get back to Blitzkrieg, she threw Karina in the back of the cockpit and jumped into the seat.
She activated Blitzkrieg and commanded it to leave the Yggdrasil and go to the exact coordinates she put in. A few moments later she was on her way out of the Yggdrasil and to her destination.
Billy blinked and looked at the clock as he put the last dish away. There was just enough time to get out there and talk to Karina and lead up to what he wanted to tell her.
He walked up to the door and tried to open it, but the door wouldn't budge. "Hey." Billy blinked. "The door won't open."
A moment later the door was pushed open by Rico, Bart and a very out of it looking Sigurd behind him.
"What's going on?" Billy whispered and walked up.
Fei stood up and bit his lip. "Billy."
Brad walked up and pushed Fei out of the way. "It happened, I knew it would!" He snapped and glared at Sigurd. "I can't believe you trusted her!"
Billy's eyes widened and he stepped forward. "Brad, what happened?"
Brad glared at Sigurd, then looked at Billy. "That bitch."
"What?" Billy whispered.
Kajumei stepped forward. "It was that Sierra chick! She knocked Sigurd out and used that time to lock us in and take Blitzkrieg. She ran off!"
Billy blinked. ".So?"
Ziggy looked at Billy. "She took home girl, Mon!"
Billy blinked again. "Excuse me?"
"Sierra took Karina!" Fei blurted out.
"What?!" Billy's eyes widened. "Then why didn't we go after her?!"
Sigurd sighed. "She disabled the Gears. And the tracking system. and we can't use the Yggdrasil yet. Its repairs aren't finished."
"Then I'm working around the clock!" Brad snapped and ran out of the room.
"Brad." Kajumei shook her head and followed Brad.
Billy sat down, feeling to weak to stand up. He looked out the window, his stomach sinking. "I couldn't protect her. again." He whispered and looked at Bart and Fei. "We've gotta save her, guys."
Sigurd folded his arms. "This is all my fault."
Citan set his hand on Sigurd's shoulder. "No it isn't, Sigurd. You couldn't have known.."
"I should never have let her stay." Sigurd growled.
"It's OK, Sig. We'll get Karina back." Jessie growled and sat down.
"Yes we will." Billy whispered and stood up. "I'm gonna go save her as soon as Renmazuo is repaired."
"You have my help!" Fei grinned.
"You got all of our help dude! Sierra tricked us all! And she ate all my drumsticks!" Bart stood up as well.
"Bart. That was you." Jessie squinted.
"Oh yeah." Bart blinked. "But still!"
"Let's do it!" Fei grinned.
Sierra entered the main hall of the ship she was to meet up with her employers in. The assistant that spoke with her on the intercom entered, with armed guards following.
"I brought her, now hold up your end of the bargain." Sierra snapped and threw a barely conscious Karina forward.
The man smiled and looked at Karina. "Yes. Very good, LeRage."
Sierra folded her arms. "I want it."
"Want what?" The man smiled at her.
"Duh. My payment you skinny little lap dog." Sierra snapped.
"Oh, right." He nodded.
"Well?" Sierra folded her arms.
"You're not getting any payment." He said quietly.
"What?!" Sierra lunged forward. "But you said."
"I can't believe you fell for it." He smiled. "You really think I'd pay you to bring her. I know you are going to try to betray me."
"So now what?!" Sierra snapped.
He smiled and looked down. "Of course, how very rude of me." He nodded and pointed at the men guarding him. "Gentlemen, if you will please escort Miss Karina to her room and the rest of you." He looked at Sierra. "Have some fun with her, do whatever you want, but when you're done." He turned away. ".Kill her."
"Well anyway." Billy said as he stumbled down from the ladder, wincing and grabbing his stomach in pain. "Ugh. OK, I guess it's late."
"Yeah." Karina said gently and watched the small group filter out. "Are you OK?"
Billy winced, then smiled a little. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Karina smiled and held out her hand. "Walk me to my room?" She smiled.
"Sure." Billy nodded and took her hand.
"Ooooo~oooh!" Bart whooped and appeared from behind the corner with Fei, the two grinning.
"Oh look, it's Fei and Bart, here to harass me some more." Billy mumbled.
