Disclaimer: I do not own Eureka Seven or Eureka Seven: AO. They are the property of Bones, Dai Sato, and everybody else involved in the project. All song titles used are the property of their respective owners. I do not make any money off of this work of fiction

Chapter 6: Miscellanea

"Can you take the tune when your fate is in bloom?"

The viewport of the Triton was filled with blue as the waters beneath and the sky above dominated the landscape. Only a ribbon of green, signifying the shoreline of Iwato Jima, punctuated the overwhelming blue. Inside the ship, computer terminals hummed with activity. Two, located closest to the forward viewport, were occupied as the pilot and co-pilot monitored gauges and prepared the ship for departure. The captain's and flight officer's positions were vacant. Moving down a small walkway behind the captain's chair, the ship narrowed as a small passage connected the bridge with the common area. Here, a rectangular table, surrounded on three sides by cushioned rows, took up the majority of the space. On the wall at the end of the table was mounted a large screen, wired into the ship's communication systems. A second passageway was located in the corner of the room, leading to the engine room in the back of the ship and the storage compartment in the bottom of the ship. This storage compartment contained, among other things, the Alleluia, the Kyrie, and the Nirvash, as well as the mechanisms to launch them.

Back in the common area, the table was surrounded by a motley group of individuals. Fleur and Elena sat as far back as possible, facing the screen on the opposite wall. To their left, Han, Pippo, and Gazelle leaned back with an air of nonchalance. Opposite them was Ao and Naru. Standing to their left between the table and the screen was Ivica and Rebecka. Of the group, Rebecka was clearly the most agitated.

"You did what, Ivica?!" Rebecka exclaimed, more than a little perturbed. "Chief, we can't just start taking in people at random!"

"I told you, Rebecka," Ivica responded, remaining motionless and collected with his arms crossed across his chest. "She has an illness that cannot be properly treated on this island. As such, her doctor has requested we examine her."

"We are not authorized to accept medical cases!" Rebecka responded, pinching the bridge of her nose. "We can't take her with us."

"But I can't leave her behind!" Ao chimed in, his hands gripping the edge of the table. "She's stuck with me through everything."

"Aw, how cute!" Elena gushed, her hands on her cheeks. "The childhood sweethearts are going off on an advent-ah!" Fleur cut her off mid-sentence with a swift poke in the ribs.

"Rebecka's right," Fleur opined. "Besides, even if we could, we don't have the paperwork on hand."

"Exactly," Rebecka affirmed. "If we leave this island without a complete and approved request, it would be considered kidnapping."

Ao looked at Rebecka and Naru in turn, wondering how all of this came into place. The thought of leaving Naru behind sickened him. At the same time, he knew that it would cause all kinds of problems if they just took her.

Earlier…

Ao rushed into the guest room to find Naru sitting up in bed, clearly preoccupied.

"Are you okay?!" he blurted out, breathlessly.

Naru, startled out of her reverie, couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. In his haste, Ao had lost his footing and belly-flopped onto the floor beside the bed. Offering her hand, she helped him up.

"I'm fine, silly. What happened earlier? You were gone a while." Naru inquired.

"I had to fight another G-Monster," Ao replied, taking a seat at the foot of the bed. "The group who rescued me needed my help taking it down."

"Seeing as you're here, I guess you won," Naru offered.

"Yeah, you should have seen it!" Ao excitedly described the confrontation. Naru listened attentively, her face betraying her thoughts as her expression became rather somber.

"What's wrong?" Ao asked, noticing her melancholy expression.

"You're gonna leave now, aren't you?" Naru half-heartedly asked.

"What makes you think that?" Ao countered, startled at the shift in her attitude.

"It's just, you now have the means to look for your mom. Why would you stay?" Naru observed, her expression unchanged.

The two sat in silence for a moment, each trying to find the words they wanted to say next.

"My dad visited me while you were gone." Naru started, steadying herself for what she was about to say.

"Yeah?" Ao questioned.

"He knew about what happened to you. Turns out…he wasn't going to stop Kouzawa." Ao looked up in surprise. Naru lay hunched over, tears silently falling onto the covers. "He…of all people…my own father…" Naru couldn't continue, succumbing to her emotions. Ao embraced her, her sobs muffled as she buried her face into his shirt. After a few moments, Naru composed herself.

"I want to go with you," she stated, determined.

"Wouldn't your family freak out if you didn't go home?" Ao posited, surprised.

"I don't care. I refuse to live in the home of a monster." Naru affirmed, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Besides, Grandma can take care of my sister. She's not a handful."

