Past
Kaya and Kai.
When she was younger, around 6 years... She was playing outside with some other kid (Tory), Kai keeping an eye on them. After some time, Tory's mother picked him up, they waved ad walked away. Kaya was playing with her teddy bear that was a bit torn.
Kaya: Dad?
Kai: Yes sweetie?
She looked at him calm.
Kaya: How come Tory has a mother and I don't?
Kai froze, he didn't expect her to ask that. She never asked that question before. She kept looking at him waiting for the answer. He didn't know how to explain to her that her mother died while giving birth to her.
Kai: That is because she... she is in a better place now...
He looked down, feeling pain in his chest.
Kaya: Why are we not there with her?
Kai: Because...
He didn't know what to say. Arthur showed up.
Arthur: Because it is not the time yet, but don't worry, she is always with us, here.
He showed at her heart. She looked confused.
Kaya: How she can fit there?
Arthur laughs, Kai still a bit down.
Arthur: You will understand more when you are a bit older.
Kaya thinks and looks at Arthur.
Kaya: It's okay, it doesn't matter, what matters is that I have you...
And she looks at Kai.
Kaya: And the best dad in the entire world.
She jumps and hugs him. He hugged her back, tightly, she was smiling happy. Kai smiled a bit but then he looked up at the sky, he missed his wife very much...
Present.
Others were still on the ship, traveling. They talked about Kaya while she was with her dad.
Nuri: I can't believe she didn't tell us...
Rho: Well she told Ace...
Rin: So that was the secret...
Rho: What do you mean?
Rin: Never mind... it is hard to explain.
Nuri: Still... she could tell us too... why did she tell Ace?
Nigel: Because she is good at keeping secrets and you... not so much.
Nuri: What are you talking about? I am great at keeping secrets.
Rin: That's why you told Jack without hesitation who I am?
Nuri: That is different... that was not a secret
Rin: It was in that context.
Nuri: I have no regrets.
Rikka: Why don't you guys just ask Ace about it?
Ace: Ask me what?
Nuri and Rikka jumps.
Nuri: I don't think no one has ever scared me this many time in only one day...
Ace looked calm, maybe too calm.
Nuri: Wait, why aren't you killing me right now like you would used to do?
Ace: Why would I do that?
Nuri looks confused.
Rho: You seem to feel a lot better
Ace: Oh yes, I feel much better... I forgot how beautiful life can be, and I just want to spend that time with you guys...
Everyone looked at her confused
Nuri: Why is she even scarier while being nice?
Rin: Seriously, that doesn't sound like you.
Ace: You guys need to learn how to relax... and enjoy more you know?
She looks high.
Rikka: I know I am not that long with you guys, but she freaks me out too.
Nigel: Hey Ace, I have a question for you.
Ace: What is it?
Nigel: Did you forget Nuri for drinking your special beer?
Nuri: Don't remained her!!!
Ace: Of course I am... It was just a beer, friends are more important anyway.
Everyone sights surprisingly and shocked.
Ace: What?
Nuri: Ace... can I borrow your katana?
Ace: Of course man, just be careful, I don't want you to get hurt.
Nuri shocked.
Nuri: Well, I am not going to waste this chance.
Nuri starts to stand up, Rin stops him.
Rin: Not going to happen.
Nuri: Oh man...
Rho: I have a question. What do you know about Kai?
She sights.
Ace: All I know is that Kaya didn't want to acknowledge him as her father... because he left her... and he wasn't there for her. And I don't trust that guy... not one bit.
Nigel: If a “nice” Ace doesn't trust him, and she even forgave Nuri... maybe we shouldn't trust him either.
Rho: Everything is on Kaya... we only can be there for her.
Ace: Oh our dear Kaya... where is she? I think I could use one more cup of tea...
Rin: I think you had enough.
Nigel: I agree, you are freaking me out this way.
Ace: You guys are so boring...
Kaya: Who is boring?
Kaya showed up.
Ace: Kaya! You are here...
Ace hugs her.
Everyone more in shock,
Ace: Oh I could just hug you forever.
Nuri: I thought you hated hugs...
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Ace: But I love my friends.
Nuri: So... will you give me a hug too?
Ace still hugging Kaya and talks calm.
Ace: No...
Nuri: Well that was rude.
Rin laughs a bit.
Kaya: Oh my... I guess my medication is strong then I thought.
Ace looks at Kai and starts to be serious.
Ace: You....
Kaya: It is okay... we are good now...
Ace: Really?
Kaya nods.
Ace: Then welcome to the family, how about some beer?
Kaya: Oh you really shouldn't mix alcohol with medication I put in your tea...
Ace: Owwww.
She looks sad, but calm.
Nuri: How about I made us something to eat?
Rho: What about food we made?
Nuri: Yeah... I don't know what is that, but it is not food...
Rikka: Well that's just rude...
After some time they were outside, eating talking.
Nuri: Don't you guys think it's weird the CG didn't follow us?
Rho: We should consider ourselves lucky that Jack was just playing with us.
Kai: You are forgetting about monster woman.
Rho: You are right... wait, where is Ace?
