Episode Three: Meant to Live
"Hello, grandfather," smiled Renton, holding Eureka's left hand.
"You're late," smiled Axel after a silent shocked moment.
The two embraced lovingly, tears staining their faces. Renton had matured since Axel saw him last but his clothes fit well despite the couple's year absence. It was the same for Eureka, whose wings glowed softly in the moonlit night. Both wore a plan gold ring that hung around their necks by braded strings.
"Oh, how I've missed you," smiled Axel, placing his hands on Renton's shoulders, "And I see you've grown into a fine young man. Your father would be proud."
"I know he is," he smiled, taking Eureka's hand and presenting her, "And like you told me, I didn't come back empty handed."
"So I see," he chuckled, warmly embracing her, "Welcome to the family, Eureka."
"Thank you," she smiled softly, jovial tears staining her cheeks.
After composing herself, Axel led them inside, "You haven't seen the new place, have ya?"
"Neither of them; last I heard you were in hiding," remarked Renton, "But Bellforest was closer than Tresor and with Dewey dead, we hoped things had improved. Luckily, we found signs leading here."
Eureka marveled at the shop as they entered. Soon the "Pacific State" print and adoption papers caught her attention. Coming closer, she read the documents aloud. More tears flowed as her voice cracked. Renton joined her as she finished, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"We-we're really back… aren't we, Renton?" she questioned, doubting her surroundings.
"Yes, we are," he assured, kissing her right cheek, "Grandpa, are the children still with Holland?"
"They would be, but it just so happens they got adopted recently," he smiled, "And are still here."
Their hearts jumped.
"But do they still want to see us?" asked Eureka with trepidation, "I mean, we been gone so long."
"Nothing would make them happier," assured Axel, "Come and see for yourself."
Renton squeezed her hand and together took a deep breath before heading towards the house.
Axel opened the door and stepped inside, "Children, listen up. We have guests."
The three turned to greet them. Their eyes grew to saucers when Renton and Eureka appeared. A brief moment of silence enveloped the room as they stared at each other.
"Mama!" yelled Linck, leaping from his seat and running straight into Eureka's arms.
Maeter was right behind and jumped into Renton's arms, knocking him onto his back. Maurice was a bit more reserved but still followed his siblings; both embraced him in a large family hug. Tears and laughter flowed, as none would let the other go.
"Oh, how I've missed you all," smiled Eureka with a sniffle, "And my, how you've all grown! Can you ever forgive us for making you worry and wait so long?"
"Of course we can, mama," Maurice assured, "You came back to us, right? That's all that matters."
"'Cause you're here to stay, right?" surmised Maeter.
"Of course," agreed Renton, "We've had our time alone and now it's time for us to be a real family."
"So you're all better now, right mama?" asked Linck.
"Yes," nodded Eureka.
"Your wings are even prettier than before," complimented Maurice.
"Thank you," she blushed.
"I like them, too," added Maeter, "And you arm is normal again! I like that your hair grew out again."
Eureka smiled, "I think I like it this way, too."
"So what's this thing?" inquired Linck, pressing the green jewel centered on her forehead.
"Well, I-I'm not sure," she puzzled.
"I believe it's a Ājñā Chakra," answered Axel, "Also known as the mind's eye. Some Vodarac wear a red tilaka on their foreheads to represent it. I must say, however, that your mother's appears very real."
"Wow," gasped Linck as he stared at it.
"So what have you been doing all this time?" questioned Maurice.
"We've been leaning what it means to be in love," explained Eureka.
"Seems like an awfully long time," huffed Maeter, "We thought you'd never come back!"
"We also learned responsibility," clarified Renton, "And realized we had our own waiting at home."
She embraced his neck and beamed happily.
"Mama, Papa; come see the pictures Maurice took!" smiled Linck, leading Eureka over and waving to the others, "And look at the math I did! I've been studying really, really hard!"
"See the mantis we found?" smiled Maeter, showing them the photos, "Maurice named him Dominic."
Renton chuckled.
"I wanted to name it Gekko like the ship," explained Linck, "But Maeter was right, he's not a very fast bug; but he's still awesome! He lives in the tree outside Grandpa's workshop!"
"Those are rare up here," he remarked, "Where did you find him again?"
