I'm really enjoying how much my revisions are improving my stories. I'm hoping that everyone else enjoys my revisions to my stories as well as the new chapters eventually to come. Well, enough babbling, have fun.
Chapter 3: One hell of a Welcome
" Holland, are you sure that it was really them?" Stoner said, looking through the eyepiece of his camera
" It's them. I'm sure of it. Alright, we've entered the outskirts of bell forest. Be careful, we don't know if there are any rebel battleships or KLFs are in the area. When we get their we'll have to keep them safe until the Gekko can in get into position." Holland said, continuing to proceed towards Bell Forest.
" Hey Saya, you see that, about three klicks to the south?" Dante said, checking his binoculars.
" I'm not sure, let me check radar." Saya said.
" They're not withing range yet, but we should be able to see them shortly."
" Hopefully it's the Gekko or maybe the 909, 808 and 606." Dante said. Seconds later, the radar in Saya's 505 began picking up several blips.
" Dante, one klick northeast." Saya said.
" I see it. Several rebel KLFs. Saya, stay here and wait for the Gekko or the LFOs." Dante said.
" What about you, there's easily three dozen KLFs heading our way?" Saya said.
" Me? Well, i'm going to go welcome our new friends." Dante said, putting away his binoculars and readying his LFO. Seconds later, it jumped on its ref board and flew into the sky towards the advancing rebel KLFs.
" Saya, where's he going?" Eureka asked.
" He's going to stall the rebels until the Gekko or the LFO's can get here." Saya said.
" Alone?" Renton said.
" He has to. He needs me to stay here to protect you." Saya said.
" I hope he knows what he's doing." Axel said, walking out of the garage.
" Are you ready grandpa?" Renton said.
" Digger and some of his associates have agreed to watch over the shop in my absence. It's all up to that kid and the Gekkostate now." Axel responded.
" Rebel KLFs, this is the 505 Shadow. Leave the area or face the consequences." Dante said.
" All units, it's just one 505, smoke him." the lead KLF pilot responded, raising its machine gun, firing several shots at him. Dante maneuvered around the flak and readied both arm blades. The Shadow gained altitude, then jumped into a steep dive, slicing the legs off two of the closest KLFs, sending them crashing into the ground below. Before the rebel units could react, he fired two of the missiles from the left missile pod, scattering into several more which connected with another rebel unit before he could react.
" Everyone, be careful, this must be one of the federation's ace pilots." The lead KLF unit responded.
" Your only half right." Dante interrupted, firing several burst from the 505's machine gun, destroying the board of one and severing the torso of another. Three of the KLFs then rose above them, firing several missiles at the 505. Dante maneuvered past the first barrage, performed a cut back drop turn, then destroyed the remainder as well as another KLF unit with the 505's laser cannon. Seconds later, a boomerang knife sliced through another KLF, followed up by two burst from laser cannons which destroyed another four KLFs.
" Looks like you could use a hand." Holland said as the 606 and 808 streaked past.
" Though I usually don't need assistance, it would really be appreciated Holland." Dante said, slicing the arms off of another rebel unit.
" So, what's the situation?" Holland said.
" Well, you see that i'm thrashing a large squadron of rebel KLFs, making sure that none of them get close to where Renton and the others are. Pretty straight forward." Dante said.
" I see. Well, show me what your made of." Holland said, firing his laser cannon, destroying several of the missile fired from another group of KLFs.
" I intend to." Dante said, going into a steep dive, jumping off the 505's board, slicing through an enemy KLF's arm and legs before landing back onto the board.
" Impressive." Holland said, going into a cut back drop turn before slicing apart another KLF with his boomerang knives.
" This is 01, we're terribly outmatched. Ordering all units to retreat immediately." the lead KLF pilot ordered as the remaining KLFs proceeded away from Bell Forest.
" You did good out there. Lets head to the Thurston residence." Holland said as he and Dante lifted towards the garage, seeing the 808 and 606 in vehicle mode waiting. Holland and Dante also transformed their LFO's, then jumped onto the ground.
" So this is who was taking on all of those KLFs?" Matthieu said.
