Shogo: The Aftermath A continuation of the option two, selection one path. A Canadian written story based on an American video game inspired by Japanese anime and mecha. Based on the computer game Shogo: Mobile Armour Division by Monolith Productions. Story by Graham L. Wilson. Edited by Hamish Paul Wilson. Watch for random Blood references! Written with OpenOffice.org Writer 2.3.0 on Fedora GNU/Linux 8 in March-April 2008. Revised: July 29, 2009, February 12, 2014 http://www.blood-wiki.org/Shogo/Expanded-Canon/ Thanks to Monolith Productions for the Shogo game and characters. This fan fiction was written for those who have played Shogo: Mobile Armour Division, but for those who have not I recommend you read the Blood Wiki: Shogo Sub-Section article at http://blood-wiki.org/index.php/Shogo:_MAD; it contains a decent statement of the entire plot, as well as back story information on the characters. Also read the back story pages from Shogo's official site: http://wayback.archive.org/web/19990815000000*/http://www.shogo-mad.com/ or one of the various fan sites (http://blood-wiki.org/index.php/Shogo_Community). If you wish to use any of my text, go to this story's website and download the GFDL version simply titled as “The Aftermath”. In it all of Monolith Productions' intellectual property has been replaced. Characters: Admiral: Sanjuro Makabe Ambassador: Toshiro Makabe Assistant Ambassador: Baku Ogata Lieutenant Commander: Kathryn Akkaraju Commander: Kura Akkaraju Ex-Admiral: Nathaniel Akkaraju Bodyguard: Samantha Sternberg Characters Mentioned in Brief: Former Shogo President and Fortune Heir: Ryo Ishikawa Former Mercenary and Geological Researcher: Hank Johnson Native Cronus Entity: Cothineal Barmaid: Carla Lieutenant: Dussault Academy Bully: Brutus (this is the only character that did not appear in Shogo: MAD) Cat Toy: Commander Claw (okay, not a real character but it does have a line of dialog!) Parts of the Story: 1. Authors Note (boring stuff, feel free to skip!) 2. Fighting Sisters 3. A Day of Loss and Reunion 4. Night of Memories 5. A Father Repents 6. The First Mission of a New Life 7. Bonus Text (enjoy!) 8. Disclaimers Author's Note: Personal Admission: February 12, 2014 While I would like to think that my statement that “I probably always will” “greatly dislike” anime was driven by a warped desire to be funny, I have to admit now that it was simply a product of cultural prejudice. I only really knew of anime from when Pokemon assaulted North America's shores when I was about six, and had yet to know its true diversity or strengths. Thank you Neon Genesis Evangelion for showing me just how.... bizarre animation can be (and yes, in a good way - I have heard many people before shocked that this was my first true anime, and that it actually made me into an anime fan. So much for needing to start people off easy with Cowboy Bebop...). However, I shall retain my original expression of folly for both posterity and penance. Original Note First Published on May 10, 2008: First let me begin with this statement: I greatly dislike anime, I always have and probably always will. They are weird for the sake of weird and not in a good way (as for mecha, as someone with an engineer's mindset, though admittedly a software and not a mechanical one, I know that the bipedal design is insanely impractical, but I still think giant robots are cool ;-P). This statement of distaste aside, I have to say that I greatly enjoyed Monolith Production's Shogo: Mobile Armour Division. Most of my enjoyment was derived from the detailed plot and excellent characterizations (though there where two corny Sanjuro lines I really disliked), similar to Monolith's other great early titles Blood and Blood II: The Chosen, whose plots and characters are surprisingly almost Shakespearean in depth (Caleb is the best video game character ever!) . Though Shogo did still end rather poorly. No matter what scenario you chose, all you got was a single text screen and a movie depicting cold blooded murder and romantic competition (the cold blooded murder part seems to challenge anyone taking that bit seriously, though in context it was funny). Inspired by the Blood fan fiction, I decided to write my own ending, based on the path I preferred: option two, selection one. The idea came into my head with four basic parts: Kura and Kathryn's fight, Toshiro and Baku's recovery, Hank's death, and Nathaniel Akkaraju's punishment and repentance (also some long freaky time warp acid trips err... reminisces). The story advanced from there, so read on and be entertained gentle player... err, reader (if you know what that last sentence was a reference to then you deserve a reward, dear Bloodite). Revision Note from July 29, 2009: This is the second version of Shogo: The Aftermath, which I started working on a year and two months after the first version was released during May 2008. My writing has improved a lot in that time, or so I would like to believe. I could not write very well until 2008 and this I ascribe directly to my Blood Wiki project. The massive effort that was required to get that wiki matured taught me a lesson on English grammar and prose, knowing that if I screwed up something in my article writing I would have to click the “edit” button again. Since then, my control of the Canadian English language has gotten better, and I think it is time I went over this story again. This is more than just a grammar check, some sentences have been slightly rearranged (but the original meaning preserved) and some small comments have been added, nothing that changes the general flow, but things I think help it or fit better with continuity (not with the game, but with the expansions to The Expanded Canon universe, largely written by my brother Hamish). Most notably, I have changed it so that Cothineal's gender is listed as female, the creature's gender was never made clear in the game, and I rather unthinkingly referred to it as male in the original version. Now, based on an old design document for Shogo I found, I list it as female. I am still amazed at the depth and quality in which my brother has been able to expand the Shogo universe using this original little story as a template. We have both developed the characters so much that they have far more depth to them than they ever did in the game. It is also funny what things became canon standards, such as Sanjuro's tendency to sleep in and the many mannerisms and characterizations ascribed to each character that we have repeated in different wordings a thousand times. I only wish that I had contributed some more stories myself. Oh well, there is always the future! Well here ya go, the new and improved Aftermath! Final Revision Notice: February 12, 2014 Well, if I had felt I had come a long way a year and two months later, you can only guess how much farther along I feel now. Writing Adauchi, my personal conclusion to The Expanded Canon, in contrast to the final part of Hamish's Trilogy, has been the process that I feel matured me as a writer. Not only did I write a 150 page long story, but I also developed considerably in terms of defining my own narrative style, preparing me to begin my first attempt at a fully original novel. Though, naturally, because of this, I can not help but look at some of this very early apprentice work and cringe, but I can only just spruce it up as I can, and remember its importance in my life. Besides, I am sure a lot of writers have far worse starts and I still feel perfectly comfortable putting my name in the front of this – though I would ask that no matter what you think of it, please keep reading, as there is a plethora of advancement to be seen in the later stories that can not possibly be suggested by my humble opening! I think my brother and I have both done this game proud, and it has been an absolute joy to do so. It is hard to believe I was still in Junior High when I wrote this! Thank you Shogo, thank you Monolith! “I'm no writer! I mostly just play games that involve hurting people” - based on a quip by Caleb. Part One: Fighting Sisters Sanjuro Makabe walked absently through the decks of the Leviathan, the ship he was soon to command now that he had been promoted to Admiral. It was a strange time, Kura, Toshiro, and Baku, all people he had known since childhood, had returned from their supposed deaths and back into his life. This sort of thing would have been odd to happen for just one person, let alone for three. This was however made much more complicated by the fact that he had been dating his former girlfriend Kura's sister, Kathryn, and this had still not been sorted out. What had once been “kinda complicated” was now tremendously complicated. He and his two squabbling lovers were granted shore-leave for their work over the past few months on the Cronus affair (bringing the whole thing to a close at long last). Sanjuro walked through the door to see Kura and Kathryn in the corridor, they both gave him a look of friendly greeting and then a glare at each other, which had become their custom. “Hello, sweeties” Sanjuro said rather tensely, trying too hard to sound pleasant, as he approached and kissed Kura. He had added pet names and compliments into his regular discourse with them as a way to help calm them down. Kura then gained a look of pride and sneer towards her sister, as if Sanjuro was some prize to be won. Sanjuro then approached Kathryn and kissed her. Kathryn had an altogether different reaction than her sister, not of spite but of adoration for Sanjuro, or at least, her best suggestion of it. However, a small mopey frown then soon also appeared on her face. “You always kiss her first” she moaned, glaring at her sister once again. “Well, I had him first you little usurper” Kura threw back. “Calm