He woke up one time after just falling asleep for a few minutes, feeling like someone was watching him. He straightened up and scanned the surroundings.
He felt her more than he was seeing her but Hotaru was staring at him from the hallway, hiding in the shadows.
"You know, that's kind of creepy Kiddo." he asked her quietly
"I thought it would be better that someone stands guard, since someone wants to kill you."
He waved her over and she descended out the shadows, walking over to the couch. He didn't want her to stand guard all night as it would be unpleasant that his safety kept up a teenager all night, cold blooded Warrior or not. Also he didn't want to get in trouble with her adoptive mother, Setsuna probably would tear his head straight off, if she found out, that Hotaru would have been up all night to guard him.
"I really appreciate that, but that's not a reason I want you to stay up the whole night, I'm pretty sure I'm more than safe here." He laid his hand on the pistol holster that was laying on the table beside him. "My Instructors teached me to get as much rest as one can outside of fighting, to be able to function well on the battlefield. Go to bed Hotaru."
She listened and thought for a moment. Then she nodded knowingly.
"I'll see you later, maybe we can finally spar against each other then tomorrow." She whispered.
"If this is what it takes for you to go to sleep so be it." He answered with a hushed voice, knowing that he would regret that, when they really met each other in combat.
She disappeared in the shadows again, this time going to bed. He laid down again and closed his eyes another time.
Sunrays shining on his light woke him up. According to his chrono it was eight in the morning.
Sitting up he thanked Bacta, he didn't feel that bad at all. Just a bit of exhausted mildly sore. He took a glass of water that Michiru put on the table and gulped it down in one big sip.
He could feel the hint of a headache somewhere in his skull but tried to stand up against with not thinking about it anymore.
He got up, pulled up his pants and pulled out his cigarettes.
Walking over to the door to the balcony, he opened it and went outside. Lighting up a cigarette he took a deep draw and exhaled the smoke. It was a pretty nice view above most of the rooftops of the area and he could make out the prominent features of Tokio's Skyline.
The sun was rising up and promised a nice early Spring day.
"Good to see your still alive." a voice came in from behind him. He turned around.
"Told you I'm not gonna die on your couch." He responded and smiled, pulling out the cigarette box again and offering Haruka one.
She took one and he handed her the lighter.
"Slept well?" She asked and lighted her cigarette.
"Very much. Bacta is a pleasing." he responded.
"Yeah, imagine how bad we would feel now without it." They shared a smile. Haruka was wearing PJ pants and a tank top. And obviously no bra but she didn't care at all.
She walked to the parapet, taking a look at the skyline.
"Someone out there really wants you dead. I never heard about Vong Warriors on Earth ever before." She stated with a side look to him and then taking a drag.
"I guess I bring out these desires in some people" SunTzu said and shrugged. "By the way, I was thinking how wonderful of a target I'd be for a sniper right now."
"Yeah, like in a fishbowl. Maybe we should duck."
"Yeah, probably."
A bit worrying the two of them ducked and sit down on the balcony floor, back to back with each other, smoking their cigarettes and although someone was out for SunTzu they enjoyed the rays of the morning sun in their faces.
Michiru appeared in the door and they motioned her to duck.
"What's wrong?" She asked looking at the two sitting on the floor.
"Fishbowl!" Both of the pilots said at the same time.
She looked at them and shook her head. Those two were destined to be the best of friends.
SunTzu and Haruka just smiled at her goofily.
They got up and ready we're ready to have some morning coffee, when Ami called. A mysterious letter had been found at the palace and right now EOD was examining if it'd would contain explosives or other dangers.
The whole Palace Guard had been put on alert and the Senshi were ordered to get to the palace immediately, as SunTzu was ordered to be on standby for a combat sortie. Also SunTzu was about to get an armed escort to the palace just in case another attack on him should happen, with Parts of Team 1 on the way already.
SunTzu called AICA and ordered her to get ready for liftoff and be on standby too immediately afterward.
A few minutes later Rudy called and told them they were waiting in the underground parking lot, with an armored SUV to take SunTzu to the Base.
The Senshi were set to go in another car, to get straight to the palace.
They left the Apartment and SunTzu noticed that Saturn was transformed and wielding her Glaive.
They got down where Rudy was already waiting at the elevator with Nava, both with short rifles underslung. The two groups greeted each other.
Rudy handed SunTzu a bulletproof vest.
"You guys take care!" SunTzu told them as he put the vest on.
"Will do, same." Haruka answered.
