Two: "Answers To The Wrong Questions"
"Permission to speak freely, Madoka?" Mami chimes in sweetly as the door is shut behind her, entering Madoka's room behind her.
"We're mercenaries, Mami-san, not soldiers. You can always speak freely around me." Mami takes note of this and gives a simple nod. She takes her time thinking about how to best ask her question. Finally settling on the correct words, she speaks.
"What the fuck is Homura's problem?" Madoka cracks a slight laugh and shakes her head. "This isn't funny, Madoka!" Mami continues, looking worried. "Homura's always been abrasive and stubborn, but this is bordering on hostility!"
"I know, Mami-san, I know. I'm... I'm tempted to ignore our rules and just ask Quistis to-"
"Madoka, don't ignore rules. Remember what happens when you ignore rules. I want to see the girl Contracted as much as you do, but we need to keep order." Madoka nods.
"I know... I know..." Madoka shrugs and takes a seat on the love seat against the wall. "Dammit, she's my friend, but I feel like she's pushing all of us away, myself included..."
"Maybe you should talk to her. Corner her, rob her of her escape." Madoka blinks at this, staring at Mami, who simply shrugs. "It's an option."
-A Few Moments Later-
"Akemi-san!" Madoka calls to Homura as she preforms a system flush on the small Clan 'Mech, the girl's head never moving as she continues, ignoring outside stimuli. "Akemi-san!" Madoka called again as she started closing the gap between herself and Homura. The girl's head never moved, her hair hanging down her back as she tapped on the little pad in her hand. "Akemi-san!" She emphasized, closing in on her, her third attempt meeting the same fate as her previous two. Straight behind her now, Madoka reached out and took a firm hold on Homura's shoulder. "Homura!" Homura reacts to this, turning to face Madoka.
"Oh." She drones. "Madoka. I didn't know you were here."
"Cut the shit, Homura. What's your damn problem with the recruit?" Madoka growled, crossing her arms under her chest, her eyes hardening at her.
"I don't have a problem with her." Homura droned, turning back to her system flush.
"Oh, bull-fucking-shit, Homura. I see how you look at her. If you had wished for laser eyes, you would have turned her to a pile of ash by now! Stop fucking lying to me, Homura, and just tell me what your problem with her is. We can work through whatever it is." Homura shakes her head.
"You don't understand, Madoka. You can't understand." Madoka stood, unable to respond, both hands out and to her side, her mouth hung open as she tried to fish for a proper response.
"Geh-..." She stuttered. "Help me understand, Akemi-san... you're my friend, and I care about you." Homura turned and went back to working on her 'Mech."
"You can never understand." Homura growled, her voice waivering and shaking as though she was trying to hide something. "You can never understand me, my means, or what I do. You're my friend, Kaname. As my friend, do me one favor. Keep the girl here. But do not offer her a Contract."
"What the fuck problem do you have with her become a Puella Magi, Homura!? Are you afraid she'll be better then you?" With a click, Madoka found herself talking to the exposed foot of a Dasher 'Mech. Throwing her hands up, Madoka growled something to herself. "Real mature, Akemi-san..."
-Dropship Mitakihara-
Knock, knock, knock. A soft knock breaks you from your though process, your head raising from staring at the ceiling as it's been doing so for the past ten minutes. When you're on the dropship waiting for your Jumpship's engines recharge doing nothing is, by far, the most annoying aspect of this whole Mercenary thing. You look to the door and invite whoever is on the otherside in. With a turn of the handle, a thin figure in a white suit enters, her long white air flowing behind her. "Hello." Quistis speaks, nodding to you. You offer her one of the chairs and sit up in bed. "No need to get up on my account." She walks to the offered seat... and right past it. Her eyes lock on the window and stare out, her hands cupped gently behind her back, the large gold bracelets somehow not clashing with one another. "I'm here to apologize on Ms. Akemi's behalf. The girl can be a little... rugged. Her heart, however, is in the right place I assure you."You blink at her and ask her why she's here.
"I shall answer that question in due time." She answers generally. "For now, I have a question for you, if you see fit to answer." You blink and carefully usher her to continue her question. "Tell me, if you would... the one thing you would give anything to have, or see happen?" You stumble on the question for a few seconds, unable to figure out where the hell it came from. "You do not have to give me the answer at this time... but when things come down to it... you will need an answer." You ask her about her question, to which she cracks another instant smile. "In due time." She doesn't bother looking away from the window. "Now." She speaks, finally breaking her deadlock gaze from the window and turns back to you, her eyes still hidden behind those sunglasses. "On to your question for me..."
