OKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOK
Later on in the Jet and Virginia summaries you'll find spelling errors. They aren't. In fact they are coded words that hide a small spoiler.
OKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOK
The fates of our heroes within the two years between the battle with Nobuo-Eon and the beginnings of Book 12:
Sakura Ryokai: She went back to her job as a reporter. Being that Filgaia is beginning to flourish with life (human life that is) and people have been coming out of their shells to create new towns and such, the latest news has become crucial, and Sakura decided that was the life she wanted to go down. That's not to say that she has so simply put away the fighting skills and culinary ones that she held in the past. Being on the trail of news does get messy, so her abilities in a fight get their shots to come out. Not to mention the meals she makes when not on the road. Being that it would be pointless and costly to have a home of her own, she decided to take an offer from Adven, and she stays at his home when she is on a break. While Adven had declared his love for her, she remains unspoken, and as confusing as that may be, it isn't for the two of them. The truth of the matter is that while they are not boyfriend or girlfriend to the other, they still wind up going out on dates (which Adven tends to mess up on). She is a young woman who finds it hard to trust men, but after meeting with Jet, and then the rest, she slowly found the truth. In doing so, and forgiving her father, she has wound up finding a father in Clive Winslett, who accepts the thought, and even allows her to call him father.
Adven Bok: Adven Bok, with his deed secured, returned to his ancestral home and made it his own, buying a gravestone for his departed mother once he was settled. Adven needed money though, because while he fantasized that Sakura loved him and since she had a job, he probably wouldn't need one, he was still smart enough to know he couldn't rely on such fantasies. So, being that the Drifter market was drying up, and treasure hunting was so passe, he came up with the idea of replacing the town's teacher, and that was what he became. A friend to all his students, and a secret crush to most of his female students, while the boys looked up to him, being that he was strong and not a wimp. Sometimes he even told stories about his adventures, and of course, the Nobuo-Eon one was the class favorite next to the Dal one and some others. Still, his only heart went to Sakura Ryokai, and though Carole is the only one to notice, but the old headband he wore and gave to Sakura is worn by the young woman faithfully on her left wrist. Adven has hopes that someday she will be strong enough to be with him, but he has his own flaws to work out. He still isn't quite over a nervousness she causes him, so, he often makes mistakes, one of which caused a restaurant they were out on a date at to burn down. He has been making progress though, but even he realizes that they are not together yet, and he knows with her beauty, a rival for her affections will show up soon enough, especially with her on the road and in her field of work. Despite all the things he has going on, Adven trains diligently, perfecting his control of negative energy as well.
Carole Enduro: This mature woman, having survived Nobuo-Eon, found soon after that her heart was weak. She has since been condemned from strenuous activities, and so forth. It's stressful how much she is babied now, and it aggravates her dearly, but she will never show it outwardly. She finds it much better to meddle with everyone else's lives, especially their lovelives. So it's natural that she tries to push the Adven-Sakura relationship along, as well as trying to get a confession out of Gallows about his love for her daughter. One that he denies to her. She lives a calm life with Catherine and Clive Winslett, who took her in when Emilia could not. She has become like an aunt to their daughter as well, and she enjoys being able to have a chance to be tender with a child again, having felt a failure with Emilia, but she has since forgiven herself, but the thoughts and feelings linger in her mind.
Gallows Caradine: Aside from returning to a life in Baskar Colony, while still going out into the world from time to time, he has also tried to always show up to meet Emilia. She deserves him advice on women, after all. From time-to-time he comes by Humphrey's Peak to see Clive, his family, and Carole. But, he relatively stays in Baskar for the most-part, telling his granny that he is just plain tired of being a Drifter as an excuse. The only time he leaves is to see Emilia anyway. Still, he finds that the life of a Drifter seems meaningless anyway when so many people are leaving their towns anyway, mainly thanks to Emilia's mass-production of sandcraft (which isn't as mass as it sounds, about 1 and a half can be made in a month, at least on average, 8 is the current best. Without Jet to hassle him, or for him to bother, life does seem uneventful as well.
