Eureka Seven: The Chosen Ones
By Aditya
Chapter 2- Rejoin the "Gekko-State"
"Hello, is this Holland?" spoke Axel
"No sir... I am…"
"Oh! Dominic is it? I am glad to hear your voice again"
"Yes sir, I am glad you are alright as well, sir"
"Is Holland there?"
"He is in the bridge now; do you want me to call him?"
"No, that's fine. I have to tell something to Holland"
"I can call Holland right away!"
"No, can you tell him to come to Bellforest right away"
"What? O.K. then, I will tell him. Is it something important?"
"I can't talk about it in the phone, so will you guys hurry up and get here?"
"We are near that area, we will be there in 15 minutes"
Axel hanged up the phone with agony in his heart. He knew what he was going to do was the right thing. But, it wasn't the easy one. He knew that this day would eventually come, but he still wasn't prepared. When he returned from the mountains where he went to make his call, he went straight up to Maurice's room. He saw him holding the compac drive in his hand.
"I realize now" said Maurice noticing Axel entering his room.
"I get it why I was so worried"
"And why is that?" asked Axel.
"Because 3 years ago, this compac drive stopped functioning and I thought that something had happened to them" Maurice paused for a moment "Grandpa, I would like to return to Gekko-go and search for them." He said it with confidence in his eyes. It was a sight that reminded Axel of Renton.
"Grandpa, please let me go. I promise that I will return and…."
Suddenly, a gush of wind entered through the opened window. "They are faster than I thought" said Axel.
"Grandpa! Does this mean?" Maurice exclaimed. Axel's eye answered his question. Maurice, without a thought ran outside, it was as he thought, it was Gekko-go.
"Look, Holland's ship has come" Maeter and Linck also ran and joined Maurice. Axel just walked and stood behind them.
"Sorry, for not visiting" said Holland as soon as he got off the ship. "I heard you wanted to talk to me in person" No one except him seemed to leave the ship. Everybody stood and watched from the hanger.
"Yes it has been a while," replied Axel "Could you come with me for a while?"
While Maeter and Linck were busy reuniting in the ship, Axel and Holland returned to the garage. They didn't notice Maurice following with them.
"What?" exclaimed Holland. "Do you seriously want to send the kids with me?" He was still in a shock after hearing that.
"Yes. I am sure?"
"But why? Did they become any burden to you?"
"No, don't blame them. I am the one to blame here.
Holland still had a confused look on his face.
Seeing this Axel replied, "I thought I could give Adrock and Renton a normal and happy life. I failed his father and him, I failed both of them. I really didn't wish any of this to happen. Although they became heroes, they couldn't bring their family a least bit of happiness. When Adrock died, he took Diane with him and Renton had to be raised without knowing the love of a father or mother. Although I thought I could make it up, I couldn't become his father or mother. Now it's the same with his kids. Although they are the part of Thurston family, they aren't getting any love as well. I don't think an old man like me could comfort their young heart."
"I understand now"
"They would better find happiness in searching for father and mother in your care than waiting for them in here. So, I beg you to take them with you"
"There is no need for that. I fully understand how it feels not having father and mother. I will do my best to protect them."
"And one more thing, this is about Maurice."
"Yes, what about him?" asked Holland with a surprising voice.
"Maurice is extremely intelligent. He is the cleverest person in the Thurston family, more than Adrock or me or Renton. So don't ignore his words thinking he is a child. Please Holland"
"I know him very well, so don't you worry"
Maurice, who heard this conversation, didn't know what to do. To be happy or sad, he just ran towards his room and started to pack while crying. He was happy to be searching for his parents but also sad to be leaving 3 years of his grandpa's home. He never experienced this kind of feeling before. He knew, and understood Axel very well. So, he thought crying would insult him. So after some moments, he calmed down and took his backpack downstairs, there he saw Maeter and Linck packed,
"You're late" said Linck
"I am sorry" replied Maurice
"Well, hurry up, Grandpa is waiting" said Maeter in a rather sobbing voice
Without further speaking, they walked slowly towards the 'Gekko-go'. Maeter and Linck bid Axel good-bye and entered the ship, but Maurice didn't have the slightest clue what he had to do. Seeing his confused face, Axel approached him and said, "Protect your brother and sister"
"Grandpa!" Maurice exclaimed while about to burst into tears
"I won't allow you to return to your room unless you bring Renton and Eureka with you. Do you understand? Maurice Thurston!"
