The Long Road Ahead
Act I
Episode VII
A Stack of Papers
Night after night is was all the same. Teletha Testarossa, although she wanted to believe it, really had no time off to begin with. Ever since David arrived at the base it seemed that her work load had increased tenfold. Piles of paperwork and meetings assaulted her schedule and life. While Mithril was technically experiencing a lull in jobs to attend to over the past few years, the information about "The Collective" seemingly had jump started her organization's engine. Constantly she was either on the phone or going over information with Commander Mardukas about what exactly projects "BOREAS" and "PUPPET MASTER" were, as said in the file she had gotten from the council meeting. But in a nutshell, it was clear they knew absolutely nothing. Everything about "The Collective" and their doings was all speculation.
On the other hand, Tessa still attempted to make time for David. It was what she looked forward to each night. He was a welcome break from all her work. Often she found him in the midst of Melissa and Kurz. The pair seemingly had taking a liking to him. To her, it made her feel just a little bit better about having to leave him alone for hours at a time in a place that must be rather lonely and foreign for him. Kurz and Mao were an interesting bunch for David to make friends with, but it was what she had hoped for in the first place. Ever since their first night on the base, David took a liking to them as well. Tessa vividly remembered how she asked him to accompany her. By the time that had gotten to the duo that particular night, both of them were far beyond drunk. But it only made it that much more comical. Unlike Tessa, David didn't abstain from alcohol, yet he knew that indulging too much wasn't the wisest thing to do. That night he didn't drink. He and Tessa had picked up their own beverages on the way. Of course, David had grabbed his favorite, a Cherry-Cola.
Thoughts coming back to reality, Tessa opened her eyes onto the long metal hallway that stood before her. Grasped in one hand she had her leather suitcase. The other was pressed against her chest, holding a stack of papers against her body. Teletha had just exited another mind-numbingly long security meeting. Once again, it was over "The Collective." Her black business heels clacked against the metal floor as she walked along. She hung her head low. Each muscle in her body felt like jelly. For some odd reason that particular day had felt like it had lasted forever. The rest of Mithril must've already clocked themselves out and turned in for the night. Tessa walked alone in the silent corridor. Her heels clapping against the floor and the sounds echoed down the hallway. Like a metronome the sound filled her head.
Tessa let out a long drawn out sigh of pain and lethargy. "I need a break." She grumbled to herself. The grasp on her papers and suitcase began to relax as she drifted in and out of her near sleep-like state.
Her clumsiness got the better of her again…
As she dragged her feet across the floor the front of her shoe lodged itself in the metal paneling of the hallway. Like a poorly designed catapult she flew forward. With no attempt to right herself, Captain Tessa Testarossa landed face first onto floor. White papers flew out of her grasp and fluttered about the small corridor like she had landed in a pile of snow. Her suitcase landed just in front of her. The contents of it tumbled onto the metal. Among them, David's picture of him and his little sister. Tessa hadn't removed it since she took it from his home.
"Ugh!" Teletha screamed in frustration, near tears. The young woman didn't know why she always made such a fool of herself. She didn't know why, at stressful times like this, she couldn't function like she wanted.
Tessa just lay there, belly and face against the ground. Her gray hair was now sprung out of its neat ponytail and lay in a mess of tangles around her head. The girl didn't bother to move. There was no point. Luckily, she thought, that no one was around to see her tumble. Teletha lay there, moving one fist and hitting the ground softly over and over again.
Pushing herself onto her knees and into a sitting position she looked around at the damage she had done. Papers now lay scattered across the width of the flooring. The contents of her suitcase now lay in a messy pile in front of her. Her chest rose and fell slowly. Tessa was taking in deep breaths in an effort to resist the urge to simply break down right then and there. One hand reached up in an effort to smooth out her hair. It was simply no use. All of it was already too far away from being fixed in a hallway. Unknown to her, her own hands were trembling out of the pure frustrated emotion that pulsed through her body. Tessa Testarossa continued to sit motionless in the Mithril base corridor.
But her eyes caught a glimpse of the picture, the picture of David and his sister. The glint of the broken frame and glass shimmered in the white light. The colored macaroni that once adorned the frame now lay in shattered pieces. But, inside the frame, the picture was still in one piece. Tessa's eyes looked onto the picture once again. David looked so happy, so much different than he did now in the present. Now he seemed a bit colder, as if he was always searching for something, like he was always on some mission that held the fate of his own world on his shoulders.
There were footsteps coming up behind her at a quick pace…
Her heart nearly burst from her chest at the sound. Reaching out she wasted no time in getting ahold of the broken picture frame. Like a broom she opened up her suitcase and swept the frame into the depths of the black leather container. She did her best to get all the little dusty pieces of the colored macaroni and string back in and out of view. Tessa began to panic. All around, her papers were still littering the metal floor. Frantically she started to rustle them about, attempting to get them back in somewhat decent order.
The footstep grew closer…
Teletha began to whimper to herself. This was going to be really embarrassing.