"I don't know if they'll let you leave with them," Ao ventured cautiously, hoping not to start an argument.

"If they won't, then you and I will go by ourselves," Naru boldly stated, catching Ao by surprise. "When I looked at your…what did you call it again?"

"Nirvash. At least, that's what the computer indicated the name was," Ao answered.

"Well, when you took me to see the Nirvash, I started thinking about it. It looks like it could hold us both. Once I get my inhaler back from Toshio, we could leave together." Naru explained.

"That's not a good idea, you know," Ao gently objected.

"I don't care. I'm not staying here any longer. Whether it's with the people who rescued you or if it's just us, I want to leave this island!" Naru exclaimed, a small coughing fit overtaking her.

"Easy, easy!" Ao cautioned. After a short pause, Ao looked at her. "There's no changing your mind, is there?"

"No," Naru affirmed.

"Okay. They asked me to join them, and to be honest, I was going to. I'll tell them the only way I'm leaving is if you come with me." Ao stood, offering his hand to help Naru out of bed. "I still think this is a bad idea."

"Oh calm down, what's the worst that could happen?" Naru joked, following Ao as he walked toward the front door.

Present

Naru looked at Ao with concern. After his outburst, he had become lost in thought. Elena and Fleur were locked in their own little debate, Elena holding her side where Fleur had jabbed her prior. Rebecka and Ivica were having a heated discussion, no doubt debating what their next move would be. Han was working on his computer, which he had brought with him onto the Triton. Pippo alternated looking at each spat, a dumbfounded look on his face. Gazelle, meanwhile, remained in the same nonchalant pose he had adopted ever since he sat down. Finally, Ao broke his silence.

"Ivica," he interjected, catching everyone's attention. "When we were at my grandfather's house, you said something about paperwork. Fleur mentioned it too. What was that about?"

"What did you tell him?" Rebecka inquired, glancing at Ivica pointedly.

"Mind if I interject?" The communication screen came alive with an orange box, introducing itself to everyone present with the header "Georg" printed over the avatar that served as it's "body."

"Great, now the gang's all here," Rebecka muttered, placing her hand over her face in exasperation.

"Generation Bleu regularly works in concert with the United Nations," Georg began, ignoring Rebecka's snide remark. "As such, we can perform actions that are officially sanctioned by the U.N. The paperwork Ivica and Fleur referenced is most likely a SCMRF, which stands for "Special Case Medical Release Form." This form allows for individuals afflicted with uncommon illnesses to be transported to a U.N. or affiliated medical facility for treatment."

"Dr. Fukai told me the circumstances surrounding Naru's illness," Ivica added. "Since he cannot diagnose what is wrong with her, and her condition arose as the result of a Scub Burst, it is possible that she can be transferred to Generation Bleu headquarters for treatment."

"However," Georg chimed in, "Such a form can only be approved by an individual with proper U.N. clearance. In this case, president Christophe Blanc is the only individual who can determine if the patient can be transported to HQ."

"I have a name, you know," Naru huffed.

"So do I and everyone here," Georg retorted.

"Enough!" Rebecka exclaimed, turning to face the communication screen. "Call headquarters."

Nakamura sat on a small metal bench inside his cell. Other than the metal door, constructed of interlocking metal bars, there was nothing else for Nakamura to divert his attention. Leaning on his elbows with his head in his hands, Nakamura took stock of the situation. "There's no way Hiyozaki is still alive. I watched him die. How could he have been promoted to High Admiral? How did he get to Japan? How did he survive? How did he know I was going to Okinawa?"

Footsteps broke the silence. Shaken from his thoughts, Nakamura looked towards the door. Standing outside his cell was a familiar figure.

"You!" Nakamura exclaimed. "I should have known it was you!"

The blue-haired figure looked at Nakamura, clearly amused. "Me? Whatever are you talking about?"

"Don't play coy, you freak," Nakamura spat, his hands clenching into fists. "There's no way Hiyozaki survived, let alone got promoted to High Admiral after what happened."

The man growled at being called a freak, and stepped through the bars into Nakamura's cell. Grabbing the prisoner by the throat, he lifted him off the bench. "I thought we agreed that calling me a freak was a bad idea on your part?"

Nakamura choked as he felt the hand close on his windpipe. "S-s-sorry…" he managed to squeak out, clawing at the hand.

Placing Nakamura back down, the blue-haired man adjusted the jacket attached to his form-fitting body suit. "Do it again, and I won't be so forgiving."