Emilia: Emilia decided to create a new sandcraft in the fashion of the original one she had for the group. To do this though, she created a company to help fund and build it secretly. The sandcraft she could sell, as well as train cars, and other machinery, were all pet projects that her Servor company made so she could finance her new ship she calls the Second, but the name is subject to change. Being that she mass-produces the sandcraft, they are simple, and similar to the one she gave the Maxwell Gang originally. Her company has become the largest commercial developer of anything dealing with technology, and even the Ark of Destiny does business with her. She leaves much of the daily selling and building to workers though, that are happy to find jobs after leaving their homes in the country. Emilia herself, tires her body and mind through all of this work, and usually works on her sword art and fighting skills to clear her mind. Much of the public seem to want her to wed and settle down, now that she has become a bit popular, but she says she has no plans to, but if she did, she has her eyes on someone. That someone, she does not hide when talking to her mother during her visits. Any remaining free time she holds goes to her much needed sleeping, or eating, she usually only has time for one of them. Luckily, she will be hiring someone to help as an assistant so she can have two weeks vacation for the wedding of Jet Enduro and Virginia Maxwell.
Clive Winslett: This father and green haired bespeckled man finally got his chance to come home, and has since been relaxing, as well as writing his adventures in logs for the sake of history, as well as basic reference material. He was sure to chronicle all about what Generator Eon was, and so forth. He invented bifocals when he needed such to continue his work, and with that patent down, he has become a popular man as well on Filgaia. Still, he is humble, and the only thing he bought with his earnings was a chance to remodel his home for two rooms: One for Carole and one for his daughter, because apparently there was only one bedroom in the home, and girls who will become teenagers one day need their own rooms. Aside from that, he lives his peaceful life, with his somewhat adopted daughter, Sakura Ryokai, dropping by from time to time, as well as his friends, but recently…he has been keeping a keen interest in the Ark of Destiny R & D station, Neon City, built by the first tunnel of Blue Crane, that had been hidden.
Jet Enduro: After aCubf rgw fBf yaubf rgw eCwb;a qubf, he and Virginia disappeared, or that was as much as the Gang knew. He and Virginia went on their ways to find the land from their Twilight Realms, not bothering to bring the gang into their personal quest. The two eventually found, that in the crater-like mountain range where Eon burst forth, Yggdrasil, there was a sea of water, and a continent that would be called Valhalla. There was a village made up of people from Blue Crane, named Mjollnir. They built a home away from it, and Jet settled into a position as the carpenter and handyman for the green land. While doing this he neglects any form of fighting, and the closest to training he gets is swinging his hammer and the like. Recently, he and Virginia have decided to get married, and he decided it was time to come back from death.
Virginia Maxwell: Helping Jet aCw rgw fBf qurg rgw eCwb;a qubfm Virginia traveled with Jet and the two found the place they were looking for. In need of a talent and trade, she has found that she is decent at textiles, and Jet sells the clothes she makes in town for her. She happily accepted a wedding proposal from Jet, and is happy to have her friends back in her life as well now that she will return from death with Jet.
Filgaia: The people of Filgaia have left the countryside, with fear of monster attacks decreasing, and have now begun to build up it's towns as people move into them from all around. This is something that had been going on before the Nobuo-Eon situation, but has since boomed. Still, Filgaia grows no better, and remains in the same typical health, remaining just about as healthy as before, but the Area of Yggdrasil, has flourished. Not man people are aware of this because they can not reach it, and if they do hit the waters in their sandcraft, they often sink, and their stories are never heard. This area becomes sort of a Bermuda Triangle on Filgaia. The population is mainly unaware of this place, and it's only inhabitants are those who use boats and find it, as well as some who lived in Blue Crane. Those not from Blue Crane seem to be just like outsiders in Blue Crane, and have wound up in Valhalla by mistake, and have no way of getting back. Even radio signals are null here. The only way to contact the outside world is by boats.
Ark of Destiny: Suffering the loss of their leader, Lamium, and even the Nobuo-Eon incident, they still stand strong, and have become a governing body for the people of Filgaia, and they often come to the towns and the like to make sure they run them smoothly. They have rebuilt themselves, and their headquarters is the same, just built atop the old one.
OKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOK
I think I've covered it all without giving away spoilers. Now, this next story here actually took place after the long day, in which Jet lost part of his ear, and before the Gang's infiltration of the Ark of Destiny and Jet's fight with Bael. Why did I leave this story out? It was too much to rewrite, and had always been my least favorite story of NDS aside from the "Snow Use" arc that I cut out as well in this version. Still, parts of it may come up in Book 12, so I may as well be safe and introduce it.
OKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOK
"NDS: Bonus Chapter: Dynamo"
Todd, an afro-wearing samurai, dodged around the corner of pillar in a metal ruin. The dark halls echoed his hard breathing well. "Where is it?" He questioned. "I don't see it."
"It was here!" Maya retorted. "No, there!"