"You alright there, Tess?" A voice whispered with concern from behind her. A body knelt down beside where she was sprawled out on the ground.
"Tess?" The young captain thought to herself. It must have been-
"Hey, are you ok?" David said warmly as a smile grew on his face. He clutched that same notebook as before in his hands. It was the same one he kept with him throughout their journey on the road. The young man looked to Tessa who sat on the floor beside him. He could plainly see the distressed look on her face. "Hey…Tessa?"
"D-D-David?!" Teletha stuttered in surprise. Her hands were still desperately grabbing at the papers. She couldn't look up at him. A hand moved up a flicked some hairs out of her face and behind her ear. This was just too awkward for her, being seen like this, at her own job even.
For a long number of quiet moments David watched Tessa Testarossa flail around in the pile of papers like a fish out of water. "Hey…Tessa, you alright?"
"Uhm…I'm…I just…" Were the only words Tessa could utter in her state of panic. She felt the faint running of her nose as she neared tears. And arm swept across her face as if trying to wipe away her distress. "Did it really need to be in front of David?" Tessa thought. "I'm representing Mithril for God's sake." This was all too much.
"Tess?"
Her hands froze and her body stopped. Tessa slouched over where she sat.
"Tessa?" David said again as he waited, dropping the notebook to the floor right into the pile of papers. Without request he started to shuffle through the papers on his own. Just as Tessa had done he began to sort through the papers, slowly putting them back into a somewhat orderly stack.
"David…" Tessa sighed. She choked back her tears of embarrassment.
David looked at her and lifted an eyebrow. He waited for her to continue. His hands still sorted through the papers on the ground. Some items he stuffed into her suitcase while others he stacked by themselves. But he didn't say anything. David just waited for Tessa to finish.
"…Why am I such a pain in everyone's side?"
This response caused a small laugh to come from David. He didn't think it was a serious question. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I meant." She said sternly.
David's light and warm expression slowly melted away. "Are you serious?"
Tessa didn't bother with a response. She turned to look at David. The look on her face said that she was serious.
"Well…I…I don't think you're a pain." He began. David picked his words carefully. The papers on the ground were now neatly stacked. Although not in perfect order like they began, at least they could be carried.
"I don't believe you."
"I don't think anyone here sees you as a pain, Tessa."
Tessa turned her face toward the ground again. "Sometimes I just feel like it."
David placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort the young woman. "You're not a pain, Tessa. You're worth more to these people than you probably think."
Teletha slightly relaxed at his touch. "That's not what I mean though."
He paused for a brief second before responding. "What did you mean then?"
Letting out an extremely long and pained sigh, Tessa's eyes began to water. "I just feel…like…I feel as if I'm useless."
"Oh, you're far from useless, Tess."
Ignoring David the captain continued on. "I'm no fighter…" She began, finally pushing the stacks of papers together, picking them up in her arms while she sat on her knees. "…When I was with you, I felt like I was useless. I couldn't help you." Her suitcase still was on the floor in front of her.
David coughed at her comment. He didn't like where this conversation was headed. "Well, not everyone is a fighter."
Teletha returned to her words. "Lately, I've just been pushing papers. I sit in an office all day, David…A freaking office! I sit in a chair while everyone else is out there risking their lives."
Still, David wasn't able to come up with a response.
"I'm no good with a gun. I can pilot an Arm Slave, but I can't go into combat with one. I have to rely on everyone else around me…I have to rely on everyone else around me risking themselves and their skin while I sit and push papers…"
David's arm moved to Tessa's waist. This stopped her words cold. She could feel his fingers and palm through her Mithril uniform. He placed his other hand on her shoulder. Using his soft grip on her small frame, David easily lifted Tessa's slowly to her feet. There was a slight pause in their conversation. David kept his grip on Tessa's waist, making sure she was stable enough to stand on her own. He stood there, looking Tessa in the face. "Listen, Tess…"
There it was, David had called her "Tess" again. She felt a little lighter now.
"…I know it must be frustrating. Personally, I can't know exactly how you feel…But you aren't useless. If you were useless, I don't think your friends would've risked their lives for you…Hell, if you were useless do you think you'd still be a captain?"
Teletha didn't respond. Her thoughts were still on the fact that David still had that grip on her waist as he spoke.
"You're smart. You know you're not just some throw away officer. You know that. I'm not saying everyone is a fighter. Don't try and be something you know you're not…Let me tell you, trying to be something you're not is hard. Also doing that sort of thing doesn't always turn out well in the end. It rarely does…But you'll know when it's your time to shine…It'll come…Trust me." David gave her a reassuring wink.
"I…I see…"
"And hey, come on, would you rather be pushing around papers or risking your life? I know which one I'd pick…If given the choice I'd choose a peaceful job of sitting around and waiting for something bad to happen then actually going somewhere and risking it all if something did happen." David released his grip on her waist, but he kept his hand on her shoulder.
"I think I understand…You have a good point, David."
The young man nodded his head. "You're just a little tired. I can see it in those gray eyes of yours."
