Twilight Thoughts

[Jeremy Hunter]

Izzy was sitting on the small couch by her window, a pillow clutched to her chest, her chin resting on the soft down. She hadn't moved much in a few days; Excluding the bathroom and meals, she had been there, sleeping or thinking. Her mind was filled with clutter, clutter she couldn't organize. Her mind was a mess, and it wasn't cooperating with her. Nothing would go straight; all flipped around and turned like fighters in a dogfight. She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling, then touched her lips. Part of her problem was the absence of her girlfriend, Ashley. The girl had been through so much, and Izzy just wanted to hold her. But she was gone, and now she couldn't even smile at the girl.

Izzy slowly sat up and reached for her PDA. All she had left was to put all she could down in a diary.

Entry One: The Beginning

I'm unsure of what to put onto here...I've been through so much, I have to let it out....

Might as well start at the beginning....



I was born at Fort Edwards, on Los Angeles. I was near the main city of LA City, but I never visited it until I turned ten. My father wouldn't let me off the base, and refused to let my brother even take me outside the fence. Zack said it was because of what happened to Mom. Drunk driver broadsided her car three weeks after I was born. She was just heading down the street to pick up some more formula.

Zack, who was only four, showed a surprising maturity for his age. Dad had to get sitters and nannies, but Zack was the one who did the most. After his fifth birthday, he helped me walk. At my third birthday, he helped me read my birthday card from the Base crew. Every milestone of my life can be traced back to Zack's maturity and care. He was around twelve when I turned ten, and a reckless guy he was. He snuck off base daily to go explore; he learned how to use a knife from the marines on Fort Edwards, and even how to shoot one of the smaller firearms.

It was a marine named Alfred Korselli that suggested, for Zack's birthday, he take me out and have his birthday with me wherever. I wasn't afraid to leave - actually, I wanted to leave so badly. I didn't hesitate to follow him. I remember what I was wearing, the day we went out. My favorite white dress, which had a tear across the hems that brought it to just below my knees. My tennis shoes, of course. No light blue sandals for me outside Edwards. We ran off before the patrols found us...not that it would matter, as Zack knew every guard who was on this shift. They didn't care if he snuck out; Not many people liked Michael Archer. He might be respected, but his strictness to military protocol and confinement of his daughter didn't garner him many friends...

We ran out, and headed into the city. I was entranced by it all. So many places, so many people. None of them military; all were laughing and smiling, some maybe looking serious as they talked on phones, but in all, everyone wasn't military; they were like me. Innocent, carefree. No blood on their hands, no need to defend the Republic from any and all threats. It was amazing to me.

We came to a park, where we had a picnic near the lake. Zack had made sandwiches, and packed soda and fruit. He even managed to smuggle some slices of his birthday cake out, and we had dinner. It was some pretty good cake, but the sandwiches could have used some work. Aunt Alexis was a phenomenal cook; she came by alot, after Uncle Thomas died. We felt sorry for her. Her children were gone, and well. I swear I met one, that day we had the picnic. He just came up and said hello to Zack, who greeted him like an old friend. He was handsome and weird; his hair was all spiky, but his eyes shone blue and bright. he wore some red attire with Fleur-de-lises on the arms and legs; Zack later told me he had a slight flamboyant side, liking the unusual designs. That didn't matter to me. All that I knew was that there was a spark of sorts. I want to say love at first sight, but that was childish. He merely smiled at me, and I nearly swooned. He had to leave, but he at least left me a name.
I'm Jeremy.
And he left.

Nine years passed, and I did not see him. I was sixteen when Dark Halo recruited me for the Terminal, under the beautiful Songstress. The years of 815 to 817 were strange. I met Ellie Hunter, my second crush and...well, second kiss. I had stolen a kiss from Jeremy months before, when he re-appeared one day to speak to Zack. He was surprised and taken back, but I merely hugged him and ran off. I was a foolish girl back then, oblivious to reality. I just went along with whatever, and ended up, at seventeen, almost being arrested in Bretonia. It was for Project: Archangel for Morgenroete, the Terminal's Black Ops division. I can't say more here, but...that was the first step to Morgenroete's starting of the Archives. Alicante.

It was 817 AS when I finally was handed back my Raven's Talon, the Midnight Roar, from Ellie. I then began to stay around Liberty, and, in 818 AS...a few months before the Valentine Hunt...Jeremy found me again. He never changed; he seemed timeless. But, I had turned nineteen just a few days ago...and he confessed. It was cheesy, and cliche, and filled with stuttering. But he said it. He always loved me. I feel like some little girl, like some story character....but it happened. We did it that night at my home. I still remember his surprise when I...uh, wait, Rika is a little hacking monster. I better not go into details...

