Chapter Seven
Beta Posted 07/12/2007
Author's Note
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To those who didn't know, I updated my profile. As for this story, there are at least four chapters left. I've changed the text format slightly as you find some lines in bold. Otherwise, it's the same. This chapter came out... rushed as I have a trip this weekend. This was the last possible moment that I could post it before I'll be out of touch til Monday. I'll revise it later once I'm done with the entire story. Please bear with it for now.
- Free Corp Knight -
- - - - - - - - - -
- Chapter 7 -
- - - - - - - - - -
Month: July
Year: 2047
This is a reminder. In 24 hours, the main fleet will commence warping towards the Sirius Alpha and Beta system.
"Hey! Watch it!" The man shook his fist at a passing figure. The papers he carried moments ago now lay scattered in the halls. "Damn brats!"
Total distance will be 8.57 lightyears.
"Sorry!" The girl gave a quick apology. Her pace slowed before picking up again. Making a sharp turn, she found her stop, one of the public communication rooms on the ship.
Send all relevant messages to Earth now...
Pressing a button, the door slid aside. Inside, she saw a long panel of monitors and a lone figure waiting for her.
Before the warp commences.
"Mikako! You've got here just in time." The person exclaimed. Beckoning, she motioned to come closer. "It's over here."
"Miwa... What's going on? I heard..." The schoolgirl stumbled forward, her mind confused. Just minutes ago, she received a call telling her to come at once. The commander didn't say why but stressed that it was important. Very important.
"Here. Come here." The older woman ushered, moving her close to one of the terminals. "You can talk to her here."
"Her?" Mikako leaned over the monitor to get a better view. She held her breath upon seeing the screen. Seconds went by unnoticed.
"Mikako? Is it really you?"
A weak raspy voice sounded throughout the room. A single eye looked at her from the other end. The other eye was covered in gauze and medical wraps. Slowly, a bandaged hand tried reaching toward the camera but stopped midway, too weak to continue any further. Despite all the injuries, there was a smile on the patient's face. It took a while for Mikako to talk, too stunned to speak at first.
"H... Hi... Hisa!"
- - -
Miwa quietly left the room and sighed. It pained her to see Hisa in such a condition. Then there was Mikako who agonized the past couple hours, not knowing if her friend was alive or not. Was this worth knowing more about the Tarsians? Sending youths to the front lines, facing injury and death, just to gather a little more information?
It was worse knowing that she was the one who allowed this to happen. She let the two girls join the operation. Even if they knew what might happen, she felt guilty for exposing them to such harsh situations.
BAM! Miwa slammed her fist against the wall, venting her frustration. Punching out again, she cursed, "From now on, it's going to get worse."
- - -
"I'm so happy to see you." Mikako cried, trying to wipe the tears off her face. "I've been so worried..."
"I'm sorry that I made you worried." Hisa replied, her voice barely audible. "Luckily, another ship picked me up right before the warp."
"I see..." The younger girl didn't care about the details. It was enough knowing that her friend was alive and recovering.
"But..." Hisa took a pause. An unseen doctor spoke several words to her, most likely telling her to rest. She ignored him and focused back on the conversation, a sad look on her face. "They're sending me home to recover... I wanted to go with you... to Sirius."
Mikako could only nod in agreement.
"I promise I'll never forget..." Hisa continued.
"Even though we'll be separated by another eight years, I'll never forget about you... Mikako." A tear slipped down her eye. "So don't worry about me okay?"
"Okay..." Mikako's voice cracked. Her smile was the last thing she saw before the doctor cut off the link, turning the screen to static. Even with her injuries, Hisa didn't want to leave her alone or worried. Mikako almost felt undeserving of such a friend.
She stayed at the terminal, shedding silent tears. Miwa came in minutes later and found her slumped over the screen, asleep. Carrying the small girl back to her room, the older woman heard her mumble some words, as if talking in a dream.
"Thank you... Hisa..."
