Thank you for all your reviews I love them and look forward to them each time I post a new chapter. Time for some more meat and potatoes .
Flame
Chapter Six
Virus was an interesting world, not the cleanest still it was really interesting. But, right now Eva didn't have the time to admire the city or the planet since she was running away at the moment. Darting in and out of pathways and back alleyways; Eva took extra precautions to avoid the main populated streets. Turning she didn't notice the large belly or the thick beard of the person she just rammed into.
"Well what do we have here?"
Cautiously staring up Eva looked into a set of red tinted goggles. "…Rush?" Then again it could have been someone else, Everyone here looked pretty much the same in a bias sort of way.
"Why yes! That is my name and what is your name young woman?" He held back his laugh choosing instead to give a toothy grin. It didn't help he didn't have many teeth but it was still a big grin.
"Its me..Ev I mean Molly! You know from the races? The prelims?"
"Why yes! Molly how could I have forgotten! My you grew up! Welcome to Virus! But why are you out of breath? Come in side and meet the misses." Sending a searching look behind her Eva nodded and followed Rush inside to his home. She had to give it to him; Rush was pretty smooth in covering up the fact he didn't recognize her. Wait, Rush was married?
It seems she was running through the back allies of houses and he was just taking out the trash. Funny how the world works.
A big boned woman stood at the kitchen counter. Unlike Rush she had a full set of teeth, not pearly white but she had them. Her hair was a rich cinnamon red and it was braided into thick tight ropes. Like Rush and most people Eva guessed on Virus she wore a pair of goggle like things over her eyes.
"Hunny who is this skinny little thing?"
"It is Molly! The young girl I told you about! Molly this is my wife Bread."
'…bread?'
"It is nice to meet you Molly, you must be starving! Don't they feed you on earth! Sit, sit child!" Ushering her to a seat Bread went back to her cooking. Rush took the seat at the head of the table and nodded to Eva for a moment.
"She is the best cook! You will love it! Now tell Rush what you are doing here on Virus? And why you were running as if the Monster of Evies were after you?"
"I… someone…. Someone very bad is after me." Lowering her head Eva stared at the wooden table. "I was with King Aikka on his planet when they abducted me… I just got away right now…." Oh that reminded her of the soreness in her abs. The adrenaline that pumped hard and fast into her system was now leaking away into nothingness. So without that wonderful thing Eva began to remember her bruised body and it gleefully reminded her.
"I see…" The friendly tone in Rush's voice vanished. "What do you plan on doing about it?"
"I am not sure yet…getting away was my biggest problem now that's solved, I have no idea what to do…I think his planet is in danger, I mean King Aikka's… I need to call up earth and assemble allies to help." Eva rubbed her eyes to help push back the oncoming tears. Just like the pain, the adrenaline was keeping back the stress but now it seems she wanted to wallow in self-pity and cry.
"We shall go see our leader, he should know what to do." Nodding to himself Rush laid a gentle hand on Molly's shoulder. He looked at his wife who wore something akin to a sorrowful look on her face but put down the large plate of meat.
"eat and regain your strength. Molly sweetie" Here with Rush and his wife was like one of those old TV movie reruns from the 1950s or 60s. Despite whatever was going dinner at the table would make it better.
Nodding with tears streaming down her face, Eva ate. She ate until she was about to puke. She ate anything in front of her with such force Eva wasn't sure if it tasted good or bad. She just ate. She ate so she wouldn't taste the salty tears that trailed down her face of their own accord.
--
"Planet Virus?" Jordan looked through the cockpit window at the city before him.
"Why would they take her there?" Aikka muttered to himself.
"Who knows lets move." Standing Rick took his coat and left for the door.
"One of us must stay with the ship." Aikka looked at Jordan.
"Don't look at me!"
"shall we play a game of chance for it?"
"Fine, got a coin?"
"yes I indeed do." Pulling out a coin he showed the gun man heads and tails. He flipped it into the air and caught it. "Heads."
"fine Tails."
Opening his red-orange tinted palm the coin indeed landed on heads. "Have fun ship sitting" Leaving with a smug smirk on his thin lips Aikka followed Rick. The king pocketed two coins as he left, one that he showed Jordan before the game and a two headed coin he slipped in.
Kings never loose.
Rick eyed him with a bit of distrust but ignored the feeling. "alright if she was on planet Virus where would Eva head off too?"
"To speak with the leader assuming if she broke free from the twins." Aikka titled his head to the side.
