Musings on a State of Unconsciousness

"Oooooooooooooooooh," moaned Jet, "I'd better get the license number on that runaway horse. I feel like I've been out for a week after it hit me." But as he looked around, the boy remembered where he was and how he got there. He was in the control room of the Ark of Destiny, and they'd just killed Beatrice and her Negative Filgaia. Just looking at that thing had given him the chills. It seemed to cry out for his own destruction as he fought to destroy it. The lovely perks of being created from the planet's energy.

He turned to see his friends; all still unconscious. Clive's glasses were falling off of his nose and Gallows was snoring loudly as if he was sleeping. Both men were strewn about the command center; their bodies posed like they were knocked out by a large mallet. Virginia lay curled up in a ball in the corner of the room. He could see her mumbling something about her father in her sleep. She looked so peaceful.

'Hard to believe she's such an energetic girl. When she's asleep she almost looks like a little kid. In fact, she looks like one of those beautiful antique dolls. Wait! Did I just think the words "beautiful" and "Virginia" in the same context? I guess I did. Oh well, not like anyone reads my inner thoughts out of my mind. They don't have to know how I really feel. It can be just between me, myself, and I,' the boy thought.

He found himself staring right at the unconscious girl; his eyes locked on the peaceful expression on her face. She was special, that's for sure. Ever since Werner had found and trained him, the only thing on Jet's mind was searching for treasure. But he now knew that all of the treasures he'd discovered in over five and a half years of traveling were false. They were not what he was after at all. The greatest treasure the boy had ever come upon was right in front of him; sleeping on the floor at his feet. A young girl who would give him a future in this world where he felt all alone. She didn't see him as a sample, only a friend.

Jet didn't know when he'd come to fall in love with the girl. He was going to go for the time when she agreed to help him find a purpose and make memories, but he thought against that quickly. When she referred to him as simply one of the team, and not a sample? No, before that. Nidhogg Pass and the following confrontation at Yggdrasil? Even earlier. It happened even before he saved her for the first time.

It would have to be when he saw her innocence for the first time as they headed for Baskar. She was just like him when he first took to the Wastelands. Back then Jet only had one thing in mind. He wanted to go out and find who he really was. However, eventually despair took hold and he let the truths of the world begin to shape his own self perception. Then he met this girl, a young woman not yet hardened by the truth about the world around her. Jet had lost his innocence to the world's issues; he didn't want the same thing to happen to her. Almost as if deep down inside he never wanted her to lose that bright smile.

Jet mused, 'Who would have thought I'd ever find happiness with another person. Me, the lone wolf Jet Enduro. A Drifter better known for violent actions and picking fights with anyone who crosses his path. Not only am I in love, but she's the blood daughter of my old man. I wonder how mad the guy would be if he ever found out what I thought about Virginia. Would he want some android such as myself to have her? I bet he wouldn't approve of us. However, this isn't Werner's life; it's mine and Virginia's. If she wants me then nobody can stop her. Man, since when did I think like this? I sure am changing since I met that girl.'

At that point, the young woman began to roll over in her sleep; muttering something. As Jet got closer to her, he began to hear what was on her mind. "I'm sure the reward'll be good Jet. So don't leave us now that we saved the world. I don't want to lose anybody else that I love." As if fate itself liked to play practical jokes on people, the maiden rolled over from where she lay and into Jet's arms. He turned the color of tomato sauce at that instant. But in reality he really enjoyed being able to hold her close to him. If he was the one who made her pain go away, he could die a happy man. For he would be with her forever.

But then he began to worry. If Clive and Gallows woke up and saw him like that, then they'd tease him forever; Gallows especially. So he picked the young woman up in his arms and carried her to the top of the pedestal where Lamium's chair was located. There, he lay her in a sitting position against the back of the machinery. Now it was time to awaken the idiot and the brainiac. So he walked over to the two still sleeping Drifters and slapped them both in the face. Instantly, Clive and Gallows awoke looking confused.

"That wasn't funny punk!" fumed Gallows, "And where in the world is Virginia? Hey! Wait a minute! Don't tell me that you two finally got off your rear ends and did something. Is she changing and that's why she's been hiding? Well done my boy; you've learned all that I can teach you. I'm so proud of you Jet."

"No, we did not do anything you pervert. She's still sleeping. I'll let her lay down because she took a nasty bite from those larger monsters that Nega Filgaia took the form of. So shut up!" Jet yelled back.

Cive remarked, "This is no time for arguing gentlemen. We must check on our leader's wounds. If she is indeed injured, then it is our job to care for her." Of course, Jet gave a look to him as if to say that he already checked her over. But even so, Clive wanted to look over the girl. He had to keep the others in his team healthy. So the three men went up to where Jet lay Virginia down and looked over her. After being assured that she was in good health, Clive resigned himself to waiting alongside the others for her to wake.

It wasn't long before she did. But the girl seemed confused; acting as if something had happened to the entire planet. As relief rushed over her, Virginia did the one thing that nobody expected her to do. She jumped right into Jet's arms and gave him a large hug. The young man's face became beet red again.

He was somewhat saddened when she let him get up so she could say her final goodbye vow to Lamium. No longer was he in the direct contact with her that he longed for secretly over the course of the journey. But he knew there would be other chances. And when the members of the Ark of Destiny came in and blamed them for the murder, he knew what he must do. It was now Jet's duty to protect the one he loved from the guns of the Arkists and mercenaries who came after the reward. At the same time, he knew that Virginia would continue to help him find a place in this world. Together, they would make it anywhere.


Teefa's Last Words...

And thus the story comes to an end. Jet sure has been acting weird. Love'll do that to you. And we all know that Jet loves her. My next story should be a little late because of a urgent longing to post this La Pucelle fic and my DM is already half full with my Slayers fic (I always post two at once in two different catagories). Darn, don't even remember what it is I'm so out of it.

Now that this is over...Croix...Jet...every bishonen in the anime/RPG universe...