SunTzu flew back to the Deep Core and thereby back to the War the next day.
He had made sure the gifts he ordered in quarantine would come on time before he had left with AICA again.
Within a few hours he was in the midst of a defensive battle near a XQ-5 Customs Station at the middle of the Byss Run.
Two rather larg fleets clashed into each other, the GA one made out of ships from the First Reserve Fleet from Coruscant, mostly older ships so, and the other one a mixture of rogue Imperial, Mercenary and aged Old Republic ships.
Parts of the engagement were looking like a large battle back in the Galactic Civil War with Mon Cal MC80 Cruisers engaging ISDs and VSDs while fighters associated with the Rebel Alliance flew against TIEs.
The battle lasted more than a day and in this time SunTzu and AICA shot down twenty eight enemy snubs, cleared the path for multiple bombing runs on capital ships and escorted two rescue missions to rescue pilots whose snubs had been destroyed.
The battle finally ended with a victory with modest casualties for the defending GA Force.
On Crystal Tokyo it was the afternoon of the twenty fourth of December by now and SunTzu shortly thought about to go back to Earth. Hotaru had asked him to show up over Christmas and Ami had told him to do so as well, to at least take Christmas off from war.
But what was a few holidays on one single, small, blue planet to a Galaxy at War?
A few hours after the fighting stopped, SunTzu had just come back from a recon mission, trying to find any enemy elements left, as well as surviving comrades, and was on his way back to one of the remaining cruisers when Ada called in.
She had new orders for him.
Orders he didn't like and wasn't okay with but after a few minutes of verbal skirmish between the two of them Ada played the rank card and forced him to obey.
Within one hour he was on his way out of the Deep Core.
And although he didn't want to, he and AICA were heading back to Earth, taking a few days off, as Ada strictly had ordered him to.
On Earth the family of the Queen, both Royals and the Tsukinos, joined by Luna and Diana, were enjoying the First Day of Christmas when Artemis appeared, an inquiring look on his face.
His daughter happily yelled out "Daddy!" and hugged him while Luna and Usagi walked up to him.
"Artemis, what happened?" His wife, knowing her husband, asked.
"There is a convoy of freighters and construction ships from the Core Worlds which just arrived. They're saying they're here to begin the construction of the XQ-6 Space Station that had been ordered. But nobody from the military has ordered this station."
"Nor did I." Usagi replied.
"Or the Palace." Luna chimed in.
"Maybe it's a cunning ruse?" Usagi asked, becoming worried.
"No, Selene and Companion checked the convoy. It's really just parts for the space station."
The friends, now joined by Mamoru, looked at each other.
Who would gift them a space station?
And in that moment, someone knocked on the door and Artemis went to answer the door.
It was a Royal Guardist, with a letter in his hand.
"Admiral, this letter had been handed in for the Royals. It took a bit longer to forward it because of the strengthened controls for letters lately.
Artemis took the letter, answered the salute of the young soldier and closed the door, before he handed it to Mamoru, who opened it.
After a moment he had read the message and began to shake his head with a broad smile.
"Looks like although our First Knight isn't part of the Taskforce anymore, he sent us a very special Christmas gift." They all began to smile or shake their heads in disbelief.
"He says a hip planet planet like ours needs a decent entry point. And he wishes us a Merry Christmas." Mamoru gave the letter to his wife, and Luna was behind her, reading it as well over Usagi's shoulder.
It was evening when SunTzu arrived back once again on Earth, it seemed to become a habit lately.
AICA had told him that they needed to head to Crystal Tokyo Air Base as Karlena and her crew would service her tomorrow.
SunTzu wasn't particularly fond of it but it was the logical choice.
"When you see her tomorrow, tell her she has a Christmas gift free on us. Anything she wants."
The female Devaronian had always treated SunTzu and AICA very well and had become a mother figure to him. They were still checking on each other from time to time and the middle aged mechanic was always so happy to hear from him and AICA. When they arrived just a few guards were patrolling around as most of the forces were on leave for the holidays. AICA settled down in her old hangar and starfighter and pilot said their goodbyes for the time being.
SunTzu thought about what to do next and his grumbling stomach decided it for him.
He headed over to the mess at the north side of the Palace, which was open for allied officers as well, and had lunch.
In the corner he was sitting at, a bit afar to not draw anyone to him, was a TV hanging, and how could it otherwise have been, showed Earth's Senator in a live broadcast from Coruscant, where she just held a speech for the solemn Christmas Ball the Senator and the Diplomatic Corps of Earth held on the Galaxy's Capital.
