"A Pair of Angels"

That night on the Yggdrasil, Citan was walking from his assigned quarters to the Gun Room when he found someone he least expected sitting in a chair, talking with an almost-elderly man in a purple outfit, laughing a bit.

"I bet you had quite an unusual time, growing up...I knew Dariol, you know," the elderly man asked.

"You did? When did you meet him?"

"Oh it was a long time ago...you were probably around 11 when it happened...anyway, your father was in the capital along with Kislev's leader when the peace talks were occurring...and we started talking about children, particularly you," the man replied.

Her eyes widened as she said, "Oh, I remember you! Wasn't your 'young master' a little toddler at the time?"

"He was. Dariol was quite a remarkable man."

"Still is, Maison. He's still alive and is stationed back home."

"That's good to hear. He's raised you well...you've grown into an exceptional, lovely young woman."

"You and Sigurd both..."

"Excuse me?"

"The first mate was trying to hit on me earlier, saying the same thing."

Maison chuckled and said, "Can you blame him? I'm surprised the good doctor hasn't."

"Citan and I are old childhood friends."

"But honestly, I was making an observation. There's something about you that tells me that you're destined for only one person...whoever that is, he will be rather lucky."

"Now don't you start getting prophetic on me. I've heard enough of those in Kislev to last me a lifetime or two."

Citan quietly cleared his throat, causing the two to turn towards him.

"Ah, good doctor. Can't sleep?" Maison asked.

"What brings you here, Citan?" Aireel asked with a little smile.

"I thought you were going to be in the infirmary until tomorrow afternoon," the doctor replied in a slightly irritated voice.

"I can't stand being cooped up in there. Besides, I'm fine now," she said to him, shaking her head, "Jeez..."

"That is beside the point, you should not be out here! What if you collapse or have a relapse?"

"Quit treating me like a little child! I'm 25 for goodness sakes!"

"You do not act like an adult!"

"Look who's talking! Who was acting Gear-sick when we escaped from the Aveh transport, huh?" she replied, eyes flashing dangerously.

"Don't worry, good doctor, I am keeping an eye on her. If anything happens, I'll let you and the nurse know," Maison quickly said before Citan could retort, then looked at her closely.

"You know...I was also here three years ago when our lives were spared. I didn't realize it then, but..."

"Realize what?" Citan asked, sitting down at a nearby table.

"The Gear crewman told you about what happened, right? Well, most people know that the young master can identify the young woman...the truth is, I can as well."

Aireel gave him a look that said, Not now.

Maison took the hint and nodded to her.

"What are you two talking about?" the doctor asked.

"Nothing right now...I'll tell you at another time."

The old knight chuckled as Citan gave her a rather puzzled but irritated look, seeing something else within.

Before either of the three could say anything further, a crewman came in, almost out of breath.

"Miss Aireel," he said, "The first mate wants to see you. He's on the bridge."

Aireel nodded and got up nodding to both Citan and Maison before taking off...although when she looked at her old friend, she seemed rather sad, torn apart.

Is it something I said? the doctor wondered.

"Some tea, good doctor?"

He nodded and waited as Maison got up, grabbed a couple of cups and poured some tea.

"I did not know you knew Aireel."

"Not really...we only met a couple of times, one of them being when she was 11. Dariol had brought her with him on a tour...such a bright-eyed curious child. She asked about everything," he said with a smile, "What things were, what their purpose was...she had never seen trees or waterfalls before then. She even made the Aveh guards laugh. Either nobody else saw it or they were ignoring it, but there was also a sadness to her, as if some part of her had been ripped away."

I know how that feels, Citan thought but did not say out loud.

"But even though the sadness is still there, time has done wonders on her...especially considering where she was born..."

"Which was...?" the doctor asked, suddenly wondering if she was born elsewhere.

"Solaris."

He nodded and before he could say anything else, both men felt a strong rumbling and then heard a loud explosion.

"What happened?" Citan asked.

"A Gear was just launched from here...although from the feel of it, it was the new Gear we found near Dazil."

Although he tried not to let it show, those words made him worry more than when she had passed out.

Right then, the door opened, admitting Sigurd.

"Sigurd, what happened?" Maison asked.

"Nothing to worry about. I sent Aireel ahead of us with a couple of things to take care of. We'll meet up with her later," was the reply.

"In her condition?" Citan asked, "Sigurd, you saw how she was a few hours ago..."

"She's fine, That young woman has good recuperative abilities and a strong will. As she put it, she was 'as fit as a rankar'."

"And as stubborn..."

"You were right, Maison," the first mate said, "She is the one we met three years ago."

"I knew it! I recognized her right away!"

"Perhaps you should get some rest, old friend."

"Maybe I will," Citan replied, "Good night, Maison, Sigurd..." before quietly walking out.

