Commanding Officer Mel
Disclaimer: I still don't own the company that made Advance Wars but I do own a copy of the game as usual.
Author's note – And anything in it is in Romanji or Pinyin and base Cantonese. Read And Review!
Time: Whenever we left off . . .
Place: On the road to Lost Fortress
Finally Mel untied Andy and let him in the car.
"Yeesh . . .That was rough."
"Hmph . . .at least I didn't leave you out there."
"Yeah . . .I guess . . ."
"Mel!!!" Sami yelled.
"What?"
"Watch the road!!!" She said as a car whizzed by them.
"Sorry . . ."
"It's all right . . .just as long as you don't get us killed before we get home . . ."
"Heh . . ."
"What are we doing now? What do you wanna do?"
"Put a sock in it . . ." Sami muttered as she shut Andy up.
"Mmph!"
"Ah . . .silence . . ." With that, they drove on until they reached their destination.
Time: Round . . .7:00 p.m.
Place: Sami and Andy's Pad
"Nice place . . ."
"I know . . ."
"Well . . .I'll be going now . . .another coupla hours and I'll be home . . .see ya."
"Bye!" Just as Mel turned to leave, Sami grabbed hold of him spun him around and planted a kiss right on his lips. "Mmm . . .there. I'll say that'll count as a first. Now don't you say a thing, get going . . .I'll see you soon . . .if you can come by. Okay?"
". . .eh . . .wha . . .wow . . ." Came his surprised reply.
"Night, night . . .sorta . . ." Sami said as she pushed him out . . .her face turning slightly red.
"Night . . ." He mumbled as he managed his way down the walkway to his car. It was gonna be a long drive home.
Time: Some days later . . .
Place: Yellow Comet
"Daddy!!! When are they coming!?"
"Please Sonja, daddy's trying to figure out this wretched machine . . ."
"Daddy!!! You do this!" Sonja exclaimed as she quickly keyed in the components for the program.
"Urk . . .how did you do that Sonja?"
"You're hopeless at this daddy . . .you should just leave this to me."
"(sighs) I guess so Sonja. Anyhow . . .Mel and his friends aren't coming until a bit later. Perhaps around the middle of this month. Fortunate that your mother isn't here to see me being bested by this stupid machine . . ."
"I guess so daddy . . ." 'I can't tell daddy that Andy and I have a relationship . . .he'll flip. He'd want me to marry some Yellow Comet warlord's son or something . . .ah what a tangled web we weave . . .'
"Now then . . .I better get the rest of the things done . . ."
"I thought we had servants . . ."
"Not anymore . . .can't pay them enough . . .greedy wretches . . ."
"I thought you had no clue how to do housework daddy . . ."
"Who says I was raised to be emperor all my life?"
"Umm . . .you?"
"Wrong. I was once poor and powerless too. It's just from hard work and fighting that I rule this land. And having royalty as your ancestors first."
"Oh . . .that's interesting . . ."
"Now then . . .what do you want to eat?"
"Anything will be fine daddy . . ." Sonja sighed as she headed off to change into her kimono.
Time: Same day
Place: Mel's house
"What a bore . . .I'll call up the two idiots to see if they can come . . ." Mel muttered as he walked over to the phone. Dialing, he sighed as he wondered what was going on as he was busy planning for whatever spare time he had to vacation. With Kanbei's request to speak of internal affairs in Yellow Comet, and a business to deal with, it is rather difficult to find spare time for one's self and one's friends. "Wei? Yeah, Gabe? Uh huh . . .I'm good . . .really? That's nice . . .Say can you come to Comet with me in . . .two weeks? . . .Uh huh . . .right . . .sure she can come . . .what? Gary's here too? Let me talk to him . . .yeah . . .hey . . .can you come too? You can? Great! What? Her too? Uh sure . . .I think he said five friends . . .that leaves one more person . . .Andy? What? Heck no! He'll get castrated on the spot once he gets there! . . .Wrong? Who says it's wrong? Kanbei's in control . . .even Sonja can't change his mind sometimes . . .Ah . . .right . . .so there's the two of you coming and the two of them, right . . . who am I bringing? That's none of your business! Neh . . .idiot . . .right . . .uh huh . . .come by in two weeks, we'll take the company jet. Yeah . . .no! I'm not flying the damned thing! That's dangerous! No, you're not flying it either blind boy! You're vision's worse than mine! Uh huh, yeah, sure. Whatever . . .see ya." Hanging up, Mel rubbed his temples, as he muttered about his companions' constant idiocy. He stared hard out the window, until his eyes hurt . . .until the noise of the phone ringing interrupted his train of thought. "Eh?"
----------------------------------------
On the other end of the line was Sami . . .apparently, she was upset about something.
"Mel?"
"Yeah?"
"Umm . . .we have a slight . . .problem . . ." Her voice started to get shaky and waver.
"What's the matter . . ."
"We . . .we . . ." Her voice started to crack.
"What?"
"The . . .government . .. couldn't afford . . ."
"What about the government?"
"We . . .we . . ." The shakes were getting worse.
"Is there something wrong?"
". . .the . . .house . . ." More shakes . . .
"What? Get Andy here! Now!!!"
"Okay . . .(sniff)" She started to cry softly.
"Hey . . .yeah . . .umm . . .dude . . .what she tried to say was . . .well . . .we're kinda in a jam right now . . ."
"What!?"
"Well the government couldn't afford to pay for all those people that lost family and homes and stuff . . .and there are others that need the place we're at . . .so we're required to move out . . .now." Sami's crying had gotten a bit louder in the background . . .
"What are we . . .gonna . . .do Andy?" She managed, before curling herself up into a ball on the sofa. She wiped at her tears, pondering what they could do. It's bad enough they lost their family's, but now their home? That's just great . . .
