~A~

I don't know how long I was out, but when I came to, Rory was kneeling next to me, looking at me with concern. There was also something else in her face that I couldn't read. "Ace?" she murmured. "You okay?" I groaned and grabbed at my throat. I shuddered as I remembered how it felt as though all the energy was being sucked out of me in the instant the marine woman touched me.

"I'm fine." I lied. In all honesty I wasn't feeling one hundred percent. Being electrocuted might have something to do with that. "Where did she-"

"You two get out of here before my boys come back." I was instantly cut off by the marine. She was standing some feet away with her back to us.

A rush of anger overtook my weariness and I stood up, stepping in front of Rory. "I don't need a head start to get away from you marines!" I said indignantly.

The Vice Admiral turned her head and glared at me over her shoulder. "Oh? Is that why you did so well to defend yourself earlier?"

I gritted my teeth. "I wasn't expecting that, that's all." My fists and arms lit on fire. "But if you can't touch me, you can't do anything." Grace slowly turned around and lifted a pistol, aiming it at me. I smirked. "Don't you understand? That will just go right through me!"

"Maybe, but..." The marine's eye's hardened to a cold resolve. "You're little girlfriend is right behind you, isn't she?" I froze as that sunk in. Her gaze didn't waver, and she watched me until I finally let my flames go out. "Hn." she uncocked the pistol and lowered it. "Like I said, it's a hundred years too early for you to challenge me. Now get out of here. I didn't come here to waste my time with you. I have more pressing matters to attend to."

I was on the verge of snapping at her again when I felt a cool hand clamp around my own. I looked down at Rory, who looked troubled. "Let's just go. Please?" she asked. She squeezed my hand when I hesitated.

"...Okay..." I said after a moment. That's the second time I've ever backed down from a fight.

~R~

I sat in silence and watched the waves pass by. I had my arms folded on the side of the dinghy, and my chin resting on top of them. It was nearing sunset, and I realized just how long we've been out. At some point, I heard the soft buzzing of the Striker die down. I looked up as Ace hopped into the small boat with me. "What's the matter, Rory?" he asked.

"Nothing." I lied.

"...What happened after that woman knocked me out?" he asked. He was pretty sharp.

I sighed and figured I shouldn't try to hide it. "Well...First she just yelled at me. Something along the lines of 'Why the hell are you hanging around with pirates?' " I looked away from Ace and back at the water. "I asked her who she was to judge my decisions and she told me..." I trailed off. "Ace...that woman told me she's my mother." I said.

There was a bit of a silence and then he spoke. "Seriously? A marine?"

"I didn't know..." I murmured.

"She threatened you!" Ace growled suddenly. "What kind of parent is that?"

"She wasn't actually threatening me." I said. "She was getting you to calm down so the real threat wouldn't catch us. It would've been more dangerous if the other marines showed up." I said.

Ace took a deep breath, and I could tell he was at least trying to understand my logic. But the anger didn't completely leave him. "It's sweet that you're getting so protective of me though." I said, hoping to distract him. Of course I meant what I said as well. It worked. The tension left his body was replaced with a flattered blush on his cheeks. He smiled sheepishly.

I started staring at the horizon, and it was quiet for a while. Ace was very sharp, indeed, for he sensed that I was still troubled. "What are you thinking?" he asked softly.

I shut my eyes. "...How come she didn't want me?" I whispered.

Ace didn't have an answer. He awkwardly put his arm around me, probably not knowing what else to do. I appreciated the gesture, nonetheless. I'm guessing he really didn't know how to comfort me, so after a minute or so, he resorted to making a funny face. It worked well enough, because it got a giggle out of me when I saw him. He smiled.

"Don't worry about whether or not she wanted you. You probably would have ended up joining the marines if she raised you..." He didn't seem to like the idea.

"I know, but it just makes me feel like no one wants me, since apparently my own mother didn't."

"I want you." Ace said. Then he blushed, looking embarrassed. "I mean...wait! That came out wrong..."

I laughed a bit. "It's okay, I know what you meant." I said. Without really thinking about it, I rested my head on his shoulder and looked out at the sunset. Ace let his arm drape around my shoulders after a second and relaxed.

~A~

It was pretty dark by the time we got back to the ship. I wondered if anyone was worried about us. "Hey, if anyone asks, should I tell them about what happened?"

"I guess...Will anyone ind if they knew who my mother is?" Rory asked.

"I doubt it." I replied. We were a pretty understanding bunch when it came to our friends.

Once we climbed aboard the ship, we were immediately met my Marco. "You guys have been gone a while...You want dinner?"

"Yes!" Rory replied. "Let me just go put this away first." She carried her shopping bags to her room.

"So what have you guys been up to?"

"Well it started off with just shopping..." I proceeded to tell him about the incident with Vice Admiral Grace. I left out the bit about me getting knocked out.

"That grouchy woman is her mother?" Marco asked. He crossed his arms. "Well, that's interesting. And it certainly explains a few things." he said. "Rory didn't know that beforehand?"

"No. She just found out."

"I see..." Marco said.

Rory then reappeared. "Let's go eat!" she said as she walked past us. Marco and I followed.