“Yes! My second fan fic! Go me! Anyway… If I do make more fan fics in the future, they will be centered around my original “Putting the Pieces Back together” just to keep a constant timeline. For those of you who have read it, this is while the two years is passing, and Billy hasn’t shown his true feelings for Emeralda yet. If you haven’t read it, you should… I think it’s good, but what do I know? Anyway, the usual stuff nobody reads anyway, I don’t own anything except my name and this fic, but that’s about it.”
(Caution: Spoilers contained)
There was a banging on his door. He shut his eyes tighter, trying to ignore it. It stopped, but it just started up again, just louder this time. “What!?” Billy asked kind of harshly.
“It’s me.” The voice on the other side called out.
“That helps.” He rolled his eyes. “Come on in.”
The door slid open to reveal a man, tall slender, with long braided blond hair. “Still sleeping?”
“Bart…” He replied quietly, “What do you want?”
“I wanted to talk to you, you know. Make sure you’re all right.”
“Did you? About what?”
“All right… It’s one, and everyone was nervous because they haven’t seen you in a while.”
“I thought…”
“I’m lonely!” Bart dropped his head into Billy’s shoulder and started to sob. “There is no one on this ship to talk to…”
“What about Margie? I’m sure…”
“Margie!?” Bart shot his head up. “I never thought of her… thanks! I’ll talk to you later.”
“Ok… until…” but the door closed behind Bart, “later…” Billy shook off the tired from his face. He rubbed his eyes, and looked out his window. He noticed that there were some strange figures down there. He squinted because of the distance between them. There appeared to be four, and they looked lost. He couldn’t make out more then that, but it looked like they needed help. Billy threw on what he usually wore, Black suit and the habit he wore all the time. He ran up to the bridge to tell them to stop. After a little persuasion, he told them to let him off there. He climbed out the hatch, and onto the hot desert sand. He played around with his collar. “Man… how can people stand this? He said as he took a few steps closer. Walking up a sand dune, he saw a black blob coming towards him. As it came closer, it separated into four… then they started to take shape. Two shrank while the other two stayed the same. One of the taller ones began to grow out. “He must be a big man…” Billy thought to himself. He grabbed one of his handguns, and put his finger on the trigger. The shapes started to come into color. The big one started to turn a faint yellow color. Another was red, with a hint of green at the top. The third was getting more and more purple as it came closer. He looked closely to see that this one looked kind of like him. About the same height, a little older, a little bigger, but wearing brown. He could also see two scarves flying behind him. One red, the other white. As the group closed in, he decided to make the first move. “Hello there!”
They didn’t seem to stop. He saw something grow from the green topped one and point at him. He slighted his head in curiosity. Whatever it was, it was big. He saw it shrink and take its place beside the man. Then a friendly voice replied back, “Hello!”
“Would you guys like some help?” Billy asked.
There was a momentary silence until a deep bellowing voice called out. “Sure! Where are we?”
“You’re in the Avah desert. Follow me; I’ll bring you to my ship.”
“How can we trust you?” A gruff voice called out. It sounded like Billy when he got up that morning.
“My word?” He shrugged.
Again a pause but then a sweeter female voice replied, “Okay, stay there.”
He watched as the group started to take a better form. He noticed that the one in yellow had a sort of Indian western look to him. He then noticed the one with the green hair had on a long red-orange flowing coat with him. He noticed the girl having on a purple and yellow dress, and a purple overcoat. Far behind the others, he saw the outlaw. He was wearing blue jeans and a western like coat. One of his arms was bare, while the other was covered, with a glove and all. The only thing keeping him away from the old west was the hat he wasn’t wearing. His silver hair swayed in the wind of the desert. Soon the four were standing in front of Billy.
“C’mon, this way to the Yggdrasil.” Billy smiled and turned around.
“The Yggdrasil?” The outlaw asked. “I thought you were taking us to a ship, not a big tree.”
“I am taking you to a ship. Why would you think differently?” Billy asked. The outlaw gave him a sour look, then closed his eyes and turned his head away.
“Don’t mind him,” The friendly girl smiled. “He’s a little sour when it comes to people.”
Billy nodded and replied, “I’m like that too in the morning.”
