Lost Memories/Amnesia Girl Chapter 12
Who do you want Amarante to be with…At the moment that is. Kirkwood or Maylam?
I might create a poll who knows…
January 5, CE71
"Are you cold?" Kirkwood asked Amarante softly. She was huddled next to the fire rubbing her arms quickly.
"Oh no I'm fine," Amarante said cheerfully. This was her first over night mission and it felt very odd. Her commander was out with her. That wasn't the odd part…It was odd because of Maylam and Kirkwood acting so hostile to each other. They barely uttered a word to each other and if so there was a long and eerie silence after the words.
"Alright," Kirkwood replied sitting next to her. He stared into the stars before lying on his back in the sand. Maylam sat on the other side of her. Amarante looked between the two boys before giving a sigh. Maylam took off his jacket looking over at Amarante.
"I insist that you take my jacket," Maylam said sweetly.
"No thank you. I'm doing fine," Amarante replied hesitantly. Maylam tried to wrap his jacket around her shoulders but she pushed it away. She grimaced continuing to push it away as Waltfeld approached them.
"Hey you two. No one's getting "lucky" with her tonight…or any other night while I'm around," Waltfeld snapped.
"Yes sir," the boys replied. Amarante looked up into the sky trying to figure out what he was looking at. She didn't even know what they were talking about. At times she loved her gentle innocence but right now she really wanted to know what he meant.
"What are you looking at Kirkwood?" Amarante asked kindly. She continued to look into the sky trying to figure out what it was.
"Home," Kirkwood answered. He caught her eyes before looking back up into the vast sky.
"I wish I was born in the PLANTs like you," Amarante said regretfully. She placed her head on her knees feeling the soft material of the leggings.
"You weren't born in the PLANTs?" Kirkwood replied bewildered. He sat up quickly thinking it over. Carefully he laid back down before peering back at sweet Amarante.
"No. Not at all. I lived on Earth my whole life until 13." Amarante replied. She brushed the sand off her uniform before sitting cross legged on the ground.
"Where did you live?" Kirkwood asked intrigued by this new found information. Amarante just reacted so well to their surroundings and the Earth was filled with naturals unlike her.
"Canada…and France at some times. I'm a first generation coordinator just in case you were watching," Amarante began, "I mean wondering!" Maylam wandered away from them slightly angered that Amarante was being so friendly with him. Amarante began to blush knowing that she seemed like an idiot in front of Kirkwood. Kirkwood chuckled gently patting her shoulder in reassurance.
"It's okay," Kirkwood chuckled. With a watchful eye, Commander Waltfeld kept them in his gaze. Amarante was still visibly cold and shaking but the boy didn't seem interested in making out with her. He took a small sip of his coffee which was still hot.
"I wish I could find all the constellations in the sky," Amarante sighed as Kirkwood sat up. She blushed softly seeing him pop up so quickly.
"I can show you my favorite for this month," Kirkwood said cheerfully. He smiled at her in a loving manner as she nodded at the invitation. Carefully Kirkwood placed a hand on each side pulling her closer to him. Amarante made a small noise of uneasiness as Kirkwood laid down pulling her with him. Knowing that she was uneasy Kirkwood slowly moved her into position before sitting up. Waltfeld perked up seeing the two soldiers lying on the ground.
"Okay…Is this alright?" Amarante asked wondering what Kirkwood was going to do to her. The commander continued to watch feeling that he may have to intervene soon.
"Yeah. Do you see the stars right there," Kirkwood asked pointing out several stars that created a box with protrusions coming out of it. Getting out of her chair Waltfeld stretched tiredly.
"Yeah. Which one is that?" Amarante asked curiously as Waltfeld approached them quietly. He wanted to sneak up on them making sure that there weren't doing anything horrible.
"That one is Pegasus. This isn't the first time I've been on Earth. My grandfather owns a ship and he would always take me sailing. He taught me every constellation that he knew of," Kirkwood replied before noticing Commander Waltfeld. Kirkwood stood up and saluted prompting Amarante to leap from her laying position to her feet with a salute.
"Excuse us for being so rude sir," Amarante chipped in.
"What the hell are you two doing? Put your arms down you know better than that!" Waltfeld scolded. If there enemies near by…they would immediately know that he was the commander because of their salutes.