". . .well . . .do you want me to come down now?" Mel suggested. "I've got more than enough space at my place for more than just me."
". . .dude . . .you're willing to do that for us?"
"No . . .not you . . .just her."
"(twitch) WHAT!?"
"Just kidding man."
"Oh . . ." He turned to Sami. "Hey Sami, Mel says we can stay at his place!"
". . .what? Really?" She straightened up a bit and looked hard at Andy's face. "You're serious?"
"I am dead serious."
". . .thank you Mel . . ." She said softly.
"Hey! Get packing! I'll be down soon. I'm taking a copter down. See ya!"
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Running up to the very, very far back of the land on his property, Mel leapt into the transport copter awaiting him. Starting it, he tried to remember how to get to Andy and Sami's place. Quietly hoping that they'd be ready, he pushed the lever, ascending, watching as the land shrank farther back and he shook his head as he reached the horizon.
----------------------------------------
Andy was outside, standing next to the last few suitcases of the little belongings that he and Sami shared. Looking out for a white copter, he stared hard into the sun.
"Wow . . .I'm surprised he's willing to take us in just like that . . .could be fate . . .ah fate's a bitch sometimes . . ." He cursed silently and spat at the ground. Sami was lying partially asleep from the emotional distress, against her suitcase. Wearing a pair of worn sandals, and her usual sleeveless shirt and shorts, she had a pillow hugged to her chest.
"Mmm . . .hic . . ." She quietly moaned.
"Shhh . . .it's all right . . .I think he's coming soon."
"Hmm . . .sniff . . ."
"Any second-" Andy was cut off by the sound of a helicopter's propellers closing in. "What the? Wow . . .talk about coincidences . . ." Finally the metal contraption had come to a stop, and Mel stepped out. "I thought you didn't fly."
"Copters, yes. Jets, no way . . .Sami?" He walked over to the girl, curled up in a fetal position. "Are you all right?"
". . .hmm?" She turned to look at who was addressing her. "Mel? Mel!" She leapt to her feet and tightly embraced him.
"Ack . . .not so tight . . ."
"Sorry . . .but it's really upsetting . . .you sure got here fast though . . .I'm so glad . . ."
"Hush . . .you've practically lost it all . . ."
"Mmm . . ." She just stood and held on.
"You're gonna be okay now?"
". . .I guess . . ." She said, not letting up on her grip around him.
"You can ease up a little please?"
"All right . . .it's just that . . .well . . ."
"It's okay . . .you don't have to tell me . . .now anyway."
"Okay . . ."
"I just feel safe when you're around most of the time . . ."
"That's good to know . . ."
". . .what now?"
"Well . . .we can help Andy get the stuff into the copter."
"Okay . . ."
"Let's go." The two headed towards the copter with the few remaining pieces of luggage and boxes of possessions. After finishing up, Mel closed the panels, and started it up again. "Take one last look . . .and we'll soon see your new home!" He said grinning.
"That seems nice . . ." Sami said, giving him a small smile.
"Woo-hoo! So long Lost Fortress! To be honest that place was a heck hole."
"How can you say that . . .?"
"It was never a good place to begin with . . ." Andy said sighing.
"I guess . . ."
"Hey . . .ease up you two . . .we're almost there . . ."
"So soon?"
"It's a copter . . .it doesn't take that long ya know . . ."
"Oh right . . ." She gave a half-hearted glance out the window. And was astounded by the size and shape of the buildings down below. "You . . .you live here? By yourself?"
". . .yeah . . .I guess . . ."
"Wow . . ."
"I can't believe it . . ."
"Believe it then Sami. . ." Mel said as he started to land the vehicle. ". . .ah . . .welcome to my . . .um . . .helipad . . .I guess. Ha . . ." He laughed at his own lame joke.
"Well . . .it's . . .interesting."
"Yeah . . ."
"Well . . .on your left . . .is well my backyard." Mel said playing tour guide. Sami was shocked to see a bonsai rock garden that could rival Sonja's in Yellow Comet. Other than that . . .it was like a normal back yard. Lush lawn, flowers, trees, bushes, and the like.
"Ooh . . .pretty." Sami said as she looked at the various trees and plants.
"And that's . . .well . . .my house, I guess." He said leading them down a path. As they headed around the path to a large, but rather normal looking home. "Home . . .sweet home . . ."
"Wow . . .big . . ." Andy said looking at the three story house.
"Yeah . . .well welcome to my house . . ."
"Mel . . .it's so . . .nice." Sami said, stepping in. She looked around. It was similarly decorated to Mel's dorm room, but with more stuff. Like pictures, and other furniture. Other than that, there wasn't anything interesting except some weapons cases and some various knickknacks sitting around. ". . .what's with all the stuff?"
"Neh . . .I collect stuff . . ."
"Oh . . ."
"Follow me . . ." He said leading them upstairs. "La . . .here's my room." He said in a very bad Asian accent.
"Mel, what's with the accent?" Sami asked.
"Neh . . .just I talk like that whenever I'm by myself . . .I'm used to it."
"And you expect us to listen to you for the rest of the summer with that accent?" Sami spat back in Chinese.
"Bout time you actually said something like that."
"Whoa, whoa, let's all stop fighting for a sec . . .I'm stressed out!" Andy said, trying to push the two feuding people apart from each other.
". . .Is it just me, or was Lau acting serious?" Mel asked, in surprise.
". . .I guess so . . ." Sami said, tilting her head, staring oddly at Andy.
"What?"
". . .neh . . .never mind . . .and . . .right . . .this is my room." Mel said pointing to his room. Sami wasn't surprised. It was practically the same as his dorm room, but it had a computer and video games sitting there neatly in front of a big screen TV.
"Nice room Mel . . ."
"Eh . . .thanks."
"Where do we stay then?"
