I regret to inform you that the Unseelie has been marked an enemy combatant by the Rhienland Military, and will not be granted safe passage through Rhienland space.
My Apologies.
//Message Ends
Order encryption....hard to crack. My people didn't have it done until I had passed through Rhienland twice...explained the incoming fire, though.
Fine, never trust a government. Have no concept of business. You enter into a completely legitimate business arrangement, and they think they can walk all over it.
All. Over. Me.
Fine. No more nice me.
Kikusan can have them. Her and any other bottom feeding criminal who thinks they can collect.
"Hello, Miss Kietan, UoG network accessed."
"Yes....Inform the network that I'm reactivating the bounty on RM pilots."
"Oh?"
"Eight million credits a ship. No exceptions. No negotiations, and no terms with the RM."
"Yes ma'am."
Mariko was lying on a small bed, recovering from her latest infection when she received a new order from Juno.
Message begins//
Kikusama, when you are well, the Rhineland Military have marked my vessel, the Unseelie, and they intend to destroy it when they get the chance.
Show them a bit of love? Oh, and do leave cute Erich and Jan Richthofen alone."
//Message ends
"A request from mama... I must leave this place and make mama happy..."
As Mariko sat up and raised herself off the bed, she lost balance and fell, landing squarely on the side of her head. As she raised herself up, she saw the small drips of blood on the floor.
*sniff* "I can stop guns, but I can't stop the floor..." *sniff*.
As her arms gave in to the strain of lifting her body, she fell back on to the floor and began crying.
After a small period of time, both hands on the side of the bed, Mariko pulled herself up, and climbed back into bed.
"I can't do what is asked of me... not yet... mama, forgive me."
The battered bomber was unloaded slowly from the cargo ship's hold and dragged by crane across the ship works of Southampton shipyard. It was going to cost quite a lot to repair.
"So....a rheinland bomber, ma'am?"
"Yes, I want it repaired and rearmed, as quickly as you can."
"May take some time, foreign designs...."
"Just fix it."
"Any reason a civilian has a bomber?"
"You don't want to ask those questions, corporal."
"Yes ma'am, we have any sort of deadline?"
"Three weeks. Three weeks exactly"
"What's in three weeks?"
"My daughter's birthday."
Mariko was lying on her bed. She had a high fever again, and looked very weak and tired. But she kept thinking, kept dreaming. Her birthday was soon. The first that she had with anyone that loved her since before she could remember. She had seen images of her family back when the brain scan was performed on her, but nothing she could remember was on those pictures.
Only a few days to go, Mariko could hardly wait. High hopes and dreams of bliss filled her mind, too young as she was to realise that the universe simply wasn't as she dreamed it should be. Still, she kept imagining a world consisting only of Juno and herself, going to the zoo. The perfect event... but, failing that, any opportunity to be with Juno would suffice.
A birthday cake, tall, with fifteen candles on it. Layers of sponge in between thick white cream, and a deep layer of icing lining the top of the edible art piece. The mere thought was enough to make Mariko's mouth water.
Mariko just hoped to herself that she wasn't ill on her birthday. How sad it would be, to spend her only true birthday, in a bed. The thought perished itself from her mind, as she concentrated on the happy images her mind conjured up.
After a few moments, lost in her bliss, she fell into a deep sleep, where her imaginations continued. A purely white background, a single real wooden table, three porcelain plates, two chairs. Just as Mariko wanted it. Mariko walked over to a chair, and sat on it, waiting for Juno Keitan to appear. Juno did, but with her hands over her face. Without sound, she appeared to be crying, but as she sat down, she revealed her face. The white background faded into a black abyss.
Blood was pumping out of her eyes, one just a black hole in her head, the other, pierced through with a knife. The features of her face told Mariko it wasn't Juno, not her at all. It was the monster that tormented Mariko's past, the same face, the same hair, the same eyes. For a moment, the image burned into the back of Mariko's mind, and then she awoke with a start.
Sweating heavily and breathing fast, it took a moment for Mariko to calm herself from her frightful dream. For the rest of the night, Mariko stayed awake. Again and again, she tried to sleep. Nothing worked. Even the images of Juno were tainted again and again by the monster that haunted her unconscious mind, and it was invading her conscious mind too.
All those frightful images, of the same person, with only one message. A message that Mariko had embraced before now, but found herself becoming more independent from since joining Juno. A message to kill everyone, everything, to stop the emotions of sadness and pain from ever entering her mind again. Constantly reminding her of the torment she had suffered at the hands of those who had enslaved her.