In the end, I ended up pregnant. I nearly miscarriaged near the middle of the Valentine Hunt, when Nathanial Valentine nearly murdered my love. Jeremy should be dead. He should have never recovered. But he did. I want to say it was because of me, but no. Not just me. It was for Rika. For Ellie. For Seth, the asshat. He survived. My heart, which had been broken so badly...it was mended. That gaping wound, healed. I finally could tell him of what was in me...Soren...Sora...the names we chose for the kids. But Jeremy was The Order, hated in Liberty, and ridiculed and despised by the Navy and LSF alike. He destroyed the DNA records of himself at Los Angeles, then left me with my brother.

We struggled for a few months, until Alexis Hunter came. She and Rika qualified for Navy help, and, when she took me in, and soon after, Strix and Xi de Mortis, we all had a decent apartment on the Navy dime. Rent was free, but utilities, food, electricity...that was on us. Strix and Xi had savings, and I had the full backing of the Hunter Family Fortune, as did Alexis, but she chose not to use it. Alexis didn't like using the money her father had made, but when the going got tough, I used it. The company was no small thing, and kept the bank full. That was our small saving grace, I guess. That the family was rich. But Alexis lived a bit simply. Not bland or bread and water, but she didn't need much. She loved to cook fancy, althought. I guess everyone has a sort of vice. Now I'm rambling.

It was us. Me, Alexis, Rika, Strix, Xi. Soren and Sora. Together we lived there, with me becoming Alexis's goddaughter. When she told me, I shamelessly burst into tears and clutched her tightly. I wanted a mother so badly, and now I had one. It was the happiest moment of my life, having a mother. My own mother...I barely knew her. All I can thank her for is giving me life.

I'd talk about Violet and Trinity, but they came after it. But I can't go on...I'm already crying...I want Ash...I want my love....oh frakk it. I want Jeremy. I...I want him back...


Entry One, closed.

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.

[Jeremy Hunter]

A picture, drawn during the early days. It was one of Izzy's most precious possessions, one of her only links to Jeremy. It was only a sketch done by Rika back at Destiny. The outline in rainbow, because she was bored. Purposely drawing them younger. A few tears dripped onto the heavy paper and soaked in. Izzy lightly dabbed them, avoiding smudging the lines. She set it aside and picked up her PDA. Another twilight hour.

Entry Two: Hunting

Barely a day has passed, and still I must let it out. My head is so cluttered, I can barely think straight. Why is it too much to ask...for the ones I love?



It all started with a man named Nathanial Valentine. He was an Order agent like any other. The proud commander of a gunship, he flew with pride...until that day.
Valentine was neither the first, nor the last, human to become indoctrinated. His mind, filled with the lies of the Nomads, promises and false testimony of light and misunderstanding. He lured Jeremy and others to the Dyson Sphere, attempting to trap them. Victory would have been his, had not a Recon Cruiser been caught in the act, one equipped with a Jump Drive. After that, Jeremy took his Sekhmet and hunted Valentine down. From what Aqua told me, they met in battle at the Iota Jump Hole. Jeremy was outgunned by the gunship, and he ejected Aqua as Valentine dragged him into the Nomad Capital. The trail ended there, and we thought him dead. Alone, cut off from us, there was no way he could have survived. But he did. Somehow, against the odds, he escaped.

He was gone for some time after that. I heard rumors of the "Ghost of Black Icarus", a moniker that was flamboyant and would draw attention. It was all part of the idea. It was so flamboyant, and, well, idiotic, that it gained barely any attention. It worked for a bit, but everything went wrong when the Neo-Terran Front expelled them from Kansas. This was after it happened.

Nathanial Valentine, feeling the pressure the Oracion, and Knight as Jeremy was calling himself, was putting on him, he attempted something. He attempted to murder Rika.
Oracion, using it's Blitz Armor to avoid detection, dropped Jeremy onto Manhattan. It was our doing, the supplies to the Oracion; Morgenroete's support of Knight and the small crew of the Resheph was simple: Stop Valentine.

Nathanial Valentine committed murder. Multiple times. He showed no remorse as he attempted to flush Jeremy out, and finally succeeded. Valentine had targeted someone who was the reason Jeremy fought; his driving force.
Nathanial Valentine went after Rika Hunter.

Me and Ellie were off planet, but we sped back as fast as we could. But we were too late. Jeremy had taken his twin Katanas and other technology from the Oracion and fought Valentine. But even with the tech and telekinesis, Jeremy fell. Ten stories, straight down. He had taken the blade meant for Rika. He nearly died, for Rika. We two managed to get his body away and signaled Seth...otherwise known, as Paladin. We thought he had died, we swore he had died. Everyone thought he had died. But he didn't. Rage, adrenaline, love...you can survive almost anything with those. If not for his telekinesis, his will...he would not have survived. As it went, he almost died again.

