Disclaimer: I don't own starocean
Kiran: That is just sad. Can't do anything without me, can you?
Karin: It was my idea to drag you here, so shut up
Kiran: Did you? oh, you miss me?
Karin: Shut up.
Fayt sat uneasily in the head chair within the conference room onboard the 'Eternal'. Maria and Kanai sat on opposite sides next to him and Sophia was standing behind him. Fayt's commanding officers sat around the long table as well. Jino sat right at the end of the table, with his officers around him, all standing looking more like bodyguards than officers.
"So, Jino, mind explaining what is the meaning of this?"
"Sure, no problem."
Jino took out a small device and threw it to the middle of the table, where it created a large holographic projection of the ships.
"What i gave you were the first part of the main ships my dad was planning you guys to use. I did say ten, right? Well, i sort of lied. You see, what i brought are something like add-ons."
Jino explained, pressing a controller and the projection focused in on the claw like ships.
"These are the add-ons to your ships. Specific shap for each flagship."
"Er... Jino? Sorry, but i lost the 'Synthesis'."
Maria nervously said.
"Huh? Oh, no problem there. I already knew that. Every ship has a device that tells us back home how each ship is doing. I brought another version of the 'Synthesis' along with the add-on already on, see?"
Jino pressed another button and the projection focused on the newer ship.
"Is that how ours would look like as well?"
Sophia asked, unsure of the design.
"Yeah, well at least it should be. Each of these add-ons have their own names and can be drive as individual ships as well. There's 'Justice', that is already attached to 'Synthesis', 'Freedom' which is intended for 'Gateway', and finally-"
Jino pressed another button and the holograph went to the largest add-on.
"'Vengence', intended only for the 'Eternal'."
Jino sat back, crossing his arms and looking like he won a game or something.
"Where do you get these names?"
Fayt asked.
"My dad. Personally, i think they're pretty cool."
"Do they have a name when they join?"
Maria asked, worried that they would have some other lame name again. Too bad, they did.
"Yeah, now that you mention it. Maria, yours is called 'Justice's Reign'. Sophia's called 'Freedom's Gate', and finally Fayt. Yours is called 'Eternal Vengence'. Pretty cool, huh?"
Everyone in the room fell into a dumbfounded silence.
"Where did you ever get those names?"
Fayt asked.
"Don't know. They just popped into my head. What, don't like it?"
"Well... they're just..."
"Just?"
"Just... well-"
"They're too lame."
Maria said, cutting in as Fayt did not seem to be able to get the message to come out.
"Well, i don't mind if you rename them, but those are their names until you can come up with another one."
Jino sighed. That was true. None of them could ever come up with another name. It was so lame that no one could even change its name.
"I guess we just have to stick with the name."
Fayt sighed. Maria reluctantly nodded.
"Well, i guess there isn't nothing much we can do about it now."
Maria shook her head.
"Good, it's all settled then."
Jino slapped his hands together with glee.
"So, i'm going to leave these ships plus a few more ships. I reckon you guys lost quite a bunch of ships, didn't you?"
Jino raised an eyebrow at Fayt, Maria and Sophia.
"Don't look at me."
Sophia said, shaking her head.
"Hmm... right, so how about you two? Maria?"
"Er..."
Fayt turned away. Maria played around with her hair.
"Aha, so i have made my point."
"Which is?"
Karin asked, her arms corssed while she leaned against the wall.
"Karin! Didn't notice you there. How are things with Fuin?"
Jino laughed.
"There's nothing in the first place."
Fuin spoke up, though in the eyes of many, there could be. Fuin was at present, right next to Karin. Fayt thought it was strange that where he found Karin, he found Fuin and vice versa. Was it possible? The two seemed to repel each other.
"Right, right, state of denial. Well, i have to go now."
"Where to?"
"To the moonbase, Sol III of course. What, you didn't think i could salvage anything from the battles, did you? Ha, well, i better get going before my dad blows his top about me being late."
Jino jumped off the chair left the room, together with his officers in tow. The entire room suddenly seemed to relax, as though a large pressure tension was lifted.
"So Admiral, what are you planning to do?"
An officer asked.
"Well, since Jino has halted our persuit of the enemy, i guess we would just have to join the front lines at Genosis. How long will it take for the ships to combine?"
"From the data Jino gave us, i'd say about two minutes."
Kanai replied.
"That's fast. Maria? What do you plan to do?"
Fayt finally turned to Maria, who seemed to be still preoccupied with untangling her fingers from her hair.
"Huh? Oh... can i stay here for a while more?"
"Sure. Sophia, can you take care of her ship until she's ready?"
"No problem. Take your time."
Sophia winked and left the room. Slowly, one by one, the officers filed out of the conference room, till it was only Fayt and Maria.
"Is something wrong, Maria?"
Fayt asked Maria.
"Well..."
"Is it about your parents?"
"No, i haven't been able to search yet."
"Alright, then what is it?"
"Well... it's just that... i'm afraid, Fayt."
"Afraid? Of what?"
Fayt thought he would never hear those words from her. It was a different matter if she was hysterical, but now, when she's all calmed down, he would really not have expected her to say that.
"I'm just afraid. Afraid of what may happen to us, afraid of who my real parents may be, afraid of this war, afraid of losing you."
"Maria, listen. I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you. We will stick it through, i swear to you."
Fayt smiled. Cupping her cheek, he gently ran his fingers down her cheek.
"You swear? Doesn't really sound like you."
Maria tried to laugh.
"Well, people change over time. No one can be strong forever. Everyone will have to let go one day."
"But i don't want to."
"It doesn't mean that you're going to lose me. It just means that you can let your emotions go once a while. There's nothing wrong with that."
"I know."
Maria smiled. She got up and tried to squeeze onto the same seat as Fayt. She only managed to sit on his lap, but that was fine for the both of them. Fayt wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Maria, what is your wish?"
"Why ask?"
"Well, it just occured to me that i have never heard of what your dream is."
"And what are you going to do when you know it?"
Fayt thought about it.
"Hmm... i guess i'll try to help you achieve your wish then."
"Really? Then you don't need to do anything."
"Oh? Why is that so?"
"Because-"
Maria turned and faced Fayt.
"You are my wish, Fayt. Ever since i read about your profile, i thought about it as someone who was in the same situation as me, someone i can relate to, someone i can talk to. Then, when i met you, i saw you as another person from what i read. You are caring, kind, smart, wise, strong and not to mention handsome. You're everything to me. My wish, was nothing more than to be with you."
AN: Another talking chapter, horray. Really, those names are lame. I wanted to stick to single worded names, but i just could not ignore the cool old names, so i blasted them together after debating with myself for about a week. Note that this entire story took me two months and 14 days exactly. cool huh? Considering that i'm in university, you must think that i'm pretty free. Trust me, i am.