Starlight

A story by David R. 'Nutzoide' King

Chapter 09: Reality

    "Yae?"

    The morose tomboy looked up at her from her bed, her sleepy 
daydream of Tataku's voice broken by the real thing. She didn't know 
whether to be glad of that or not. At least in her dream she would 
have heard what she wanted to hear. Life was beginning to seem 
particularly cruel right now, so what was one more pain to cry over?

    "I'm sorry, I never should have said those things." 

    Tataku's apologetic eyes didn't meet Yae's gaze as the pilot began 
to smile, the hope finally beginning to seep back. All Tataku saw was 
her own feet, and the ground she wished would reach up and swallow her 
for being such a fool. "I know it was cruel of me, but I didn't know 
what to think any more. My life has never managed to get this 
complicated before. Please forgive me."

    All of a sudden Yae didn't feel like dreaming any more. She got up 
as the smile slowly lit up her face, reaching out to take Tataku's 
chin in her hand and raise it to her own. "Like there's anything to 
forgive. Come here."

    Tataku melted into the embrace as Yae wrapped her arms around her, 
feeling the beat of her girlfriend's heart against her own. "I've 
missed this so much," she said, her mind finally at ease.

    "Me too," Yae sighed, wishing she was a little taller so she could 
do this properly. "And I'm going to say it first this time. I love 
you."

    Tataku giggled a little as she felt her eyes moisten. "You're so 
strange. Should I feel like I've lost because I love you too? ...And I 
do you know."

    Yae had to chuckle herself. "That's not what I meant, and I know 
you do, but it feels so much better to hear it. And you got to say it 
first last time, so it's my turn."

    "You didn't know," Tataku said timidly, "that's why I had to say 
it. You looked so depressed."

    "I think we've all got the right to be depressed right now, but 
it'll work out somehow. I promise."

    Tataku pulled reluctantly away to see Yae's eyes. "Please don't 
make promises like that. I told you..."

    But Yae didn't let her finish. "I just did, and I mean it. Come 
on, let's talk about something else. We'll get enough of this stuff 
later."

    Tataku nodded and lay her head back next to Yae's. "...I can't 
think of anything to talk about."

    "Me neither actually, but I do know what else I get to do first."

    "What?" the green haired girl asked, only to have Yae's lips meet 
her own as she raised her head. 

    They both smiled as they parted, a faint blush colouring their 
cheeks. "I've missed that too," said Tataku shyly.

    Yae just responded by kissing her again.

    After the kiss had faded Yae scratched her head a little as she 
tried to suppress her yawn. It was a real mood killer, but she was 
really tired. "I'm glad you wanted to stay," she said, trying to end 
the conversation gently. "I didn't want to think about it ending like 
that. Now I can definitely have good dreams. I'm gonna head for bed, 
okay?"

    Tataku nodded, and began to leave when a realisation hit her; she 
was exhausted too. She turned back into the room only to end up facing 
the doorway again, her face beginning to burn red at seeing Yae 
stripping off.

    "Oh, err, sorry," Yae said as she threw off the rest of her 
clothing and pulled herself into the small top and shorts she slept 
in. "Yeah, I'm decent. What's up?"

    "Oh, n-nothing, I was just being silly again. Goodnight."

    "Wait," called Yae as Tataku stepped to the door again, 
"seriously, what is it? I can stay up a bit if you want to talk."

    "I w-was just thinking if I c-could sleep with you but..." At 
Yae's surprised expression she started waving her hands in denial. "N-
no, I didn't m-mean, it was j-just that I'm t-tired but I w-wanted to 
stay with... N-never mind!"

    However Yae was ready to catch her as she started to scurry off. 
"Tataku-chan," she chuckled, "you're welcome to if you want. I'd like 
that to."

    Tataku looked round to her cautiously. "You would?"

    "Don't be silly, of course I would. And you look so cute in that 
nightie of yours!"

    Tataku blushed as she let Yae lead her back inside. Ten minutes 
later Tataku lay curled up with her hands tucked up beside her face as 
Yae's arms encircled her from behind, both of them fast asleep.

***

    Jei sighed as she began to pour herself another weak coffee. 
Everything had finally caught up to her, and that little voice was 
doing its 'I told you so' routine. But for the first time since 
meeting everyone it wasn't trying to put her down or pick her mind 
apart. It was just there. Almost commiserating with her.