Valentine disappeared after that. He was gone from Sirius for so long, we thought the nightmare was over. But I received one last thing from Jeremy before all signals coming from Minor were lost.

The image of Nathanial Valentine, in his bomber. Then the bomber wobbling, then spiraling out of control, smashing into a Bullhead. The ship rocked, momentarily blinded, leaving it open for a full broadside from the Oathkeeper. That was the last I heard from him. He was gone forever.

Rika came back weeks later, shaken and devoid of tears. She refused to talk about anything, refused to even say a word regarding what had happened. We couldn't push it, especially not Alexis. Something spooked the girl, while she was on her trip.

I lost him again. This time...forever....


Why is fate so cruel...take him away once, then return him...but why must you take him away again? I want him back...

Why can't I, at the very least, keep Ash? Why can't fate just let me love someone again, someone who doesn't disappear on me?

Why?

Entry Two. closed.

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.

[Jeremy Hunter]

Izzy shot up, sweating. It was mere hours ago she had broken it off with Ashley. Now Izzy felt more alone then ever. And her nightmares had worsened. This one now detailing her imprisonment, rape, and her Stockholm's. She slid out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom, closing the door. She turned on the faucet and washed her face before going back to her bed. She changed into clean clothes and sat down, tapping her PDA awake. She never gave any indication to what it was like on Arkania, not ever...she had to do it somewhere, or she'd never end the nightmare.

Entry Three: Arkania

The nightmares just worsen. I don't even have someone to curl up with now. I might have called Catherine, but now Mom is with her. I think...No Ash, no Jeremy. No one. Why... why am I always alone?



I was playing around. I was planning on messing with Jeremy, get him all mad so he would act funny, then tell him nothing happened. It always garnered a laugh. But then it all went wrong. Oh so horribly wrong.

I was screwing around, flirting near Manhattan. Then I ended up saying yes to coming aboard a Pilgrim Liner captained by a woman named Rachel. I kinda liked her; she was nice, decent eye candy...or so I thought. I hadn't had a decent shower in a few days due to plumbing issues at the apartment, and Rachel kindly let me use her shower.
That's when her true colors were revealed.

She came in and raped me. She did it again, after I was out. It was horrible. I was just used for sex. My idea of a joke, and a free shower, was now all shot to hell. I was a prisoner, and rightfully so. My IQ is too damn high, but my common sense was rusty. I walked right into a trap, and paid the price. All I could do was cry.

I was a prisoner for weeks. Sometimes she'd leave me in her bed, where I would curl up and clutch my necklace, praying Jeremy would find me. Other times I would be at her side, her eye candy and trophy. I was reduced to a mere shadow; my mental state was shattered, the pieces all crashing down and breaking further, until I felt the word broken would indeed become borked. But, Rachel never once spoke badly to me; while her actions were wrong, she always kept a respectful tone with me. She never tried to physically hurt me, but how could she even fathom how bad the mental implications could be? I was utterly destroyed by this, reduced to little more then a husk.

But, that was when she did something unexpected. While I slept calmly, she impregnated me. She never gave me the details, but soon enough the familiar morning sickness came. I was furious, and I could not deal with a third child for nine months, under these conditions. I had the IQ, and I knew the technology around me. I gave a list of demands, and I essentially made, for simple terms, a machine to accelerate the pregnancy. Was it dangerous? Yes. Both of us, me and the child, could die. But I was not going to just sit by and let this bitch have me for nine months. No, oh no. Her guard would be stronger with me pregnant; I had to get this child out of me, and soon. Plus, the risk that Arkania was destroyed and the life now inside me, gone, was too great. But I couldn't abort it, I just couldn't...this woman had done something...completely random. She had chosen LA to steal the DNA from, and who else did she had to steal it from? A small batch of sperm that was in the research wing. Her randomness, and ignorance, caused me to be the mother of a child with the same genetic DNA as Alexis Hunter. So, to say this simply: The modified sperm carried Nomad Hybrid DNA strands, and it's structure was the same as Alexis Hunter's. It was a stroke of luck that a small blood sample of Alexis had been tested and worked on in conjunction with her father's sperm, the arrogant bastard.

Three weeks later, the machine brought me out as I began labor. I felt as if I was dying; as if I had done something wrong with the machine. But I gave birth to another girl, this one with silver, wispy hair already growing. I named her Seraphim. That was when I felt the old me come out: Defiance, independence. Frakk You I'm A Blonde Genius. It was then that I forumulated my escape plan. My trump card was that the Midnight Roar had been docked in the hanger. I had equipped the Roar with a special program that recorded the engine signature, as well as the unique electronic signature, back when I first got it. It was used mainly to help me find the Alicante when needed... No Rika, I'm not telling you what the Alicante is for pete's sake.