A couple of minutes later, Maison said, "I saw his reaction when you told him she had left...and I mean other than the one on the surface. I wonder why fate is being so cruel to them."

"If it weren't for one fact, I would seriously try matchmaking them," Sigurd replied, nodding, "He's married...but there's something else I know, too...something I'm not about to tell."

"Hopefully the good doctor's young friend will be all right, and Miss Aireel can find the part of her that was ripped away," Maison said in a low voice, earning him a strange look from the first mate.

Fei and Bart grumbled as they went back to the pathway where the strange robot was standing.

"That one sand sensor in the Great Hall was rough," the latter said, "I mean we could have fallen off at any time!"

"Yeah," Fei agreed, "Hopefully the other one will be easy. As soon as we can get that one, the sooner we can get out of here."

"I see it, over on that ledge. Fei, don't take this the wrong way, but I know the lady that was with you, now that I think about it."

"How'd you meet her?" the young man asked as they started walking in the direction indicated.

"Three years ago, my ship got badly damaged in a firefight and it somehow wound up in Kislev territory. When we realized that was when one of the battalions sent out a signal. I remember that day as if it had just happened..."

"Where do you think we are?" Bart asked Sigurd after seeing themselves in a rather unfamiliar area.

"I don't know, young master," the first mate replied, "The maps got scattered and a couple are missing."

A blue dolphin in a blue-gray outfit suddenly turned to the two humans, tapping on a small black box on the headset.

"Sirs, I hear a large ship closing in on our location," he said, although the voice sounded halted and rather robotic.

"What kind of ship, Franz?" Bart asked.

"It's from Kislev."

"Great...we need a big battle to balance out this bad day!" the young pirate said with a morbid grin.

"Wait, sirs...I am now receiving a message from the Kislev ship," the dolphin interjected in a grim voice.

"It could be our guys, having commandeered a ship...let's hear it."

To everyone's shock and Bart's dismay, the voice they heard was unfamiliar and the message grim.

"Unidentified vessel, this is the 4th Battalion. You have entered Kislev territory. Give us your identification and purpose for being here or you will be boarded."

"Aw, man," he grumbled, "We've crossed the border. Send a message and tell them what happened."

"I can't, sir, the outgoing transmission circuits have been fried," was the near frantic reply, "We can receive but not send."

"That's just great," Sigurd muttered as the unfamiliar voice spoke again.

"Unidentified vessel, since you will not give your identification, prepare to be boarded."

A few minutes later, the damage and battle reports had started coming in. Everyone was fighting the boarders, but they were being defeated, one by one, by their leader...

"I saw her," one of the crewman, who came with broken ribs and black eyes said, "The leader...It's a young woman, but she's dangerous!"

"How so?" Sigurd asked.

"She disarmed most of the soldiers and before the rest could attack, she had them pinned down in two winks of an eye...I don't even know if the others survived."

Before Bart could give any orders, they heard a now-familiar voice behind them.

"Yes...they're all alive. They may be a little hurt, but they're living."

Sigurd, Bart and the others turned and saw a rather tall young woman with rather dark red hair in a Kislev uniform. She had a frown on her face.

"Now that your ship has been boarded, you will explain why you have crossed into out territory, and I want the truth."

Sigurd said, "We didn't intentionally come here. We were heavily damaged in an attack against Aveh. Navigation was out and we had lost some of our maps. We would have told you what we were doing here, but the outgoing transmission circuits were fried."

The woman turned towards Bart and the first mate, eyes widening when she saw the young pirate.

"You...you seem familiar, somehow," she said in a low tone.

One of the woman's crewman said after looking into a bundle of circuitry, "He's right, ma'am, all the circuits in outgoing communications are fused together."

"Navigation is also blown," a second of her crew reported, "and so is weapons control."

Right behind her, at that moment, a very familiar voice called out, "Young master, what brought the alarm this time...?"

She turned and saw Maison, a smile of recognition on her face.

"You people...you're not with the current Aveh, are you?"

"No, we aren't," Bart retorted with a type of growl.

She simply nodded and said to one of the men behind her, "Go back to the ship and tell the crew to prepare to tow this sand cruiser to the secret dock."

The man nodded, saluted and took off.

"What are you going to do with us?" Bart asked, "You going to kill us?"

She wheeled on him and stared for a long moment before replying.

"Your ship will be taken to the 4th battalion's dock to be repaired. After repairs are complete, you will be released."

Bart looked at her, open-mouthed.

She raised an eyebrow and Maison said, "You should close your mouth, young master...you are not an insect trap."

"My sentiments exactly," she replied with a nod.

"But...aren't you supposed to kill us?" Bart asked.

"Unlike most people in war, I am not a barbarian. If I were to kill everyone and anyone that didn't stand under Kislev's banner, Ignas and the world would be in a lot sorrier shape than it's in now. Besides, one gets a better response with mercy than he does with a sword."

