Chapter 4: awake.

Oh Xena never changes after our little skirmish was broken up by Tanikaze, who took a punch to the face, we all talked about what was to happen next… wait why do I here beeping like a life support system in a hospital or a… tank. I try to get up and head but someone.

"John you're hardheaded you know that right?"

"Xena?"

"Yeah what, think you wouldn't see me again?"

"Where am I?"

"Sidonia you were out for a few days."

"Where's…"

"Tanikaze and Tsumugi are both fine, by the way lover boy she did hear you, but you know that don't you?"

Wait what was I dreaming, did I really dream all that up?!

"What happened?"

"Those prototype cores were releasing a toxin into the air when your Garde was damaged. We got here yesterday after we picked up your Garde's distress beacon."

"I am sorry Master John, but even a hybrid would have died from prolonged exposer to the core's gases."

"Well thanks."

The door opens and Tanikaze walks in.

"Hey Tanikaze, umm, yeah this is awkward."

"Did you mean it?"

"Mean what Xena?"

"He told me all about your little message to him, I mean really you never in all your 128 years EVER ran or acted like a coward."

"Well crap."

"Now get dressed your black suit was taken to the burner, it was radiated from the core's meltdown."

"Oh… ok."

"Oh and you have a marshmallow in the vents watching you."

Marshmallow? Wait… Tsumugi is in the vents and watching me… why? After getting into the pilot's uniform I was given I headed to Tanikaze's house, when I ran into Xena… again.

"Hey you may want to head to Kunato Developments it's… Jack."

I froze… Jack in the hands of that guy… not my day at all.

When I get there Kunato was at his console looking at something, and I feel sorry for Jack most of his body was just… gone. His left arm, both legs, half his torso, just gone.

"Kunato, has he had any regeneration?"

"No, his body hasn't even made an effort."

"Pull the plug, better to die of an injury than in a tank."

"John… I am so sorry we didn't get here sooner."

"We?"

"Well yeah what you think I would leave Reaper wing in that hollowed asteroid and wait for you?"

"You brought them with you?"

"Yup all 15 surviving members, and 2 POWS."

"Well… the POWS I don't care about did you bring the player?"

"Yup and the discs… why?"

"Well Tanikaze is a knight I was passed out so thought we could have a little party, did Rex bring…?"

"Yes he brought those."

"What?"

"Something important for a good party, I am going to go talk to the Captain, see you in the wing hanger."

"Yes commander!"

As I head to the Captain I start thinking on who to invite… Garde pilots and hybrids are allowed, civilians… nope. Some clone brings me to the Captain and I ask a favor… luckily for me she agreed. Party time I guess.

"Ok Xena start plugging in the equipment, Rex plant the rods, Tanikaze come with some Garde pilots, and don't be sad this is a day to remember some rule bending is ok when you talk to the Captain first."

"Rule bending?"

"Yup, I got permission for a little surprise for you Tanikaze, oh and bring a katana to hanger b-4 it's the hanger we were given."

"What's the katana for?"

"In Reaper wing it's a rite of passage, you defeat one of us in combat you get permission to ask us anything, and Xena will place bets of course."

"Ok, but the only weapon I have is a Kabi blade, isn't that dangerous for hybrids?"

"For the others yes, for me nope."

"Huh?"

"I am more like a human than a Gauna; I don't have a core to destroy."

When I get to the hanger Xena has set up the stereo set the Freedom had in the Reaper wing hanger, Rex set up all eight of the suppression rods… means a bomb could go off and no one will hear or feel it, good. And Tanikaze and Xena are talking… great.

"Ah John you're here, me and Tanikaze were just talking about rules of combat no fatal blows no limb slicing off, etc… any way want me to bring out the punches at this party of ours?"

"Yes but label them this time last time a human pilot drank a full glass he was in a coma for a few years."

"Punch?"

"Oh drinks, one keg for us hybrids, one for you pilots, both homemade compliments of Xena, she brews the best."

Xena starts the stereo and the song that starts was from the Churchill sometimes your best isn't good enough and Rex just laughs at us.

"That's a good choice for the before party."

Before me and Tanikaze could begin our little duel guests started arriving, namely Garde pilots.

"Hey isn't that the guy always hitting on girls?"

"Yup I gave him a good punch earlier."

"Xena you need to behave, but good job."

Rex gets some of those weird flashing lights onto the ceiling along with those turning orbs with all those colors.

"Now this is a party… hey dude don't drink a full glass of that."

"What why?"

"Last guy who did that wasn't a hybrid had more than a hangover to worry about; one shot would be your limit."

"Ok, is it any good?"

"Both are good, the hybrid ones just stronger."

He barley takes a sip and falls on his face.

"I warned him."

The song switches to Monster by Skillet. I head upstairs just above the large door, and mute the music for a little announcement.

"Ok everyone thank you for coming today to celebrate in well the Reaper wing's version of a promotion, but no party is complete without a rule or two being bent, well this case one because I asked permission but yeah."

"What did you ask the Captain John?"

"Permission for a special guest."

"Who?"

"It's not a surprise if I tell only one person."

"Fine I will wait."

"Ok everyone sorry about Xena, now you all know this guest, without her Gauna 550 would have destroyed Sidonia, and as irony has a good way of justice the Freedom would still be ruled by a mad man."

"You didn't do what I think you did?!"