The Midnight Roar was waiting on Manhattan when I managed to write a trojan program that remotely activated it. It took weeks to, little by little, write the program as Rachel slept, using a PDA I had nicked from one of the crew. Soon enough, the Roar came as the Arkania hovered by Sugarland of all places. I nearly cried as it forced it's way in. Shouts and screams filled the halls as crashes and gunfire drew closer.

Silence fell. It was eerie. Rachel stood slowly, gun raised, when the door quite literally was thrown off it's hinges and smashed into the Captain's Chair. Stepping through, cloak billowing, katanas snugfit on his back, hood raised, was my savior. It didn't matter that his face was covered; only one person would make such a flamboyant entrance, and look pretty good doing it. He then raised his arm, causing Rachel to slam against the window. He would have murdered her then and there, ending the nightmare...but I stopped him. I knew Stockholm would set in, and it did. I couldn't let Rachel die, especially since I couldn't let him know of Seraphim. The child...I couldn't let him see her. So, I managed to talk him down and finally off the ship. We left, with me finally crying again, in his arms.

Upon our arrival on Manhattan, Jeremy had told me he had called all he could: Eriksson, Christopher. They in turn called Sequoia Hart of Nature's Last Hope. Eriksson even called an SCRA Gunship once...and caused a diplomatic incident. Michal Golanski, and I'm sure Chris Leigh helped (even though Jeremy hates the guy nowadays...something about his stunt...). I felt alone, but I never was. Everyone had been looking for me, and in spirit were with me.

I've never told anyone about Seraphim. I think Alexis might know, but I can't be sure. All I can be sure of, is two people know who Seraphim is: Me and Rachel. And I haven't seen the two in ages...

Maybe...maybe I'll see if Ashley will still hang out with me...I...I need someone who'll be there. At least to hug me and tell me it's ok. Xi is going off, Strix and Violet are reclusive, and Rika...I can't bear to look at her anymore. She's hiding something.

Yes, you are kiddo. I doubt you are going to sleepovers all the time. Or camps. And you know for a fact I disbelieve there is an All-Los Angeles Young Teen Light Fighter Racing Competition over near Venice Beach.

The only bright side I can think of, revolves around the fact my psychiatrist (aka Xi, who's a Doc of All Trades) saying my mind is looking less like someone dropped class from a fifty story building and took a steamroller over it, and looking like a window a baseball had been thrown through.

I nearly smacked that pizza-loving girl, if not for the fact she had an extgra-large tofu and anchovy pizza strapped to her back.

I'm not that damaged to try and mess with a girl who specializes in Pizza-Based Ammunition Combat when she has the most disgusting pizza in the universe on her back.

I have an IQ, and tactically...I'd probably need the Los Angeles, Thalia Grace, Jason Grace, and most likely I'd need to steal the Durango. Because, I'm sorry, that pizza is a Weapon of Mass Destruction.



And I have no clue how the hell I got from rape to pizza. I guess I'm still damaged goods.

Oh lawd.


Izzy closed the diary, smiling slightly. Maybe tomorrow she'd go and see if Ashley would still be her friend. Because Izzy was running low on the most priceless commodity one can obtain: a friend.

Entry Three, closed.

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.

[Jeremy Hunter]

Izzy washed her face again. Ashley's Anki had nearly been a write-off. She looked around her Claymore's small bathroom, then decided what she would log into her diary come the time.

Entry Four: Eventide

I didn't lose Ash after all. We broke up, but...she's still there for me. She even let me hold her like I used to; Arms around her waist, my face nestled i her hair, and my body against her back... I wish I never had to leave her...but she deserves better. Yes, I saved her life three times. But I still am not good enough for her.
Now, Jeremy isn't good enough for me, but hey, he chose me...kinda....sorta....ok, we chose...wait, why am I arguing with myself?!



Midnight Roar. Lunar Eclipse. Names that all had to do with night. Well, my newest edition to the garage was Eventide...the end of the day.

I was out with a mate from the Terminal, Seiryu Kururugi.

He's a great guy, and we were good friend, when during our time on the Alicante. I'll admit, we did...have a slight make out session...interrupted by Ellie...Rika Kairi Hunter, I swear, if you tell anyone, I'll throttle you.
Anyways.
We gathered a few old faces:

Cameron James, a whiz mechanic and perpetual sleeper. Kinda looks like Jeremy, without the spikes.

