Sleeping is bliss.
SunTzu stayed most of the rest of day in bed. He needed a break, the last few days of sparing with the Senshi and the Raids for Credits took their toll on him. He wasn't twenty anymore and his body was aching when he finally got up.
Word was that they would patrol around the CTE, Shwuy Exchange and other routes around the Core Worlds. Since the enemies' decreased gathering Intel was one of their primary missions.
Terra Squadron was now lead by Odegana and had a new Pilot, one of the crew members of the Companion who had flown speeders and sky hoppers before, Terra was deployed as close by fighter screen for the Far Side now which meant lots of work more for SunTzu and the two Senshi in the Voyager. Especially now that Reconnaissance was a main part of the mission. Better to get some rest while he could.
The next morning he was up extra early and took a run through Juban before sunrise. His heart was heavy, the last weeks finally catched up to him mentally too. Marvin's death, the responsibility for Hotaru, the near death experiences. Hell, even Rei almost gravely injured him.
He tried to run it all out, to run away from it. It didn't help though.
As the sun slowly rose up he was already at the base and entered AICA's Hangar in his flight suit.
He let his hand glide along her sleek black frame, while he walked down to her tail. Galaxy's most advanced fighter ever. And he was it's pilot.
"Good Morning Beautiful" he hushed as it would be pillow talk.
"Good morning. I heard we're going back to space today." AICA came on.
"We will. And we'll be busy, prepare for loads of long range recon missions."
"Boring." The highly advanced Artificial Intelligence was on point. SunTzu smiled.
"My voice recognition detects a divergence in your voice. Are you okay?"
"Bit of Weltschmerz I suppose." He answered with closed eyes and a sad smile.
"It's been a ride since we came here, wasn't it." The snub told. Sometimes it was frightening how human she behaved.
"It was." He caressed her frame again, his gaze staring into a void.
The canopy opened.
"How about a ride?" The Starfighter asked him.
It was at least worth a try.
He entered the cockpit and strapped in.
A few seconds later AICA hovered out of the hangar while SunTzu informed the flight center. Special training flight, because a special Top Secret Update, a R&D Mission.
SunTzu was pretty surprised that this actually worked. Thank you Ami for the idea.
And away they were. Almost vertically and in a matter of seconds they broke through the clouds. As soon he was sky bound he felt better. The world could suck it, he was in his element now.
He ended climbing with a looping and raced AICA back to the ground again, catching her off the ground a few meters above Tokyo Bay just south of Crystal Tokyo Island. Racing through under the bridges in the bay he headed off for the pacific.
Soon he raced over the remote islands south of Honshû. Fast and low level, after he passed the islands he veered off and greeted a convoy of Japanese, US and allied Warships going for a maneuver in the pacific.
Just letting the neighbors know we cool.
He raced above the deck of a American Aircraft Carrier, waving with AICA's wings.
The crew on the flight deck cheered and waved at him.
As soon as he passed, he put all energy into the thrusters and rushed back, heading for Tokyo again. His sorrows were like blown away. Flying was his life and up here nothing could catch up to him.
"AICA, music please. Loud!"
Time to wake this city up.
A certain raven haired Miko was standing on the main plaza of Hikawa shrine, oddly talking to two Crows that sat on her shoulders and giving them tasks for when she was gone. A rumbling in the heavens made the three look up, a single black Starfighter pierced through the sky above them.
"Up early this morning Top Gun." She whispered and smiled, her gaze following the ship.
SunTzu flew a looping around the Skytree and headed back to the bay.
He flew on his head as he passed some of the bridges.
Wait, was that a white Ferrari down there. He threw AICA back on top and veered left.
"Good Morning. That was you passing over Tokyo Bay, right? We're on the Juban Bridge right now." Michiru said into her phone as SunTzu called her. Haruka was trying to make him up the sky while she was steering the car over the bridge.
"I know. Look onto your nine." He told her.
As she looked out of her side window AICA rose up next to the bridge.
Michiru put down her phone and opened the window, waving out of it.