    "You gonna be okay Jei-Jei?" Angelica asked from the doorway. Jei 
still confounded her, but she was beginning to get how to deal with 
her when she was like this. "This is the bit where you tell me what's 
up."

    "There's nothing to say."

    Angelica shook her head and perched herself on the countertop. 
"Yeah right. You're just gonna let them get you?"

    "Yes," Jei nodded, "what else is there to do?"

    Angelica smirked, "We could hook up with the resistance movement 
on Olto. That'd show them!"

    "You'd like that, wouldn't you. The intrigue, action, the whole 
bit."

    "Nahh," the outlaw said, waving it off, "I do my own thing, but 
it's a possibility."

    Jei took a long sip of her coffee before sitting down at the 
table, facing the wall. "No, it isn't. I could cope with keeping a low 
profile, but I can't hide. I couldn't live like that. I won't let 
anyone lead my life for me."

    Angelica smirked slightly. "So says the submissive one."

    "Shut up!"

    "Hey," she soothed, "I didn't mean nothin' by that. Everyone's got 
a vulnerable side, right? You want a protector sometimes, I'm there. I 
ain't lettin' them take you anywhere."

    "I killed Laura."

    Angelica blinked, caught totally off guard. "W-what?"

    "I killed her. The second they were at safe distance I detonated 
the cargo they took. I destroyed your ship, killed your crew, and I 
enjoyed it."

    Angelica could feel herself going numb as she got off the counter. 
"T-that's a hell of a thing to say Jei. After... after..."

    Jei didn't say anything else. She just stared forlornly into her 
coffee.

    Angelica would have taken her head off in a second if things 
hadn't been the way they were, but they were. "I don't get it. Why? 
Why all this? She was like family to me, and I was gettin' over losing 
everythin', and now... You can't just say it like that! You're lyin'! 
You said Jhonas was the only one you saw! For all you knew he was 
there on his own! I want the truth!"

    Jei didn't say anything for almost a minute. "They took my cargo 
and left me to die. I killed them for it. I wanted to pay him back."

    Angelica was ready to shout her own lungs out before she deflated 
into a chair at the table. "Yeah, I would have done the same. I wanna 
just leave, but I'm not goin' again. I'll be there when they take us 
in. If you didn't want me makin' a stand for you you should have just 
said, not tried to make me hate you again. I'm not gonna do that. I'm 
over all that stuff now, and unless you say you don't want me around 
any more I'm gonna play the protector so you can let go."

    She smiled a little as Jei lifted her head. "You gotta learn I 
ain't gonna let you push me away for my own benefit. We're partners, 
remember?"

    "I'm sorry. I want you here." There was nothing left for Jei to 
realise. She may not have her for long, but Angelica was there for 
her, and she wasn't going to do anything to jeopardise that any more. 
Perhaps it was selfish, but whatever happened she wanted Angelica 
there too. There was nothing else she needed.

    Angelica nodded. "That's better. Now what're we gonna do when we 
get outta this mess?"

    It was flippant and wishful, but it kept them occupied, and right 
now that was all they needed.

***

    It was some time later when Yae awoke, a hand gently shaking her 
shoulder.

    "Yae, wake up," Sylvie said softly so as not to startle her 
upright. "They've found us."

    "Oh, hey Syl," Yae mumbled groggily, wondering why her left arm 
was numb. "Hey, you're wearing your glasses!"

    Sylvie blinked in confusion. That seemed a rather strange thing to 
say first thing in the morning. "Yeees, I do usually wear glasses."

    "Oh." Yae's mind quickly told her not to try and move since the 
girl that had stolen her heart was still partially sleeping on her. 
"You just haven't worn them for a while. You know, they make you look 
cute."

    Sylvie smiled modestly and with a small amount of caution, "Umm, 
considering your position I'm not the one to be told that." She 
motioned to Tataku, still fast asleep at, and virtually on, Yae's 
side. "We don't want her getting jealous."

    Yae nodded. "But she's the one here," she said, nodding to the 
bed.

    Sylvie smiled in embarrassment, a blush forming across her face, 
"I... I see..."