You instantly chime in and ask what she's doing here. "The answer is simple. Ms. Kaname needed someone to give you your portion of your contract..." She takes out a clipboard from seemingly nowhere and looks it over. "Three complete mission objectives..." She drones. "Two confirmed kills for Ms. Tomoe, and one confirmed kill for you. The Combine has also allotted a twenty-five thousand C-Bill bonus, to cover your SRM consumption... it was a ton, yes?" You shrug and say you really weren't paying attention, that it could have been closer to a ton and a half. "Ton... ton and a half. Twenty-five thousand will cover both." You nod. "Two hundred and fifty thousand C-Bills for completion of all mission objectives... plus your fifty thousand C-Bill Bounty... atop your twenty-five thousand C-Bill Ammunition allotment..." She scribbles some numbers on the paper before looking up to you. "Does three hundred and twenty-five thousand C-Bills sound about correct to you." You nod, but then mention she's the financial officer. She cracks another smile (you swear these things die in oxygen...) and folds the clip board to her chest.
"I'm the financier of the Magi Mercenary Unit and the Ultanos Mercenaries. As you are affiliated with neither company at the current time, I am only the... as you'd say... 'Middle man.'" She tosses you the clipboard and pen. "Sign, please. Your money will be wired directly into your account, and should be available for use when we return to Outreach." A week delay between then and now you'd HOPE it would be there by then. You sign next to your name and look over everyone else. You notice Mami managed to eek out an additional kill and, as such, an extra twenty-five kay. Nodding, you continue down. Sayaka and Kyouko only netted their contract fee of a quarter million each for their escort mission. Then you come to Madoka and Homura.
Their numbers are staggering. Madoka's contract was worth fifteen million. What the HELL is on Zosma that the DC would want that would be worth that kind of money!? Your eyes fall across the killscore on her line. Fifty three kills. Fifty three confirmed-fucking-kills. Instantly you dart to Homura's line, her contract worth fifteen mill as well, the girl scoring-
The clipboard falls from your hands, bouncing once off your lap, mouth hanging open. How the fuck can she get THAT many kills in a mission?! You start to speak.
"A wise man once told me... not to ask questions you're not ready to hear the answer to yet..." Reaching down, Quistis picks up the clipboard and tucks it back under her arms. She bows, her face still looking as painfully neutral as she can muster, and excuses herself. "Do excuse me but I have other matters to attend to. Until we meet again." Quistis excuses herself, stopping in the door. "Ah. Ms. Tomoe. Hello."
"Is the kid in?"
"Yes, we just finished talking." She leaves allowing Mami in. Mami smiles as she see you, bowing a little. "I apologize about the intrusion but... do you have a few moments?" You make a smart-ass comment about how you're terribly busy staring at the ceiling, which causes her to laugh. "Yes, I can see that is the most interesting ceiling in the universe... think you can pry yourself away from it for ten minutes for a little supplimentary training?" You pique an eyebrow and inquire about this. "Madoka wanted me to see if you knew any martial skills, aside from your stellar BattleMech record. Sometimes, our missions force us into periods when we don't have access to any 'Mech, so we must be skilled in some basic martial skills." You're taken aback by this first, but then Madoka's words come back... she had asked Mami to do it... she actually asked Mami to spar with you... great. You swallow hard and agree, remembering what Madoka said about 'going easy' on you. Mami chuckles a little.
"Why do you look so pale? Afraid of a little unarmed combat?" You juggle the idea of telling her not to murder you with whatever freaky-deaky kung-fu she knows, but you just shake your head. "Aaaah... such a bad liar. Don't worry, you'll be alive. Beaten and swollen, but alive." She leads you out of the room down the hallway. "Each member of the Magi Mercenary Unit has to have some skill with a weapon of some kind. Sayaka chose the sword, Kyouko's good with a spear... Madoka's lethal with a bow, and I'm no chump with a rifle." You're freaking out the whole way to wherever Mami's leading you. When you arrive, you see Kyouko and Sayaka talking on a mat. It appeared to be some kind of dojo you walked into, the floor covered in a soft padding. Kyouko and Sayaka had changed out of their uniforms, Kyouko wearing a strange red dress and black, thigh high socks, Sayaka dressed in a long cape and a blue halter and matching skirt, her long white socks attached to her thighs with... belts? Neither of them are wearing shoes. You see Kyouko shouldering a long red spear, and Sayaka pawing a sword at her side. Turning to Mami you tell her there are less frighting ways of killing you.