Hearing this soothed him a little as it made him proud. It was the first time he had ever heard his Grandpa speak like that. Wiping his tears, all he could do was say "yes". He didn't find a single word except that.
Holland placed his hand over Maurice's head and said, "Well then, don't make them wait any longer". Maurice ran towards the Gekko-go without turning back. He didn't want his grandpa see him cry.
"I am thinking of leaving Bellforest for now. I don't think I will get used without having these kids around, so if you find them, no when you find them, will you look after them for me?" asked Axel with a 450 bow.
"You know you can trust us, they part of our family as much as they are of yours" replied Holland and started to move towards the ship.
"And one more thing, don't involve the children in any of your fights against those rebellions we keep on hearing about" said Axel with a smile
Holland too replied with a smile, "Don't ask for impossible. They have Thurston before their name now. I can't stop them even if I wanted to!"
"Yeah! That's right and Look after yourself and your big family"
"I will" Holland left the scene as he boarded the Gekko-Go and it took off.
"It has been a long time. I wonder how everybody is doing?" said Linck to Maeter as they entered the Gekko-Go.
"I knew it, Gekko-go wouldn't change even after a decade" sighed Maeter after taking a good look at the crew
"But still, this is our home now", said Maurice.
"Halt" said Matthieu.
"What now" asked the kids simultaneously?
"We have a new rule now and that is…" he turned towards the crew and signaled them. The crew positioned themselves in the hanger and welcomed the members of its family, "Welcome back to your Home" said everyone
"You know what this calls for" said Matthieu looking at Hilda changing his emotions.
"Party!" screamed Moondoggie.
"Man these guys never change," sighed Hilda with a smile. While everyone engaged in their talk, Maurice approached Holland,
"Holland"
"What's up Maurice?"
"Did you get any lead on Mama and Renton?"
Everyone went into 'silent mode' after hearing this
After a moment of pause he replied, "Sorry, but we couldn't find them. We have traveled this planet almost… well I last count. Still, we couldn't ..."
"I see" said Maurice with a depressed voice
"Hey, don't worry. We will travel the world another 100 times if we need to. We don't give up that easily you know" said Talho trying to cheer him up.
"Yes, once you become a member of Gekko-go, you can't easily escape from us" said Hap
"Yeah, and they owe me a photo for the Ray=Out" added Stoner
"I know that. You guys are talking like I am a newbie here", replied Maurice
"Hey common, we just wanted to cheer you up" said Anemone with a smile.
"Quick, I need to get to my room, this bag is heavy" cried Linck
"Yeah, and I have to unpack my things, I have several things that I need to show you guys" nodded Maeter.
"Hilda, take us to our room", both Maeter and Linck tagged on her shoulders although they couldn't reach it.
"Hey! Take it easy, you just got here, your room… room…, where should I put you guys now? Yes I've got it. O.K, follow me"
"Man! I really missed this environment" thought Maurice with a thought of worry about Axel.
"Here you are!" said Hilda as she opened the door.
"Wow, this is really a big room", exclaimed Maeter and Linck as they ran and jumped across the bed.
"Hilda, you do realize that this room too big for 3 of us" asked Maurice with a strange look. He didn't understand it because it really was big for 3 kids and the bed there was enough for 5 members to sleep together.
Hilda looked at him and smiled. She then turned towards the children who were acting like savages on the bed and said, "Now, Maeter and Linck behave yourself. Once we find your Papa and Mama they will be staying here as well, so keep this room clean O.K"
Linck and Maeter having paused for a moment, started to clean the mess they made. Hilda just smiled at them and turned to look at Maurice. She didn't had the slightest idea how much this affected Maurice. It was like,-a kid who had lost in eternal darkness found a ray of light. Without any response, Maurice too joined in cleaning the room.