    Yae had to struggle to stop from laughing. "We didn't do anything. 
But it was nice. Real nice." She sighed and let her head flop back 
onto the pillow. "What's up again? We're screwed?"

    Sylvie's smiled faded. "There's a police ship radioing Crow our 
rights. He said he wants to take some of us into restrained custody 
and the rest have to follow in the Starlight. He's coming over in a 
minute."

    Yae nodded. "We'll be there."

    Sylvie left as Yae began to gently extricate herself from Tataku's 
sleepy form. Once she had the use of both her arms again she could see 
the green haired girl stirring and gently brushed at her fringe. 
"Tataku-chan, it's time to wake up."

    Tataku's eyes opened radiantly and she gave a small yawn, stifled 
by her hand. "Good morning." She blinked a few times before snuggling 
closer into Yae's side.

    "Tataku-chan," Yae said, gently pulling her away, "we have to get 
ready. The police are here."

    On hearing that Tataku only pulled herself closer to Yae. "I don't 
want to go. I don't want that. It's not fair."

    Yae sighed as she enveloped her in a reassuring hug. "There's 
nothing we can do now. I told you, it'll be okay, remember?"

    "Mm hmm," Tataku nodded as they sat there for a while, taking 
comfort from each other's arms.

    "Okay, let's go," Tataku said as she finally released her. "We 
can't really put it off, can we?"

    Yae shook her head and they began to dress, both faintly blushing 
all the while.

***

    C-581-A stepped with unnerving severity out of the coupling gantry 
and onto the Starlight, his gun in hand, ready to do what he was built 
to do. All six of the now fugitives stood solemnly, waiting for his 
inevitable line.

    "Crow October-san, Jei Tazenten-san, you are under arrest. Do you 
both understand the charges you have already been read via inter-ship 
radio?"

    "Yes," Crow huffed, very angry at the entire ordeal.

    Jei gave the android a hooded glare. "Disturbing the peace how?"

    C-581-A locked his eyes onto Jei. "The high profile nature of your 
most recent crime has alerted the mass media and incited rioting among 
several communities not in agreement with Pandora-san's 
administration. You may dispute the charge at the hearing and trial, 
but you are accused of deliberately instigating the disturbances using 
the Chaosis space race as a means to gain mass attention. It could be 
likened to a criminal publicity stunt. Has this clarified your query?"

    Jei nodded. "Yes, I get it." That was one charge she would be 
taking issue with.

    "What about the rest of us?" Angelica growled, her fingers 
twitching for the sword on her back.

    "You will accompany us in this craft to the holding area under 
section six oh two of the criminal handling bill where upon you will 
officially be read any charges against you and will be either 
transferred to the formal hearing or discharged pending punishment."  

    "No," said Angelica forcefully, "I'm goin' with Jei."

    C-581-A narrowed his eyes, exuding a cold menace that had been 
very well refined. "You will remain on board racing class vessel 
Tachi-01352#9, Starlight, and follow in ETS formation with police 
vessel Pijisi-99661#0, PGC 00, until the holding area is reached. Do 
you understand?"

    "Screw that!" Angelica yelled, her hand flashing for the hilt 
across her shoulder. "I'm..."

    But before she could even draw the broadsword C-581-A's gun was 
pointed right between her eyes, his hand not wavering in the 
slightest.

    "I would not attempt to draw your weapon as that would constitute 
resisting arrest and I would be authorised to use extreme force in 
subduing you based on your previous record." He blinked, as if to 
emphasise the fact. "You would not be held alongside Tazenten-san."

    Angelica just grinned. "Try me."

    The instant Angelica drew the blade she parried sideways, and 
C-581-A pulled the trigger.

    "STOP IT!" Jei screamed as she watched Angelica's head fly around, 
Tataku and Sylvie cringing back while Yae and Crow went for their own 
weapons. "Please?"

    But the outlaw didn't fall. She reached slowly up to her temple to 
feel the cut ends of what had once been a lock of hair and the thin 
trickle of blood seeping slowly from the scratch on her ear.

    "You have had your warning shot," C-581-A said, his voice just as 
calm and at it had been when he first stepped onboard. "Please holster 
your weapons."

