Disclaimer: I don't own starocean
Karin: so... are we nearing the end?
i hope so.
Karin: ... me too.
... i'm tired.
Karin:... me too.
Want another round?
Karin: my turn to deal?
yeah.
Karin: ... dang.
Sophia gritted her teeth. The battle was still on-going and it was looking like it would not end for quite some time. No matter how many of them she destroys, another pops up.
"What is the meaning of this?"
She demanded, as another Vendeeni ship appeared.
"We do not know. Energy readings are all normal. It's like we've never even destroyed it at all!"
Jiun replied. This data was certainly interesting.
"I've never seen such technology before."
Ryoko said, looking at the data with great interest.
"Aunty! Now's not the time! We're right now having problems!"
"We're running low on ammo!"
"Incoming missiles!"
"Evade! thirty degrees starboard dip. Fire Glos missiles! Aunty! Now's not the time!"
Sophia felt extremely stressed. The 'Freedom's Gate' shuddered as an explosion hit the side.
"I know! I'm trying to figure out what is happening! Just give me a minute!"
"You've got thirty seconds."
"Incoming laser fire!"
"Evade!"
"We won't make it!"
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The deathly silence filled the room. Maria sat uneasily on her chair, feeling awkward towards the fact that she had just told Nel and Albel about the true relationship between Fayt and herself. No doubt they would have questions or even objections to it, but she was ready to face them. She knew that sooner or later, the truth would still seep through.
Fayt had told her before, that if she wanted to tell somebody, she should start with someone close, and Nel and Albel were close enough. It was just their opinion that she was more concerned about. Albel crossed his arms, leaning against the wall, eyes closed and looking as though in deep thought. Nel just had her eyes open, mouth slightly slacked and not moving at all from her sitting position on the bed.
"So... i thought, maybe, that was why i fought like Fayt."
Maria said, breaking the silence.
"That may explain some of the instances during that duel."
Albel said.
"What instances?"
"During our duel, i could almost feel that maggot's presence, as though he was fighting me, not you."
Albel sighed.
"So... does that mean that i'm no good at swordsmanship at all?"
Maria asked weakly.
"Since when did i say that? Even though you are the twin of Fayt, that doesn't mean that your skills are shared. No, you fought on your own. I said that only his presence was there, and that does not mean that you suddenly changed into him. Get it? I hate explaining things."
Albel muttered.
"Thanks, Albel."
Maria smiled, and caused Albel to blush. Nel did not catch that though, since she was still frozen in her spot.
"Er.. Nel? Are you... alright?"
Maria waved her hand in front of Nel, but no response was evident. None what so ever.
"Er.. Albel, Nel's acting weird."
Maria pointed to Nel, who still sat there, most likely in shock, since there was no other words to describe such a facial expression.
"She's always like that. Stupid wench. The first time she did it to me was when i gave her that stupid ring. She collasped in the middle of the freaking desert!"
"Is she normally like this, like when she becomes like this?"
"Eyes wide open, mouth slacked open, sure. Fits the description alright."
Albel could not care less about what Nel did when she goes into shock.
"Er.. Albel?"
"It's always like that, so don't bother."
"But... when's she's like this, does her breathing stop as well?"
"Sure it-... What? Her what?"
"Her breathing. She's not breathing."
Albel rushed over and placed a finger under her nose. No movement of air meant no breathing. Albel then decided to take full control of the situation, placing his two hands on Nel's shoulders, violently shaking her.
"Albel! Stop that!"
Maria cried, fearing that Nel's head may suddenly drop off. If Nel can stop breathing from shock, who knows what else she is capable of?
"I know what i'm doing. Nel! Wake up, you stupid we-"
Before Albel could finish, he got his face connected with Maria's boot, sending him flying off to the wall, creating another hole, right next to the one he made the last time. Maria focused back on Nel and pressed a button on her console.
"What can i do for you, captain?"
Her second in command, Hyug, asked.
"Get a medic in my room, now."
Maria cut the connection and went back to Nel. This girl sure had some weird stuff happening around her. A beep came from Maria's console. Hoping it was the medic, she opened up the channel. Sadly, it wasn't. Hyug was back.
"Captain. There is something you need to see on the bridge, ASAP."
His face was dead serious.
"I'll be there as soon as the medic arrives."
"Alright, i've already sent word."
"Thanks."
Maria cut the connection, and just in time as the medics came rushing in. Maria pointed to Nel and the medics immediately went to check on her.
"Take care of her. I'm wanted on the bridge. Give me a full report later."
"Understood, ma'am. Let's get this one to the emergency room."