"Right . . .follow me upstairs some more.. ." He said dully, as they heaved their stuff after him. "Here . . .take your pick . . ." He said drearily pointing to two rooms. "They're my extra rooms that I use when I'm bored . . . good night."
"Umm . . .Mel . . .it's hardly even 12:00 yet . . ."
"Eh? Oh . . ." Then he fell over.
"What in the . . .?"
"Well, he's still breathing . . ." Andy said poking his friend carefully.
"Don't poke him!" Sami said, knocking him over too.
". . .aw man . . .I really shouldn't be up so late . . .it makes me dizzy . . ."
"Mel!!! I thought you passed out! Don't scare me like that!!!"
"Ugh . . .sorry Sami . . .I need a rest . . ." He managed to pick himself up, and he flopped onto the bed.
"Hmm . . .what a bore . . ." Sami said following her boyfriend to his room. "Are you gonna stay there all day?"
". . .yes . . .wait . . .do me a favor . . .call Gabe and Gary . . ."
". . .okay . . ."
". . .actually . . .forget it . . .I'll do it tomorrow."
". . .okay . . ."
". . .and get some rest . . .looks like you need it too."
". . .okay . . ."
". . .one more thing . . .stop saying 'okay'."
". . .umm . . .sure . . ." She said, giving him a small hug. "I will . . ."
"Thanks . . ." He mumbled, as he fell asleep. Sami headed towards her room. Looking around . . .it was rather cozy, she walked over and sat on the bed.
"Hmm . . .comfy . . ." She said curling up on the cushy sheets. "I wonder how he manages by himself . . .it's so lonely to have a house and be the only one there." Giving her head a shake, she got up and changed. Pulling at her socks first, she thought of what strange things were going to happen as she stayed at the Mah house. "I wonder . . .this might actually be good . . ." She tossed off the rest of her clothes and pulled on a pair of shorts and very baggy T-shirt. "I wonder what he's doing for the rest of this summer? Hmm . . .oh great! I need to change my current address and things to boot . . .great." She shuffled on her tush and lay on her stomach with her face in a pillow. "Maybe getting some sleep will do me some good . . .it's been far too stressful . . ." She too began snoozing.
Time: That night
Place: Mel's house
Sami stretched out, and looked around. Her glasses were placed somewhere on the floor and she found herself looking at an unfamiliar ceiling . . .
"Where am I?"
"My house . . ."
"What the? Mel! What are you doing here?"
"I'm checking up on you. You look a lot more peaceful when you're asleep you know."
"Hmph . . .so do you."
"Ah well . . .you hungry?" He asked, taking a seat on the bed.
"Not really." She said leaning on his shoulder. "You know, it's really nice of you to let us stay . . .I wish I could make it up to you."
"You don't have to . . .having company is making up enough."
"Thanks . . ." She blinked a bit. "You sure?"
"I am absolutely sure."
"Well . . .I'll make it up to you this way instead."
"Huh?"
"Hold still." She reached over and pulled him next to her.
'Kiss . . .'
"There."
". . ." Mel felt himself turning red. "Wow . . ."
"You're welcome."
". . .oh . . .right! I remember now! I was meaning to ask you something a bit later, when I was going to visit. I'm going west to Comet. You wanna come?"
". . .Comet? Yellow Comet? Of course! But what about Andy?"
"If he goes, he'll be gutted on the spot."
"Why?"
"You know her dad? Well he's kinda overprotective. That's why I've been around doing bodyguard work for a couple of years, until I left . . ."
"Oh wow . . ."
"And if he finds out that she has a boyfriend, he'll flip."
"Hmm . . ."
"So we'll leave it at that. He's not going. But Gabe and the rest of them are accompanying me."
"So there's at least four more of them then?"
"Yes. We'll have a great time. Anyway . . .we needed someone to watch our houses for a while . . .heh."
"You are so mean sometimes."
"I know."
"Oh well . . .I guess I could get at least some pasta right now . . ."
"Sure, I'll make some." He got up and headed for the kitchen . . .
Time: The next day
Place: Mel's house
". . .Mel!!!"
"Wha!?"
"Wake up! Your buddies are here!" Sami said standing over him. She was wearing an oversized T-shirt and was still also somewhat semi-conscious.
"So soon? Ah, idiots . . ." He groaned as he managed to crawl out of bed.
"You're not yourself whenever vacations come are you?"
". . .nope . . .need energy . . ."
"Want chocolate?" She gave him her 'evil, malicious' grin that meant she wanted chocolate.
". . .what!? I don't need caffeine to wake me up! Gimme some . . .cola!"
". . .uh . . .Mel, that has caffeine in it though . . ."
"Dang . . ."
"You're too silly. Now get up!" She dragged him out of his bed and onto the floor.
"All right . . .all right . . .I'm moving!" He grumbled as he headed towards the washroom.
"Thank goodness! I'll tell them you're coming then."
"I will have to cause excruciating pain to all now . . ."
"What was that?"
". . .nothing . . ."
"Okay."
" . . .right . . .uh . . .I'll be down in five minutes."
"Hurry will you?"
"What's the rush?"
"Ugh . . .what do I have to do to hurry you up?" She spun around, walked up to him, and planted a kiss right on him. "There!"
" . . .uh . . .wow . . .I'm awake! I'm awake!"
"No, you're not sleeping beauty. Now move it!" She said sternly.
"Fine, fine . . ."
". . .don't worry though. They won't mind waiting, after they saw what I was wearing when I answered the door."
"And what was that?"
"Not this T-shirt!"
". . .(twitch) WHAT!? I'll kill them!!!" Mel dashed off to get changed and to lay massive beat downs on his friends.
"I knew that would rile him up." Sami said giggling.
Time: Moments later . . .
Place: You know the place!