    Yae and Crow did as they were told, the boyish young woman moving 
to hold Tataku where she sat curled into herself looking fearfully up 
at them. Sylvie straightened up and looked cautiously over towards 
Angelica. The outlaw was still grinning, the massive blade still in 
her hands.

    "Angelica?" Jei asked quietly. Her voice sounded very far off, but 
she was just trying to find the words she wanted to say. "Sometimes 
the stars seem so far off, and you feel so alone, and there's nothing 
you can do but watch them, thinking how lonely they must be too. But 
their light always reaches its destination, even if it seems to take 
forever. It hurts. We can't ever get it right can we? But I'll reach 
you, eventually."

    Angelica looked at her sadly, the grin slipping off her face as 
the hidden request came through. "Not if I get to you first. Get outta 
here before I change my mind and show this guy what I got."

    Jei nodded silently as she and Crow stepped into the coupling 
gantry, followed by C-581-A. 

    "Formation specifications will be radioed to you."

    The remaining four watched sadly as the airlock door shut. Sylvie 
laid a hand on Angelica's shoulder as the blond outlaw's head dropped, 
a hand going to the newly cut tips where that lock of hair had been.

    "Bastard."

***

    Pandora smiled slowly as she closed the door to the court's 
bathroom. After a full week she had the people who had tarnished her 
reputation exactly where she wanted them, and she was going to enjoy 
every minute of it. 

    She had the chance to ruminate as she relieved herself; how had 
such a pathetic bunch managed to cause her the problems they had? 
Their stunt had had effects that the six of them would never have 
considered in a million years. And of course the resistance back on 
Olto was as strong as ever now, the racing crew being hailed as heroes 
while the mobs tried to sack the official buildings in every major 
city on the planet. It wasn't anything she couldn't deal with in the 
long run, but it was a nuisance she could well have done without.

    It was a shame that only two of the six were taking any major 
grief in the matter, their surprisingly competent lawyer getting the 
rest off with fines and community service. October and Tazenten 
though, they were the big prize, and they were going down for it as 
far as she could push them.

    It was pretty obvious that October wasn't going to get a real 
sentence, but he would never work as a bounty hunter again. Even when 
he could get his licence back his new reputation and profile would 
make sure he was out of that game. Pandora knew there was little else 
he had.

    And who would have thought Tazenten would have turned out to be 
such a powder keg? The now cornered cargo hauler showed nothing 
underneath those clouded, impassive eyes, but Pandora could tell. The 
woman was well and truly broken. She was just waiting to see her break 
into tears right there in the accused box.

    None of it was really necessary, but she wasn't going to let them 
off. She had a reputation to keep, and a warning to send.

    She flushed the toilet and stepped out of the cubicles towards the 
sink, not noticing the cubicle beside hers slowly opening.

    "Hello 'Pandora'," the regal voice said as she felt a hand gently 
rest on the minute bulge at the base of her neck. "I can't believe 
even you would do this to them. You've gone too far."

    Pandora's smiled widened just a little as she looked into the 
mirror to see the red headed woman who stared emotionally back. 
"Circe. I'm so glad you could make it for the trial. They are quite a 
pair, don't you think?"

    "I should do it," Circe almost rasped, her beautiful voice 
cracking. "I should tear this wretched thing out and kill 'Pandora' 
right now. I want my cousin back."

    "But you won't," Pandora said, as though she were thoroughly bored 
by the routine. "You won't kill me, just as I won't cut you down where 
you stand. To think my own relative would see me as such a monster. I 
am your only cousin no matter what you may think and somewhere in that 
overly dramatic head of yours you know that. I will keep Olto 
prosperous and well governed, and you will keep leading that 
resistance movement of yours, just as we have done ever since we found 
one another again. Remove that little plug back there and you kill me, 
and God only knows what would happen to your precious cousin then. 
Pamela is long since gone Circe. Pandora is what she became, but she 
still loves you like a sister."

    Circe took a breath but Pandora didn't even wait for the 
impassioned speech to affect whatever compassion the electro-nerve 
plug in her neck might have left intact. She had heard it all before.

    Circe's words died in her throat as Pandora left, and the regret 
and loss began to well up again, just as it did every time they met 
now. She turned to the sink and slammed her palm into the polished 
white marble, her eyes shut tight to rein in her feelings, wishing she 
had the strength to do what she knew in her heart she had to do.