It was too much for the child's mind to bear, and she descended into a fit of uncontrolled crying. Insanity almost encroached on her being, as she desperately tried to fend off mentally the spectre that haunted her.
"Why must Mariko-san kill?"
...
"But Mariko-san is happy with Juno-san!"
...
"But Juno-san would never hurt Mariko-san!"
...
"Mariko-san won't do it!"
...
"Mariko-san can't do it!"
...
"Go away! Mariko-san is happy without you!"
...
"Mariko-san wont listen to you! Go away! The only thing making Mariko-san sad is you. I want to kill you!"
...
With that, Mariko stopped speaking, and again, tried to sleep. She had succeeded in banishing the ghost from her mind, for now, but she would always fear this entity, lurking inside her brain.
Derek activates him comm system within his personal fighter and fowards a message to Juno
Message to; Juno Kietan
CommID: Derek Mandel
Eh babe! Got your little invitation to Mariko's party... Little girls growing up fast eh? But anyway, expect me at that party of yours, and I'll bring a big gift for her as well! And I guess I gotta buy a Tux don't I...
Oh, and I'll make sure to bring my Train. It has a private room in the back if ya know what I mean. Message Terminated
Mariko was beaming...
That could have been the sugar, though.
She had strawberry jam smeared across her face, and she was sitting in front of the biggest slice of the best cake, a cake with three wedges of ice cream dividing the jam filled chocolate cylinders. The venue was a suite on the edge of Sunderland Research Station's main promenade, with a wonderful view of the Newcastle Edifice, glowing blue and alien. The guest-list was decidedly short: on Captain Andrew Stuart, another Captain Derek Mandel...Hard to make friends when you are rogue terrorists in three nations.
Juno was wearing a simple white sheath dress, with shoulder length white gloves, beside her, Mariko wore a white blouse, and a pleated blue skirt to match her purple hair.
Derek Mandel arrived first, dressed in black suit pants, a t-shirt, and a blazer. He moved over the star of the day and handed her a huge box in blue wrapping paper. Inside of it having several stuffed animals. Elephants, Garrafis, Cats, Dogs, Hippos, Lions, and many more as Mariko tore the box apart.
Then, Stuart, wearing a blouse-like shirt, an old-fashioned coat, a tri-corner hat, an eye-patch and an elegant, straight-edged sword at his side sauntered in merrily. "Avast!" he exclaimed, before realizing his embarrassing error. He looked to Juno with a smile, obviously finding the situation hilarious. Not to be out-done, he cartwheeled towards the birthday girl, producing a bouquet of chrysanthemums from his sleeve. Then he knelt, whistled, and as he handed Mariko the flowers, a black cocker spaniel with a ribbon tied around her neck scampered in, jumped up onto her lap, and shoved its nose into the cake. Finally, Juno leaned over, and passed Mariko a small card, with a tag labeled 'Snubnose Neural Mask'....
Captain Andrew Stuart, Juno's 'commanding officer' and privateer friend got his invite a week previous. He read over it a few times and smiled...
"Captain Andrew Stuart,
You are cordially invited to Miss Mariko Kietan's fifteenth birthday masque, hosted by myself, aboard the Sunderland Research Station in the Newcastle System. It shall be in Suite Twelve, on the main concourse. The date shall be June twelfth, year eight hundred twenty After Sleep.
Please respond very promptly,
Juno Kietan"
He had of course already responded to the young lady, Juno, and set about acquiring a costume for this 'masque'. He loved costume parties and had the perfect idea of what to wear.
Since he had been masquerading as a pirate in Kusari for the past month or two, he didn't see any reason not to do the same for such a party. Of course, he wouldn't dress like the contemporary, blood-thirsty Corsairs or the drug-dealing Outcast Mafia, so he contacted a tailor to fashion himself something of a more historical, but suitably stylish, bent.
He also managed to pick up a fine old sword to complete the outfit...from the Royal Palace on London, he had managed to charmingly convince a certain Princess that it would be a perfect gift for himself, the dashing space-Captain.
Now, all he needed was a gift.
He had plenty of credits after the last haul, so that wasn't an issue, so was left thinking as to what young girls liked to get as gifts.
...There were the obligatory flowers, but something for this lass was important. He had heard Juno mention that she had it tough in her younger years, so maybe something that would soften her current state?
Of course. A puppy. They had 'cute' written all over them, the perfect gift for a kid. Sure, they were expensive, what with travel costs and general rarity, but it would go down a treat. Nothing could beat having a new friend, so Mariko would be over the moon.
