A/N: So a lot has been going on- surprised ne? I found out I will be living in Nagasaki this time back in Japan. I'm going to miss my Tokyo, but it's a mere 6 or so hour shinkansen ride to get to my fav spots (I'd so do it every weekend if I had the $$!). Plus there is a Mandarake in Nagasaki-ken. So not really too concerned about having fun and finding trinkets and doujin… lovely lovely doujin!
Anyway, here we are again. Another chapter, more exciting stuff working its way into the storyline.
I'd have to say next chapter is the turning point in the fic- I am excited to write it. Don't worry for those of you who are still wondering where a few characters are- they should be coming shortly. So excited!
Until then- enjoy the little moments of Taiora in this chapter and keep your eyes open for the next update.
Until then!
Tai followed closely behind TK as they made their way to the building Sora had deemed base camp. While Kari and Vincent prepared the night's meal, Tk and Tai quickly went to check out the barrack area.
The buildings looked abused and abandoned. The inside was much worse. The insides of the buildings told of people who had died, and not had a chance to escape. Personal belongings were scattered and still on display under a layer of dust and cobwebs.
As they explored the building more, both men got a better feel of the last few days Sora, Matt and the others must have had there. In the confusion and panic the building's insides were discarded or used to hold back the invading forces. The things that bothered Tai the most were the marks and evidence of a bitter fight left on the walls. As they gathered supplies like sleeping supplies, and rations, the two came across what could only be a skeleton of the very creatures that had done this destruction.
"Have you ever seen a bug up close before?" Tai asked TK as they both looked at the bones.
"A few times, but never from really close proximity. All I could see was a weird gel like exterior. It stood up straight almost like a man, but it had long claw like arms… not to mention it didn't need a weapon, it could shoot something from its body. Sort of like a laser gun."
Tai watched the other man remember what must have been one of the scariest moments of his life.
"When they attacked my parents and me, I only got a brief look… but it was almost transparent… seriously these guys have one heck of a defense mechanism built in…"
"What do you mean?" Tk asked as they left the bones and continued on in the building.
"Well, they can't be seen easily. When I saw one, it changed color to blend in with the surroundings and only when it wanted to be seen could I get a definite shape or texture to it… the more I think of it… it happened when it was injured."
"Yeah, they lose some of their camouflage when they are hit… we've found that out the hard way."
"That's really interesting. Have you ever thought of trying to find a way to get around their stealth capabilities? If you do that, you wouldn't be taken by complete surprise when they attack, or where they live…"
"That sounds like an Izzy question. He's our all purpose scientist."
"Another thing is their laser source… have you ever tried dissecting one?"
"I think we have- but there were too many odd things that Joe couldn't even make sense of…"
"Oh…" Tai said sounding a little disappointed. 'There has got to be a way to get rid of that laser ability… and coupled with making them no longer able to blend in… we could actually stand a chance… I'll have to talk to Joe and Izzy a little later.' He thought.
"I think the only ones who have seen these things up close and understand them the best would have to be Sora and Matt."
"Sounds like you guys really rely on those two…" Tai commented.
"I wish we didn't have to rely on them so much. But there aren't any other leaders that actually know what they are doing. It's like a whole generation is missing from our civilization… with Sora's parents gone, the last of the middle generation is gone. They all died fighting the bugs or never survived childhood due to the wars between humans."
"I guess. Hey, what's over here?" Tai asked looking at a particularly beat up area.
"That looks to be the med bay… think we should get some supplies from there?" Tk asked a little hesitation in his tone.
"Isn't this where Sora said they were held up in for three days trying to hold off the bugs?" Tai asked not knowing if he wanted to enter such a place as she told in her story. This was where she and five others had brought all the wounded after they forced the bugs to retreat. They had planned to only spend enough time to stabilize and treat two extremely wounded men… things didn't work that well according to her story.
"Yeah…" Tk nodded as he and Tai made their way into the once barricaded room. There was an eerie feeling about it as they entered and took a quick look. The back wall was severely damaged. The trees and brush had taken it upon themselves to over take the room as well.
Looking at it now the room seemed too peaceful to have been the site where so many had made their last stand and lost.