    "One day Pamela. I swear... One day."

***

    Jei didn't even register Pandora's presence as the woman arrived 
back in the courtroom along with all the others who had taken the 
opportunity to have a short break while her fate was sealed.

    Three days. Was that long for a trial? Somehow she didn't think 
so, but what did she know about law? The law was something you obeyed 
or paid the price for, that was all most people needed to know. Three 
days of recounting her unpleasant hidden past, picking her apart piece 
by piece to see what made her tick. What little she had to say in 
defence didn't make much difference, both she and her assigned lawyer 
knew that.

    The humiliation of pleading guilty for a reduced sentence under 
mental instability was the worst five seconds of her entire life. She 
had admitted they were right all along. Her parents and classmates, or 
rather the people she had studied with, and the closed minded 
professional hypocrites back 'home'. She had no choice but to admit 
that they were right. She was officially a 'troubled individual'. Why 
didn't they just call her a basket case and get on with it? She felt 
it would have been better to hear that than suffer the veiled pity and 
disgust they stared at her with.

    It all seemed to be going too fast. One minute everything was 
fine, the next she was being locked up for multiple murder. <But then, 
it had never really been fine,> she thought sourly to herself, and 
received the reply that would always be there. 

    <Yes, just one big mistake. Too late for that though, now you just 
take it as it comes.>

    She hadn't seen the others since the trial began. It seemed 
strange how much she craved their company now. She wanted nothing more 
that to curl up in Angelica's arms and cry herself out. The outlaw 
seemed to have that effect on her when they could finally be together. 
It was pitiful, but so wonderful at the same time.

    The black cloud fell further over her. Most likely she would never 
see Angelica again. She could wish and hope and dream as much as she 
liked, but could she really believe that Angelica would be there when 
she was finally let out? Who would wait for so many years for someone 
they so rarely got along with? So much would have changed by then and 
Jei knew she would remain the same, just that bit more tired.

    Any further thoughts were halted as the adjudicators filed back in 
and took their seats, then pressed the panels that gave their votes.

    It was a foregone conclusion. Guilty on eight of the nine charges. 
She'd managed to get off on the incitement to riot charge after all, 
not that it gave much satisfaction.

    She closed her eyes as the judge read out the sentence. Five years 
in prison followed by two more in a correctional institute. It could 
have been worse. A lot worse. But that didn't make her feel any better 
either. Seven years. She didn't know if she could hold out that long. 
Then again, did she really want to?

    She hardly paid any attention as the armed guards gently lead her 
out of the court, her hands cuffed behind her and Pandora's satisfied 
smile following her every step.

    Jei hardly noticed the journey to the shuttle pad where the prison 
ship was waiting. As far as timing the transport was concerned it 
couldn't have been better. It was a scheduled run straight after the 
trial and there was no time for spectators to get there. Getting to 
the court had been a rat run of cheers and jeering she was very glad 
not to see here.

    Only the single piercing whistle made her turn as she stepped onto 
the docking gantry. There, behind the chain link fence stood a small 
group. A tall shy girl with green hair waved sadly, as did the short 
blond girl, the boyish figure beside them giving her victory V. The 
thin man behind them all gave her a brief two fingered wave, and at 
the far left stood another blond in impeccable ivory clothing, yelling 
something as she waved.

    Jei's heart soared. It didn't matter that she couldn't quite hear 
what Angelica was saying. They'd come to see her, and she knew what 
the outlaw meant. 

    The nudge to her back reminded her of what she was doing and a 
smile spread across her face as she continued up the gantry, nodding 
to them all as she went.

    She would make it through this if it were the last thing she did. 
Because she would believe that Angelica would be there when she got 
out, whatever happened from here on. And for once the voice inside her 
smiled as well, thinking maybe she was right this time.

***

    It was well past sundown when Sylvie and Crow arrived at the newly 
released Maria's Summer. Crow still had his pride, but walking through 
Matsues alone after dark was a very bad idea, especially since he had 
lost his weapons licence as well as his Bounty Hunter's one. A real 
twist of irony that the city most eager to host legal battles was also 
one of the least safe at night. Or perhaps it was just good sense.