Suddenly the sound of vernier went off, and a hulking object of metal sped out into the corridors behind them. It fired out at them with gattling guns on it's back. The beast was twice the size of a man, and as wide as five men standing side-by-side. As Maya dodged the gunfire, she took up her ARM and let loose her own, but the bullets simply bounced off leaving only knicks.
"YOU ARE INFERIOR TO ME." A garbled voice shouted. It was robotic and machine in nature, and it proved beyond a doubt, that the large machine hounding them was a blocky robot. Technology that seems so advanced to Maya at the time. "BEING THAT IS SO, YOU WILL NOT BEST ME, HUMAN."
It lets off more gunfire that the two Drifters dodge. "Where's that brother of mine?" She questioned. As if on call, a large cannon blast ripped open a hole in the wall as the sandcraft the group had gotten hit the hulking beast of metal. Still, as the smoke cleared the robot continued toward them. "What, the sandcraft's cannons didn't dent it?"
"NO MORE GAMES!" The large robot let fire upon the sandcraft outside as the ship is forced to a halt far from the building, defeated by the robot. After victory had been attained the robot hovered off quickly with a burst.
"Damn it!" Maya cursed as she hit the floor. "How can we try to beat Dynamo?" She questioned.
Todd found her quickly. "It would seem we would need more manpower to finish this job."
"How do we get more without having to sacrifice the payment of gems that the Ark promised us if we stopped this thing of theirs'?" She commented with a laugh.
"Easy, ma'am, we get the Maxwell Gang involved."
She put her hand to her chin; thinking it over. "It wouldn't be a bad idea."
He nodded. "Then we radio them."
OKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOK
"So…what is it that you want us for?" Jet questioned through a hooded glare.
"Now, Jet, we shouldn't speak like that." Virginia chastised as he scoffed. She faced Maya. "So…what's this mechanical monster about?"
"It's name is Dynamo." Maya informed them. "The Ark of Destiny found a man named Ken Ninomara who had information about metal replacement limbs that reacted by thoughts like real ones." Clive narrowed his eyes, and absorbed the knowledge. "The Ark decided to take that idea to the next level, and create a robot. Turns out they let it have an AI that was too powerful, and Dynamo is AWOL. So…they hired us to take it out for them, but we've had no luck." She shook her head in aggravation.
"Right, it's too strong." Her brother chimed in.
"It seems to have missiles and guns to it, and so far I can't get close to it, and m'lady's ARMS has no effect on it. Even our sandcraft's cannons did little to stop it.
"So…you want us to do the job so you can get the reward?" Jet questioned.
Maya grinned. "Now, why would I do that, Jet?" She laughed.
"Look, we'll help you, Maya." Virginia answered. "It's the least we can do for helping us out back in Ark of Destiny."
"Yeah…it's a good thing we got out while we could, it seems." She laughed. "Wanted, oh my."
Jet scowled as Gallows held him back. "Let's just get going before I kill her first." He mumbled.
Returning to the darkened halls of the abandoned facility did send a chill down Maya's back, but she let it go. "So it's definitely a machine, right?" Gallows wondered as he, Jet, Emilia, Maya, and Todd wandered the hallways. "It sort of amazes me that those guys from the Ark could make a robot. Especially one that acts on it's own."
"Well, I'm sure they had help from ancient technology." Emilia remarked. "So…where is this thing anyway?"
"DESTROY!" Rang out the automaton's voice as it rapidly approached the group thanks to tank-like treads, with wheel behind them. Smoke building up from the engines spewed into the halls making Dynamo look like he was on clouds. In response all of the group ran the opposite direction knowing that if they were hit they'd probably become flat. Still, Jet did not move a step, which caused Gallows to snatch the young punk's scarves and pull him behind as he ran.
"What's the big idea?" He shouted as they ran.
"So, what is the plan at the moment?" Todd questioned with a huff as they ran.
"We'll have to stop eventually," Maya responded knowing the human weakness they hold that Dynamo did not, "and I'm sure it knows that."
"I wanna fight it!" Jet said as he flew in the air like a line of cloth that Gallows simply held. He never knew Gallows had such drive power to lift him off the ground, but much to his chagrin, Jet did notice that Gallows was tall, and he was short. "Just running away like this won't do. If something exists, then we can destroy it." He argued.
Emilia lingered on those words. "I'm game. If Jet believes in it, we must be able to do something."
"Hold on, Jet, you distract the big fella' and I'll use my arcana." Gallows argued. "That would be the simplest solution."
