Philosophy. That's amusing. He took a deep breath. "I never saw myself here. Nor as a Xeener. I was tryin' to be a lawyer. Can y'all believe that?" He let it sink in, continuing to dance. It wasn't so much dancing as it was rocking back and forth slowly.
"Then I was a Xeener for thirty years. One of the few who refused to die. Can y'all believe that? Some say that I was a coward. I just wouldn' die!" His hand shifted slightly on her back, splaying out.
"Then I was collected by a man named Akuji. Took me to a magical place where I was thrown in this armor and given a fighter I couldn' even begin to imagine ever existed." His eyes dropped down at his feet, narrowing slightly.
His eyes then flicked up to look at her. "And what're y'all losin' right now? I see nothin' bein' lost when there's somethin' to do and people to see," Slowly, his head cocked to the left, "Or are y'all speakin' 'bout right now? In this bar?"
"THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED AND THESCIENCEIS LEAKING OUT!"
"Have you never been afraid of your personality? Everytime i kill someone out there, something deep inside of me dies and makes me feeling less.. But then, the other day, i catched myself... laughing.. when my Razor hit the Mercs cockpit and went through like a hot knife through butter."
"I know.. people change. And I know I changed. But I want to keep it as it is. Because I really enjoy it. Here.. right now..."
She pressed her head against the Phantom's chest.
"Wierd, isn't it?"
"And the Xenos... well.. I owe them so much. If they hadn't picked me up.. I'd be death or sittin' in the same prison as my dad, i believe. Just to make me shut up. But they're weak. And i want to get my father out of the Jail. I have now idea HOW, and i doubt the Xenos could help me a lot in this matter. I'd rather had to get a job and pay some mercs."
He listened thoughtfully, rocking her back and forth as she spoke. Her head was snuggled firmly against his chest, his arm holding her comfortingly. He let her finish, staring at nothing in particular as he tried to match a few pieces of this puzzle up.
He addressed it in the order she brought it up, "When I make a kill...either for purpose or pleasure...I feel the part of me that already had died resurface. It gives a dissaprovin' look before sinkin' back into what I used to be. I laugh as I give the mental order to tear a fighter to ribbons with my guns...but I later toss and turn in my bed in agony."
His hand moved up and down, fingers curling to massage at her back. "Not too weird. We all change. Every single one of us. We have to change. It's called life. Without change, the universe would be a borin' place. But wanting to stay constant is normal. Nostalgia."
Father. Now it all made sense. She did it because she wanted to. She did it because she had to. He held her a little more tightly, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the same spot on the wall. He couldn't even remember his father. Nor his mother. He sighed with her, not knowing what to say.
"THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED AND THESCIENCEIS LEAKING OUT!"
"Did you ever.. regret it? The change... you went through to become one of them.. was it.. painful?"
Coral glanced at him but quickly turned her eyes back to the floor.
She scared a little and started to smile. When did she start to put her arms around his waist?
"I know that must sound a little strange. But i don't like pain. Another Xenos once said 'the pain keeps you alive'. Well i don't think so."
She sobbed.
"I think everyone needs a goal. Mine's to get my father out of prison. Pathetic.. foolish. But ya... that's me"
Enjoying the Phantoms hand on her back, she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the Phantoms chest once more.
"Do you have a goal?" Some kind of a... lifetime want, for instance?"
Coral then looked straight in his eyes.
"Could you imagine that... i mean... would you..."
She turned her head around. No one was here anymore. Only him.. and her.
Her face turned red. She stared at the floor again.
This wasn't as easy as pulling a trigger...
He blinked, his swaying stopping as the realization hit. The spot on the wall enthralled him, never letting his eyes look away. His grip tightened a bit more, his breathing increasing rapidly. He licked his lips, trying to speak. No words came out. For once in his life, he was afraid. He was regretful.
This small woman, something he would have or could have killed in a heartbeat was bringing him down to his knees. Like that?
"Pain is temporary...Only regret remains. It's emotional." His head then turned down to her, staring at the top of her head. "My goal is to regain what I lost through the pain of death...But alas, life won' let me die."
His hand then came up, tilting her chin so that she was looking at him. "My future is what I make it. As your future is what you make it," He let that sink in before he spoke again, "And yes. I would."
"THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED AND THESCIENCEIS LEAKING OUT!"
"You would?" Coral became nervous. Her hands got sweaty and her heart was beating like never before. Her throat went dry and she bit her lips.
"I have to..." she cleared her throat "..have to lock the.. uhh.. door.. John doesn't like it when it's opened after midnight. Mind if i.. just.. a second.."
The Phantoms bright eyes, looking right into her soul, made her voice disappear. She didn't want to leave. This room.. him.. this odd, yet interesting but awkward situation.
"Will you.. disappear? Like.. my father did?"
She closed her eyes, as if she was waiting for something to happen.
He looked down at her frail form, curious as to whether she really wanted it, or if she was under the influence of something. He let her go, walking over to his detached armor, pulling the pauldrons on quickly and slipping his respirator over his face. He didn't tighten it; no need to.
He then turned to her, smiling under the veil. He gently swept his right arm under her legs, placing his left on her back and picking her up. He walked to the door, pushing it open with his foot. "And y'all's room is where...?" She pointed down the hall to a door nearby.
He slowly walked to it, pushing it open and stepping in, whispering, "I'll try my best..." as the door closed behind him, sealing the two inside.
"THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED AND THESCIENCEIS LEAKING OUT!"
The doors opened with a cracking noise as Coral bursts in and starts to prepare the Party.
Music.. Beer.. even Wine! Cigars, Food.. more food.. even more food. And did we mention food?
The Boss surprised her with a huge Box of 'Mother's Finest'.
And they just had a real huge Party around the Jumpgate. Four fighters, two gunboats.. and almost a Cruiser. But he ran.
Coral was happy, and she wanted everyone to notice. When the first Guests came in, everything was prepared.
The music was as loud as it could be. The chicken was served and the beer was cold.
"Let us begin my friends!" she yelled and drank her first Liberty Ale with three gulps.
"It's frikkin' Partytime!"
Jonathon stumbles out of the hangar bay.. fuming mad. "Where is that supply Sgt.?" He grumbles. "Superior brand of duct tape he says...Bah!!!"
Calming down alittle, Jonathon makes his way to the bar. Even though he was brought back to Ouray in his pod, They did accomplish a great victory today. They showed the coppers, those smelly bounty dogs, and whoever else the cat drug in. That the Xeno Alliance was someone not to be taken lightly.
Jonathon enters the bar where he already hears the celebration starting..
"YeeeHaw!" He exclaims! "We sure showed them"
"Now, can someone get me a drink?" He yells over the music once he reaches the bar.