As Fei listened, he saw the second sensor on the nearby ledge and jumped to it, with Bart following close behind.

"Of course, we never remembered to get her name, but her policy of saving the lives of those she captured, even letting some of them go, really made me stop and think. I guess my own policy could be a tribute to her," the pirate finished his story.

"And you think that your ship's savior is Aireel?" the young man asked as Bart's Gear bent down and messed with a couple of switches.

"I recognized her...I mean, nobody else in Ignas has that weird hair style."

As Fei said, "Oh," the red lights on the sensor faded away and the sounds it was making died.

"Well, this one's off too! Let's go back and see the old man."

"Okay. Good thing Ol' man Bal's house isn't far from this spot; we have less of a walk back."

"So, Fei...how did you meet her?" the young pirate asked as they jumped from the ledge with the now-deactivated sensor and started walking back in the Gears, "I bet your meeting her is just as weird."

"It may be," was the reply, "We had just gotten to Dazil when some of the townspeople were tuning up musical instruments in the center of the city. Aireel was with them, singing some strange song about two people...but it was a tune that doc recognized. Then he tells me that he knows the singer...but I'll tell you, the look on his face was as if he had just remembered both. I think maybe he's got amnesia too..."

Fei trailed off for a moment, then shook his head, continuing, "Anyway, do yourself a favor and never question her ability to take care of herself. When I did, she had me counterattacked and pinned down in a martial arts move faster than anyone could talk. I'm still feeling some of that mistake."

"Hmm...when we get back, I just might try her out in a few sparring matches...in good sport, mind you now."

"Only if you're wanting some bruises and sore limbs."

"I doubt she'll do that kind of damage," Bart replied, then looked around for approaching enemies and monsters.

"None on this end...I guess the last few fights with them made them wary of us," Fei reported.

"Don't be so sure. It's probably nighttime and they're either asleep or recharging. Come morning, they'll be wanting us for breakfast."

"That's true. Well, we're close to the old man's place now, maybe we can rest inside."

The pirate nodded and both got out of their Gears and went inside.

They found Bal over at a shelf close to where the skulls of animals and humans were. He turned to the two arrivals and said, "Good timing. I was just about to open the sand barrier now."

They nodded and he turned back to the bookshelf and pressed a hidden button.

After a couple of minutes, there was a low rumbling and the sound of something quite large in size moving after not being in use for a while. After a few minutes, the rumbling and sounds ceased.

"Our deal is now done," Bal said.

"Thanks, old man. Hey there's something I want to ask you. I heard some rumors about some 'God Gear' that was sealed somewhere. Is it true?"

Balthazar lowered his head for a moment and said, "Hmm...a giant of God, created by the wisdom of God...its power is a thousand times more than that of normal Gears....with the sweep of an arm, it could destroy cities...it is called the Omnigear..."

"Is that the Gear that was used in the fight against God that you told us about?" Bart asked.

"Goodness gracious, you too boy? That is nothing more than speculation and story. Well, I will go have a look at your Gears. It'll take a little while so why don't you two rest in here..." the old man replied then left.

Sigurd looked out through the viewing glass at the desert and rocks around him. Morning had come a short time ago, the young master and Fei had not arrived yet, there had not been word from the hideout...and now he had to find out what his old friend was doing here as well...

Below and to his right, he heard a series of whistles and clicks. At first, he was startled until he remembered what exactly was making the sounds.

He then turned to a strange-looking creature in a blue-gray suit and tapped his ear.

The being tapped a round device where the ear would be and said, "Sorry, first mate. We're receiving a message from the hideout. Our messenger made it safe and sound...and they're quite excited to see her."

One worry put to rest, he thought and said, "Excellent. Tell them that as soon as we pick up the young master and our other guest, we'll go to the hideout for resupplying."

"Aye, sir."

He nodded and heard one of the helmsman, Jericho, grumble about how hard it was to steer after the helm got handed over to the young master.

I don't really blame him...he can be rather reckless. I'm not sure about all of this. I have this feeling of a bad omen...Aireel, who was supposed to have been killed 20 years ago and turns out to be the same person who spared our lives 3 years ago arrives in the desert while we try to get the stolen Gear everyone is talking about...Hyu, who disappeared five years ago is with her...maybe he's right, perhaps none of this is coincidence.

Behind him, he heard the door whoosh open and heard by-now familiar footsteps coming in.

"Had a good rest, Citan?"

"Not really, Sigurd," the person behind him replied then whispered in a low voice, "Nightmares..."

"Excuse me?"

He shook his head and replied, "Nothing..."

Bart tapped his foot impatiently in the strange cavern-house while he and Fei were waiting. They could hear the sounds of metal being hammered on, low cursings once in a while and things being dropped now and then.