"Over in the field opposite the shop," answered Axel, "Most of these photos were taken there today."
"They are all wonderful," complimented Eureka, "You have really improved, Maurice."
Maurice just blushed and rubbed the back of his head.
"These math problems are real easy!" boasted Maeter, "See? I've done more than Linck."
"Nuh-uh," countered her younger brother, "They're not so easy."
"But you're doing them right," assured Renton, checking the papers, "That's the important part."
Linck grinned big.
"I'm very proud of everything here," beamed Eureka, "It is more than I could ever do."
"Don't say that, mama," countered Maurice, "It takes a lot more than this to be our mama!"
"Yeah!" agreed Maeter and Linck.
"So, how is everyone on the Gekko?" inquired Renton
"Last we saw they were fine," informed Maurice, "We've been living with Grandpa for over a month."
"And Holland's not had any complaints," chuckled Axel.
"Oh yeah, Talho had her baby!" Maeter remembered, "A boy named Vernon."
"How wonderful," Eureka smiled.
"And Dominic and Anemone are back, too," added Linck.
"Awesome; how are they?" asked Renton.
"Okay, I guess," shrugged Maurice, "They left after the Confederation formed for what Dominic called some 'time alone'. I think they got the idea from you and mama. After we came to Bellforest and got our papers, Holland told us they came back."
"Anemone is doing better, I hope," anticipated Eureka.
"Holland said she's a lot more confident," recounted Axel, "Everyone was happy to see them."
"That's good," she remarked, "I hope she's found happiness with Dominic."
"Mama, you gotta try on the outfit we got you!" beamed Maeter, pulling on her arm, "Talho, Hilda, and Gidget helped pick it out! It's so pretty!"
"Okay, okay," agreed Eureka shyly as she was led up the spiraling staircase.
Linck followed, "Hey, wait for me!"
"Renton, can I speak with you alone for a moment?" requested Axel in a soft sober voice.
"Sure," he nodded, getting up and following him into the workshop.
Maurice was right behind them and stood in the doorway.
"We'll just be a moment, Maurice," assured Renton.
"I heard Grandpa talking with Holland about something bad; and I need to know, too!" he protested.
Axel relented and let him stay before closing the door.
"So what's going on?" requested Renton.
"I don't know the whole story but apparently Eureka's in serious danger," began Axel, "The Gekko is currently en route to retrieve you two until this matter's resolved."
"How'd they know we were coming?" he questioned.
"They didn't exactly," he explained, "They felt your return was imminent and wanted to be ready."
"Ah; this wouldn't have anything to do with this Confederation, would it?" surmised Renton.
"Not in that way," corrected Axel, "We are the Confederation. You see, after the Second Summer of Love, caused by your rescue of Eureka, Federation stability deteriorated due in part to Dewey's death and a severe backlash against his Ageha government. Twenty-eight towers defected and formed the Moonlight Confederation of Predgio Towers under the banner of Gekkostate."
He stood in disbelief over this revelation.
"To date, fifty-two Predgio Towers have defected," he continued, "Gekkostate remains an independent bloc, though Holland acts as a moderator between the civilian and military branches. As typical for confederations, the towers are mostly autonomous states that come together on matters concerning the whole; this Tower Council oversees the joint military forces, known as the Armada. Bellforest was one of the original towers to defect; they even rebuilt my shop 'in gratitude for my services to the cause'."
"So who's after Eureka then?" pressed Renton.
"That I'm unsure," sighed Axel, "Holland wasn't specific; only that a refboarder they helped recently stole a K.L.F. and is now looking for Eureka. Though his last position was the Tian Shan Mountains, Holland wasn't taking chances so he called ahead. Needless to say, we don't have much time left."
His heart sunk.
"So that means we'll be leaving soon?" inquired Maurice.
"Yes," concurred Axel, "When they realize your parents are here, they'll take you all onboard. Until then, however, I suggest not speaking of this to the others."
Both nodded. He led them back in just in time to see Eureka descend the staircase. She wore a sky-blue long-sleeve short summer dress with an open laced back to let her wings out, vanilla cotton pants, and leather-crosshatched sandals. Renton was awestruck.
"So, whadda ya think?" asked Maeter confidently.