"OW!!! OW!!! Let go!!! My ARM!!! AUGH!!! IT'S BROKEN!!!"
"OH !!! THE
PAIN!!! ACK!!! ACK!!! I SWEAR!!! I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING!!! PLEASE!!!
HONEST TO GOD!!! GET OFF MY SPLEEN!!!"
"I don't
believe!!! DIE!!!" Mel continued his relentless assault. That was
until Sami came downstairs.
". . .Mel!!! I was joking!!!"
". . .(sudden pause) What?"
"Andy answered the door. I just said that to get you downstairs." She said, brushing her hair.
". . .oh."
"You mean to say that your girlfriend just made that all up, so that we'd get beaten senseless?" Gary asked, while trying to scrape himself off the ground.
"Girls, figures . . ." Gabe muttered.
"What was that Mr. Chang?" Sami said, as she stepped on him as she walked by.
"Oof . . .nothing."
"Good."
"Help . . ."
"Now, Mel. What's the plan?" Sami asked, taking a seat next to him.
"Well . . .wait a sec, where are the other two?"
'Ding Dong'
"Eh . . .I spoke too soon." Mel got up to answer the door. "Ah . . .good morning!"
"Ohayou Mel-kun."
"Hai, Ohayou." The two girls walked in, and took a seat next to their respective boyfriends.
"Well, now everyone . . .except Andy's here, we can discuss how this trip to Yellow Comet will work." Mel his seat next to Sami, and he flipped on the vid-phone. "Sonja!"
". . .mmph . . .wha?" Sonja appeared on the screen a bit bleary eyed.
"Hi!"
"(yawn) . . .mornin', what do you want? I was taking a nap."
"Well . . .we're discussing our trip to Comet."
". . .! Is Andy coming?"
"No."
"Why?" She started to whine.
"Because, if he did, your daddy would have him castrated, gutted, skinned and buried alive."
". . .Ooh . . .right."
"So anyway . . .the . . .six of us are coming. Right?"
"RIGHT!" Was the unanimous reply.
"Okay. Well, we'll be around for four days or so . . .and we'll need to bring some clothes and other necessary traveling junk. As well, bring some traditional clothes too, just in case Kanbei drags us to some festivities or ceremonies. If you need any, I'll arrange to have some made before hand."
". . .Sonja!!!" Sami all of a sudden burst out. "Get me a kimono ready then!"
". . .okay . . .I need your . . .measurements and stuff . . ."
"Mel . . .guys, can you leave for a bit. This is private."
"Kay." Mel dragged his two buddies away, to give the girls a little privacy, as they did some measuring.
"Eek! That pinches! Stop!!! That tickles!"
"Calm down Sami-chan."
"Yes, do so."
"I would, but you're tickling me to death!" Then there was a thud, and an explosion of giggling came out from the living room.
". . .nice digs you got here dude."
". . .I challenge you to a round of Smash!"
". . .you're on!" The guys turned their attention to beating each other senseless in Super Smash Bros. Melee . . .
Time: Later . . .around 5:00 p.m.
Place: Mel's house (duh), third floor,
"Ahh . . .that's better." Sami sighed as she stepped of the shower. She toweled off, and wrapped it around herself. ". . .(yawn) . . .That was tiresome . . ." She walked off to her room, just as Andy ran by and bumped into her. "Oof!"
"Gah!!!" He slid and hit the wall.
"STUPID!!! WATCH WHAT YOU'RE DOING!!!" She said angrily as she clutched the towel even closer to her chest.
". . .ugh . . .sorry . . ."
"What do you think you were doing? Going on a kamikaze mission?"
". . .no, I really had to go . . ."
". . .idiot . . .there's more than one bathroom on this floor."
". . .really?"
"Try looking NEXT to your room. Not MINE."
"Ooh . . ."
"Now if you don't mind, I need to get some clothes on. And don't you even think about trying to get a peek you pervert."
". . .eww . . .why would I look at my own cousin? That's gross."
"Well 'cause you are gross."
"Why I ought to!"
"And another thing, I'm OLDER."
". . .Grr . . ."
"Hmph!" She stormed off into her room.
"Girls . . .who needs them. Well . . .let's see . . .Sami actually wouldn't count, she's such a flat-chested, tom-boyish freak." Obviously, Andy had used these comments very often, as Sami had overheard, and began beating a pillow into submission. She hadn't even bothered to change yet.
"FLAT-CHESTED!? I'll show him flat-chested!!!" She then whipped off the towel and stomped out to prove that she wasn't flat-chested to Andy . . . unfortunately, it wasn't Andy who happened to walk by.
". . .hi Sami . . .what the!? I SWEAR! I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING!!!" It was Mel.
". . .Mel . . .? Oh crap . . .augh!!!" She immediately ran back into her room and was turning very, very red. "Eep . . ."
'Knock, knock'
"Are you decent in there?"
". . .not yet . . ." She sat on top of the bed, with the sheets pulled up to her neck.
". . .eh, what were you doing?" Mel said, making a face.
". . .umm . . .well . . .er . . ."
"You know what, forget it. Get dressed and then whatever. I need to go shopping, I'll be back in an hour or so."
"Wait! Let me come with you! I wanna help out!" Sami quickly dashed about and pulled on something casual to wear. Or whatever the heck she managed to pull out in order to go shopping.
". . .what in the . . .?"
"What?"
"No, look in the mirror." Mel felt like he was in a bad anime.
". . .oops . . ." Sami giggled as she realized that she had dressed in the school uniform she had bought during her birthday.
"Umm . . .change . . .please. You look like Sakura or something from Street Fighter." He hand was over his face, practically clawing at it. "And another thing, do you normally go around in your own house naked or something?"
". . .no." She said turning red again. ". . .umm . . .the thing was, Andy said something about me, then I was going to . . ."
