Lost Memories Chapter 7
"Sir…I don't understand," Amarante mumbled. She was standing in front of the Commander's front desk unsure about what they had been talking about for the last five minutes.
"Go home," Waltfeld replied. His hands were laced as he stared at his subordinate.
"But I can't with so much work to do," Amarante replied. She gave an innocent shrug of success as Waltfeld shook his head.
"Go home. You've been here for four months without leave. Hadat, Kirkwood, and Maylam have ALL taken leave. Go home and relax for a little while," Waltfeld said shuffling through his papers.
"I am home," Amarante said with a gentle smile. Great…now she's brainwashed to believe she belongs here, Waltfeld thought with a sigh. He looked up at the ceiling briefly before fixing his eyes on Amarante's face. Her expression was always innocent and cute.
"Go to your OTHER home then," Waltfeld answered thoughtfully.
"But…" Amarante whined. She was cut off by a wave of her commander's hand.
"Look…I'll even escort you there. It's been awhile since I've left the base as well," Waltfeld suggested.
"Sir?" Amarante asked.
"A young lady like you shouldn't travel alone," Waltfeld said in a concerned, yet playful voice.
"Do you think Amarante will love me?" Maylam asked his close circle of friends. They looked at one another before laughing.
"You sound like a school girl. Did someone chop off your pride?" Kirkwood boasted playfully. Yet Kirkwood also had thoughts about the two toned haired maiden.
"Heck no! I still feel horrible for locking her in the closet," Maylam sighed.
"It was all for fun," Hadat persuaded.
Maylam thought it over carefully before creating a decision, "Right…She was alright."
"Why don't we go practice in the simulator. We haven't had any battles lately," Hadat suggested. The three boys stood up throwing away their plates as Amarante and Aisha walked in.
"Hello boys," Aisha said with a small bow. Seeing Amarante still in an upright position Aisha pushed her into a bow as well.
"Ms. Aisha!" Amarante cried out softly. She struggled free from her hold looking over at her only female friend.
"Hello Ma'am, Amarante," they said in unison with a salute. Amarante saluted back sternly.
"We were heading to the simulators, wanna come Amarante?" Hadat asked.
"Nah, maybe later," Amarante said with a smile.
"Oh I would love to face you," Aisha said facing Amarante.
"I'm not that great," Amarante said humbly. She didn't really like facing everyone and anyone who wanted to face her. It was also intimidating due to the senior pilots wanting to see her in battle.
"Andy said you've improved a lot. I would love to see how much," Aisha replied.
"Can we eat first Ms. Aisha?" Amarante asked. It was almost a whine because it had been a few hours since she had eaten something. They waited in line with the other soldiers looking at the food available.
"Remember you can call me Aisha," Aisha suggested as they got their chow. They singled out an open table making a beeline to the table. It wasn't a busy day at the chow hall but there were enough people to have a loud and noisy room.
"But Ms. Aisha it is not respectful," Amarante said as they sat down.
"Oh don't worry about it. We're friends right?" Aisha said sitting next to her. She touched her nose gently causing the girl to become bashful.
"Yeah, we are," Amarante said as they dug in. Aisha smiled gently as the girl looked around the room for other pilots and her commander.
"The cooks are always good here," Aisha said as more soldiers piled in. Amarante then focused her attention on her commander's lover.
"Yeah," Amarante said as several soldiers eyed the two of them. Normally, Aisha stayed in the mansion or near by it. It was odd to see her talking with a common soldier and so causally.
"Is there anything you would like to talk about?" Aisha asked placing a hand over her's. It shocked Amarante and she almost moved her hand away.
"Huh? Oh…ah nothing really," Amarante said with hints of blush.
Aisha leaned into her closely holding her hand tightly, "Don't get out there and start having sex alright? Wait until you're married, alright? No matter what a guy says, even if he says he loves you. Don't give in okay?" Amarante's face turned bright up as Aisha backed away. She fidgeted in her seat looking down.
"Oh, thanks," Amarante replied dropping her fork into her food.
"I'm just telling you for your safety," Aisha said nonchalantly before drinking a glass of water.
"Ma'am…I don't have any guy that I like," Amarante said after awhile.
"All in due time, you'll find someone," Aisha replied looking into the girl's red face.
"Who would like me anyways? My sister is much better looking…her personality is better, she isn't a klutz, nor does she find it hard to make friends!" Amarante said with a sigh. Oh Amarante, don't beat yourself up. You're a beautiful girl. I know someone will fall in love with you. Even with all of your faults, Aisha thought taking their trays away.