    "So what are you going to do now if you don't want to join us?" 
Sylvie asked as they waited for the docking crews to deal with the 
paperwork.

    Crow shrugged. "Don't know. As soon as my three years are up I'll 
try and get my licence back. Who knows, after that I might try and 
take Pandora on again! Until then I can work on research, make some 
more connections, whatever." He reached into his pocket and took out a 
small folded slip of paper.

    "Right now this is my best bet. Gladiatrix said she could do with 
someone like me, and after seeing her in action I was impressed. 
Depending what she's after I might just take her up on it."

    Sylvie nodded. "I suppose I missed that, but it's good you have 
some idea of what you want to do. And our offer will stay open if you 
want."

    Crow grinned lopsidedly, "Thanks, but that's not my kind of work. 
And Angelica would probably try and set me up with Andy again."

    "..." Sylvie stared at him in stupefaction. That last sentence 
made no sense to her whatsoever. "... What?"

    "While you three were being interviewed I managed to bump into 
Angelica before my trial started. Somehow we found ourselves talking 
about how it would all turn out, and she said you and I should pair 
up, then we'd have a full set. When I told her you weren't really my 
type she suggested Andy instead."

    Sylvie just goggled at him and hugged her panda closer to her. 

    Crow nodded with a wry smile. "Yeah, exactly." He didn't think 
much of the joke either.

    He leant back against one of the loading dollies. "Just out of 
curiosity, there's something I haven't quite figured out yet. How 
*did* you survive a pistol slug to the chest?"

    Sylvie sighed and sat down on one of the nearby boxes. "Yae asked 
the same thing this morning. I guess I can practice telling her with 
you, can't I?"

    Crow nodded then turned as one of the docking crew yelled his 
clearance number to him. "Sure, you can fill me in en route," he said.

    Sylvie began as they boarded Crow's ship and by the time he 
dropped her off where the Gal's Army had been put she had it pretty 
much figured out in her head. All she had to do was say it to Yae.

***

    "When I was little, before my parents split up, my Dad and I were 
really close, but he was always working, so we'd talk while he did 
whatever he was doing at the time. After a while he started asking me 
to help him. I liked the fact that he wanted me to help, even though I 
didn't know what it was I was really doing."

    Sylvie paused in her tale, looking up at Yae and Tataku, both 
listening avidly on the sofa aboard the Gal's Army.

    "After one of the experiments that he was really enthusiastic 
about I started hearing his voice in my head. It turned out that he'd 
used me as the test subject in a genetics experiment to help let the 
human mind make the most of its unused potential, and I ended up being 
able to hear what he was feeling. Sometimes I'd even hear his 
thoughts, and after he did the same thing to himself we would talk to 
each other like that. Just in our heads."

    At the pair's mixed expressions Sylvie smiled sadly. "Maybe he 
shouldn't have done it, but I really liked being able to do that. Mum 
on the other hand, she was furious when she found out. Mattiaz had 
seen him do it to me, and he told her. That's why they got divorced."

    "Jeez," Yae said, a little anger in her voice, "your own brother 
ratted him out."

    Sylvie nodded. "Even after my Dad left though I was still able to 
talk to him sometimes. Then he just stopped talking, and I couldn't 
feel him any more. Then Andy arrived. He had a note in his paws from 
him, saying sorry, and that he loved me. That was his goodbye note."

    Tataku looked at her with compassion as Yae closed her eyes.

    "No wonder you got so depressed when that panda turned up. I 
didn't know," Yae said, remembering their early time as roommates at 
the Academy. "But how did this stop you getting shot? Did you read the 
guard's mind or something?"

    Sylvie shook her head. "I can't hear everybody. Almost no-one in 
fact. It only works with people I'm really close to, and most of the 
time I just feel their emotions, not what they're thinking. It's only 
properly worked with three people. My Dad... and you two."

    The pair sat surprised as she continued. Tataku wondered what she 
had done to receive such high praise, even in such a round about way, 
but the mere idea was enough to strike Yae dumb.

    "I felt your fear," Sylvie told Tataku, "and an impression of 
loss, violence and an entry place. The guard was in the doorway. 
Remember that lesson at the Academy on how to take a hit to minimise 
damage Yae?"

