Wednesday, September 20, 2006

flash dance
My brain feels better today. I had all of yesterday to clear it out while I played Kingdom Hearts 2.

It's one of those things.

And now a peek at my most recent set of chapters for my book:


“ So all of the kids have classes here? ” Ayumi said as the teacher started the lesson.
“ Since they don’t have a permanent home like I do. ” Junsei sighed, “ It’s just the way things worked out. The families found it easier to do it this way. ”
All together there were ten kids in the class; given the crew count, it was reasonable. Their age ranged from 8-12 but they all were learning at the same educational level training. Junsei ideally scrolled through the lesson plan as Ayumi tried her best to listen in on the lesson. “ It’s all so advanced. ” Ayumi said with vivid amazement, “ Do you know it all, Junsei-chan? ”
“ A bit. I take the classes that are going on when I have time. ”
Ayumi flopped forward onto the desk, resting her head on her arms, “ Geez, I can barely keep up with regular school work. ”
“ I don’t do the homework. I just sit in like this. All the things I learn are self study or my parents help me once in a while. ”
“ You are some genius. ”
Junsei shook her head, “ No, I just work hard. I still don’t really get trigonometry. ”
Ayumi sat back up, “ But that’s still high school level. I’m having enough trouble with multiplication and division. ”
Junsei patted Ayumi’s head, “ That’s fine with me. ”
Ayumi brushed Junsei’s hand off, “ Stop it, it’s embarrassing. ”

The class moved along the lesson plan fairly well, deviating only at the whim of the teacher. Junsei enjoyed watching Ayumi’s face. She made so many expressions trying to understand what was going on. I can’t believe I tried to get her involved. It’s just too complicated for someone as innocent as her. All it will do is make her worry about how it is affecting me and whether or not she can do anything to help. “Junsei-chan.” What can I even do? Biku-san, why is he so afraid?
“Junsei-chan?” Ayumi tapped on Junsei’s shoulder, Junsei looked at her, “ You okay? ”
Junsei shook her head, “ It’s nothing. ”
Ayumi put her hand on Junsei’s forehead, “ You’ve been spacing all day. Are you sure you are all right. ”
Junsei took Ayumi’s hand from her forehead and held it, “ Yeah, thanks for your concern. ”
“ I’m sure they’re fine. ”
Junsei smiled, “ It’s not that, it’s just… ” The room went dark and the emergency lights turned on, “Huh?”
Ayumi looked around, “ What’s going on? ”
“ I don’t know. ” Junsei looked over at the teacher; she was at the comm. panel, “Teacher, what’s wrong?”
The teacher turned around, “I can’t reach the bridge.”
“Did you try a priority line?”
The teacher nodded, “Yes, still nothing.”

A cold chill went down Junsei’s spine. Her hands started to shake, “No, no, no, no,” She started to mumble. Why now? Her heart clinched. Go aw “AAAAAAAAAAYYY!!” Junsei screeched, hunching over wrapping her arms around herself. Her whole body trembled violently as she rocked back and forth.
“Junsei-chan.” Ayumi went to hold Junsei but stopped as the teacher arrived.
“Junsei? What’s wrong?”
“We have to get out of here.” Junsei whispered through her tears.
“What do you mean?”
“We’re going to die!!” Junsei yelled, “We have to get somewhere safe.” She stood abruptly and ran out of the room. The teacher tried to follow but the door was locked from the outside

Junsei ran down the hall counting the rooms; she stopped at one on the end and palmed it. The door opened and she dashed inside. Her eyes quickly searched the room looking for a weapon’s cache. She checked the closet, there was a secret panel. Two pulse rifles, one flash grenade, and seven force locks. This’ll have to do. She emptied the cache into a back pack and quickly left the room. After searching the immediate hallway, she went back to the classroom.

“Junsei-chan!” Ayumi ran over to Junsei as she entered, “ What’s going on? ”
Junsei didn’t answer, instead she took off the pack and opened it, “Teacher, can you fire a rifle?”
“I’m a sharpshooter,” The teacher’s expression changed, “Wait, what does that have to do with anything?”
Junsei tossed her one of the rifles, “We’re under attack; we need to get to the bridge.”
“What!?”
“The bridge is highly reinforced, the children will be safe there.” Junsei put the grenade on her belt, “We need to move now.” Se put the pack on and picked up the other rifle.
Ayumi grabbed Junsei’s arm, “ Under attack? ”
Junsei looked at her, “ Don’t worry, just stay near me. ” She moved to the door, Ayumi clung on, “Teacher,”
The teacher looked over at Junsei, she had a better grasp of the situation now, “Yes?”
“Keep the children between us, I’ll lead.”

The teacher nodded. Junsei opened the door and peeked out, clear. She moved slowly out of the room and went right down the corridor. She could feel Ayumi’s fear, “ It will be all right Ai-chan. ” Ayumi nodded nervously. Junsei took a left at the end of the corridor. Everyone on the deck must be on duty. Junsei paused the group as she checked a room. I don’t get it. They started to move again. Right, left, right, dead end. Junsei opened up the hatch to the maintenance tunnel, “Take everyone up two decks, teacher.” The teacher nodded and lead the children into the tunnel. Junsei watched as the last crawled in, “ Ai-chan, your turn. ” Ayumi nodded and crawled in; Junsei followed closing the hatch and placed a force lock on it.

