Ever-reaching Union
A continuation of the Seikai Trilogy
By: Chummer
Notes: I do not own works/property related to the The Seikai Trilogy. However I would like to note that I respect the work so very much and hope someone makes Banner of the Stars III or anything more anime related. Even better a novel translation would be great.
Chapter 2: Lafiel's Way
For five minutes Lafiel seemed to stand outside that window staring of at Jinto's ship until it disappeared into the vastness of space. Slowly, Lafiel walked away and started walking down the hallway toward her room when she saw her father walking toward her.
"So has your friend the Young Count Hyde left for the academy?" Lafiel's father asked.
"Yes father" Lafiel replied somewhat half-heartedly. "I'm not sure though that he will be able to take care of himself. He has a tendency to jump into situations unprepared and I know the academy will not be easy to face."
Almost immediately Lafiel's father replied "Well I'm sure Count Hyde will do just fine. I mean if he was able to handle my daughter for such an extended period of time I'm not sure what else is left for him to conquer."
With that reply Lafiel's face turned red, knowing who her father was obviously referring to.
But what her father said was partly true. After all the events that had taken place between the two, it seemed that Jinto was there to help her out.
Flashback - hotel in Lune Biga City, Sufugnof
"Well I have to admit that you two would make a rather interesting couple" the lady in the front desk said. "It's a shame you say that you are brother and sister."
Jinto looked at Lafiel with his somewhat happy expression, and Lafiel closed her eyes in disgust. Jinto was dressed in a rather normal looking garb of collared shirt and shorts with his cap on but Lafiel's clothing seemed more risqué wearing a rather short dress that showed more than enough leg with a large hat to top it off. Not only that the dark black color of her hair seemed to contrast greatly to the paleness of her skin.
The idea that they were related was unfathomable Lafiel thought and not only that she thought it was a bad excuse to get away from the people who were trying to capture them.
"Well we have a nicely furnished room upstairs that will be great for the two of you. Here is the card key you need to get inside. Is there anything else that you needed?"
"Well actually…" Jinto said.
"No thank you!" Lafiel countered, grabbing Jinto by the arm, and the two walked into the nearby hallway."
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Inside the room Jinto was browsing through the kitchen of the room while Lafiel was sitting on the couch looking at the hologram screen. The long journey up to the hotel had been exhausting to her but out of a hidden stubbornness refused to show any sign of it to Jinto.
On the screen was a newslady apparently from the local newscast. The program was actually a recording that looped every few minutes delivering the same message.
This is a message from the commander of the United Mankind 302nd Military Police Peace Force. We of the United Mankind have liberated your city from the foreign invaders that have strangled your city. We ask for your steadfast cooperation as we take out the last of the remaining dissident elements. We also ask that anybody that has any materials on or relating to the Abh in anyway to be turned in to your nearest Military Police patrol for disposal. Remember we ask for your utmost cooperation in our realignment of this city and that you do not resist the United Mankind forces.
Lafiel was not really listening though to the message. Her thoughts were on what were they going to do now. They may have escaped the United Mankind forces in space but there were surly forces on the ground, not to mention the local police as well.
'I never thought that right now, me, the granddaughter of the Empress, an Abriel no less be forced to escape from battle onto a foreign planet' Lafiel thought.
The thought of them running away from confrontation was wearing away at her. It was ingrained in her from birth that the Abriel's were cold-hearted fighters, ruthless, and with no fear of anything, including death. But Lafiel knew that reputation couldn't help them now. But she had little knowledge of the planet, or any knowledge on how herself and Jinto could get home.
Then Lafiel looked at Jinto still browsing though the kitchen. 'Jinto seems more relaxed now. I wish I could feel the same way. It seems he has such a carefree spirit. I know part of it comes from a little ignorance but it's something I've never seen anybody around me have before.' It was then that Lafiel smiled slightly when Jinto came to her with a can in his hand.
"It was the only drink I could find in there, but I thought you might be thirsty." Jinto said.