"No…she is too smart for that… That would be the first place they would look. Wasn't there a racer from this planet?" Glancing down through his shades Rick took Aikka's thoughtful expression in.
"yes… there was one… Rush I believe his name was. Lost to Toros."
"lets find out where this Rush lives, Eva was pretty shaken up after that race I think, so if there was a friendly face she would look for, it would be his." Heading off on his own way Rick began to ask around as to where a Rush might live.
Taking the hint Aikka began to do the same.
---
Calmer now and with a full stomach Eva thanked Rush and his wife. "Thank you…I don't know where would I be if I hadn't ran into you…."
"Its alright! Oh and we have finally began to rebuild! You might have not noticed from this city but to the north our planet is becoming lovely again. Another time you must come and visit us Molly."
"yes, I would love to hear of your adventures! Rush talks about you so highly." Bread smiled again and started to clean the dishes.
"Here let me help you Bread…"
"No! you are our guest! Relax! I will have no guest help me like that. You will spend the night here and shall go see our leader in the morning. Right darling?" Bread cast a look to Rush who nodded.
"All right but I don't want to cause you any trouble…" Eva looked between the happy couple.
"Don't be silly. HO HO HO HO! Now I will get the spare room made up and then you can tell us what you have been up to these past years."
Eva waited in the living room for Bread to finish the dishes and Rush making her room. She took this time to look at their home. It was lovely, warm, and welcoming. Pictures of the couple lined the walls and mantel place . There was a fire place with a fire already blazing inside of it. As for the furniture it was huge compared to her small form and were decorated in muted reds, oranges, and blacks. Little accents of their culture appeared in small mental workings and other random mental objects.
The only thing wood was the table. It lead her to believe that wood was a rare thing and they were very well off to own one.
Her wandering eyes stopped when the couple entered the room ready to hear about her adventures.
And so she told them.
--
"No sign of her?" Muni asked sheepishly as their boss marched in.
"No." he growled sharply at the question.
"oh well?" Huni said as she shrugged his shoulders.
"no, not oh well…." Shoving the twins out the cargo door the strange alien glared down at them. "Find her then you can come back, if not enjoy your stay here. You have one day contact me if you find her." That was when the cargo door slammed shut and the strange alien was left alone. Or so he thought.
"Well" A soft famine voice broke the tense air. "You really fucked up this time haven't you Eris. Not only did you loose the mission objective but have two very loose ends. Foolish. What did the master ever see you in?" Turning Eris glared at the beautiful woman. "Well, Well if it isn't miss lover of wars herself. Aries. What are you doing here?"
"Why to check up on you of course. The master is very unpleased. The god of discord not doing his discording. How pitiful. Loose your magic apple again?" She giggled to herself at the pun. Aries had bright red hair that stopped dead at her shoulders. Her skin was a very healthy peach color. One would think she was an earthling at first glance.
"Knock it off with those earthling puns." Snorting Eris threw back his hair some. "I can see how they could mix me up with a woman but you? A man?"
"Yes well I was in that phase. About master, you better bring her Eris. Or else." In a puff of black smoke Aries made her exit.
"Always one for the theatricals" Coughing Eris waved the black smoke away. "but what does the Avatar want with this girl to interfere…."
---
It was nightfall when the duo had found Rush's home. Rick eyed the two maybe three story town house like home. It looked like every other house on this block expect for the giant sign that read "Rush Meteor Ace pilot for hire"
"You think this is it?" Aikka glanced at Rick then the sign.
"That's what the sign says." Approaching the door Rick gave it a hard knock then took a step back. They waited for maybe five minutes until it swung open.
"More earthlings?"
Casting a glance at Aikka, "I think we found the right place. The mouse is here."
---
Rush had let the Earthling and the Nourasian in and explained to them what happened. He also told them that Eva was sleeping a the moment and they were welcome to stay.
"Thank you." Aikka gave Rush a polite bow.
"We can all go see my leader tomorrow. HO HO HO. I will get you two some blankets the little one has taken our only spare room." While he left Rush hummed a happy tone under his breath.
Rick glanced a glance at Bread for a moment, "Only spare room but this place is three stories high?"
"Oh we keep most of our parts in the other rooms, it's a work shop of sorts! We only keep one room a room dear. Would either of you like some tea?"
"it would be a god send ma'am" Aikka gave the woman a kind smile before she left to put the kettle on.