Tessa glanced away for a moment before looking back to him. "Y-You're right, I could go for some sleep." She couldn't deny she was unbelievably tired.
David finally smiled again. "Come on." He said, taking a step back. "Let's get you back to your room. You'll feel better after a good night's rest."
With a slow step forward Tessa began to walk. Her room wasn't too far from where they were. Teletha began to regain her composure as she walked. She didn't feel like bursting into tears anymore. "I'm sorry about that."
"Sorry about what?"
"That little episode…I just get…frustrated…at my job sometimes." Teletha admitted. She gripped the stack of papers and suitcase in her hands. Her suitcase felt just a little heavier, but that might have just been the nerves.
David couldn't help but let out a little chuckle. "I think everyone has a reason to get pissed off at their job at times."
"I guess those few days with you on the road really put me in vacation mode."
"Ha-Ha! I don't think that counted as a vacation, Tess."
"It was more than I usually get."
David lifted both hands behind his head. His fingers dug deep into his brown hair as they walked down the corridor. "How many do you usually get then?"
Tessa sighed again. "Not enough, I'll just leave it at that. And if I do I have nowhere to go."
Another chuckle. "I can see that. Don't have any friends off the base you want to visit?"
Her mind switched to Kaname and Sousuke back in Japan. She hadn't seen them in a long while, a year perhaps. But for personal reasons she couldn't just simply show up to their place unannounced. "Well…I do…It's just they are too busy to really pay attention to me. I make do with my friends here on the base."
"No boyfriend to keep your mind occupied, eh?" David laughed, obviously joking around.
Tessa's spine tingled just a bit at the comment. She gritted her teeth at the thought. Sousuke was with Kaname now; she had been for a good few years now. It often helped if she didn't think about it.
David noticed the reaction. His smirk faded just a little, noticing he had hit a nerve. "Touchy subject?"
"It's…a long story, Mr. Reed."
He gave a tiny nod. "I can tell."
"But…No…I have nobody."
Cringing, David knew he didn't do much to help Tessa's mood. His mind raced as he attempted to think up a reasonable response.
"What about you?" Tessa chirped. Surprisingly she kept the conversation going despite her mindset.
"Me?"
"Is there anyone else around that I'm talking to?"
David laughed and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Nah, I have nothing. Like I said before, my job keeps me all over the place. You could say I've really never had the time."
Tessa gave a smirk of acknowledgement. It seemed now as if they were in the same boat. "But you have your sister to keep track of, right?"
"That's true. Once I get back to her, then maybe…Maybe I'll find someone to get involved with. Yet for right now, my little sis is what I got to keep going for. I'm not going to let a relationship, or anything for that matter, get in my way…Not yet at least."
They finally reached Tessa's door. With a few light touches on a keypad the metal door slid open. Tessa began to think over their conversation. "You seem like you have your life figured out, David."
He shrugged. "Not really. I just have my own plan I want to follow and I'm sticking to it."
Tessa nodded in return. "You know…Once you get your sister back…" The captain began to tap the tips of her black shoes against the floor in a strange nervousness. Her face got a little red. "…I think both of you are more than welcome here at Mithril. I-I know it's an odd thing to say…But we could use someone like you around…I don't know how your current employer might think, but I could pull some strings around here for you…I mean…If-If you wanted too that is."
"That's nice of you, Tess. I'll be sure to think about it. If that offer still stands after all of this "The Collective" stuff is said and done, I'll be sure to let you know."
She took a sidestep into her room. Her mouth was unable to form anymore words, even though it moved. Finally, she spoke actual words again. "I think I'm going to check in for the night now, David."
David smiled warmly, looking Tessa right in the eyes. "Right-Right. Sleep well. Get some rest."
"Thank you…You know…For listening and for helping me." The captain continued as David began to step away. "It means a lot."
Back stepping away from the captain, David put both hands behind his head again. "Anytime, Tessa. I hope to see you around. Sleep well."
For long moments, Teletha Testarossa watched David back away into the hallway before vanishing around a corner. For some odd reason, she felt like when he left she was going to miss him the most. Tessa lazily stumbled into her bedroom and the metal door closed shut. She threw herself onto her soft bed…
But then a thought rolled into her head, just as she drifted off to sleep. "What was David doing around the base without an escort?"
Author's Note:
Tip – Read this Episode carefully.
Anyway, here is the second to last Episode of Act I. I hope you like it!
Seeing as we are coming near the end of Act I, I'm going to let you in on a few things. Go back and re-read all the Episodes before this. I'm not going to lie that small details are important. You might find something you missed the first time! Either way, you're going to find out what this entire Act has been leading up to in the next update!
So stay tuned for the finale of Act I, it's going to be something you won't want to miss!
(Expect the next update within about ten days. After I finish editing it enough).
Also, please leave a review and tell me what you're thinking about the story! Reviews are really what keeps me going!
Stay tuned,
Mr-Watch
P.S - Like always, PM if you find any errors. I'll be sure to fix them ASAP!