"Beat the living heck out of him? Or flash him so that his eyes burn up?"
". . ." Sami just sat there turning very red.
". . .you okay?"
". . .mmm . . .yeah . . .I guess, I'm just really embarrassed." She whimpered.
"It's okay. I honestly don't really care what weird things you guys do at my house, as long as it doesn't affect me." He said kneeling down next to her. "C'mon. Let's go." He took her hand and led her off to the garage.
Time: A few days later, around 11:00 p.m.
Place: Same place . . .
Sami was curled up on the couch hugging a pillow in her pajama top. Next to her, Mel was watching TV in an old T-shirt and shorts. A few messy strands of her long hair framed her face as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"What are you doing here if you're so tired?"
"What's it look like? I'm snuggling." She moved in closer and closed her eyes.
"All right." He let that slide.
"You might be all calm and laid-back, but you still seem to be unable to loosen up. What's with that?"
"I'm not really sure. I'm not like that."
"Oh well. I still like you the way you are." She responded, nuzzling at his shoulder.
"Hmm."
"You know, this is the first time I've ever gotten close to a guy before, to be honest"
"So I've heard. Andy says that,"
"Because none of them have beaten me."
"Yep."
"I used to have a proud streak a mile long. Not until you ripped it into a billion little pieces."
"And that's a bad thing?"
"Not at all. In fact, it was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me." She replied, after sticking the pillow on top of Mel's lap, grabbing a blanket from the couch and lying down. "I have a boyfriend, somewhere to stay, someone to talk to, and a sense of security I haven't had for a very long time." She finished, as she started sleeping on the couch.
"Great . . .I'll have a heck of a Charlie-horse when I wake up tomorrow . . ." He sighed, as he fell asleep on the sofa as well.
Time: The next morning . . .
Place: Living room
Sami had snuggled up to where Mel was, and the two of them were still soundly asleep.
". . .(whine) . . ."
". . .zzz . . ."
". . .(whimper) . . ."
". . .zzz . . ."
". . .mmm . . ."
". . .zzz . . ."
". . .(yawn) . . ."
". . .huh?" Mel found himself face to face with Sami.
". . .(blink, blink) . . ."
". . .(blink) . . .???"
". . .?"
". . .!"
". . .!"
"Sami?"
"Mel?"
". . .what?"
". . .I was asleep here the whole time. What are you doing here?"
"I was asleep here the whole time too . . ." Just then Andy walked downstairs and noticed the two in extremely close proximity with each other.
"Hey! You two! Get a room!"
". . .Mel, what did he just say?"
". . . 'get a room?' . . .he is so going down. Care to join me?"
"With pleasure." Then the two gave chase.
"Wha? Oh crap . . .!" Andy started to run away.
"Not so fast buddy, I know my own house like the back of my hand, and if you're planning to hide in the backyard, you're making this even easier for us to kill you!!!"
"Tell me to get a room? Well, I'll show you!!!" Sami screeched after him. Andy ran as fast as he could, kicked on his sandals and dashed out the back door. The other two did the same, and dashed after him.
"Andy Lau! Your ass is mine!" Mel said running after him. Too bad Andy decided to try and lose them in thicket maze. Mel had it designed so that only he knew how to get through. That or else you'd have to be amazingly fricking lucky, which Mel also is.
"You can hide, but you can't run!" Sami said, activating her own personal Double Time skill.
"Shouldn't it be the other . . ." Mel was about to ask, but only saw a flash of red zoom past him. ". . .way around?"
"Not for me sweetie!" Sami said back at him, as she then found Andy and tackled him. "Gotcha cousin of mine." She said as she pinned him down. "Now what was that about me getting a room?"
" . . .gah! Gah! I was joking! Honest! Don't let Mel get here! He'll have my head!!!"
"Too late Andy. I'm here. Now for pay back!"
"Aw man . . ."
"Don't worry, we won't break anything. Or kill you." Sami said.
"Just maiming is fine."
"Umm . . .guys, isn't maiming worse than breaking?" Andy just had to ask.
"Depends on how you see it." Mel replied.
"Gulp . . .help . . ."
"Don't worry, we won't kill you, Sonja still wants you alive. Lucky."
"That really doesn't help." He groaned.
"Well whoop dee doo, your own fault Andy."
" . . .dang." Was the last thing he said before he was smacked around . . .
Time: An hour later . . .
Place: The kitchen
Sami sat with her knees tucked to her chest at the table. She sipped at her hot cocoa and watched Andy hanging from his feet upside down on the clothesline outside. Mel was finishing up the dishes and looked out where Andy was out like a light.
"Serves him right, huh Sami?"
"Yep."
"Of course, we'll have to take him down, before the neighbors start complaining . . .that is if I had any neighbors." He laughed.
"You don't?" She asked looking up.
"Well . . .since the property here's pretty expensive, it's a wonder if I even live here."
"Wow."
"Maybe when some peace or something is regained, we might be able to have more people around."
"Hmm . . .I guess so."
"Better see if the blood's gone to his head yet." Mel stepped out and yanked Andy off and dragged him back in.
"Wee . . .wow, what happened? Ouch . . .I need some anesthetic."
"Will some Jack Daniels do? That's the best I got."
". . .what?"
"Aw, never mind, here." Mel just went and dumped half of the amber fluid from the bottle into Andy's throat. "It should knock him out in . . .now."
"Wee . . .hic!"
"There we go."
"You sure using alcohol will cause the pain to go away?"
"Should work, don't worry, I'm not mixing it with anything. He'll be fine . . .in a couple of hours or so."
"Okay . . ." She shifted in her chair and got up. "Well, what are we doing today?"
"Nothing."
"Yay! That means more time with you!"
"Okay. If you say so." He said, pulling her next to him.
"Wee . . .pink panties . . ." Came a voice from the floor.
"???"