SunTzu hid a dry smile when he noticed the diamond earrings she was wearing to the red and white dress she was in, matching the theme of Christmas very well.
She still wears the jewelry I got her.
It didn't hurt as much as it used to to see her, and he could take a bit delight in the fact that he couldn't see Yuichiro around. On the other side maybe this was the Force's way of letting him know that tonight was a good night for drinking.
As he followed the broadcast someone walked up to his table and SunTzu got so frightened when he noticed the white uniform next to him, that he almost jumped up and saluted.
"Please SunTzu, keep seated. I'm here as a friend, not as an officer. Heard your starfighter landed here and got word you were here as well, figured this is where I might find you."
Artemis said and pulled out the chair opposite of SunTzu from under the table.
"Mind if I sit down?"
"No, Sir. Absolutely not."
Artemis nodded and sat down. He took a look at the TV and pressed his lips together.
"The King and Queen, and the other members of the Inner Court, are very grateful for your gift for this planet and tomorrow a commodity team will start work on the topic how we use the station the best. But apart from your generous gift I have to ask you another favor."
"What could that be?"
"You know me and Marvin used to this thing for certain holidays, where we get humanitarian aid, pack it into one of the Lambdas and fly these goods to people and places that need them. I got the shuttle ready to go and I got the aid but the pilots are either on leave or, in Captain Tanaka's case, who wanted to take on the job, Ill. Care to help out? Maybe it's better to help some people at Christmas than to spend it in a war zone."
SunTzu thought about it, he could start drinking in a bar, get more pissed at a club in Roppongi and maybe take one or two Gaijinhunters or tourist girls home. Let off some steam and numb those inner demons down.
Or do something good on the Celebration of Love and give to the needy.
"To honor Marvin, I'll do it. When can we get going?"
Artemis showed him a honest smile.
"I knew you were still one of the good ones, Captain. Liftoff in thirty minutes."
SunTzu answered with a small grin as well.
"Aye Aye, Sir."
Exactly thirty minutes later, Artemis, SunTzu, two of the commandos and two crew chiefs of the transport ships of the Taskforce lifted off from Crystal Tokyo and flew their first delivery to Ethiopia.
Five more flights, including loading and unloading followed, in which everyone, including Artemis, helped to move the crates with food, medication, tents for shelter and more relieve aid.
They flew four times to Africa as well as one time to Haiti and unloaded goods directly at UN Distribution Points.
It was early morning when they came back and on the flights Artemis and SunTzu updated each other how things were going.
SunTzu had asked how the rest of the Senshi were spending Christmas and Artemis told him.
The Royals and their family were enjoying some downtime in the Palace and also would have one of the rare moments of halfway normality with lunch at the Tsukino Household tomorrow. Not that the surroundings would be swarming with undercover guards though. The Mau would also accompany them, in their cat forms.
Haruka, Michiru and Minako were with their families in Europe.
Ami and Makoto, as well as their husbands, were with Ami's father this year, up in the north of Japan.
As SunTzu already knew Rei was on Coruscant. With her boyfriend.
Of course.
Artemis quickly changed the Senshi and didn't tell SunTzu, that they had left just the day before christmas after spending time with Yuichiro's family in their winter residence.
Hotaru and Setsuna were at home, both had volunteered to be on standby over Christmas.
Dutiful as ever.
They landed at the Airbase and SunTzu overgave the Lambda Shuttle back to it's ground crew.
The men who had been flying together were happy and in a festive spirit. They really had done something noble tonight.
Artemis was the first to say his goodbye, after all he had a family lunch to attend, although he would be there as a pet, in just a few hours.
The other four asked SunTzu if he wanted to join them for a drink in the dinning hall but SunTzu declined.
Lately he had been sleeping better again and he wanted to savor this.
He thanked the guys for coming along and wished them a Merry Christmas before he left for the Airbase Gate and took an Uber to his apartment. On the way he answered the various Merry Christmas Messages he had recieved, including some from Minako, Ami and Makoto.
At his home, cleaned and in order, thanks to his housekeeper droid, he immediately went to bed, while outside the color of the night began to change because dawn was approaching.
SunTzu was woken up by the ringing of his mobile phone.
"Uhh... Yeah?" He answered the call drowsily and wiped the sleep out of his eyes.
