Displaced
Chapter 5: Settling In, Part 2
By: Slie Amos
This is a fanfiction story and as such any characters from existing works, such as Sailor Moon, Ranma, Robotech, BGC, etc…, are not mine but belong to the authors that created them or their agents.
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The morning after Billy joined Airia, Keira, Rianna, and Miranda for dinner and general relaxation, he started his day in what was returning to a normal manner. That being waking up about two hours before breakfast to do his morning practice and some general exercises before returning to his quarters to clean up. After this he decided to listen to some music while he waited for breakfast and Airia showing up. "I need to be sure to hear anyone knock, the laptop would be better, but it needs to be charged before I can really do anything with it." So, taking out his media player and the button style headset for it he queued up the play list he wanted and put in just one of the earphones and sat down when the music started.
Just a few minutes later there was a knock and upon opening the door it was Iria with the breakfast tray, ("Good morning, Billy. I am a little surprised to find you up already as I know that the Guardians usually stay up somewhat late on nights when they are all off duty.") She entered the room while he responded to her greeting. She started to ask him if he needed anything right then and noticed the headphone dangling and the cord connected to the player in his hand. ("May I ask what that is?") Pointing to the player he was carrying.
("It is just my media player, I wanted to listen to some music this morning after my practice.") Seeing that she was curious but unsure if she should ask more, Billy took the one earpiece out and handed the player and headset to her. ("Here, if you want to listen carefully place the earphones in your ears so you can hear what I was listening to.")
Watching Iria try and figure out how to put the headphones in her ears reminded Billy that they really do not have items like this. So, he reached over and took the spare set out of the bag and showed her how to do it, and which one goes into which ear. She gave him a smile as she placed them in just before her eyes went wide at the song. It only took a few seconds before her eyes returned to normal and she was bobbing her head slightly in time to the music.
("I do not understand the words, but the song is nice. It is not like most of the music we have currently.") Iria took and listened for a little longer before asking what the song was called.
Billy checked the player before telling her the song playing was called 'Ai no Senshi' in Japanese or 'Soldiers of Love' in English, and that it is a song from a series of videos back home for him. Letting her listen a little longer while he grabbed a couple pieces of fruit off the breakfast tray, him moving and getting the fruit reminded her she still had her duties to do, and she blushed while removing the earphones and started to apologize for how she was acting.
("Don't worry about it Iria, I do not mind. Plus, you seemed to like the song so please calm down. As soon as I get a way to power my laptop and everything I will more than likely use that to play music while I work and such. But I am sure you have duties to return to, so I will not hold you up any longer. Please, try and have a nice day.") While speaking, Billy moved to the door and opened it so Iria could go, smiling at her trying to let her know he was not upset with anything.
Iria took a moment to collect herself before she gave a quick curtsy and headed off while saying thank you to him. The fact that she still had a real smile as she left and not the generic pleased look that most staff members Billy had seen wearing at work made Billy feel good about letting her listen to the media player.
Sitting down to eat, Billy replaced the earphone in his ear and looked over the meal today. The cooks seemed to be slowly working through breakfast items getting an idea of what he liked. Billy liked this approach as he got to try things and then place the corresponding name cards on the little side try for things he liked. Today seemed to be mainly fruit items with a few meat items. He took his time to really taste the items today and as such was just finishing when there was a knock on his door.
Getting up and taking the tray with him he opened the door to find Airia there with that small smile of hers, the one that he thought just looked so cute and nice. She was wearing shorts and a simple top that could almost pass as a pullover back home, with a pair of what looked to be sneakers, or at least what passed for shorts and sneakers here. ("Welcome Airia, please come in while I place the tray out here for pick up.") He moved to let her in and then placed the tray on the table outside.
After closing the door and seeing that Airia had already taken a seat he joined her while at the same time turning off the media player and removing the earphone. He sat it aside before turning to her, ("Ok, so what do we need to discuss today? I know that I need to learn your language, Lunarain, and that is one of the first things that need to be done. But what else do I need to do now, and how will everything be set up? There is so much that the Queen mentioned me doing that I know everything can't be done every day, no matter how well the schedule is set up.")
Nodding at Billy Airia took out her Mercury system and sat it up before speaking. ("At first, we will be taking it somewhat easy for a couple reasons, one is that we still need to get a few things done like the line power and replacement batteries for your laptop, camera and everything. We also need to finish getting your Armory File finished, I think that besides the Lunarain classes that the first week would be best to just get that finished. What do you think about that, Billy?")
("I'm guessing that the testing will take a large chunk of the day, but I have no problems with that. But will any of my other skills be tested as well and when? Also, what are the other reasons for starting off easy?") Billy looked at her and found that she was watching him but also looking at her system and glancing at the media player on the table next to him. Realizing that like Iria she was curious but not ready to ask about it just yet, he reached over to pick it up and show it to her when she answered him.
("Ok, first off, the testing will take five to six days as it will only be after the midday meal, and it will include a final ranking test in hand-to-hand skills. That test will most likely be done by Keira as she is the highest-ranking hand-to-hand expert in the castle at this time, and she is also asking for you to do this so that we have a solid grasp on your skill levels. As to your other skills and knowledge, yes, we want to test you but for those items we need you to be able to speak, read, and write Lunarian fairly well first. Before I get into the other reasons for starting off a little easy, just before midday some techs will be by to talk to you about the best way to get you power for your devices, if not actually setting things up as I did send them the information I had. As to the workload at first, the Queen wants to get you speaking Lunarian fairly quickly so that will be the main task for the first few weeks. But you will be doing other things as well. Once the schedule starts to include more of the development projects and training with the guards and the Queen's own Alphas, we will start to work out a more permanent schedule.") She looked at something on her system before looking at him, ("Please, while I am curious about that, can we wait a bit on it?")
Nodding to her Billy replaced the media player on the table, ("Sure we can wait, and I understand the need to learn the language to really be able to test knowledge-based skills. And with Keira doing a full test on my hand-to-hand skills is ok, though I am unsure about that one as she is not of my school of martial arts and do not know how she would be able to rank me, but I will take the tests she has for me. I do have a question, who are the Alphas and when would I be teaching my languages in return?") He got up and moved over to the room's refreshment bar, something he had yet to use but felt the need for something to drink while they talked, he also offered to get her something to drink as well.
Airia indicated a bottle that she says was a fruit juice and Billy nodded before pouring two drinks of it, handing her one before he sat back down. Here Airia started again, ("The Alphas are the Queen's personal guard, they are charged with the protection of the Queen and Princess. We Champions are considered part of the First Alphas due to our stations. We normally train with and against the Alphas and that is part of the reason the Queen wants you to work with them. The other is to see about getting you some combat training and experience through them and the Palace Guards. As to teaching me and some others your languages, that will be a little later once you get a good grasp of Lunarian. Though you may be able to teach me some as we start with your Lunarian sessions. Also till you get a good grasp of our history, protocol, and laws your mornings will be mainly lessons in those subjects. Once you are proficient enough in Lunarian, we will change things and the amount of time you spend in class in the mornings and add sometime to your other tasks and projects.")