He is a pain in the ass to get moving if you don't have coffee handy. Seriously.
And Haley Norton. Was good with electronics, and was a decent substitute in case I was away from the Eventide. Of course, we didn't think of that. We just liked the fact she was easygoing. Not to mention she'd share a bed with me so I could curl up with someone. She's a good friend like that...no Rika, I didn't sleep with her in that sense. Like I sometimes crawl into bed with you when you're having a nightmare? That kind.

So, there we are. We four went off and explored around Bretonia. Liberty was a boring sometimes, and, well, might as well see if find anything relating to the Gallic Royal Navy that Terminal could make use of. And sightseeing. Heh.

So, we flew around Newcastle, skirting the edges of the Derelict City (those Brets are pretty touchy) and ended up heading to Tau-31, where we got turned around and headed in the completely wrong direction. So, of course, that worked to out benefit. We stumbled upon a mostly-intact Gaian Claymore Gunship somewhere west of the Jump Hole. Was awesome, really. An entire gunship, to ourselves. Of course Haley said we should flip a coin to see who'd be the captain, but then Seiryu pointed out I was actually the highest ranking in The Terminal...so, I ended up (thankfully) commanding the to-be-salvaged ship. And boy, was it work.

First, we had to drag it to a clear spot...in other words, we dragged it into Edinburgh. Once we found a safe spot, all we had to do was wait for the Alicante to arrive. It gave us a lift to...somewhere, where we got around to bringing it to drydock and giving it a complete overhaul. Sadly, it was pretty badly banged up, far from our first assessment, and since the Gaians weren't just going to give us the plans, we had to improvise. While it was not going to be at full power anytime soon, the ship was ready to fly, at least. I hoped I got a chance to show it to Ash...I mean, we were still friends.

We just needed a name now. But what would we call it?

It took me a few minutes, but I finally found it. A name that, not only went with my other two ships, but fitted the Claymore.
Eventide. The end of the day. We all liked it, actually. Midnight Roar, Lunar Eclipse, Eventide. Was a nice little fleet I had. Hell, I even got the name I'll use if I ever get ahold of a cruiser - Witching Hour.

Eh...I won't get ahead of myself...Probably will never get a cruiser. I don't steal stuff from Liberty.

Anyways, that's the story. Wasn't special; no death-defying last-minute escapes, no sneaking onto Gaian bases, no sleeping with hot Gaian women to get to their husbands. Just four friends dragging a Claymore wreck to a planet and then fixing it.

How normal.

I guess that ends this entry...now, if only Ashley would stop punching inanimate objects, running away, and jumping on top of goshdamn semis, I'd have an actually awesome night!

Izzy turned off the PDA, then flopped back into bed. She hoped James could deal with Ashley; that girl, as sweet as she is...is a right handful.

Entry Four, closed.

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.

[Jeremy Hunter]

Izzy woke up to find her face filled with tears. At first she was confused, but then, she realized that there had been no nightmare.
She had slept soundly.

Entry Five: The whereabouts of happiness

I'm not alone.

She's still with me.

And if she promised to stand with me, then I will not give up hope.



The nightmares that plagued me before and after my relationship with Ashley are gone again. It only took that one last kiss. My body just felt lighter, my head, felt clearer. My heart, less empty. I might not be the one closest to her, but our feelings are still the same.I might not be able to kiss her and stuff, but holding her...hearing her say that... I felt all that...pressure lift. And I haven't had a good nights sleep like that in awhile.
She still can't stay out of trouble. Seriously, I'm going to make James tie her down at their home, because, oh my god, how can she always seem to nearly get herself hurt, maimed, or killed? It astounds me to how much trouble this girl gets into. I'm sorry, I've only met one other person who was this much of a handful, and that was Sara, who's been gone for God knows how long.

Seriously, why do I always end up with the crazies?

I miss Jeremy. He at least is normal enough to have the crazy things happen with alot of distance between it all. Or Kai. Hell, the craziest thing that happened was the....

I think Soren inherited his father's gift. He nearly picked up his rattler while he was having his afternoon nap. It was shaking a bit...just enough to not be any natural cause. Sora...I know she has Jeremy's gift. The girl threw a small ball out of her crib once during the night. I fear someone will find out the kid's abilities...Alexis doesn't know, at least I don't think so. Even if she did, she couldn't do anything; the DNA of them and her would be too close to be a coincidence. Silence is our ally.

Rika is leaving more and more. I'm afraid she's somehow returning to wherever the Order is. She's playing with fire. She might get hurt. (Yes, I'm worried about you kiddo, despite the fact I want to throttle you so much at times). If she is, she won't tell me anything...and not many people can get her like that. I think Ellie or Seth is behind it. I know Ellie is alive; She was at Destiny a bit ago. Seth...he just doesn't do the dying thing. You could make his major organs hamburger, and he'd still pull through. He just doesn't die.
It could be Jeremy, but the recording that had Valentine's death...I got a glimpse of the main consoles. The Oathkeeper...only a miracle could have saved it. He's gone. But Ashley keeps reigniting my hope.