down” Sanjuro requested quietly. The girls showed no notice. “I kissed him first!” Kathryn stated. “We were teenagers! We were only fooling around!” Kura scorned. “Dears, please” Sanjuro pleaded. “You should have stayed dead” Kathryn hissed. “Well, at least I risked my own neck instead of hiding behind radio controllers!” Kura exclaimed. Kathryn's face flushed red in fury, but before she could reply Sanjuro intervened loudly. “Look, would you two just calm down! There is enough of me for the two of you. Would you please promise not to tear each other apart?” Kathryn's face calmed as she gained a look of submission. “Yes, sweetheart” she said, almost in a whisper. Kura's face had not calmed though. Sanjuro gave her a knowing glance, he had of course ran into her attitude before. She then let out a sigh. “Alright, but only because you say so” she added, still plainly annoyed. “Now then, any word from the trial of the Admiral?” Sanjuro asked, almost afraid of the answer. It had been hell giving testimony over the past few weeks, against Admiral Nathaniel Akkaraju no less, the man who had been like a father to him. He just hoped the court would go easy on him, after all he was under the direct influence of that rat Ryo Ishikawa when he disobeyed High Command. “They decided it this morning” Kura said, finally expressing emotion other than spite. “He was dishonorably discharged” Kathryn said delicately, aware of how Sanjuro felt torn in two by both the need to justify his previous actions, without utterly betraying his former mentor. “But he did get a note of commendation for his decades of loyalty and service beforehand” Kura interjected, trying to soften the news. “Much better than being convicted of treason” Sanjuro said, legitimately relieved. “He's gone back to Earth to live on the old estate” Kura continued. “But he still won't talk to either of us! I just hope he does not blame you Sanjuro” Kathryn said, deliberately saying Sanjuro's name in her sweetest and most seductive tone of voice. Her tone had evidently not been missed by Kura, as it made her shoot Kathryn another jealous glance. “Remember your promise to me you two, now I must leave for now. I have a video call with my brother scheduled. Goodbye, my darlings” Sanjuro said as he left the room through one of the doors, becoming all the more aware that it would take more than sweet talk to repair the rift between the two. Toshiro's face appeared on the large view screen in front of Sanjuro. Toshiro was quickly becoming more and more like the brother Sanjuro remembered, as Cothineal released him from the iron grip of the personality known as “Gabriel”, as part of her attempts to reconcile with humanity. “Hello brother” Toshiro said, glad to see his sibling again after so much had passed. “Hi Toshiro” Sanjuro responded, still unsure of how to address him. “I heard about the Admiral, I hope he find some happiness in his, let's say, 'retirement” Toshiro said, understanding Sanjuro's feelings on the matter. Toshiro's, however, came with some surprise. “You forgive him then?” Sanjuro asked, “After what he attempted to do to you?” “Of course brother! Cothineal did not wipe my memories away, just clouded them when it was necessary, and I still I remember how he treated us back in the Academy!” Toshiro replied. “How are things down on Cronus anyway?” Sanjuro asked, almost weary to ask. The memories of all that had happened to him, not to mention everyone else, down on that planet still seeming too enormous for the possibility of anything approaching a peace ever reaching there. “Pretty good, the U.C.A. is negotiating directly with Cothineal with me as Ambassador. We have nearly arranged it so that the people of Cronus may live as they please and that kato may still be mined as long as Cothineal's conditions are met, well, at least that is the long-term intention. Don't worry though, she is pretty forgiving for a long mistreated super-being” Toshiro said, optimistically. “Great, so how's Baku?” Sanjuro asked, unsure of what his brother's answer would be. “Cothineal has entirely released any hold she had over him, Uziel is in every way dead. However Baku will never be quite the same as he was in the old Academy days, but he is still a good friend. He wants to see you, Kura, and Kathryn again” Toshiro replied. Sanjuro thought about what Toshiro had said for a moment, he remembered Kura saying how dangerous and insane Uziel was, that and his own encounters with Baku's alter-ego. It was quite relieving to hear Toshiro tell him that Baku was no longer a murderous madman, though he could not help but think that Toshiro was overstating things for him by implying that it was entirely removed. “Hey, how are Kura and Kathryn anyway?” Toshiro asked, breaking into Sanjuro's thoughts. “Five minutes ago, I had to stop them from ripping each others heads off” Sanjuro explained. “Let me guess, Kathryn is spending all her time moping while Kura is practically tearing down the walls?” Toshiro asked, his recollections of the two still painfully accurate. “You got that right, I just do not want to hurt them. I love Kura with all my heart, but I would be lying if I said that I did not have strong feelings for Kathryn, after all she did for me after Kura supposedly died. Besides Kura should have considered my feelings when she took on that reconnaissance mission” Sanjuro sighed, the weight of it overcoming his frail psyche once again. “Ah, brother you were always so damn like-able” Toshiro laughed. “I never wanted to be liked this much” Sanjuro replied, a little unhappily. “Don't worry, things will all sort themselves out. Just hold them and kiss them and call them 'dear' and 'sweetheart' and they will be happy, and you will eventually sort something out” Toshiro said, not exactly experienced in giving social advice but not doing too bad a job. “Well brother, I guess I will see you tomorrow at Mr. Johnson's funeral. What was he like exactly?” he then asked. “You should ask Kura that, she knew him a lot longer then I did. All I know is that he was a good comrade and friend” Sanjuro said, “and he died simply for trying to help us do the right thing.” “May Ryo Ishikawa's name be cursed for ever more” Toshiro agreed, aware of how Hank had helped Sanjuro down the path that had lead to the Cronus' present peace. It was Ryo who had in cold blood murdered Hank Johnson, one of the many sacrificed in his quest to gain control of kato energy. All of that of course had lead to his own destruction, by Sanjuro's quite willing hand. “Aye brother, good bye” Sanjuro said, the conversation, like so many, strangely tiring him. “Farewell, see you tomorrow when old friends meet” Toshiro said, still exercising Gabriel's tendency to talk grandly, just before the view screen darkened. “Well, time to check on my two girlfriends” Sanjuro thought, as he exited through the door. He considered how many men out there who would actually have enjoyed that thought... but what did any of them know? Certainly, none of them had ever met an Akkaraju... The rest of the day was spent hanging out with Kura and Kathryn. They had calmed down since Sanjuro had last seen them, and were both interested in hearing the words of Toshiro. Shore leave on the Leviathan was getting increasingly dull for Sanjuro, even if he did have what, in his esteemed opinion, were the universe's two greatest companions. He had read every book he and either of his girlfriends owned, and had done just about everything else he felt there was to be done on that ship. He was a soldier at heart, and did not enjoy moments of mediocrity, it had after all been a tremendous amount of time since he had to face anything like tranquility, and it had came as more of a shock than he might have predicted. Today the three found an old movie which they played in Sanjuro's quarters, not the most memorable way to spend a day (not that Sanjuro felt that he needed that many more memorable events in his life), but there was nothing else to do. Kura and Kathryn placed their heads in Sanjuro's lap as he stroked their hair quietly while watching the flick, and Sanjuro was somewhat satisfied that he was able to keep the two of them relatively contented. Around ten in the evening, Sanjuro, Kura, and Kathryn returned to Sanjuro's quarters after an evening out to sleep. Sanjuro of course slept in the room's bed. Kathryn however, had been removed from her spot by his side by Kura. Instead, the sisters slept on two mattresses which were placed on opposite sides of Sanjuro's bed, an uneasy truce. The three then changed into nightwear, a scene which they did not hide from each other as Kura and Kathryn were sisters and they both did not care about Sanjuro seeing them naked, anything to get more attention from him. Unfortunately for him, the potential seductive quality of this display was lost on his all too exhausted mind, not the least because of their continued conflict. After that, both girls gave Sanjuro two huge good night kisses, which proved more successful, and retired to their beds. About an hour passed, and Sanjuro had almost went to sleep, when he suddenly felt compelled to check on his two lovers. Given all that had happened, he was still somewhat expecting one or both of them to vanish from existence again. He looked over the side to see that Kathryn was not asleep but was laying there upset, a pronounced grimace on her face, about Kura no doubt. After a brief period of thought, Sanjuro gently placed his hand on Kathryn's long thick reddish brown hair and stroked it like one would with a pet. She looked up at Sanjuro with eyes that seemed reminiscent of a lonely needy dog. Sanjuro complied and spent almost ten minutes stroking her soft hair. After that Kathryn gave Sanjuro a loving look, kissed his hand, and whispered “Thanks, I love you, no matter what” before placing her hands under her head and closing her eyes. Kura was asleep when Sanjuro looked, so he just gently lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead. She did not wake up but a smile did appear on her face. After ensuring his girls' sleep he himself drifted off to dreamland, his own peace of mind agonizingly dependent on those two chaotic elements. Part Two: A Day of Loss and Reunion Sanjuro woke up around nine thirty in the morning, he looked over one side of the bed and saw Kura was not on her mattress, he then checked the other side and saw that Kathryn was also missing. Finally he also noticed their night attire laying messily on the floor, so either they had gotten dressed and had headed out to eat breakfast or they were walking around the Leviathan nude, the latter hardly seeming in character for either of them (well, unless Kura got quite drunk). His assumptions were answered by Kathryn's near angelic voice coming from the communicator that lay on the nightstand. “Sanjuro sweetheart! It is time to get up! Don't you want to come and see your two adoring girlfriends?” she cooed teasingly. If Sanjuro was more awake, he would have appreciated the levity in her voice more – it was the first time she had ever addressed the situation in a vaguely comical manner. “I just got up!” Sanjuro said into the communicator, a little roughly. “Well get over here, we are in the cafeteria on deck 5” Kura's voice said, coming through the communicator, in a rather harsh militaristic manner as if she was Sanjuro's commander. Sanjuro stood up and walked towards his and his lovers' wardrobe. During his approach, he felt something underfoot. “Commander Claw!” it shouted. Sanjuro looked down and saw that it was that little cat toy he had gotten during a rather strange escapade on Cronus. He picked it up and stared at it. Sanjuro had wanted to throw it away, but Kathryn for some reason had taken a liking to it. She had always wanted a cat, though she knew her military career could never allow it. Sanjuro placed the toy down on the nightstand and finished dressing. He then made his journey down to the deck 5 cafeteria, finding the two sister's sitting around a round table, each surrounding a chair that they had saved for Sanjuro. As soon as he had sat down Sanjuro was kissed by Kathryn as passionately as she could with the time her sister would give her. This show of affection was repeated by Kura, who tried to make her kiss even more enjoyable than her sisters. “Aren't you two loving today” Sanjuro noted, also noticing the looks from the other patrons a little uncomfortably. Well, he supposed that they could never truly understand the situation. “Might as well bring some joy to this sad day” Kura said in a slightly depressed voice. “What is the expected dress for this service?” Kathryn asked, for once the more practical sister. “Well, Hank had always wanted to be a soldier but could never manage it officially, so I think that out of respect we should dress in our best U.C.A. uniforms” Kura said, saluting as she did so. “Aw, I was just picturing you two in cute little black funeral dresses” Sanjuro joked. A little smile appeared on Kathryn's face, but Kura did not seem amused, which came as something of a surprise to Sanjuro – they must have gone through a lot together. He then quickly added “May Hank's soul find eternal peace.” Kura nodded in agreement, while Kathryn grew more mournful look. “Toshiro and Baku will be there at the funeral” Sanjuro said, trying to cheer them up. “Good, it will make this day much less sombre” Kathryn said. “In all due respect to the deceased of course” she added, not wanting to get Kura angry again by disrespecting her dead friend and comrade, the two now quite aware of that raw nerve. Sanjuro looked around and saw that Carla the barmaid was on her shift. Time to settle an old score. He got up calmly and approached the bar. “How about that red claw Carla?” he asked, the entreaty by this point quite familiar. “At breakfast?” Carla responded, giving Sanjuro a questioning look. “Ah, come on! I am not on duty, I am on shore leave for my work on Cronus! Also, I should note, I am now an Admiral, give me the alcohol” Sanjuro said, daring her to deny him this again. “All right... Admiral” Carla muttered, as she poured the drink. After grabbing the booze, Sanjuro returned to the Akkaraju sisters, one of whom seemed equally baffled by his actions. “Liquor at ten in the morning?” Kura asked, with a expression that closely resembled Carla's. “I just won an old war” Sanjuro said quietly to himself. Kathryn smiled, she knew something about Sanjuro's life that Kura did not. The three then returned to consuming their respective breakfasts. Around twelve in the afternoon, the three adorned their best uniforms, including their shining new commendations for their service in the Cronus affair, and climbed aboard the small LZ Minotaur space craft that would land them in Maritropa. The ride took about half an hour, which was spent discussing their immanent reunion with Toshiro and Baku, old friends from a simpler time. Once landed, it was a only a short trip to where the funeral was to take place. “Much nicer without those C.M.C. guards all over the place” Sanjuro remarked to himself along the way, still not quite being able to remove the feel of sniper's cross-hairs from the back of his neck. The service began with the pallbearers carrying Hank's coffin. The sight of it made Kura look away, which landed her head into Sanjuro's shoulder. A downcast funeral ballad played as the coffin was lowered into the grave and buried, something which had happened all too often on this planet, the scars of war still visible all around them and across the city. Kura, Kathryn, Sanjuro, and all the other U.C.A. and Fallen troops at the funeral gave a salute of respect for the fallen soldier, the one who had never made it officially into any army, but had more than proved himself in the end, winning the respect of all the remnant factions on Cronus. Toshiro had requested Fallen troops be there, having declared Hank a hero for what he had done for Cothineal, but also because he was aware of how important it might prove to show U.C.A. and Fallen troopers side-by-side for the first time. Several people later started to give Hank eulogies, including his bereaved wife and several other friends and family. Eventually Kura went up to the podium to give a eulogy of her own, again illustrating her desire to properly commemorate her only real friend during her long espionage mission, even if still in her usual direct manner: “Hank Johnson was a loyal citizen of Cronus, who always wanted to be a soldier but was consistently turned down by the U.C.A. due to an unfortunate genetic condition. However, this did not stop his determination as he joined the fight, military training or no. Hank was also a good friend as a well as a comrade, comforting me when I could not meet with the people I love. Hank died being what he always wanted to be: a hero. May his soul find eternal rest, he deserves it.” During the last parts of the speech, Kura surprised Sanjuro still more, she was beginning the tear up. Kura Akkaraju, the woman who hid her feelings under a rough militaristic persona, was crying. This made Sanjuro think about what Hank had done for her, in many ways Hank and his wife had been her Kathryn, the one who guided her through that dark time. As Kura stepped down from the podium, she rested herself in Sanjuro's arms and began to weep. Sanjuro held her as he and Kathryn attempted to console her. Meanwhile, other close friends and family of Hank's also gave their last respects. Once the service had concluded, Sanjuro and Kathryn stood up, with Sanjuro still holding and reassuring the weeping Kura. She had, however, managed to compose herself before they met with Toshiro and Baku. She had always been able to put whatever bothered her behind her when necessary. “Hey guys! I see you two girls are as pretty as ever. Oh and Sanjuro, sorry about trying to kill you earlier, I wasn't myself” Baku said, greeting them all, back to talking too much and too fast; actually a good sign. Upon looking at Kura, he stared down at his feet, hiding his face from her. “Come, let me take you to our residence here at the new Embassy of Cothineal, you should recognize it as the old Maritropan C.M.C. Headquarters” Toshiro said. The C.M.C., of course had been destroyed during the Cronian revolution, being taken over by the Fallen. The group approached the entrance to Cothineal's Embassy, where there were two Fallen guards at the doorway. “Please let me and my friends pass” Toshiro requested directly. The guards lowered their weapons and gave a salute, necessarily responding to anything he asked. “Right away Gabriel!” they quickly exclaimed, still kind of fanatically. Baku smiled. “At ease” he said. As a child he had been the underdog, he still kind of relished his new power. “Yes, Uziel” the guard said, but he did not seem the slightest bit relaxed. This was understandable, given that the guard had just spent a part of his life mind controlled by a giant ground creature, his attitude to those higher in Cothineal's cult was naturally still devoted. The party of friends passed through the doorway, most trying to pretend that any of this felt normal to them. Toshiro and Baku lead Sanjuro, Kura, and Kathryn into a well furnished sitting room. A Fallen guard then presented each visitor a beverage, causing Sanjuro to chuckle to himself, what a change! “Cothineal is willing to let the people on Cronus govern themselves as long as she gets a say in all major affairs, that is why this was place was built, a solid representation of her input” Toshiro explained, an