" What were you expecting, a by the book military pilot in his late 30s?" Dante said.
" No, but." Matthieu started before just groaning.
" Anyways. Saya, come on out." Dante said. Saya emerged from her LFO, provoking a wolf whistle from Matthieu before Hilda punched him in the nose.
" Sorry Matthieu, she's taken." Dante said.
" So, this is your associate. She seems nice." Holland said.
" Be careful Holland, she is nice but she has a right hook that'll dislocate your jaw before you know what hit you." Dante said.
" Kinda reminds me of Talho." Holland replied.
" Well, there's the Gekko." Stoner said, adjusting the lens of his camera. The Gekko landed a short distance from the garage. Moments later, the 606 and 808 began bringing Renton, Eureka, Axel and the kids things to the Gekko while the rest walked inside Axel's house.
" Holland, what will we be doing once we leave Bell Forest?" Eureka asked.
" We'll be heading to Tresor before we officially join up with the New Federation Army where we'll receive our first orders." Holland said.
" We'll be joining the military?" Renton asked.
" That's right. The military's main objective at this point is to halt the growth of the Rebel Federation Army, the portion of the military dedicated to the eradication of the Coralians. We're hoping that you can join up with Gekkostate again." Holland responded
" It may be dangerous, but we need to protect the Coralians. I'm in." Renton said.
" I know your judgment is sound, I'm in too." Eureka said.
" Dante, Saya?" Holland said.
" Why not. The military would have stuck us with someone eventually anyway. I'm in." Dante said.
" I though for a long time that the Gekkostate was a bunch of pirates and thugs who cared about no one but themselves, but i've learned that they are truly heroes. I'm in." Saya said.
" Then it's settled. Welcome to the Gekkostate." Holland said.
" Holland, we should probably get going. The rebels may try to counterattack and I don't want anyone destroying my house and garage again.
" Right. Lets go." Holland said. After proceeding back to the Gekko with the 909, both 505s and an unknown LFO hidden under a tarp, the Gekko rose into the air towards the high altitude leylines.
" Everyone, i'm sure your all glad to see the return of Renton and Eureka." Holland said.
" Hey Eureka, those wings of yours are so beautiful." Gidget said.
" Thank you." Eureka responded.
" Hey Renton, have you and Eureka kissed yet?" Matthieu asked. Renton nodded, his face slightly red. Holland cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention.
" I now want to introduce two new members of the Gekkostate, Dante and Saya." Holland said. Seconds later, Dante and Saya walked in, waiting for everyone's reaction. Several seconds passed as the two merely stood there, looking at the assortment of people the Gekkostate was comprised of.
" She looks so cute!" Gidget said, breaking the silence.
" Hey kid, Holland tells me your pretty good around LFO's." Matthieu cut in next.
" Saya, you've got to tell me your secret about how you keep your hair that shiny." Gidget said. They next several minutes were spent answering any questions the crew members happened.
" Hey Dante, why don't you tell us how you and Saya met." Talho said.
" I don't know, it's not necessary a story we really like to get into." Saya said. The rest of the crew began badgering the two, until they finally agreed to tell them.
Flashback: Gremicoa
I had been helping my mother with shopping and we'd just gotten home. I turned on the news, and saw a live news report of something hitting the ground near the city.
" Hey mom, look at this." Saya said
" . . . . this just in. Some sort of missile or something just crashed into the ground here, though we are unaware of what it is at this time." The news reporter said. Seconds later, a Kute-Class Coralian appeared over the city, seconds later bringing about the arrival of hundreds of anti body Coralians.
" They appear to be some sort of unidentified organisms, we are unsure at this time whether they are hostile or not." The news reporter said, just moments before one of the creatures created a ball of energy which destroyed a part of the reporter's face, splashing blood over the camera lens.
" Oh no." Saya said. Seconds later, screams could be heard outside. Saya and her mother looked outside, seeing people down the street torn apart by the Coralians or by the energy balls they were creating. Seconds later, her father emerged from the garage.
" Saya, Martha, this way." He called.
" Roland!" Saya's mother called, just as he was impaled by the spike of a ball shaped Coralian adorned with hundreds of spikes. It's large lavender eye dilated before floating towards them.