"Hands cupped or fingers laced, my little lovebirds?" Bart sang as he pointed at their hands.
"Neither!" Billy blushed and pulled his hand away. "Why don't you just leave us alone, Bart?"
"You know what I find funny, Billers?" Bart murmured and folded his arms. "It's that you deny liking Karina, and yet you write about her in your little journal all the time."
"WHAT?!" Billy blushed.
"Oh, poor Billy, don't overreact, you might break your stitches!" Bart gave a yelp of laugher and ran away.
"W-Wait up!" Fei blinked and ran after Bart.
Billy whimpered and looked down. He turned around and folded his arms. "I-I don't really write about you, Miss Karina."
"It's OK, Billy." Karina said and turned towards the elevator. "You still wanna walk with me?"
Billy nodded slowly and followed Karina hesitantly, thinking Brad might leap out of the shadows and murder him.
"So Billy." Karina said gently as she walked into the elevator and Billy pushed one of the buttons.
"Yes?" Billy looked at her and smiled.
"What made you want to." Karina trailed off and bit her lip. She looked down and twiddled her fingers.
"Shoot myself.?" Billy said bluntly.
Karina cringed and looked at him hesitantly. "."
Billy frowned a little and walked up to her. "I don't know exactly." He said quietly and took her hands. "I didn't want you to get hurt."
Karina blushed and looked down. "Billy." She whispered and tightened her hands in his. She looked back up, her deep indigo eyes teary. "Please don't ever hurt yourself to protect me."
Billy smiled a little. "And don't cry because of me, Miss Karina." He whispered. "I'd never want you to cry. You're like another little sister."
Karina blinked, then smiled weakly. "Oh. Alright then." She whispered and bit her bottom lip again, looking away.
"Are you OK?" Billy murmured.
"Fine." Karina replied quickly. The elevator came to a stop and the doors opened.
"Shall we?" Billy stepped forward and smiled.
Karina smiled and shook her head. "I-I think I can handle it. Um. Goodnight, Billy." She said quickly and walked away.
"Good. night." Billy whispered.
"Bad luck?" Bart asked and popped from out of nowhere yet again.
"How do you do that?" Billy looked at him.
"Dude. You don't ask how. Just accept that I'm Bart, I'm cool and I can do anything." Bart said and then stood in the silence and blinked. "OK, fine, I stalk you and Karina, I'm bored, OK?"
Billy frowned. "I said she was like another little sister."
"Ooh, bad thing to say, buddy." Bart said slowly. "Either she thinks you're into that nasty family thing, or you don't like her at all. You might as well say you're gay now." Bart shrugged. "But then again, romances can start with the whole 'Oh, you're like my little sister.' thing. Pretty soon that whole charade becomes 'Take off your clothes and get in my bed NOW!', don'tcha know?"
"Bart, but I don't think of her like a sister at all." Billy snapped and walked down the hall. Bart followed him and stopped.
"Then just tell her already." Bart snapped and folded his arms. "Stop being a coward and tell the girl."
Billy looked back and frowned. "I'm going to when the time is right." He said and continued, but paused and turned around. "Oh, and if you EVER look in my journal again." He trailed off, made a gun with his fingers and pointed at Bart. "You're not going to be able to have children, 'cuz consider Mr. Bart Junior a goner."
Bart whimpered and walked back to his room.
The following day::
"I've gotta do it soon." Sierra looked down and stood up. She turned around and began to leave the room when she bumped into Sigurd.
Sigurd smiled. "Good evening, Sierra." He smiled and Jessie walked by.
"Sick freaks." Jessie muttered and continued on his way to wherever he was heading.
"Oh, uh, hey Sigsipoo!" Sierra grinned and punched him in the shoulder. "How's it?" She grinned.
".It's fine." Sigurd smiled a little and nodded.
"Well, I got a lot to do, so. uh. See ya!" Sierra grinned and walked off.
Sigurd blinked and shrugged.
"Yo, Sig." Fei grinned as he walked up.
"Hello, Young Master." Sigurd murmured.
"Uh. no, it's not Bart, it's me.. Fei." Fei blinked and shrugged. "You're out of it, Sig."
