Jeremy stepped out of the Hawk and onto the hard Toledo surface. As crews ran out to disassemble the now ruined fighter, Jeremy took in the entire seen.
High Mountins, frigid snow. It was all there. Jeremy sighed and walked in. He brushed some snow from his dark clothing and finally found his way to the bar. After ordering a root beer, he sat back. The bartender looked at him.
"New?"
"Yeah."
The man nodded. "What brings you to the Order?"
"SOmething killed my dad, and it sure as hell wasnt human."
The man frowned. "Nomads?"
"What else would leave marks such as these?" Jeremy shows a few pictures to the barman. The man grimaced at the photo. Nomads. Definetly.
"Sorry friend. Here's another on the house."
Jeremy drained the drinks.
"Thanks."
------------------
801 AS
Jeremy leapt into his fighter and started the beginning sequence. Namine popped up on his holopad.
"Rendevous point at the Osiris, Secot 3F."
Jeremy nodded and smoothly lifted off. "Omega WIng, Form on me!"
Four Anubis fighters slotted into positions around Jeremy. "Captain, we got incoming!"
Jeremy looked over to see a formation of Nomad fighters inbound.
"Omega 2, Omega 3, break off and engage, Omega 4, Omega 5, I need you to cover those two Rhinos." a pair of Rhinos rocketed past as he said this. The fighters roared off.
"Captain!"
Jeremy looked to see a sole Rhino pursued by two Nomad fighters. Jeremy roared over and opened fire, catching the first one by surpirse. The second broke off, but it was a futile gesture.
"Omega Wing, transports away, head to Rendevous at the Osiris."
Omega 3, 4, and 5 returned.
"Where is Omega 2?"
Omega 3 was looked to the side. "She went down. Managed to take another with her before she lost it."
Jeremy shook his head. "Lets go."
-------------
Omicron Major
Jeremy slotted in beside Trent.
"We got incoming!"
Jeremy jinked to the left. "Alpha 2 breaking off. 3, lets roll."
Trent just accelerated towards the Dyson sphere and Jeremy and Alpha 3 fired thier missiles. Trent finished the sphere off, then went to the next. Jeremy saw a formation fo fighters.
"Alpha 3, five incoming from 3 o'clock."
"I see them!" Alpha 3 broke off and launched toward them. Jeremy barrel rolled out of the way of a Nomad missile and blew another to hell. "Beta Team, Its getting hot down here!"
"Hang on Captain, Im coming!" Beta 2 flew in.
"Damn...Rebecca, I've picked up one!"
"I got it!" Rebecca, Beta 2, fired her guns and tore the fighter to peices.
"Nice shooting."
"You're buying the round of drinks kid."
"Deal."
Jeremy flipped over as the last sphere went. "Alpha 3, form up, lets go in."
(//single player stuff happens//)
----------------
Los Angeles, 815 AS.
Storm Cryogenics, Incorperated.
The cryopods slid open. Elena storm went over to the first one and bent over the prone figure. She took out a syringe and deftly injected the sleeping person. After giving the next one the same treatment, she gently shook awake the three kids. The first one sat up.
"Aww...five more minutes."
"You've had fourteen years."
Jeremy blinked and shook his head. To his left, Ellie and Rika both woke up and took the robes offered to them. Jeremy grabbed a towel and headed to the shower. The warm water jarred them awake, and when they exited, freshly clothed, Elena checked the two older kids.
"Hmm...Jeremy, Ellie...your fine. You wont be aging...either way."
Jeremy and Ellie let out sighs of relief and hugged eachother. Rika tapped Elena.
"I want the shot."
The three stared, shocked. Elena crouched down. "Why sweetie?"
"Because." Rika set her 10 year old face. "I wont age while Jeremy and Ellie dont."
Elene, shocked by the devotion, injected her. In hindsight, she could be arrested. But the fire in Rika's eyes jarred her to give the girl her wish.
When the time came, she was glad.
----------
Los Angeles, July 16, 815 AS
Jeremy walked down the street, coming home after a game of basketball with his friends Zack, Axel, and his cousin Tobias Storm. As Jeremy walked, he reflected. He was home alone for the week. His mother, Alexis Hunter, was commanding the Dreadnought Say My Name, which was currently guarding Zone 21. Ellie was taking the week at a spa trip with her friends. Rika was spending the night with a friend. ANd his brother, Seth, was on a trip with a friend to Manhattan. He was alone.
Jeremy hated being alone, but he accepted it. One week. He could survive that.
As Jeremy turned onto the street before his, he heard a tentative "Um...excuse me?"
Jeremy turned to see a young girl around his age, wearing short jean shorts, a green shirt than only coverd to top half of her, and tennis shoes (expensive-ish ones though).
"Yes?"
"You...looking for some company?"
Jeremy took a moment to take the girl in. She had grey-ish eyes, short black hair like his sister, and actually was really cute.
"I dont think your a regular here, and I hell as dont think you wanna be like this."
The girl nodded. Her face was red, and her eyes showed he was a bit embarrased. Jeremy pressed on.
"Whats your name?"
"Tara..."