"Kill you? No no. They won't hurt you. They're just here to test you. You'll fight Sayaka first... then Kyouko... then both of them if you still think you've got the stamina." She went to the small weapons rack by the door and pulled a staff and a training sword out, tossing them both to you. "Pick one." You catch the sword but let the staff fall, kicking it back to her. She catches it effortlessly. "You may have competition, Sayaka." Mami mused, Sayaka stepping up.
"We'll see about that. Ready kid?" Sayaka unsheathes the sword at her side, and the second the lights glint off the blade, a thought crosses your mind. That's not dull. It's very sharp. You start to protest her getting a real weapon, but you're cut off by the blue-haired girl charging. Her sudden attack gives you little chance to think – forced to react, bringing your sword up to block her attack. The steel blade bounces off as the swing connects, forcing Sayaka to recoil. She cracks a smile at this and continues her assault. Each and every one of her attacks, lightning quick and impossibly strong, you manage to, miracles upon miracles, block with the flimsy training sword you were given. You blurt out something about this not being fair.
"If you're caught out of your 'Mech, kid, you can bet your pretty ass that they won't fight fair. Besides... Sayaka's going easy on you." Easy?! This is her idea of going easy on you!? You pity the poor fool who has to fight her at full skill. With another parry, you duck under her follow-up strike, then pounce tackling her.
"G-geh!" She grunts as she falls. Recovering, you bring your foot down on her sword arm, locking her weapon down. A smile crosses her face as she tries to free her sword. "Son of a-" She muses with a smile. "Alright, kid. You win. You win! Please get off my wrist before you bruise it..." Letting her hand up, you take a few steps back. She picks herself and her blade off the ground and sheathes it. Cracking her back she steps off the mat and lets Kyouko step up.
"Alright, Sayaka. Hang back and watch a master." Kyouko smiles, taking the spear from her shoulders and adopting a fighting stance with it. Your heart pounds in your chest as you look her over. Sayaka's stance was one of relaxation... this girl looks like she'd rip your heart out and eat it before you could blink. "Alright, rookie. When you're ready." She holds her pose, waiting for you to make the first strike. Shaking your head you can't quite believe your eyes at this. She slowly reaches into her small pocket on one of the tails of her dress and retrieves a box of chocolate pretzels. Taking one from the box, she placed it in her mouth, smiling. "Aaaaany time." You study her stance, trying to find some kind of hitch in her defense. She's got nothing, that little red gem set in her costume twinkling in an almost taunting fashion. Fuck it. You start off taking a step forward and give a weak strike, which she parries. She answers by thrusting the point towards you, which you manage to dodge. Chopping towards her legs, she leaps over the strike as she recovers, she flicks her pointer finger knuckle across her nose. "S'at it?" She laughs. You shake your head and try testing her again, a loose thrust near her face, which she dodges. You follow up with a few more thrusts, each one is dodged effortlessly by Kyouko's fluid, almost impossible motions. She laughs as she dodges, hoisting her spear back onto her shoulders. As she shuts her eyes to laugh, you rear back and swing at her chest. You watch her eyes quickly dart between your sword and where it's planning on connecting, and by your estimations, it should bounce off that gem on her-
"NO!" You hear her shriek, just before getting bashed across your chest by the butt end of her spear. As the shaft connects with your chest, you see the gem glow shortly, then hear something inside you crack as you're thrown against the far wall, head slamming into the steel wall.
-Mitakihara Sparring Deck-
The sickening sound of the young recruit's head slamming into the wall causes Mami and Sayaka to gasp. "Oh my god!" Mami yelps, running to the aid of the unconscious recruit. Sayaka goes to Kyouko, who has slumped onto the ground, covering the gem on her chest, panting like crazy.
"Kyouko... Kyouko are you alright...?!" She wailed, dropping to her knees, hugging the girl. Her eyes darted across the room, then down at her hands, which were violently shaking. "Speak to me, Kyouko..."
"I..." She stammered, robotically putting her arms around Sayaka. "I saw... my life..."
"Sayaka..." Mami calls from the far side. "I need some help over here..." Sayaka strokes Kyouko's head, giving her a little kiss on the forehead.
"I'll be right back..." Kyouko nods robotically as Sayaka goes to Mami.
"She's got seven broken ribs, a concussion and is bleeding internally... is there anything you can do to help her?"
"Why should I? She almost killed Kyouko."