Nakamura nodded, rubbing his throat as he caught his breath. "What would you like to be called?"

"That's a good question," the man mused, rubbing his chin in contemplation. "I guess you can call me…Truth."

"Truth?" Nakamura wondered, before shaking it off. "Well, if that's what you want. Now tell me, why did you stop me?"

"Because you were interfering in my business," Truth replied, looking at Nakamura in minor annoyance. "I told you not to go after Okinawa until I was done there."

"You don't understand," Nakamura sighed, sitting back down. "It was the perfect opportunity. By seizing Okinawa, Japan would've been better off."

"Perhaps," Truth muttered. "It doesn't matter now. You've actually done me a big favor."

"Have I now" Nakamura asked, perking up slightly.

"The machine you refer to as the "Mark I" is being piloted by the son of the original pilot," Truth mused. "His search for his mother will undoubtedly succeed. And I intend to be there at the conclusion of that search."

"Well, at least I was of some use to you," Nakamura stood, turning towards the cell door. "Now, if you would be so kind, could you please let me out of this cell?"

Truth chuckled lightly, not in the least surprised that Nakamura was only concerned with his present predicament. Walking towards the cell door, he reached towards the latch, only to phase through the door in a flash of blue light. Standing outside the cell, he turned to look at a shocked Nakamura.

"Oh, I forgot," Truth feigned. "You can't do that."

"Very funny, Truth." Nakamura sighed in annoyance. "Now let me out."

"Why would I do that?" Truth inquired, a small smirk forming on his lips.

"I helped you find the Mark I!" Nakamura stammered incredulously, slowly realizing his odds of escaping were dwindling fast. "The least you can do is let me out!"

"Now now, there's no need to rush," Truth chided Nakamura condescendingly. "After all, you still have a meeting with the military tribunal for your little escapade."

"How did they find out? Did you tell them?" Nakamura asked, pointedly.

"No, but they'll discover soon enough when your little task force returns to port." Truth replied, turning to leave. "Besides, a truly honorable Japanese officer faces discipline with pride."

"You told the crew I was stripped of my rank!" Nakamura exclaimed, grabbing the bars on his cell door. "Let me out!"

Truth chuckled as he stepped through a blue crack in front of him and vanished.

Toshio went about rearranging the guest room in his house, still trying to get adjusted to the feeling of emptiness that permeated the place. It wasn't unusual for Ao to be gone exploring the island for long periods, but he could always count on the boy to return at some point. Toshio thought about the past few days, wondering if the boy would remember them with anger, with regret, or if he would even remember them at all. Toshio was stirred from his thoughts by the slam of a car door and the crunch of gravel under boots. Closing the door, Toshio went to meet his visitor.

Mitsuo Arata was an imposing figure in full military gear. Stern, imposing, and intimidating, it was no wonder he had achieved such a high rank in the Okinawan SDF. These characteristics also bled into his home life. Since the untimely loss of his wife, he had poured himself into serving the SDF. However, this had cost him with respect to his daughter. Long nights and training exercises had reduced the hours spent with her, and her friendship with the boy he held responsible for the death of his wife had made their relationship tense in the best of times and downright hostile in the worst. The previous evening was no exception. Naru's rejection of returning home had stung, and he had left in righteous indignation. However, as the night wore on, he came to the mindset that, come morning, all would be forgiven. After all, the boy had been returned alive. Walking up to the doctor's door, he was surprised to notice the elderly man meeting him on the porch, blocking the door.

"Good morning, doctor." Mitsuo greeted the man.

"Good morning, Mr. Arata," Toshio responded, not standing aside.

"I have come to collect my daughter," Mitsuo stated plainly, waiting for the man to step aside.

"I'm afraid your daughter is no longer on the island," Toshio replied, much to Mitsuo's shock.

"What do you mean she isn't here?!" Mitsuo exploded, his eyes flaring with rage. "What have you done with her?!"

"She left this morning," Toshio explained, unmoved by Mitsuo's anger. "I am unable to treat her properly as I do not understand what is wrong with her."

"So you just gave my daughter away?! Without consulting me?!" Mitsuo forced out through clenched teeth, still trying to comprehend the severity of Toshio's actions.

"The group that came here yesterday has the right and the means to treat her better than I can. It's a medical decision made for your daughter's benefit, nothing more." Toshio elaborated.

Mitsuo tried to come to grips with what Dr. Fukai told him, but his thoughts kept returning to what his daughter had said the night before. "I'm not going anywhere with a man willing to sell a child into slavery."