Jeremy fished in his pocket and pulled out a 100-credt card. "Im home alone, and I really hate being alone. 100 credits-a day-to put up with me for the week."
The girl was shocked. "What?!"
Jeremy shrugged. "Rich family, im responsible, and you seem to need a kind person."
"You dont want..."
"In all likelyhood I wont."
Tara nodded and fell in step with Jeremy.
"So, you're...?"
"Jeremy Hunter."
Tara stared. "As in, the grandson of Solomon Hunter?"
"The very same."
Solomon Hunter was a buisness Tycoon, and Jeremy was a decendant of the Hunter family. The Hunter's had lived on Los Angeles since it was found, and before that Manhattan. Since then, the Hunter's have become an influential family on Los Angeles, even having a private island that was on no maps in Sirius.
When the two arrived at the Hunter's seaside mansion, Tara stared. "Oh.My.God. I've been killed and gone to heaven."
Jeremy chuckled. "Come on in and I'll make you something to eat."
Tara's stomach rumbled. "You'd really show me this kindness?"
Jeremy nodded. "I get feelings, and my gut is telling me that you need help."
Tara nodded. "I dont know what to say."
A pillow hit her face. "Just say thanks."
---------------
The next day, Tara woke up in the guest bedroom, stark naked. She sat up, holding the covers up to shield herself from view as she took in the room. Her clothes were freshly cleaned and on the foot of the bed, and more approrpiate wear was on a table in one corner. All was new. Tara got up and started a bath. The water was warm, and everything sparkled. She slid into the bubblebath and sighed.
"Thank you Lord it wasnt a dream."
When she finished, Tara got out and slipped on a silk robe after drying. She sat on the bed to take a moment.
The door opened, and Jeremy walked in with a fully loaded tray of pancakes, bacon, eggs, toast, and chocolate milk.
"Did you...?"
"It became a sort of mini hobby when I returned from war."
"War?"
Jeremy grinned. "I flew with Trent in the Nomad war. Saw friends come and go."
Tara nodded. "And yet you have such a sunny dispoition. And why dont you have a staff?"
Jeremy sighed. "The one week everyone's gone is the one week the staff get a holiday."
"Wow...weird." Tara practically inhaled the food. In ten minutes it was gone.
Jeremy continued. "So, I was stuck here alone, and lo and behold, a poor, cute girl asked if I wanted some company." Jeremy chuckled at the situation. Tara smiled. "Oh, and if you need anything, dont hesitate to ask." Jeremy left Tara to change.
Tara entered Jeremy's bedroom and stopped. Compared to the rest, it was...it didnt belong.
Posters of action videogames and movies graced the walls, high-tech computers, video game consoles, and even a Root Beet Fountain. Tara laughed, she was so shocked.
"Like my room?"
tara whirled around to see Jeremy. "Oh, i didnt mean to intrude..."
Jeremy shook his head. "No, its ok. I dont mind." Jeremy looked to his left as a pop-up appeared on the comp.
Tara suddenly stepped closer and kissed him.
Jeremy jerked back, stunned. "Uh...
"Just kiss me you fool." Tara kissed him. her hands went for his belt. Jeremy, a bit taken back, stopped her.
"I'm sorry...but I can't."
Tara paused, then kissed him. Jeremy gently kissed her back, then shifted his weight and made them drop onto the bed. Snuggling close to her, he smiled.
"So...tell me about yourself."
Tara took a deep breath.
"I dropped out of high school a year ago. My parents needed help. Mom was sick, dad's job was long and didnt pay well. My ex boyfriend dumped my for the babe of the school, my friends all left me when mom finally passed...and dad just couldnt support me. He commited suicide four months ago. Ever since, I've been working odd jobs...some guy saw my look and offered me a job...And he liked that I wouldnt let him take me for a 'test drive'. He admired it, but saw me as only a tool. He paid me well to dance at his club. Finally he fired me because some perv wanted an even privater dance, and I wouldnt, not even for any amount of cash. Then another guy found me, and then you."
Jeremy's hands were on her stomach, but on went to rub her back. Jeremy kissed her head again. "I'm sorry."
Tara gently layed her head on his chest. "Thanks." She kissed him deeply, but in thier hearts they both knew they werent soulmates.
----------
When the week was up, Jeremy and Tara had been snuggling together every night to talk. Tara had poured out her heart, and every time she left his room, she felt lighter. When Tara finally left, Jeremy deposited a very large sum of cash to her account. When she checked it, there was a note.
Stay in school this time. And remember: I'll always be your friend.
Got it memorized?
-J
Tara read the note and cried. her dreams might jsut come true.
All because she had asked the right guy the right thing.
Damn cliches and stuff was all she managed to say.
------------
Jeremy swept his little sister off her feet when she entered the rotunda. With a kiss to the forehead and a present of a new toy, Rika hugged her brother.
"How was the sleepover?"
"It was fun! We swam, we played with the toys, more people showed up and we played Hide ANd Seek, it was so fun! How was your week?"
Jeremy smiled and ruffled her hair. "It was good Rika. It was good."
![[Image: jeremy10.png]](http://i40.servimg.com/u/f40/16/80/35/65/jeremy10.png)