Billy listened as Airia explained this and took a moment before speaking, ("How fast are you and the Queen hoping I will learn Lunarian? Also, how often will I be asked to train with the guards and Alphas? Or you and the other Champions?... There are so many things to consider here…")
("Yes, there are, this is one reason the first week will be Lunarian and Lunar Laws in the morning and the testing in the afternoons. The evenings will be your time, also you will have two days out of every seven for yourself. Though I am asking you work with me on one of those days to help you get Lunarian down faster.") Airia looked at the Mercury system again before continuing, ("Also I will not be your only instructor for Lunarian, the other Champions will be working with you as well, and I think that Ryo will be in the mix from time to time, as practice partners mainly.") She took a drink of her juice and looked to see if Billy had anything to add or ask.
("Ok I can agree to all that, even the extra classes each week, though I am sure that at first it may seem like a lot of work once I get settled into a routine I may ask if there is something else that can be done. As long as it does not upset the overall schedule.") Before he could say anything else Airia's system gave off a sound like a triple chirp, drawing her attention to it.
After she looked at what the system had for her, she sat back and put the system away, ("Well that looks like all today as the technical team will be here shortly to get you set up with the correct line power but it will be a few more days before the batteries are finished. So just what is that you have there?") She indicated the media player.
Picking it up Billy explained what it was and how it worked, and that it was something that the Queen wanted him to help design for the people here. He handed it to her and walked Airia through placing the earphones correctly in her ears and then turning it on, then how to change the playlist. Before he let her just listen to a few songs before she turned it off and gave him a smile in thanks for letting her listen to some of his music from home.
When the technical team arrived, they only needed a short time to install a couple items that would take the power on the palace's power grid and give him correct line power for his electronics. It took more time to make the final adjustments than it did to install the items themselves. But once the adjustments were done and locked in Billy had a way to recharge everything and set the laptop to recharge as well as the few rechargeable batteries he had, plus his phone for some reason.
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After this, Airia invited him to lunch with her in the Palace's dining hall, and while they were having their meal, she started the language lessons. During this time Billy found out that the translator crystal could be 'turned off' in a way that allowed one to study a language. After eating, Airia walked with Billy as they headed to the Armory to start getting his testing finished there. Once there they found Keira waiting, or better yet Champion Jupiter, to finalize his hand-to-hand ranking. Jupiter greeted them both before she led them to the area used to test fourth tier fighters.
The area in question was a large open area that could have been a warehouse, the area had four levels. The ground level, which was the largest, two levels above, of varying space, one that was about half the area of the ground floor and the highest which is just a series of catwalks, and a small underground area that had just two ways in or out. Going up was easy as was coming down from the higher levels as there were stairs, ladders, a lift, and plenty of things to climb/jump over to do this. Jupiter then explained how the test worked, Billy had to go from a given starting point on the ground floor and find the ten golden targets which he must strike in any way he can and then return to the ending point on the ground floor. When Billy looked around and just nodded not saying anything, Jupiter warned him that there were moving features on all levels, plus each level had five turrets that fired a stunning bolt of energy at the one being tested, and some of the turrets were on moving features. Again, the turrets can be disabled if they were struck on one of three target locations marked on them. The last two items she went over were that while there was a time limit, the faster he could complete the course the better and that she herself would be somewhere in the testing area and if she saw him, she would pursue and try to engage.
("So, the test is straight forward, hit the ten targets as quickly as you can, dodging or taking out the stun turrets along the way, and try to avoid me. If I catch up to you, we fight, I will hold back but I will also be doing my utmost to stop you finishing. I will warn you now that the lowest level is, at this testing level, a 'death trap' so be sure not to somehow fall into it, also there will not be any targets in that area.") Jupiter looked at Airia and Billy and saw that Billy was looking over what he could see of the testing area while Airia seemed to be remembering the last time she was tested.
("Is this how all fourth level tests are done or just here? This also seems to be more of a combat mission simulation than an actual hand-to-hand skill test. And lastly are we doing this today, right now?") Billy asked Jupiter after a minute or so. He looked at Airia then Jupiter to see who was going to answer.
Airia answered first, ("It is used for both, and each planet and some of the larger private groups have their own test for fourth and fifth tier hand-to-hand combatants. The last time I tried this I knocked myself out of the test by taking too long doing a tactical scan of the building while I moved to each target. While it allowed me to avoid all but two of the turrets and helped me stay away from Jupiter, I finished with a time almost five times that was set. So, while I finished, I took too long and failed, that was mainly because I know that if me and Jupiter fight I will most likely loose unless I get lucky.") She shook her head remembering her testing here.
Jupiter placed her hand on Airia's shoulder ("You did good that day, just took too long and as the course changes each time it is used, and it is different for each person. As for you, Billy, the test is to be tomorrow so please be ready. Also, no weapons are allowed as we are testing hand-to-hand combat skill and situational awareness. But remember that the targets can be struck in any manner, even picking up a rock or something and throwing it. But running over time more than a couple minutes, falling into the lowest area, being stunned, or being stopped by me somehow are all fails, and you will stay at the current level of third tier master. So please do your best tomorrow.")
During her dialog Sergeant Ryo had Joined them, ("Just seeing this location scares me, we in the guards call this location the grinder as it grinds teams up that go into test. Granted I believe that they change the setup of the high-level hand-to-hand testing. And have they mentioned yet that it is a two-part test yet?")
Jupiter jumped in before anyone else could speak, ("I was just getting to that part. Yes, it is a two-part test, and this is step one. Step two will be the day after this and is a full-out training match with me as I am currently the only one here that can fully test Fourth Circle fighters. Now, as Sergeant Ryo is here, I believe that it is time for you to head over and start getting the levels finalized and I need to head back to my post for now. Have fun playing with all the weapons.") The last part was said with a smile and a wave as she headed back toward the Palace.
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Before Sergeant Ryo could say anything Airia spoke up, ("I am just here to help explain things if needed right now, and to provide company during any non-testing times. For now, you have control of the test Sergeant, so we will follow you.") To which Billy just nodded and looked toward Ryo.
("Ok, I was not expecting to have full control of the testing right now, but we might as we get things going. Due to the way we did things yesterday all of your hand weapons like swords and such are finish unless you wish to retest any… If not, then we will move on to basic firearms and go from there.") Ryo waited to see what Billy wanted to do.
Billy, for his part just shook his head and said, ("We may as well move on to the firearms as I feel good about the rankings in the martial hand weapons. Besides a few melee weapons that I have never seen before I feel that there is no need to retest, now the firearms, those I do need some work on. So, let's go and get started.")
The rest of the day was spent doing a more intensive review and checks of his skills with some of the more basic firearms of the Empire. During the afternoon the Sergeant narrowed down the range of weapons to get a better idea of his ranking and ability in this area. The weapons here were variations on the shotgun, hunting rifle, general handguns, and the like, as Billy had had training in them during his life for various reasons and at different times, he did well with these.