uncharacteristic note of pride in his voice. “Pretty fancy” Kathryn exclaimed out loud, still unused to being back on solid ground again. “Last time Sanjuro and I were here, this place was a dump” Kura noted, remembering her brief imprisonment after betrayal by Ryo Ishikawa. Sanjuro did not desire such recollections. “What was it like to be controlled by Cothineal?” Sanjuro asked his brother. “Well I did not feel strange, there was a bit of the old me, but it was suppressed. Gabriel controlled my mind and body, Cothineal and I were in a sense, one. Now I just hear her thoughts when she wishes to communicate, except under special circumstances. It is still a little disconcerting.” “That must have been really weird and frightening” Kathryn commented, a little shakily. “It was” Baku responded. Suddenly the discussion was interrupted by a feminine voice. “Toshiro dear, is that you?” it asked. Although the words were alien, the voice was not. “I'm in here sweetheart, with guests” Toshiro directed at the disembodied voice. A young dark haired woman, with a blue hue, entered the room and kissed Toshiro. Kura, Kathryn, and Sanjuro stared at her, not having expected the illusive Gabriel to be in a relationship with anyone other than his keeper Cothineal, without even mentioning Toshiro's prior reservedness. Sanjuro thought that there was something really familiar about this woman. Toshiro then decided to introduce the mystery girl. “Ladies” he began, looking at Kura and Kathryn, “and gentlemen” he said, looking at Sanjuro. “I would like to introduce: Samantha Sternberg, my new girlfriend!” The words still did not compute. “Hello” Samantha said, as she looked at Kura and Kathryn. However, when she saw Sanjuro she gasped, jumped back and started to tremble. A look of concern appeared on Toshiro's face. “What's wrong dear?!” he asked gently, unsure what could cause such a strong reaction. “We've met” Sanjuro said, as he just remembered who she was. “Have you?” Toshiro asked, a bit skeptically. “I believe her exact words were 'I am going to kick your ass scumbag!' as well as 'Prepare to die maggot!'” Sanjuro remembered. Samantha grew even more distressed, trying to hide inside Toshiro's grasp. Kura, Kathryn, and Baku watched silently, wondering where this was headed. Sanjuro watched her tremble for a little, before finally softening his face. “But that was the past, I no longer have quarrel with any Fallen. Especially not a friend of my brother.” Samantha extracted her terrorized face from Toshiro's shoulder and looked at Sanjuro “Honest?” she asked weakly, “I was not just any Fallen...” “Yes” Sanjuro promised. Samantha got up and shook Sanjuro's hand. She then lightly kissed him on the cheek, causing the chair that Kura, Kathryn, and Baku were sitting on to move as both women shifted in jealously. Baku let out a small chuckle. Kura glared at him. “Don't make me rip off your arm!” she growled, while Baku grew a guilty look, the way he got when Kura in particular was angry at him. Strangely, this all helped to dispel the wider tension. “Samantha was one of my soldiers” Toshiro explained, hoping to distract Kura away, “we met that way and as Cothineal released his hold on us we grew attached to each other.” “Attached is the right word, they are inseparable” Baku sneered, returning to his normal self, well at least something approaching the normal he used to be. Samantha and Toshiro ignored him. “So you're an Admiral now, are you Sanjuro?” Samantha asked, “:ast time I saw you were just a Commander, if I know my U.C.A. standings correctly.” “I got promoted for my actions during the Cronus affair” Sanjuro answered, “though I am surprised you had the time to be able to notice my insignia the last time we met.” “Toshiro's still got a higher position in the grand scheme of things, kato is very important” Baku taunted lightheartedly. Kathryn and Kura preceded to simultaneously hit Baku, evidently they were not amused. Sanjuro just cringed, do not get on those two girls' bad side! “I thought you guys were supposed to best friends” Samantha said, observing this. “We are, we were always like that” Toshiro said, with a little smirk on his face. It had once seemed as if they never would have been together like this again. Samantha raised her eyebrow, while Kura and Kathryn gave their well practiced innocent looks. “I thought she swore of violence” Baku muttered, looking at Kathryn. Baku continued to fume to himself for much of the rest of the evening, though no one payed it any mind after that. Part Three: Night of Memories Kura, Kathryn, and Sanjuro entered their appointed room in the Embassy at around midnight, the three were exhausted from the day's activities and were eager to get to sleep. They would not have bothered to change into nightwear had it not been for the fact that they were wearing uncomfortable military uniforms for Hank's funeral. There was only one bed, which, predictably, caused Kura to snap at Kathryn, breaking what Sanjuro had hoped would be a longer standing truce. “You are sleeping some where else!” she declared passionately. “No, you will” Kathryn fired back, “as you were before!” “You are both sleeping here! The bed is big enough for all of us” Sanjuro ordered, not wanting to disturb the other occupants of the Embassy. After all, he did not want to be considered a troublesome guest by complaining about their accommodations. Sanjuro also thought of the principle of forcing two angry animals together in order to finally sort out their differences, then he realized that he was the one who was going to have to be rest between them, and winced at his own lack of foresight. “Alright. It will be nice to sleep next to you again, sweetheart” Kathryn said. Again glares were exchanged. The three climbed into bed and both girls cuddled up to Sanjuro's opposite sides. “If she ever leaves, you're mine!” Kura whispered in a possessive tone, but for once Kathryn did not hear Kura's dirty remark. They closed their eyes with a look of total comfort, which came as both a surprise and a tremendous relief. Sanjuro started to wonder how it had all started. He was just a child when he had first had first seen them. He remembered that day well... “Come on Toshiro, let's go explore” a young Sanjuro exclaimed with excitement as he pulled his slightly older brother along by the arm. Toshiro hated crowds, the hordes of people. This Military Academy was full of them. The ever more social Sanjuro was loving this place, meeting all these new people. Toshiro gave Sanjuro a miserable look. “You can't stay in a corner all day Tosh” Sanjuro declared. The rest of the morning continued much like this, until eventually class was set to begin. Sanjuro and Toshiro sat down at their respective seats and waited for their first lecture. The teacher came out and stood up to make an announcement. “Class, to celebrate the beginning of a new school year we have a special guest speaker: Commodore Nathaniel Akkaraju, who is stationed here on the colony.” The Commodore then moved up to the podium and started to make his speech, generic sort of military talk, about honour and duty and defending innocent lives, which would probably mean more to those there who came from military families, rather than the two brothers taken in as orphans. Sanjuro's attention was thus quickly turned elsewhere. He poked Toshiro, who was staring downward at the top of his desk. “Who are they?” Sanjuro whispered. “Who are who?” Toshiro asked, confused. Sanjuro pointed forward. “Those two girls” Sanjuro said. Toshiro glanced at them. They were watching the Commodore with great admiration, the sort one would show for a respectable father. “I believe they are the Commodore's daughters” Toshiro said, stating his observations. “Now why would you say that?” Sanjuro asked, always interested in Toshiro's deductions. “Well its just a guess, look at the way they look at the Commodore” Toshiro said. “They're beautiful” Sanjuro said, his eyes crystallizing over. “We should really be paying attention to the lesson” Toshiro murmured, looking down at the desk again. However Sanjuro's interest in the two girls was not over yet. Toshiro had noticed that he continued to spend most of his time looking at them, rather then paying attention to academics. Just at the end of the lecture, Sanjuro poked Toshiro again. “You where right Tosh” he said excitedly. “Right about what?” Toshiro asked, once again lifting his head out of its miserable position to look at his all too energetic sibling. “They are his daughters, I saw him greet them before leaving” Sanjuro expounded. “Look, just forget about them! We need to pay attention!” Toshiro warned. The day was of very little academic value, as most first days are not. It was mostly greetings and statements of school policy. Even so, Sanjuro was still not paying any attention. Eventually, lunch was called and all the students proceeded to the cafeteria, Sanjuro pulling Toshiro through the crowds. Being orphans, Sanjuro and Toshiro were given food from the Academy's cooks, which was not the best, but it was better than nothing. Toshiro ate in silence, while Sanjuro was not even touching his food and instead was looking around the place, still overstimulated. “There they are” he called out after a while, causing Toshiro to groan again, having had already endured more than enough of this nonsense. Why did Sanjuro suddenly gain this obsession?! “Ah well...” Toshiro thought, “he'll get over it.” For once, Toshiro's wisdom would prove far from correct. Several days passed and Sanjuro did not seem the slightest bit over his infatuation with the two Akkaraju sisters. He was constantly bugging Toshiro with questions about them, and wanting him to use his clever little mind to make deductions about them based on their