He hoped that Mariko and Juno would appreciate the effort he had went to in selecting a suitable gift as well as the costume which he had tailored especially...
Mariko was still beaming, and it was because of the sugar.
She turned to Juno and asked.
"Who is this man mama-san?"
'This is Andrew Stuart, Mariko, the man I told you about, and my commander.'
She turned back to Stuart, and said;
"Mariko-sama likes Andrew-san very much! Andrew-san brings Mariko-sama nice presents for Mariko-samas birthday! Mariko-sama is so happy Andrew-san came to Mariko-samas birthday!
Mariko took the offered bouquet of Chrysanthemums from Stuart and breathed in deeply to smell them. They were gorgeous, the purest, sweetest smell. The smell of nature.
However, another thing caught Marikos attention; the costume Stuart was wearing was odd. An antique sabre, decorated in a strange, unrecognizable style, stood out from her surroundings. She stared at it for a moment, and then asked.
Andrew-sanwhat is that in your hand?
*This? Its a sabre, Mariko, from a few hundred years ago. I got it off a nice lady from the Royal Palace on New London. Why do you ask?*
Because Mariko-sama was intrigued by it, Andrew-san. It looks very nice. Mariko-sama wonders, what is it supposed to do?
*Well, it was only ceremonial and brought out for special occasions, like this birthday party of yours Mariko. 'Tis also rather good at slicing cake*
He then cut three slices of cake which weren't yet spoiled by the dog. One, he munched on himself, the second, he passed to Mariko with the end of the sabre's blade and the third he gave to the spaniel. The spaniel, distracted by this generous portion, stopped messing up the rest of the tower of sponge and icing.
Hai! Arigato gosaimasu Andrew-san!
*Your very welcome Mariko*
Stuart took a seat feeling very pleased that his presents were received so warmly by the young lady.
He sat, helping himself to extra portions of cake from the other side of the table with his sword in a rather dextrous manner, sipping on a glass of 'Glasgow Outpost Iron Brew', his favourite soft-drink, which was apparently the beverage of choice for the celebration. All in all, this was turning out to be his kind of party.
Mariko then turned towards Derek, and, while wiping the assorted sugary substances, opened a hatch on the massive container of stuffed animals. As she did so, they piled on to her person and she was momentarily buried in them, before digging herself out of the stuffed animal mountain on top of her.
As Mariko emerged from the mound, she was almost ecstatic with excitement at the sight of all the animals. She picked up the massive stuffed elephant infront of her and encapsulated it with her arms tightly, whilst closing her eyes.
As she opened her eyes again, she saw Derek smiling. For a moment she paused, and then excitedly jumped up and hugged him tightly. Derek recoiled as Mariko wrapped her arms around his shoulders and squeezed, but he relaxed after a moment and smiled gently.
Mariko hung on for a moment longer, and then released her grip. She couldnt get happier.
Derek laughed casually, and proceeded to pat Mariko on the head. He then turned towards Juno and slipped her a little note, and proceeded to exit the room. Mariko didnt gauge Junos reaction to the note; she was still busy eyeing the card, labeled Snubnose Neural Mask. After a few moments, Mariko asked.
Mama-san, what is this card for?
I will show you Mariko.
As the pair made their way out of suite twelve and proceeded down the main concourse towards the hangar bay, people dressed in overalls moved into the room. With them, they had strict orders to clean the room and save anything that looked remotely like a present.
When the two got to the hangar bay, they were greeted with the sight of a shiny Rheinland bomber, outfitted fully with armour, a plethora of debilatators and two Nova Cannons. Around the green plated ship, there was a wide red ribbon, with a massive bow at the side. Juno indicated Mariko to pull it, and as she approached it, the entrance to the ship opened.
As Mariko turned around with a overjoyed look on her face, Juno simply returned with a smile.
Take her out for a test drive, dear. Im sure youll like it
Hai! Mariko-sama will do that! Arigato gosaimasu mama-san!
With that, Juno watched as Mariko raced into the cockpit. The ship began to groan as the engines ignited. It turned round, and with a wave from the pilot to Juno, proceeded into the vacuum chamber to be cleared to undock.
Jan reads the message on his screen multiple times and ran his hand through his short, white hair nervously.
She had been gone almost two months now, abandoning the Rheinland Military's flight school. His contacts in the Order were too busy with the events by Freeport 11 to provide any information and, besides, one lost pilot was not their concern now, was it?
He prepared to punch up a furious reply, but from what he had gathered, this Kusari girl wasn't out to spite himself and certainly not those connected to him.
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