"She didn't know about our damn Soul Gems!" Mami growled, twacking Sayaka upside the head. "If you two didn't insist on transforming to avoid putting your uniforms in the laundry like normal people, THIS wouldn't have happened! Either help her if you can or I'll tell Madoka YOU contributed to her death!" Mami had a point, and Sayaka had to admit it. Crouching at the girl's side, she put her hands on her, one on her chest, the other on her head, and closed her eyes, her hands glowing a soft blue as the gem set in her stomach did the same. "I can heal her broken bones and the bleeding... but I'm going to leave her with a few bruises..." Mami nods.
"Good idea... don't want her getting suspicious... when you're done, bring her to her room, and let her rest... I need to have a chat with Madoka about all this... The less she knows... the more dangerous it is. For all of us." Sayaka nods, her eyes still closed.
-Dropship Mitakihara. Madoka's Quarters-
A knock on the door interrupted Madoka, the girl lowering the book from her sight. "Come in." She speaks, the door opening slowly, revealing Mami on the other side. "Ah. Mami-san. What can I do for you?"
"We need to talk, Madoka. It's... about our recruit." Madoka put the book mark in her book and closed it, moving the novel to her bedside table.
"What's wrong. You look worried."
"You need to tell her. About us, Quistis and the Puella Magi." Madoka blinked.
"I do? Why do you say that?"
"She and Kyouko were sparring and... one of her strikes was about hit Kyouko's Soul Gem... Kyouko reacted and hurt her... badly." Madoka's face twisted into a look of shock.
"Oh my! Are they-"
"They're alright. Kyouko's a little shaken, and Sayaka's healing the recruit as we speak... but this secrecy almost cost a life... at the least." Madoka gave a sage nod, thinking about the options.
"I understand the concern, Mami-san... but I don't think we can risk telling her yet."
"Ma-" Mami stammers, trying to understand. "Madoka, why? She almost killed Kyouko."
"Why was Kyouko transformed?" Mami sighed, shaking her head.
"You know how much that girl dislikes doing laundry."
"So... she transforms into her combat outfit... burning magic to do so, might I add... to avoid laundry..." Madoka speaks slowly, trying to understand everything.
"Yes, ma'am." Madoka groans. "I understand it's stupid but..."
"No... it's Kyouko... and I should expect it by now. How's the kid? Will she pull through?"
"She'll be fine. Kyouko hit her pretty hard, broke a half-dozen ribs, gave her a concussion and a couple internal injuries... Sayaka's healing her now, but she's going to leave her with a couple of bruises." Madoka nodded at this.
"Good... When she awakes, tell her Kyouko freaked at hit her hard enough to knock her out. I'll have a talk with Kyouko about her loathing of work and cite this as a learning experience. Maybe almost dying will knock some sense into her."
"Shame it's almost got to kill her before she learns her damn lesson." Mami nods.
"Oh... you'd know more then I would, but do we have enough armor to repair that Vindicator 'Mech Akemi-san and I salvaged?" Madoka chimed in, curios to the state of the salvaged 'Mech.
"Sadly, no. The few tons of armor we do have had to go into the Tiro Finale." Madoka nods.
"Well, no harm in waiting until we get back to Outreach. I'm sure Jake'll have some spare stuff for me if I flutter my eyelashes enough." She smiled at her joke, but knew very well it was more true then anything; both of them did. Mami gave a little laugh, in light of the current situation. Bowing, Mami excused herself, going to go check on the injured. Upon exiting, she found Sayaka carrying the unconscious form of the recruit, Kyouko behind her, still pale-faced.
"Ah... Sayaka, Kyouko..."
"I managed to keep her alive... she'll be fine in a bit, but she needs rest." Mami nods at this, patting Kyouko on the head.
"And you, Kyouko? How are you?"
"I..." She inhaled, trying to steady her heartbeat. "I'll be good... there's something about almost dying... tends to make you appreciated life more..." She gives a half-hearted smiled, but Mami could tell it's forced.
"I'm glad, Kyouko... I'm glad you're both going to be okay."
"What... uh... did Madoka say...?" Kyouko asked, pushing her fingers together, embarrassed to have to ask.
"She'll talk to you in a while, Kyouko. Until then, just try to calm down. She's not angry or anything, so there's no need to be worried." Kyouko gave a great sigh at this and nodded.
"Ahh... thanks Mami... that makes me feel tons better."
"She will, however..." Mami continued. "Be discussing your disregard for your work load. All of that could have been avoided if you weren't so lazy." Kyouko nodded at this.
