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Post by Relikai on Feb 23, 2016 17:10:03 GMT
Terra, the Birthplace of Humanity.. the Blue Earth..
It was a nice, sunny, and moderately hot day near the capital of Earth's Area 5, the ancient city of Rome, famous through many places of the universe as the Eternal City, one of the oldest city on Earth. You could say many things about the Terrans. They are proud, and like to watch the rest of the humans in the universe with superiority. But even if a lot of Mankind's history from before the Long Night had been lost, the Terrans managed to preserve many of their old cities, and this was why, right now, millennia from where it was built, the city of Rome could be visited by a Colonial taking out his Jupiterran girlfriend on a date on Terra...
As they started to walk on the platform taking them out of the tower, Alexander and Haruna were now able to fully enjoy Earth's famous blue skies, lightly warmed by the nice light of Sol. After having returned from their mission on Terra Nova, Alexander and Haruna managed to obtain a break for a few days, after they received the congratulations for the mission, and were invited somewhere next week, most likely as they thought, to receive decorations or something. Nevertheless, after leaving the Prinz Eugen in the Alpha Centauri Military Base, and getting changed into their respective civilian authorities, they simply took a civilian spaceship to Earth.
Earth has had a network of orbital towers for a long time, so landing directly on the planet was not necessary. The civilian ship landed on the tower of Area 5, from where they used an elevator. In less then half an hour, they were down. On Terra..
The planet was an extremely clear contrast from the dead planet of Terra Nova.. it was.. filled with nature, people, cities. The skies were blue, unpolluted, even if Terra was suffering from a little overpopulation, trying to reduce its population down to 1 billion, a number at which Terra had dreamed for a long time(even if archeological evidence shows that in the past, even more humans had lived on it). Nevertheless, it was a truly beautiful planet, the envy of all other human planets..
As they left the platform, Alexander stopped for a few moments, waiting for Haruna. He was wearing something pretty similar to what he had worn during their VR date, casual black jeans, black shoes, and a black shirt, once again showing his preference for darker colors. Strangely though, he seemed to.. fit much more in the civilian clothes than before. He didn't seemed to mind them that much, and looked much more natural in them, even if, considering the fact that they were in Area 5, his dark clothes really contrasted to the lighter clothes of everyone around. As he was waiting, the pale, dark haired man looked at what was in front of them, beneath the platform... a city filled with history, conserved from the earliest times... he then turned around, and looked at Haruna.
"Hey, are you coming or not?", he asked, smiling.
Haruna was awed by Terra, since they docked at the orbital tower, till they reached the platform. It was the first time she actually saw a planet so clean, so green, the original template for Terraforming. Terra, the ideal planet for Humans, their origin. All the while, she held on to Alexander as she took in the experience, feeling overawed by the presence of the planet.
Dressed in a real civilian clothes, Haruna had her outfit sent via Warp Mail courtesy of the Relikan Star Fleet. A black t-shirt tucked into a cute red pleated miniskirt, with a purple jacket, now unbuttoned, and a red scarf wrapped around her neck. She wore a golden hairband too, just because Alexander liked it, and she wanted to look her best for him. Haruna held on to a small brown purse which contained credit cards for their usage in Terra. Their luggage was being sent to a room in a posh Hotel which Alexander has booked in secret, where it was rumoured to be equal to the room they shared in the Replicator.
Haruna hesitated as Alexander walked ahead, standing on a planet for the first time in six years, since she left Jupiterra. Interestingly, she has never stepped onto KR Muscae or any planets in the Musca System. All the time, she received her training on board the JRFS Constructor. Now, she set foot on solid ground, on soil anchored to roots driven naturally, instead of the metal of a ship floating in space.
Smiling as Alexander called her, Haruna nervously stepped out in her felt boots, her legs kept warm with black thermal thigh socks which extended to her lower thighs, again giving Alexander a look at the 'Absolute Territory'. It would seem that Haruna also loved matching clothes to this style, both her preference and the fact that it really looked good on her. She clutched her purse tightly as she took her first few steps onto Terra, a smile unconsciously forming on her face as her excitement simply spilled over. Shyly, she reached out for Alexander's hand and held onto a finger as she blushed, nervous at this public display of affection. Although they had been through the ultimate level of intimacy, this was the first real date Shimazaki Haruna was going on, and this was the first time they actually did anything as a couple in public, in peace.