He gave them a quick salute, made a barrel roll to his left and then accelerated again.
A short time later he was circling over the landing strip and he saw a black haired girl in a orange flight suit that was too big for her standing near one of the landing spots.
It was 07:30, so someone was even there before the school bell rang. Good girl.
He hovered down next to her and opened the canopy even before he touched down.
"Hey Miss Murder, want a ride."
She showed a bright smile and literally jumped in onto the backseat. Immediately they took off again and took another round over the city, passing Michiru and Haruka again as they just were to leave the Juban-Crystal Tokyo Bridge.
This time Tokyo Tower was part of the show and after their circle around it SunTzu asked Hotaru for her phone. They had the Shibuya Skyline in the background when he took a Selfie of them both from his pilot seat.
"For the group. There's probably not one pic from this perspective and with me smiling yet." He gave her a wink.
Shortly afterwards they passed over the Bay again and headed back to Crystal Tokyo.
"Can we fly over to the tower? I wanna wake up my Waifu." Hotaru asked.
He didn't know who she meant by this but why not.
He raced over the palace and circled In on the Crystal Tower.
Good Morning Crystal Tokyo.
He stopped and hovered near the tower.
"Top floor, right side." Hotaru instructed him where to go.
He flew more near to the tower and hovered where Hotaru sent him too.
He couldn't see inside but from the position of the rooms it had to be the Royal chambers. But the other side from he was the last time. He hoped it wasn't the king's workroom, Endymion might end his piloting career very fast and very terminal and turn it into a kitchen help career when he was disturbed at his breakfast.
They were hovering there for a moment, when Hotaru pulled out her phone and called someone. It rang for quite a time till someone answered.
"Wake up Bitch!" Hotaru greeted the Callee.
"Hotaru? What time is it? I'm trying to sleep more but one of the starfighters is making so much noise. I'm tired." It was Chibiusa.
"I know, look out of your window!"
A small cry of surprise followed.
"There's a starfighter in front of my window." A surprised Chibiusa stated.
"Yes, I got flown up here just to say good morning to the Waifu!" Hotaru told her with a big smile.
"That's so dope Hotaru. We could do tons of stuff with a starfighter."
"Yeah, I know. Anyway, I think we should get going. Not that your parents get angry."
"Later Besty!" Chibiusa said and they hung up.
SunTzu slowly hovered away and turned AICA sideways slowly veering away from the tower.
King Endymion was sitting on the sofa in the Royal living room, having his morning coffee and reading the newspaper when Lieutenant SunTzu's Ship hovered around the tower. Behind him the Queen was walking around, tooth brush in her mouth and trying to figure out where to start with the preparations for their departure. She didn't notice the ship.
The King stood up and walked up to the Crystal wall, which let him see everything outside but prohibited to see inside.
The ship turned away and accelerated, heading back to the military base.
He stood at the window, gazing at the vanishing starfighter.
From behind the Queen asked him:
"Why you're looking out the window?"
They landed briefly at the Airbase and SunTzu got the little bit of stuff he wanted to take with him. He didn't have much personal belongings and his biggest possession was with him all of the time anyway. He didn't tell anybody but he kept all the pictures that showed him with his friends on a secured cloud, being accessible from AICA or his phone.
He next stop was the palace where they took Hotaru's stuff and took care she had some flight suits.
The Far Side left Crystal Tokyo on point 10:30 am, escorted by Terra Squadron, the Voyager, the Companion and AICA. So far everything was according to schedule. A short distance behind the moon the starfighters landed in the hangar and the Taskforce jumped into Hyperspace.
Rei was waiting for them in the Hangar.
She walked up as he gave Hotaru a hand to get out.
Rei shook her head dramatically.
"Top Gun, Top Gun, Top Gun. Where will all this end with you? First you wake up the whole city of Tokyo in the early morning and now you trade my place for going to space for a younger girl."
Hotaru immediately blushed, the fierce Warrior of Fire, that only listened to herself, had always been one of her role models and now she was afraid that the fellow Senshi was jealous.