current actions. Sanjuro's attention did not go unnoticed, as on the third day the short brown haired Akkaraju sister started to stare back. She kept giving Sanjuro a questioning look and apparently asking her sister, a girl with longer brown hair, stuff about the weird person staring at them, in seeming parallel to Sanjuro and Toshiro. At one point during break Sanjuro could not stand it any longer. “I'm going to go say hello” he said. Toshiro groaned yet again. “Come on Tosh” Sanjuro said dragging, a confused and dazed Toshiro behind him. Finally he reached the two sister's table, his brother effectively resigning himself from the moment. “Hello” Sanjuro greeted enthusiastically. The girl with long brown hair looked up. “Hi” she replied, a bit surprised, having half-believed that Kura had been making him up. “I'm Sanjuro” Sanjuro stated, not feeling any awkwardness at all. “I'm Kathryn” the long haired girl said, kind of hoping that would be the end of it. “My name's Kura” the short haired girl interjected, never wanting to let Kathryn get ahead of him in anything. Toshiro just stood next to Sanjuro staring down at the floor. “This is my brother Toshiro, he does not talk much” Sanjuro said trying to make up for Toshiro's distance, regardless of whether or not his brother wanted his help. “Hello Toshiro” Kathryn said, trying to be friendly, Toshiro just looked away. He barely talked to anyone, and with girls he would barely even allow himself near them. “What did you think of our father's speech?” Kura asked. Sanjuro had not payed any attention to the Commodore's speech. No matter, he was excellent at social contact. Which is to say, lying. “It was interesting” Sanjuro stated, his sincerity all too forced. “Not really, he always talks like that. He is a really respectable man in the U.C.A. though” Kathryn stated, rolling her eyes during the first part. “Father is very proud we got into the Academy, how about yours'?” Kura asked. Toshiro grimaced, the thought of his own parents was still a particularly raw nerve. “Our parents died a long time ago” Sanjuro muttered, though still always less affected by it. “Oh, I am so sorry! I didn't know” Kura slipped out, legitimately remorseful. “It's okay, though Toshiro is rather sensitive about it” Sanjuro assured her. “How did you end up in the Academy then?” Kathryn asked, genuinely curious. “We've spent most of our lives in an orphanage” Sanjuro explained, “but they did not have schools there, so we were put here.” “It must be really lonely not having a mom or a dad” Kathryn said, a little sad, “if you are ever lonely or upset you can come and visit us, daddy lives in the big house near here.” “Thanks, that's really kind” Sanjuro said, suddenly grinning. Toshiro looked up, evidently he had been unusually touched by Kathryn's kind response to the brother's woes. The conversation continued, and the four started to hang out together and became close friends, even Toshiro was beginning to become more friendly with them. There was some strange sort of bond between Sanjuro and Kura, a bond which greatly freaked out Toshiro and Kathryn. The two of them were always together, and yet were always putting each other down, and in general being rather cruel to each other, but afterwards they would always burst out laughing. Sanjuro's reminiscences were suddenly disturbed by the door opening, there in the doorway was Baku. He stared in at the three for a moment. Kathryn who had been cuddling up on Sanjuro's right side, had turned a bright shade of red in embarrassment from being seen in such intimate contact with Sanjuro. Kura showed her naughty little smile, she simply loved attention. Sanjuro just stared at Baku. “Sorry wrong room” Baku said, before closing the door. Sanjuro then distinctly heard him say something akin to “lucky bastard” muffled through the door, tinged with bitterness. “It's okay, go back to sleep sweethearts” Sanjuro said, trying to diffuse the situation back to normal. Kura and Kathryn placed their heads on his chest and closed their eyes once again. Sanjuro then got to thinking about Baku and how he was included into the Makabe-Akkaraju clan... “You're a real nice guy Sanjuro” Kura said, holding his hand. Sanjuro smiled, her hand in his comforted him in ways that he did yet not understand. “I like you too” Sanjuro said in the voice of a daydreamer, “even if you can't do math if your life depended on it!” Kura raised her eyebrow, ready to fire back. “Well at least I do not totally goof up in history class!” came her volley. Sanjuro gave her a by now well-practiced look of scorn, before they both started giggling unashamedly. Toshiro and Kathryn just looked awkwardly at this display of primitive flirting. “What's the matter Kath, whats wrong with me and Sanj having a little fun” Kura said, noticing Kathryn's awkward look. Kathryn did not reply. Just then, they heard the loud voice of an older boy. “Hey you little runt, get out of my way” he exclaimed pushing an unassuming younger boy into the side of the wall. His face flushed with anger and fear as he yelled back at him. “Hey Brutus, bet you would not try that again!” The older boy turned and simply pushed the younger boy into the wall again. Angered, Sanjuro stood up and approached the the older boy. “Sanjuro, what are you doing?!” Kura exclaimed. “Hey you! Why don't you pick on someone your own size?!” Sanjuro yelled at the older bully. The bully looked back and shouted down at him mockingly, having heard the cliche before. “Are you suggesting that you are my size?! I would like to see you try and stop me!” The blood flushed through Sanjuro's veins. He threw one well placed punch that knocked the bully into the wall and onto the ground. After regaining his composure, the bully simply stared at Sanjuro. “Wow, you're alright kid, you're alright” he declared, before walking away still mostly dazed. Kathryn then rushed to the bullied kid's aid, while Kura admired Sanjuro. Toshiro joined Kathryn. “Hey, are you okay?” Kathryn asked the bullied one. “I'm fine, that's some strong friend you have there” the boy said. “What's your name?” Kathryn asked. The boy stood up. “Baku, Baku Ogata. Those guys always pick on me” he said, still focusing on the injustice. “Well, hang out with us and Sanjuro can protect you” Kathryn offered. Toshiro looked a little uncomfortable about having a new person in the group. Baku smiled at Kathryn and the rest, finally someone was looking out for him. Under Sanjuro's protection, Baku's life improved considerably. Sanjuro was well liked in the school and well respected for his burgeoning combat skills, and thus no one would dare beat on a friend of Sanjuro. It was not all about protection however, as Baku and the rest had a lot in common and they all grew into close friends, “friends for life” they had declared. Baku was more outgoing than Toshiro but much less then Sanjuro. Baku always was extremely quiet when Kura was around, and Sanjuro had detected that he had a crush on her early on. A crush that he had seemed still to posses when he disappeared, a crush he feared still lingered under the surface. Sanjuro shuddered as he remembered that day when it had seemed that Kura, Baku and Toshiro were all dead. The “friends for life” declaration then seemed hideously inaccurate. Even though they were back, it still brought pain to think about it. He then focused on Kathryn, who was asleep on his side, a pleasant smile on her face. If it was not for her, Sanjuro knew he would have gone mad, which would have been a tremendous shame, really, given how it had all turned out. Sanjuro walked out of the interrogation room where Commander Brown had just interviewed him. The Commander had shown absolutely no sympathy towards Sanjuro, but what was worse yet was the implication that they might even blame him for all that had happened during the mission, for Kura's death! Well he just would not take that, that was outrageous! Sanjuro realized just then that he only had one friend left, and that was who he was going to need to visit. Hopefully she, at least, would believe him. He approached the door to one of the quarters on that deck and pressed the button on the side panel. A female voice came out through the speaker. “Who's there?” she called out. Sanjuro could tell that she was crying from her soft raspy tone. “It's me” Sanjuro replied, feeling the words fall away from him like a heavy stone. “Sanjuro! Come in! I'm glad you came!” the woman exclaimed with desperation. The door opened, and Kathryn embraced her friend. Her eyes were red from crying and her face was covered in tears. She then noticed the expression on Sanjuro's face after giving her friend a deep long look. “I know you were not responsible for any of this Sanjuro, don't worry” she stated, “I know you did all that you could.” Sanjuro looked a little relieved after looking at her, his eyes showing affection. He then sighed and moaned out the following sentence. “Gone just like that! Three of the most important people in my life, all just disappeared.” Kathryn started to cry again, and Sanjuro embraced and comforted her. Sanjuro himself was starting to tear up. Then and there, in each others arms, they just let their inner sadness flow out, trying to take comfort in the only friend they both had left: each other. “I am not so sure about this father” Kura stated over the communications view screen, “I do not want to hurt Sanjuro, and why won't you even allow me to make contact with Kathryn! She is my sister after all!” The man on the other end, Admiral Nathanial Akkaraju, just glowered back at her. “This intelligence is vital to the future of the U.C.A.” Admiral Akkaraju said, the harshness in his voice hiding his own doubts over the operation he was suggesting, though he knew it