Entry#: 054
Date: 26 - 12 - 817 AS @ 10:49 SUT
Title: Home sweet home.
It took a bit longer than I'd expected to get home. But, to my delight, I received the best homecoming present any girl could ever wish for. Misaka, wearing nought but a pair of off-white undies, jumping me as I drag my corpse out of my bomber inside the docks of the Alsatia.
I was about halfway through disrobing myself when I noticed something new in the cargo bay. I recognised the shape as being that of a Marauder, a single-seater craft which I had been quite familiar with during my previous life as a lane-racer.
Immediately abandoning the current quest I floated over to this shape and had a squizz. My eyes weren't lying, it was indeed a Marauder.
The first words to come out of my mouth the entire time I'd been on board was "[expletive]'in awesome!". Bearing nought but a half-button blouse I opened the cockpit window and jumped in. It was exactly like I remembered from all those years ago, learning how to fix things with the lads from Trafalgar long before I was even old enough to legally fly one myself. A ship just like this gave rise to my first puppy love as well, a striking young gentleman who had treated me to some daredevil stunts and manoeuvres on a fly-along when I was just 12 years old. Looking back he nearly killed the both of us, but of course at that time I wasn't really concerned with that.
I've always loved Marauders, the utter simplicity of them, the no-frills flight that allows you an incredible level of freedom to modify them in whatever way you see fit, to produce a ship perfectly suited to your own needs. I had never actually owned one, instead starting out with the just as simple, but not nearly as exciting combat service vehicle. But now, I was sitting in the cockpit of one for the first time in almost a decade. It felt good. Really good.
Misaka seemed pleased that I was appreciative of my present. But I had to ask, how the hell did she know what I wanted, even putting aside actually procuring one?
Turns out she took a stab in the dark based on stories of my youth that I had been spinning out over the last six months. Jeez, really doesn't sound like much when you put it like that, but it feels like a lifetime. She spotted one of them for sale "on the side of the road" for the measly sum of 200,000 credits. Supposedly there was a problem with the engine and the bloke who had it just didn't want it any more. It had originally been listed as "for spares". But we all know that if only one person alive today could fix it, I would be that one.
For those concerned, I did eventually complete the disrobing process and enjoy the rest of Misaka's homecoming present.
The White Devil has a few dents, a bit of peeling paint and a few little bits missing here and there, enough to eat up some spare time for a while. Where did I leave my socket set....