Walking into the center of the room, maneuvering around the upturned medical tables and debris littered floor, Tai felt sick to his stomach as he saw the discarded medical bandages and long dry bloody towels. Tk went to work looking at the supplies that were left as Tai soaked in the atmosphere of the room.
"They picked this place rather clean. We can't really use these old utensils and all the dressings are gone.
"Tk… is this what you were looking for?" Tai asked as he held a black box device up.
"Yes! This is the report that was left behind. Now the story can be backed up. That is wasn't Sora's fault." While Tk tried to get the recorder to work, Tai moved to look at the broken wall. The view of the jungle from the compound was nearly breath taking. The flora had thrived in the area to the point it looked like a paradise surrounding the buildings.
Stepping out of the building through the rubble left of the wall, movement caught his eye. Turning quickly and preparing himself for an attack he was surprised to see Sora working with some rocks near the base of a tree. Looking back at TK, who was still tinkering with the small devise, Tai decided to see what Sora was doing.
As he approached he noticed an old and battle weary weapon sticking out of the ground. He had seen pictures of make shift graves before in the history books of the great wars of the past… but nothing really compared to the real thing. The vegetation was different from the rest in a large circular formation. He didn't have to ask if that was where her comrades were laid to rest.
"Make yourself useful and help me with these rocks." Sora's voice called out with a grunt. Tai looked at her as she carried an armful of stones and rocks she was piling up next to the gun.
"Um, sure." Tai replied and moved to help her.
They worked in silence as they created a sturdy base for a plaque. She took the item from her pack and placed it where she wanted it. Standing back she looked down on their work.
Tai watched as she uncorked her canteen and poured it over the headstone. Saying a silent prayer as she did, Tai noticed the nice breeze that brushed against them. He shivered not knowing if it was that wind or the atmosphere.
"What happens in the past should stay in the past, right?" She asked not looking up from the names on the stone.
"It would be nice if they would…" Tai replied. "But I've a believer that we need to remember the past to actually learn and be able to live for the future. Take the mistakes of yesterday and not repeat them..." Looking at her he saw her shoulders relax and become less rigid. "I guess that's something… something we don't do too well…" he finished steeping a bit closer to Sora's side.
"Sometimes all one wants to do is forget the painful things…"
"Do you want to talk about it? Finding closure is something that can help…"
"How can I find closure when I let these men die? How could I forget holding a friend in my arms and seeing him die… then the others…"
"It's not your fault. How can all of this be solely your fault?" Tai asked moving to stand in front of her. He took a hold of her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "How is this your fault?" He asked again.
"I should have taken control… we took a vote either to leave the two or sit it out with them and then make a break… I wanted so bad to stay but I knew we had to leave… either way I would have been responsible for their deaths…"
"No one should blame you."
"You don't know… how could you know?"
"I know, because I trust you with my life. If I were to die, or TK, anyone of us… we died because we believed in you and trusted you with our lives. No one besides you knows what happened, how can they blame you if they don't know all the circumstances?" Tai asked as he pulled her close. Even if she didn't want comfort and warmth, it was something that she needed at the moment.
Surprisingly she allowed Tai's arms to engulf her slender figure.
"Thank you." He heard her whisper as she clutched on to him like she depended on his sturdy frame for support.
The two left the grave feeling a but exhausted and yet there was a happiness to that feeling. Tai enjoyed being close to her- there was no denying that fact. After they had ended the embrace, he was glad to have her still close. They sat and talked a bit, he had held her hand as she told him further details of the hard times.
The one thing that crossed his mind more than anything else was the desire to help… to help her. If he wasn't the savior of the people of this time, then at least he could help this one person. She was worth it, he felt as if he would move earth and sea to make her heart less heavy… for her he would fight these strange creatures and endure whatever happened. For the first time in years, he had a goal…
Walking back to where everyone else was prepping for the night, Tai and Sora returned to find things pretty well settled. The group was about to serve the meal and sitting in a circle around the heating unit cooking their food.
They were listening to something with great fascination and full attention that none of them realized Sora and Tai had returned. Tai noticed a quick change in Sora's body language as she realized what they were listening to.