"Hey, Fei...what do you think of that old guy?" he asked.

"Well...he seems harmless to me. Why?"

"It's really suspicious. What's an old guy doing down here anyway?"

"What do you think he's doing, digging up Gears?"

The young pirate grinned and said, "That's right! That's what I actually think!"

Fei frowned and said, "Bart, I only said that as a joke!"

"Well, he's definitely looking for something."

He felt that he had better change the subject before it lead them into another fight and asked, "Bart, the Gear in the old man's stories...are you sure they're not just legends?"

"I'm sure of it."

"Do you think one of the Gears we're using could be it?"

He sneered and replied, "Yeah, right! The Gears that have recently been found are only a few hundred years old. The bullet wounds in the Gear's armor seems to confirm that."

"But why were they buried?"

Before anyone could say anything else, Balthazar came in, saying, "This cannot be!"

"What's up?" Bart asked.

The old man pointed to Weltall and asked, "Is this your Gear?"

"Uh, well...sort of." Fei replied.

"Where did you get it?"

"We're just borrowing it. Why?"

He turned his back on them and said in a shocked tone, "This Gear is...the host for the spirit of...the slayer of god..."

"What? What did you say?"

Balthazar quickly said, "Nothing...I said nothing!"

Fei exploded, retorting, "Yes you did, I heard you! Slayer of God! That's what you said, isn't it old man!"

The old man said bitterly, "Your business is finished here, your Gears are repaired. This is a bad time for me. Both of you get out!"

"What's with him?" Bart asked, getting angry.

"I said get out, now!"

Fei and Bart got back into the two Gears, the latter marveling at the new pipe that had been put into Brigandier.

"For an old fossicker, he sure knows how to service Gears," Fei agreed as they went through the now open gate.

"Think the exit is far off now?" he added.

"Maybe...according to the old man, it won't be too far, but he was also mentioning something about calamity. Maybe he's gone nuts."

"Who knows..."

Maison looked from the bar part of the Gun Room at Citan, who now seemed to be in rather low spirits.

"Something the matter?"

The doctor looked up and replied quietly, "I do not know..."

"Are you worried about the young man still?"

"A little..."

He nodded and replied as he got out a pair of teacups and a pot of tea, "Ah, it's the young lady. Sigurd said that she'll be all right, she was just sent on a special mission--"

Citan shook his head and said in an irritated voice, "She nearly died a few hours ago...and shortly he assigns her to something...I had thought Sigurd had better sense than that."

Maison sighed and thought, I may as well tell him, then said out loud, "To be honest with you, the lass volunteered."

That made the doctor quickly turn and look at him, the expression unreadable to the old man.

"She...volunteered? She is more reckless than I thought."

The old man shook his head and asked, "Why are you so hard on her? She cares a great deal about you and there's nothing wrong with that."

He shook his head and said with a sigh, "I do not know, myself..."

A few minutes later, they felt vibrations, although these were different than the ones when Aireel had left.

A couple of minutes later, a crewman from the Gear deck came in and said, "Old Maison...the young master and the doctor's friend, Fei, has arrived."

Both got up and headed for the door, the older of the two grumbling about the young master's "blind shooting habits..."

In the Gear dock, as Fei got off his Gear and landed on the floor, he was only partly surprised to see Citan stand near the platform.

"Fei! I was worried about you," he called out, relieved that at least one of the two people was all right.

"Where's Aireel? I know she didn't look too good last I saw her," the young boy asked.

He turned a bit pale and simply said, "She is gone..."

Fei's eyes widened as he asked, "You mean she died?"

Citan shook his head and said, "I am sorry, I meant that she took off. She is well now."

"Whew..."

Right then, Bart, a young man with silver hair and a seemingly elderly man walked up to them.

The man with silver hair said, "Welcome to our cruiser, Yggdrasil. We apologize for the earlier incident. I'm sure the others have properly introduced themselves. I am Sigurd, first mate."

Bart grumbled and said, "Well, now you know the situation...so forgive me, will ya?"

"Did you apologize to Master Fei?" the elderly man asked.

"I already said I was wrong!"

"Young Master, just saying that you were 'wrong' won't change things!"

Sigurd and the other man dragged Bart off, with him shouting the whole time, "Ow, ow, ow! Quit pulling my ears!"

Fei chuckled a bit at the sight, then sighed as he looked at Weltall and remembered Balthazar's words.

"What is wrong, Fei? You look down."

"Nothing," he quickly replied to Citan.

"Did something happen...?"

The young man shook his head.

The doctor sighed and nodded, saying, "Let us go rest in our cabin. It is quite comfortable."

As Fei nodded and took off for the door, he didn't notice that his friend was standing still, looking at the Gear doors that were now closed.