Chapter IX: Cutlass.

Elia Aurious looked at the damage the pirates left behind. For vengeance, they sacrificed almost a hundred of their fighters. Half of them were shot down by the Phoenix.

She could not believe it. Seeing the Cutlass brought a sense of nostalgia. Its flight was flawless and graceful, as she remembered it was.

"But is it who I think it is?" she asked herself. She didn't have long to ponder it for she saw a very familiar face approaching her.

"Mom!" she called out.

"Aimee!" Elia smiled. "I thought I'd lose you." she gave her daughter a big hug and smiled.

"Me too," Aimee said. "But I think I had an angel watching me."

"I think so too," Elia said. "Where did you go?"

"To a friend," she answered. "Remember the one who piloted the Lightning in the air show?"

"Isamu said he was good," suspicion crept into the mayor's head. "Is this the same person who Patty and Clarissa kept gossiping about?"

"The same," Aimee blushed. "This might sound girlish but I want you to meet him." Dread filled Elia's heart. Since when did her daughter grow up? She could make an excuse but she would not evade the issue.

"Ask him to dinner sometime," Elia said. "In a couple of days when the chaos has ebbed."

"Oh, thank you mom!" she hugged her mother and started off. "See you later,"

Elia smiled as she saw he daughter off. Isamu must know something about the boy and she must know what there is to know about him.

…

Captain Dyson was reviewing the footage in his office when his door chimed. He thought the pilot good but also cunning. Attacking in full throttle, he never gave his enemies time to adjust.

"Enter," he called and the door opened. As he looked up, he smiled as he saw his friend, Mayor Aurious. "It's a pleasure seeing you. What brings you here?"

"My daughter," she sighed. Offering her a seat, Isamu frowned as he went to get her a cup of tea.

"Has she applied for the defense force again?" he asked. Aimee had tried to apply behind her mother's back but the Captain was on to her.

"This is more serious," she said. "What do you know about the Lightning pilot in the air show?" Isamu smiled as he faced her.

"Aimee's sixteen. You know this would happen eventually."

"I never thought that she would find someone who would match her," she said. "Being better than you in flying does not make a good husband."

"Chris, Clarissa's friend, told me that it seemed that Aimee took notice of him 'before' she met the 'pilot' of the Valkyrie." This made her relax, a bit.

"So you think its love?" she asked.

"She was looking at the crowds for him and not for the pilot of the Lightning," he said. "I think that's saying much but it's too early to tell."

"What do you know about him?" she asked eagerly.

"What I got from Yan is that he's a cool customer. Seemed that he didn't like Valkyries but know pretty much about them. He lets the kid hang around his shop while he taught him how certain parts work. He became a good mechanic but his love for Valkyries still hasn't flourished."

"Obviously he knew where to hit," Elia said. "He knew just where to fire and disabled or destroyed the pirate's fighters."

"Obviously," Isamu smiled. "But Yan didn't know where the kid learned how to fly. The kid never saw a simulator before when Yan showed him one. When he operated the simulator, it was like he knew how to fly better than a veteran."

"Surely he could not be that good," she said. Isamu smirked and showed her the footage from the air show. Witnessing the creation she gave a soft whistle and smirked. "Not bad."

"Admit it, Elia. You're trying fault where there is none," with that, Elia sighed. "Meet the kid. It could be healthy for your relationship with your daughter."

"Fine, I will. Do you know where he lives?"

…

Nathaniel looked up as he heard a unique sound of thermonuclear turbines as he worked on the VT. Looking up from the cockpit, he saw what he already knew. From the FF-2770D engines, he actually smiled when he saw the Valkyrie landing near the door of the barn.

He smiled for it was rare to see such Valkyrie and only seen such in pictures.

Landing in front of his barn was the Vampire. The VF-14 fighter/bomber. It had a respectful presence with its navy blue finish. And when the pilot emerged, he could see why. Carrying an air of dignity, the lady pilot removed her helmet revealing her blue tresses flowing from her head.

And when she saw her face, he knew exactly who it was. But still, he was confused as to why she was here.

"Good Afternoon," she greeted. Nat stood up and exited the cockpit.

"Good afternoon, my lady," he bowed. "What can I do for you?"

"Actually, I need my Dragon looked at. I hear from Aimee that you're a mechanic. And judging from your workshop…" she looked at the barn, "You are." Nat chuckled as he smiled.

"May I?" he asked. With a nod, she gave permission. "You know, at the risk sounding like a total idiot, there are better ways on checking on a person that has an interest with your sister." Suddenly, the pilot giggled. Nat turned around and blinked.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked. Smiling, she shook her head and looked at him from head to toe.

"She didn't tell me you were insightful," she said. "And I'm not her sister."

"Her cousin then?" he asked.

"Her mother," she said making his eyes widened in awe.

"Mother?" he looked at her and shook his head. "I would never have guessed."

"Really?" she asked.

"Really," he said as he ran his fingers underneath a wing. His face suddenly became serious and looked at her in surprise.

"What is it?" she asked but looking at her, he merely smiled.

"There's nothing wrong with your Vampire," he said. "Are you here to tell me to back off from Aimee?"

"I have yet to decide that," Elia sighed as she walked towards him. "Tell me, if you didn't like Valkyries, why are you working on them?"

"I don't like Valkyries for a reason that is personal," he said. "In any case, I tolerate them."

"But you fly them as if you, yourself, are one with it."

"It's a curse I have," he said as he walked towards the barn. "But I wouldn't exchange it for anything if it makes me close to your daughter." Touched, Elia sighed and smiled.

"You know, she likes you for you. She liked you before she knew that you could fly well."

"So why all the questions?" he asked but then a question gnawed him. "She's… engaged someone else?"

"To my best friend's son," she looked saddened to tell him but she must.

"I… see," he frowned in thought. "Does he have a name?"

"I don't exactly know," she sighed as she looked away. "We were separated before she bore her son. Each time I went to a system, I asked around for her but she suddenly disappeared from sight."

"You promised you daughter to a guy you haven't met?" he asked incredulously. "What did she thought of it?"

"I never told her," Elia said as she leaned on one of the landing gears. "She has this rule that she would only date men that could beat her in the sky."

"She mentioned it," he said.

"Did she also mention that her mother's a space pirate?" she looked for a reaction and calmness was not it."

"She mentioned it," he said.

"And that does not deter you?" Elia smiled at the boy's demeanor. He would fight for something he treasures, that she saw in his eyes.

"Should it?" he asked. "You are a law abiding city official now. The Midnight Raven has a skeleton crew and without the right parts, could not leave the atmosphere," immediately, he stopped. He realized he had revealed something he should not.

For Elia, the Midnight Raven had a very sentimental meaning to her. The Midnight Raven is the mother ship of the Nightbirds, her Pirate clan. And what did he mean 'has'?"

However, she let it go, for now.

"You have guts, I like that," she smiled. "Come to my office so I could conduct a full interview."

"Interview?" Nat asked in confusion.

"Surely you did not think that I would let my baby see just anyone," she smiled mischievously. "I need to know your capabilities and skills. And of course, if you are husband material." This brought a blush on his cheeks.

"Ah… okay," he stammered. With a satisfied smile, Elia kissed him on the cheek and took off. When the Vampire was already out of sight, Nat just stood there bewildered as to what had happened.

"I'm in big trouble," he sighed as he went back to the hangar to fix the VT.

But his thoughts were on the pilot who could become his mother-in-law.

If he passed, that is.