Chapter Fourteen of Worlds Collide
Arrangements
by YEN
version (12/20/99)
final edit (02/05/2000)
Hyuga approached the dwelling slowly and silently. It was a modest hut nestled near invisible among the trees. Only a warm yellow glow from the windows and a wispy trail of smoke from a chimney identified that it was indeed man-made and occupied.
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"Welcome, welcome to my humble abode," the wizened old man greeted Hyuga warmly, hussling his guest into the living area.
Caught off-guard by the very authentic enthusiam apparent from the other man, Hyuga allowed himself to be led like a child.
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"Ah, forgive my lapse." Taura finally noticed the blank look on the young man's face. "I rarely have visitors since I live so far away from known and present civilization." He smiled. "I am Taura Melchior."
"... Melchior. One of the Wisemen of-"
"Shevat," he ended for him, and his smile widened. "I am glad to know we have not been forgotten."
The other man's eyes widened ever so slightly before flicking away guiltily. "Men such as you are rarely forgotten," he said evenly.
Taura beamed. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Hyuga."
Ricadeau glanced back at him, startled. Taura shrugged, lifting his arms expansively. "Don't look so surprise I would have knowledge concerning you, Hyuga Ricadeau. Men such as I rarely let age get away with our insight."
"... Azuire-"
"And I do still have friends in high places." Taura scrutinized the lad sent to him. "Hmm... I think I'll just address you as Hyuga rather than Ricadeau." He nodded decidedly. "You are, after all, so much my junior, and I want you to address me as Taura rather than Melchior. Is that not so difficult for you, Hyuga?"
"Yes, si- Taura."
"Very well then." He walked towards his laboratory. "Come now, Hyuga, we have so much work to do."
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"First off, you need new attire. Something more sedentary, I should say, and definitely less militaristic yet at the same time comfortable and in no way impeding. Hmm... what is your preferred hue, Hyuga?"
"... Green."
"Ah! Excellent! A pleasure to know you have good taste."
... What have I gotten myself into?
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"Isaac, so good to hear from you so soon."
"Hello Taura. I apologize for ruining our last retreat."
"Oh no, you were not of any difficulty, Isaac. Both Gaspar and I understand your position."
"... I am glad, but I would like to make up for last time. I hope it isn't of too much inconvenience, but I already called Gaspar, and he is on his way there as I am."
"... Gaspar... on his way here...?"
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Hyuga was on his way to check on Fenrir when he was ambushed.
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"Taura!"
Melchior winced and hastily opened the door just as Gaspar rammed it. Suddenly without obstruction, the other man rushed inside at breakneck speed and crashed head first into the couch.
"Gaspar, you imbecile!" Taura went over to help his longtime friend up. "Just what do you think are you doing?!"
"... What I am doing...?" Gaspar muttered slowly, refusing assistance, turning over and sitting up on the couch. He glared at his friend now at close eye level. "Trying to rescue you, that's what." He examined Melchior's present state keenly. "Obviously, my concern was very unnecessary."
Melchior grimaced. "I take it you saw the gear outside."
"Not only that," Gaspar said proudly, leaning comfortably against the soft cushions. "I got its pilot too."
"... Is he...?"
"Oh no, no need to worry. He's still alive." Gaspar shrugged unconcernedly before standing up and walking towards the door, stretching. "I have him trussed up like a chicken in his own cockpit." He tossed a patronic look at Melchior. "I know how squeamish you are about that sort of thing."
"... I am not!" Melchior complained.
"Yes, you are," Gaspar countered.
"You are always one so quick to jump to wrong conclusions."
"What did you expect me to do? There was a Solarian-made gear parking outside your door."
"You should have contacted me first," Melchior replied peevishly.
Gaspar looked sardonic. "That would have alerted your captors to my presence."
"Your problem is that you are too suspicious!"
"Yours is that you are too complacent!"
"This is bad timing, isn't it?" A third voice cut in, and both men glanced towards the door to see a bemused Balthazar with a worried Hyuga just behind him.
"Isaac, why the hell did you release him?!"
"Hyuga, are you all right?"
"There is no need to keep him prisoner, Gaspar."
"I am fine, Sir Taura."
"He's the enemy!"
"Hyuga, come over here and sit down."
"We can trust him," Balthazar told Gaspar soothingly. He looked aside to where Melchior was fussing over Hyuga. Gaspar growled, "He is Solarian."
Balthazar smiled, "He is, and he helped me get Maria back."
"..."
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"I still do not trust him," Gaspar muttered as Melchior and Hyuga went into the lab. He smirked, satisfied, when the Taura's new apprentice tensed visibly as if actually feeling Gaspar's razor sharp eyes on his shoulder blades.
Balthazar chuckled. "Give him a chance, old friend." He took a deep breath before saying, "If it were not for him, Maria would not be the only prisoners Solaris has." He wisely decided not to mention his friend's granddaughter's involvement. "Besides, Taura seems to be quite taken with him."
Gaspar scowled. "That old fool was never wise in his choice of assistants."
He didn't see Balthazar frown thoughtfully at his honest if impolite observation.
I know what you mean... Even having saved us, he is still an uncertain ally. ... Solaris does not hand out Omnigears readily...
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"I do not think he likes me," Hyuga said quite sadly to Melchior as the two of them prepared needed refreshments.
"Don't mind him," Taura said reassuringly. "He's always a grouch."
The much younger man nodded somberly, and Melchior smiled, then frowned thoughtfully.
"... I have something to ask of you, Hyuga."
"... What is it?"
"Azuire obviously did not give me all the pertinent information concerning you and with Isaac's story, I have come to realize that you are indeed not an average turn-coat.
Hyuga remained silent as he continued, "You have at least a rank of commander in the Solarian Army. Despite your recent espionage duties, you are no ordinary spy considering that you possess enough clout and power to send away the flagship itself without its completing its mission. ... You chose to leave all that. Why...?"
"..."
"Surely, Solarian punishment for failure in one mission cannot be so severe, and neither are they foolish enough to waste an individual such as yourself, who they have obviously spend a great deal of time and expense training..." Taura's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "You were ordered to infiltrate Shevat, little doubt to take down her defenses. Azuire stopped you-" He broke off, seeing the look in Hyuga's eyes. "... It wasn't Azuire then... but who...?"
Taura's eyes widened in realization just as Hyuga sighed. "Sir, do I have to stay here long? I promised Yui I would hur-"
"What?!" Both of them turned as the door slammed open. Wiseman Gaspar stood in the doorway with a murderous expression.
"What have you to do with my granddaughter?!"
?!
"Gaspar, don't kill him! Isaac, don't just stand there like an idiot! Help me get him off!"
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Somewhere in Shevat, Yui was staring at Azuire, who was coughing mad for laughing all of the sudden while drinking his tea.
Concerned, she got out of her chair to hit his back a few times in order to help him clear his windpipes of tea. "Uncle?"
Azuire coughed, wiped his
mouth clean with a napkin before glancing up to her with a fond
smile. He chuckled again. "Something just struck me funny,
that's all."
Yen
12/21/99