In the days after the Second Summer of Love it was soon discovered that although the half the scub coral had gone to another universe, the Coralians were still a danger and occasionally appearing around the world.

Even though the military, and the world itself, banded against Dewey and his plans everything soon went back to the way it was.

Once more pile bunkers were being driven into the ground and every one gave the military their full support against the Coralians out of fear.

Despite all the trials and tribulations that Renton and Eureka had gone through soon the world simply forgot it all and shifted back to the way it was.

Those in the military who'd struck against Dewey were celebrated as heroes while those who did not strike against him were still seen as courageous.

In the midst of all the celebrations a parade was being held within the center of one of the smaller cities.

The main attraction was the two teenage pilots who'd fought so courageously against Dewey.

Among the crowd of star eyed citizens was a boy just exiting his teenage years and on the crossroads of life.

As the brown haired boy stared upon the line of soldiers marching down the crowded streets with his hazel eyes he couldn't help but gape in awe.

His two friends pulled him out of his stupor by punching his shoulder and looking at him expectantly.

"Right Shiro?" His blonde haired blue eyed friend to his right asked with a grin.

Shiro Hatsumora blinked as he glanced at him then to his left at his black haired friend who he'd known since he was a child.

"I…I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention. What were you saying?" Shiro asked as he gave an empty chuckle.

"As always! I was just saying they look pretty cool!" His blonde haired friend, Danny answered.

Shiro heard a groan come from his black haired friend John, or Starbuddy as he now liked to be called.

"Of course they look 'cool', that's how they get new recruits. Such as suckers like you Danny." Starbuddy replied with a shrug.

Danny groaned in defeat as Shiro chuckled lightly.

Starbuddy decided on his new name after he'd started reading that propaganda magazine Ray=out.

Although it was a while ago now Shiro remembered when the planet was nearly destroyed and every one decided to side with the traitors of Gekkostate.

Shiro's mother however remained strongly aligned with the military always telling him, 'one rotten egg doesn't mean the whole farm is rotten'.

Ever since then he'd learned it was best not to voice which way you stand on the topic.

Suddenly Shiro's thoughts were interrupted by three people who climbed atop the stage in the middle of the street.

Among them was Captain Jurgens, who was now an Admiral, and was the leading military ship against Dewey.

The other two however Shiro had only ever seen once in the background of a newspaper article back before the near end of the world.

One was a young woman with long pink hair and sore a skin tight black suit.

Her eyes were what caught his gaze the most however.

She had the brightest purple eyes he'd ever seen.

Beside her was a boy who appeared to be the same age wearing the same suit with similar eyes.

She smiled and waved to the crowd, the boy however, didn't seem to want to be there at all.

Then Shiro saw how the boy looked at her.

The pure emotion it radiated caused Shiro's chest to hurt.

It caused him to yearn that feeling that he felt.

"W…Who are those two?" Shiro managed to ask as he motioned to the stage.

Danny cracked a sly smile as he looked at them.

"Ah the two youngest military pilots in history, Haru and Anemone." As Danny explained it to him Shiro's eyes went wide.

Now he remembered hearing bits and pieces about them.

During all that happened the military tried to keep them confidential but pieces still leaked out.

As Shiro looked upon the two and looked out amongst the lines of soldiers still marching through the streets his chest suddenly tightened as his heart began to race.

As he began to breathe heavily he could feel it.

He could feel that he knew what he wanted to do with his life.

He wanted to be the one up on that stage.

He wanted to be a soldier.

. . . .

When he'd told his mother he was going to enlist she cried hysterically all through the day begging and pleading him not to.

When he told his two friends they also cried, not as much as his mother but cried none the less, and also told him not to.

When he went to the recruiter and told him the recruiter was the first one who smiled.

"Ah so you want to be a soldier?" The large muscular man sat rigidly in his chair and smiled as he rhythmically tapped his pen on the desk.

"Yes sir. The minute I considered the thought my heart was steeled to the decision." Shiro replied firmly as his hands squeezed the arm rests of his chair.