"Sorry sir," Amarante and Kirkwood said in unison. Waltfeld looked around for Maylam to see where the boy went. It was odd to see him away from Amarante. The two boys always stayed near Amarante no matter what.
"So where did Maylam run off too?" Waltfeld asked. Amarante cocked her head looking around for the boy.
"He didn't say anything," Kirkwood answered. He shrugged it off not really wanting to think about his former friend Maylam.
"I thought he mumbled something around: I'll be in my BuCUE?" Amarante questioned her friend.
"I guess then," Kirkwood replied. He gave another shrug and Waltfeld a nod.
"Amarante you're going to take the first watch. So get in your BuCUE and keep a good watch," Waltfeld ordered. He placed a hand on her shoulder which made her smile.
"Yes sir," Amarante replied running to her BuCUE. She went up the line and into her cockpit. The Tiger chuckled at the little cub's eagerness not to fight…but to serve him.
"Go get Maylam. I want to talk to you both," Waltfeld ordered. He went back into his serious commander mode knowing that he had to use it for the boys. Commander Waltfeld barely used it for Amarante. She was too gentle, too sweet and too willing to do what ever he said to do such a thing to her.
"Yes sir," Kirkwood replied running off to get his friend. They came back to Commander Waltfeld. He signaled them to sit around the fire as he sat in a near-by chair.
"What is so appealing about that young lady?" Waltfeld asked taking a drink out of his coffee mug. The coffee was still good and warm which the man enjoyed.
"To me she's the most graceful angel on earth," Maylam replied. Beat that Kirkwood…Maylam thought sending a smirk his way. Kirkwood caught it sighing with a groan. He didn't want to compete with him. Kirkwood still wanted to be friends with Maylam.
"Amarante is very kind and loving. No matter how stupid I act around her, she accepts me for me. Amarante is very smart and a brilliant strategist like yourself. I would like to be as strong as her some day," Kirkwood said from his heart. He didn't shoot anything at his friend wanting to remain himself.
"What about her beauty?" Waltfeld asked curiously. He was surprised that neither of them spoke of that. He continued to drink from his mug that had his ace emblem sketched into it.
"Of course she's beautiful," Maylam snapped, bewildered that Waltfeld would ask that question.
"She is beautiful but I find her personality and smile more appealing." Kirkwood replied. Interesting…What does Kirkwood see that Maylam doesn't? Andrew thought before getting to his feet. He stretched again tiredly before sitting back down. It was a pretty cold night since the sunset.
"You two have been the best of friends since you've arrived here. What's with all the bitterness?" Waltfeld asked getting down to the nitty gritty.
"I told him that I would never let him hit Amarante again," Kirkwood replied.
"We're in a gender neutral environment. He's after my girl." Maylam said bitterly. Waltfeld laughed loudly before smiling. He really liked that last part.
"Amarante belongs to no one. I don't understand how she's your girl," Waltfeld replied. Amarante looked at the three people together wondering what was going on. She received a warning message that there were incoming enemies
"Sir…There are incoming heat sources coming over the hill. Do you want me to check it out?" Amarante asked fully turning on her BuCUE.
With his handheld device Waltfeld spoke back, "Don't stray too far alright little cub?" Amarante blushed at his words. He always called her that when they were out on missions. That or Cubby but Cubby was commonly used by Aisha.
"Yes commander," Amarante replied. She moved out in front of her comrades to make sure her mobile suit was hit first. She went to the top the ridge to see vehicles of the resistance fighters. She cursed under her breath as they began to approach her unit. She wasn't allowed to fire at them unless she had the order or they shot at her.
"So what is it?" Waltfeld asked. He was calm and collective like normal listening in to Amarante's voice.
"It's the resistance fighters sir!" Amarante replied as they flew past her. She stopped cursing under her breath as they circled back coming back towards her.
"To your machines," Waltfeld ordered running to his. The soldiers nodded quickly standing up. They looked to each other briefly but didn't share any words.
"Yes commander," the boys said in unison running to their own suits. The resistance fighters circled back before firing at Amarante.
"AH! Why you little," Amarante hissed trying to step on them. She then hesitated remember the sickening feeling she received when she tried to kill someone.