"Oh but I did Xena, I now present our special guest, Tsumugi Shiraui."

I heard laughing from the crowd I guess some thought I was joking?

"What's so funny?"

"Good joke the sub-commander wouldn't allow that."

"Who said I asked the sub-commander?"

"Your breaking prototcalls!?"

"No I asked her boss, the Captain and she said I could bring her, besides those rods through the room absorbs sound and vibrations, meaning if we wanted a hybrid could dance along, only ones who would know are the people in the room."

"I still think you're insane."

"Well Xena, like brother like sister."

"I hate it when you're right."

"Open the doors please Ben."

"Yes Master John."

Ben opens the door and half the people frown when they realize I wasn't joking. I don't think Tsumugi got the message though as she isn't here.

"Master John, she didn't come."

"I will go get her, everyone else enjoy the party."

I walk out and all the way back to Kunato Developments to get Tsumugi, but I run into Kunato first.

"Ah Kunato, just passing by, did the Captain give you the memo?"

"No I wasn't told anything, what's going on?"

"Just a little party, but my guest of honor didn't show up, so I was coming to get her."

"Guest of honor?"

"Yes Tsumugi is allowed to attend the party; I had asked the Captain for permission."

"You invited Tsumugi without asking me first?"

"Yup got a problem… Blood Nematode?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You're not fooling me anymore, Ochiai."

His face goes blank, I guess I surprised him. I go past him while he was just standing there in shock of being discovered. Tsumugi was in her room reading when I get there.

"Tsumugi what you doing here?"

"What do you mean?"

"Kunato didn't tell you so I am; you were invited to a party."

"But I can't leave here."

"Permission from the Captain says otherwise."

She puts the book back and looks at me; I guess I surprised her too.

After a while of walking and avoiding people, we get to the party where a fight broke out between Xena and Herald… again.

"Xena! Herald! Break it up and be smart!"

They both break it up and stand at attention although they are both looking at their feet.

"Now let's get this party truly started."

The party lasted for at least several hours and right in the middle a few people started falling asleep in the bean bag chairs throughout the hanger… including me. I get awaken to Sasaki, who came to repair some Gardes but couldn't reach them due to the amount of sleeping people… and hybrid.

"What happened here!?"

"Oh hey Sasaki we were just unwinding and having a party any problems?"

"Why is Tsumugi here?"

"I had permission and brought her here."

"Without alerting anyone else?"

"Yup, and it was great."

"Your either dangerous or just plain out insane."

"Yup, anyways just leave them, besides Reaper wing repairs their own Gardes it's a tradition we aren't abandoning."

With a sigh and a mumble she leaves the hanger. I turn to the sleeping people, and notice Tanikaze was here out cold laying on the floor next to Tsumugi and Izana, Tsimugi's small white tentacle in between them both. Than the phone thing started ringing… and its Kunato.

"Yes?"

"Where's Tsumugi she was meant to have an examination this morning?"

"Oh, guess that memo was never delivered."

"And I got orders from the captain to check over you and your wing as well, thanks to you I have a busy afternoon."

Wait… its afternoon… oops.

"Hmm, ok I will wake them up."

"And hurry down here each exam can take awhile."

"Yes Kunato, we will walk because we don't want the ship to shake apart or anything."

"Wait but…"

I hung up, never liked him anyway. I turn to Ben and he just blinks at me.

"Well Ben, how do you wake up a hybrid and people without causing a panic?"

"Master John, Reaper wing is already awake and most of the people are stirring in their sleep."

"That makes things easier."

Within an hour people started to leave, although Tanikaze, Tsumugi, and Izana weren't ready to wake up yet.

"Hmm well John looks like you have a rival."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, it's a classic you love girl, girl loves someone else, and that someone else loves the girl."

"Xena, sometimes I question your logic."

"Anyways what should we do about them?"

"We can't let them sleep, I mean it's the afternoon and while the big party was fun life goes on."

"So wake them up?"

"Nah Kunato wants us to get down there for an examination, same with Tsumugi."

"So we do need to, but because you don't like said Kunato we aren't?"

"No we are, just not yet."

"Oh the "it can wait awhile" treatment you loved pulling that on Andrews."

After an additional hour of waiting and getting called by Kunato, Tanikaze and Izana wake up.

"Afternoon Tanikaze, and the question your asking is no, the Gauna didn't attack during the night or this morning."

"Wait it's the afternoon!"

"Yup and we have some things to do, but we can wait awhile."

"Told you, he always pulls that on guys he doesn't like."

"Xena, quiet please."

Not even ten minutes later Tsumugi woke up. Now comes the not so fun walk back to Kunato Developments.

"Ah good to see you woke up, please follow us."

"John why are we all going?"

"Well Rex we were all summoned."

"Well John we have two followers too."

I turn my head to see Tanikaze and Izana following us to Kunato Developments… maybe Xena is right, I don't know.

Kunato and I get into an argument over being two hours later than he wanted, and I took the blame for Tsumugi being late for her examination.

It takes about an hour for the wing and Tsumugi to be checked out.

"Xena has an unbalance of Heigus particles?"

"Yes by 70, I thought at 45 a forced change occurred."

"Hmm I will talk to her."

After a long talk with Xena I find out the cause of her unbalance and her… more aggressive behavior… she is expecting… again.

To be continued…