It wasn't twenty minutes later that they were settled in and tea in both of their hands.
"Hmm I hope Jordan will be alright by himself." Rick said off handily while he sipped his tea.
--
"Those traitors…." Jordan drummed his fingers on the arm rest. "The left me all alone. Damn them!"
---
Dressed in one of Bread's night shirts Eva stumbled out of her room and down the stairs. It was morning now and she could smell wonderful things down below. Following her nose Eva found herself staring at a very unlikely sight.
"A-Aikka?"
The king sat at the table a glass mug in his hand. "Oh Miss Eva you are awake?" He looked too casual sitting there, like he was meant to be there. Meant to be waiting for her just like that.
Fighting back the tears Eva launched herself at him. In grace only he could muster the cup found it's way on the table down and still managed to catch the human girl.
"I was so scared! The twins they said horrible things were happening on Nourasia. I thought…I thought…." Shoulder's shaking Eva gripped onto the fabric of his silky white shirt. "I thought….they…."
"Shh…its alright…." His hand gently rubbed circles into her back. "I am here…they won't hurt you… Rick and I will find them…and make them pay for their traitorous actions."
"That's not it….they… aren't the master minds." Burrowing into his warmth Eva took in his scent. It was strange but strangely reminded her of apples. Something you would smell when you baked an apple pie or maybe roasted them.
"They aren't?"
That voice startled her for a second and blushing Eva turned to face Rick. "no… I didn't catch his name but…it's a totally different situation now."
---
Aikka regretted the lost of her warm body against his. He liked the way she came to him like that. He enjoyed knowing she felt safe in his arms. He loved the fact that Eva cared that much about his safety.
He watched with curious eyes the blush that spread a crossed her cheeks.
That look kept until she began to tell her story.
One word, the twins will be facing a fate worse then death, and this strange creature will face the wrath of a king. Not only did he attack her but his planet.
It was time for revenge and he will have it so help him.
"So…we were going to head to speak with Rush's leader. " Eva finished. "We need to get in contact with earth and send help to Nourasia." Nervous red eyes found their way to his blue ones. He gave her a nod to approve the idea.
"All right then Mouse, lets get you dressed eat and go."
and that's just what they did.
---
It wasn't hard to see the leader of Virus. Maybe it was luck, or fate but the leader was Rush's brother Dual. What was up with their names here? Molly thought that as she stared at the carbon copy of Rush.
"So you say his planet is in need of help?" Dual eyed the group, or that's what she thought he was doing.
"Brother! We must!" Rush stood tall and slammed his fist against his chest.
"Brother calm yourself! Tell me why winner of the prize must I help you, why we must help you." Dual leaned forwards a sneer on his large mouth.
She took a deep breath, "I… my planet will help you in return. Doing this I will make sure our planets form a strong alliance."
"And what will you do? Wave your weak little earthling arms about and try to smack the enemies with them?" Dual sat up straight this time.
"No, we will help rebuild your culture with things we learn from other worlds and from knowledge we have ourselves. In the time of crisis we will assemble allies and come to your help. We will stand tall and brave at your side as you will do ours. War is something earth does not want, peace is our objective as should it be yours." Eva waited a moment before she added, "I beg you. Please help the Nourasians."
Seconds passed, the minutes, until a booming laughter filled the air. "AHHAHAHAHA very well! Brother you were right about this one! Such Fire! Assemble our fleets, for the first time in years we ride to battle of our own will."
Releasing a tense sigh, she looked at Aikka and for the first time hope appeared in his eyes.
"We have to contact earth…you have a star communicator on the space ship right?" Another silent confirmation told Eva yes.
"Molly?" Eva in time to see Rush heading for the exit. "I shall see you on Nourasian when victory is ours."
"I thank you and your people…." Aikka added in.
"It is no problem prince! Take care of her, she is a real piece of wood there. Strong like it and makes great for a good foundation."
Rick eyed Eva for a moment and mouthed 'wood?'
"Tell you later. Thanks Rush!" Waving the trio bid farewell to Rush and his brother Dual. "back to the ship?"
"Back to the ship Mouse"
AN: One more of the puzzle is being fit into place. I hoped you like it, and for more pimping don't forget to check out my DA account. I have actually it a fanart oban phase so there are a lot of pictures there. Also there is actually an DA community for oban where a lot of great artist are.
Oh yes and tell me what you think! All sorts of reviews welcome and enjoyed
Akaichan (dot) devianart (dot) com