"???"
"Hic . . ."
"ACK!!! PERVERT!!!" Sami screamed as she then kicked Andy.
"I totally forgot he was there . . ."
"Me too . . ." Sami turned red as Mel went and dragged Andy's limp unconscious form and deposited it on the sofa. "How hard did you kick him?"
"Hard enough to make sure he won't do it for the rest of his life."
"Oh . . .hoo-boy, time for the other half of the bottle then." Mel took the bottle and a funnel and dumped the mixture down Andy's throat.
". . .where'd you get alcohol to begin with?"
"It's been sitting in the alcohol cabinet for a bit, and I don't personally drink, so I usually have to find some strange use for it 90% of the time. Usually as lighter fluid."
"Weird."
"I know. I don't even use lighters either."
"Really weird."
"Now where was I?"
"I dunno." She brushed up next to him and sighed. "It's awfully boring. And I've either beaten you, or you've beaten me in all the games you own."
"Except one . . ."
"What's that?"
"Battle Simulation."
". . .eegh . . .I never, ever, ever, ever, want to go up against you again."
"I thought you said it was a good experience."
"Maybe for you, but not me. I've never been so humiliated in my whole life."
"Oh . . .sorry."
"It's all right. But you're right, it was valuable to taste bitter defeat, despite how badly you don't want to." She said, leaning on him. Giving a sigh, she wiped at a few stray tears.
"It's still upsetting you? You shouldn't think about it."
". . .I guess so." She sniffed. "I guess I won't then. But . . ."
"What?"
". . .nothing . . ."
"Oh?"
"Really . . .it's nothing."
"All right."
". . .I . . .I'll go for a swim then . . ."
"How'd you know I had a pool?"
"With money like yours, how could you not afford to have one?" She said taunting at him.
"Oh! You're gonna get it!" He walked up to her, picked her up, and headed towards to pool.
"Hey! Hey! Mel!!! Let go!"
"Nope. Since you wanna swim, it's all yours!" He laughed as he tossed her into the pool.
"Mel!!! I'm soaked!!!"
"So?"
"Hmph!" She pouted as she clung to the edge. "Mel! That was mean!" She whined.
"Well . . .it's your own fault."
"Aww . . .at least could you toss me my swimsuit or something?" She continued to complain.
"Fine . . .fine . . ." He ran upstairs, then back down and tossed Sami her floral print swimsuit.
"You know," she said as he turned around while she changed in the water. "I do have more than one swimsuit."
"Oh really?"
"I'll wear it when we go to Comet."
". . ." Mel was silent, as he felt his face turn red.
"Hmm? Oh. I'm done now. You can turn around." She said tossing her wet clothes onto the pool deck.
". . ."
"Still speechless?" She asked, as she splashed some water at his feet.
"Phew . . .not anymore." He said as he turned around. "Hey! That's cold!"
"No really!? You tossed me in there! At least I took my glasses off before we reached the pool!"
"Eh . . .remind me to turn the heater on next time."
"Okay!" She happily floated along in the water, her long hair spreading around like a rose in bloom.
". . .pretty. I wonder how she managed to scare off so many potential boyfriends?" Mel said to himself. He walked off and looked out into the distance . . .
Time: Sometime later . . .
Place: Nell's House (I'm bored of writing about Mel, Sami and Andy for now . . .)
Nell was busying herself with cleaning out her home. She'd been busy lately, as she graduated . . .(finally!) And she was required to become part of the teaching staff at the University. Just great. She made a mad dash around the room attempting to find her lucky star pin . . .again. That and she had just been promoted to Advisory Officer. It was just great. She had to go and instruct a bunch of first year cadets too.
". . .Augh!" She dropped to her knees and clutched her head. "This is too much!!! I CAN'T FIND IT!!!" Then mini-Nell popped out and floated next to her head.
"Nell-chan! You ought to know it's usually where you left it last. And it's always on your jacket."
". . .oh! Right!"
"Told you so!"
'POOF!' Mini-Nell disappeared. Nell went over to her room and found her coat hanging on the chair. Right there, on her lapel was the lucky pin.
". . .ooh . . .oopsies . . .I knew it was there all along . . ." Then there was a knock on the door. "Coming!" She opened the door, and she found a person she'd least expect. "Mel?"
". . .umm . . .hi . . .yeah . . .I looked in the ledger and found your address . . ."
". . .uhh . . .Mel what are you doing here?"
". . .I was just wondering . . .are you going anywhere? I need someone to watch my place, as well as a few others while I'm gone for two weeks . . ."
". . .you know, it just so happens to be your lucky day. I'm not going anywhere. So, where do you live?"
"Castle Ridge."
". . .WHAT!? I thought no one lives there! That's the place where all the crazy rich people used to live!"
"And so I'm crazy and rich then right?"
". . .No not really."
"Good. Now if you'll take your car, you can follow me." Mel said walking out.
A/N: I know I said Mel wouldn't show up for a while . . .but then since he shows up almost everywhere . . .I can't get rid of him . . .¬¬;
"Okay! Coming." Nell got into her convertible and followed the black sports car out towards the area known as Castle Ridge.
Time: A bit later . . .
Place: Castle Ridge"At last . . .we're here."
"Soo . . .this is where you live . . .by yourself?"
". . .not really by myself anymore . . ."
". . .eh?"
"You'll see . . ."
"Huh?" Nell wondered. An enigma like that usually doesn't have company.
". . .I'm home . . ." Was all Mel managed before being tackled.
"Mel!!!"
". . .oh . . .you live with . . .Sami?"
"Oh hi Miss Nell!" Sami said looking up.
"What are you doing here?" Nell asked confused.
"I live here!"
". . .ugh . . ." Mel groaned.
"But . . .you two aren't related . . ."
"So? He's my boyfriend and he said I could live here because I lost my house."