Near the end of the day Ryo spoke up with something other than going over questions and such about how to use and handle the weapons they were working with, ("Well you seem skilled in this area of the test, and as the Armory Master stated yesterday you qualify as a fully trained solider under our procedures and training requirements. As it is getting near time for the evening meal, and I need a little time to finalize today's testing results and information I suggest we leave off here today. As tomorrow you will be doing the first part of the hand-to-hand level testing, which will take two days, we will get to the rest of the firearms checks in a couple days.") She took a minute to make sure her information was straight and looked at Billy and Airia to see if they have something to say.
As Billy was checking out a pistol currently, though listening Airia just nodded before asking if Billy had anything he felt needed said or a question.
("Not really. I am just wondering how you handle maintaining skills with firearms here. Will I need to go to a practice range every so often or will I need to do something else?") He directed this to both his companions while thinking that it was most likely going to be just hitting a target range a few times a month to maintain his level most likely.
("Well for the most part you just have to return to the testing range, or one of the ranges at any of the Queendom's bases. Granted there are some special circumstances, but I am not sure if you would fall under those.") Ryo told him before turning to Airia with a questioning look, ("Though I am not sure if I would be allowed to know about any special training you may qualify for, so I can't say anything more but with I am sure about here.")
Nodding Airia picked up here, ("She is right, though on the special training, it is not even being looked at that I know of currently. But I think the Queen may request you get some live fire training with the guards or a military unit sometime in the future. Right now, we are just looking at base levels and knowledge so that any more detailed training and such can be decided later if it is needed. But for today we are done I believe, and I am not sure about you two, but I would like to get something to eat.") She glanced at the others while grinning slightly.
Ryo just agreed that they were done for the day and that she too wanted to get something to eat but she also needed to enter in the final standings for the day and make sure all notes and such were filed correctly for the Armory Master's review.
Billy placed the pistol down and nodded, ("Yes, some food sounds good right now. So, I guess I will see you tomorrow Ryo?") As he stepped away from the testing area and closer to Airia.
("Sure, I will not miss tomorrow, and I have a feeling that you might have an audience as it is not that often that they test high level hand-to-hand fighters here. I hope that will not bother you.") She grinned even as she signaled to the soldiers that had been helping to come and return everything while picking up her notes.
Billy chuckled, ("I doubt it will matter as I have taken part in some tournaments back home and they usually have several hundred spectators at least. Depends on the tournament, but they usually have an audience of some kind.")
Airia nodded at this before reminding them both that not only did the Sergeant need to input her final notes, but she and Billy needed to go over a couple of things before the evening meal and bid Ryo a good evening with Billy as they all headed off to do what needed to be done now.
Airia talked to Billy as they walked back to his quarters, mentioning that his language classes would be starting tomorrow and she wanted to make sure that the material she picked for the lessons, at least for now, had been delivered to his quarters so he could at least look it over for the next day. He agreed that was a good idea and he may even see about using the same material to counter teach English and Japanese later. They both agreed to at least look into that, but a little later so he could get started on learning the language here himself first.
The materials were in his quarters and Airia suggested that they get something to eat in the Alpha's mess, which was one of the places that the Guardians normally took their meals. ("You will have access to the mess so I think you should know where it is. I will suggest that you take a couple meals there each week as the Queen does intend you to work with them and us, the Champions, a fair amount.")
She showed him where it was while pointing out various items in this part of the palace. The Alpha's mess turns out to not be all that far from the guest wing and was much like everything else here, in that it looked more like an upscale restaurant than a military mess hall. The door guard saluted Airia as they passed before they shared a meal discussion of a few things that have happened and what was planned for the next few days before parting and heading to their respective quarters. Airia to make sure she had her lesson plan ready and to check on a few things and Billy to look over the materials for learning Lunarian and to actually start a journal, well a new one that detailed things here.
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After his exercise and practice the next morning Billy returned to his quarters and had his laptop open and playing some music when Iria arrived with the breakfast tray and a smile when she heard the music playing. Talking to her for a minute before she returned to her duties while he ate and did a final review of the first section of the materials for his language lesson shortly. While eating Billy decided to wear some of his normal work out clothing so that he did not have to worry about freedom of movement or damaging any of his new items.
Not long after finishing breakfast, Airia arrived and they discussed what was hoped for in the lessons before actually getting into the first one, which was basically a base vocabulary lesson with some basic phrases thrown in. Airia turned out to be a good teacher as she made lessons easy to follow and engaging. Homework was to practice pronouncing the words and phrases gone over and looking over the next few pages for tomorrow. After this, Airia suggested that Billy just relax before the next test that afternoon.
Billy agreed to this but still talked to Airia about a few things and did his best to include the bit of vocabulary that he learned that day in the discussions, thus he made Airia smile. For lunch he ate what he told Airia was a high energy meal even if it was smaller than normal so that he did not need to worry about eating too much before the test shortly after lunch.
Making their way to the area of the test Billy and Airia noticed a large group around the area of the test. ("Well, it does look like you will have an audience, and I see several of the Alphas as well as the palace guards there along with a few others. I guess that the knowledge about you is getting out and others are looking to see you for themselves.")
("I have no issues with them watching this, I just hope that I do well and don't mess up too badly. I guess it is time to see what Champion Jupiter has to say before we start.") Billy said while pointing toward Keira, who was waiting for them near the main entrance to the testing facility.
As Billy and Airia approached Jupiter started letting Billy know how this test would start, ("I do hope you are ready for this Sir Rhodes-Tenashi, you will have a few minutes to look at the setup here before we start. There is no indicator for length of time other than the start signal, so you will have to try and keep track of time as well as everything else. Like my location, once you spot me, and the locations of the targets and turrets on top of the access points to and from each section. Besides the under-level being out of bounds and an auto fail if you enter it for any reason the only rule is to hit the ten targets in less than fifteen minutes. The faster your time the better your score here, also there are any manner of items laying around inside that can be used to strike the targets other than your hands or feet. Do you have any questions?") Jupiter was all business right then, making sure everyone heard the conditions of the test for today, the time limit had a few people whispering to the ones next to them. Billy did get a few odd looks for his clothing but no one said anything.
("I have one question Champion Jupiter, once the test starts, I can use anything in the test area to hit the targets and move from section to section however I want as long as I do not leave the area or enter the lowest most level correct, and the course has to be finished in less than fifteen minutes?") Billy responded while looking over the course from the main entry. ("Also, where is the start and finish points?")
Jupiter nodded confirming that he had the first part correct, ("Yes, stay in bounds, finish within the time set, and you can use anything inside. The starting point is the yellow square on the other side of the floor level and the finish is this door, by exiting here you stop the clock and finish the test. When you are ready take the starting point but take too long to get ready and you will incur a time penalty.") Billy just nodded as he started toward the testing area.