"I-am-here!" Haruna said in a shy voice, hopping the last step to Alexander's side. "This place... it's awesome... so many majestic buildings... I cant... I cant believe it still, that I finally reached Terra... Oh Alexander, it's real!" Haruna again spoke with a slight squeal in her excitement, like a girl seeing something new for the first time, which was the case for Haruna. Several people could be seen looking their way, even a young couple giggling before Haruna realised that she might be causing Alexander to be embarassed.
"S-Sorry... I got too carried away..." Haruna said as she looked into Alexander's eyes, her golden eyes wide open as she anxiously waited for whatever chiding Alexander has for her.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2016 18:16:42 GMT
Alexander simply smiled, looking at Haruna. "Don't worry, I can understand that.", the black haired Colonial said, seemingly unaffected. "And you're clearly not the only one excited... the last time when I visited Earth, it was when we destroyed a Marker together with area 76, the one with Pyramids... ". Suddenly, Alexander stopped, reallizing that speaking about how they destroyed an entire Area of Earth wasn't exactly a good thing.. well, no civilian died, since the Area had been evacuated, but it had been a kinda hasty move from the Terran-Colonial forces back then.. but even if the Colonial Authorities were working on rebuilding the Area, it didn't make them exactly popular among the Terran population... nevertheless, Alexander and Haruna continued their way, holding hands.
Despite the war raging on all across the galaxy, Earth was still fairly peaceful, being fairly far away from the front. While Terra was dependent on the supplies brought from other planets, the supplies the Colonies started to send to Sol and Alpha Centauri until they would fix their problems had started to arrive. With most of the Terran population living in the large orbital towers, the number of people currently in Rome was just.. right. It was much more relaxing that the overpopulated planets of the Colonies. If not for the Colonial soldiers and Feldgendarmerie from place to place, and the Colonial flag waving next to the blue white flag of Earth, nobody could have imagined that a battle like the one for Sol had happened recently...
Eventually, after walking through the old paved ways of Rome, Alexander and Haruna reached a very old and seemingly luxurious old building, which would have met the description of and old place, turned into a luxury hotel over the course of time. Old, but still there, the title over the main entrance proudly "Hotelo del Quirinale"..
As soon as they entered, both the Colonial and the Jupiterran were simply awed by how luxurious the place was looking, nicely decorated, looking like the way it should have looked back in the past when it was a palace, with technology only being present from place to place. The staff of the hotel quickly took then in, explaining to them that this place was used back in the very old past as the residence of the leader of the nation that was in the place of Area 5, and that it had been constantly repaired and remade, until it became a hotel a few centuries ago. They also told them that everything was prepared, and they didn't have to worry about anything. Then, they were taken to their room, which was fairly large, nicely arranged, with its own personal jaccuzi, bar, and bath, provided with everything that was last in matter of technology, including a huge holographic projector, and a VR machine. And of course, most important of all, they were going to get a pure Terran experience, including complete Terran food, prepared by the experienced staff of the hotel itself. And from their windows, they had a marvelous view of the old city center of Rome, including the Colosseum..
"Well, what do you say?", Alexander asked, once the staff had left them around in their room."The best thing is of course, that for the time, we are civilians. We can do whatever we want, and visit whatever we want. No reports, no military code. Civilian freedom!"
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Post by Relikai on Feb 25, 2016 2:58:04 GMT
Thankfully, Alexander was able to handle Haruna's excitement earlier, as she held on to his hand and enjoying his company. The old paved roads brought a sense of awe to Haruna, who only walked through smooth pavements of ultra-modern Jupiterra. Built for living and practicality, the new cities had no room for classical or ancient designs. Hotelo del Quirinale, truly a luxury hotel separated from the usual military accommodations. Haruna was indeed awed by the room and it's facilities, reminding her of the Replicator. Unzipping her coat, Haruna hung the garment by the door as she adjusted her long hair. Hearing Alexander's comments, the Jupiterran, now in her form-fitting sleeveless black shirt, came over and sat by the bar, pouring some Roman wine for herself and Alexander. It was still morning, and they had several days to tour around the city. Or, if they would prefer to laze after the days of moving about and fighting, the couple could just catch a movie or two, or relax for a Roman bath or massage. Haruna was let into some information that they were being rested so as to prepare for an Intergalactic Conference, which most major powers would gather to ally against the Invaders. While Alexander would be with the contingent from the Federated Colonies, Haruna would be part of the Jupiterran contingent. "It feels great." Haruna said, coming over and passing Alexander a glass. "Great to be free of a uniform, great to feel things for real. Finally, feels great to spend my own time with a special someone, without the need to keep track of time for a few days..." She finished with a smile. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2016 21:12:58 GMT
"Yeah, you're right... being a civilian with no problems is really much more relaxing than I initially thought.... and of course, having both of us being here is so nice..", Alexander said, taking a sip from the Terran wine. "But right now, let's relax. We're in one of the oldest cities of Earth... and we can do anything..". The black haired Colonial smiled, looking at Haruna.