necessary. “But, Sanjuro?! Kathryn?! I can't hurt them! There has to be a better...” Kura stammered, but Admiral Akkaraju had deactivated her com-link. The reason why was that the door had opened with a deeply depressed Kathryn entering the room. “Did I hear Kura's voice?” Kathryn asked suspiciously. “An old family video, just trying reconcile her death” Admiral Akkaraju said, though Kathryn could tell that her father was hiding something. “What do you make of all this father?” Kathryn asked, feeling a little apprehensive about his impending answer, reminding her all too much of another previous circumstance. “A deeply regrettable circumstance, they were all good soldiers” Admiral Akkaraju stated. Kathryn was still suspicious, it was not natural for a grieving father to spout that sort of military hogwash. Then again, when her mother died he had dealt with it by burying himself in the U.C.A. “Though best not tell this to Sanjuro, he has got enough to feel angry about” Kathryn thought. A deep smile appeared on Kathryn's face as Sanjuro kissed her again. In some ways she felt guilty about letting herself get this involved with Sanjuro so soon after Kura's death, but then it was helping both of them confront the past. Kathryn had always known that she loved Sanjuro deep down inside since she was a teenager. She did however wonder what Sanjuro's true feelings were. Did he really love her? Or was he only with her under some deep desperate need? Sadly, she suspected the latter. Oh well, either way she would love him and be the best lover she could be. She expressed this thought into words “I love you, Sanjuro.” Sanjuro looked into her beautiful face and eyes. “Me too, dear” he said. Kathryn embraced him, kissed him and pushed him down onto the bed. So that is how it all started, and had gotten all the way to the present. Sanjuro was still in deep thought. He knew he loved Kura, he had for as long as he could remember. He also knew he loved Kathryn, whose kindness had kept him going through the most difficult time of his life. He could not choose between the two. No matter, they seemed contented enough to love him together. At least for now. Sanjuro rested his hands on their heads and stroked them, silently communicating the affection he was feeling to his unconscious loves. Sanjuro was starting to feel really tired, knowing that there was no point in fighting it he succumbed, his hands still resting on his two sweethearts. “Sanjuro, it's time to wake up” a feminine voice exclaimed. “Come on! It's nearly breakfast” a similar voice yelled. He also felt four soft hands shaking him. He open his eyes, and saw that there were two faces hanging over him, Kathryn and Kura. They were still in their loose fitting nightwear. Sanjuro's male mind could not resist looking down their fronts. It seems he did not do it discretely enough, as Kura smiled and jiggled her upper body seductively. Kathryn nudged her elbow into Kura's side. “He was looking down yours too you know” Kura moaned. “I think I am ready to get up now” Sanjuro commented while sitting up, trying to prevent a fight. The three then changed into their day clothes and proceeded into Toshiro's dining room, where Toshiro and Baku were seated at the table. Samantha was flipping pancakes on a stove. “Good morning brother” Toshiro greeted, analyzing the the trio closely as they walked in. “Morning” Sanjuro, Kura, and Kathryn said in unison, represting their collective, before sitting down on beside the table opposite of Toshiro and Baku. Kathryn glanced at Samantha cooking. “I did not know you could cook” Kathryn stated with curiosity, though, in all honesty, she knew very little about her. Samantha looked at her for a second, surprised at the invitation, before replying. “Well, I am mostly a soldier so I am not very good but I am told that I have potential. One has to learn more of these little practical skills when they have to make it on their own.” “I do not know how to cook anything” Kathryn said, somewhat dismayed by her inability. “I can teach you how if you want” Samantha offered, sensing her apprehension. “Maybe someday, currently I am more interested in preparing to return to my comm station” Kathryn replied, reassuring herself upon the practical and tangible. “So did you sleep well?” Toshiro asked his brother. Kura grew her typical naughty smile. “Immensely” she gloated. Toshiro showed a little smirk, Sanjuro could tell that there had only been one bed deliberately. Good old Toshiro, forcing a unity Sanjuro had not been able to. Maybe having a girlfriend had made him lose his jealously of Sanjuro's popularity. “This is a nice living area, I never imagined the C.M.C. headquarters could feel so accommodating” Sanjuro commented, eager to return his appreciation for his brother's effort. “Ambassador's perks” Toshiro said, smiling. Sanjuro had never seen him smile so much. “Hmm, good accommodation, diplomatic immunity, pretty young girlfriend, being an Ambassador seems like a pretty good job” Sanjuro laughed. Samantha blushed a little at the 'pretty young girlfriend' comment. Kathryn nudged Sanjuro in the side, evidently feeling she already had too much of him to share. Sanjuro did not feel that this made it so he could not stil be polite... “You be nice” Sanjuro whispered. She gave a little innocent look. “Pancakes are ready” Samantha announced, carrying a plate of them to the table. She then served them out onto the other five plates and sat next to Toshiro, who kissed her on the cheek. “These look excellent, good job dear” he said to her. Sanjuro had never seen the like from him. “Yes, great” Kathryn agreed. The butter and maple syrup was then passed among the six. “Where did you get maple from, Cronus has been a war zone for how long?” Kura asked. “Outside of Maritropa there is a green house that is full of plants, from vegetable plants to, well, syrup trees” Baku said, “fortunately no one had ever thought of it as strategic enough to raid...” “Do you ever intend to go back home to the colony, or go to Earth again?” Sanjuro asked Toshiro, unsure as to his future intentions, or how his connection to Cothineal now truly stood. “I do intend to go home, if possible, but only as a visit. During this time I have grown to feel that my place is here, no other human is as close to Cothineal as I am. I intend to stay as Ambassador. Not that I won't visit you guys often” Toshiro said, “or at least call. We have been apart far too long.” “What about you Baku?” Kura asked, seemingly trying to make up for yesterday. “I am going to stay as Assistant Ambassador for the time being, though I am not entirely certain about the long term. I may rejoin the U.C.A.S.F. with you guys again someday” Baku stated. “What exactly is your official duty Samantha? Other then chef” Kathryn asked, without considering the potential impertinence of asking a foreign soldier her rank. Samantha, however, immediately smiled after she said that, the quick congeniality of the group rather remarkable. “I am the Ambassador's bodyguard!” she squealed, as she wrapped her arms around Toshiro. “Isn't it generally said that bodyguards should not be emotionally involved with their charge?” Kura asked. Samantha just smiled and kissed Toshiro again before returning to her breakfast, and it seemed of then a certain impertinence for anyone else to raise a question upon that point. The morning seemed to pass faster then Sanjuro had anticipated, it was just so comforting to be with those he had thought he had lost. However, all things had to come to an end and thus Kura, Kathryn and Sanjuro returned to the Leviathan through shuttle ride after a hearty lunch cooked by Samantha. Just a few months ago, Sanjuro would have never predicted the like. Perhaps he was luckier than he sometimes gave himself credit for. Part Four: A Father Repents After this point, life became a near routine. Kathryn, Kura, and Sanjuro continued to lounge around the Leviathan, except for their visits down to Maritropa to visit Toshiro, Baku, and Samantha. Kura and Kathryn had become much less aggressive to each other and less competitive,instead they became more loving and needy towards Sanjuro, sharing him rather then fighting over him now, as well as ceasing to see each other only as threats, but as sisters long seprated. Sanjuro was also trying to prepare himself for command of the Leviathan. Being an admiral in someways depressed him, he was one of the U.C.A.S.F'.s best foot soldiers, lingering around the Leviathan as a so called “planner” and “strategist” seemed to be under using his talents. He was not sure whether or not his promotion was truly a reward for all that he had done on Cronus, or whether or not they wanted to keep him stuck up on ship and prevent him from pulling of anything so unexpected again. Kura's response to all this was “Don't worry, you can always give yourself permission to go on ground missions.” “How long would high command let me get away with it” was always Sanjuro's response. He was also thinking of ex-admiral Akkaraju, the man he was in basics replacing. He was still brooding down on his estate on Earth, not even talking to his own daughters. That was until five weeks after his discharge. Sanjuro had been reading a book in his quarters at the time when Kura and Kathryn entered the room with faces of excitement and caution. “Father wants us to go to Earth to speak to him” Kathryn said, her face a jumble of emotions. “Though he specifically said not to take you” Kura said, slowly and carefully. “I am afraid that once more I must violate his wishes, I am coming with you two” Sanjuro stated earnestly. Kathryn winced at him, while Kura also shifted in more than apparent discomfort. “I am not going to let Ryo separate me from the closest thing I ever had to a