"It's-its perfect!" he praised.
"Thank you," Eureka blushed as she twirled around.
While she descended, strange noises were heard outside the workshop; a rush of air followed by a large heavy thud, shaking the house. Renton and Eureka recognized them immediately.
"Looks like they're here," he smiled, taking his lover's hand, "Come on everyone!"
Maurice and Axel were not so sure. The family quickly moved into the shop and made their way to the personal door; but when they stepped out, what greeted them was most unexpected. Eureka gasped and stumbled back in fear when she saw TheEND kneeling before them, wings spread wide. Renton was in shock and held her close as the glow from her wings quickly faded. Linck and Maeter were rapt by the moonlit figure while Maurice and Axel feared the worst. On its left shoulder stood a dark silhouetted.
"G'evenin' mates!" called Marcus, hopping several times the ground, "Beaut night for a flight, yeah?"
No one responded as the children gathered around their parents.
"She'll be apples, not 'ere for a blue," he assured, "Ol' Marcus just needs to yarn with the lovers."
Renton looked to Axel, then the children. He nodded, gathered them up, and took them inside.
Marcus waited until he did, "Let's get down to brass tacks: I need to borrow love 'ere for a bit to nut out some snags with these Coralian ockers, savvy? After which, I'll return her right as rain."
"Whatever you're her for, find it somewhere else," growled Renton, "Eureka's not going anywhere."
"Caaarn, mate, I've already had this Barney with Boss-man," he groaned, "Strewth, no harm will come to her. Hell, you can come with. I got nothin' to hide. Squizz, I coulda swipe 'er, piece of piss; but I didn't, 'kay? So give a bloke a far go, yeah?"
"Why do you want her so badly?" he demanded.
Marcus took a deep breath, "Because these coral blighters killed me family and thousands more; been waitin' ten-thousand years to avenge 'em, too. Then I finally get my shot and these rat-bastards hightail it to woop woop so now I've gotta track 'em down. That's where your lass comes in."
By now, small groups of residents had begun watching the spectacle from their windows and doorways.
"Ten-thousand?" Renton gawked, "How is that possible?"
"Ask the Doc," he shrugged, "All I know is I'm 'ere now and mad as a cut snake ready to scrap."
"But why revenge?" he challenged, "Hate only breeds hate; isn't there another way?"
"No dice mate," sighed Marcus, "We tried and got jack. No, blood must be paid and I'm up a gum tree. You don't squander a second shot at life, but as we've come to the raw prawn, I ain't askin' no more."
He tried to grab for Eureka when a stream of energy beams ripped between them, causing dirt to chock the air and onlookers to scatter. The three peered through the dust cloud to see the typeB303 and prototypeT303 strafing while TheEND leaned forward to shield them with its wings.
"That'd be right; guess they wanna play," snorted Marcus.
TheEND lifted him up with its right palm while Renton and Eureka ran back inside the hanger.
"Confirmed, our butterflies have emerged!" announced Anemone as she flew by, flanked by Holland, "And the spider returns to his web; looks like we just made it."
"Don't ya ockers know it's rude to shoot at unarmed civilians?" asked Marcus over the intercom while TheEND took flight, "But if ya want Barney Rubble, I'm game."
"And it's not rude to hijack what's not yours?" she retorted after doubling back.
"So he's a thing, not a mate?" he countered, dodging attacks from both L.F.O.s, "He feels loved, lass."
"Don't push me, crow eater!" growled Anemone while Marcus returned fire.
"He-ha, haven't been called that in donkey years," he laughed, passing them, "Feisty Shelia; I love it!"
Air raid sirens screamed throughout Bellforest as the three exchanged fire while darting above the city. While unscathed, Marcus was feeling the pressure of the dual assault.
"Jingoes, I see why they call ya Leader!" he smirked, "Musta spit the dummy, hey kiwi?"
"When properly equipped, you're outta your league, Aussie," boasted Holland.
"Avagoyermug!" taunted Marcus, firing broadside, "This Kafuffle's on the rough end of a pineapple."
"Just deal with it, rookie" he sneered, easily dodging the assault while Anemone countered from the other side, "This is how the big kids play, savvy?"