"Hey, AICA told me you're on Earth. And it's still Christmas, so I was thinking if you would like to come over for a belated Christmas Meal."
SunTzu checked his chrono, at least he had gotten five and a half hours of sleep in. And he had been dreaming something really nice he just couldn't remember anymore. Too bad.
"Uhm… i can come over, sure." SunTzu answered after a moment. "But only if that's not a problem for your mother. I don't know if she wants guests on Christmas. Knowing her, I can imagine she had a lot of work with preparing food already the last few days."
"Don't worry, it will not be a problem. I think she'd be happy that you'd come over as well."
Yeah, well, I'm not so sure about that.
"If you say so. When shall I be there?"
"Is five okay for you?"
"Five is okay, I'll be there."
"Cool, see you later."
"Yeah, see you then."
Hotaru put her phone away from her ear, she was sporting a wide grin.
Now, to let Mom know that we get a guest. And then the preparations…
Punctual as always, dressed in a dark suit and a turtleneck sweater, SunTzu rolled up with his new Lamborghini at the Meiou's house. Hotaru, wearing an ugly Christmas sweater, was coming outside as she heard the car approach.
As he parked the car and opened it's swing door, the teenager appeared next to the car.
"Damn… that's a hot car. Rei told you got a Lamborghini now but I wouldn't have thought it would look that badass."
"Yeah, it's great. Hello Hotaru." They hugged.
"Merry Christmas, SunTzu."
"Merry Christmas, Kiddo."
"I see you're practising understatement again." Setsuna's voice came in and she walked up to the two pilots.
"Hello Setsuna. You know after my last visit on Earth I kind of had enough with a stealthy approach to things."
This sparked a smile from the dark green haired woman, who wore a dark green dress or skirt and an ugly Christmas sweater on top. She looked over to her adoptive daughter.
"Hotaru, why did I just know that your friend who would come over for a Christmas dinner was the Captain?"
Hotaru looked at Setsuna for a moment and then shrugged.
"I figured SunTzu would like a little coming together, it's Christmas after all. I mean he doesn't have a family to celebrate it with."
"Maybe he isn't interested in celebrating Christmas at all." Setsuna looked at SunTzu and the German could have sworn to see an accusation in her gaze.
"Oh. If it's a problem, I'll just leave again." SunTzu said politely and held his hands up defensively.
"No, please. Hotaru is right. You don't have anyone to celebrate with. At least not someone you know for more than one booze loaded night."
Ouch! That was a low blow. What have I done now again that she's so angry?
"Anyways, the food is ready to serve, so shall we get inside?" Setsuna said and Hotaru and SunTzu exchanged a glance with each other before they went inside.
"You like KFC, right?" Hotaru asked SunTzu while they took off their shoes.
"Can't say I don't like it. Why?" He answered, what kind of question was this?
"You don't know about Christmas traditions in Japan, right?"
Hotaru said as she lead him to the dining table.
The table had been prepared in a festive way. And had a bucket and smaller packages of KFC standing on it.
Hotaru saw SunTzu's questioning look and began to giggle.
"It's tradition in Japan to have KFC for Christmas Dinner." Hotaru explained.
"Horrible, if you ask me." Setsuna chimed in, coming out of the Kitchen with a freshly made bowl of salad in her arms. "So, if you want to at least have a healthy side dish, help yourself."
They sat down at the table, said their thanks and began to eat.
Setsuna had some chicken breast with salad, as she wasn't a fan of Fast Food, but SunTzu and Hotaru pitched into everything KFC and clearly loved the dinner.
Although she wasn't too fond with the food, Setsuna had to admit that seeing the two on the other side of the table totally enjoying their dinner made her feel happy.
At least mostly.
When the three of them had finished they cleared the table.
When the dishes had been taken off, Setsuna ordered SunTzu and Hotaru out of the kitchen.
"It's for the cake." Hotaru told SunTzu with a wink, as they walked back to the table and sat down.
A few moments later Setsuna appeared with beautiful decorated Christmas Cake at the table. Christmas Cake was another Japanese Christmas Tradition and the sponge cake, filled with strawberries, frosted with whipped cream and decorated with more strawberries and a little Santa Clause looked delicious.
"I hope you still have room for this." The dark haired woman said to the two pilots and both nodded with happy grins, anticipating the dessert.
And the cake tasted even better than had it looked, much to Setsuna's delight.