After relaxing for a hour or so in their hotel room, Alexander and Haruna simply left the hotel, heading for the center of the Eternal City. One of the oldest places of Earth, the old center of Rome was incredibily well preserved. From buildings that dated around the time when Mankind found the Light, to buildings from times when the humans couldn't even dream about leaving their home planet, the center of Rome had everything... their little tour of Rome started with visiting the old ghost city of Vatican. Once, in the past, Vatican acted as the center of a religion that spanned over the entire globe.. but with the appearance of the Light, most religions of the humans slowly died... right now, the ones from the religion that once owned the so called Vatican had their own planet somewhere... and this place, where once millions came to pray to their God, was now an empty museum... but a still really beautiful and old place.
After visiting the small ghost city in the center of Rome, Alexander and Haruna went to the so called History Museum... it was a place filled with every last information the humans had about their history before the Long Night. A lot had been lost, and many of those were rumors... but it was still a truly interesting story. From the so called ancient times when the humans were living on a single planet... the bloody years until they finally united... the discovery of the Light... every last bit of information they still had was there.
Then, using a little bit of the remaining time, they visited the so called Trevi Fountain. There was something almost like a legend... which said that if your threw a coin in it, and asked for a wish, that wish was going to become true... they both threw a coin(yeah, although cash money wasn't that used anymore, it still existed, especially now, with the Temporary Colonial Currency for Earth), and they each asked for a wish...
Eventually, it was dinner time, and Alexander took Haruna to a nice and fairly quiet restaurant near the old arena known as the Colosseum.. where the two received a table on the terrace, having a full view of the old building, while the waiters brought Terran food and wine, all at the light of candles, as stories said that it was done in the past on Earth..
""So, do you like Earth?" , Alexander asked as they were waiting for the food to come."I'm a Colonial, and I was always raised to hate and dislike Terra... but I must admit that this is something many other human planets in the known universe will never be able to reach.."
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Post by Relikai on Feb 26, 2016 6:31:37 GMT
"Earth is such a lovely place..." Haruna said. "I heard to many things about this place, and to finally experience it, it's like a dream... Nothing in Jupiterra could ever compare to here." Taking a look at the setting Haruna nodded her approval. "Such a romantic setting. I think the Great Admiral is slowly getting used to grabbing a girl's attention." Haruna said teasingly.
Hanging her coat on the chair, Haruna excused herself as she went to the washroom. The feeling of being watched, of being noticed, it followed her wherever she went. Human heads turned or simply shifted to catch a glimpse of her, but Haruna, being used to the attention, simply kept a straight face as she went about her business. It was worse in Jupiterra. Haruna never wore makeup, and she took a break just to make sure that her hair and her clothes were neat and adjusted. Stepping out, Haruna suddenly bumped into a young man, who was holding a stalk of rose in his hand. A surprised look, as he extended the rose to Haruna before turning away quickly. Stunned, Haruna looked at the flower and the human as he returned to a group of friends sitting on the other side of the restaurant, before returning to Alexander, just in time for their food.
Placing the rose on the table, Haruna gave a soft giggle as she saw Alexander's expression. "Just a random person... if I must say, not as good as a whole bouquet by a certain someone." She said with a smile.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2016 14:41:59 GMT
Seeing the rose, Alexander remained quiet for a few moments. This one of the moments in which no one could be able to tell what was happening behind his black eyes... it wasn't necessarily his fault, it was just one of the many reflexes he had made in the harsh military training he had experienced while he was young. Usually, during the training, showing off your emotions was the guarantee that you were going to get punished. And even if he started to show more feelings ever since he first met Haruna, the Colonial still had moments like this, when he was thinking about how to react, while showing off nothing else then his former usual "bored look." A couple moments though, he simply smiled. "You got here just right in time. They were just about to bring the food!", Alexander said, and a couple moments later, the waiters arrived, bringing in food.