The two flew past TheEND and headed towards the tower. Marcus gave chase. While the three played cat and mouse, two typeR606s and a typeR808 came in and landed in front of the Thurston shop. The typeR606s changed to vehicle mode and opened their canopies; inside were Dominic and Matthieu.
"Hurry it up already!" yelled Hilda over the intercom, standing guard, "We don't have much time!"
Dominic hopped down carrying an assault rifle and ran to the personal door. After several attempts, he finally forced it open; but a crowbar nearly clobbered him. Flailing back, he fell as Renton appeared.
"What the hell was that for!?" protested Dominic, "We're here to rescue you for crying out loud!"
"Sorry 'bout that," apologized an embarrassed Renton, helping him up, "You alright?"
"We'll worry about me later; right now, everyone into the L.F.O.s!" he instructed.
The group quickly followed Dominic to Matthieu's typeR606. Axel held back and secured the door while Eureka and the children climbed into the cockpit.
"Well, fancy meeting you here," Matthieu chuckled, preparing for departure, "Going my way?"
Once loaded, Dominic led Renton and Axel to his typeR606 and the three climbed in.
"Evac green! Evac green! Butterflies are in the net!" called Dominic while his canopy closed.
"Copy that," confirmed Talho over his intercom, "Time to flush the spider."
Once the typeR606s resumed their humanoid mode, the L.F.O.s readied their refboards and ascended skyward. The Gekko then appeared, approaching low over the city with its catapult-bay open.
"We're in!" announced Dominic over the bridge intercom once the three had boarded.
"Doggie, take us in," commanded Talho, "Ken-Goh, Defcon One: prepare full-frontal assault."
"Right!" Moondoggie acknowledged, directing the Gekko towards the battling L.F.O.s.
Ken-Goh nodded and smiled deviously. Meanwhile, Holland and Anemone exchanged fire with Marcus while they circled the Predgio Tower several times. TheEND held its own but failed to gain ground.
"Cunning as a Dunny Rat," lamented Marcus, "But I'm flat out like a lizard drinkin'!"
"Feeling your age, old man?" taunted Anemone smugly, "Want us to scale it back?"
"She'll be right," he chuckled, "Don't come the raw prawn, not on for young and old yet!"
"Holland, Anemone! The butterflies are on display!" announced Talho.
"Roger," she acknowledged, "Now let's see just how good you really are!"
Ending their dance with a large inverted loop, the Devil Brothers then led TheEND back over the city.
"We back to Tom and Jerry again?" huffed Marcus as he followed their arc skyward.
Suddenly, Holland and Anemone stalled out and raced towards the ground while the Gekko came into view and locked onto TheEND from its right.
"Ken-Goh, fire!" ordered Talho.
The Gekko's main cannons straight at Marcus. When he finally saw the attack, his heart sunk. TheEND took control by turning and shielding itself with its wings as the energy beams engulfed it.
"Direct hit!" beamed Ken-Goh.
Holland and Anemone came about behind the Gekko, which was banking away, and took point on each wingtip. Silence filled the bridge as they came about.
"Confirm; K.L.F. presence seventy-five meters back from original position," informed Woz.
"On screen," requested Talho.
TheEND unfurled its smoking, tattered wings; it otherwise sustained minimal damage.
"Impossible!" Hap gawked.
"Fair suck of the sav!" sighed Marcus over the intercom, "That'd be right… I got Buckley's chance it seems; guess I came a gutser. Well, time to bail. Watch your back, Boss."
With that, TheEND raced off low to the ground and quickly disappeared from radar behind the tower.
"Doggie, follow him!" instructed Talho.
"No use, he's gone," informed Hap, "Radar signature has vanished."
"Don't worry about it," assured Holland, "Nice work, people; Doggie; set course once we're docked."
Within moments, the Devil Brothers landed and the Gekko turned south towards the trapar layline. Inside the hanger, the typeR606 crews finally disembarked.
"Anemone, how you feelin'?" asked Holland over her intercom.
"I'm fine," she replied, "It was nice to feel TheEND's presence again; and he was happy to feel mine, too. I think he sympathizes with Marcus and feels a debt of gratitude to him; he feels very conflicted."
"I see," he replied while stretched, "Well, hopefully we can use that to our advantage, and theirs; but for now, let's welcome our butterflies home."