Ace hiding, drinking beer. Rin finds her.
Rin: Okay, hand it over...
Ace: No...
Rin: Ace...
Ace: Oh fine.
She hands him the beer.
Ace: It was my second anyway.
Rin: Of course it was... and it was your last one too.
Ace: I get it, you are just worried about me. I won’t drink any more beers tonight.
Nuri spills his beer from his mouth.
Nuri: Did I hear that right?
Rin: You know what, I think I like it when you are like this.
Ace smiles and sits down next to him.
Ace: I just feel so happy...
Rho: Kaya, what did you gave her?
Kaya: Oh nothing that you should worry about...
Nigel: How long will she be like this?
Kaya: A while... let's just say that what I gave her is pretty strong...
Ace: I am not complaining.
She is smiling.
Nigel: I don't think I ever saw her smiling this much, or smiling at all... of course if we ignore evil laughs...
Rho: Well it was a weird day...
Ace: Really? Did something happen today?
Rho: Don't you remember CG... fighting Jack?
Ace: Who is Jack?
Rin: The guy you fought today...
Ace: I was fighting someone?
Kaya sights.
Kaya: Well I told her not to drink beer...
Rikka: What does that mean?
Kaya: It means she won't remember much from today...
Nuri: So you are saying we could say to her anything right now and she won’t remember it?
Kaya: Pretty much...
Nuri: Then I have confession to make... I didn't drink your beer... I mean I did have few sips, and I accidentally spilled the rest...
Everyone looks at Ace. Ace thinks.
Ace: Don't worry about that man... beside Kaya can take me to another black market.
Rho: You guys went to the black market?
Ace: Yes, I got the beer, and she bought some...
Kaya covers her mouth.
Kaya: Okay that's enough.
Kai: I wasn't in the black market for a while now.
Kaya: Because you were in prison...
Rikka: If I can ask, why were you in prison for?
Kai: Oh a lot of things, I stopped counting...
Nuri: Is it true that you single handed fought a group of pirates and took their ship?
Rho: Nuri...
Nuri: What? I am curious... I heard a lot so I am just wondering if it's true.
Kai laughs.
Kai: Yes indeed.
Nigel: Did you really fight a lion?
Kaya: Yes he was, I was there too when that happened...
Kai: How was I supposed to know lion wasn't a good pet?
Nuri: Oh oh, did you actually enter the TEIRBTWIAC twice?
Kai: Oh no... I actually never entered the mountain.
Rho: You didn't? But don't you have some kind of powers? Because those handcuffs you had on you were specially one made for people who entered the mountain.
Kai: That is correct... but the truth is, I just drank something weird.
Rin: What do you mean?
Kai: There were some experiments, they gave me some staff to drink... to be honest I didn't ask much, I just wanted the money.
Rho: Do you remember the name of experiment?
Kai: It was something like... monero, monus... monti...
Rho: You mean Munera Montis?
Kai: Oh yes that's right.
Her eyes widen.
Rho: And you survived...
Rin: What is Munera Montis?
Rho: It was a project where scientists studied the TEIRBTWIAC, they made serums from parts of that mountain, and humans that entered there... when I say human, I mean they used their blood, they didn't killed them, but some humans who agreed to do experiments of that kind died from it.
Ace: Wow...
Rho: I know....
Ace: I mean... look at the stars... they are so beautiful.
Nuri, Rikka: Did you even listened to the conversation?
Ace: Wow, when did you guys get here?
Rin sights.
Rin: So how do you know so much about it? I don't remember that as public information?
He looked at Rho.
Kai: It wasn't, we needed to sign the contract where we agreed on silence.
Nigel: It's not like you are keeping your word...
Kai: well that's why they are looking for me, well one of the reasons.
Kai: But seriously Red, how do you know so much about it?
Rho knew that she couldn’t tell the truth.
Rho: I knew someone who... did the same.
Kaya: Oh...
Silence.
Ace: TEIRBTWIAC... that is such a weird word... how that sentence goes again? That is written when you are entering?
Rho: ?The earth is round but the world is a circle“
Ace: Wow... that is so deep... I am wondering what that means...
She leans on Rin's shoulder, he looks at her surprised but he smiles. The rest of them are surprised. She seems a bit cold, so he slowly put his arm around her to keep her warm. Everyone wondered will she react. She didn't say anything she just closed her eyes.
Nigel: well now I've seen enough.
Rin smiles, he is even blushing a bit but he is just happy that he can hold her like that.
Nuri: so what kind of powers do you have?
He asks Kai.
Rikka: I am curious too.
Kai: Well, my body is basically like iron... not many things can hurt me.
Nuri: So... you ended up having powers without any conditions?
Kai: Well not exactly...
Nigel: What do you mean?
Kai: Well something you gain... something you lose.
Rikka: And what did you lost?
Kai: Part of my humanity, I would say.
Ace: Oh don't worry, I am sure you will find your manatee someday...
She talked like she is high, still eyes closed.
Rin: He said humanity... not manatee.
She opens her eyes and looks at Rin's eyes, their faces so close to each other.
Ace: But what happened to a manatee?