father” Sanjuro said, responding to the two sister's body language. He had retrieved so much, he was not going to let anything go. The two sisters nodded finally, acquiescing to him, though not without trepidation. “Better start packing then, we are leaving at twelve o'clock today” Kura advised, “and I know how much trouble you have keeping appointments.” Earth was a considerably longer journey then what Sanjuro was used to, having been so commonly dropped down into the thick of the Cronian revolution, dual pistols at the ready. The journey was especially long due to the smaller shuttle they had commandeered for the journey, with the Leviathan still being ordered to help secure the Croniain cease-fire, under the provisional command of High Command directly, making it a full forty-eight hours before reaching humanity's home star system. After this long journey, the ship then landed in Tokyo Star Port. “Father's estate is in the country nearby Tokyo” Kathryn directed, grabbing her travel bag, as they escaped the shuttle. Japan's country side was few and far between, as Japan by this point one of the most urbanized regions on the Earth, but the Akkaraju estate was located in one of those rare places of nature. It was deliberately stylized like that of an old Samurai warlord's mansion, to reflect the family's traditional warrior spirit. The entire place was the culmination of a life time of frugality, a small honorable place to retire, if only the means of that retirement had been more honorable. After reaching the entrance to the Akkaraju residence, Kathryn said “You stay here Sanjuro, as father should meet us alone before you come in.” Kura attempted to open the door, but found that it was locked. She put down her travel bag and from her pocket extracted a large silver key, and then placed it in the lock and twisted it. The door swung open, and the two girls entered the building. “Father, it's Kura and Kathryn!” Kathryn called out, as she entered to main hallway. “I am in the living room, loves” Nathaniel Akkaraju's voice exclaimed, his voice amiable enough, but still saturated in a whole array of emotions under the surface. The two daughters proceeded into the room. Nathaniel looked much different then he had commanding the Leviathan, his hair was messy and he had a scruffy look allover, his weeks of self-enforced isolation quite visible. “I was such a fool” Nathaniel Akkaraju moaned, at last releasing both the tension and revelations upon which he had now brooded on for so long, “Not only did I fall into that trap set by Ryo Ishikawa, but I blamed my own daughters for it. My most precious ones. How could I have let my hatred for the Fallen end up being directed at the people so important to me?” “It's okay father” Kathryn said, reassuringly putting her arm on his shoulder. “I want to make amends, I have been a lousy father and admiral” Nathaniel stated, “the court-martial was not rigorous enough to force me to properly repent.” “Then why did you not want us to bring Sanjuro?” Kura asked, “If you feel that way? “He boldly broke away from my orders, even if I must now admit to myself his reasons were right, it still hurt me” Nathaniel stated, “and he did not have to do it in quite the manner that he did.” “I meant no offense, sir” Sanjuro said, entering the room, “I never lost my respect for you.” “You” Nathaniel growled, partly more out of surprise than genuine rancor. “I did not break your orders lightly, all I knew is that I had to stop the kato cannon” Sanjuro explained, “I wish they had not discharged you, you are a better admiral then I will be.” “No, Sanjuro, I am sure you will do fine” Nathaniel stated eventually, raising his head back up, a smile appearing on his face. “It is good to know that you feel no evil to me after I wronged you. Send my regards to Toshiro and Baku... just tell them that I am sorry...” “They forgive you too Admiral” Sanjuro said, “the trails of war are never easy.” After this tense meeting, the three Akkarajus and Sanjuro enjoyed a hearty meal and a good long chat. Kura and Kathryn talked to their father for the rest of the day, bringing him up to speed on events he had not known due to his self imposed exile about the situation on Cronus, emphasizing to him that, whatever his sins, his campaign had not been utterly in vain – Cronus was now at peace, and humanity had its all important kato fuel. Interstellar travel was safe. Sanjuro mostly just sat there, only occasionally joining in the conversation, and even then mostly on technical matters. He also gave the estate's accommodation a good look over, an extremely detailed architectural statement that could only have been possibly funded from a long and successful career in the U.C.A.S.F. It also shared the intended message, conveying a likeness of a samurais mansion. It was then that Sanjuro noticed the mural hanging over the door way “Dedicated to the memory of my fair wife, long live her memory.” Sanjuro had known that that Nathaniel had started saving for this place partly in her memory. Sanjuro thought back about Mrs. Akkaraju. She was kind, intelligent, and very much like her daughters. He mostly remembered her kindness to him and Toshiro, orphans who never did have a real mother. There was also her prestigious military career, as she was still known as one of the best shots in the history of the U.C.A.S.F. This being the obvious source of Kura's combative brilliance. Of course, that was how it all ended, the day she died in battle was one of the most important events in Nathaniel, Kura, and Kathryn's lives, and thus by association Sanjuro's as well... “You spineless coward! How could you let her go on alone! She could still be here if you had broken from command!” Kura screamed, tears pouring out of her eyes. Commodore Nathaniel Akkaraju just stood their and took the abuse from his daughter. It was his duty as a father to let her pour her sorrows out, even if she did do it in an extremely hurtful fashion. He himself had almost been torn apart by his own internal grief, and it was hard to maintain his composure under such stress. Kathryn stood beside her father, deeply upset by her mother's destruction but also in someways ashamed of Kura for blaming her father. She recognized that he could not just break from command to attempt a mission that probably would have killed him as well. Sanjuro stood nearby, watching Kura's angered ramblings and Kathryn's depressed expressions. Kura finally stopped yelling and then went over to Sanjuro and wrapped her arms around him, crying. Sanjuro lead Kura away, leaving Kathryn alone with her father. Several weeks passed, but everything was still sadness. Kura still blamed her father, but was more silent about it. Kathryn was in perpetual deep thought, as if struck by some deep moral dilemma. Nathaniel meanwhile buried himself in the U.C.A. bureaucracy, which had become more than just a career but his own personal obsession. Kura was practicing her aim one evening, with Sanjuro beside her, when Kathryn entered the room. She looked disgusted at the sight of the gun, a new expression for an Akkaraju, which do not pass beyond Kura's notice. “What's your problem?” she asked tersely. “You do know it was weapons like that which killed mother” Kathryn responded. “They also could have saved her, had someone decided to use them” Kura stated, the last part rather aggressively, as she peered through the gun's sights. “That's beside the point, they a killing machines! I vow never to use one again!” Kathryn stated with sudden loud conviction. Kura just looked at her, the thought refusing to compute. “You have spent most of your life in a military academy training as a soldier, how are you not supposed to use a gun!” she stated. The practical problems with such a moral code did seem rather complicated. Kathryn showed Kura her academic time-table. There was a new entry. “Communications training and regulations?” Kura asked incredulously, reading the new entry. “While you thugs will be out killing people, I will be up in the ship guiding you” Kathryn said, rather proud of her new idea for pacifism, already feeling more at peace with her mother's memory. “Guiding people to kill” Kura said, rolling her eyes, not finding the idea as comforting. “Well, I am going into the U.C.A.S.F. no matter what, as you are right that it is all I have trained for, and I am not going to leave my friends” Kathryn explained, before giving Sanjuro a look that for some reason made Kura sightly jealous. “Whatever” Kura stated dismissively, loading a clip into her weapon and firing into her target. “You've been rather quiet” Kathryn stated, looking at Sanjuro. He had been daydreaming again, a habit which previously would have quite likely gotten himself killed. Taking this thought to heart, Sanjuro attempted to regain his composure, particularly before Kura noticed. “I was thinking” he explained to the more compassionate Akkaraju sister. “What about?” Kura asked, having noticed his disconnectedness after all. “Thinking back, how we got here” Sanjuro stated simply. He was starting to wonder how come he was reminiscing so much, but then he had been though quite chaotic times. It was probably just his mind trying to sort it all out. His had hardly been a quiet life thus far, with nothing to ruminate over. “Well come on, you have got to taste the fancy food father can afford” Kathryn said, pulling Sanjuro up, “after all, if it was not for your character testimonial he might not even have received such a generous pension!” Well, it had been a rather productive day, having made his peace again with yet another old friend. Time to enjoy himself for the rest of shore leave. “I can't wait” Sanjuro said, rubbing his stomach to illustrate the point. Part Five: The First Mission of a New