"You know Hotaru doesn't forget herself, going as far as risking to hurt me, while training with me. And she's also way more nice to me than a certain other black haired." SunTzu answered and made Hotaru blush even more.
"What do you mean with being more nice. As if i wouldn't be nice with you! Tell me the month, week and day, hour and minute I wasn't nice to you?"
Hotaru looked like she wished the ground would open up and swallow her.
"Look, you even make Hotaru uneasy with your behavior." SunTzu stated.
Hotaru defensively put her hands up.
"I'm sorry if you guys are fighting because of me. I didn't want to make you jealous Rei."
"Jealous?! Why should I be jealous?" Rei asked, seemingly surprised.
"Because it's very much looking like that you guys are dating."
"We're not dating!" Rei and SunTzu yelled at her at the same time.
"You know what Hotaru? Let's have a coffee together. I don't know what Topper Harley here is telling you but we're definitely not a thing. But I'm excited to see what he told you that make you think this, because it's ridiculous."
Rei pointed to the door.
Hotaru looked at SunTzu and he nodded, although he seemed kinda agitated.
The two girls walked away, with Hotaru looking back again if it really was okay. SunTzu nodded again, encouraging the girl to follow Rei.
"Hey Rei. Try to not injure Hotaru by accident, okay?"
Her answer was a middle finger over her shoulder.
Okay, maybe that last one was a bit over the top, but it's not like she needed to curb herself a bit too.
He went to the Flight Command Center, that was located under the bridge of the Gladiator and got his orders for today there.
AICA and the Voyager would take turns with Long Range Reconnaissance Missions in advance for the Task Force.
Great, not even with a wingman to have someone to talk too. He hoped that Hotaru was available for most of the flights but he knew that she was to start her simulator flight training on board as soon as possible, probably already today.
This was going to be a long day, and night. His first flight started in the afternoon and he was scheduled with an even longer patrol in the night.
He got back to his starfighter and took his stuff, Hotaru was there also when he came back, taking her stuff from the fighter also.
"I'm scheduled for patrols later. You up?"
"I can't, my simulator training is starting this afternoon." She smiled. It was a big step forward for her and he was happy for her too. Not long and she probably would take her first real flight lessons with him.
"Good, we'll have you flying AICA in no time. And than we can share this lame stuff."
He smiled and she gave him a small smile back.
"By the way, how mad is Rei? Should I lock myself away in AICA or is at least not life threatening for me to walk around the ship?" He was expecting the worst actually.
"I guess she's okay, you guys have a weird way to talk to each other, especially since you're not in a relationship. That last comment was a bit harsh tho."
Sounded better than he expected. At least she probably wouldn't burn him to ash when she would see him the next time. Hopefully.
They left for their quarters and before he went off to his room he told her he'd have lunch afterwards. She couldn't make it because she wanted to check her notes before the simulator again. She was an eager learner, he appreciated that.
Soon as he left for the cafeteria she pulled her phone out and started typing a message.
The cafeteria was pretty packed and when he finally had his food and found a small table he had to hurry.
Maybe one day he would find time to actually enjoy a lunch.
As he rushed his food down, Rei appeared at the table.
"This seat taken?" She asked, her tone being very neutral.
Not good.
He silently motioned for her to sit down, the table was so small, that they would have had problems if they both had food trays.
She sat down, crossed her arms and legs and looked at him, as if she was waiting for something.
Yeah, I get it.
"I'm sorry, if my last comment was over the top." He told her.
"And?" She asked, awaiting more than just a sorry.
"And what?" He replied. "I said sorry."
"And what about my flight into space?" She narrowed her eyes. "Last time didn't count you said."
That was a few days ago but right now it felt like it's been ages.
"I didn't forget, don't worry. I'm just a bit busy these days. And today Hotaru was already with me. I have to take care to prepare her for her own flying too."
"Oh yeah. Top Gun is Flight Trainer now." She showed the hint of a smile.
"Yeah, I'm making quite the career here. But Cadet Meiou is an example student also."
She shook her head and smiled.