SunTzu and Hotaru each had two pieces and when they were done with the cake and Setsuna was about to get up to clean the table, SunTzu cleared his throat.
"Since it's Christmas I figured to get you guys gifts. So, umm, Merry Christmas."
SunTzu pulled out two envelopes with Christmas decorations on them. At first he looked at Hotaru and then handed her one of the envelopes. The raven haired girl opened it and inside there were documents.
"It's not much but since AICA and me are not around that often anymore I thought, although I'm not your superior anymore, I should do something for your development and got you a spot for training at the Horton Salm Assault Fighter School, so you at least get decent training with that Y-Wing in."
Hotaru's eyes widened while Setsuna's looked at him with questioning face.
"Really!? Do you have any idea, how hard it is to get accepted for a course there?" Hotaru asked dumbfounded.
General Horton Salm was an absolute Legend among Assault Fighter and Bomber Pilots and the Academy named in his honor only accepted a handful of the best bomber pilots every year for training. The graduates of the course were considered the best of the best and could basically choose with which squadron they wanted to fly.
SunTzu smiled.
"I told the CO there about your abilities and what you already managed to do with a Longprobe. You have the clearance from Artemis for next week already."
Hotaru hugged him, it was one of the greatest honors for a pilot when it's superior nominated them for flying at the Horton Salm School.
SunTzu turned to Setsuna.
"I hope that's okay, for you as well."
"Uhm, sure, it's for her development. And if Artemis permits it, so do I."
"Thank you. Uhm, I also have something for you Setsuna."
Setsuna shot him a coy smile as he handed her the envelope.
She opened it, gracefully as she always was and pulled out a card with the Chanel Logo on it.
She frowned before she began to read the card.
After a moment, she looked up, totally baffled.
"What is it, Mom, tell me?" Hotaru demanded curiously.
"It's a voucher. For the Chanel Store, a personal shopping experience."
"And you can get yourself whatever you want."
Hotaru let out a whistle. "That's nice."
"It is. Thank you SunTzu. I… I."
"You said thanks, that's enough." SunTzu chimed in before Setsuna could say anything more and for a moment the table fell silent. Hotaru's gaze was going back and forth the two adults, and suddenly she held up her phone and got up.
"Time for my call with Chibiusa. You guys excuse me." Within a few seconds she had left the room.
Setsuna's and SunTzu's gaze followed her out and as she was gone Setsuna cleared her throat, making SunTzu look at her, and got up.
"I'll clean the table."
SunTzu got up as well to help her but she motioned him to stay put.
"I'll fetch us some tea. Who knows when Hotaru will be done. If you want to stay until she is finished, that is."
"Sure, tea sounds good."
A few minutes later she came back from the kitchen with a small tray containing two cups and a teapot made out of fine China.
"Jasmine tea." Setsuna stated as she sat the tray down and poured some of the hot liquid for SunTzu.
SunTzu took the cup with a nod to thank her and smelled the cup's content, the tea smelled splendid. He turned to Setsuna.
"So, what about Haruka and Michiru? Why aren't you celebrating Christmas with them?"
"Oh, we always get together before they leave for their families."
"But you four are a family as well."
Setsuna lip's showed a coy smile and she looked to the side.
"We are." A small pause followed, wherein she took a sip of tea before she continued. "But Michiru and Haruka are also deeply in love and I wanted them to enjoy their relationship as much as they can. They're still young after all and there is so much to see and experience, especially as a couple. And you know that Haruka is a leave in the wind and needs her freedom to go wherever she wants. So a few years ago, after a long period where no dangers appeared and after Michiru's career grew ever more and Haruka got the chance to be trained in the British Army as Helicopter Pilot, we decided that I'd stay here with Hotaru and they'd go to Europe."
"I see." SunTzu said and took a sip as well.
Setsuna seemed a bit introverted when she continued.
"We all love each other and it wasn't easy for us but it was the right thing to do. After existing for thousands of years I'm quite a bit more settled than these two are. And I'm completely fulfilled with being Hotaru's Mother, I don't need to see the world anymore, I have already seen all of it."
SunTzu nodded, after a few thousand years many things which completely excited others probably felt boring for her.
"What about you and the two girls? I haven't heard Haruka talk about you ever since you left." Setsuna asked.
"I'm speaking to Michiru every once in a while. My sudden leave had angered Haruka a lot but Michiru says her anger is just her way to cope with me being gone."