"What about your boy," Mitsuo spat, looking around. "Did he leave too?"

"He left on a completely different matter," Toshio revealed, his voice remaining as steady as it had been.

"So, she followed that cur. Foolish girl!" Mitsuo lamented.

"Hey!" Toshio's composure momentarily broke. "That is uncalled for."

"No, what's uncalled for is you allowing my girl to leave this island with strangers and a good-for-nothing foreigner!" Mitsuo raged, leaping up the steps and looking Toshio square in the face. "Where's the paperwork documenting her release into their care?"

Toshio didn't move, but he had no reply to Mitsuo's demand. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Mitsuo lowered his hands and placed them behind his back.

"I see, so she wasn't medically released into their custody." Mitsuo stated calmly.

"I am expecting the official paperwork later today." Toshio replied.

"You know that, if I don't have anything documenting her release, I can arrest you for kidnapping?" Mitsuo offered, looking the doctor straight in the face.

"I told you, you will have the paperwork by the end of the day," Toshio huffed, before stepping off the porch. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get to the clinic. I still have several of your soldiers in my care, you know."

Mitsuo placed his hand on the doctor's shoulder with intense pressure. "If I don't have that document by the end of the day, you will be placed under arrest. You have my word."

Toshio looked back at Mitsuo and freed himself from his grasp, before making his way to his truck. Mitsuo, in turn, returned to his car and, without hesitating, pulled out of the driveway and drove off. Toshio sighed, disappointed in the turn of events. With Mitsuo's threat lingering in the back of his mind, he started his truck and drove to the clinic.

The communication screen aboard the Triton crackled to life, revealing a dark office partially illuminated by several slats of natural light. A thin man, with askew brown hair and an unshaven face, sat in front of the lights, illuminated by the computer screen in front of him. He wore a blue suit, the tie loosely secured to his collar. He adjusted his glasses to reveal sharp blue eyes.

"Hello everyone," the man began, noticing the multitude of people on the other end of the call. "It seems you've picked up a few new faces on this trip, eh Rebecka?"

"Mr. Blanc," Rebecka responded. "That's what this call is about."

"Hold on, I need to say hi to my daughter. How was your trip, sweetie?" Christophe inquired.

Fleur bristled at his words. "Can we get to the business at hand?"

"Ah, you're no fun," the president sighed, slightly amused. "So, let's begin. What is going on here?"

"We have recovered the Mark I and it's pilot," Rebecka began. "However, there has been a request for us to bring a…friend of the pilot along.

"Wait, did you say you had the pilot of the Mark I as well?" Christophe interjected, a look of keen interest on his face.

"Yes, his name is Ao Fukai. He is the son of the original pilot. He was the one piloting the Mark I during our operation here," Rebecka elaborated.

"How fascinating," Christophe mused. "Is he there?"

"Yes, sir," Ao greeted the man, slightly embarrassed at being drawn into the conversation.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," the man replied, smiling at the boy.

"Anyway, a friend of his has insisted on coming too," Rebecka resumed her report. "Apparently, she has developed an illness due to the Scub Burst that occurred here ten years ago, and the local medical professionals are unable to determine anything regarding her condition."

"I see," Christophe said, taking his glasses off and cleaning them with a cloth taken from his desk. "So, you need the proper medical forms, I take it?"

"If she is to come with us, we need to fill out a SCMRF and provide it to her physician," Rebecka stated.

"That shouldn't be a problem," Christophe affirmed, returning his glasses to their former place. "I'll fax the document to the hospital in Naha for you to fill out."

"Thank you, sir." Ao interjected, happy that Naru would indeed be joining him.

"You're welcome, young man," the man smiled at his gratitude. "Now, that explains you two, but what about the other three?"

"About that…" Rebecka began, only to be cut off by Gazelle, who had leapt out of his seat and planted himself directly in front of the screen.

"Please to meet you, Mr. President," Gazelle effused, standing straight with his hands in his pocket. "My name is Gazelle, and I am joined by my partners, Han Juno and Pippo."

"With the exception of Mr. Juno, you and your compatriot have rather ridiculous names," Christophe couldn't help but chuckle, much to Gazelle's dismay.

"We were informed by the captain of this vessel that you had a job opening that we qualified for, so we are joining your organization," Gazelle stammered out, trying to regain his composure.

"That is correct, I do happen to have a need for assistants." Christophe acknowledged, placing his hands behind his head. "But just because you claim to be qualified doesn't mean anything. When you arrive, report to me at once so we can determine if you and your friends are actually joining us."