"Come on," Aisha said standing up her small puppy. She lead her out of the room and down a hallway.
"Do you think I'm pretty?" Amarante asked stopping in the middle of the hallway.
"Of course. You're a beautiful girl. A lovely and beautiful girl," Aisha said soothingly.
"Hey there Amarante," DaCosta called out. Immediately Amarante's eyes lit up as she threw her arms around DaCosta. He flinched gently with a slight grimace before warming up to the girl.
"Hi!" Amarante said as Aisha watched in a loving manner. DaCosta smiled at the girl's happiness.
"Hello Ma'am," DaCosta said formally to Aisha.
"Hello DaCosta. You two are close. Wanna marry her?" Aisha teased. DaCosta's face went red as Aisha giggled softly.
"Of course not. No offense Amarante," DaCosta replied.
"None taken. DaCosta watches out for me. I'm thankful that he does. I always know DaCosta has my back in battle, on base, anywhere and everywhere," Amarante said with a beaming smile.
"To me it seems like DaCosta is your big brother," Aisha chuckled. DaCosta blushed softly before calming down.
"If you'll excuse us, Mr. DaCosta," Amarante said with a small curtsey. DaCosta nodded giving her a small hug before the two women were on their way.
"DaCosta is my brother," Amarante said softly with hints of blush.
"You need a boy who's gentle, loving, quiet, caring, considerate. Heck…maybe a boy who can play an instrument. A gentle boy…and I'm going to look for one for you!" Aisha declared.
"Ma'am?" Amarante asked cocking her head to one side.
"You heard me. An instrument playing cute guy. They always seem to be the nice ones. I bet there are a couple in Z.A.F.T," Aisha replied.
"Ma'am…Why are you planning my future?" Amarante asked as they reached the simulator room.
"Oh…I'm just so bored here…I know I have my Andy but Andy has his duties so I have to do something. I'm glad you're here. I finally have someone to relate to on a gender based level. There have been other women who have come here. Many were just interested in Andy for his money. Hmpf, I got him to remove them as quick as possible. Yes…I'm a bit of the jealous type…I just want to make sure that nothing happened between Andy and them. You're a good girl…Don't get mixed up in the wrong crowds. Andy and I expect a lot from you," Aisha informed.
"Ms. Aisha?" Amarante asked bewildered.
"Oh my…You probably don't want to listen to me ranting. You're nickname is Mare right?" Aisha asked as the two of them suited up.
"Yeah. My mother made it up. Mom used to give me a ponytail on the left and my sister on the right. She didn't like that idea so she made the nicknames. Father didn't like that she left our hair down," Amarante said with sadness at the end.
"You don't always have to beat yourself up," Aisha whispered soothingly into the girl's hair. Amarante was pulled in a loving hug to show that at least one person cared about her.
"I wonder if Maylam and the others are done with their simulations," Amarante thought over. Brushing her sad feelings under the rug.
"Does someone have a crush on Maylam?" Aisha teased her sad puppy to make her smile.
"No. I like Maylam as a friend," Amarante said unwavering. No blush, no battering eyelashes, no unsure look. She truly only liked him as a friend. Wow she's good. Or she really doesn't like him, Aisha thought.
"Are you sure? Don't you think he's one of the stud muffins at the base?" Aisha teased. Stud muffin? What's that? I've never heard of this term, Amarante thought.
"Stud muffin?" Amarante asked as they left the room.
"You don't know what a stud muffin is?" Aisha giggled.
"It's news to me," Amarante replied with a shrug.
"It's a guy who's really attractive to the opposite sex…aka women. That's how I know of it," Aisha replied.
"Oh…No he's not really a stud muffin to me," Amarante said distastefully. Aisha laughed loudly smiling at the young girl.
"You never cease to amaze me," Aisha giggled as they boarded separate simulator machines. Waltfeld watched from the observation room with DaCosta.
"Operation 3. I want Aisha and Amarante on the same team," Waltfeld ordered.
"Yes sir," the soldier in charge of the simulator responded. He communicated with the two pilots receiving a sigh of disappointment from Aisha.
"I hope you know what you're doing Andy," Aisha called back.
"Trust me. It's better this way. You'll be able to watch her skills," Andy replied.
Aisha did a small chuckle, "hn, whatever."