I guess fate's telling me, I need her, but not as a girlfriend. Maybe.

Why can't fate just be blunt and say "stop frakking Ashley already and start moving forward." Sheesh. You'd think fate woulda gotten that idea some time ago.

That's all I got for today...I feel better now. My head isn't as cluttered...but I fear I may need to write down some of what I had done during the 815-817 AS years. I'll have to threaten Rika with spinach though, or she might blab.

Yes honey, I'm going there. Some things are not meant for anyone to know.


Entry Five, closed.

Addendum:
That is cruel Izzy. -Rika

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.

[Jeremy Hunter]

Izzy barely slept. She was on Lodeve, and she had just gotten back from Orleanais and from Vendome. She had upset Ashley, with her hostility towards Armond.

Rubbing her temples, she grabbed her PDA.

Entry Six: Halcyon

Operation Halcyon. I mission for the Terminal I didn't want to remember...



It was no milk run. It was no easy job. No, it was a hard one.

Adelaide Roux. She was on the fast-track to be the Directeur of Naval Intelligence. From there...Grande Marechal of the Navy. Our mission was to assassinate her younger brother, Armond, and hopefully turn her anger towards the Maquis, terrorists who knew nothing of mercy, and destroy her career with hatred. It was a tricky job, but I knew how to do it...and minimalise casualties while causing a big enough mess. I didn't like killing him, I hated to do it, but I was the only one who could. The Terminal was unable to send anyone else skilled enough; Had to fall to me.

I barely managed to sneak away from Manhattan onboard the Midnight Roar, where I rendezvoused with Alicante. The Terminal's home, and Dark Halo's...I'd say only, but I never know of anyone outside The Terminal...warship.

Rika Kairi Hunter, I will get the brussel sprouts.

We jumped into Ile-De-France and hide behind one of the fifteen (count it - FIFTEEN) planets there, where I climbed into a Moonbeam fighter. It would work.
I undocked and made a beeline towards the place and came there without incident...even managed to get on as a tourist, "Michelle de La Fontain." Sheesh, the Police turned a blind eye when I showed some cleavage and dropped a decent amount of francs into their pockets. The LPI back at home at least had some decency - they'd at least say "we'd prefer donuts to you ma'am" before taking the money. So...not that hard to get onto Planet Orleans...
It wasn't hard finding the Roux's estate. The security was the hard part...of course, it was my lucky one of the guards was a bit sex-deprived and happily followed me behind a shed with a promise of a good time.
I doubt he liked the goose egg on his head after I knocked him out.

I found his room, pretty easily once I broke in. It was a challenge, but one I was up to.
And it was a cakewalk, finding Armond's room.. It was the only locked door I found. I hacked into the lock and pushed it open. What I saw stopped me.
He was asleep with another woman resting against his chest. I caught my breath and froze. They reminded me of myself and Jeremy...
I couldn't do it. Not murder. Not like this. So I turned to leave, and I ended up hitting something. Armond was up, yanking on boxers. I took off running, and I hear him coming after me. I ran faster, but he overtook me at a turn and tackled me down. We grappled for a minute, until I kicked him away and retrieved my fallen gun, I turned to face him. He was on his back, looking up at me. I didn't want to do it, but he was there. He had seen me. I kinda teared up, but before I could fire, a door opened. I swung around, ready to kill, when I stopped.

It was a young girl, barely ten, who looked sick and scared. She was in a flowing blue nightgown, and looked up. I froze, and Armond took the initiative to tackle me. I was taken by surprise and subdued. He shouted "Get back Amelie!" and pressed his knee into my back. I was hauled away and stripped of my weapons...mostly. Only five of my twenty seven assorted knives were found. I'm just good like that.

I was questioned about it all for a few hours, then Armond himself came. He, instead of a harsh tone and language, was calm and kind. He did not raise his voice, so I told him my first name, Isabella. We kinda...got along well. He took me trying to kill him, very well.
Then he asked me why I didn't. I told him.
"You, with your girl...reminded me of someone I did it with. And dying right next to them like that...I couldn't do it."
"And, the girl?"
"Same guy. Has a little sister. Kinda...would feel like I was killing him."
Armond and me talked more, and he released me. I guess he thought I wasn't a threat anymore. I wasn't. He was walking me back to my ship when the Police got a different idea.

Backstabbers. They wouldn't even listen to a Baron's son, which what Armond was. His uncle was the Comte of Orleans. But no, the Police didn't listen. One of them even started to hurt Amelie! As they started to take me away, I showed Armond exactly how dangerous I remained. With the police down, I cleaned my knives and ran off towards my ship, which sadly had been taken over...And, well. Turns out a RPGB was waiting outside the docking ring. That wouldn't do.

