The flight back to the base wasn't extremely long, but there was a significant amount of time between points A and B so to say. Plenty of time.

Time that Rei noted was totally and completely silent.

Kai was devoted to the sole task of piloting his ship, and seemed to forget that the other was there beside him in the other seat in the cockpit. His motions were smooth and fluid, and Rei had to wonder how long it had taken for the soldier to become as skilled as he was now. Kai looked young, but carried himself like and older man – full of dignity and intelligence.

If he hadn't been brought up as a soldier, he probably would have been something great Rei decided to himself as he played with the sleeve of Kai's jacket, which had been leant to him once again for the flight. He was attractive enough, and gods knew that he was in perfect shape. It was a pity, if he had developed and sense of humor during his life, he would have been a triple threat. He could have people doing whatever he said…

Wait – it was like that for him already.

The other BioSoldiers were totally obedient to him, and Rei had no doubt in his mind that if ordered to shoot one of the others, it would be done. And Rei supposed that if Kai had turned out differently, he might have been an arrogant man. One that wouldn't be in this situation with him.

They were all so cold and calculating! Why would they be helping him? What was there for them to gain?

"Rei."

Kai's voice brought the Celeste out from daydreaming, and he jumped a little in surprise, "Hm? What?"

"…What are you thinking about?" He sounded inquisitive, curious even. Red irises flickered over to the side to look over at Rei for a short moment only to return to the computer before him almost as if he was afraid to be caught looking.

"Well…" Rei fidgeted, still playing with the black sleeve, "I was actually thinking about you."

"Me?"

"I was wondering… why you're helping me like this. As far as I know, you haven't been ordered to by your superiors to do anything, and I'm not quite sure what you have to gain by sticking your neck out like this."

Kai nodded his head slightly, showing that he had understood, he made no effort to reply though.

Rei continued, "I'm just a little confused, that's all. I don't know your motives. Not that I'm ungrateful." He added quickly, not wanting to be rude. "…So why are you helping me?"

The silence between them had returned and the only thing to be heard was the occasional beep of one of the ship's controls accompanied by the occasional flash of a button. Silent and cold as space.

Kai seemed tense, and flicked the ship onto autopilot. "I'm going to sleep for a while." Without any other explanation, he stood up form his seat and made his way into the small chambers in the rear of the ship, the mechanical door sliding closed behind him with and audible 'click'.

Rei sighed and sunk down so that he was slouching. So much for getting an answer out of him. Talking to Kai was about the same as talking to a statue or door – totally unresponsive. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Kai did actually start the conversation, if it could even be called that, between them before it rolled downhill and Kai went back into his protective shell.

The computer continued to beep and flash.

Rei still had no answers.

He stood up suddenly, and walked back to Kai's room walking through the door as soon as it opened. Kai was laying on his back upon the small bed which was pressed up against a metal wall before him with his arms crossed behind his head as a cushion.

Without waiting for an invitation, Rei sat down on the edge of the bed by Kai's side near his head. If he wanted to, he could reach out and touch the hair on the soldier's head – not that it would be a wise move to make. "Kai please, just give me a reason."

Kai's eyes remained closed, but he was obviously tense.

"Please."

His eyes squeezed tightly shut, almost as if he was in pain.

"Kai…"

With that, Rei saying his name that final time, Kai snapped. He didn't know why, or what exactly triggered it, but something within himself gave way. He sat up abruptly and grabbed Rei by his wrists, pinning him onto the wall while sitting on the bed. His heart was beating frantically, and he knew that Rei's was doing the same by the wide eyed expression on his face.

"Why?!" Kai's eyes flashed, he held Rei's wrists tightly, "I don't know! I don't know alright!" He sat there staring Rei down for a long moment before calming down and sighing. He loosened his grip on Rei's wrists, but small bruises had already started to form against his skin. Kai looked down in something similar to defeat, "…I don't know but… this entire mission… task… whatever it is that's going on since you came, it makes me… feel something. I feel strange when I'm around you."

It was Rei's turn to be silent now as he gazed down at the soldier before him. His shock slowly turned into a smile, and now that Kai's grip had subsided, he reached out and put a hand on the side of Kai's cheek, which the soldier leaned into slightly.

Suddenly, Kai stood up and got off the bed, he looked caught of guard, "You should sleep. We have a lot ahead of us." And I need time to think.

Rei knew that Kai had just gone through something alien to him, and knew that the soldier needed time alone to sort things out. He smiled at him softly, "All right. Good night Kai."

With that, Kai left the room and walked into the cockpit with the door sliding closed behind him.

Docking Dranzer into the base, Kai hurried out of the ship. "13, take care of Rei, he's asleep in my… chambers." It sounded odd to say, but it was the only way that made sense. "I will be in the gym training. Do not disturb me."

"Affirmative 1," Tala's voice confirmed over the PA system. "Was the smuggler able to fill you in on any new information?"

"Affirmative 13, the man leading this organization goes by the name of Ghai and seems to be on the Council of thirteen." Kai answered.

"He's the youngest member. Worked through the ranks very quickly, and was one of the best cadets seen at the academy if I remember correctly. We have no real evidence to pin him down yet 1."

Kai nodded, and watched as Tala came out of the control room into the docking back. He was wearing simple military clothing in dark colors and lightweight shoes. "I know, I want to meet up with the Council and bring up the subject. To see how this 'Ghai' takes the fact that we're onto him. I need to get close to study him."

Tala nodded, "I can arrange that." He reached into the back pocket of his cargo pants, producing a small white envelope, "By the way, we received a note only moments before you arrived."

"A letter? I've never received one of these before. (1)" Kai read over the front:

To:

The BioSoldiers and the Celeste

From:

The insignia of the moon and starts was plastered on under the from, showing exactly who sent it.

Kai flipped it open and pulled out a parcel of paper, keeping a monotone face as the paper, which he now realized was dripping with blood on the bottom half, splattered little red drips all over the sterile floor.

Stop your investigation. Hand him over.

A threat. A threat that demanded Rei.

Kai kept a straight face but clenched his fist tightly, "We are ignoring this. We act as if we never received it."

"Affirmative." Tala saluted to his leader and then walked inside the ship to wake Rei while Kai stormed off to the gym so that he may take his frustrations out on some unsuspecting punching bag.

This story is no longer on hiatus! No worries, I will be updating much more frequently now. I'm sorry for the long wait that I've had you put up with, but I was having a lot of trouble finding inspiration for this. Now I think I've gotten it back, and there will only be about four our five more chapters until this is totally and completely finished.