Apparently, they brought in multiple food types, called pizza and pasta, which were seemingly the areal food types of Area 5. Spanning a lot of history and tradition, they were also really good tasting, especially since they were made naturally, from normal food, and not from the chemical synthetic food so popular(more or less), in the Colonies and in the rest of the human worlds. Alexander especially enjoyed it, just as he started to enjoy any normal food, after years of eating synthetic military rations.
Eventually, after they finished the food, and waited for the desert, Alexander took a sip from the wine. He had really seemed as if he wanted to say something for the past twenty minutes or so, and he was just searching for a proper way to say it... eventually though, he started to speak.
"So Haruna..", the black eyed man said, probably in a voice that was a little lower than usually."Are you... alright? I know you never liked all the attention you were submitted to in Jupiterra and in Sol."
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Post by Relikai on Feb 26, 2016 16:14:31 GMT
Haruna was quiet for a while as she stared at the rose on the table. Slowly, she picked it up, and dropped it into a decorative jar holding several other flowers. In Jupiterra, it was a subtle way of rejection. Haruna did not know how it mattered to Alexander, but it was a sign mainly meant for the one who passed her the rose. Looking back at the Colonial, Haruna folded her arms as she leaned back.
"Well, I'm used to the attention. Being looked at like this means nearly nothing. They are simply stares, people who want to feast their eyes on one who used to give them hope... false hope that everything would be okay. Am I their god, walking among them? Six years ago, I was, but now... I am only Shimazaki Haruna of the Star Fleet, giving them hope against the Invaders... that's all." Smiling at Alexander, Haruna leaned forward as she played with a flower from the jar, lazily flicking it around. As the restaurant emptied. "They think that, showering me with gifts would bless them, giving me their love would mean that I'll notice them. I used to, for I had to, but not now, no longer... All I need to do, is to concentrate on my work, supporting the Fleet, supporting my... partner."
Calling the bill over, Alexander moved to pay but Haruna managed to intercept him, swiping her card across a second faster than he could, sticking her tongue out at him as she giggled. "Well, they think that Haruna is still their beacon of hope, their happiness. This cheerful idol, who displays her body of perfection, her brains giving them encouragement. Appearing everywhere, their role model... But it's time for them to learn. Even after six years...they have to learn, that Haruna is no longer the Shimazaki Haruna, Jupiterran Idol anymore. No longer that pure and innocent- whoops! That I no longer am!" Haruna ended with a wink.
With that, Alexander came over, helping Haruna into her coat as she smiled, buttoning the garment over her self before heading out into the Roman winter. Turning to Alexander, Haruna gave him another smile before kissing him on the lips.
"Thank you."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2016 14:06:02 GMT
"Thank you too...", Alexander said, smiling, after they kissed, before they headed out in the light Roman winter. Even if he had been worried a few minutes ago, what Haruna told him managed to completely reassure him. She was alright, and now he was too. They still had three days left from their break... three days left to enjoy their time as civilians, in one of the most beautiful cities on Earth. And they were certainly going to enjoy it, talking as they returned to their hotel. But without their knowledge... someone, was following them, in the darkness, hidden... a strange hooded figure, wearing a gray coat... but if someone would have looked at it, it would have soon realized that there was something really wrong about it. It was not... breathing...
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Post by Relikai on Feb 28, 2016 15:09:58 GMT
The couple did not notice the creature, not because of their lax awareness, but rather, the creature's own properties. Cloaked and capable of being silent, not even Haruna could sense it, neither could Alexander. A creature of a higher standard. Reaching the hotel uneventfully, Haruna gave a slight sneeze, putting a hand to her nose and giggling softly when Alexander placed an arm over her. Reaching their room, a brandy was opened as the two warmed themselves with the liquid. Haruna, feeling slightly sleepy from the alcohol and the gradual relief from all the stress being relieved on the first day, opened the itinerary for the next day. Recreation along several tourism spots, including a theme park and several tours along the museums and stadiums, it would be a good three days spent recovering their vitality before focusing back on the war. "Goodnight love." Haruna said as she changed into a sleeping robe, giving Alexander a kiss before going off to sleep. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2016 15:44:03 GMT
Next day, Alexander and Haruna woke up relaxed in their room in the hotel. Not hurrying, the two slowly got ready, before they left the hotel, ready for a new day or exploring the so called "Eternal City..." Even if the damages of war were visible from place to place, Rome was still a city filled with history, filled with culture. Truly a city that deserved to be explored.