Distraction. That was easy. I hot wired a Caracal and sent it flying through the main runway on autopilot.
And accidently destroyed the gift shop when it crashed. My bad.
So, after that, I went, found a line of cheap, used Moonbeams being sold by some slick guy in a suit (damn used ship salesmen). Of course, I knocked him out, stole the flight codes, set them all to hit the RPGB, which Armond told me was the Caiman, and then took the initiative and stole a Police Serval. I then put my stupid plan into effect.

I can't believe it worked. There were probably fifteen moonbeams in the starport, all being sold.
Well, I cleaned up that spot, as all of them smashed into the Caiman. First five smashed into it, downing the shield. The rest kamikazied into the hull...and I made my escape back to Alicante.

Armond owed me, for saving Amelie from the Police. I don't get why he thought she would get seriously hurt, but...oh well. He owed me, and I finally collected when I needed to use Vendome's infirmary to, eheh...break Ashley's legs and reset them.

Sheesh, that girl gets into too much trouble...

And damn, why does he go from planetside estate to a giant station in four years?!


Entry Six, closed.

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.

[Jeremy Hunter]

Izzy woke up, sore. She finally had returned to Manhattan, and man, did it do a number on her. She had spent some time at Trinity's, and like hell she was straight. Sighing, she found more clutter in her mind, so she sat down with her PDA and a cup of hot cocoa and started to type.

Entry Seven: Siblings

I lost Jeremy.

Ash is married.

Alexis has gotten with Catherine.

Means all I got left right now is my brother.



Zack is all I have. He's my older brother, a Captain in the Liberty Navy. Officially he is off duty, due to injuries, but he still manages to wrangell into commanding the dreadnought Los Angeles. Yes, I see the irony. Us being born on LA, his command being the LA... the LA wasn't always a dreadnought. The first ship was actually a Siege Cruiser that was scuttled to keep it out of Hellfire Legion hands. Zack had played along with the Hellfire Legion, making sure his crew got away safely...pulled out Jeremy, and managed to get away in a coma.

Hey, never said he was the smart brother.

Zack's the one who, well, introduced me to the world. He got me off of Fort Edwards. He taught me how to survive on the streets. I owe a lot to him. I just wish he'd stop fighting in this fools war. The real problems are not with Rheinland. I wish Alexis and Zack didn't have to fight, but it looks like they would have to. He event taught me to draw. He's an excellent artist. His ability hasn't been affected by his injuries; it actually seems like he can draw better with the blindfold. Guess you can't stop someone all the time with blinding them.

Zack's everything to me. Since Dad disowned me, Zack has always supported me. He sometimes would watch the kids, sometime watched me. He would bring the LA out of the atmosphere whenever someone was in danger, whenever I called. Being of the secondary fleet gave him some leeway.

I never told him about Seraphim. I'm not sure how he would react. He'd probably take the LA and go hunt down the Arkania and take Seraphim off...but I can't traumatize her. Best she only knows me as Rachel's ocasional bedmate.

I'll have to write about Seraphim...all I know...I guess that'll be the next entry.

Wow, short entry...guess my clutter isn't as bad.


Entry Seven, closed.

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.

[Jeremy Hunter]

Izzy tapped the side of her desk, staring at the blank diary page. She didn't know what to write. Yet her mind still was cluttered with thoughts. Her mind wandered, then snapped back into place as the front door closed. Alexis must have returned from Catherine's.
Izzy dragged a picture over to the top of the entry started to type.

Entry Eight: Mother

I only knew my real mother for a few short weeks. All I can remember of her is a smile.



Above, there? That's the woman who's loved me like her own daughter since I came here, cast down and broken. Hell, she cared for me before that. Dad was never the best with kids...Zack and Alexis? They took care of me.

Alexis is my godmom; Trisha, my real mother, had named her Godmother (no, not a fairy, just a regular godmother!). She always cared for me, and always has been there for me. Alexis...she's great. Does all the cooking and cleaning, doesn't bother me to do it (probably why I usually clean my room up myself; she doesn't nag me every minute.) and always understands when I need to be alone. She's been there to hold me when I've cried, been there to smile when I've been happy, and there to keep me from being lonely. I lost count how many times I've used her lap as my pillow when I cried over Jeremy, over Ashley. She'd just stroke my hair and calm me down, then gently lift me to a sitting position and get me some hot chocolate.

I remember...when I had my fun time with Ash, after she was married. I started crying my eyes out when James came. Alexis was called in, and knew exactly what was wrong. She knows me like no other...
I wish there was a way I could repay the kindness she has always shown me.