"See you at the Palace." Michiru told him. The atmosphere was tense.
Setsuna, inscrutable as always, just nodded as goodbye, as they went to get to their car.
He noticed that Saturn was still standing next to him and Rudy.
"You're not going with them?" he asked her.
"The one that's in danger is you, figured it would be better to stay with you. The rest of
the Senshi are more than enough to defend the palace." she replied. "Additional safeguard is never incorrect."
"Okay," he shrugged. Looks like the Grim Reaper's Daughter now was his bodyguard.
"Can't let happen anything to you before I sparred against you." She remarked as she entered the car.
Ah, that was the point, she still wanted to whoop his ass.
The woman drove off, with Haruka steering a four door Bentley out of the garage.
SunTzu was wondering himself again, how rich the two girls actually really were.
Soon the black, tinted glass SUV left too, with SunTzu sitting in the middle of the vehicle while Nava and Piedro were sitting behind him and Rudy sat Shotgun next to Smithy, who was driving. Saturn sat next to him, nonstop checking the surroundings.
Around halfway to Crystal Tokio a radio call came in, stating that the Letter was no threat and that they were to drive to the palace first, SunTzu was supposed to have an audience with the queen.
They arrived at the palace, Royal Guard was still swarming the Palace and Base.
They stopped at the main palace entrance and SunTzu got out and walked up the stairs leading to the frontal building, with Sailor Saturn close behind him.
At the door was told by a Guard Officer to wait for Luna to take him to the Crystal tower.
Something popped behind him and as he looked behind himself, Sailor Saturn was chewing Bubble Gum and blowing it up. She looked at him with expressionless face and chewed on, standing there with her Glaive.
He turned back again and shook his head with a wry smile.
Teenagers.
Ten minutes later they were still waiting and SunTzu started to angrily look at his chrono every other moment, and finally started to light up a cigarette
"Setsuna-Mama always says time is relative."
He looked back, where she still was standing and stoically was chewing her bubblegum.
He turned around again, took a draw and let out a cloud of smoke to his front.
"Also she always says, that smoking is bad for your health."
"That's why you better never start with smoking Kiddo. Same goes for alcohol and gambling by the way."
Educational duty for today completed.
Now if he could only reward himself with some coffee.
After another five minutes Luna showed up, apologizing to him, that it took so long.
She told him to follow her and with Sailor Saturn falling in close behind him, they walked off to the Crystal Tower.
A lot more armed guards were patrolling today and although the alarm was pulled back, most of the guards were still on duty.
They arrived at the Tower and the Door Guards opened the Doors for them.
Luna led them into the throne room SunTzu visited on his first day in the Palace.
The Royal Couple was sitting on their thrones with the Sailor Senshi standing next to them. He gave them a nod, when he arrived. Saturn walked past him and queued herself in into the other Senshi.
"Queen, as you wished, the Lieutenant is here." said Luna as they stopped in front of the throne where Luna and Saturn took a bow and SunTzu took a knee.
"Lieutenant, please rise. I heard yesterday was a pretty rough day for you." Serenity said. "Looks like someone doesn't like you being on earth and protecting us."
"That mysterious letter was found on a bench on the palace court was actually addressed to you. It states that this was a mere test and that you, proved yourself as expected. It also says that no more attacks on you personally will follow now that you passed. Looks like someone wanted to see what it takes to kill you." King Endymion followed onto his wife, holding up said letter.
SunTzu glanced to Rei if she was about to make a comment about this too and when she saw his glance she made an innocent motion.
"We don't have any idea who is the sender of this letter or how it came into the palace. But it was written in Aurebesh, so we believe it's not from the earth. Ami and the Intelligence Service are already on the case." Endymion told further and held out the letter.
Luna took it and gave it to SunTzu to read.
"This actually looks a lot like my own handwriting. But of course It couldn't have been me who put the letter on the bench, I was with the Outer Senshi." He told after he read the letter.
The queen rose up.
"For the sake of the security of all of us, the King and me decided, that the Sailor Senshi and SunTzu will cross train with each other effective tomorrow" she stated.
"This means, you SunTzu, will learn to fight alongside the Sailor Senshi and their unique attacks." He could see that Sailor Saturn looked over to him and showed a hint of a smile.
Great, now he really had to go training with her. And Haruka. Both would probably make the two Vongs' Attacks on him feel like a pillow fight.
For a short moment he was asking himself if the money in his bank account would be enough for a Rancor Saddle and a one-way-ticket to Dathomir.