The second day began with their visit in the Pantheon. One of the oldest buildings of Rome, it had initially been a temple of the Twelve Gods, who were at least according to the representatives of the Faith of the Twelve, more or less the same as the gods that were used right now in a large part of the Colonies by the Faith of the Twelve. Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Pluto, Vesta, Minerva, Diana, Apollo, Venus, Vulcan, Mars and Mercury. Alexander himself had been raised in this faith, but he had abandoned it in the past, just like many other things from his past. Nevertheless, after being a temple, the Pantheon became a church for the faith of Christianity, before being turned into a museum sometime in the past, and a building protected by the Terran Ministry of Culture, with all the protests of the Faith of the Twelve which wanted to use it as a temple. Even if the building wasn't necessarily all that spectacular on its own, it was old... really, really old. And it was simply... imposing.
After visiting the Pantheon, Alexander and Haruna visited a couple more museums, showing off the art of the Old Earth. Which was quite impressive, even the Colonial man had to admit. It was too bad, that in the last centuries, with all the wars going on, and the decadence of the human race, the amount of art the humans were producing had declined... but even so, seeing the past achievements of the humans was amazing. Paintings, sculptures, everything...
Then, before they were going to go to a theme park, Alexander took Haruna to a certain place, in one of the largest town squares of the Eternal City, Piazza del Popolo. The Square of the People. Or more specifically, to the huge monument in the middle of it. "I wanted to show you this. Monuments like these exist in almost every major city on Earth... but this one is the largest, and while it had been covered by the Terran Government, they recently opened it again.", Alexander said as they arrived.
It was a gigantic monument, showing off what seemed to be a fight. In the middle, there was a sphere clearly representing Earth, with its blue oceans and clear shaped continents, and with the Luna next to it. In front of Earth, there was what seemed to be a stylized soldier, wearing what looked to be some sort of an old combat suit. In his hands, there was a spear, which also acted as some sort of a flag pole, a stylized old flag of Earth waving on it. Centered on an azure flag, there were seven circles of silver interlaced, creating a flower. The soldier was seemingly defending Earth, using his spear to pierce and keep away.... something. It looked like... darkness... a dark cloud, with multiple things that looked like tentacles, and was about to swallow Terra and its moon. Behind the monster, there was another soldier, overall similar, piercing the creature with his spear from behind, but his spear had a different flag, twelve golden stars, on a red background. At the bottom of the monuments, a phrase was written in almost all the languages known to man.
"Broken, dreams so grand.... our greatest victory, was also our greatest defeat... Fiat justitia ruat caelum!"
"This is the monument that was build in the honor of the original Battle of Sol... the battle in which the combined forces of Earth and its Colonies, defeated the Invaders during Operation Heaven's Fall.", Alexander said in a low voice.
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Post by Relikai on Feb 28, 2016 16:17:36 GMT
Haruna was in quiet reverence as she observed the monument. Jupiterra has nothing like this as they were under the rule of the old governments, and the Noble Factions has always prided themselves of being strong independently. The only monuments were dedicated to the Star Fleet, the lineages of the Cybergeniuses and the Star Admirals, and most recently, of Haruna herself. Now, as a tourist, Haruna could feel small, could feel awed, just like how she always wanted to feel.
"The Battle of Sol..." Haruna whispered as she read the languages, all of which were familiar to her. "Invaders... and now they're back..." Giving a soft sigh, she gave Alexander a look, seeing the seriousness in his eyes. Some things never change, not that Haruna was complaining, as she wore a similar expression on her face.
"And history repeats itself, as Sol, Jupiterra and the Colonies... Will stand together with everyone else once again. Just like those before us, we will succeed. I know you will." Haruna ended with a smile as she took off a glove, wrapping a bare hand against Alexander's hand, giving it some warmth with the silent gesture of support.