"Yes, sir." Gazelle responded, his countenance shifting from proud confidence to contemplative meditation. Returning to his seat, Rebecka and Ivica took places in front of the screen.

"Alright, so we are heading to Naha to finalize the paperwork. Anything else that needs to be done while we are there?" Rebecka inquired.

"That should be all," Christophe concluded. "Report back when you depart."

"Yes, sir," Rebecka nodded, ending the conversation.

Back at Generation Bleu headquarters, Christophe Blanc closed the laptop in front of him. A second individual emerged from the shadows on the other side of the desk. An elderly man, with light blue eyes and grey hair, greeted Christophe with a stern look.

"This complicates things, Blanc," the man stated, adjusting the collar on his light green suit.

"Calm down, Stanley," Christophe replied, walking over to a coffee machine on the other side of the room. "Want a cup?"

"Do you realize what's happening here? We have the Mark I, the original pilot's son, and a curious case of illness," Stanley countered. "The last thing we need is to inject unnecessary components into the mix."

"I need assistants," Blanc replied nonchalantly. "Besides, they can provide insight into our new pilot as well as guide him in any issues that may arise with adjusting to his new life."

"If you say so," Stanley conceded, knowing that arguing any more was pointless. "I will send the form to the hospital. It'll be interesting to study this new development."

"Don't say it like that," Christophe sighed, taking a sip of his coffee. "You make it sound like we are gaining a test subject, not a patient."

"Aren't we, though?" Stanley mused. "An illness brought about by a Scub Burst is unheard of. This is a golden opportunity to further our research."

Christophe took another sip of his coffee, his mind preoccupied by another matter.

Back on board the Triton, Ivica and Rebecka had returned to the bridge. Having left Iwato Jima, the ship glided above the water effortlessly, its engines utilizing solar power to propel the craft. The capital city of Naha soon filled the viewport. When Okinawa was granted autonomy from the Japanese, the city of Naha was quickly chosen as the capital of the new territory. The city rapidly grew in size, and street congestion became a major problem. However, the arrival of the Scub Coral ten years ago had rectified this problem, as the air became permeated with trapar and allowed for the development and proliferation of FPs. While the younger population was quick to adapt to the new technology, the elderly residents of the city continued to utilize cars as their means of transportation. As such, it wasn't out of place to see two sets of roads throughout the city, one on the ground and the other above. This double layer of vehicles was easily visible as the Triton lowered itself into the water and glided up to the dock.

"Alright, I'm heading to the hospital," Ivica announced, opening the door of the craft and stepping out onto the pier. "This could take some time, so everyone is free to explore. We'll meet back at the ship in a couple hours."

"Understood," Rebecka acknowledged, watching as the captain of the vessel disembarked.

"I set up a meet and greet with fans at a nearby café," Fleur announced, dragging Elena behind her. "Elena and I will be there."

"Do I have to go?!" Elena whined, her eyes not leaving the tablet in front of her. "I just caught up with the second season!"

"It's a chance for them to meet the ace pilots of Team Pied Piper, so shut up and deal with it!" Fleur countered, still dragging Elena. "We'll be back!"

"Hey, wait, what are we supposed to do?!" Ao yelled out to the blonde.

"You're on your own!" Fleur yelled back, still dragging Elena behind her.

Ao frowned, not in the least thrilled about being cooped up on the ship. Naru joined him at the door, leaning against the wall.

"So, whatcha wanna do?" she asked, amused.

"I don't know. You have any ideas?" Ao replied, running his hands through his hair.

"Hey, I just noticed, your hair's changing color!" Naru exclaimed, excitedly. "That's so cool!"

"Huh?!" Ao wondered aloud, running to the closest mirror he could find. Sure enough, his hair was changing color. His formerly dark brown locks were lightening, and around his ears and running along the nape of his neck they had already transitioned into a light turquoise color. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew the photo of his mother. Focusing on the hair, he could determine blue streaks of a similar color running through her otherwise dark brown hair. Naru noticed the picture and saw the conflicted look in Ao's face, a mixture of happiness and longing that tore at him. Suddenly, she had an idea.

"I know what we can do. Come on!" Naru demanded, grabbing Ao by the arm and dragging him towards the door. Placing the photo back in his pocket, he followed her.

Fleur and Elena walked side by side down the street, approaching the small café where they were to host their informal meeting. Fleur took in her surroundings, appreciative of the small window of time where she could explore. Elena, meanwhile, was still absorbed by the tablet. However, she expertly avoided the people they came across, keenly aware of her surroundings despite the screen occupying her attention.