    Yae nodded, her eyes still wide.

    "I just used that. If I hadn't known it was coming beforehand I 
wouldn't have had time to move. You can't dodge bullets. But thanks to 
Tataku I knew where he was, meaning I knew which way to move so the 
bullet would glance off my shirt and ribcage instead of punching 
through. Ballistic slugs are bad like that, no penetration power, but 
it was still mostly good fortune.

    Yae nodded slowly, taking it all in. Their combat shirts were 
hardly body armour, but they were a damn sight better than regular 
cloth. For her part Tataku smiled radiantly. "I... I don't really 
understand how that works with the bullet, but I'm really glad it did 
Sylvie."

    Yae on the other hand had other concerns on her mind. "So... how 
long have you been able to read my mind?" she asked in a very 
depressed voice.

    Sylvie cringed a little. "I don't read it, it's more like I can 
just hear it. But, well, since about half way through year one at the 
Academy."

    Yae couldn't believe it. For over a decade Sylvie had been hearing 
all the things she had thought about her. Yae was ready to 
disintegrate out of pure guilt, embarrassment exploding through her. 
"Oh God Syl I'm so sorry. I..."

    Sylvie didn't let her finish. She knew what sort of thing the 
pilot was going to say after all. "Yae, it's okay. Actually I was kind 
of flattered, even if it was a little... personal sometimes. I should 
be the one apologising for not telling you. For knowing what you were 
feeling all this time. Actually if it's strong I can feel it too. 
That's why I'm usually happy or depressed whenever you are."

    Yae scratched the back of her head and gave a sheepish smile, her 
face burning. "Well, thanks for not being mad."

    Sylvie smiled back. "Well, we'd better be going now. I'll start up 
the engines and file for takeoff clearance."

    Yae nodded as Sylvie rose, leaving for the cockpit.

    "I wish I didn't have to go back to university yet," Tataku said 
quietly, slipping down on the sofa and resting her head on Yae's 
shoulder. "I only have a few more days before I have to head back."

    Yae wrapped a comforting arm around her. "And we have just over a 
week of journey there once that happens. A week I intend to make the 
most of while I still have you here."

    Tataku nodded. "I feel a bit guilty though. My pay from the job I 
did for the university will pay most of my fine, and I have my share 
of the winnings from the Chaosis too, but you two and Angelica have 
community service as well. Crow lost his licence, and Jei's in jail. I 
feel like I'm being let off lightly."

    Yae chuckled a little. "It's your good karma working for you. Me 
and Syl will be fine. A year of work doing sort of what we do anyway's 
okay, and we'll get our hazardous materials licence back after that. 
Crow's got something lined up I'll bet, and Angelica's got the 
Starlight now. She said she's started looking for crew already, and 
that's keeping her occupied. The race money will pay off our fines and 
then some. Jei, well, she'll get through it okay. I think she's gonna 
survive doing time better than most people would. It won't wear her 
down the way it would with me at least."

    The pair sat there in silence for a bit before Yae lay down on her 
back, Tataku following so they both ended up staring at the ceiling, 
the student's head resting on the soldier's chest. Yae wrapped her 
hands over her so that they rested on her stomach, Tataku's hands 
folding over them.

    After a while Yae spoke up. "We're going to have to move again."

    "Why?"

    "I can't kiss you like this."

***

    Just over a week later Tataku and Yae stepped of the Gal's Army to 
be met by Tataku's main lecturer.

    "I guess this is goodbye for now," Tataku said softly, her eyes 
meeting Yae's.

    "Yeah," Yae agreed. "I'll come visit when I can, and you've got 
our frequency code if you can get to a radio relay transmitter."

    Tataku could feel her eyes beginning to water as they stood there. 
"I miss you already," she sniffed.

    Yae took her hands gently. "Me too." She leant over and the pair 
lost themselves in one last lingering kiss before they were parted.

    When the kiss was broken they stood holding each other before Yae 
spoke up. "If I don't go now you'll never get rid of me."

    "I don't want to be rid of you. But you have go." She darted in 
and gave her a quick peck on the lips before they let each other go. 
"Until next time."

    "Yeah. See ya' Kookoo-chan."

    The pair parted and went their separate ways, each giving a last 
glance and wave to the other as they went.