Smiling at Haruna with a nod, Alexander closed his hands around hers as they spent a moment in silence, basking in the reverence of the monument. A short walk completed the tour, as they exited the complex. Haruna seemed to be staring into the distance for a while, which got Alexander curious for a moment. Just as he was about to ask, Alexander caught sight of what Haruna was looking at.
A Roller Coaster. The Theme Park was about three kilometers away, and Haruna, looking at it, was reminded of her days on board the Constructor. Well, it was odd to sit on one herself, and she definitely has no partners back then. Now, however...
Haruna gasped in shock as Alexander gently pulled her out of the car. Her first time in the roller coaster was not just exhilarating, but for someone unused to atmospheres or even natural gravity, Haruna's screams died in her throat as the ground rushed up towards them, before they were being shot into the air, with Haruna actually leaving her seat for a moment, restrained by the armlocks, before gently landing back on the seat as they actually shot through the water, an extremely well made air-tunnel keeping the water from soaking them.
"Al-al..." Haruna panted, causing the Colonial to laugh, which caused Haruna to smack him gently on the chest.
"Not funny! Baka!!" She scolded in a whimper as the Jupiterran began to find her voice. "Scary!!"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2016 8:54:59 GMT
Alexander laughed again, seeing Haruna's reaction. Having been a Wyvern Fighter pilot in the past, the Colonial was used with violent throwing around like that in tee roller coaster, and actually found that fun.
"Yes, it is funny..", Alexander said ,laughing again." I had no idea that you would be that scared by a roller coaster... Now this really was some fun. And you're cute when you try to look angry.", the black eyed man told her, smiling. “Now, let's go, there is still one place where we need to go..”
After leaving from the theme park, Alexander and Haruna walked on Rome's streets to the Tiber River, as the sun was slowly but surely setting. As they arrived at the river, a small ship was waiting for them, a restaurant ship, ready to raise its anchor and sail on the old river..
A few minutes later, with the ship slowly sailing on the river, and the moon now up in the dark sky, Alexander and Haruna were sitting at a table up on the ship's, enjoying some really good Roman wine, and the wondeful scenery of the old city, as they were waiting for the food.
After taking a sip from the wine, Alexander remained quiet for a few moments, thinking about something. He had no intention to ruin such a nice and relaxing dinner, but there was something he really wanted to ask..
“So, Haruna… if you don't mind a question. I've been.. thinking.. “, the Colonial calmly said.” Is there a place you consider home? I know that you left Jupitrra that you spent a lot of time on military ships.. do you still consider Jupiterra a home?”
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Post by Relikai on Mar 2, 2016 10:09:28 GMT
Glaring at Alexander, Haruna pouted as the Colonial led her away, blushing when he called her cute. She'll never get used to hearing that word describe her.
Haruna was in awe as Alexander brought her to the banks of the Tiber. The ship was good, just like flying but only with turbulence in the form of water, and they would enjoy the scenery. The wine was good, coming from a similar stock as the hotel's, Haruna could tell. After a full day of walking and sightseeing, they could finally rest their legs as the cold wind blew gently. Haruna's hair was tied into a ponytail as it rested on her shoulder to prevent it from blowing all across her face. The city stood in the distance, quiet, peaceful, as all diners onboard knew how to keep the serenity of the boat intact.
Engaging in small talk as they drank the wine, the couple were resting on a sofa, looking out at the back of the ship, truly a prime location where Haruna could stretch and fold her legs as she rested on her section. As they rested, Alexander asked his question, to which Haruna took a moment to think. The glass moved slowly in her hand, the wine gently swirling in her hand. Thinking for a while, Haruna exhaled as she looked towards Rome, a city not too unlike Jupiterra City.
"Home... to me that meaning was lost a long time ago. I lost everything back then, home, family, integrity, identity..." Haruna whispered. "To me, Home was forced to be Space, for only in that vast vacuum, I can feel secure. Jumping from ship to ship, they were just places to make sure that Jupiterra could not track me. Jupiterra herself... no... even if I am a Jupiterran, too much pain... I cannot call it home." Haruna slowly turned herself to face Alexander, before a playful smile appeared on her face as she moved closer to him. Leaning on Alexander's shoulder, Haruna closed her eyes for a while, letting Alexander hear her soft breathing, seeing her at rest.