- - -
Month: January
Year: 2048
The new year was just beginning yet Noboru hardly noticed. It's been months since he decided not to wait for Nagamine's mail. Nothing much has changed. His studies were doing well. He made more friends and spent time with them on occasion. Other clubs, hearing that he quit kendo, asked him to join theirs. He replied to them all, saying he would think about it. Everything was normal he thought while making his way back home.
A tug from behind stopped him, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Didn't you hear me call you?" He turned around to see a girl looking at him.
"Um... uh..." Her face seemed familiar though he couldn't put a name to it. She reminded him of Mikako though her hair was longer and wavy.
She saved him the trouble by introducing herself. "I'm Wakana from Class A, Maeda Wakana."
Seeing his blank expression, she elaborated. "We were in the student council our freshman year. Remember?"
"No... sorry..." Noboru shook his head.
"Oh..." She trailed off, not knowing what to say. Wringing her hands, she tried to come up with a different topic. "I've heard that you quit kendo..."
"Huh?" It took a moment for him to realize what she was talking about. "Well... yeah, why?"
"It's just that the kendo club is famous for how strict it is..." She started. "But you were sticking with it and working so hard. Everyone was talking about how impressive you were. So..." She left off the ending, waiting for his response.
"The truth is..." Noboru began, bringing up his memories.
"Hmmm?" All her interest was now focused on him, her soft brown eyes taking in every detail.
"I lost... I've lost sight of what I want to do with my life." He answered, flinching slightly after remembering his reason for joining kendo.
Wakana saw the deep sadness in his eyes but chose not to ask. He didn't seem finished speaking either.
"I just feel... like nothing matters anymore." He shrugged, still unsure of his response. Then again, he was talking about his life to a girl that he just met. He didn't want to reveal too much.
"I think I know what you mean." She sympathized. "Listen, I'm in the archery club. It's really laid back, not like kendo. When you're stressed, you should come blow off some steam!"
"Hmmm?" He looked at her after hearing her suggestion. Wakana blushed under the additional attention.
"Seriously, you should come check it out sometime." She said before turning away, unable to meet his gaze.
"Okay... maybe I will." He fell back to his typical response.
"Good! Well, my home's over there." She pointed down another street. They would have to separate here.
"Okay" Noboru waved her off before walking away.
"Hey! Terao-kun!" Noboru turned around to see Wakana only a short distance away. She looked nervous, unsure of what to say. Before he turned away, he heard her voice again.
"Tomorrow... can I walk this far with you again?"
- - -
Month: July
Year: 2047
"It's so lonely since Hisa left..." Mikako noted. Her commander nodded in agreement. "Hey Miwa?"
"The woman looked at her, taking her eyes off of the stars outside.
"What's it like... getting further and further from the Earth in time?" The schoolgirl asked. "I heard you've been involved with the project since the second mission. Do you ever get used to it?"
Miwa gave a sympathetic look. "Ah, out here, it's easy to forget sometimes... But, it's pretty scary when you think about it."
Looking at Mikako, she saw that more details were needed. "The truth is... I had more than one chance to go back home to Earth But I was afraid to because the age difference from the warping so..."
"I just couldn't do it." She admitted. Smiling weakly, Miwa apologized. "Sorry, I guess that wasn't much help."
"No, actually that makes me feel better." The smaller girl shared the smile. They both shared the same thought.
I'm glad I'm not the only one going through this...
- - -
"23... 24..." Mikako counted with her fingers. "Wow, he'll be 25 years old? I can't believe it."
She stared at the phone in her hand, thinking about the email she sent.
"By the time I get a message from him... he'll be 25." She spoke in disbelief. "I probably won't even be at Sirius anymore."
"Everyone I once knew..." Mikako said, thinking about all her classmates in junior high. "They're becoming strangers. I'm being left behind."
"
As she huddled, cold and alone in her Tracer, only one person came to mind.
"I wonder if he's going to forget about me... Noboru-kun..."
All crew members prepare for warp.
"Noboru-kun..."
Warp commencing.
Will he really forget about me?
- - -
Month: January
Year: 2048
The next day, Noboru stood staring at the figure waiting down the street. The other person, seeing him approach, gave a smile and waved.
"Wakana?"