"Senshi, you on the other side, will get training flights with SunTzu to get used as a passenger in his Starfighter." The queen told further.
A surprised Sailor Jupiter was about to protest when the Neo-Queen held up her hand. "This is not up for discussion. We will need to move quickly on the battlefield as well as the Galaxy." She defended their decision.
Jupiter seemed rather angry but didn't say anything anymore.
The Royal Couple then explained more details and that the training flights would start tomorrow, with the Queen also participating. SunTzu would actually start training with the Senshi this afternoon already, beginning with his two wingmen. Haruka was already smiling, not being able to wait to kick his ass.
The queen dismissed him friendly and he was happy to finally get some breakfast and a coffee. Sailor Saturn still didn't leave his side and followed him again.
"You know, I'm pretty safe here. And that the letter indicates that no one is going to attack me anymore. So you really don't have to follow me around anymore." He told her.
"Got nothing more interesting to do anyway." She shrugged.
"This is another Senshi Bet about who's staying around the new Guy the longest, right?"
"What? No." She slightly tilted her head when she told this.
"Okay, then I guess it's because you actually want me to spar with you and won't leave till I say yes."
"Exactly this. But there's also something else." She hesitated, which was strange for her.
"And what would that be?" he asked her with a sceptical look.
"I want to fly in your starfighter. It looks like it's fun." She said shyly.
"Okay… Let's strike a deal. I have flight training later anyway.
You stop following me around and I'll take you with me as passenger. Deal?" He asked her.
"Deal!" Her face lit up.
"Okay, I'll see you at 2pm at the Airbase then." He said and she nodded enthusiastically. "Later then Saturn." He waved goodbye and turned around, walking away.
Finally free again. He was pretty proud how he handled this.
Some passed distance later he looked behind him again.
Saturn was still following him.
"I thought the Deal was that you'd stop following me." He dispraised her.
"I'm not following you. I'm just going to the cafeteria too." A sigh was heard coming from him.
Stepping into the dinning hall SunTzu asked Hotaru if she doesn't want to sit down and he would bring her breakfast too. Not that someone would hurt himself in the queue with that Glaive around.
"I'll have fruit salad, some sweet pastry and a chocolate milk, please." She told him smiling.
Who knew the Reaper's Teenage Daughter had a sweet tooth?
He got her and his food at the serving counter and got to the table she was sitting at, SmartPhone in hand and busy texting.
There really was a teenager inside this short black haired death machine.
He sat down and distributed their food between them.
Was that a smile on her face?
She thanked him well-behaved, her mothers did a good job educating her at all.
The Inner Senshi came into the dining hall, now detransformed. While Ami and Makoto were wearing uniform the other two were in civilian attire. When Rei and Minako saw him they walked over to his table.
"Good Morning Top Gun, I heard you're a serious threat for the display window population in Juban now!" She said with a grin, making him sigh.
"Good Morning my dear Moeru Shōjo!" He greeted her, calling her burning girl in Japanese. "It's actually that I developed this serious addiction to Bacta now, the window breaking with my body is just a way to supply my addiction. And it's all because hanging around Senshi, usually gets me hurt."
"What year, month and day did you get hurt being around me without doing something stupid on your own!?" She bited back, slightly angered by his comment.
"Oh yeah, because you totally got that skyboxer guy and Droideka!"
Minako raised her hands up trying to calm them down. Saturn was just sitting there, calmly eating her breakfast and observing the scene.
Rei leaned forward over the table.
"As you might remember, I actually got the both of them. One with Ami and that mechanical Cockroach completely on my own!"
"Yeah on your own, as if you would have had time to cast that attack without me risking my life to buy you time!" He was up too by now and their faces where only centimeters apart from each other, staring into each other's eyes.
Angry or not, that fire shining in her eyes right now was a sight to behold.
"Please Guys, calm down. I know everyone is a bit tense since yesterday but let's not fight with each other." Minako chimed in, trying to deescalate the situation.
Rei turned around, seemingly pissed and SunTzu sat down again, also looking angered.
"I like that Nickname tho." She said with a quiet voice. "Moeru Shōjo. Has something. Anyway, I'll get breakfast now." She got off the table and walked over to the queue without even glancing at him anymore.
Minako waved at him with an embarrassed smile and left the table too.
Saturn turned her head to him with a curious look between two bites of some sweet pastry she was eating.
"When did you two started dating?"
He just gave her a quick side glance and then started eating his breakfast.