"Oh. Oh, yes of course." Sigurd shrugged.
"Man." Fei blinked and walked away.
Billy walked down the hall, his nose in a book. "Hmn." He flipped a page.
"Hi, Billy." Karina's voice startled him, so he dropped the book. "Oh, wow, I'm sorry." Karina smiled and bent over to get his book.
"Uh, hey Karina." Billy blushed.
Karina smiled as she lifted up the book. "Hey, Ellisia La'Mour. I love her books." (Of course Ellisia La'Mour isn't a real author, but you all knew that.)
"Really.?" Billy smiled a little as Karina gave the book back to him.
"I didn't know you liked those kinds of novels. They're full of romance." Karina smiled and folded her arms. "And I haven't read the one you have."
"Uh. well. They. They're about other things too. The romance is just there to support the rest of the book." Billy smiled.
Karina smiled back. "Have you read 'Inferno Wings'?"
"Uh. not yet." Billy smiled and looked down. "Uh, hey Karina?"
"Yes?" Karina smiled.
"Could you. um. meet me. umm. Outside the ship after dinner. You know, next to the little cluster of pines?"
Karina blinked and shrugged. "Sure. I guess." Karina smiled again and continued on her way to the dining room.
"Uh, it's dinner time already?" Billy blinked.
Karina paused. "Yeah, didn't Sigurd tell you?"
"Um. Okay." Billy said gently and followed her into the dining room. "Uh, Karina?"
"Yeah?" Karina blinked and looked at him.
"Do you. wanna borrow the book? I mean, I've read it a bunch of times." Billy smiled.
"Really?" Karina blinked and looked at the book.
"Yeah." Billy nodded.
"Thanks, Billy." Karina smiled and took the book.
"Sure." Billy smiled weakly and followed Karina.
At dinner::
"Sooooo, my people!" Bart grinned.
"Pass the stuffing." Fei said while stuffing food in his mouth. Elly glared at him and he rolled his eyes and added, "Please."
Rico nodded and slid the stuffing Fei's way.
"Interception!" Bart shouted and grabbed the stuffing before Fei could get it.
"Hey!" Fei whined, watching in despair as Bart emptied out the bowl of stuffing onto his plate.
"Sorry, Fei. Supply and demand." Bart grinned.
"That's nothing like supply and demand!" Fei whined.
"Here, Fei." Elly smiled and pushed the stuffing from her plate onto Fei's.
"You didn't have to, Elly." Fei grinned.
"So, do any of you young ones have any plans for this evening?" Citan smiled.
".Doc, we're not your kids, stop acting like we are. And you're only 29, it's not like you're a geezer." Bart folded his arms.
"Excuse me for asking." Citan shrugged.
"I'll bet Billy has something planned." Bart grinned and looked at Billy, who immediately blushed and dropped his fork.
"Um. No.. Not really." Billy smiled innocently, and then glared at Bart.
"And don't forget, Billers, it's your turn for dish duty, buddy." Bart laughed.
Karina smiled. "Don't worry, Billy. I'll help you with the dishes."
"Um, that's OK." Billy stammered and looked back down at his food.
"Are you sure?" Karina whispered.
"Yeah."
".OK." Karina shrugged.
"Well. Good dinner! I've got to get back to work. hehe." Sierra giggled innocently, picked up her plate and left the room.
"Does anyone else think that she's acting odd today?" Sigurd said gently after she left the room.
"Sierra is always odd. Sierra's one messed up chick." Jessie said and glared at Bart. "And if you even think of stealing my stuffing you're gonna end up with your butt mounted on my wall, Fatima."
"Dude!" Bart blinked and looked around. "I wasn't going to steal anything!" He said innocently.
"Then get your one eye off my plate!" Jessie snapped and hit Bart's hand with his fork.
"Um. If you'll excuse me. It was a wonderful dinner." Karina smiled and stood up, doing the same as Sierra, taking her plate and leaving the room to the kitchen.
*********
Karina walked down the hall, carrying the book that Billy had let her borrow to read. Sierra came up behind her and tapped her shoulder.
"Hm? Oh, hey Sierra." Karina smiled and clutched the book to her chest.