The recruiter thought a moment, tapping his pen, before finally smiling.

"Well Shiro…I believe you're meant for this. Before we send you off to Basic we will of course have a few tests, mental and physical, also we'll just go through a few questions and paper work." When the recruiter finished talking he stared Shiro in the eye as he leaned forward, the tapping of his pen ceased.

"So Shiro, are you certain this is what you want?" He asked.

Shiro didn't even need to think on it. He firmly nodded, drawing a smile from the recruiter.

. . . .

After two months of what Shiro could only ever call hell he stood within the freezing rain with a rifle locked firmly within his hands held vertically in front of him.

Though everyone there in line with him shivered and was completely numb not a single person so much as flinched or voiced a complaint.

They all new better.

They were all nearly soldiers.

Even though Shiro's body shook his hands remained locked to the rifle which was now his life.

His grey sweat pants and sweat shirt, which were his training clothes as with every other recruit, were soaked and heavy.

As the drill sergeant screamed they all cried back in response with a heartfelt, "Hoorah!"

After standing three hours in place through drill they were released back to the mess hall then to their barracks.

Shiro laid flat on his back as he stared at the ceiling knowing in a matter of seconds he would be asleep.

Suddenly they all jumped up and stood in line at attention the moment they heard the drill sergeant stand at the entrance and draw breath.

"ATTENNNNNSHUN WORMS!" His booming cry made the walls shiver as they all stood stiffly upright with their hands flat at their sides.

He stood in place a moment, reveling in his control over so many before drawing another breath.

"LISTEN AND LISTEN WELL WORMS. THERE WILL BE A DEMONSTRATION LEAD BY ONE OF THE TOP BRASS SO BE-FUCKING-HAVE YOURSELVES! AM I KNOWN?!" He screamed.

"HOORAH!" They all cried and pivoted on their heels, following in two lines on both sides of the drill sergeant out to the courtyard where they had Drill.

Once there they all got into their Drill lines and stood at attention.

Suddenly a door creaked open and out stepped a man with long white hair braided into the official ponytail. And wore a black uniform that was filled to burst with metals.

He stood before the open doorway a moment, looking over them.

"My name, is Lieutenant-General Richard Prichley. I command the military in place of the late traitor Dewey Novak. I am here today on one of my many stops on tour. I'm here to inform you all that the Vodarac have made a strike against us and as such we are now on high alert!" There were two whispers then silence amongst them all, their discipline taking hold of them.

Suddenly Shiro saw a girl who appeared his age walk through the door and stand beside him.

She stared out at them with her bright purple eyes which were wide and unblinking.

Her purple hair was tied up into the military bun and she wore the black uniform with a black skirt which fell to the top of her knees.

Her boots went up to just below her knees and protected her from the puddles that littered the floor from the rainfall which had only recently ceased.

Slowly she scanned the crowd, seeming to examine everyone's faces.

The moment her eyes fell upon Shiro his entire body tensed up as his heart sped.

He glanced away and looked over at the wall.

When his eyes returned to her her eyes had not moved.

She stared straight at him.

His body suddenly began to heat up, it felt as though there was a spotlight shining straight on him boiling him alive.

In a split second Lieutenant-General Richard glanced down at her, traced her eyes to Shiro, then returned his gaze on the crowd.

To Shiro, however, it was a life time.

He was trained to notice it.

But he couldn't figure out what it was though.

"Thank you all for your time." In a flash the Lieutenant-General turned and whispered something to the drill sergeant before walking off.

The girl continued to stare a moment before following him out of the courtyard.

They were all herded back into the barracks but as Shiro went to follow the drill sergeant placed a massive hand over Shiro's chest, stopping him in his tracks.

"Private Hatsumora, follow me." The drill sergeant ordered.

Shiro snapped a crisp salute as he replied with a loud, "Yes sir!"

. . . .

The drill sergeant led Shiro towards his office.

The moment he opened the door Shiro froze before jumping to attention.