("Good luck here, I will be watching with the others.") From Airia, in return he gave her a polite bow as he kept walking. Taking his place and looking around, he could see five of the ten targets from the starting point and would need to find the rest. Giving one last bow to Jupiter as she headed into the area to her starting location, shortly after she walked out of sight a buzzer sounded, and Billy figured it was time to start.
Grabbing several rocks and bolts from the floor he tossed some at three of the targets as the other two he could see were too high to hit from here. Missing one and hitting the other two, one just barely, he moved toward a grouping of boxes while tossing another bolt at the target he missed the first time. Within 20 seconds he had hit three targets and spotted another on the ground floor beside the boxes he was headed toward. Hearing someone running toward him from behind he took and tossed two items at the target before he jumped and ran up the boxes before he jumped onto the catwalk just above the stack he came up, having dislodged several in the process, forcing Jupiter to find another route to get to him and allowing him to strike another target while moving toward another one he could see farther in the testing area.
Within the first 90 seconds Billy had already hit five targets and had seen two more, while moving toward the next one the first of the stun turrets made itself known and if it wasn't for the odd sound made when it fired, almost like a 'phut' sound, the test would have been over. Over the course of the next eight minutes or so Billy evaded Jupiter and the stun turrets, though he did take one turret out as it was the only way to get to the target next to it, Billy had found and hit all but two targets. Using Parkour movement to move about the levels and between them had frustrated Jupiter to no end, even with her following him most of the time Billy seemed to make the transitions faster and smoother than she did and thus was able to stay away from her.
He finally spotted one of the two remaining targets near the roof and in a small nook that made it very hard to spot, but to get to it he had to go by Jupiter who was smiling at him now or retrace his route a fair distance to get around her. He took a moment to look around, he spotted a glint of gold near a window in what would be an office area in a warehouse and thought that the last target may just be inside the office area. But he also noticed that there was a narrow 6-inch-wide catwalk slightly below and to the right of the one he and Jupiter are on currently and a plan formed when he noticed that a pipe dropped next to that small catwalk all the way to the ground floor. Looking up at Jupiter, who had now started toward him grinning, he smiled to her, saluted her with a traditional American salute, and started running toward her.
Having caught her off guard with the move allowed him to close almost into hand-to-hand range before he grabbed a walkway support and swung himself over the railing and toward the narrow catwalk, while he wobbled a little when he landed, he was able to dart past her grab the pipe and swing around it 360 degrees while tossing a rock at the upper target. Jupiter had already closed most of the distance now, having recovered from the surprise move and came close to blocking his shot but luck was still on his side and now he had one last target to hit before getting out the main doors. Ten and a half minutes had now passed and as Jupiter moved to block him getting back on the main walkway he again just smiled and saluted her before sliding down the pipe before dropping to the floor and tossing a bolt as hard as he could at the last target in the window.
Once the last target was hit, he turned to head out and saw Jupiter jumping from walkway to walkway and sliding down a couple pipes to land between him and the exit. The grin she was wearing now was because she saw no way for Billy to get around her easily this time unless he wanted to add a lot of time to his total. Taking a look at something on his arm Billy nodded and headed toward Jupiter at a jog, before he slid into a spin kick just as she started her own strike.
The sudden attack forced Jupiter to defend and allowed Billy to maneuver to the left, but as this put a partial wall between him and the exit Jupiter just tried to pin him into the corner there. When Jupiter brought in a round house kick from her left, she wondered why Billy grinned at her again, then found out as he used the force from her kick to help him flip over the partial wall, roll, and then made a dash for the exit, stopping the timer at thirteen minutes seven seconds.
As soon as Billy left the building the noise that the watching crowd was making hit him almost like a wall. Not sure what to do, he bowed to the watching crowd before turning to look back toward Jupiter and found her laughing as she walked toward him.
When she stepped out of the door she said, ("I know that some thought I did not give you enough time at the start and then you drive me crazy by avoiding me by not following the walkways or normal access points, I had to start following you just to try and keep up. That was not easy, but I did figure out what you were doing by the end. Then you attacked me just to set up a way to get me to help you get past me, which was clever and totally caught me off guard. Now let me say this, congratulations on finishing the course under the time limit stated, even though the passing time was up to two times what was stated. Besides the workout keeping up with you in there that was the most fun I have had giving one of these tests in a long time.") She picked up two bottles and tossed one to Billy before taking a drink, and before she asked if any of the spectators had anything to say or a question.
Catching the bottle and he took a drink once it was open, and listened to the translations that he did get because not everyone was within the effective range of the translator, but one he did hear and was relayed by Jupiter and that was what he called the way he moved in there. Before he could answer Airia stepped up and told everyone to either step forward or to turn on their external communication units as she motioned for Billy to step forward so that everyone would hear his answer.
("What I used to move around during the test is called Parkour where I am from and is a way to get from one point to another in a complex environment, without assistive equipment and in the fastest and most efficient way possible. Be that over, around, under, through, or any other way. The last bit I used was just redirecting the power from Champions Jupiter's kick to help me get past the last obstacle and of course herself, because I knew that if she got me into a fight, she would easily keep me from completing the course.") He bowed to Jupiter at this point as well.
Jupiter took and indicated that she would be working with Billy in setting up a training zone for this Parkour in the near future as it seemed to be a good way to move around an area when you need to move quickly. After this there was a short time when Jupiter, Airia, and Billy just talked with various people that had observed the testing. Answering questions and just behaving like they were at a very informal gathering, where again Billy refrained from answering anything he felt was too personal but had no problem just talking to others for a bit before both Champions indicated that they and Billy had other things that they need to get back to. As everyone departed Airia congratulated Billy on both doing so well on the situational test and on how he handled talking to the soldiers, guards, and others that were there as they headed back in.
Billy spent the rest of the afternoon reviewing his language lesson with Airia and going over the material for the next day till dinner after which he did the written part of his language 'homework' before doing his own things for a while before bed. The next day being the second half of the hand-to-hand testing, and if he would feel up to it after that he would start on the next batch of firearms tests. Billy took and sat out one of his new outfits for the morning and his personal Gi for the afternoon testing before heading to bed and sleep.
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Awakening the next morning and heading out for his morning workout, Billy got his first taste of the guards and some of the others deferring to him or saluting him as he went about his day at the Palace. After a workout, which he had to explain to a few was his practice time right now and not sparing; but if they wanted to spar check with Princess Mercury currently, he headed back to his quarters to clean up and get ready for his first lesson of the day by reviewing the words and phrases from yesterday's lesson.
When Iria arrived with the breakfast tray and a smile for the music she heard from the laptop Billy greeted her in Lunarian getting a bigger smile from her. ("I am glad that you are already learning the language and will be happy to help you during the day as I go about my rounds. For now, I need to go, and I believe that Princess Mercury will be here shortly. Good day Billy.")
("Good day to you too Iria, and I hope you have a good day. I am still learning but with immersing myself in the language as I must here, I should learn quickly.") He opened the door for her saying "May your day go well" to her as she leaves, in Lunarian. Getting her response of 'May your day be bright' in return.