After he finished his meal he turned to Saturn.
"Did you already inform someone about our trip later on? At least Dr. Meiou?" He told her imaging the horrible death he would die when something happened to Hotaru without Pluto knowing.
"Not yet, I can get to it right now, if you want." She answered.
"I really wouldn't mind, I don't want to get into trouble with anyone, especially your mom." He said with a honest tone in his voice.
"Will do, excuse me please." She got up, put their both's plates on the tray and brought it away. She really had great manners for a teenager.
Afterwards she came back to the table, said she would be punctually at the airbase and left.
Wait, was there actually something like a lightness in her steps? At least it seemed that taking her along for the flight seem to make her happy.
Okay, not that this morning wasn't busy enough and the fact that the letter the guys that tried to kill him sent, was revolving around his mind all the time he really should get some physical exercise done.
Why not something else for today and trying out the royal pool. Swimming would probably relax him too.
He took a motor pool vehicle to the Airbase, got the stuff he needed for taking a swim and left for the palace again.
After getting the way to the royal pool explained, he made his way there.
It was in one of the side buildings basements, a nice indoor pool with comfortable temperatured water. He changed, took a shower and got into the pool.
Oh yeah, that felt great. He loved swimming, at least he thought so.
For a hour he swam round after round, physically exercising himself and calming his mind down. After dozens of rounds in that hour he took a break at the edge of the pool.
A pair of slender, well cared for, teal painted toes appeared into his vision.
He looked up and saw Michiru standing there, wearing a black one piece swimsuit, smiling down at him. Not the worst view to be greeted with.
"Taking a swim?"
"Wasn't in a mood for running. Swimming calmed me down really good now."
She ducked down to him and looked at him with a sympathetic look.
"I understand. Calms me down immensely too. And the nice thing is, it's almost always quiet in here. I meet here with Ami often to take a swim and get a clear head."
She stood up, got to the next row and got into the water.
She swam up next to him.
"Are you okay?"
"I guess. Sometimes it feels like that ever since I woke up in Kamino my life's pace changed up dramatically and I'm running from one crazy situation into the next." He said, with a tired look.
"That might be the case, but don't forget the great things that you already did. The lifes you saved. Do you have any idea what kind of efforts it usually takes till Haruka warms up to someone?"
"I guess you're right but on the other side. It's hard. Hard and frustrating, to not know where you're from and where you're going to." He jumped out the water and sat down on the edge of the pool. She looked up to him, with a compassionate look on her face.
"Please know on thing tho. I wish we had someone like you before."
With this she pushed herself away from the edge and dove away, starting to swim.
He glanced after her as she elegantly glided through the pool.
He got up and left, taking a shower and redressing. On the way outside he walked into Ami and greeted her. No new Intel about the letter tho. He thanked her and left, back to the Airbase.
It was noon but because the late breakfast he wasn't really hungry and just had a sandwich and some juice at the Pilot's room.
He met Terra Squadron and Marvin there, having a debriefing. SunTzu told Marvin about the last day as Marvin asked what happened, he also told him, that he'll probably take Hotaru as passenger into the next exercise. Marvin was okay with the plans of getting the Senshi accustomed to flying passenger in AICA. The other pilots and Marvin left for lunch, while SunTzu got into his flight suit and got his pilot helmet.
Next stop was AICA's Hangar, he entered and greeted his Starship
"Hi, how's my favorite A-Wing?"
"Don't you come at me like that Mister! I've been ready to take off here since this morning and haven't been flown ever since. Not cool SunTzu, not cool!" Her attitude was pretty bad today so. And he was about to give this day a second chance.
"I'm sorry. I was busy."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyways, I'm happy we have a passenger today." The Starfighter changed the topic.
"How do you already know this?" SunTzu asked surprised, while he inspected AICA's Wings.
"Hotaru told me. She messages me over the datapad. She often visits me in here and we have a chat." The A-Wing explained.
"She does what?" SunTzu looked up from his inspection.
"She visits me, sometimes in the night, when she comes back from patrolling. Sometimes in her free time. We're friends. I guess she likes Starships a lot."
The Hangar door beside the huge Hangar Gate opened and someone came inside. It was Hotaru and she walked up to them.
"Good afternoon you two." She greeted them. She seemed a bit nervous, which was totally different to her usual demeanor.
"Hello Hotaru! How are you?" AICA greeted her friend.
"Kiddo." SunTzu nodded. "Heard that you already made friends with AICA."