"So, what do you think?" Fleur inquired of her distracted friend.

"It's so cool!" Elena gushed. "The animation is so good. I can't believe this didn't wi-"

"I'm not talking about the show, idiot!" Fleur gasped, exasperated. "I meant what do you think about what's happened the last couple days?"

"Oh, it's interesting, to be sure," Elena offered, eyes not breaking away from the screen. "It's not every day we almost double the number of people on the Triton."

"True, but it's still strange," Fleur mused, her brows furrowed in thought. "A sick girl, a trio of miscreants, and a new pilot…"

"Sounds like the plot to an anime I saw the other day," Elena mentioned, casually. "It started out really good but got so warped at the end."

"Does everything revolve around anime with you?" Fleur asked, perturbed.

"Not everything. I mean, I'm doing this interview with you, aren't I?" Elena countered, turning her tablet off and holding it to her side.

"Yeah, well, we have to do these," Fleur dismissed the question, gazing ahead. A small crowd had already gathered in front of a small building. "After all, we are celebrities."

"Nah, that's just you," Elena replied, a small smirk appearing across her face. "After all, you're the only person I know with a website devoted to your every waking moment."

"I don't document everything!" Fleur exclaimed.

Elena chuckled, before giving a wave to the crowd in front of them. Shouts and cheers erupted from the mass as they thronged towards the two girls, clamoring for autographs and pictures.

Gazelle stared out across the water, his hands on his waist as if lost in deep thought. Pippo sat on the edge of the dock, his shoes by his side as he dangled his legs over the edge towards the water's surface. Waves lapped against the concrete with serene repetition, as the warm sun illuminated the water and revealed the presence of small fish, darting to and fro. Han sat cross-legged between his two compatriots, working on his laptop.

"We need to figure out how to prepare for this interview," Gazelle stated, after a brief moment of silence.

"How do we do that?" Pippo inquired, watching the water break against the dock. "We aren't exactly the most qualified people in the world."

"Are you really gonna make me shove you into the water?" Gazelle threatened, annoyed at Pippo's less than helpful attitude.

"Hey, I'm just saying, I don't see how we can prepare!" Pippo stammered, working his way away from the edge. "After all, we don't even know what we're interviewing for!"

Gazelle frowned, rubbing the back of his head. It was true that they had no clue what they were getting into. After all, their decision was the textbook definition of "spur-of-the-moment." However, the island formerly referred to as home had revealed its true colors, having decided to embrace its traditions whilst showing a willingness to sacrifice things that didn't conform to their mode of thinking. Returning was out of the question. "At least we would be in a whole new world if we don't get this job," he thought.

"Hey guys, check this out," Han broke the silence, leaning back on his arms.

Gazelle took a glance at the computer screen, and immediately his eyes widened. "How did you get this?"

"Does it matter?" Han sidestepped the question. "I'm pretty sure this would go a long way towards that interview, don't you think?"

"No kidding," Gazelle mused. After a moment, a knowing smile broke across his face. "I think we just got ourselves a job, boys."

Naru looked around, taking in her surroundings. In her thirteen years of life, she had never set foot on the main island of Okinawa, and the stark contrast between it and Iwato took some getting used to. For starters, the buildings were constructed differently. Wood and canvas homes were replaced by steel and concrete. Tree-lined dirt roads were replaced with paved streets surrounded by buildings. Naha was a bustling center of activity, compared to the quiet island she grew up on. Another thing she had noticed was the difference in air quality. Normally, the countryside would contain much cleaner air, but the air here was different. It wasn't that it was dirty, but what it was, Naru couldn't quite figure out. Either way, this place stood in stark contrast to the island she called home.

Ao exited the building behind her, still perplexed at Naru's insistence at going to this place she called "special." Attempts to get her to divulge their destination were fruitless, as she changed the subject every time he brought it up. Eventually, he gave up, deciding to follow her whim and see where it took him. In this instance, it took him to a place to rent an FP.

"Alright, I've got one for an hour," Ao announced, holding the key in his hand.

"Good," Naru chirped, smiling. Walking toward the machine, she climbed into the back seat. Grabbing the map in the seat pouch in front of her, she opened it and began plotting their destination. Meanwhile, Ao took his place behind the wheel and, pushing forward, activated the vehicle, a green splash emanating from underneath as it took to the sky.

"Now will you tell me where we're going," Ao asked, thinking that now he could learn where they were headed.