“No, no.” The Indian replied, in his deep bellowing voice. “He’s always like this.”
“Oh.” Was all Billy could answer. He shrugged, and pointed to a light gray substance in the distance. “Its right there, see it?” He looked to the see the girls eyes were wide in amazement. “Let’s go.” He started to run towards the ship, one to get out of the heat, the other to stay away from the outlaw. Who knows what the man was planning. The other three were right behind him. The outlaw opened his eyes, and watched his companions running towards the ship.
“Gimme a break” and he too was running behind them.
Billy helped the girl climb down the ladder by grabbing onto her hips lightly, and following her down. She accidentally lost the ladder, and fell into his arms. She opened her eyes and looked into Billy’s deep gazing blue eyes. She smiled, and quickly lifted herself out of his arms. The outlaw slid down the ladder, and gave Billy a sour look. Billy saw the contact, but quickly looked away, fearing the worse, and ran in front of the group.
“This way, I will show you to the gun room.” Billy said, as he entered the elevator.
“How big is this desert?” The green haired one asked. He looked a little like a scientist, and talked like one. He adjusted his glasses with his index finger riding up the bridge of his nose.
Billy looked up in thought. “Not too big. Maybe 20% of the entire world.”
The Indian look in amazement. “Only 20%? Man, it’s like… 80% back on Filgaia.”
Billy looked on the Indian, “Filgaia? Is there where you are from?”
The girl gave a cheerful smile, “Yeah, it’s a really great place, if you don’t mind heat.” Billy looked up and down this strange mysterious girl. The men looked like they were really from the west. They all had jeans and boots on, but here was this girl. Her hair reached down to the middle of her back, and she wore a real pretty dress. It was purple all the way around, with two yellow strips in the front, and trim of the same color. The only thing that made her look like they came from the same pack, were the two handguns, each held in a case with a rose on it.
“That is uh…” Billy looked for how to say it, “great attire you have there.”
The girl looked down at her dress. “Thanks! My mom made this… for me…” She said quietly.
“I’m sorry…” Billy smiled. “I didn’t mean to open old wounds.”
She shook her head, “Don’t worry about it.” She looked up. “Where is this gunroom?”
Billy nodded his head towards the end of the hallway. “Right there… you might be lucky. Maison might be cooking up lunch.”
“Maison?” The Indian asked.
“Yes. He is the butler of Bart Fatima.” The outlaw smiled at his name. “Something funny?” Billy asked.
“Whatever…” was all he said before looking into the gunroom. The group approached and the door flew open.
“It looks like…” The girl started, “like a saloon from back home.”
The scientist looked around until he saw someone that looked like him. “Who is that?”
Billy looked over to where he was pointing. “That’s Citan. He’s the brains of the operation.”
“Good…” The outlaw started. “For a moment I thought you were.”
“Jet!” The girl scolded him. “Be nice.”
The outlaw looked away from her. “Whatever.”
The girl looked back up into Billy’s eyes. “I have to apologize for my friend’s behavior. He not the nicest guy on the planet.”
The Indian added, “Guy? Ha! Try the nicest anything.” He chuckled to himself. The group gave him a strange look. “I tried. Don’t I get that much?”
The group shook their head, and Billy continued on. “Is that his name? Jet?”
The girl looked over at the outlaw. “Yep, that’s Jet for ya.”
Billy smiled shyly, “Hello…” Jet looked away from him.
“I guess I should continue with our names.” The girl cut in. “This here is Gallows,” The Indian raised his hand, as if to say hello. “This is Clive...”
The one with the green hair and long coat answered to his name, “Nice to meet you.”
She continued on, “and you can call me Virginia.”
Billy stretched out his hand. Virginia took it and they shook. “I guess you can call me Billy.”
“Can I call you something else please?” Jet asked sourly.
Billy ignored the comment and talked to Virginia, “How did you all get here, may I ask?”
Clive proceeded to answer his question, “Actually, we are not sure, and were hoping you could tell us.”
“Well…” Billy thought to himself, “I don’t think we have a Filgaia on this earth.”
“And the Avah desert is foreign to me. All I remember is that we rested after a long day of drifting, and we suddenly came here.”
“Excuse me… did you say drifting?” Billy asked.