"Yes, I was intrigued with her and visited her soon after you two got her. We became friends soon."
"I heard that and was a bit surprised but I'm getting used to be the last one here to get to know anything." He said, shrugging. "You got the permission for today?"
"I have the documents for Flight Control here. Signed by the queen herself." SunTzu let out a small whistle as he took them from her.
"Guess it helps to be best friend with the Princess. What actually was harder was to convince Setsuna-Mama. She agreed but she said she sent you Message." Sailor Saturn told him.
Surprised, he took out his phone. Actually he had a message and it was from Setsuna. It just said that she expected him to bring Hotaru back in one piece. Not more. Nice way to warn me that I'm beyond fucked if something happens to Hotaru, SunTzu thought.
He sighed and then turned to Hotaru.
"Let's get you dressed up." He said dryly.
She answered with a big smile.
They went over to the Airbase and SunTzu gave the written permission that Sailor Saturn was allowed to participate in flying exercises as Passenger to Commander Jim "Stinger" Jordan, the Flight Chief of the Far Star and Taskforce. Although he wasn't too happy about this he had to obey the order as they came from the Neo-Queen herself.
As soon as they got the okay from him, they went and looked for a pilot suit that would fit the Teenager. Fortunately they found one after a bit of searching and SunTzu sent her off to put it on.
She came back wearing the orange colored suit which was a bit too tall for her and he handed her a pilot helmet before they left the building and went back to the Hangar again.
On the way they passed Haruka and Michiru walking toward the Voyager's Hangar.
The both women came over when they saw them.
Haruka ruffled Hotaru's dark hair and then went over to SunTzu. Michiru stayed a bit afar with Hotaru. Hugging the smaller girl from behind, while they watched as Haruka motioned SunTzu to turn around so they could talk in private.
Seems the Outer Senshi were very protective of their youngest member.
"I want you to take extra care, okay. I always declined her wish to fly with me. You know, I'm very protective towards her and you know how many things can happen flying, so i just can't bring myself to do it." She said very serious but not angry. "I know how much and for how long she wanted to fly in a Fighter, so I'm happy she gets the chance but, please, take care."
"Don't worry, me and AICA will make sure nothing happens. I'll promise you this, my friend. But yeah, she really wants to do this and seems so happy with the chance. She's basically still a kid and been through a lot in her life I can imagine. I'm doing this because i think it makes her happy." SunTzu replied.
"You've got a good heart Mate. Smooth skies, don't overdo it."
"Thanks, we'll get going and meet you in the skies later. Smooth skies to you booth too."
They turned around where the other two girls were standing, with big smiles.
Haruka went over to Hotaru and talked with her, while SunTzu nodded Michiru goodbye and left for his hangar.
"Take care and do whatever SunTzu says. And don't be afraid to say stop, when it gets too much and you wanna go home. Have a good time In the skies Little One." She hugged the teenage girl and ruffled her hair again.
"Thank you Haruka-Papa! See you later! You too Michiru-Mama! Don't worry, i'll take care!" The Girl smiled a beaming smile and left following SunTzu.
"She hasn't called us like that for years." A melancholic Haruka said. "They grow up so fast, don't they?"
"Oh Baby, you are so cute when you're the worrying parent. Don't worry, she's not a kid anymore and knows how to take care. SunTzu and AICA are taking care very well of them. And she looks so happy."
They arrived at the hangar, where AICA already switched up to her Double Seater Configuration and got in. SunTzu let Hotaru climb in first and then double checked her seatbelt, life support system and helmet.
After that he settled himself in and did a thorough preflight check he then repeated. Clearance for take off was given and the hangar gate opened.
They were good to go.
"Are you ready Hotaru? Feeling okay?"
"I'm good, happy that we actually do this. Thanks a lot SunTzu."
"It's okay, after all i don't pay for fuel" he said with a laugh. "Need a barf bag or so, just in case?" He asked nervous.
"No, no. I'm totally good."
"Alright then, let's go. Let me know if anything is not right."
"Sure, don't worry."
He radioed Flight Controll and told them that he would take off now.
Gently AICA took off from the floor a meter and passed through the Hangar Gate, heading down the Runway.
SunTzu increased the thrust and they shot up in the sky, making a turn at the end of the airbase, flying parallel to the base and passing the palace, giving a great view from above over the pompous buildings and the magnificent Crystal Tower.
A look in his mirror revealed a totally delighted Hotaru, enjoying the view.