"Hi there, Karina." Sierra smiled and folded her arms. "What are you doing?"
Karina blushed, and then looked down. "I'm going outside."
"To read?" Sierra gestured at the book.
"Um, yeah!" Karina nodded, her smile coming back again.
"So, continue on." Sierra smiled.
"OK." Karina smiled. "Have a nice evening, Sierra." She turned away and walked to the elevator.
Sierra growled and looked down. "Yeah, have a nice evening. That was the perfect chance!"
"For what?" Sigurd's voice came from behind her.
"Whoa!" Sierra spun around and glared at Sigurd. "SIG! Dammit, you nearly killed me of fright, you ass!"
Sigurd chuckled and stepped back. "Sorry, Era."
Sierra blinked. "So, where's the geek parade?"
"Fei, Elly, Emeralda, Maria, Ziggy, Brad, Kajumei and Citan and trying to play Twister, Rico is reading in his room, and Billy is doing the dishes with the assistance off the sand worm, Primera and Jessie." Sigurd smiled.
Sierra smiled back, a plan suddenly coming to her mind. "OK, Sig."
"That's a strange expression you've got on there, Sierra." Sigurd noted.
"I'll bet. Say, Sig. Why don't we go to your room?" Sierra grinned.
Sigurd blushed and stepped back as Sierra advanced on him. "Uh. What?"
"Why. don't. we. go. to. your. room." Sierra repeated and ran a finger down his chest.
"Um. Okay." Sigurd blinked and backed up against the wall.
"Great." Sierra grinned, took his hand and made a motion for him to lead the way.
Karina sat down at the base of one of the tall pine trees outside of where the Yggdrasil landed. She breathed in the evening air and sighed.
Karina looked down at the cover of the book that Billy had let her borrow. In wild letters designed to look like they were made of water were the words 'In the Sea of Stars'. A young woman was standing on a ridge, her short dark hair fluttering in the wind, the stars and the moon reflecting off the calm ocean water. A young man stood next to her, his wild blond hair like wisps of lightning in the dark.
She opened the book and turned to the first page and began to read as she waited for Billy to arrive from washing dishes.
"So, Sigurd." Sierra smiled and turned away, placing a small capsule in her mouth.
Sigurd stepped back and blushed. "Sierra, I just want you to know that I don't want to push you into anythi--" Sierra grabbed onto Sigurd and smashed their lips together, pushing him against the wall.
Sigurd blinked, surprised at Sierra's forwardness. After a few moments, he shut his eyes and took charge of the situation.
Sierra flicked her tongue a little, causing the capsule to enter Sigurd's mouth. After a few more moments, after she was sure that he had swallowed the capsule, she pulled away.
"Era." Sigurd blinked, then stepped back, as if he were about to keel over. "Wh-what?" Sigurd said weakly before falling over onto the floor. He was asleep.
Sierra smiled a little and folded her arms. "Sorry, Sigurd. I liked you, but I like the idea of a bathtub full of money even more." She bent over, took his keycard and left the room.
She walked to the elevator and pressed the up button. When the elevator doors opened, she pulled out a small device from her belt, opened the door to the bridge slightly and threw it in.
"Have a nice sleep boys." She whispered as she pushed a small remote. A few minutes passed, and when she thought it was safe, she entered the room. As she thought, the group of men that worked in the bridge were on the ground or slouched in their chairs fast asleep.
Sierra grabbed the keycard and swiped it through the security clearance slot. She shut off the security system and placed the doors in the living areas locked for the next hour. She continued on her way, running down to the Gear Dock.
She threw another sleep gas bomb into the supply station of the dock, where the workers were resting. She passed the clearance to release Blitzkrieg from the holds and opened the dock to the outside. She ran out through the Gear Dock and to the small pine cluster where Karina was sitting.
Karina immediately stood up. "Sierra, what's going on? Why is the Gear Dock open?" She asked and stood up.
Sierra said nothing but walked up and grabbed her by the hair.
"Ow! Agh, Sierra!! What are you doing?!" Karina screeched and twisted around, trying to get away from Sierra.
"Ugh, be a good little girl!" Sierra snapped and reached for a capsule.