Gallows came in with is deep voice, “Yeah, that’s what they call us back on Filgaia, Drifters. You see, the entire planet is a wasteland just swarming with monsters, and there are a very few that leave their towns, but us, and others like us, roam the desert in search of adventure.”
“All we manage to find is trouble.” Jet interrupted. “Thanks to out fearless leader here…” He looked at Virginia.
Virginia looked down in sorrow. Clive stepped in and said, “That’s her decision. You don’t like it; you don’t have to follow us.”
“That’s not true, every time I try to leave, Virginia here tells me to stay…”
“And you follow her orders?” Clive retorted.
Jet gave a look of surprise, then closed his eyes and looked the other way. “At least I do get a little bounty along the way.”
Billy asked him, “And that’s why you’re a drifter, for profit and money?”
Jet ignored him. Then Virginia chimed in, “We all have out different reasons. Jet wants his money, Gallows wants his freedom, and Clive tries to help the people.”
“And you? Why do you brave that desert wasteland?” Billy asked.
“I…” She replied slowly. “I want to find my daddy. He left mom and me so long ago. Then when she died…” A single tear could be seen forming in her eye.
Billy tried to change the subject. “Uh… let’s see what Maison is cooking up, shall we?”
Virginia looked up into Billy’s eyes and smiled sheepishly, “Thanks… that would be great.
Billy led the way to the bar and sat down, and motioned the others to sit with him. Virginia sat to the right of Billy and Gallows next to her. Clive sat in between Billy and Citan, wanting to know about him. “Hello.” He started off the conversation.
Citan eyed his new found friend, “Hello.”
“I heard from Billy you’re the one that tries to keep this operation from falling apart.”
Citan just rolled his eyes, “And is it quite a job. Who are you anyway?”
“I’m sorry… Clive… Clive Winslett.”
The two shook hands. “I am Citan Uzuki.”
The two just sat there and exchanged stories and tried to one up each other on unsuccessful attempts to keep the party together. There was much laughing and much in common between the two.
Billy looked around for Jet. “Uh… where is you’re friend?”
Virginia looked behind her to see Jet leaning back in one of the chairs with his feet propped up on a table. “He’s right there, by himself.”
“I take it… he works better alone?”
“He believes that.” Virginia smiled. Maison set two glasses of water on the table. Virginia took a sip and sighed. “I haven’t had water this good for a long time.”
“You haven’t? How come?”
“Well, because out planet is decaying, there aren’t many resources around to share anymore. It’s kind of sad really.”
“Decaying? As in… the planet is dying?”
“You could say. Long ago, there was war between the people of earth and demons. After many years of fighting, the planet started to wither away. Now, slowly but surely, it keeps slipping and slipping, until one day there isn’t a planet left for us to stand on.”
“Is that true?”
“If you’re ever been on Filgaia, you would believe it.” She said as she took another sip of her water. “Ah… I’ve never had water this cool before. It is so good.”
Billy just smiled at this mysterious girl. Here she was, a girl without a mother and father, with a bunch of rag-tag drifters, on a decaying planet, and here she was complimenting the water. As if a planet decay was natural to her. “But it was.” He thought to himself.
“May I have a look at your guns please?”
Virginia just gave him a strange look, “My what?”
Billy turned beet red in embarrassment and replied quickly, “You’re uh… you’re firearms.”
“Oh… you mean my ARMs.” She replied, pulling her pistols out of their holsters.
“Yeah… you’re ARMs…” He chuckled softly. He took them, and admired the detail. “These look pretty powerful.” He also noticed that they were different, unlike his guns. “Why are they not the same?”
“What do you mean they aren’t the same? Does it really matter?” She eyed her ARMs and had a down look on her face. “There are so many memories on those things.”
“Like…?” Billy asked reluctantly, unsure of the territory he was entering.
“Well… my father used to teach me how to use ARMs back when he lived with us. It was very rare for any one to learn how to use them, much less a girl. He taught me though. We used to have so much fun back then.”
Billy looked back in his own memories of when his father taught him how to use guns. They were probably the greatest memories of his life. “We share something in common at least.”
“We do?” She asked, looking up from her ARMs, and into his eyes.
“Yeah… my dad taught me how to use duel pistols too.”
“You use duel pistols too?!” She asked in amazement.