He turned again, gave more speed and rose through the low hanging clouds, making his course over the Tokyo Bay and into the North Pacific.
"You good?" He asked her as they passed over Kamakura.
"I'm more than fine! Enjoying the view." The girl answered.
"Might want to take some pics." SunTzu told her.
That didn't need to be told twice and she pulled out her phone and took some pictures.
"Wait a sec, might be better like this." He flew a loop and crossed back over Tokyo Bay, descending a bit so she had a great view of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area and could take some pics.
"Nice! Chibiusa will love these." She said very pleased.
"Hey Hotaru?"
"Hm?"
"Is there still a reward for selfies taken while flying with me?"
She laughed.
"Unfortunately not! But I still wouldn't mind taking one if it's okay for you."
"Sure thing, but send it to me later too please. I'm tired that all my pics just land in that Senshi Group." He said and laughed.
She turned around, hold up a V-Sign and took a Selfie of them both, sending it immediately further into the Senshi Group.
"Okay, we enjoyed the view, how about we start flying for real?"
"Up for it, just a sec." She stowed away her phone again.
"Okay, I'll accelerate and rise up now. If you don't feel well or get afraid tell me ASAP."
"Okay, I'm ready."
He threw AICA into a sharp angle with her nose pointing up and accelerated.
The teenage girl was cheering in her seat.
He accelerated and soon reached the border of the atmosphere.
"I'm not gonna cross up into space today, if you don't mind. That's reserved for someone else first."
"Oh, I understand. May I know whom?" She asked curiously.
"Actually… no. I'm sorry. I don't know if said person is interested in it. But I promise you'll be the next one, okay?"
"Roger."
"Okay, let's get back down there. Hang on."
He turned AICA's nose down and dove, dropping back down to earth at high speed.
He intercepted the Starfighter a few hundred meters over the North Pacific and took course to the training area.
"We'll be waiting for the girls here. If you want we can shorten the wait with some music."
"Really?" She asked.
"We both have a great interest in music from earth. Although he doesn't like my preferred music." AICA came on over the incom. "Just take the datapad on your side, put on a streaming service."
"Awesome, that's so cool!"
"Personally I prefer SoundCloud for my Mongolian Throat Singing." AICA explained.
She took a moment to decide which song to play first and then entered Name and band.
A song began to play.
SunTzu looked back, smiling.
"No way, you listen to that band?"
"I do, I like them a lot. You too?"
"I love them, at least I think I do. You ever listend to their sideproject too?"
After the song SunTzu showed Hotaru the side project of some of the band's members and they decided to leave the playlist running while they were cruising over the Pacific. A few minutes later the Voyager arrived in the training area and they started training.
Hotaru had lots of fun, when they were flying maneuvers and waved at Michiru and Hotaru from her seat.
She also proved as great observer, keeping her eyes open for him, when they were training approaches where they parted their formation. Her profession as Warrior instinctively came out again.
Two hours later they were heading back to Crystal Tokio.
"You enjoyed it?" SunTzu asked his passenger.
"It was more than lit! Can we do this again please?" She answered.
"Can we? Please!" AICA chimed in too.
"I'll see about this, okay?" The good mood of the girl was infectious now, he felt way better than before and didn't even care for the letter anymore.
SunTzu radioed in onto his two wingmen.
"You guys mind, if we fly back low. I think Hotaru would definitely enjoy this."
Michiru turned around in their Tie and gave a wink to her girlfriend.
The Voyager, who was in lead, accelerated and dove down. The two woman noticed how much fun their former ward had.
"Keep up new guy! Watch this Hotaru!"
Haruka put the Voyager in a barrel roll and descended even stepper.
"We can do that too", said SunTzu and copied the maneuver.
They dove down and around 30 meters above the ocean they leveled and thundered over the Tokyo Bay.
Even if Stinger Jones would tear them a new one, they didn't care.
A few minutes later they landed and SunTzu helped Hotaru to climb out of the Snub.
She said her Goodbye to AICA and then turned around to SunTzu, who was doing an outside Afterflight-Inspection
"Thanks so much for this. I had such a great time." She hugged him, which surprised him. After that she turned around and literally danced out the Hangar.
At the door she turned around again.
"I hope the person you reserved the flight to space for will go there with you. You deserve it!" She told and then was out the door.
He stood there, glancing after her and was glad he could see under the girls stoic impression for the first time. Made him think that all of the Senshi probably didn't have the nicest time raising up with all the pressure on them.
He pressed his lips together and got back to the Afterflight-Check.