"At this point, Mami, I'll take even that. As long as she's not mad..." A crass grin crossed Kyouko's face. "If it means anything, kid's got durability. A hit like that would have killed a Familiar... she took it like a champ."
"And broke several bones in the process, Kyouko, please try to keep things in perspective."
"I am. From my 'perspective', the kid's got all the makings of a Puella Magi. A damn good one, at that."
"That is not for us to decide. It's for Madoka to. Don't you have a 'Mech to be maintaining?" Kyouko waved it off.
"Oh yea... I gotta repair all that damage I didn't get in my last mission." Sayaka emerged from the recruit's room, after having placed her there to rest.
"She should be up in a couple hours."
-Several Hours Later-
You wake up several hours later with a throbbing headache and a pain in your chest. Looking groggily around, you find yourself in a bed in a room you're unfamiliar with.
"Oh, good. You're awake." You hear a voice from your bedside. As you turn to face the voice, you see a familiar blonde face smiling at you. Mami. "Try not to move so much. You took a nasty knock to your head. How are you feeling?" You tactfully remark that you feel like something that would come out of someone's back end and lie back onto the bed. Mami laughs a little at this and nods. "Yes, I imagine you would feel like that. Don't worry, we checked you over, and you don't seem to have any lingering injuries. You'll be back on your feet and operational again long before we reach Outreach. Just sit back and relax these next few days, and don't strain yourself." She pauses for a moment. "Oh, and although she doesn't have the stones to say it herself, Kyouko sends you her most heartfelt apologies, and assures you it will never happen again." You nod with your eyes closed, saying that little piece of jewelry must be important to her. "Erm... yes. You could say it's got a rather special place in her soul." She stands and bows. "Well, I'll allow you to rest for now. Madoka says we'll be back on Outreach in the next six days or so, and there's nothing left for us to do but wait, so... rest." She turned and started towards the door.
And rest is exactly what you do for the next seven days, simply lying in bed and doing your best to rest. With each passing day, you feel better and better.
-ComStar Mercenary Relations Hub; July 30th 3059-
The week comes and goes, and before you really realize it, the Barricade makes another FTL jump to Outreach. Your 'Mechs are off-loaded by some of the crew, and you, along with the rest of the Magi Mercenary Unit, depart the Mitakihara the same way you came in a short week prior. The ComStar Mercenary Hub is quiet when the six of you arrive, a few people going about their business of living, as they kill time between contracts. A lone man standing by the pole, short brown hair and a silver and gold suit (which looked horrendous might you add) perks up as he sees you and the others depart.
"Madoka!" He calls, his arms outstretched. The pink-haired commander smiles as she sees the man.
"Jake!" She answers, running to hug him.
"Ooooh! How's my little sister doing?"
"Fantastic! Had three contracts on Zosma. All taken care of."
"How is Zosma these days? Last time I was there it was a dustball."
"It's still a dustball." Madoka answers with a shrug, releasing the man from the hug.
"And how are the rest of you?" He opens his arms as Sayaka hugs him as well, then followed by Kyouko. "Sayaka... Kyouko... long time no see."
"Great seeing you again." Kyouko smiles as she releases the man from her hug.
"Heya, Mami." He speaks to Mami as she gives him a hug, this one a little more reserved, like family, instead of an old friend. "Still kickin' ass and taking names?"
"You know it." She answers.
"Homu!" The man continues, expecting Homura to give him a hug. "Long time no-" He stops as she walks right past him. "See..." He turns to Madoka with a question on his lips.
"I don't know, Jake... she's been like this since we got our newest member..."
"Speaking of which!" He turns to face you. "That must be you, correct? I see they wasted no time in putting you in one of those adorable 'uniforms' of theirs. I tell you, it took me six months to convince the Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission that a 'serious and respectable' Mercenary Unit can, in fact, have uniforms that look like their from an old school or something. Six months." He opens his arms. "C'mon, don't be shy, gimme a hug." You feel no obligation to do so, but you indulge the man anyway. After pulling away, he smiles. "Oh, man Madoka. Newbie gives great hugs. Keeper."
"Unfortunately, we've had a... hitch on the voting process... Homura has been... reluctant to allow full membership."
"Really? I swear, since Homu changed her hair style, she's gotten all," He dropped his voice. "Dark and serious." He returned to his normal tone. "It's enough to make a man concernacus."
"I'm sure Akemi-san will come around soon. I think she's just worried that she'll get replaced."