"Take a left here," Naru replied, her smile hidden by the unfolded map. "Now go straight."

Ao sighed, following her directions. "What is it about this place that's so special that she can't tell me what it is?" he thought. It took some time to adjust to the different driving rules here. On Iwato, FPs were few and far between, so driving was as simple as getting in and going. Here, there was a second road network, complete with traffic signals and lanes, for FPs. Merging into the flow of traffic, Ao traversed the western portion of the city, eventually reaching a sharp cliff that ran the edge of the island.

"Over there!" Naru pointed, excitedly.

Following her finger, Ao followed the coastline until he reached a portion of the cliff that jutted out over the water. Landing the FP, Ao and Naru exited the craft. At the edge of the cliff sat a large stone obelisk, covered in carvings. Behind the pillar stood a large Scub Coral plant, which, despite its size, appeared to be missing pieces by a significant margin. Beyond the Coral, barely visible against the overwhelming blue of sky and sea, stood a tiny sliver of green. Ao and Naru approached the stone pillar, which bore the following inscription: "A Memorial to Those Lost, June 27, 2015." Beneath this inscription, several lists of names were etched into the stone.

"This is where the Scub Burst occurred ten years ago," Naru stated, looking out over the water.

"Why did you bring me here?" Ao asked, genuinely confused. "There is nothing good about this place."

"Sure there is," Naru replied.

"How?!" Ao exclaimed. "This place is nothing but a reminder of everything we've lost!"

"Yes, many people died here," Naru calmly explained, showing a maturity beyond her years. "My illness is because of this place. Yet, you've suffered so much more because of what happened here."

"Yeah, I know," Ao bristled. "According to everybody, my mom and I are responsible for this."

"Do you know why people say that?" Naru suddenly asked, turning to face Ao.

"Because we're not from the island," Ao answered, confused.

"No," Naru countered. "The real reason is because people are confused."

"How so?" Ao inquired.

"When the Scub Coral appeared, a G-Monster appeared with it. However, your mother stopped the G-Monster from merging with the Coral." Naru revealed.

Ao's eyes widened, surprised that Naru was aware of what had happened all those years ago. "How do you know this?"

"I saw the report on my dad's desk," Naru replied.

"When?" Ao pried, trying to deduce why Naru had withheld this information from him.

"I don't remember exactly, but it was a while ago." Naru responded.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ao inquired, trembling slightly.

"I wanted to, but it never seemed like a good time," Naru answered, before resuming her explanation. "Anyway, when your mother intervened, there was a bright flash of light, and when it was all over, a big chunk of the Coral, as well as the G-Monster, vanished. While the G-Monster did the majority of the damage, the aftermath of the Coral's disappearance was wrongly blamed on your mom. That is why everyone said what they did."

"What happened to my mom?" Ao timidly ventured, afraid at what the answer might entail.

"I don't know," Naru sadly replied. "The report just says the Allies took her with them when they left. She was still alive, though. They confirmed that much."

Ao's heart raced. "My mother is alive" echoed throughout his mind as he stared towards the Coral. After a few moments, Ao turned to look at Naru. A feeling of distrust began to work its way into his mind. "Any time would have been a good time to tell me. Why did you keep this quiet? What else are you hiding from me?" Shaking these thoughts from his mind, he broke the silence.

"I understand now, why you brought me here."

Naru smiled, thankfully. A beeping sound interrupted their thoughts. Reaching into his pocket and removing his phone, Ao checked the source of the noise.

"We need to get back to the Triton."

The main communication screen on board the Triton issued a noise, indicating an incoming call. Sitting at her console, Rebecka pressed a button, activating the call screen. A dialog box with the words "Sound Only" occupied the space.

"Rebecka, this is Ivica. Tell the crew to begin preparations for launch. Once I receive confirmation that Dr. Fukai received the form, I will return to the ship."

"Yes, sir," Rebecka affirmed. "I will inform the others to return to the ship at once."

"Very well. I will see you shortly."

Terminating the call, Rebecka turned to notice the three gentlemen who had joined them in Okinawa were walking down the passageway towards the common area.

"Hey, could one of you call that boy to let him know to come back?" Rebecka requested. "I don't have his info on file."

"That boy has a name, you know," Gazelle shot back. "But sure, we'll call him for you."

Rebecka growled. "Why did this have to happen to me?" crossed her mind more than once as she pulled up the communication display. Highlighting the name "Fleur Blanc," she pressed the icon on the screen to issue the call.

