Running from Nightfall

[Jeremy Hunter]

Jeremy bunched the bag, throwing in some kicks. He hsd been t it for hours in the gym. Outside, the snowstorm on Toledo raging. He took a second, bouncing on the balls of his feet before returning to beating the crap out of the punching bag. He had taken the express way to Minor after taking a moment to admire the rings around Planet Salina. He was back to Minor defense. He comes back, one Bunter fleet down, Oathkeeper heavily damaged, and oh, look, Imitator got taken down by Ashley McCormick.

"Damn is she fine too. Heh."

Jeremy launched a final kick before lowering his hands. Sweat clung to his chest and back. He grabbed his towel before wipping the sweat away before slipping his shirt back on. He took a breath before heading to his cabin. He missed the days with Black Squadron and Malacos, that short time. Then Rand Seith.

Malacos made contact with him once...then was gone.

Jeremy stripped and turned the water on. After washing in an icy spray, he stepped out and dried off. Dressing in a simple pair of black shorts and a black t-shirt. Droppimg onto his bed, Jeremy looked,at the ceiling.

"Namine...."

The holo crystals warmed, and above him a 3D image of Rika appeared. It was a recording, like most of the time. This one was Rika paying with Coco, her rabbit, in her room. He sighed.

"How is she?"
Namine flickered into existance beside the recording. "Sneaking between Manhattan and the Embrace isn't hard, since she just hops on the odd civilian craft who makes the detour."
"How did she convince me to let her?"
"Let her onto the Embrace? You know, they known, we known, she is the only one who can maintain the Nomad Powercell."

Jeremy sighed.

"I must be insane."
"She wanted to kidnap Mason Ralusch to ransom him for all the cookie dough on Manhattan."
"Crazy AI say WHHHAAAAT?"
"You heard me."

Jeremy just laughed. Leave it to Rika to demand such a thing.

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.