"Oh yea. Replace Homura. That's a funny one. With her..." He looks at you, and a look from Madoka stops him. "Piloting... skills. That will be hard to do." Madoka nods at this.
"I'd love to sit and chat all day, but I've got to discuss some financial things with Quistis. She's been riding me since the twenty seventh about these things... and you know Quistis. She'll only get more insistant."
"I'd love to stay too, but I've gotta go make a call home." Sayaka chimes. "Parents get worried when I don't call."
"I gotta go do... girl... stuff... over there... for a bit." Kyouko answers, pointing in a random direction. "Catch ya later." She and Sayaka run off.
"Jeebus Criminies!" The man exclaims, slapping his forehead. "You must think I'm some kind of nutter, I didn't introduce myself!" He gives you a lazy, but clean salute. "Jake Ballenfield, leader of the Ultanos Mercenary Unit. Third best damn Mercenary company on Outreach."
"He's also, incidentally, Madoka's best friend." Mami chimes in.
"Don't you have somewhere to be like the rest of them, Twindrills?" Mami laughed a little and shook her head.
"Apparently with everyone going off and doing their own thing, I get to spend time with the new kid. I don't mind really... she's a good sort."
"Ah, yea. Sayaka and Kyouko are probably going to be spending some time together, and Madoka and Homura spend a lot of time together. At least you've got someone to talk to now, hm?" You're starting to feel all warm and fuzzy from all the compliments.
"C'mon, whaddaya say we get some food? On me." Jake chimed in, with you and Mami giving an emphatic nod.
-Magi Mercenary Unit Company Office; Outreach-
"It's getting worse, Quistis! She does nothing but berate the kid, and behind her back too! I mean, I'd understand if she like... killed her parents or something but... dammit!" Madoka growled, gripping at her hair. "This is so frustrating! Akemi-san's my friend and she's acting like a total bitch, and I don't know why. That's the worst part about it. There's no reason for her to be acting like this!"
"Did you try confronting her about it?"
"Oh yea. I sure did. She fuggin'... time stopped away." Quistis nodded sagely, looking through a few papers on her desk.
"Perhaps you should consider suspending her due to unprofessional attitude." Quistis mused. "And besides... as your own rules state... in order to make someone a full member of the Magi Mercenary Unit, you require a one hundred percent 'yes' vote of all active members... suspending her would allow you to pass the vote."
"That's dirty, underhanded, and cheap Quistis, and you know it. If I did that, she'd think I had meant to do it from the get-go. If it ever comes to me needing to suspend Akemi-san, I'll do it... but I will not call another vote until she's back on normal duty." The sun glinted off her sunglasses.
"Suit yourself." Reaching up, she removed the glasses and placed them on the desk. Behind the dark shades was a pair of ruby eyes, very unnatural, and definitely not human. "Just keep in mind that in doing your own job so... diligently... you're preventing me from doing my own."
"Oh, don't give me that 'heat death of the universe' bullshit, Quistis. If the universe hasn't burnt up already, it's not going to."
"Don't be so sure, Ms. Kaname. I shall state it again. Not contracting your newest find will inevitably lead to... a great amount of regret on the parts of many people."
"You say that like having her make a contract is going to save the universe, or something... fuck she can do that just as well from the cockpit of a BattleMech."
"There are some things these... atrocious machinations of yours cannot solve, Ms. Kaname. I am only dealing with them now, because there is no other way to find young girls..."
"Willing to give up their souls to you?"
"You were rather willing."
"I was fifteen and desperate! I would have done anything to pass my exams!" She rubbed her nose bridge and sighed. "We're getting off topic. I won't suspend Akemi-san at the moment, but the option is most assuredly on the table. I'll see if I can't get her to open up to me, talk a little... but at this point, I doubt that'll do anything but push her further away."
"Ms. Tomoe seems to enjoy the kid's company." Quistis continued, putting her sunglasses back on.
"As do I. I just wish I had more time to spend with the kid. Tri-M scores are promising at the very least, and by what Mami tells me, she's a killer." She paused. "Quistis..."
"Mm?" Madoka hesitated for a moment, looking at the white-haired, white-suited woman as she scanned papers.
"Do you think we could do it?" Quistis looked up, tilting her head a little left.
" 'Do it', Ms. Kaname?"
"Yea... you know... go back to Terra? Where it all began?"
"The ruins of that city are still ruins for a reason, Ms. Kaname. I would ill-advise any expedition to Mitakihara."
"Oh, come on, it'll be fun!"
"It'll be dangerous."