On the ground the resistance fighters had created a plan to destroy all four BuCUEs. "Lure that one away," the leader ordered pointing at Amarante's. Noticing that they were moving away Amarante began to follow them. Suspicious about their activity Waltfeld moved in front of Amarante. She was shocked at his gesture quickly stopping.
"Amarante! Don't be stupid! Quit following them!" Waltfeld barked.
"Yes sir," Amarante replied getting into formation with the rest of her team. She felt slightly ashamed of such a stupid move.
"Why would you do something like that Amarante?" Maylam snapped at her. Amarante grimaced at the voice gulping in a large amount of air. Kirkwood growled inside his unit but couldn't do anything because they were on the same side and he still had a sense of honor.
"Hey leave her alone! Let me do all the harassing!" Waltfeld growled at Maylam. Amarante smiled softly knowing that Waltfeld would defend her from all harm.
"I don't think they're biting," one of the resistance fighters said looking back at the BuCUEs.
"Probably because the Desert Tiger's with them," the leader replied. They abandoned their mission and headed home.
"Amarante stay at the make-shift base," Commander Waltfeld ordered.
"But," Amarante whined.
"Would you rather have a court martial for insubordination?" Waltfeld snapped. Even if she did follow them…he could never do such a thing.
"Yes sir," Amarante grumbled. She cringed at his words. The sweet girl knew that sometimes he could be mean and cruel but she only wanted to help the best way she could.
"Kirkwood…You stay with her," Waltfeld ordered.
"Yes sir!" Kirkwood replied. Anger began to well up inside Maylam. Why was their commander so lenient about letting the rebels go? They were here to exterminate all resistance and he would allow these men to live.
"I'm going after them!" Maylam declared rushing after the rebels. Amarante was shocked to see his insubordination. Normally everyone followed his commands without real objection.
"Maylam you fool!" Waltfeld hollered going after him. That kid is a little too headstrong…He's going to be in for a rude awakening if he continues to fight in such a manner Waltfeld thought as the boy evaded him.
"Commander!" Amarante cried out about to follow him. Kirkwood moved in front of her unit. Inside the cockpit he shook his head.
"Amarante, we have our orders," Kirkwood reminded her. Amarante sighed and went back to the camp with Kirkwood. He was glad to stop her from disobeying…if only he could stop his friend.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Waltfeld demanded throwing the boy to the ground. He fell on his face with a groan. Slowly he turned around to see the ferocious Tiger.
"Sir…You're too soft. We shouldn't have let them get away!" Maylam replied. Waltfeld grabbed his collar again pulling him close. Maylam gulped knowing this time he had gone too far.
"It's not worth it. Once we get back…straight to my office," Waltfeld snapped. He walked through the camp site trying to find Kirkwood and Amarante. The fire was out as he looked at Amarante's mobile suit. There were two bodies huddled together against it. Getting closer he saw that Amarante had fallen asleep on Kirkwood. Kirkwood was beginning to doze off before seeing his commander.
"Excuse me commander," Kirkwood said trying to wake up Amarante.
"No. Don't wake her up. You two look cute that way," Waltfeld chuckled.
"She was really cold and tired. She didn't have her jacket and she didn't want to take mine from me so we…ahhh…we improvised," Kirkwood replied wrapping his arms back around Amarante. He was glad that his commanding officer couldn't see him blush.
"At 2100 we'll be leaving. Get some rest as well. Maylam will be on watch," Waltfeld ordered.
"Yes sir," Kirkwood replied. Surprisingly Amarante woke up. She rubbed her eyes as she sat up.
"Hey little cub," Waltfeld said lovingly going through her hair. It was odd to see commander Waltfeld do such a fatherly gesture. Especially to Amarante, the runt of the litter.
"I'm tired," Amarante yawned. Her dazed and innocent look caused the Tiger to chuckle gently.
"Lie down and go back to sleep then. You have a comfy bed don't you think?" Waltfeld joked. She was so dazed he knew her answer was going to be strange. He awaited her answer with great anticipation.
"Yeah," she muttered closing her eyes and lying back down on Kirkwood's chest. He smiled wickedly knowing that he could tease her about that later.
Still wondering about that poll...If I make one...Go to my profile and vote!