BOOK I
CHAPTER 1
Buckminster, Buckminster Prefecture,
Benjamin Military District,
Draconis Combine,
June 30, 3063
On any other day the 9-year-old Noloty would've taken her brother to run up and down the hills, or jump into the pond at the back of their house, or cycle through town, or catch fireflies, or lie under a tree, watching the cloud rolling in slow motion. There were millions of ways to wait for the day to end.
But not today.
Two black cars parking in front of her house could only mean one thing: her father would be gone for an extended period of time. She didn't even know what her father did or a living. He never talked about it. He would be home for a couple of months, then he would be gone for half a year, then stayed home for another couple months until those black cars showed up in their drive way, then he would be gone again.
"What is going on?" her little brother tried to peak through the door.
"Father is going to go to work," she gave him the only thing she had.
"He's going to leave?" her brother's eyes widened with unease.
"Don't worry, he will come home. He always comes home." Noloty inched closer to the door. She could only hear incoherent mumbles, but the distress in their tone was imminent. She reached for a book and tried to occupy her brother with its colorful pictures, but she couldn't put her mind at ease. She was used to her father's unpredictable schedule, but this one was different. Whatever they were talking about, it didn't sound 'comforting'.
The black cars finally left, and Noloty burst out of the room, eager to find out what mission his father had to do this time. She was too young to learn the detailed nature of her father's work. All she cared about was when he left and when he returned home.
"You had to endure some 'turbulence' the last time," her mother said with a hint of worry in her voice. "Why do they keep sending you to DCMS front? What do they want from you?"
"I endure 'turbulence' on every mission. It won't be much different than the last time," her father said assuringly.
"Can they find somebody else? Why does it have to be you?"
"Look, we are indebted to the Black Dragon Society," her father said gently yet firmly. "We live a good life for years. Don't forget where everything comes from."
Noloty had no interest in following that conversation. She only had one thing in her mind, so she held her father's hand. "Daddy, when are you leaving?"
"In two weeks, Honey," her father smiled. "Just a routine field job. I'll be back before you know it."
But Noloty had seen enough hints that it might not be a routine field job. "Daddy, who were those people?"
"They were uhm… friends from work. They gave me information about the job on the field."
"Are they the Kurita?"
Her father hesitated. Noloty was only 9 years old but she was smart enough to figure out what was happening around her. He thought it might be a good time for some political enlightenment. If she got bored, she would change the subject anyway.
"No, they are not Kurita," he led Noloty to the living room and sat on the couch. "They are from Kokuryu-Kai, or the Black Dragon Society."
"Are the Black Dragon the bad guys?"
"No, no, no! They are not the bad guys. They are actually good people. They have been taking care of us for a long time. This house, our food, your school, your expensive extracurricular activities, all are provided by the Black Dragon Society. We should always be grateful to people that provide us everything."
"But I thought we lived in Draconis Combine world?"
"Yes, Buckminster lies in Draconis Combine territory. We live under Draconis Combine law. But there are people that do not like Draconis Combine policies. They think Draconis Combine had become too open, too contemporary for its own sake. Too much influence from the Davions. The Black Dragons want to live in a more traditional way of life like those lived by our ancestors in Terra, in a country known as Japan."
"Why don't we want the Davion's culture?" Noloty asked. "Are they the bad guys?"
"No, the Davions are not bad. They are good people. They're just… different. And their culture does not fit in our tradition. That is what the Black Dragons are fighting for. To return Draconis Combine to the traditional way of life, before the reformation by Theodore Kurita in the 3030's."
"Are the Black Dragons trying to kill Davions?"
"No! Nobody's killing anybody!" Noloty's father quickly shot down any leads to killing, even though it was exactly what would happen. "You don't have to kill anybody. You can negotiate. You can do trade. You can talk somebody into doing something that benefits you. Fighting is not always about killing."
That last comment calmed Noloty down. She understood the concept of death. She was afraid that she wouldn't see her father again, but she could somewhat have comfort in her father's notion that his job did not involve killing. He would go to work and return home, just like before. In her simple mind, it was the most important thing.
"I want to see Japan one day!" she chimed.
"I will take you there," her father responded with equal enthusiasm. "You must finish school and eat your greens so you become smart and strong, because it is a long long way to Terra."
"I've eaten my vegetables, and I've done my homework!" Noloty said proudly. "Can I go to the pond?" She opened her eyes as wide as she could and put on a pathetic face, pleading, "Pleeeaaaasssseee?"
"Alright, but don't go home too late. You still have school tomorrow." her father replied. "And don't play with the frogs."
Noloty came barreling out of the house squealing.