"How about you, Alexander?" Haruna asked as she slowly opened her eyes to look at her lover. Alexander did not need to think much, as his home has been razed a long time ago. "Well, home was destroyed a long time ago. Had no qualms leaving it. I guess the closest thing would be... the Prinz? Apart from that there isn't anywhere which I have an attachment to." Looking at Haruna, Alexander gave her a smile as the girl slowly nodded. Gently, Haruna removed herself from Alexander as she teasingly placed a hand on his face, stroking it a little. "Well, home is where the heart is, isn't it what they said a long time ago? If that's real then... maybe I've found a home with you in the Prinz... the two of us, and Prinz who's always there for us, no matter what."
The food arrived, prompting the two to move over. Haruna's pasta tasted great, especially with Terran grown meat. Even if she consumed something similar the day before, fresh meat was always a premium.
The night went on, as Haruna and Alexander got off the ship. Making their way back to the hotel, again, they did not notice the cloaked figure, only that it was joined by another...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2016 17:11:36 GMT
The third day was very similar to the first and second days of their little Terran holiday, but that didn't mean anything bad, since it was just as, if not a little more relaxing and nice than the first two. After spending some nice time in the hotel in the morning, the two visited other parts of Rome., enjoying every last bit of their time as civilians, amazed by the never ending beauty of the Eternal City. Their day ended with something a little different, with Alexander taking Haruna out to dinner in a little restaurant somewhere at the edge of the large city. It wasn't something as luxurious as their previous dinners, but the restaurant they were in was an older, family restaurant, and much calmer than the other restaurants they had been at, making the experience pretty nice. And much to Alexander's pleasure, they were also serving one or two Colonial dishes.. Eventually, they returned to the hotel... and the third day ended. They were followed by the cloaked figures this time too... but the two from before seemed to have some more underlings with them...
On the fourth day, the last day of their trip, Alexander and Haruna spent some more.. time in the hotel, before they left for a final, shorter round of visiting the city, ending it with a visit at the Castel Sant'Angelo, a beautiful and old castle in the center of Rome, near the Vatican. There was many strange myths and rumors surrounding it, the most known saying that starting from the castle, there were secret tunnels going everywhere in Rome... but of course, those were merely rumors. That didn't make the castle less beautiful, of course. After ending their visit, they started to walk back to their hotel, walking on the old stone streets of Rome..
"Sorry Haruna, can you please go back to the hotel on your own? I have to stop somewhere first..", Alexander asked her, a few hundred meters before the hotel. Haruna didn't exactly like the idea, but after Alexander promised that he was going to prepare a surprise for their last dinner that night, she accepted, and returned to the hotel on her own, while Alexander stopped in what looked like a small, old store, and started to speak with the seller in a strange Colonial dialect...
Having arrived at the hotel, Haruna was led by one of the members of the staff to her room, just aas always. Entering and closing the door, she laid down on the bed, not necessarily because she was tired or anything, but more because she didn't exactly had anything to do until Alexander's return. Even if it was mid afternoon only, the hotel was pretty quiet and calm, with the rest of the people staying in it probably all around Rome. For some reason, she started to feel... more... and more sleepy... so.... tired... but suddenly, the hotel was shaken by an explosion, followed by bullets being fired, and then by someone violently breaking the door of her room.
Two strange figures entered the room, making her quickly stand up. The figures were strange, all covered in gray coats, and with hoods and masks that were completely hiding their faces. In their hands, each of the figures held swords.. strange swords, with lightly curved tips, all gray just as their clothes, but with strange looking, glowing and pulsating vines inside the blades, in many different colors, giving an even more unnatural look to the else all monotone and gray swords. If there was one thing sure... it was that those... things, were clearly not human. They... weren't breathing... Behind them, Haruna could see some of the staff members, with large, bloody wounds, all white, with their eyes of an almost.. erased, gray color. Making a step forward, one of the figures spoke in Galactic Standard, speaking it in a monotone and calm voice, without any kind of an accent, as if he would have learned it out of a book..
"Shimazaki Haruna, come with us, and you shall not be hurt... too much..."
Meanwhile, at the old store, Alexander had just finished speaking with the the seller, who, if it wasn't already clear, belong to the KOLSI, the Colonial Security Service, and had a message for him from the temporary Colonial Governor of Earth, who actually happened to be one of Alexander's older friends... and the message was worrying. Seemingly, KOLSI agents noticed certain people following Alexander and Haruna around, and the Governor was worried that they might plan an attack on...