"Dangerously fun! Besides, it's only a jump away, we take a week and go out, hang out around the planet, then when our engines are recharged, we head back." Quistis put her pen down and looked at her, taking her sunglasses off once more.
"I'll make you a deal, Ms. Kaname. Allow me to contract your newcomer, and I'll find the money to finance a trip to Mitakihara." Madoka pouted.
"That's not fair."
"Perfectly fair. The amount of misery and grief surrounding that place? You'd be suicidal going in with fewer then seven as-is. Six is pushing it."
"Fine. I'll have a chat with Akemi-san, see if I can't get a yes vote from her." She started for a the door as Quistis put her sunglasses back on. "It'll be like getting blood from a stone..."
"You give Ms. Akemi too little credit."
"No." Madoka responded, gripping the door handle. "I give myself too little credit."
-ComStar Mercenary Relations-
"So nice to have a sit down with your best friends and just... have tea, wouldn't you agree, Jake?" Mami asked the man across from you. You had worked your way back to Mami's little portion of the Mercenary Hub, where you and her first met, and she was busy serving you and Jake tea. Jake seemed to quite enjoy sitting down... which you find quite odd, considering he's the leader of another Mercenary company. "How did your contract go on Halcion?"
"I fucking hate Halcion." He blurted out. "Shit-hole planet with nothing to do but suck. Smashed a couple of loyalist 'Mechs left over by Spectre Company's little rampage last year. I swear, fuckin' Spectre Lance can't finish a damn mission, they're always messing something up." Spectre Company is a Mercenary Lance that's affiliated with the Wolf's Dragoons. They're decent but, as Jake pointed out, they do have a tendency to let a few loose-ends fly. He took a sip from his tea. "So, Twindrills, can I ask you a question?"
"So long as you refrain from calling me 'Twindrills'."
"Oh, you like it." Jake mused, smiling. With another sip from the cup, he continued. "D'you think Madoka'd want some of those spare weapons I salvaged out of our last mission? Couple'a lasers... a PPC or two and an autocannon. Plus like... a hundred and fifty tons of armor or something like that."
"Well, she did pull a Vindicator from her mission on Zosma, and was saying that we didn't have the stuff to repair it. So, I imagine she'll be happy with any aid you can lend." Jake nodded to this.
"She made the 'bat her eyelashes' comment, didn't she?" Mami laughs at his comment, but nods. "Ah, I know her too well." Something about Mami's comment sets you on edge slightly... not having enough armor to repair a Vindicator? Most dropships carried a hundred plus tons of armor on board for field repairs... come to think of it, that would certainly explain why Mami's Hollander was still damaged when you landed back on Outreach. Despite your better judgment, you ask Mami about the situation of the company as it stands, citing even her damaged 'Mech. At this evidence, Mami sighs.
"Look, kid... it's no secret amongst us all here that... we're not well-to-do. At all. Those three contracts? We only managed to get them, because no one else wanted them. We're in debt to the Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission pretty deep, and most of our funds go to paying that debt off. The only reason we're still around is due to the kindness of Jake and Ultanos."
"I help float most of their personal expenses." He elaborates.
"So... no, we're not so well off. But we're good people! You should know that! We're just five girls trying to make it in this world." You counteract her 'good people' comment with the whole 'Kyouko bashing you with her spear' argument. "Kyouko just got a little heated, that's all. She was really apologetic after she realized what happened... please don't hold it against her. I know this isn't the best unit, financially to be in kid... but we're a family. All of us. Madoka, Sayaka, Kyouko, you, myself... even Homura when she's not being a curmudgeon about things... and Jake. We're all a family."
"To me, I feel like I'm in one of those harem animes." He smiles at his comment, which causes both of your to chuckle a little. In light of her argument, you have to agree with her. You're alive. Your 'Mech will be taken care of well enough, and you've got people you can rely on. Really, when it comes down to it, that's all you can ask for. Jake takes a sip of his tea as he looks you over, her eyes resting on your face uncomfortably long. You shift your gaze away which seems to break him from his own stare. "Ya know..." He begins, putting the tea cup on the table. "You have really pretty eyes..."
"Jake..." Mami warns him. "Madoka would be none-too happy if she discovered you were hitting on a member of her squad." She laughs as she continues. "That wasn't her, at least."