Life The first mission that Sanjuro was to command was relatively simple. A group of raiders were harming mining posts on the remote moon of Capricorn, time to stop them. Sanjuro spent hours viewing maps of Capricorn with Kura and Kathryn beside him, plotting. Sanjuro had gained a large amount of respect for their father, this was really difficult. Kura was the first to make some headway. “They seem to typically attack this area here first” she stated, pointing at one end of the map. Kathryn caught on and pointed at another piece of the map further to the north-east. “And then they send their primary attack of raiders here.” Sanjuro thought about this for a little. Kura should from her MCA to attack the diversionary force next time to make them believe that they are sending their biggest and baddest troops (well, Kura was in Sanjuro's opinion) to the diversion, while Lt. Dussault's forces would wait at the primary attack point. It seemed reasonable as long as the raiders stuck to their pattern. Sanjuro spoke this plan out loud, Kura seemed to like it, having been unable to pilot an MCA for so long while she had been undercover. “Now what about plan B?” Kathryn asked, aware as always to the potential of the unforeseen. Sanjuro sighed, there was still much work to be done. A week later, Sanjuro, Kathryn, and Kura assembled at the MCA loading dock to say goodbye to Kura, before she left in one of the hulking machines in order to begin their scheme. They walked past the M.C.A.s of various makes, models and manufactures. Sanjuro, though hardly academic, knew them all by heart. It was like a retired jockey walking down the aisle of his old stables. “Which one would you recommend?” Kura asked Sanjuro, “I am kind of out of touch.” “Any, they all work great” Sanjuro replied, remembering his experiences as a foot soldier, “they finally managed to get the interface to be more responsive on the Akuma though.” “You'd have better planned this mission as well as my father would of” Kura stated, remembering suddenly all too well Sanjuro's previous tendency to be lackadaisical when it came to operational concerns. Just the man to head the U.C.A. flagship... “Don't worry, you will have me to advise you down there” Kathryn stated, grinning. “I'm doomed” Kura sneered, not taking to her sister's sudden levity at all well. “Sanjuro's still alive isn't he!” Kathryn hissed, genuinely disappointed in her sister's response. “Well, you did not have reasons to deliberately kill him” Kura taunted. Kathryn frowned. “Now that's just mean! Though don't you get ideas into my head...” Kathryn shot back. “Good bye Sanjuro!” Kura said, kissing him “Maybe when I get back you and I can do some celebrating...” she whispered, with a naughty little smile. Evidently Kathryn had either heard her or knew what that smile meant, as Sanjuro had to grab her arm to stop her from striking her sister, seemingly taking Kura's previous suggestion a little too much to heart. After an annoyed glance at Kathryn, Kura climbed into the mechanical monstrosity and walked it down the fairway. “Guide her well” Sanjuro whispered to Kathryn, who evidently still felt a little defensive. “Sweetheart, she is still my sister! Of course I will help her, I am not that much of a bitch!” Kathryn responded a little sourly. Sanjuro then embraced and kissed her, and she melted in his arms. “I'll bet she hates to leave you alone with me, though I had better get down to my comm station” she whispered into Sanjuro's ear, before letting go of him and walking out into the exterior corridor, despite the fact that Sanjuro could tell she would have rather stayed with him. THE END Bonus Text: Authors Note: This has nothing to do with the plot, but it entered my mind so I wrote it down. It is sort of like an expansion pack to my story (One Unit Whole Fan Fiction, again if you get the reference then good on you). Sanjuro blasted down another door, rather annoyed at these damn raiders. They where cleverer then he had supposed, having manged to shorten Kura's MCA electrical systems and capture her, with Sanjuro suspecting that maybe that fix to the Akuma was not so perfect after all. Lt. Dussault and co where still battling them head on, while Sanjuro had landed on Capricorn to find Kura, knowing that if he did not attend to matters personally he would never trust his own strategic judgment again. Kathryn was guiding him via radio to where Kura was before last reported her mobile combat armour was shortened. The good news was that he had been able to trace Kura to the raider's previously undiscovered den. They would pay for their silly little mistake. He found four of the raiders sitting in one of the makeshift buildings. They were waiting to see if the others would come back, time for a surprise! Sanjuro loaded his M.C.A.'s pulse rifle and fired into the wall. “What the hell!” the raiders screamed, running out in all directions. “Run away fools!” Sanjuro ordered, as he proceeded to where they apparently held prisoners. The building was too small to enter in an MCA without destroying it and killing all inside, so Sanjuro had to dismount, now holding his assault rifle firmly in hand. There were not a lot of prisoners, after all, that would have brought too much attention to the raiders. The few that were there were bound and gagged. They would all come back with him. Kura was in the most secure cell, personally guarded. “Hey you! Stop!” the guard exclaimed. Sanjuro answered with assault rifle rounds, the guard fell not dead, shot only in the foot, now a prisoner himself. Kura was shifting around, trying to get loose. Sanjuro pressed the control panel on the side of the door, and entered before ripping off her gag. “Hey, honey” Kura said, as Sanjuro loosened her bonds. She then grabbed Sanjuro's shotgun and a spare communicator from his arsenal. “Who'd a figured that they could fry an MCA?” she stated, evidently not too frazzled by the complication in her mission, still feeling rather unimpressed by these amateurs. Then she gave him a long look with a little smile on her face, as she waited for Sanjuro to finish securing, and healing, his prisoner. She was plotting something naughty. “May I kiss my knight in shining armour?” she asked. Kura's communicator then buzzed on. “I'm watching you sister!” Kathryn warned. Kura rolled her eyes. “Oh, and what are you going to do from up there?” Kura taunted. “BZZZZZZZZZZZT!” the communicator barked into Kura's ear, causing her to cringe. “Oh, you bitch!” Kura exclaimed. “Stop it both of you!” Sanjuro ordered, “There may be other guards...” “BZZZZZZZZZZZT!” This time it came into Sanjuro's ears. Then a pause. “Sorry sweetie” Kathryn said softly. Kura loaded her shotgun. “Let's just get back, and you stop all that” she said, her tone dark. A little later, Sanjuro and Kura hand in hand left the structure, taking the other prisoners behind them. It was good to be a commando in love... Exclaimers: *You may notice I never mention option one in my story, as it does not really matter as either way Kura learns about Sanjuro and Kathryn's relationship eventually. *There never was any evidence in Shogo: Mobile Armour Division that Nathaniel Akkaraju was saving up to buy a rural estate near Tokyo. *There never was any evidence in Shogo: Mobile Armour Division that Kathryn as a teenager had kissed Sanjuro before Kura did. *Baku's fate in the option one, selection two path is left rather unexplained, so I have provided you with a rather pleasant one. All too pleasant probably, but I had been feeling generous. *The Akkaraju/Makabe first encounter, Baku's rescue, post Cronos tragedy and the death of Mrs. Akkaraju parts were extrapolations based on the Shogo: Mobile Armour Division story-line. *In Shogo: Mobile Armour Division, Samantha Sternberg is just a young blue haired woman Fallen soldier that attacks Sanjuro repeatedly in the game. For an amusing plot twist I added her in as Toshiro's new girlfriend, that and I am not going to let a perfectly usable side-character go to waste! *Notice the use of the name of “Lt. Dussault” in the attack plan and bonus text, if you remember he was the other soldier during the first level evacuation. *Apologies to female readers for the changing and loose nightwear comments, I am only male... *There was never any hint in Shogo: Mobile Armour Division that Sanjuro would be promoted to Admiral. That was my own creation. *You may of noticed my overuse of abbreviated names during the child segments (such as “Tosh”, “Kath”, and “Sanj”). I did this because it seems to me that it would not seem to non-childlike for them to discourse in that fashion. I did have trouble with the children's dialog as I was never actually a normal child (or at least that was the way it seemed at the time). I had to tone down their language at one point as young children do not say things like “academic facilities”, or at least, that is my impression... *This story was made for non-profit entertainment purposes without any attempt to abuse Monolith Productions' intellectual property rights. Any relation to any people living or dead is entirely coincidental (unless Monolith originally intended it, if so blame them! Mu ha ha ha!). *If you do not like my jokes then that is your own problem! Write your own damn Shogo story (I encourage you to do this even if you do like my humour)! *I did do a lot of Shogo research while writing this story, so I have made it as canon as possible. This entire disclaimer area was mostly made to list the parts that were my own creative inventions. *Advertisement: Read my brother's Blood/Shogo crossover: Caleb on Cronus from the Blood Wiki! As well as his other literary works written in Blood. (He forced me to add the other literary works bit! Ah well, he did help me with this story.)