Returning to his review while eating, Billy did not realize the time until Airia knocked on the door for his lesson for the day. Again, he greeted her in Lunarian and asked how she was doing that day, getting a smile and her returning the greeting and that she was doing good so far.
("It is nice to see that you are working on the lessons and learning, granted reading and writing the language may take longer to master but we should do well. Now on to today's lesson…") With that she started the second lesson reviewing some of the items from before then moving on to others, and return learning a few words or phrases in English occasionally. After a few hours on language Airia stopped the lesson and started a general history lesson about the Queendom for about an hour before they broke for lunch.
Like yesterday Billy ate light but high energy food while also using phrases or words from his lessons so far. After eating Billy returned to his quarters to put on his Gi for today's match. Airia noted that it looked a little like the practice uniforms that they used for formal martial arts training here. She also noted the family crest, odd looking patch, and the design on the back.
("What does the second patch mean and why do you have a Firebird and Ice Dragon on the back? I did not know that they existed on any other worlds besides Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Neptune.") Airia asks while looking at the Gi top closely.
("Let's get going so we are not late for the testing, and I will tell you about them on the way.") Billy answered as he opened the door to head out for the second half of the ranking test.
Nodding Airia followed and headed toward the training center where the hand-to-hand part of the test would be held today, ("Alright, but I am curious about the images you have on the 'Gi' as you call it. Do you know much about the animals, or do they mean something else where you are from? And just what does that broken circle around the dot mean on the second patch? I recognize your family crest on the other one.")
Billy took minute to answer, "Well the second patch is something my father came up with. You know how all the planets and the sun have symbols right?" Seeing her nod he continued, "Well he took the one for the sun and changed it to represent an exploding star, or sun, known as a nova. He says it is like I'm at times in training or a couple competitions where I show my skill and shine like a star till something sets me off and I explode all over my opponent. As for the design on the back, my sister made that. The bird we know as a Phoenix, also a Fire Bird, and the dragon is something that I thought she just came up with and called it an Ice Dragon. She says that the two represent how I fight, ice cold with a fiery intense passion at the core or just fire and ice. And before you ask it is tradition on both sides of my family from others in the family to pick the design on a new member's Gi. I hope I have explained it well enough as I am not sure what else to say, other than both the Phoenix and Ice Dragon do not exist where I am from as far as anyone I know knows." He looked over at her to see if she believed him or not, as finding out that the Phoenix and Ice Dragon did exist here was a bit of a shock for him.
Airia nodded before speaking, ("Well that would explain why the dragon looks wrong as they are mostly ice and crystal, though the phoenix as you know them looks almost exactly like that. Though the two are mortal enemies in nature here and luckily, they do not live on the same planets anymore. I will see if I can get you some recordings of them later, ok? Also, we are here…") She indicated a door next to Billy inside the training hall. Their discussion had distracted him completely from where they were and why for a few minutes.
Nodding he entered the room to see a few stands around the outer edge of a rather large training area that also had several obstacles placed about the area. Jupiter was waiting partway down the aisle for them, Billy also noted that again there was an audience present and his quip about this being normal or was it just him got a smile from Jupiter and a giggle from Airia.
("Partly it is normal, as there are not that many fourth-tier masters tested here. But it is also due to who you are and the information and some outright rumors about you that some want to see if they are true or not. Now on to the rules here, this is to be pure hand-to-hand skill today if you have learned how to do any type of energy attack, please refrain from them unless one is used by me first. That will signal that the test is progressing to another level and rarely happens, but it may. Also, I can call the match at any time by calling out 'tidal ray', as can you as well. If the match is called, then I will make my decision on level placement based on what I have seen so far. Do you understand?")
Billy nodded before answering that he understood and was as ready as he would be for this. Looking at the area and the cover and aids to movement helped him to do some preplanning in case it was needed during the match.
Jupiter watched him look over the testing circle before speaking again, ("This is the normal fourth tier training and testing area, so it actually has me worried, but I do not want you to hold back anything, except killing blows and such, I want to test your full skill and not just your sparing ability! That I already know. The match begins on the gong and will end on the second gong some thirty minutes later. Also, knockout and submission, beside either you or me calling the match, will end it as well.") She took a breath, ("Shall we begin then?")
("Yes, let's begin. I will do my best to not do any harm even today Champion Jupiter and I ask that you try to do the same.") He bowed to her here and she returned it as an equal, which shocked some of the people here to watch. Airia reached out and said something to him just before he and Jupiter entered the training/testing area which got a nod and smile from him in return.
The first gong sounded shortly after they took their ready stances but neither moved first. This made a few of the watchers smile as it seems that this was really a mastery test and not just a fourth-tier test. In other words, this was going to be a good match once it started. To the surprise of all it was Jupiter that moved first, as she realized that he had been trained very well and all she sensed now was calm, almost like a still lake.
While her attack was fast, she knew he would be ready and blocked her initial strike, but it was her follow-through that she wanted to see how he reacted. The block was just as she expected, and she brought in her other fist and knee for a dual strike that would knock the wind out of him if it connected. She noted that he had shifted his stance right as she committed to the second half of her attack and noted that her strikes would now only graze him, but what worried her was the point-blank snapping reverse kick heading for her head now, forcing her to stop her own move and counter his… and the fight was joined.
From the moment they walked on the training floor Airia had her Mercury Link out and recording, during the first flurry of blows she did not understand why Jupiter backed off so fast till she heard one of the others say, 'how did he do that reverse kick so close and fast?' She now realized that Billy was giving this match his all. She also hoped that they both did not hurt each other during this test.
Meanwhile out on the testing floor Jupiter and Billy had started to probe each other while attacking and defending in flurries of activity. Both landing blows with Jupiter getting more in, but the ones that Billy landed were telling as they were precise. Currently he had several burses and had his breath partially knocked out of him once, but Jupiter was currently nursing a numb shoulder that she was regaining use of from a precise nerve strike along with a few others that had limited her ability to move as quickly as she liked. She smiled when she realized the match was just a little over five minutes old and they were both already battered, 'Billy is taking this match seriously like I wanted him to, now I need to survive it as well.' She nodded to him before launching her next attack, starting with a high jumping strike to distract Billy before spinning into a low leg strike aimed at limiting his ability to move. While her second strike landed, it did not land as fully as she had hoped as he had twisted mostly out of the way and countered with four spear-like attacks along her spine that actually had her armor's built-in warning system flair red at a series of class 4 impacts and class 3 damage penetrations along her back. While her back was screaming at her from the attack it was a first for her to receive such a warning in a match like that. In other words, in a match not against another Champion or heavy armored trooped.