"No no..." He holds two fingers up gently in a dismissive manner, looking at her momentarily. "I'm being totally professional about this... she has the prettiest eyes I've seen in a woman in a long time..." You ask him what color they are. "You can't be serious, girl. You don't even know what color your eyes a-"
You hear Mami clear her throat, which stops Jake. He blinks to her and shrugs. "What?" He asks. You shake your head and tell Mami it's alright, that she can tell him. Mami sighs and turns to Jake once more.
"Jake... she's got a very strange genetic disorder called Self-Audible Amnesia. She... doesn't know anything about herself. She can relate information but... doesn't retain it."
"You mean like... she doesn't even know her own name?" You shake your head. "Oh damn I'm... I'm sorry..." Shaking your head once again, you tell him it's alright, that you've lived through all the insults and degradation your whole life. "That's not the point. You shouldn't have to live through all that." He would have continued, but the sound of the door opening interrupted him.
"Am I interrupting anything...?" Quistis asks as she slowly walks into the room, hands behind her back.
"No. No, nothing at all, Ms. Black. Have a seat." Jake offers Quistis, who politely declines.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I cannot stay. I would like to actually have a word with you, if I could." She turns to face you, to which you respond with a nod as you get to your feet.
"Quistis." Mami gives her the worst stare ever. "You know the rules."
"Relax, Ms. Tomoe. I'm not going to go behind Ms. Kaname's back."
"You better not. She's gonna be so pissed if you do." You ask what everyone's talking about, and the three answers you get do not bode well.
"Nothing." Mami retorts.
"Nothing." Quistis answers as well.
"Lesbian threesomes." Jake chimes in, extorting a stare from Mami. "What? Ya'll already had the 'nothing' category covered, I thought I might throw my two cents in..."
"Regardless... you can talk to her... but no... funny business." This doesn't bode well. They keep speaking in vaguities around you, almost as if there's some secret you're not supposed to know. You finally get sick of it. It's been like this for a week, everyone speaking in vague almosts around you, and being all-round unforthcoming. Finally you speak up.
"She does have a point, Mami... She deserves to know a little, don't you think?"
"It's not for me to say, Jake." Jake finished his tea, stood, then took your hand.
"Right then. We're off to see the boss lady, get this girl some answers."
"Jake, don't! Madoka's..."
"Madoka Schmadoka. Kid needs to know something or we're just gonna push her away."
"This is a bad idea but... I suppose she does need to know..."
-Madoka's Office-
You follow Mami, Jake and Quistis into Madoka's office, the girl staring at a stack of papers before her, pen scribbling madly across the paper. "Madoka." Jake speaks as he enters.
"Oh... hello Jake... I'm sorry, if you've got something to say, make it quick but... I'm really busy at the moment..." She trails off as she sees who else is behind him. "Oh... Mami-san... you brought the kid, too... something the matter?"
"She needs to be told. Not everything, but the kid needs to know something about your approval process." Madoka blinked.
"I already have. We need a one hundred percent vote before-"
"No... Madoka..." Mami chimes in timidly. "Details." Her pen went down slowly as she looked down, mouth hung open like she's looking for the right words.
"Details... then... I suppose Quistis put you up to this?" Her eyes locked with Quistis' glasses. "Well... okay. If what Mami-san says is true... I don't see you freaking out." She stands and looks you with her pink eyes which... somehow... had become very hard. Slowly walking around her desk, she takes a seat on the opposite end and looks at you, her legs crossed over one another, hiding her underwear from sight (most likely Jake's). "Tell me." She begins an obviously well-rehearsed speech. "What's your opinion on... magic?" You scoff a little at this, going into a slightly callous, dismissive retort about how magic is nothing more then a poor explanation for the unknown devised by the incompetent Neanderthal brain. This answer causes Madoka and Mami both to laugh cutely, Madoka covering her mouth with a hand as she does so.
"I like your answer. I can see you're grounded in fact." She nods, the meaning behind her words unknown to you. "You take what's given to you at face value, only listening to what your eyes and ears tell you." Another nod. "I respect that. But let me tell you something. I respect your answer... but you're wrong." You take her own response in stride, and nod. You're no stranger to being wrong, you would just prefer it wasn't simply 'you're wrong' with no reasons behind it. "Magic exists... though it only shows itself to people that are truly gifted with it. You'll find no wizards or sorcerers here, though... Magic only exists to a certain, slim group of people." You ask if she has proof. "Oh yes. There is plenty of proof to this. I won't say anymore to this, as I don't want to overwhelm you, but let me say this. You fall in this certain, slim group of people... and I believe you have it in you to not only use magic... but use it well enough to be the best... dare I say." She shrugs and nods to Mami. "Consider it something to think on."