“Yeah… that and a shot gun.”
“No… that’s not me… You have to talk to Gallows about that. He uses that kind of ARM.
Gallows turned around at the sound of his name, “Yeah?”
“Billy was telling me of the guns he uses. He told me he uses a shotgun, along with duel pistols.”
“Tell me honestly,” He started. “You like those pistols, or do you like the raw power of the shotgun.”
“Uh…” Billy thought for a moment.
“Why do you care? You’re not good with ARMs at all.” Virginia pointed out.
“So? That still doesn’t mean I can’t like my Coyote.” He said pulling it out. It looked like a sawed off shotgun, with a wooden base. He held it like he was going to shoot it. Sideways with the barrel to the inside.
“You and that ARM of yours.” Virginia shook her head.
“I could say that to you and you’re ARMs.” He said, putting his away.
“At least I’m good with them.”
“Well… You be quiet!” He said as he looked away from them, and into his half drank glass of water.
Suddenly there was a loud bang that echoed throughout the room. Everyone covered their ears except Jet, because he was asleep. Billy looked around for the noise. It was the same as the one in his dream. The intensity and length of it. “What was that!?”
Clive lowered his sniper down. “Sorry people, I didn’t know it was going to echo like that.”
Billy walked up to him and asked, “What is that?”
“This?” Clive looked down at the gun in his hand. “This would be my ARM, the Gungnir HAG35.”
“Is that a fancy name for sniper rifle?” Billy asked through the ringing of his ears.
Clive laughed at this and replied, “If you want it to be, yes.”
“It’s really loud.”
“Well that’s what happens when you have a lot of force behind a bullet. You should know, Citan told me you’re the expert on guns.”
“Guns… not ARMs” Billy corrected him.
“There isn’t too much of a difference.” Clive shrugged.
“You couldn’t show him outside?” Virginia asked.
“I am sorry, I should have thought of that.”
Suddenly Jet shot up with his ARM at the ready, “Back off! Or I’ll…” and he looked around to see that the others were staring at him. He eyed Virginia for a few seconds, then put back his ARM behind his back and sat back down in his chair, and propped his feet back up. “Shows over, go away now.”
“That was new Jet. You okay?” Virginia asked.
“I’m fine, leave me alone.” He said as he closed his eyes.
“Fine… but don’t come crying to me when you need help later.” He just waved his hand away from himself, motioning her to leave. “He is so impossible!”
“Why do you have him around then?” Billy asked after all the commotion had died down. Everyone went back to their seats and proceeded in what they were doing.
“Remember when he said that he was better off alone?” Billy nodded. “Well, he is actually a nice ally to have. He isn’t exactly the best person for conversation, but on the battle field, I would have him by my side, any day.” Virginia added.
“So… he’s a double edge sword?”
“I guess that’s a way to describe him.” She shrugged.
“Has he… has he done this before?”
“Actually… no, he might have done it once or twice long after we met… and it’s always the same thing. ‘Back off, or I’ll…’ then he gains his bearings, and goes back to sleep.”
“Did you notice him staring at you for a moment?”
“Did he? I must’ve missed that.”
“Heh… Jet? Showing concern? That’s funny!” Gallows cut in. The two looked at him funny. “I’m sorry… I happen to overhear.”
“You weren’t eves dropping?” Virginia asked.
“No… no!” He tried to defend himself.
“Whatever…”
“But seriously… I’ve never seen him had a heart for anyone before… well, maybe except for himself.”
“But what about that one time…” Virginia started.
“One time? One time what?” Gallows gave a questioned look.
“Remember… that time when we met Maya? The rocks came falling down…”
“And he run out and grabbed you at the nick of time…” Gallows finished for her.
“What? He showed compassion for you? Maybe there is a heart in everyone… for someone else.” Billy finished slowly.
“Hm?” Virginia asked, hearing him.
“Uh… nothing… Don’t mind my babbling…”
“Is there someone that you heart wants?”
“Uh… maybe…”
The door opened to reveal a girl, about the same age as Billy, sporting beautiful emerald hair. Virginia looked at this girl then looked at Billy, and saw that he was white, and breathing was short, and rapid. He had a strange smile on his face, and sweat was formulating on his forehead. “I take it… This is her?” Billy made a strange noise, and continued to breathe like he did.. Virginia noticed that the girl with green hair looked over at Billy smile, and wave to him. She looked at Virginia, and gave a curious look to her. She walked over and started a conversation.