On the sidelines Airia sucked in her breath at the latest set of attacks and counters, even the Mercury Link classified the initial strikes on Jupiter as class 4, but the class 3 penetrating damage shocked her. Class 10 was the worst, but an unpowered class 4 strike with class 3 penetration meant that Jupiter may need a healing crystal or two by the end of this. Granted Billy at just taken a grazing class 5 strike to his upper left thigh and that was going to hurt for a bit. But seeing Billy move to lessen the blow and deliver his own was shocking. Granted his roll to gain some distance showed that he was hurt, but still in the fight. While Jupiter had an issue with sanding up straight right now let everyone know that both got good shots in just then. 'Please let them not kill each other, please.'
Jupiter took a little heart in the grimace of pain on Billy's face as she knew it mirrored her own, 'ten minutes down of 30, I do not think this match will make the full time. He has already proven that he is a fourth-tier master, now let's see if he can gain a couple pips toward fifth tier.' Looking at him again she noticed a very light glow around his leg and side and realized that he was taking the few seconds she gave him to heal himself some. 'Ugh, I forgot he can heal himself somewhat. There is one pip. Now I need to get back in before the outside judges call a forfeit on me.'
Moving and forcing herself to stand up fully as she did Jupiter carefully tossed a very, very low powered sparkling wide pressure attack in his general direction, more to alert him that the test just moved up to a new level than to hit him. Seeing him roll out of the area of effect with little effort let her know that he had healed a lot of the injuries, so she closed quickly to try and return some of the punishment he had healed so far. Only to watch him raise his hand to heart level and then push his cupped hand toward her. She rolled to the right quickly, while the attack had been weak it was more the shock that he had returned a ranged energy attack of his own that got her to evade and allowed him to close for his own attack.
Grinning to himself that his quick yet stunted ki shot had gotten Jupiter to evade and open herself to his counterstrike like he had hoped it would, rebounding off a fixture on the testing floor he shot into Jupiter with a surprise open palm strike to her solar plexus knocking the breath from her and setting up his next move even as he let momentum carry him forward into a roll that ended with him doing a spinning handstand and delivering three solid but relatively light kicks to Jupiter's arm and side before he finished by rolling out and away from her. But not far enough as she countered with a flying roundhouse kick that nearly hit him in the head, as it was his left shoulder that took most of the hit and was screaming in pain over it. They both backed off, and Billy did not even try to heal the shoulder as he knew Jupiter was going to attack sooner than last time, and he was right.
Jupiter marveled at the sheer audacity of the last attack and smiled. The fake out really got her, then the strike to the solar plexus knocking the breath out of her, but that spinning handstand kick just stunned her and thus allowed it to hit, though it did little damage it left her out of position to attack with anything put a heavy attack. So, she aimed for the shoulder and not the head and hoped for the best. Landing the kick solidly before backing off for a second before attacking again, this time to hopefully finish the match before it reached the halfway mark. She moved in and feinting twice to catch Billy in a submission hold that he should not be able to break out of and whispering in his ear ("Good match, but it is over now fourth tier is yours.") Thinking he would submit or maybe struggle till he passed out, but his whispered response surprised her before the pain set in.
He grinned at her whisper and responded, "The fight is not over yet, and fights have no real rules." Before using a move that his mother of all people had shown him to use of a female attacker in this type of situation, namely, to strike just under the breast near the side of the ribs with a knuckle strike stating that most of the time the shock of the attack would get the person to let go or loosen their grip. So, he followed her teaching and before Jupiter realized it she was being shoulder tossed toward a group of fixtures while Billy seemed to be catching his breath.
After rolling and coming up in a crouch she noted that he was not catching his breath but charging up a real ranged attack and she was cornered. For a second, she considered calling out the 'safe word' to end the match but decided to see what he could do first. When he released the attack, she brought her arms together and charged them with the lightning from one of her attacks, even like this the strike stung and the blast was disorienting. So, jumping to the side and rolling several times to open some space before looking back and seeing him closing on her carefully. This time she let him come and just as they started trading attacks and defenses realized that this would be the last flurry of the match. 'If he can get a solid hit on me here, he will have earned four pips of five toward fifth tier, let's finish this.'
Airia was already worried about Keira and Billy really hurting each other here though she realized that they were both masters of their schools and so while it looked brutal at times, they really were not doing any lasting damage. She was also surprised at the level of ability and skill Billy had shown here, even using his personal version of his style several times to great effect. That weak ki shot he used surprised her but not as much as the larger one later. Now she hoped it would be over soon, but they had not even reached the 20-minute mark yet. She was glad that she was recording this and had tapped into the training center's camera network to get an all-around recording of the match for later. Looking up she winched at the strike Jupiter just took though Billy was looking just as bad off as Jupiter, maybe a little worse, as he went to one knee after his strike even as he attacked again with what looked like an empowered punch that send Jupiter several feet back before she landed and rolled to her feet.
While Airia was checking the recording on her portable computer Jupiter had caught Billy in a six move combo that almost put him out of the match calling on reserves and one of his personal moves he called the pincer he struck as she recovered from her combo striking her solar plexus with a palm strike and with a knuckle strike to her back at the same time left her stunned and out of breath. She was also stunned as for the second time in the match her armor's in build warning system flared to life indicating a class 6 impact to her solar plexus and back combined with a class 5 penetration in between the strikes. Something she already knew as she could not get her breath back or move well enough to take advantage of Billy falling to one knee from her last attack combo.
She could only watch as he forced himself to use a simple empowered punch to try and either end the match or get some room between them. The basic upper cut landed true as she was still stunned and unable to draw a breath and sent her flying a short distance even as she saw a few stars from the impact of what her armor said was a class 3 impact on her chin. As she landed, she rolled on reflex and came to her feet for a few seconds before she too fell to her knees. She was just getting her breath back when she whispered 'Tidal ray' to end the match, not realizing that Billy had done the same at almost the exact same time.
While whispered the center's equipment picked up the dual statements and the ending gong sounded just before an announcement for medical personnel to check on the two participants was made. Princess Airia also joined them but allowed the healers to do their jobs even as she scanned first Jupiter then Billy and relaying any information that was needed to assist in healing them. Jupiter, being in full armor, had her healing factor to aid them on her behalf, but Billy was able to get into a partial healing trance and sped up his recovery as well.
Once everyone was healed and ready to go Jupiter moved over to where two others waited quietly next to a computer terminal. For a minute they all talked, and she even checked the terminal like she was talking to someone through it before she nodded and opened a chest and took a few things out, then returned to where Billy, Airia, and the medics/healers waited.
("Ok, first off, I am wearing a set of bracers that prevented me from using my full strength today, so as to make the match more even that way. Otherwise, the match would most likely have been over at the first exchange of blows we made. Also, while I am the final judge here there were three others both here and elsewhere that gave me feedback after the match, one was Champion Uranus via computer link from her station currently. As I told you when I tried to get you to submit, you had already earned the fourth-tier master designation. By the way, that strike really hurt you know…") She glared at Billy who grinned a little sheepishly.
