I wont say Goodbye

[Jeremy Hunter]

Alejandro Valdez tapped his clip board as he approached the new arrival. Libertonian,by her looks, she was sleepimg soundly. He checked the report.

"Madre de dios...that scar must have hurt...mi dios...this is one tough,chica to still be in,one piece after that incedent." Valdez gently laid a hand on her head. "Hm..." He checked the side of her neck for a pulse. "Pulse normal...well chica, seens you'll be fine."

Valdez turned and left the infirmary on the Praefact-class cruiser Espada de Fuego. As he threaded to the cargo bay, he stopped by the mess to get a quick bite.
Valdez entered the hanger and surveyed the wrecked Nephthys. It was a mess. Though largely intact, its entire port side was gouged out. A gapping hole was there, marking the spot where the Manta had collided. Valdez ran a hand along the name.

Tears of a Nobody...a bleak name."

Infirmary

Explosions rocked the ship
A man yelled something
A green nebula
Them...

Alex woke up. She blinked and sat up slowly. She looked over herself. Her body had a few burns, a scraoe or two, a bunch of bruises, but other than that, nothing serious. Except she had no clothes. Again.

"Why do I never have clothes?" Alex said. She drew the covers close. "Hello?"
She heard a stylus drop onto a desk, and a young female nurse entered. "Hola. Welcome back senorita, to the land of the living. How do you feel?"
"Like crap. Can I have my clothes?"
"I am sorry, but your clothes were wrecked. We have a replacement pair for you to wear. Do you feel up to it?"
Alex sighed. "Yeah."

A few minutes later, Alex had a ill-fitting outfit. She wasnt complaining; least it was clothes. The nurse lead her to an,office. Knocking, she heard someone say enter. Entering, she sat down.

"Hello...?"
"Hola. I am Capitan Emillio Cruz. Welcome onboard Espada de Fuego, or the Sword of Fire."
"Why am I here?"
"Core fighters ambushed you. Yaren detected the battle and diverted us to check it out. We found your fighter in orbit. You are one tough chica to survive that."
"I...just survive I guess."
"We are preparing to take you back to Omicron Minor."
"Im not Order. They just gave me the ship."
Cruz sighed and lit a cigar. "Well mi amiga, where was your destination?"
"Freeport Nine...then Kusari."
"I shall take you as far as Freeport Nine. After that...you are on your own."
Alex nodded. "Thank you."

Freeport Nine
The Praefact moored and transfered the remains of the Nephthys. Cruz stopped Alexis from exiting.
"Senorita Alex, please keep this as a token of our hospitality." He handed her a patch for his ship. "It is not every day we have a Libertonian amnesiac flying an Order fighter who can take on Three Mantas and live." He turned around. "Adios Alex."

Alex checked with the mechanics. For the repairs, she would be left with just enough for a personal sidearm.
Walking to the bar, she took a seat.

"Whacha havin'?"
"Is water free?"
"Poor as hell?"
"Ship, sidearm. All I got."
The man poured a shot of vodka. "On the house. Look like a vodka girl."
"Aye." Alex drained it. "Now...I should see about..."
"Accomadations? Ask Elyssa. She usually is lonely. She probavly would love the company."
"Where is this Elyssa?"
"Port Biodome."

Alex got up and left.

At the biodome, Alex found a sole girl sitting on a bench.

"Elyssa?"
The girl turned. "Yea?"
"Um...the bartender told me to talk to you about accomadations."
The girl giggled. "No money, ship a wreck?"
"Sadly."
Elyssa stood up. "Then my room is your's." Elyssa looked,at Alex's clothes. "I think I have hand me downs...oh, right. What's your name?"
"Alexis. But...i perfer Alex."
Elyssa smiled. "Pleased to meet you Alex."

Alex didnt know why her luck was good, but she knew, sooner or later, it would run out.

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.