"Oh. Another one of those government cases huh?" Nell said with some understanding.
". . .unfortunately." Sami said looking downcast.
"So that's why you're here."
". . .Sami, get off me please." Mel said, pushing at her.
". . .oops! Sorry." She got off him and brushed herself off. "So . . .what's Nell doing here?"
"She's gonna watch the place for me. With Andy."
"With Andy?" Nell asked.
"He's not going Nell." Mel answered. "Simple as that. If you don't know, Sonja's father is the Commander of Yellow Comet. That's where we are headed. However, since he is extremely paranoid, no one has the right to date his little girl . . .or so it seems." Mel said, after pulling out various charts and graphs and pointing at them, while both Sami and Nell sweat-dropped. "Anyway . . .if he does go . . ." Mel flipped a page this will happen . . ." He pointed at various censored images of the horrible things that could be done to Andy. "So therefore, we won't take him there . . .ever."
". . .uhh . . .Okay . . ."
"Soo . . .right . . .Andy!!!" Mel shouted.
"Coming! Coming!" Andy was so hurried, he tripped and rolled down the stairs.
". . .ugh." Sami groaned as she watched him fall.
"Owowowowowowowowowowowow . . ." Andy moaned.
". . ." Mel was wondering how this guy could actually manage to be a mechanic. He was dangerous to himself, how could he fix something like a tank and not have it blow up in his face?
". ..um . . .Hi Andy."
"Eh? Oh hey, it's Nell. Hey . . .ow . . .I can't feel my spine . . ."
"Don't worry, it'll wear off soon enough. Now, Nell is gonna help you watch all our places. Don't worry, they're all in Castle Ridge. And the girls still have their friends to watch their places, so we're fine."
"All OUR places? Who?"
"You know, my crazy trigger happy, hacky choppy friends from Christmas."
". . .ooh . . .them." Nell shuddered at the thought of the horrendous events that had occurred.
". . .you remember too?"
"I was there that night, thank you very much." Nell said, trying not to recall the events.
"Sorry . . ."
"It's all right." Nell said, "As long as I get something out of watching your place."
". . .what?"
"You expect me to do it for free?"
". . .umm . . .uhh . . .no . . .but . . ."
"I was just kidding!" Nell said laughing. "How about this though? If you can beat me in a sim-battle, I'll do it. If you don't beat me . . .you can give me 10 G for everyday you're gone."
". . .sounds good enough . . ." Mel said scratching his head. He hated whenever girls challenged him to a match. He hated especially whenever they started crying when he had hammered them into the ground. (He doesn't realize no one takes losing as lightly as he does . . .) Ah well. He shrugged. "All right. Sami, you wanna watch?"
"Sure! As long as I'm not the victim."
". . .what's she talking about?" Nell asked.
". . .uhh . . .nothing."
"Okay . . ." She swore the enigmatic boy was hiding something.
"Here." He took his seat at the kitchen table and flicked a switch.
"Wow. Built in dinner entertainment."
"I know. Now I won't hold back."
"Neither will I!"
"Good. This might actually be more of a challenge than Grit."
"You beat Grit!?"
"That I did."
"Wow. You are good."
"Thanks, but let's leave the compliments until later."
"If you say so!" Nell said teasingly. Mel mumbled to himself of how Nell seemed like the older sister he didn't have . . .or need for that matter. Sami sat herself next to Mel, peering at the screen.
"Are you gonna start it or not guys?"
"Sure . . . say . . .where's Andy?"
"I dunno . . .I think he's playing video games somewhere."
". . .oh. Works for me." Mel ignored Andy's absence and turned his attention to setting up the battle. "What rules?"
"Anything goes."
"All right." Mel quickly set the usual base rules he played by, weather on, fog on, 1000 G, powers on and the like. "Done." He turned his attention to the map being formed and looked intently on his screen. "Hmm . . ."
"All right Mel. Say, are dossiers on?"
". . .only if the ID pins are attached."
"Okay!" Nell took her lucky pin, which she so happened to have on almost everywhere and inserted it. Mel did the same and all the data was permanently uploaded for the rest of the battle. "Computer, access enemy CO stats." Nell ran up the statistics that belonged to Mel. ". . .ONE LOSS!?"
". . .what? Hmm . . .luckiest officer alive. Great. It's my lucky day."
". . .THREE TECHNIQUES? ZERO WEAKNESS? WHAT!?" Nell was shocked as anyone else who had read Mel's dossier.
"What?"
"He does have a weakness, you know. Me!" Sami said happily, hugging Mel.
". . .great . . .his hyper girlfriend. What use is that to me?"
". . .still up to fighting Nell?" Mel asked, while simultaneously squirming out of Sami's grasp.
"I haven't given up a battle yet!"
"Good, show me what you've got." He said, after he managed to get out of her grasp and restrict her.
"Aww . . .you're no fun."
"Hush, this is worth some spending money. Namely, yours."
"Huh? No fair!!!" Sami whined.
"Shhh." He said placing his finger on her lips, "If I win, you can have it to buy stuff in Comet."
". . .okay." She said softly.
"Ready now? Anytime now." Nell asked impatiently.
"Sorry. All right! It's war!" And that signified the beginning of the battle.
It's War!
Mel quickly scanned his all seeing field and realized that this was an air battle. Just great. He disliked air combat, but he was no slouch at it. A central island was a main standpoint, and that could make or break the battle. However, with his CO skills, he could decimate any army single-handedly either way. "Hmm . . ."
"Your move."
"'Kay." He moved his units directly for the island.
"What are you up to?"
"I'm not telling. He quickly dispatched his infantry into the factories to start building air defenses.
"You're no fun. You could at least tell me what your strategy is." She said mock-pouting as she moved her infantry onto a mountain to get a better look. Nothing . . . "Are you doing anything?"