"Holy…" Jet trailed off. "He's actually right." Gallows stopped as he let go of Jet who immediately ran back at Dynamo who slowed in response. "Take this!" Jet let loose shots from his Aigert-lahm B/V 2 which deflected off of the large metal beast. Flinging his boomerang quickly the mono eye camera that Dynamo used went towards Jet. Dynamo quickly retaliated with his own shots, but they miss as Jet catches his boomerang and uses it as a shield.
"Devastate!" Gallows roared as the arcana attack hit Dynamo. Unfortunately, "What the--?"
"FOOL! I WAS BORN WITH SHIELDING AGAINST SUCH PITIFUL ATTACKS, BUT NICE TRY." Dynamo let loose a volley of mini-missiles at the group, but Gallows used a shielding spell to protect them.
Emilia stepped from out of the smoke. "You may think you're tough, but I have already been able to tell what type of metal you are made of, and it's a weaker one than the one of my shinobi-zue." She commented.
"JUST BECAUSE IT IF MADE OF STRONGER MATERIAL, DOES NOT MEAN IT CAN KILL ME."
"Oh, it won't kill you." She chuckled. "I will." Emilia charged forward with agility as Dynamo let off another volley as the panel that hid the missiles burst to the air. Emilia maneuvered through them, dodging each one, and their resulting blasts. With a jump from her ankles she found herself under the left side of the hulking metal creation, and effectively ripped it's side open as she landed behind him. As Dynamo shook in disbelief of his weakness, Emilia turned to his backside. "It's almost time for dinner, so let's finish this."
"HOW DARE YOU MOCK ME?" Dynamo erupted as it slowly turned for Emilia and fired it's gattling guns on it's arm at Emilia who deflects the shots by twirling her blade. She does not stop until Dynamo had reached the end of his clip and found no bullets leaving it's gun. In a desperate attack it swung it's arm at the woman who moved to be standing atop the extended arm. Dynamo swings at Emilia with its other arm, but instead hits its first arm as Emilia moves to it's right shoulder.
"Don't be a crybaby." She mused just before Dynamo shook, flinging her away, as she landed gracefully behind him. "The second problem with your design, is the one of Gallows' flaws as well. You're slow. You can be fast, but only if you build up enough speed over long distances. Other than that…well, you see." Emilia chuckled as she ran forward for another attack. Dynamo moved it's arm in response, but Emilia slashed it in two in defense as the parts flew to the floor. Quickly she thrust her sword into the back of Dynamo, but in response is flung to the wall where she drops her blade.
"NOW I HAVE YOU!" Dynamo declared. He slowly moved for the woman.
"You would," She remarked, "if you hadn't forgotten about Jet."
It was at that moment that Jet unleashed his ARM on Dynamo, hitting the spot in Dynamo's back that was torn open by Emilia's previous attack.
"NO!" Dynamo's back erupted with sparks as the robot shuddered. "S-SYS-SYSTEM. SH-SHUTDOWN" In an overload the robot smoked as the light blue light of it's eye faded and the body fell to the floor. Emilia quickly took up her blade and slashed the robot to pieces, just in case.
She turned to Jet. "Good shot."
"I know. You don't hafta tell me how great it was." Jet stoically replied as he turned to Maya. "And you guys couldn't beat that? Pathetic."
"Oh, Jet, you didn't." Gallows shook his head as he and Emilia ran away.
"Huh?" Jet looked at Maya who was steaming up. "Oh…crap."
"Pathetic?" She roared as she let loose her ARM at him, causing him to run after Emilia and Gallows who were already far ahead.
OKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOK
Look, I used arcana. Yeah! That, and now I also don't have to bother having Maya and her gang at the wedding because of this. See, now we know why Maya and the rest disappeared from NDS. She hates Jet. Trust me, it makes it easier for me to write Book 13-15 without them being there. If they were, we would have like…a book 16 because the fight would go on even longer. Anyway, soon, we will see Book 12. And this time, I promise you, that we won't see a false death, like with Jet and Virginia, but instead, a real death. That's right, one main character mentioned within this chapter will die. And another one will follow later. Books 12-15 apparently seem dark, for having a wedding in Book 13. Still, this is the Maxwell Gang, and you should never expect anything to ever be easy and happy as long as there are chances for them to feel miserable, but, there will be a happy ending when it all finishes, despite losing some of the Gang along the way. Oh, and arcana will show up again too, at least when Gallows is involved, so I won't write it out completely. Anyway, I just like talking sometimes, and this is an example of me talking too much when I could have probably said all of this in two sentences…anyway, it's me, and it's just who I am. So get used to it if you haven't already.