    At the other side of the docking platform Misaniti-sensei smiled 
as he met his student. "I see more has happened than even the media 
has told us Tataku. Congratulations."

    Tataku blushed furiously and began to study her sandals intently. 
"Umm... thank you sir."

    "I hope you're ready for a few small surprises," he said as he led 
her off. "You've become something of a celebrity around here."

***

    Josie Kitt, the newest member of the slowly growing crew, stepped 
hesitantly into the cockpit of the Starlight and looked around. She 
was barely fourteen years old, but she knew everything and anything 
there was to know about computer software. Be it AI, relay programs or 
hacking protocols, she could read and write it expertly. It was all 
she'd done for eight years, and she was now diligently teaching 
herself computer hardware and electronics. She was also looking for 
the woman who'd been willing to hire her straight out of the young 
offenders' institute.

    "Umm... excuse me," she asked the man at the ship scanners, 
"where's the captain?"

    The man turned and quirked an eyebrow. "You mean Angelica? She's 
in front of the vid screen again. Lounge."

    "Thanks."

    Josie sighed. She hadn't known the Lady Angelica for more than 
three days, but this was not good news. Lady Angelica was very 
emotionally changeable, and right now she would be depressed, and 
ready to take it out on someone. The cook had already gotten a minor 
beating thanks to his complete lack of tact.

    Josie was right. Angelica was watching the news again, Tangalo 
asleep beside her. The story would be dead in a few more days, but 
reports and items into the 'Starlight Killer' should have been dropped 
ages ago. As far as she was concerned it just wasn't fair. And giving 
the woman a label like that because of a heartfelt speech was cruel, 
and the ship's name only made it stick harder.

    "Umm... Lady Angelica? I've finished re-working the ship AI so you 
can make the upgrades you wanted."

    Angelica roughly shut off the vid screen and tossed the remote 
onto the sofa as she got up. "Good! Now we can get goin' on this 
baby!" she said enthusiastically.

    "Lady Angelica... are you okay?"

    Angelica let some of the false jollity drop and gave her a wry 
grin. "Jose, I feel like shit, and I ain't gonna talk about it. But 
thanks for askin'. I knew you were a good find." She marched out into 
the hallway, Josie following close behind. "And you're crew so it's 
just Angelica. If crew can't be friends then they might as well not be 
on the same ship, alright?"

    "Okay Angelica-sama," Josie said, glad that she was in good 
spirits despite whatever was going on inside her head.

    Angelica stopped and turned to give her a deadpan stare, but she 
wasn't going to argue now, not with Josie. "It'll do for now. Come 
on."

    On entering the cockpit Josie took her temporary position at the 
communications post while Angelica took the navigator's seat.

    "Where are we headed?" Josie asked.

    "The long haul to the Sol system. Earth and Mars may be burnt out 
but they've got the best ship modders in the galaxy out by Neptune." 

    After collecting her and Jei's share of the prize money from the 
race she had paid off her fine and would have enough to make almost 
half the ship modifications she wanted to in one go. 

    "What about your community service?" asked the man at the 
scanners.

    "That's the great bit!" Angelica enthused. "We're taking relief 
supplies to Mars for the whole two years of it!"

    A little typing into the AI later and they were on their way. 
Angelica felt far more tranquil as she sat at her station, going 
through all the things she would be able to do while she was still 
under obligation to this relief supply run. 

    She looked back to the middle of the room. She could visualise 
what she wanted done to the cockpit. Turn it into a proper bridge, not 
just a functioning race control and piloting room. It would cost a 
ridiculous amount to have it re-fitted while still keeping the superb 
control systems intact at the end of it, but it would definitely be 
worth it.

    It seemed a little odd to her how high up on her list of 
priorities a captain's chair was. It would be seven years before it 
was used.

    <Seven years,> she thought. <That's not so long really.> She 
couldn't quite convince herself, but it did help a little all the 
same. <Bullshit, that's a damn age, but who cares?! If you can take 
it, I can take it! You ain't gonna break me that easy.> She cracked a 
small smile. It was amazing how little sense life could make 
sometimes.

    And with that she sat back in her chair and watched the stars, 
beginning the long wait for her woman to come home.

***

The End