" Saya, stay back." Her mother commanded, as the Coralian began spinning. Saya closed her eyes, hearing her mother scream then the tearing apart of flesh and the splatter of blood. She felt tears escape her eyes as she waited for the inevitable. Seconds later, she heard a slicing sound and flesh tearing before being covered in what she figured was blood. She didn't feel any pain, and opened her eyes. She saw a man the same age as her in a black cloak, holding a mid sized katana and like her, covered from head to toe in blood.
" Come on, it's not safe here." he said, grabbing her hand and leading her to a nearby house with a cellar. The man found an oil lantern, lighting it with a nearby match.
" Are you ok?" He asked. Saya merely sat down on the floor trembling.
" Why did this happen? Why did this Happen!" Saya screamed at the man. The person slapped her which slightly calmed her down.
" Now that you're calm, all I know is that it wasn't a spontaneous attack. Something triggered it. Those things were acting like they were protecting themselves. I think the military might have something to do with it." The man said.
" The military, how could they be a part of this. Who are you?"
" The name's Dante. What about you?" Dante asked.
" Saya. What were those things?" Saya asked.
" From what I can discern, they appear to be a type of Coralian." Dante said.
" Coralian?" Saya asked.
" Coralians are thought to be the sentient beings created from the Scub Coral. I'm sorry for your loss." Dante said.
" Thank you. I'm just upset. All this death and destruction for no reason. Are you sure the military really is behind this?" Saya asked.
" I'm not one for taking things at face value. I could be wrong, but my gut feelings are usually right." Dante said.
" I'm not hearing anything. Are those things gone?" Saya asked.
" Only one way to find out. Stay here." Dante said, unsheathing his sword. He slowly walked up the staircase to the cellar doors, swiftly kicking them open, seeing nothing but the remains of both the people caught in the massacre and the petrified bodies of the antibody Coralians.
" It looks like it's safe. Come on, we need to leave. This place is a derelict." Dante said.
" Are you sure? Besides, where are we going to go?" Saya asked.
" I'm sure they won't bother us again. As for where, anyplace we can clean up. I don't know about you but i'm gonna smell awful if I don't clean some of this blood off of me." Dante said.
" I remember that day. We searched the area later after the incident." Talho said.
" We were miles from there before sundown, you wouldn't have seen either of us. It was difficult for a while." Dante responded.
" Relapses?" Mischa asked.
" Yeah. She eventually came to terms with it, but it's still a very painful memory. I was glad when I heard that Dewey was gone. Senseless bloodshed, no matter the excuse or goal, is still senseless bloodshed." Dante said. Saya then left the room and walked towards the hanger.
" Where's she going?" Moondoggie asked.
" Haven't you been paying attention? She wants to be alone now. I'll check on her later." Dante said.
" Dante said that her parents had been killed by antibody Coralians, but I didn't know that it had affected her like that." Eureka said.
" Well, I'll see all of you around." Dante said.
" Where're you going?" Holland said before being punched in the arm by Talho. Dante just continued walking as the door shut behind him.
" What the hell was that for, Talho?" Holland asked as he rubbed the area Talho had struck.
" Isn't it obvious?" Talho said.
" Saya? Where are you?" Dante asked. He rubbed his chin for a moment, then walked to where her LFO was. He saw her sitting inside, looking at a picture of her parents she managed to save before leaving her home.
" I still wish I could've gotten to know them." Dante said
" My mom would've loved you. My dad would've eventually warmed up to you. He likes to get to know people first." Saya said.
" You had a good life until that day. You knew both your parents, had a normal life." Dante said.
" It's hard. I never even got to say goodbye." Saya said.
" I wish I had gotten there just a few moments earlier." Dante said.
" At least their only child managed to survive. That enough probably keeps them at peace." Saya said.
" Come on, i'm sure you hungry. Since the Q and A session is more or less over, maybe we can relax in the lounge." Dante said, holding his hand out with a smile on his face.
The boy and girl have now reunited with old friends. Will their new found strength conquer the enemy? Next time on Eureka 7: The New War. Chapter 4: First Fight.