"Log entry. Takenouchi reporting on research and training mission Bravo. After the initial attack we retreated further back. We now are located at the original base camp area and training barracks. Our machines were damaged beyond use and we are now faced with an escape by foot only. Grubby and Peters are injured and cannot be moved at the moment. As much as I hate it, Matt advised to leave them behind and the group leaves since they will not likely make it back to the city, I seconded that notion. Since the commanding officers are KIA, the group decided to collectively decide. We are going to tend the wounded tonight and leave in the morning with everyone. End of Report.
Log Entry… we are trapped…..medical bay. Everyone is injured. The bugs attacked….. wave in the night. We ….four men including myself. Matt has… wound in the leg, he is unable to walk….Uto, Underman, Matt and I are … break out the back…."
The transmission became severely choppy after that cutting in and out. Before they could listen any further, Sora moved quickly and grabbed the recorder from TK. Looking hurt and angry she threw the devise with all her might at a rock. The group was surprised at the force as it broken into little pieces.
"Sora?"
"I left those memories here for a reason..." She said fighting with herself. Tai could tell that any help he had been at the grave site was washed away as old memories flooded her mind. She grabbed a canteen and ran off back towards the gravesite.
"Shit…" TK muttered as he looked to the ground ashamed that his curiosity caused Sora more pain.
"Should we go after her?" Kari asked looking extremely worried.
"Let her be." Ken said in his usual cool voice. "We all have our inner demons. She needs to overcome them. We will be leaving early in the morning. It would be best to eat and then turn in since we will all have to keep watch for a time."
"Food and sleep. My favorite combination." Vincent smiled as he spooned out a bit of food.
Tai picked at his food while the others talked normally about events of the day and things they found while going about their duties. Putting down his food, Tai stood up.
"Where are you going?" Ken's voice was stern. "We have orders to stay with you at all times."
"I'm just going to the bathroom… err, bushes." Tai smiled a bit embarrassed.
"The plumbing works in the third building. I checked it out already." Vincent added quickly as he rubbed his full stomach.
"I'll go there then. No need for you to come after me, really. I will be fine."
"Take a gun if you insist on going yourself." Ken stated, it was not a request.
Like Vincent had stated he had gotten the bathrooms working in the third building. As he left the building the rustle in the brush off to the side caused him to panic. Pulling the gun up, he aimed at the brush as it continued to shake. Whatever was in there would be coming out in mere seconds… he needed to be ready.
"Who's there?" he called as he tried to remember all that Sora had told him the other day.
"I'll fire. Identify yourself." He added trying to sound fierce.
"It's me." Came Sora's voice as she cursed. Tai eased up a bit and went closer to the brush. By the looks of it, Sora's hair was tangled in a torn bush. "Damn it that hurt." She muttered as she finally got free.
Tai looked at her, gun still in hand.
"You'll never kill anything with the safety on." She eyed him, apparently she was still in a foul mood.
"Oh, yeah…" tai smiled and rubbed the back of his neck, trying to lighten the mood.
"What are you doing off by yourself?" She asked looking for another crew member. "I specifically remember telling you to stay with someone, anyone at all times."
"I… that is I…" Tai didn't know how to respond.
"It's dangerous. And don't think that I'm happy with it, even if you made me feel better back there… I will not let another person under my care die."
"You have to forgive yourself." Tai said suddenly cutting off her speech.
"What?"
"You haven't forgiven yourself for the little things that you think ended up killing your friends."
"It's kind of hard when you have nightmares and are constantly reminded of what happened… but I know. Believe it or not, I'm trying." Her voice softened and Tai was glad to see a bit of a smile return to her lips.
"That's all you can do." He smiled back looking into her emotion filled eyes.
"But don't you think for a moment I will forget that you disobeyed direct orders twice now. Don't you realize that you're too important… that if something happened to you I… the cause would be lost."
Tai looked at her as she quickly turned her head and ended the eye contact. "Is it just for the cause… or is there something more? Sora… is there…"
"Let's get back to base and get some sleep." She interrupted him as he was about to ask her again about a possible relationship.
Sighing, Tai followed behind the puzzling woman back to camp. 'She has to feel it too…it's too powerful not to feel anything. And I'm not giving up.'