The lead medic ordered the rest as Maria left the room. There was only one situation Maria could think of that would make Hyug have such a serious look on his face. She quickened her pace as she entered the central corridor. That situation that she thought of, was that they had entered the battlezone, and the results were not pretty. She walked into the bridge and everyone inside stood up in unity and saluted. Maria saluted back and sat herself on the command chair.
"Report."
"We've reached the Genosis system. currently the Imperial fleets of the alliance are engaged against the five royal fleets of Vendeen, twelve of the sovereign fleets of the Yzaks. We'll be exiting gravitic warp in five seconds."
"Charge up all weapons. Set ships to battle alert. All crew to battlestations."
"Understood."
Everyone within bridge went on with their orders, working frantically to meet the demands.
"Exiting the gravitiv warp in 3, 2, 1. Gravtic warp exit. Battle zone entered."
Hyug reported, just as a blast exploded the ship next to Maria's.
"We've lost the 'Jlio'."
"Position?"
"We're currently just twelve thousand kilometers from the imperial fleets, however, we're right at gun point of the Vendeen's fifth royal fleet."
"In-coming laser fire!"
"Evade! Fire cannons!"
Maria ordered, as the ship dipped to one side to evade the on coming fire.
"All ships, fire at will, i repeat, fire at will."
A new battle exploded into a larger scale as the one new giant fleet of Maria's clashed against the fleets of the Vendeeni royal fleet. It was time to see if numbers can crush numbers.
"Captain, we have disturbance in the fabrics of space. Gravitic warp gate opening on our five."
"Any ID?"
"Scanning... got it, it's the 'Hyperion', 'Colossus' and 'Titan' fleets of the Kolik federation's space fleet."
"Kolik? Weren't they suppose to be here before us?"
Maria wondered. Something felt wrong.
"In-coming transmission from the 'Hyperion'."
"Patch it through."
Maria's console screen came to life and a familiar face appeared. The dark face of Nyiko stared hard at Maria. As though his eyes were piercing through her, Maria knew that this man was bad news, but does that mean that he had changed sides? Fayt told her to trust these people, but how much trust can she really place within the hands of these people?
"Maria Traydor, i suppose."
Nyiko spoke, his voice sounding as dangerous as ever.
"That would be me. You are Nyiko of the Kolik Federation, would you not?"
"Well met. I see that Fayt Leingod is not present. May i ask the reasoning behind that?"
"He is engaged in combat with the Vendeeni we met on the way here. He personally intrusted me to come here and assist the battle that rages on in this sector."
"Instructed? Has the great leader of Quark bowed down to an inferior Earthling? I thought that Quark never listened to any federation being."
Nyiko raised an eyebrow. There seemed to be some sort of hidden agenda behind these questions.
"Quark no longer exists. Having Klausian members and the ex captain of Quark himself within the new government, i see no reason why i cannot cooperate with Fayt. Besides, i am an Earthling as well, i'll have you know that. And i am not bowing down to Fayt, nor does he bow down to me. We merely respect each other greatly."
"Respect? Can you really expect much from that boy? What makes you so sure that he does so?"
Maria was feeling sick of these questions. She raised her left hand, exposing her ring.
"Because, i will respect that man who is my husband, now do you have any more questions? Because i would wish to know whose side are you on in this war."
Nyiko chuckled.
"Be at ease, Maiden of the heavens. I owe my life to Fayt, as do the entire Kolik system. though he may not know it himself, what he considered to be a small favour, has indeed saved many of lives. Not once, but twice. We Kolik will do our part in aiding Fayt and the new galactic federation."
"Then what was with all of those questions for?"
Maria asked, not really sure of what Nyiko was, really.
"Those? It is simply my nature to ask such rude questions, and so i humbly beg of your apologizes, Maria Traydor. Or is it Maria Leingod? No matter, i am sure you would want to know why i have not engaged in battle yet. Unfortunately, i too have just arrived. We were ambushed by the Yzaks near the Aldertan system. I barely made it out alive. After repairs and restocking on supplies, we have arrived with two of our best fleets. More are en-route."
"I thank you for your cooperation, and i must apologize as well for having doubts about your loyalty."
Maria smiled.
"No apologizes needed. My mother had to apologize to the schools for the way i behaved. Needless to say, we have a job to do. We will punch through the enemy lines, giving you enough time to reach the imperial fleets."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Good. Prepare your fleets. Jose, charge up all weapons! Point of shot, alpha point seven. Maria, you have the coordinates, and i wish you the best of luck."
"Thanks, and good luck to you too."
Maria cut the connection and turned to Hyug, who only shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't ask me, i don't know what the hell is going on around here."
"Then who made you my second in command?"
"Er... no clue."
AN: sigh... it's ending soon.