I do not own Saber Rider or Seijushi Bismarck, don't sue me.

Chapter 2: Friendship

"Shinji!" a young teenage girl calls as she rushes over to a slightly older teen with brown hair, who is leaning over what appears to be some sort of vehicle.

Shinji turns quickly at the sound of his name and hits his head in the process, rubbing it as he comes face to face with the girl. "April?" he asks in shock. She nods and grins at him. "Wow, you've gotten a bit taller over the last year," he says with a grin, seeing her reaction.

"I'm going to get taller. You're only taller cause you're older than I am," she replies gruffly.

Shinji laughs. "So how long are you here for this time?" he asks.

April's smile immediately fades. "I...live here now," she says quietly, fighting back tears. "Mama..." she stops, unable to finish her statement, tears falling down her cheeks.

Shinj immediately wraps her in a hug. "I'm sorry. I...I didn't know. I just got back from Basic Training," he replies softly.

"Basic Training?" she asks confused. "I thought you'd already completed Basic?"

"Not for becoming a pilot," Shinji says with a grin.

April blinks, a momentary look of confusion on her face before the realization of what he's said hits her. "You're going to become a pilot?!" she asks excitedly. He nods, smiling at her excitement. "That's great! Maybe daddy will let us work together sometimes."

Shinji looks at her confused. "Work together?" he asks hesitantly.

April nods. "Yeah, I'm working on a project to help fight the Outriders," she states proudly. "I'll be here full time now anyways, so daddy was able to get a few of the Senators to agree to push the funding through faster than previously planned."

Shinji smiles, "That's great, April! Maybe he'll let me take you out in my car sometimes, just for fun."

"I hope so," she replies honestly.

"So, what exactly are you helping make?" he asks her obviously curious.

April blushes and looks away. "I can't tell you that. It's classified," she mutters. "I've already told you more than I should have.

Shinji laughs. "It's okay, April. I'll still take you out if you want. Would you like to go get a bite?"

April nods. "I don't think daddy would mind this time. He's busy with all of the council. I'm sure he'd rather me be out with someone trustworthy, than running the streets alone."

"Then let's go. I'll buy," he replies.

"I don't know what's good. I can't go to any of the bars for a couple more years," April reminds him.

"C'mon. There's a small place we can go in town. I just need to change," he replies and takes her hand, leading her up to his apartment. "You wait here, I'll just be a minute," he says, leaving her to look around his small living/dining area.

April walks around aimlessly, looking at the sparsely furnished apartment. She walks over to a sliding door and steps out onto a balcony after opening it, admiring the view of Cavalry Command below. To her right, she sees the main command center, and then behind that, a large hangar, where she has spent most of her time recently. "Rather I've been below it", she thinks to herself. She's so engrossed watching the goings-on below her, that she nearly yelps in fright when she feels a hand gently touch her shoulder.

"You okay?" Shinji asks, stepping up beside her.

April nods. "Yeah, just nice to be able to be outside and see daylight," she replies.

Shinji casts her a curious glance. "You sound like you've been cooped up in a dungeon," he states with a chuckle.

April smiles weakly. "There are times it certainly seems that way," she replies as she releases a long sigh. "I wish I could tell you more, but..." she says trailing off.

Shinji shakes his head. "I'm not asking. I'm just glad you're here, April," he replies. "Although I am sorry for the circumstances," he adds almost a whisper.

"Well, I was only staying because mom was ill. Otherwise, I'd have already been here. I've got a job heading the development department, and all the toys I could dream about," she adds with a mischievous grin.

"Well, let's go and have something to eat. I'm starved. I haven't eaten all day," he says reaching for her hand and leading her back through the small apartment.

"Why not?" April asks curiously as they head down to where he was working before.

"I got involved on working on the Fury," he replies simply. April just shakes her head in reply to his statement.

A few hours later, they are leaving a restaurant, walking hand in hand towards his waiting vehicle, chatting as they walk, enjoying each other's company.

"Hey, Fireball!" A young man yells from the other side of the street, causing the couple to stop and turn around.

"What?" Shinji replies, with a hint of irritation.

"Who's the looker you got with you?" the man replies as he rushes across the street, eyeing April with interest.

"The is April Eagle. CommanderEagle's daughter," Shinji states before turning to April. "April, this is Kevin Nolan. One of the guys on my pit crew."

April looks between the two, obviously amused. "Um, nice to meet you, Kevin," she replies with a small smile.

Kevin nods. "So you're the girl Fireball's been talking about?" he asks, getting an elbow to the ribs from Fireball.

April looks to her friend and laughs. "Fireball, huh?"

Fireball grins. "It's because I'm so fast," he replies blushing slightly.

"I thought it was because of your temper," Kevin retorts.

April bursts out laughing. "Now, that I believe," she says nearly out of breath.

Fireball looks between his two friends and shakes his head. "Maybe introducing you two was a mistake," he says half-serious.

April smiles. "Aw, I'm only teasing, Fireball," she says lightly. "I think it suits you to be honest."