("Believe it or not my mother taught me that move, even said that I may not be able to use it at times, and most female opponents it will usually only work once normally before they guard for it. Still like I said there are really no rules in a fight, even a bout to test skill levels. It was that, give up, or pass out and I picked to try and go out fighting at least.") He bowed to her again while she just smiled at the fact that a female had taught him that move, before returning the bow.
("Well, I see that your training was indeed complete, and I'm proud to give you this fourth tier ranking sash and tassel. You have also earned a total of five out of five training pips toward fifth-tier practitioner making you well on your way to a fifth-tier master. The tassel goes on the left shoulder and can be worn with the one marking you as a Friend of the Moon on the same shoulder, just put the Friend one on the outside and you will be fine. The sash can be worn like the belt you are currently wearing, even with normal clothing if you want. There is also a patch that marks your level, but they are made only after the person has passed the testing so you will get a few in a couple days. I will have a set of pip markers brought to you tomorrow and I will show you have to display them on the sash and tassel later. I have just one other question, does you style make use of weapons as I remember that you are well trained with, if not a master of, several martial arts weapons?") The last question was asked a little warily making Billy think that if he says yes that they will have to do more testing, but it is Airia that answers first.
("I believe that the information we have on him shows that yes his style does make use of weapons, but they are not the soul of his style, is that right Sir Rhodes-Tenashi?") Thus, she reminded him that they were in fact in a very public location right now and he needed to be careful of how he addresses them for now.
("Yes, while I can use several weapons, they are not really needed for my style to be effective. Though they can enhance parts of the style at times, we do not have any that are really integrated into the style. I will say this about that test; I really hope I do not have much else to do today so I can rest. You Champion Jupiter are very good with your style, and I do hope we can train together again.") He bowed formally to her once more and smiled at the chuckles he got over the needing rest remark like he hoped he would.
Jupiter nodded before returning the formal bow, ("I would very much enjoy sparing with you again just please not to this level for awhile as I do not think either of us would survive a fifth-tier mastery test anytime soon. Now I do believe that you have something to do back in the guest wing, and I have a report to file before returning to my post later. Good day Warrior/Protector, and May you always return home.") This time she gave a quick bow before turning to head off to do what she just mentioned.
Billy's 'May the wind always favor you' with his final bow was done as Airia started to lead him back to his quarters, before she mentioned that the healers wanted to do another check on him there before they let him go about doing anything else for the day. To which he just nodded and chatted with her as they returned.
The final check by the healers was quick and all they said was for him to rest for the remainder of the day and he would be fully recovered by the next morning. The rest of the week was fairly dull compared to the first couple days but with everything it still went by fairly quickly and he finally had his armory file sorted out for now. It would be updated every four to six months to reflect training and such now.
The rankings he gained did not change all that much from the initial scores in most areas. The hand-to-hand ranking system uses five tiers each with two levels in them: practitioner and master; while the weapons use a ten-tier system with two tiers in each of five groups: trainee, proficient, skilled, expert, and master. In the martial arts sections, his hand-to-hand ranking was initially tier 3 master and final was tier 4 master. Martial hand weapons stayed at tier 8 expert for all but blades which was tier 9 master. He was listed as tier 7 in basic ranged weapons like darts, bows, and such. Specialized martial hand weapons like whip and chain weapons, like the crystal link sword, and such listed his level as a tier 2 trainee. With basic firearms his final rank was tier 5 skilled from tier 4 proficient, while military weapons were at tier 4 proficient from tier 3 proficient. His heavy weapons ranking did not change as he had not had enough training to leave tier 1 trainee so far.
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Billy's new life continued much the same over the next several weeks, the only real difference was that the afternoons where now taken up with a verity of projects and training sessions with the Guards, Alphas, and the Champions. His mornings were still lessons in Lunarain, History of the Queendom, Protocols and Laws, and such. While the Queen had made it a limit currently of five days working and two days free, Billy and some of the Champions did take part of one day off to work on mainly Lunarian for now, as he really did need to get the language down quickly.
By the end of the sixth week Billy had learned Lunarian thanks to being immersed in the language even with the translator. This is because the more that he understood the less the translator worked helping him learn even faster. While he could now hold a conversation quite well, he still had a little way to go to really master the language, and his reading was still a little on the slow side but was getting better by the day as was his writing of the language. Again, being immersed in the language helped him learn faster.
During this time a few other things had also happened, Billy had started a small library in his quarters with books, holovids, normal vids, and other materials added as he gained them from classes, the projects he was now working on or assisting with. The Queen and the head healer from the main medical station at the palace both obtained some holovids on Ki (or Life)-Dancers as well as a couple of books total that they have given to him, and he now had in his library. As to the books and such he had on his laptop the Queen and Mercury, helped get them printed and bound so he could add them to his library as well.
Also, over the next six weeks life started to fall into a more normal pattern for Billy with his new friends in the Guardians, Ryo from the Guards, Iria the house maid, and a few others from around the palace and guards. Billy was also keeping a journal of the things that happened to him daily, even the not so exciting things as the more details he had the easier it would be to describe what his life here was like when he finally got home. While the report that Pluto made on what had happened to him made it clear that barring a major outside event the link that he had with the time stream via Temptress would likely take years to fade away before they could send him home safely. Until then attempting to send him back without the aid of Temptress, or Temptress recalling him, was a death sentence for him.
A couple weeks back, around his fourth week on the Moon, Airia and the others got him a full Mercurian computer system as these were the best out currently, they had power, were stable, and able to do just about anything the user needed. They were all teaching him how to use it and how to browse their version of the internet. The system was rather large as it had eight monitors, two large (about 32in) ones as the main ones, three smaller ones (each about 24in), and three tablet sized ones (around 9in each). On the three small ones Billy had one showing graphs of the system's performance, one displayed the media player they used, and one showed a list of online friends and if they were online or available to 'chat' if they were. On the rest he would have various information displayed from several of the projects he was helping with as well as various other information. They had also shown him some of the games that he could play if he wanted.
While most of the projects and training that Billy was involved with was going well for one reason or another the weekly state meals had started to become a bit of a problem as there was talk that he was just using the Queen but that was forgetting, or ignoring, all that he was doing in return to help the Queen and the realm through the projects to bring things like media players, laptop computers and tablet systems to the people of the realm as cheaply as they could he was also suggesting making several levels from cheap to fairly expensive but to keep anything like Champion Mercury's Link System more like military hardware and not open to the public at large. He had a feeling that some may try and force him to commit to being an ally before he was ready to take that step, he could see it happening just not at this time. So, tomorrow's dinner was causing him some stress as Airia and Miranda had warned him that a couple of minor nobles might push this item one way or the other before they were to head back home, and the state meals were a good time to try this move.
Other than this he rather enjoyed the state meals as he had escorted Airia, Miranda, Keira, and Rianna to different meals so far. The Queen had him escorting Airia the most, but he had been with each at least once to a state meal. They had cleared his Family's blade for use shortly before the second meal, it was a tanto style dagger meaning it had a 7.5-inch single edged blade in a flat black sheath with dark blue wrapping on the handle and the family crest etched in the blade, pommel, and sheath. He found that state dinners allowed him to wear both his Family's blade and the Moon House blade with no problems. His twin Tassels also drew some comments as he found out that only Fourth Tier Masters and all Fifth Tier Warriors used them. Keira normally did not wear hers on her 'uniform' as it had no place to put it.