The Lieutenant-General smiled and gave a lazy salute and replying with, "At ease."

Shiro hesitantly nodded and spread his legs shoulder width apart and clasped his hands behind his back.

"Come in now come in, have a seat." Lieutenant-General Richard waved as he walked around the drill sergeant's desk and had a seat.

As Shiro walked inside and had a seat the Lieutenant-General motioned for the drill sergeant to leave.

The moment the door closed Shiro quickly glanced around the office, she wasn't there.

"Now…Shiro Hatsumora? Quite the promising career you've started here." The Lieutenant-General commented as he flipped through Shiro's file.

"Thank you sir." Shiro replied with a grateful nod.

"Why are you here Shiro? Why the military?" The Lieutenant-General asked as he threw the file down on the desk and leaned back in the chair with his hands clasped before him.

"It's what I'm meant to do sir. I also…I also want to help people." The Lieutenant-General's eyes flashed as he leaned forward.

"Help people? And how will you do that Shiro? How does having a gun help people?" The question felt like a punch to the gut.

Shiro glanced down before answering, "I…I don't know sir. But I do want to help people."

The Lieutenant-General smiled as he asked, "I can put you on the path to help many many people Shiro. A new ship has just been created, first of its kind, I've been building up a crew for it and I want you on it. I actually have a special position all picked out for you. Interested?" The Lieutenant-General asked with a smile.

Shiro couldn't breathe.

A special position on a new ship?

How could he say no?

"S…Sir yes sir!" He yelled as he jumped up and snapped a stiff salute.

The Lieutenant-General chuckled as he nodded.

"Very well Shiro. I'll show you to your assignment then. Follow me."

. . . .

"This is your mission." The Lieutenant-General announced to Shiro as he opened the door to the empty reception center for the camp.

Shiro stood din place with a frown.

Was this a joke? Is he messing with me?!

Before Shiro could open his mouth the girl from earlier stepped out from around the corner.

She glanced at the Lieutenant-General but stared at Shiro unblinkingly.

"Her name is Yuki. She's a very valuable asset to us all. I need you to protect her, 24/7. She's one of the brightest I've ever seen." The Lieutenant-General explained.

Shiro's heart pounded as he glanced from the floor to Yuki.

"S…Sir I'm not sure I'm the best man for the job I'm sure one of the veter-" He was cut off by the Lieutenant-General.

"No Shiro it was not me who chose you but her." He motioned to her with a grin, "She won't choose anyone else but you. She thinks you're the one. Is she wrong?"

Shiro suddenly straightened as he shook his head.

"N…No sir! I will protect her until my dying breath sir!" As Shiro announced it the Lieutenant-General's grin widened.

"That's a bold statement." He said with a chuckle.

"No sir! It's a promise. And I don't go back on my promises sir!" As he said it out of the corner of his eye he saw the smallest hint of a twitch in the corner of Yuki's eye.

The Lieutenant-General also glanced at it and smiled.

"I am glad to see she's picked right. Well then Shiro, gather your items and your new captain will meet you here in one hour ten minutes." As the Lieutenant-General turned to leave Shiro cleared his throat, halting him.

"Sir I haven't graduated from basic yet sir!" He stopped for a moment before turning back around.

"With that promise you have. Now then Yuki, wait here for the captain then you'll be under his orders." The Lieutenant-General ordered.

She gave a single stiff nod before walking over to the chairs which lined the wall and having a seat.

Just like that the Lieutenant-General was off and Shiro was there alone with Yuki.

"U…Um are you going to be alright here? Do you need a book or anything?" Shiro quietly asked causing Yuki's eyes to snap to his.

Once again his body was on fire and he had to glance away.

"A book? Why?" Her voice was as soft as an angel's

"To…To read?" Shiro replied equally as confused.

She frowned as she looked down.

"I do not need to read right now." As she answered Shiro frowned as he thought on it, unable to understand what she meant.

"W…Well I'll be back shortly then." He resigned as she gave a single nod.