“Hello…” She said unsurely.
“Hi… how are you?” Virginia asked sweetly.
“Good… you?” She replied.
“I’m great… You’re friend here sure is nice.”
She looked over at Billy. “Billy… good friend?”
“Yeah… he is.” Virginia smiled.
“This may be rude…” She started, “but who are you?”
“Me? I’m Virginia. Virginia Maxwell. You?”
“Me… am Emeralda.” She replied.
Billy made a noise to say something, but stopped when the two looked at him. He looked between the two, and then turned around sipping at the water in front of him. He kept sipping until his glass was dry, but he kept sipping anyway.
“Billy… You so funny.” Emeralda said.
Billy didn’t turn around. He just kept putting his glass to his mouth, then putting it down, only to repeat the process. Virginia gave him an odd look than a light bulb flashed in her mind. “I know! How about you two and uh…” She look around and eyes the sleeping Jet, “Jet there go out tonight?”
“I confused…” Emeralda replied.
“What?” Jet opened his eyes. “Did I hear my name?”
Emeralda looked at the silver haired outlaw and looked at him curiously. “You… You look like Billy.”
“Who?” He asked. He looked at the silver haired priest sipping away at an air-filled glass. “That guy? Don’t you dare compare him to me. We’re nothing alike!”
Emeralda looked between the two guys and said, “But you two look so alike.”
“Whatever.” He closed his eyes again, and fell back asleep.
“For all that sleep, he must be a wreck at night.” Billy’s voice finally came to him.
“Billy?” Virginia asked surprised. She noticed Maison walking away with Billy’s glass.
“I have to talk now… I have no more water.”
“You didn’t have water for a while…” Emeralda pointed out. “You never have water when I around.”
“When what?” Billy asked.
Virginia looked at Emeralda thinking and she finally spoke, “when I’m around. I… I mean, I’m sorry Billy.”
Billy finally turned around and made eye contact with her. “You need to work on that Emeralda.”
“I know… I work very hard!” She said proudly. With a glance from Billy she corrected herself, “I mean… I will work very hard.”
“Good girl…”
“I just came for some water, and a little snack. Now that I have it, I will go to my room. Bye Virginia…” She waved.
“Bye…” She waved back slowly. Emeralda skipped away like a young child out of the gun room. Virginia looked over at Billy, “Uh...”
“I know what you’re going to say, and no. Nothing is wrong with her. She just doesn’t act her age.” He looked down at her, “You see… When we found her, she was only about seven maybe, but she had just been released.”
“Released!?” She asked in shock.
“No, no… nothing like that. She was made from nanomachines from one of Fei’s ancestors, Kim, because he and his wife couldn’t bare child.”
“How long ago was that?”
“About 4000 years.”
“4… 4000 years!? She barely looks a day over 16.”
“Well, when you’re built with nanomachines, you tend to keep you’re figure.” He smiled.
“I guess so… Where I come from, Nanomachines are evil, used for evil work.”
“You must remember though,” A voice came in, “You were saved by these harmful things.” The two looked up to see Clive and Citan standing over their shoulder. “Remember when Leehalt attacked you.”
“Yeah… he used a nanomachine to stop my body from working.” Virginia nodded.
“Well… it was another nanomachine that stopped that one. Remember what your father said.”
Virginia looked down. “Yeah… I guess your right.”
“Wait… I thought you said that you went to find your father.”
“I did, and I still am. We run by him off and on. I want to find prove to myself that he is still alive. I heard and thought that… he died.” A single tear was forming in her eye.
Billy looked down on the girl in pity, and knew there was nothing he could do. Losing your family is terrible burden for anyone to carry. He wanted to say something, but nothing came to mind. He just sat there, and looked at her, and thought of his own life. The more he thought about it, the more they were alike. Both thought that there fathers were dead, both gone off to where they didn’t know. Both of them losing their mothers. It might have been in different ways, but it was true none the less. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. By now, she was crying, her head in both of her hands. The other three heard the door opening, and saw Jet walk out of the room.