"Of course. Or else it would be no fun."
"Hmm."
Time: 5 rounds later
"Bombs away . . ." Mel said dully as another missile salvo pummeled Nell's units.
". . .how the?"
"He did that to me too. Don't mind though. No one really knows what he's up to."
'(Strange CO power alert noise)'
"Holy crap . . ."
"Heh, heh, heh." Mel laughed dryly. "What to do, what to do . . .the easy way, or the painful way?"
". . .gulp . . .easy?"
"Very well then . . .you've got exactly 20 units left. And now, you'll have none . . ." Usually Mel wasn't very sadistic, but sometimes the Destructive En, took over. So therefore:
Destructive En Inactive Mel Battle = Lunatic
"Soo . . .what's he mean by 'easy' way out?" Nell asked Sami, who had switched sides on the table for her own general safety.
"You'll see."
"For all those that stand in my way, they have to be eliminated . . ." Mel said cryptically. "For those that survive, they won't live long enough to tell about it. Destruction strike, strike down upon all!" For almost an instant, the two girls could have sworn that Mel's eyes were glowing red. Then the explosions came and Nell's entire force had been eliminated.
" . . .eep."
"Told you so." Then Sami peered at Mel, whose eyes were emanating a faint red glow. Then it dulled, then disappeared.
". . .huh? Hey! What happened?"
". . .what the? Is he really crazy or something? "
". . .what? Did we do something a while ago?" Mel asked curiously.
"Mel, you just hammered Nell in a sim-battle." Sami stated matter-of-factly. Nell just wanted to curl up and die right now. She had just lost to a first year student . . .groan.
"Oh? Did we?" Apparently, lunacy wasn't the only thing that is caused by Destructive En's influence. ". . .wait . . .(processing) . . .Oh right! I remember now!"
"(whisper, whisper) Does he have schizophrenia?"
"Not that I know of . . ."
"I heard that!"
". . .sorry."
"And as far as I'm concerned, I don't think I have a split personality."
"Oh. Good."
"It's just that the battle probably takes the mind back a bit and needs to reconfigure." Mel said, with his usual nonchalant shrug. "That means . . .you're watching my house for free."
". . .ugh." Nell groaned. She rubbed at her temples and felt some tears of anger rise up.
"You okay?"
". . .I can't believe it . . ."
". . .she's okay." Sami replied, poking Nell carefully.
". . .stop that!"
"Oops, sorry." The red haired girl said, turning now to Mel. "You okay?"
". . .I'm fine."
"That's good." She said, hugging him. "You really should let people win more often though, you spoilsport."
"Heh. Never can lose though."
"You are no fun." She pouted. "Thanks for trying Nell."
". . .sure." She wanted to crawl in a hole and die right then and there. "How did you do that?"
". . .do what?"
"That technique."
"Destruction Strike?"
"Yeah."
"That' s my CO tech. And no, I'm not sharing. It's mine and mine alone. If you want to learn about Destructive En, ask Gary." Mel said, shuffling off to his room. "Sorry, if I sound selfish, but right now, there's a lot on my mind now." He then disappeared off to his room.
"Wow. He's been acting weird for a while . . .but that just doesn't happen. I'm worried."
"Has he?"
"Yeah . . ."
"Hmm . . .well ignoring the guys, let's have a girl to girl talk. I'm bored."
"Okay!" Then for the remaining time, the two girls decided to get to know each other better. While the last we saw of Mel for the time being, he was found to be shooting at targets in his basement (how he got there from his room is a mystery). And Andy was found to be lying unconscious from playing video games for the past 48 hours.
Time: Time to go to Comet!
Place: Airfield
Mel stepped up to the field and looked at the plane. Sami and Andy were behind him. Nell had driven them, and was waiting for Andy to see them off. Or more or less, wait for him to finish dragging Sami's luggage to the plane.
"Where are they?" Mel said to himself. His two companions and girlfriends were late . . .or so it seemed.
"Die infidel!" Gabe cried as he had leapt from the top of the plane swinging his sword down at Mel.
"Eek!" Sami hid behind Andy, who was then hiding behind a mountain of baggage. Mel had drawn his sword, and deflected the blow.
"Augh! What are you trying to do? Kill me?" He asked re-sheathing his sword.
"That's the point." Gabe said.
"Idiot. Take this!" Using the butt end of the blade, he rammed it into Gabe's gut.
"Oof!" He was brought down to his knees.
"Where's Gary?"
"In the plane with the girls." He gasped. "We got here early."
"Oh. That explains why you didn't come. C'mon Andy, let's get the luggage in. No, I'm not tossing you in this time."
"Aww . . ." Andy really wanted to go, but of course he knew better than go to his own . . . untimely death.
"It's not safe for you as far as I know. Her dad can and will turn you into mincemeat. He's the most powerful CO I know." Mel said, now helping Gabe up. "Now stop trying to sneak attack me. It's useless."
"Grr . . .at least I get a free trip to Comet . . .the pain is worth it."
"Yep." Mel said. "Come on Sami! See ya Andy! Say bye to Nell for us!"
"Kay. See ya cuz."
"See ya Andy, I'll say hi to Sonja for you."
". . .Sonja? Thanks!" At the mention of 'her', Andy became a pile of nerveless jelly.
"Great . . .see ya." Mel said, waving the final farewell before the 12 hour trip . . .
A/N: AIYA!!! I have gone nuts! Too much work! Too much exams! Too much Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis! Augh! Not enough holidays! Ah well. Ahem. Yes. I got far too many games over the holidays, so I played a bit too long and had no time to work on this . . .another thing that contest is now null and void as I don't think anyone gives a dang. That and Drunken Gaming . . . I'm kinda busy to write that too . . .stupid homework . . .what am I doing!? Oh well . . .later.