"Let go of me!" Karina twisted, dropping her book. Sierra twisted Karina's arm behind her back and slammed her against the ground.
Sierra took another small capsule, grabbed Karina's face, and forced the small pill into her mouth. Try as she might, Karina couldn't get away, and she accidentally swallowed the pill, not able to spit it out since Sierra was covering her face.
"Mmmf!" Karina struggled, her squirms becoming weaker and weaker until she fell silent.
Sierra lifted up Karina's now limp body and drug her back to the Gear Dock. As soon as she managed to get back to Blitzkrieg, she threw Karina in the back of the cockpit and jumped into the seat.
She activated Blitzkrieg and commanded it to leave the Yggdrasil and go to the exact coordinates she put in. A few moments later she was on her way out of the Yggdrasil and to her destination.
Billy blinked and looked at the clock as he put the last dish away. There was just enough time to get out there and talk to Karina and lead up to what he wanted to tell her.
He walked up to the door and tried to open it, but the door wouldn't budge. "Hey." Billy blinked. "The door won't open."
A moment later the door was pushed open by Rico, Bart and a very out of it looking Sigurd behind him.
"What's going on?" Billy whispered and walked up.
Fei stood up and bit his lip. "Billy."
Brad walked up and pushed Fei out of the way. "It happened, I knew it would!" He snapped and glared at Sigurd. "I can't believe you trusted her!"
Billy's eyes widened and he stepped forward. "Brad, what happened?"
Brad glared at Sigurd, then looked at Billy. "That bitch."
"What?" Billy whispered.
Kajumei stepped forward. "It was that Sierra chick! She knocked Sigurd out and used that time to lock us in and take Blitzkrieg. She ran off!"
Billy blinked. ".So?"
Ziggy looked at Billy. "She took home girl, Mon!"
Billy blinked again. "Excuse me?"
"Sierra took Karina!" Fei blurted out.
"What?!" Billy's eyes widened. "Then why didn't we go after her?!"
Sigurd sighed. "She disabled the Gears. And the tracking system. and we can't use the Yggdrasil yet. Its repairs aren't finished."
"Then I'm working around the clock!" Brad snapped and ran out of the room.
"Brad." Kajumei shook her head and followed Brad.
Billy sat down, feeling to weak to stand up. He looked out the window, his stomach sinking. "I couldn't protect her. again." He whispered and looked at Bart and Fei. "We've gotta save her, guys."
Sigurd folded his arms. "This is all my fault."
Citan set his hand on Sigurd's shoulder. "No it isn't, Sigurd. You couldn't have known.."
"I should never have let her stay." Sigurd growled.
"It's OK, Sig. We'll get Karina back." Jessie growled and sat down.
"Yes we will." Billy whispered and stood up. "I'm gonna go save her as soon as Renmazuo is repaired."
"You have my help!" Fei grinned.
"You got all of our help dude! Sierra tricked us all! And she ate all my drumsticks!" Bart stood up as well.
"Bart. That was you." Jessie squinted.
"Oh yeah." Bart blinked. "But still!"
"Let's do it!" Fei grinned.
Sierra entered the main hall of the ship she was to meet up with her employers in. The assistant that spoke with her on the intercom entered, with armed guards following.
"I brought her, now hold up your end of the bargain." Sierra snapped and threw a barely conscious Karina forward.
The man smiled and looked at Karina. "Yes. Very good, LeRage."
Sierra folded her arms. "I want it."
"Want what?" The man smiled at her.
"Duh. My payment you skinny little lap dog." Sierra snapped.
"Oh, right." He nodded.
"Well?" Sierra folded her arms.
"You're not getting any payment." He said quietly.
"What?!" Sierra lunged forward. "But you said."
"I can't believe you fell for it." He smiled. "You really think I'd pay you to bring her. I know you are going to try to betray me."
"So now what?!" Sierra snapped.
He smiled and looked down. "Of course, how very rude of me." He nodded and pointed at the men guarding him. "Gentlemen, if you will please escort Miss Karina to her room and the rest of you." He looked at Sierra. "Have some fun with her, do whatever you want, but when you're done." He turned away. ".Kill her."