The way she looked at him, softly, he was speechless, he couldn't take his eyes of her.
Rikka: nothing, there is no manatee....
She looks at Rikka.
Ace: Oh... then why are you talking about manatee?
Everyone: you are the one who is talking about manatee!
Ace: What manatee?!!
Rho: Just forget it okay...
Ace: You don't have to tell me twice.
She leans on the Rin again.
Kai: I can't believe she is the monster woman from today...
Kaya: Well she is not usually like this... she is more aggressive and violent like you saw today...
She jumps a bit.
Ace: I am hungry!
Nuri: Again? You just ate!!
Ace: But I could now eat something sweet...
Nuri: Then make it yourself.
Ace shrugs and stands up.
Nuri: Where are you going?
Ace: To make some brownies.
Rin: Do you know how?
Ace: I am maybe bad at cooking salty food, but I am expert when it comes to sweets.
Nuri: I will believe it when I see it!
He stands up too, and follows her to the kitchen.
Rho: So, Kai, I have to ask, are you planning to stay with us?
Kai looks at Kaya.
Kai: I am going where she goes. No more running away.
Kaya smiles.
Kai: I hope that is okay?
Rho: Of course, any family of Kaya is our family too.
Kai: I am so glad Kaya has such a good friends. It is nice to know that she was in good hands this all time.
Rho: We are lucky to have her.
Nigel: damn right. She saved our asses so many times by now.
Kai: I can't say I’m surprised. I always knew she can take care of herself.
Kaya: What can I say, I got that from my dad.
She smiles.
Kaya: I am so happy you are here right now, and that I am surrounded with people I love...
Everyone smiles.
Kai: well, I am not going anywhere, so you better get used to it to have your old man around.
She hugs him.
Rikka: Good thing we managed to run into you... if you think about it, you almost avoided each other.
Kaya: That is true, but I guess fate had other plans.
Rho looked at him as she studied him, she did not trust him. They kept talking
Ace: All done! I hope you guys are ready for my brownies.
Kaya: Well I can't say no to that.
Ace: They are in the kitchen, waiting for you. And while you eat them, I was thinking maybe I could drive the boat.
EVERYONE: NO!!
Ace: Why not?
She looks sad. Rin was driving
Rin: It's okay, I'll keep an eye on her, you all can go to the kitchen.
Rikka: Good luck!
Ace smiles and comes to Rin. The rest goes to the kitchen
Ace: Can I steer the ship?
Rin: No.
Ace: But I made you a brownie... and a special one too...
Rin raises an eyebrow. She hands him the brownie.
Ace: see, it looks just like you!
She made it in shape of circle and with cream she made eyes and mouth and hair. Rin smiles.
Rin: The resemblance is frightening.
Ace: Just try it...
Rin tries it.
Rin: Ace... this is delicious...
Ace: I am glad you like it.
She smiles.
Ace: I already ate a bunch of them...
She taps her stomach.
Rin: You know, I think I could get used to this.
Ace: To what?
Rin: You being nice to me...
Ace: What are you talking about, I am always nice.
Rin: I see, you are even delusional...
Ace laughs.
Ace: I am just so happy and calm and I feel... so free.
Rin: I guess drugs can do that...
Ace laughs.
Ace: I am aware that Kaya drugged me, but I don't even care.
Rin: Maybe you don't care now, but you will tomorrow.
Ace: What do you mean?
Rin: You know you probably won’t remember much?
She shrugs.
Ace: I don't really care, I am just happy now.
She smiles. Rin laughs.
Rin: You know... you are very pretty when you smile, you should do that more often.
Ace: You think so?
Rin nods.
Rin: But I mean... you are pretty no matter what.
Ace: You think I am pretty?
Rin looks at her.
Rin: You kidding me? I think you are the most beautiful woman in this entire world.
Ace looks at him. Then she smiles.
Ace: Thank you Rin...
He smiles,
Rin: you are welcome, even though you probably won't remember this.
Ace: Probably...
She laughs.
Later that night everyone was asleep, Rho managed the ship.
Remembering the past.
After the council, everyone started to leave, she turned to Davon.
Nexara (Rho): may I ask you something?
Davon: Go on.
Nexara: I didn't see.... Troy. What happened with him?
Davon: Oh officer Troy? Well, after finding out that he covered for you, I couldn't just let him out of the hook.
Nexara changes expression to worried.
Rho: What did you do to him?
Nexara: Oh don't worry, he is fine, even better now.
Nexara looks confused.
Davon: I sent him to test Munera Montis project.
Nexara: You don't mean...
Davon: That is exactly what I mean.
He smiled evil.
Nexara: And he is okay?
Davon: Well he is a bit different now... but I would say that he is even better now...
Nexara: Where is he now?
Davon: On the mission. Don’t worry, you will have your chance to see him, well if he comes back alive...
Nexara looks at him.
Davon: And if he comes back, you two will spend a lot more time together.
Nexara: Why?
Davon: it is easier to keep an eye on you two that way... Beside, everything till now was just... let's say... type of education. From now on, we are going to do some serious business.
Rho stayed silent and nodded.