I don't know what else to say, other then...well...the only thing she ever did wrong to me was dating Catherine, but, whatever. That was a one night stand; still, woulda been nice to have been informed.
It's ok...she's happy with Catherine, that's all that matters...and hey...she's fine with me sleeping with one of her superior officers.
Oh well. She's an awesome mom, what can I say?


Entry Eight, Closed

Addendum
Nothing - Rika

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.

[Jeremy Hunter]

Izzy checked her comm. No messages from Andi yet. Sighing, Izzy threw her jacket on her bed and dropped into her chair, waking her computer up from it's slumber.

Entry Nine: The Sorrowful Battlefield

There's pain in her. Maybe I can heal it.



Everywhere, there is a battlefield. One of guns, one of wits, one of emotions. Doesn't matter. Everywhere there is a battlefield. Some of it is a battle to see who will break down and say "I love you" first, while others are to see who will break and give you what you want. It's all a battlefield, with some that are happy and some are sorrowful. It is up to use to decide how each battlefield is fought, and how each turns out.

So. I ended up finding this really cute, but really distant girl named Felicia. She captain a Hathor, which, well, really got my attention...So, I started to talk to her.
I know that voice. Pain, sorrow. Betrayal. I've heard and used that voice too many times. You know how I am...I wanted to hug her...but no. Her heart was cold now. I'd probably get hurt. But...she might need to lash out, to release it all.

She has light blue eyes, this blonde, nearly white hair. Kinda like Seraphim's. Her eyes are sad though. I wish I could bring the happiness back...hell, I wish someone would. She says everything...just...I can't even describe it. Like nothing is a big deal. It confused me. Why would she...sound like she didn't care?

And then her criticizing how I lived my life being a mother. Seriously. Who gave her...I need to stop ranting.

Rika. I know you're reading this when I'm gone. I need you to contact Eriksson, ask him to find everything he can regarding the Gunship Sanguis. Leave a note in entry eight. Thanks kiddo.

Anyways. I hope I can dig something up for her. Don't dawdle now Rika...Not sure if she'll disappear anytime soon. Not like I can speed-dial her number and ask where she is and if she wants to get a drink.

Entry Nine, Closed.

---

May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.

[Jeremy Hunter]

Izzy booted up her diary once more, the old, venerated program having been left in the recesses of her Raven's Talon..

Entry Ten:

Scenario for Bloodshed
She's grown up.



It's been a few years since my last entry. I haven't aged a day. None of us have. But Seraphim? My baby grew up without me. Soren, Sora...they've grown. But I've stayed the same. I can become twenty five, thirty, forty. I won't look a day over nineteen. It's a curse...it's a gift. I don't know anymore. All I know is that I'm here, once again, in Alexis' penthouse apartment, lookng out across Manhattan with this sense of....sorrow. Foreboding. A sence that what transpired since I was gone has evolved from desperation, from us looking for the whereabouts of happiness....this endless rondo, turning into a scenario for bloodshed.

Akira was a traitor. He worked for the Guild Core, he always had. He had avoided all those scans, those tests...Cerberus had taught the man well enough...and then he struck. He stole Rika...she can't catch a break. Taken by the Guild Core this time, now gone once again...we chased him. We took the Oathkeeper, we took the Kusanagi. The Ghost Eye....we used everything in our power to hunt him down, but for years he eluded us. We didn't know what to do. We didn't know how to proceed. She had the strongest DNA from Masako....she had the strongest DNA of them all.

We found bastards, finally. A Mako...the grand warship of the illustrious Guild Core was their home, and where our precious Rika was.
We trapped it in somne Omicron...and we beat them into submission. When I said a scenario for bloodshed, I meant their blood. We slaughtered them all. They had broken all sence of mercy, decency, and morality within them and slaughtered every single one of them. We took Rika back and turned that Mako to ash. We ensured not even the ash was untouched.
When we were done, we let whatever remained, what little remained, slowly extended and spread into the vast reaches of space. I took my leave, I headed for Manhattan, my home...I headed for my mother.

Jeremy took his family back towards Order space. It was time for their homecoming, their return. For all that had transpired, Jeremy Tobias Hunter was no longer letting Rika return to Manhattan...no, he couldn't let her be near the LSF, the Nomads, anyone but those he trusted.

All I know is that Alexis is going to be torn apart. When I tell her, she will be angry...she will be distraught...but it mattered not.
Rika had to be kept safe.

I only hope Alexis believes me, when I say that she is safest with Jeremy than even herself.

...What the hell do you mean, Seraphim was here? Where did she go...oh you have got to be kidding me.

Entry Ten, Closed

[u]Addendum[//u]
Guilty as charged, Iz. - Rika