"Thanks." Lafiel replied as Jinto sat on the couch next to her and flipped through the channels on the screen. Most stations had what appeared to be news broadcasts with the same subject of the United Mankind's liberation. The two were silent for the time being, as a period of shyness came about between the two. Lafiel however was to break the silence.
"We have to find a way out of the city, back to our forces. But how are we going to do that?"
"Well it's not like we have anything to track down any Abh forces here. The best thing we can do now is rest out in hear until the panic clears outside." Jinto replied.
Again another moment of silence comes through. Lafiel now wanting to break the silence again with the lander asks something out of the ordinary that surprises herself.
"Um Jinto, do you ever have any dreams of what you wanted to be when you became older?"
Jinto looked at her a little surprised, in that the question dove more into the usual rhetoric of being an Abh or his lack of general knowledge. "Hmmmm. Well I had dreams of being the best athlete in the world. I did play sports a lot before my father became President of Martine."
Lafiel nodded in agreement and Jinto continued "I know when my father was still around I hung around his office most of the time. My father was always busy with people from other cities and industries. That didn't really attract me to the job of running in government, so that's something I didn't want to do when I was older."
Lafiel paused, pondering what Jinto said, and then in reply, "Well at least you had a choice. For me it is the responsibility of the Abriel's to be the ruthless of all Abh's. I'd imagine myself being a empress, sitting in the throne, and giving orders."
Lafiel looked at the holographic screen in front of them and continued. "However, over the years these dreams of coming to the throne have been the same. Or rather, the idea of holding the throne is becoming something I'd rather not do. I see the Empress, sitting there talking to people of high standing. Then I see the same place but with me as empress, but I am always alone, waiting for a chance to being able to speak out to her followers.
Jinto nodded listening intensively, and Lafiel took note of this, as she smiled slightly. "Now it's becoming something I'd rather not do, at least for the time being."
"Yeah it's never good to be alone," Jinto replied.
Lafiel nodded in agreement but then realizing what he said replied "It's not just being alone Jinto!"
Jinto chuckled in reply to her comment and Lafiel's sudden flustering. Then Jinto got up from the couch.
"Well I think I'm going to go buy some things. I saw a store not too far from here. We need to at least prepare for the next couple of days."
"Just don't get caught Jinto. I will not tolerate the loss of one of my companions under my supervision." Lafiel replied back.
Jinto laughed in reply. "Don't worry. I'll be sure to come back with some provisions." And with that he got his cap on and walked out the door.
Lafiel then saw Jinto walk out of the door. With that Lafiel continued to watch the screen of the continuing broadcast. Her eyelids became heavy and she started to dose off. One thought did come to her mind as she was falling asleep.
'Please be careful Jinto…'
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Gresh Fronetala (Sanctum of the Unforgotten), Abh Capital
A week had passed since Jinto left her home. She was preparing for her departure to continue her role as bene rodial (pilot trainee). However, before she left she made time to visit the Sanctum of the Unforgotten. Here were all the names of the people who died, illustrating the many who sacrificed themselves for the Abh Empire. As she walked through the room of walls her eyes glazed through all the names until one stuck out of all the rest
BOMOWASE LEXSHUE
Her fingers touched the name and then brushed through it, feeling the indents of each letter. Her eyes then started to tear up as she leaned against the wall.
"I'm sorry for being like this once more. It's just that now I have to go and leave you. But I will become a strong leader. I will lead my crew the same way you did yours, with pride and honor, my Captain, my mother."
With that she pushed herself off the wall and brushed away the tears from her eyes. Without hesitation then she saluted toward the wall and walked away. With that though she left behind her tears on the wall. Those tears Lafiel left behind were not of the sadness of an Abh but the pride of the Abriel's.
Continued in Chapter 3:
New Frontier
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Post notes: My fault for not getting this posted sooner. This was halfway done for sometime but bc of other things going on I never finished it. I was looking for more dialogue b/t Jinto and Lafiel but it ended up being more character development, especially for Lafiel. Please review, and many, many thanks to those who have so far!
Also on my mind: I just got my hands on .hacklegend of the twilight vol.3 manga. Good stuff that I was waiting months for.