His training was going well, and he even had an invitation to train with the Guards and the Queens Alphas sometime over the next several months, Rianna (or Rei to her friends) explained to him of the honor that both units were showing him, and Billy was currently considering if he should and when. Also, all the research into new ideas for things was going well and smoothly, but then most of the items he was helping with are normal everyday items for him and thus somewhat easy to help keep on track. It looked like a media player would be on offer to the people of the Moon soon as a test of the device they had currently, with a laptop being offered on Mercury in the next couple months, followed by a tablet PC going on sale on Mars shortly thereafter. All this was to get some initial test marketing and sales done to see if any changes in the basic model were needed before offering them Realm wide later.
Recently Billy had started to offer classes in English and Japanese to a select few people, Airia and Rianna being just two of them, there were also a few Guards and a couple Alphas. They were looking at this as a way to pass information without using an actual code. As such the classes were going a little slow as the lack of dedicated aids was not helping, though working with the class members class aids were being made as the class progresses.
On a more personal note, his practice at making his style his own was progressing well as he now had several practice and sparing partners from the Guards, Alphas, and the Champions making suggestions and assisting in spars. Billy was slowly becoming that which the Queen and the Champions saw the first night, a strong warrior as he got more experience and training, now as soon as he started getting combat experience the Queen and others felt the real Warrior in him will surface.
The Queen had even finally gotten a hold of some Ki-Dancers to see if they would be willing to assist in Billy's training on the Moon, she had even offered to keep any training they requested private, but as he was still learning about the realm and everything in it she did not want him to leave the Moon for long periods in case something happened that he had not covered yet in Protocols and Laws. This was for his and others' safety more than anything. She was waiting for their response now and hoped for the best.
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Aiko Suki had gotten home and cleaned herself up before getting ready to head out and meet her friends. Friends that she had had since middle school, people that she had shared a lot with and been through some very rough times with as well over the years. Friends that she could, and would, be her true self around even now.
Thinking back about things that had happened in the last day, and she tried to figure out how it all really fit together and why her friend, the Lady of Mystery herself, was getting involved and how it related to the rest of them. She had picked out a casual set of clothing for tonight in place of her normal casual yet formal outfits she wore around her 'work' friends. She found herself very calm even knowing that the entire group was going to be involved after tonight and wondered why she was so calm.
Why am I this calm, I mean if she is getting everyone in on this, we just might end up taking down White Star and I hope not… I have never seen or heard anything that threatened the future there and I would have major problems as I have gotten to know several people there and they are just doing a job. It is almost like I know something but have no idea what that can be… She thought as she finished getting ready and headed for the door so she would be able to make the evening meeting on time.
Well, this is the first time in a few years that Setsuna has called a meeting, and the timing leads me to believe it is about what happened last night and this morning. Something tells me I may not like what she has to say, but that comes from the fact that she usually only has bad news, very rarely does she relay something good to us. Aiko thought to herself as she left her apartment and headed for the parking garage and her car. I do hope that is it something good, at least in relation to the recent event at work, I am starting to see why Setsuna talked me into doing this even though I wanted to follow my mother and be a doctor. I do hope nothing major has happened to the future that makes us do something drastic to anyone right now.
As she got into her car her phone went off again, opening it to see was calling the extra buttons around the screen can be seen several of which have symbols that one never sees on a phone, ever. One of these symbols is also lit up, a circle with a cross attached to the bottom. Aiko looked at the phone, then tapped the button that was lit, and the screen came to life showing an image of a rather beautiful blond haired young woman with a bow in her hair.
"Hello Mina, what can I do for you this time? Or is it about the meeting this evening?" Aiko states before the other woman can even open her mouth. Smiling as she waited for the other to respond.
To which the other woman just smiled before she stuck her tongue out, then answered, "Hello yourself Ami, or should I say Dr. Aiko still? I was calling to see if you knew why Setsuna called a meeting today. She hasn't called one herself in years so why all of a sudden, I just hope it is not a major enemy as she has told us many times in the past that Galatia was the last one besides a few minor problems before the freeze hits. Also how have you been none of us have heard from you in a little over a week now and we started to get worried."
"Sorry about not calling anyone in the last few days but 'work' has been busy as the company was in the process of hiring a new tech for the main project group and I was involved in the process more than normal. And I agree with you on the enemy issue as I really like it quiet, even with tackling organized crime things are fairly quiet for us now. A change from having a new enemy almost every other month or two." The newly renamed Ami said as she got into her car. "As to the other question, I may know something, but I want to wait and see what Setsuna has to say first, also I do not what to repeat myself several time before the meeting. She called me before I got home and before I could call anyone else to say anything, so I am going to let her start things and see if it is the same problem."
Mina looked at her friend in shock for a second, "Ami, I know that the place you work at is doing things related to the time stream, heck Pluto even confirmed that a few months back, so if you know something we need to know and the sooner the better. If it is an enemy or threat the sooner we find out the sooner we can figure something out. Please tell me anything you know Ami."
Ami had by this time started her car, placed the communicator into a hands-free holder that faced her and had pulled out of the garage as she went to respond. "Mina, I know all that, and I will tell everyone at the meeting later, no matter what information Setsuna has for us. I think you all need to know anyway." Here she takes a deep breath then continues, "Something major happened at work last night and this morning, it involved almost every department, and the new hire was involved, all to get back at Aiko by one of the researchers and for the same researcher to get fame for his work today. I will not say more till the meeting starts later so please do not push Mina, please." Ami begs her friend with her eyes to just wait till later for the full story.
Seeing the look in Ami's eyes and the way she was acting lead Mina to a conclusion, "Ok, Ami. I will wait and I will let the others know to wait so they do not pester you before the meeting, but please tell me you are alright. You seem hurt or are hurting about something. We stick together in all things Ami, you know that." Mina smiled at her friend through the small screen.
"I know Mina, and thanks for understanding. Yes, I am hurt, but more emotionally than anything else. That is also part of what I want to tell everyone so the details I know you want about me now have to wait as well. I will be there soon, though I am going to stop and pick up some food on the way, I seem to remember that Usagi still likes to eat a lot so let Makoto know that I will have some extra food and snacks when I get there. Oh, also I am off work for the next month or so, so I will be around more for a while. I need to go so I can concentrate on driving as there is a bit of traffic right now. Ja-ne Mina, see you in a bit."
After waiting for Mina to respond they disconnect, and Ami went about picking up some teriyaki chicken on skewers and a few burgers for a nearby restaurant as she headed on the shrine that they normally meet in. She hoped that she could keep it together and not break down again, but knew that her friends would only support her, with a little teasing but mainly help her.
Chapter 5 Fin