As Junsei reached the second deck, she closed the access door on the ladder and placed another force lock. She crawled to the front of the group, “There are eleven, count them as they exit, I’ll secure the crossway.”
“Right.” The teacher slid over to let Junsei through the hatch.
Junsei crawled out and ran down to the end of the corridor, clear. She waved to the teacher to let the children through. The teacher gave a thumbs up saying that they were all there. The murmur of the class was low but noticeable, that could become a problem. Junsei ran across the ‘T’ hall to the next section of their current run and began to pull security. The rest of the class came across and with them Ayumi. Junsei smiled as she huddled close, “ Doing okay? ”
Ayumi nodded, still unable to speak.
“ Good. ” Junsei nudged her forward, “ Stay with the rest of the group, I’ll be right behind you. ”

Switching who was in the lead, Junsei and the teacher made it up to the next deck. One more deck to go. There was still no sign of an enemy, but Junsei could feel it somehow. Yet, where was everyone else? There should be some of the other crew running around. Junsei watched Ayumi as the group rounded the corner of another empty corridor; she wasn’t saying anything but you could see it in her face. She was frightened, very frightened. Junsei shook away her worries, not right now. I need to get the group to safety. I’ll help her then.

Junsei stopped the group as they reached one of the last intersections; the feeling was getting stronger. She peered around the corner, men wearing pitch black environment suits were grouped at the end of the dim hall. “Shit.” She turned around and did her best to huddle the group, “Okay, here’s what we need to do. Teacher, on my signal run like hell with the group the tunnel. It’s down and left at the next intersection. Get the class in.”
“What about you?” The teacher asked.
“I need to give you guys cover. I’ll be right behind you.”
“But,” The teacher tried to object.
“No buts,” Before the teacher could say any more, Junsei went back to the intersection. She took the grenade from her belt and breathed deep. She pulled the pin and threw it; the bright flash caused the men in suits the react, “Everyone run!” Junsei yelled as she rounded the corner and started to fire her rifle. The drumming of foot steps was barely audible over the fire fight. Junsei moved quickly across the hall and trotted backwards firing as the enemy came into view. “Junsei!” The teacher yelled from the tunnel entrance.
Junsei staggered back as a few rounds hit her shields, “What?”
“Your friend isn’t here!”
Junsei rounded the corner and looked back at the teacher, “Get in and lock the hatch.”
“I’ll wait,”
“NOW!!” More rounds hit Junsei’s shields, “I can’t stay like this.”
The teacher clinched her pride and closed the hatch. Junsei fired into the on coming group, her shields running low. “Ai-chan!” She called over the fight, “ Where are you? ” The last from the current group fell, Junsei lowered her weapon breathing hard, “ Ai-chan, can you hear me? ” She ran down the hall, “Ai-chan?” There was a scream as Junsei rounded the corner. One of the men had Ayumi by the neck, NO!
“Put her down!” Junsei aimed her weapon at the man and fired; a shield deflected the pulse. What? She fired again, same affect. Ayumi flailed helplessly in the man’s grip, “LET GO OF HER!” The man looked at Junsei, the environmental mask covered his face. Junsei’s breathing became more erratic, her heart felt like it was going to explode from her chest. She pulled a small sword from the side of her back pack, “I SAID LET GO OF MY AYUMI!!” Junsei charged, unsheathing the sword. The man dropped Ayumi and turned to fight Junsei. As Junsei came closer the man went to punch, Junsei quickly spun around and cut the man’s arm in half. He staggered back in pain as a cloud of gas came out of the suit. Junsei ran the sword into the man’s gut and twisted it. The man hunched over, Junsei let him fall to the ground. She rolled him over and pulled out the sword, “Bastard.” She spat.

Ayumi lay motionless on the floor near by, Junsei turned limply to look at her. She’s not moving; Junsei kneeled next to Ayumi’s body and checked her pulse. Nothing. She started CPR, 1,2,3; breathe; 1,2,3; breathe; 1,2,3; come on breathe…
Ayumi’s body shook slightly as she coughed. Junsei sat her up against her own body, “ Ayumi, can you hear me? ” Ayumi lifted her head and looked dazedly at Junsei, her eyes went wide and she started to tremble. She pushed away from Junsei and backed herself against the wall, “Ayumi?” Junsei tried to move closer, but Ayumi still kept her distance, “ What’s wrong? ” Ayumi pointed in her direction; Junsei turned around.

More were coming. Junsei quickly picked up the sword and sped towards the enemy. They fired, the pulses hit the shields. Junsei leapt from the floor and ran along the wall cutting the first in the neck. She pushed off the wall moving to the other cutting the next enemy in the back and neck. The last went to strike her with his weapon, Junsei blocked it and stabbed him in the heart and cut him through his side. Her feet touched the floor again as the last fell. Her hands felt numb. She looked over at Ayumi, she was still curled in fear.

Junsei ran back over, “ We have to get moving. ” Ayumi shook her head, “ I know you’re scared but we need to get somewhere safe. ” Junsei took Ayumi’s hand and stood her up, “ Let’s go. ” Junsei started to run; Ayumi staggered to get into step. A salvo of weapon’s fire came at the next intersection. Junsei pulled Ayumi behind the corner and ran out to meet the enemy. The first few shots she was able to dodge but the next set took out her shields. She moved faster, trying to out think the group. She downed two with one strike, one by using him as a shield and the last by stabbing him in the face.

Trembling slightly, Junsei knelt down and cut open the suit of one of the men. She took out the power supply and plugged her shield belt into it. She let it charge for a minute and grabbed one of their rifles before returning to Ayumi, “ We, ” Junsei coughed, she felt light headed, “ We’re almost there. Please be strong. ” She took Ayumi’s hand again and they started to run. When they reached the next tunnel, Ayumi hesitated, “ There are no bad guys in there. So please hurry and get in. ” Ayumi nodded, it looked like she had given up. As the two exited into the access shaft Junsei embraced Ayumi and rose up to the next deck, “ I’m here. You’ll be safe. ” Junsei kissed Ayumi’s cheek, “ So please, be strong for me. ” She lead Ayumi down the next tunnel and out into the corridor.

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