"I didn't think about it when I called out for you that no one outside the pit crew would know you as that. I didn't intend to embarrass you," Kevin states with an apologetic look. He then turns to April," It really is nice to meet you Ms. Eagle. I hear you've been friends with Fireball a long time."

April nods. "It's been nearly ten years now," she replies. "Of course I've not seen him much of the last three, with him being here." She turns and looks at Fireball, "So how do you have time to race if you're busy with training?"

"Well, I'm mostly in classes now, so on weekends I try and enter a race, if there's one close enough. I get some good money that way," Fireball replies.

"No wonder you bought me dinner," April retorts. "I don't feel so bad about letting you now."

"Hey, you're coming to the pit early, right?" Kevin asks, looking to Fireball.

Fireball nods. "Yeah. I'll be there before the sun's up. Gotta get the Fury ready and to the track by 7:30."

"Okay. I'll be there by 6:30 then," Kevin states before turning to April. "Hope I can see you again sometime. Maybe you can come to a few races," he adds, getting an almost panicked look from Fireball.

April smiles. "It's nice to meet you too. I'll try and make time for a race, but work has kept me pretty busy. We'll see in a few weeks."

"Well, see ya," he says and heads off, leaving the couple standing together on the sidewalk.

"You weren't planning on telling me about the racing, were you?" April asks, turning to Fireball and looking up at him to meet his eyes.

Fireball blushes slightly, looking a bit nervous. "Um, well...I was going to eventually tell you, April. Honest I was," he stammers, seeing the anger briefly flash across her features.

April shakes her head and punches him playfully in the chest, making a thud as her fist hits him, "Sometimes you're such an idiot, Shinji," she states with a small smile. "But I'm glad you're doing what you like," she adds as an afterthought.

Fireball grins, then looks a bit nervous when he sees the time on his watch. "I didn't realize we'd been out so long. I guess I'd better get you back to base, or your father might really get after me."

April shakes her head. "I'm sure he's too busy to notice my absence. But you're right, I should be heading back. I've got a lot of work tomorrow. Thank you for dinner, I really have enjoyed it."

They head back to his car and he drives her back towards base. "Where are you staying? I don't want you to have to walk all the way across base."

"In a small apartment adjacent to the main command center. It's where most of us that are on the project are staying. There are a few small studio apartments there," she replies.

Fireball nods and turns towards the command center. "I hope I can see you again soon, April," he says quietly.

"Me too. Can I call you when I get a chance to escape again?" she asks looking at him with hope on her features.

"Call me anytime, April. As long as I'm not in training, I'll answer. I'm hoping we can see more of each other now that you're going to be here."

April blushes and smiles. "I hope so too," she says as he brings the car to a stop close to her building. "Good night, Fireball," she says with a grin before kissing his cheek and getting out. She turns and waves and he drives off. She is almost to her door when her father comes towards her from the other end of the hall.

"You're out late," the commander says, eyeing her with a hint of suspicion.

April opens the door to her apartment and they both enter. "I went to see Shinji, daddy," April replies, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Shinjiro's son?" he asks as he takes a seat on a small couch in her main seating area.

"The same," April replies with a nod as she sits in a chair across from him, feeling a bit nervous.

The commander watches her for several minutes before releasing a sigh. "He's trouble, April. He's changed since you knew him before," he finally says.

"He was a perfect gentleman with me tonight, daddy."

"He is having trouble with authority, according to his superior officers. I don't want you mixed up with him. It could prove to be a liability to the project if you became mixed up with someone that they are talking about court martialing," he says firmly.

"Shinji's in trouble? Seriously?" April asks in shock.

Her father nods. "Yes. He is constantly at odds with his superiors. He has been written up five times. Once more and he will be facing a court martial or at the very least a dishonorable discharge."

April flops back against her chair and sighs in a combination of anger and frustration. "He should have told me," she says bitterly.

"He probably didn't want to disappoint you. His marks are beyond exemplary for his abilities, but his issues with authority could be his downfall. I keep holding out hope that your arrival with make him calm down. I'd like him on the project with you eventually."

April look up in shock. "What?"

"He would be the best pilot for the job, April. I'm no fool. I know you will need skilled people. I am looking to some of our allies to see that we get you the best people in the New Frontier."

"Daddy, we are at least a year away from even having a prototype ready. How can you be looking for people when we don't know yet what we need?" April asks.

"I have seen your schematics and notes. You'll need a weapons specialist, an information specialist, security specialist, and a pilot for your bare minimum. I want people that are good. People that are beyond good at those things. Perhaps there are some outside of our direct command that fit the criteria. I will look both within and outside of Cavalry Command to get you good people. Our very existence may depend on this project," he finishes quietly.

April nods. "I appreciate the faith you have in our abilities. We are putting everything we can think of into this. I just hope we never need it," she replies honestly.

"So do I, April," her father states. After a long silence he stands up. "I should let you get some rest. We'll talk more tomorrow."

April gets up and walks him to the door."Good night, daddy. See you tomorrow." The commander nods and leaves, she locks her door behind him and goes and showers before collapsing onto her bed.