Fleur sat slumped back in her seat, holding her hand against her stomach. The last of the autograph seekers had just left, much to her relief, as the cramping in her hand was just now becoming too much to handle. Elena had gone inside to get some cold drinks, more for the ice than for the actual refreshment. She returned when Fleur's phone emitted a shrill beeping.

"Fleur Blanc," the blonde declared, tenderly holding the phone. "Got you, we'll be right there."

"I take it that was Rebecka?" Elena surmised, taking a sip of her drink.

"Yeah, we need to get back to the ship. Ivica should be returning shortly," Fleur responded, taking the drink gratefully.

"Alright, let's get going," Elena announced, standing up and setting off for the Triton, leaving a surprised Fleur behind.

"Hey, wait up!" Fleur yelled out, running after Elena. Remembering, she quickly turned back and picked up Elena's tablet, which, in her haste, she had left behind. Turning around, she sprinted after her friend, who was already quite a considerable distance up the street.

Toshio had just taken a break for lunch when the fax machine in his office had come alive, much to his surprise. Collecting the paper, he was relieved to discover that the man who had taken Ao had lived up to his word in sending the paperwork to allow for Naru's transfer. After placing it in a folder, he heard the machine activate once more. Turning around, a single piece of paper, with a hand-written note, issued from the device. The note read as follows:

"Dr. Fukai,

I wanted to thank you for everything you have done with regards to taking care of Eureka's son. I had the opportunity to work with her shortly before her disappearance, and I can honestly say that she was grateful that her son was in your capable hands. I can only hope to continue what you have started. At the end of this note, there is a phone number. When you are done reading, call it. I will be able to confirm that you received both this note and the medical release form. Once I have received confirmation, we will depart.

Thank you,

Ivica Tanović

Upon reading the note, Toshio picked up his phone and called the phone number. After a couple of rings, a voice picked up from the other end.

"Dr. Fukai?" the voice inquired.

"Yes. I have received everything you sent me," Toshio responded.

"Good," Ivica stated. "Is there anything you want me to tell Ao?"

"No. Everything I wished to tell him has already been said," Toshio replied. "He's on his own, now."

"We'll take good care of him," Ivica offered.

"He can take care of himself," Toshio countered, his eyebrows furrowing. "Just make sure he doesn't do anything stupid until he finds his mother."

"Understood," Ivica affirmed. "Thank you again, Dr. Fukai."

Toshio placed the phone back on the receiver, ending the call. Despite the knowledge that Ao was doing what he needed to do, Toshio couldn't help but feel…empty. Shaking off the feeling as best he could, he picked up the phone and dialed a second number.

"Mitsuo Arata, Okinawa Special Defense Forces," the voice boomed out.

"Mr. Arata, this is Dr. Fukai," Toshio briskly replied. "I have your daughter's medical release form. It'll be here at the clinic, whenever you are available to pick it up."

"You have a lot of nerve calling me to tell me that," Mitsuo venomously replied.

"You had a lot of nerve coming to my house and threatening to arrest me for doing what was best for my patient," Toshio curtly responded.

Mitsuo growled at Toshio's response. "Fine. I'll send someone by to pick it up. Thank you for letting me know."

Toshio placed the phone back on the receiver, before turning and leaving his office.

Ao and Naru walked down the pier, having returned from the FP rental shop as fast as possible. Stopping just before the entrance to the Triton, Ao turned and look out over the water.

"Well, this is it," he announced, to no one in particular. "Who knows if or when we'll ever be back here."

"I didn't take you for the sentimental type," Naru chuckled, entering the vessel.

"It's just surreal, is all," Ao replied, before turning and boarding the ship. Once aboard, he noticed Ivica had returned and was sitting in his chair in the middle of the bridge. Rebecka was also seated to his left, at her station. The door closed and sealed behind him as Ivica turned and acknowledged him.

"Ao, we are returning to headquarters. You should take a seat in the common area." Ivica ordered.

"Yes, sir," Ao nodded, before turning and heading down the passageway to join the others.

The Triton lifted off the water and turned towards the east, gaining altitude slowly as it flew over the main island of Okinawa. Upon reaching a safe distance from the island, the ship engaged in a banking turn to orient itself towards the west.

"Activate ballistic mode," Ivica ordered.

The pilots flipped switched across their respective consoles. As the last switch was flipped, the Triton activated its two main engines, accelerating the ship beyond the speed of sound as it rocketed into the sky. Soon, Okinawa was just a speck in the distance, a brown dot amidst a sea of blue.

TO BE CONTINUED…