"And before you say something now, of course I never would fly maneuvers more risky than necessary with her inside my fighter." SunTzu told Rei.
"I know. You usually keep the stupid ideas for yourself. And I don't think you would ever willingly put someone of us into danger. Even if that someone is about to hurt you." Rei looked into his eyes, a hint of sadness in them.
"Rei, I have to hurry, because I got to get going for my mission, and I desperately need a cigarette before I lift off. Don't worry, as I said I'm not mad about accidently having been hurt in the heat of training."
She nodded slowly as he got up and put away his tray.
"Mind If I accompany you?"
He shook his head.
No. By now you really should know how I feel about your company.
They went to a smoker area near the hangar.
"You seem tense." Rei said as SunTzu was smoking his cigarette up fast.
"Not a fan of these missions. They take to long. I'm glad I got AICA for company at least."
"See, it ain't that bad, at least you're not alone." She smiled at him and hoped this would cheer him up.
"Hum… I guess you're right."
They finished their cigarettes and Rei accompanied SunTzu to the hangar also. He climbed into the cockpit and got ready to lift off. She climbed up next to him.
"Have a good flight. Be safe out there."
"I'll probably die of boredom. But I appreciate your concern."
"Of course, you owe me a flight." They shared a smile. "See you later Pilot."
He saluted playfully and returned the smile.
"Diplomat Hino."
The Senshi stepped down again and he closed the canopy.
Her gaze followed him as AICA flew out of the hangar.
And his gaze was on her in the rear mirror till he couldn't see her anymore.
As expected the whole patrol was boring like hell. Why he had to patrol an area they already patrolled a few days ago was behind his understanding. But orders are orders.
After he came back he immediately went for his room to get some sleep in in advance.
Four hours later, 10pm Crystal Tokyo Time, he was back in space. The Far Side was now patrolling on the Shwuy Exchange and SunTzu had the pleasant mission to scout ahead.
If it hadn't been for AICA and the ability to play music inside the snub he probably would have flown voluntarily into a asteroid after the first two hours. Almost every ship using the hyperlane used the hyperspace so not much was going on in real space.
Around 1am CTT he got an incoming call.
It was Rei. What a pleasant surprise.
"Crystal Tokyo Office for boring Tasks, how may I help you?" He answered the call.
Rei laughed heartily.
"I see you're having fun. Where are you?" She asked him, sounding a bit tired.
"Wait, I'll look out the window to see where I'm at. Oh, yeah as I thought. Nowhere. I'm nowhere. And it's dark."
"Awww, good that you have AICA to take care of you. I'll tell her to leave the light on tonight." Rei giggled.
"That's far too kind. Whatcha doing?"
"Don't get jealous but I'm going to sleep now. Being a diplomat and debating stuff with governments in this part of the galaxy is almost as boring as flying senselessly through space alone."
"I appreciate that you called. Don't get cocky but this was the highlight of my night so far. Leading in front of AICA's explanation how she will promote Mongolian Throat Music to the galaxy." They both laughed.
"Sure, I had to make sure that you're not doing stupid things now that you're alone. Good night SunTzu."
"Good Night Rei, sleep well."
They hung up. The next two hours were way more easier to bare than the ones before.
SunTzu actually was out there for seven hours since someone decided that he should scout another hour. Haruka and Michiru wouldn't relieve him, rather the Taskforce would take a small detour to a mediocrely important planet on the exchange.
He jumped back to the Far Side and requested permission to land.
Stinger Jordan himself answered him and told him to standby. That moment he knew there was no more chance of a speedy landing.
After ten minutes he started Meditating. Ten minutes later he gave up. He turned on the music to something uplifting and while he waited he began to hum and sing along.
After he ended that song a laughing Commander Jordan came on the radio.
"After that singing performance you have permission to land Lieutenant."
He checked his comm channels, they were open all the time and sending, he just gave flight command a serenade.
How bad could this night still get?
He landed, gave AICA over to the maintenance crew and rushed to bed, hoping nobody had the idea to record this.