Setsuna nodded, she already knew that bringing up SunTzu in Haruka's presence was a delicate matter. And she knew as well that Haruka wasn't really angered, just hurt. Like some other persons for this reason. Listening to SunTzu she concluded that he was unsure how to approach Haruka.
"I have to admit I'm a bit surprised that you got back to Earth for Christmas.
"Where should I have been instead? A ball on Coruscant?" He said, his voice amused, not angry.
"Oh. So you heard about it."
"I actually saw it live on holo, I always have the luck to be around a holo broadcasting her. The Force seems to make sure I know what's going on in her life." SunTzu shrugged and took a sip of the tea. "And also, in fact, I was ordered to take a few days off and go to Earth."
For a moment there was silence in the room before Setsuna cleared her throat.
"A gift for me absolutely wasn't necessary. Especially something like this."
SunTzu smiled in his tea cup. "Do me a favor and shop this place empty. If I die tomorrow my money doesn't do me any good so I don't have a problem to spend it on my friends."
"But still…"
"I wanted to gift you something. You're one of the people that actually still look out for me, so it's more than earned. You even receive me on Christmas." He took another sip. "And also I thought you like Chanel."
"I love Chanel. I even met Coco a few times in last centurie's twenties. She was brilliant, well at least until the War begun and... I guess you heard about it. I stopped wearing Chanel for some time but a friend of mine, her name was Jacqueline, although everybody called her Jackie, reintroduced me to Chanel. She loved these costumes and we would always go shopping on the store at Fifth Avenue. At least that was until her husband died and she left the country."
"Oh." SunTzu said with true sympathy.
"It's okay. When you life as long as I did you learn to accept loosing friendships."
"This still sounds sad."
Setsuna answered with silence and a sip of her cup.
One moment later Hotaru came back, she was smiling and it seemed she was expectant.
Outside it had become dark and SunTzu looked out the nearest window. "I guess I should get going now." He said and got up, fetching his cup.
"Please, leave it as it is. You are our guest, I'll do this." Setsuna said and motioned to him to leave it like it was.
SunTzu grabbed his suit's jacket from behind his chair, put it on, and then walked to the entrance to put on his shoes, mother and daughter following him.
After he had put on his shoes he took a look at Hotaru who immediately pulled her arms around him and hugged him.
"It's so nice you've been here. And thank you so much for this gift. This is so awesome."
"Sure thing, Kiddo."
They hugged a moment longer and then Hotaru ended the hug and made space for her mother to say her goodbye.
"Thank you for the gift again."
"No, thank you for receiving me for Christmas. The dinner was great. Especially the salad and the cake."
Both formed an awkward smile at each other.
"Guys?" Hotaru suddenly chimed in and both adults looked at her.
The raven-haired teenager pointed up to the ceiling and both SunTzu and Setsuna looked up and saw they were standing under a mistletoe.
Both frowned and Setsuna began to ask herself how the small branch had ended up there. Maybe Hotaru had hung that up for Michiru and Haruka on Christmas Eve.
"You know what the custom says." Hotaru said, her voice giving away a certain amusement and the two adults under the mistletoe switched their gaze back at each other.
Ruby and hazel eyes locked and for a moment time froze for the Doctor and the Pilot. That was until Setsuna broke the eye contact and cleared her throat. Both, her and SunTzu, were slightly blushing, cheeks a healthy red.
"It's not a Japanese Tradition." She told, a tad bit too fast, and looked back at Hotaru.
"Also not an European." SunTzu immediately followed up, seemingly getting nervous. "I gotta go. Have a good night you two."
Setsuna and him nodded at each other a last time, then he shot Hotaru a smile and was gone out the door in a second.
As soon as the door closed, Hotaru, unseen by her mother, rolled her eyes in disappointment.
With big steps SunTzu walked to his car and got in the Lamborghini, immediately starting the Italian car's motor.
What was that right now!? And why did I really almost kiss her!? She would've killed me! Violently!
A few minutes later he was on the closest city highway and drove through the lighted up city, the festive christmas decoration even lighting up the night more than usual.
Suddenly the car's board computer let him know that his phone had recieved a message. It was an audio message, and it came in over holonet.
While streets-lights passed, he began to play the message.
"Hello Handsome, I heard you're working on your own now. Might want to visit me and my team in the New Frontier, the Planet's called Tombstone. We could use a bit help from someone as skilled as you."