Alexander's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by an explosion, being heard from the hotel. Not even thinking for a second moment, Alexander rushed to the hotel, only to find it with a large hole in its main entrance... rushing in, Alexander ran to the room, only to find it empty, with no trace of Haruna... only with a big hole in the wall. There was seemingly a chaos on the streets.... leading to one building. A large, and rather old building... the Colosseum.
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Post by Relikai on Mar 2, 2016 17:46:26 GMT
They've spent the morning resting, enjoying the hotel's facilities to its fullest, watching movies and relaxing their bodies in the jacuzzi. After the time of shopping, where Haruna managed to buy a couple of dresses and souvenirs for Prinz, Gaius and Kanzaki, she simply flopped back onto the bed after changing into her newly bought sleeping robes, knowing that Alexander won't take long. Oh how she hoped to surprise him with what she's wearing on their last day on Terra. That thought was shattered when an explosion occurred, and her door being broken down. Haruna barely had time to throw herself behind the bed when two figures entered, and the converted body of the hotel staff who led her up moments ago lumbering behind them. "Shimazaki Haruna, come with us, and you shall not be hurt... too much..."Their voices gave them away, as Haruna's brain went into overdrive. That the Invaders dared to attack her... attack them in Terra, where innocents were just feeling peace after a bloody war, the very act pervaded her soul as she sought to dispatch the mortal enemy of all living things. No matter what she was wearing, Haruna stood up from her crouch, her eyes blazing as she tossed her hairband to the side. Extending her arm, Azarael appeared, blue vines wrapping themselves around her wrist. A moment paused between them, before Haruna leapt forward at the Invaders, her sword arm working at a blur, attacking and parrying the strikes of the two Invaders. Behind them, the staff dashed forward, arms crawling after the Jupiterran as she barely managed to step out of the way, swinging Azarael and nearly managing to nick one of her attackers. Her mind screamed as she sensed the sword coming at her back, Haruna threw herself onto the floor before raising Azarael, neatly parrying the strike as she turned defence into offence, thrusting the weapon up, causing the Invader to nimbly leap out of the way, only to be replaced by its partner. Haruna managed to get up, when Azarael instinctively shot up and cleaved a dead staff nearly into two, before another rushed her, forcing Haruna to dodge, swinging her sword and decapitating it in the process. Just as Haruna landed on the floor, she was suddenly tackled by one of the Invaders as it's weapon clashed against Azarael, forcing Haruna's arm to be pinned on the floor. Another staff member jumped onto her other side, before Haruna tucked her legs in, barely managing to throw the Invader off her as Azarael slashed the corpse's arms. Getting up but panting, Haruna faced her enemies again, only to have a chain slash across her shoulder to her waist. There was no physical mark, but Haruna felt a burning sensation erupt from the strike, a similar sensation to the chains which once bound her in the Old Archive. The Jupiterran fell to her knees as Azarael slowly disappeared, Haruna knowing that she could not fight them. Instead of losing Azarael to the Invaders, Haruna simply gave a mock cough, hoping that she could buy enough time for Alexander to return, and kick both of their asses. Until she felt the chain wrap around her neck. Haruna's scream was trapped in a choke as the chain tightened, and the other Invader jumped onto her again, this time sinking it's fangs into her neck. Extreme pain nearly caused Haruna to black out as the Invader lifted her up and slammed her against the wall. Once, twice, thrice, and the wall gave way as Haruna fell limp. Carrying her, the Invaders and their remaining slaves leapt out through the hole into the Roman streets, heading for the Colosseum, where epic fights of gladiatorial combat were tales of the past. There, Haruna was lashed against a cross, in the manner of the crucifixion, with their chains wrapped around her hands, feet, neck and right below her chest. Haruna could breathe, but in great pain as memories of her violation came flooding back. She tried to fight them, tried to think of Alexander, and somehow, she succeeded, easing the pain of the chains. No, they were not going to kill her this way. Shimazaki Haruna would be bait, and the Invaders would score a decisive victory today. The heads of the Milky Way's most promising officers would be displayed across the Galaxy, and herald the coming of the Fleets of the True Invaders. |
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