Mirage is on a mission to recover a lost past. Albel's been locked away by a mysterious source and Nel is missing. Mirage/Cliff and Nel/Albel and I might just pair Fayt up…maybe. Most of this revolves around Mirage – why? Cause there's not enough of her here:)
Inside My Heart
Chapter 1
-Flashback-
Mirage and Cliff sat, back to back, at the flight terminal.
"It's about that time..." Cliff said, turning his head to the side; not quite looking at her.
Mirage replied with a solemn voice. "Yes, it is."
"Say hi to the old man for me." Cliff kept his voice from breaking. "And apologize to him. Tell him I'm sorry I can't take over the dojo."
"Sure, Cliff."
"Is his health all that bad? I can't believe it. He's such a tough old guy. I...I always thought he was indestructible." Cliff suddenly felt like he was loosing everything. She was leaving and he was unable to go with her.
"I think he's exaggerating a little bit. He just wants me to come home, that's all." She kept her voice low and steady. She was torn, literally, in two. She needed to go home to her father…but that meant leaving Cliff. She would hold her tears until she was out of his sight.
"I see... Well, he sure does seem down in the dumps. Maybe it's just his age catching up with him."
"Probably. And I've been away for so long..." A sudden guilt overcame her. She chocked on the words she was unable to speak.
"Yeah..."
The intercom sounded with a beep.
"The transport Canis will be departing for the Klaus System shortly. Passengers wishing to board the Canis should report to gate #3. Your attention please..."
"Well, I have to go, or I'll miss the transport. See you later, Cliff."
Mirage got up from her seat.
"I'm sorry. I wish I could go back with you... But it's pretty much impossible the way things stand." The muscles in Cliff's throat tightened.
"Yes, you got the short end of the stick again. Don't worry about it. That's what I like about you, Cliff."
-End Flashback-
---------
Mirage sat at the small desk. Her office was located in the dojo once owned by her father. Six months had passed since his funeral. She missed him terribly. But, when she tried to think of something else, all she thought about was the conversation she had had with Cliff three years ago.
They had talked very little since then, mostly just to say hi and bye. He was busy these days. He would write her, but she had felt like something was missing from his letters. His words danced around a hidden meaning. She knew there was something he wasn't telling her.
She also knew that something left her three years ago and she hadn't been able to replace it since.
Tears fell from her blue eyes. She was no longer mourning her father. She mourned for a love lost. She knew that if she remained on Klaus, she would never find happiness. She would be alone.
Sure she had opportunities to date. Some very attractive and interesting men had sought her. But all lacked something…something only one guy had. She knew there was no one else like him and she never let in to the delusion of finding a replacement.
She stood and wiped the tears from her face. She had been in the background for too long. She always followed orders without complaint or contest. But now, she would order herself. It was time for a change. She was finally ready to make the jump.
She would find her way…no, she would make her own way. But first things first. She left the dojo and searched for her cousin. He had wanted the dojo since childhood. She knew he would take care of it and follow all the tradition taught there by her father.
"Yes," she muttered to herself. "I'm leaving…and I may regret it, but not leaving is something I couldn't live with."
---------
It only took two days to close the deal with her cousin. After all the paper work was done, Mirage walked away with one less dojo and enough cash to purchase her own small battle cruiser. Klaus provided a variety of cruisers, but a girl could never be too careful.
Mirage packed everything she wanted to keep, leaving the rest behind. She didn't plan on ever returning. She would make her cruiser her new home if need be. She was on a mission, and that mission would not stop until she had found him.
She had just finished loading the cruiser before she stopped to take one last look at her native planet. She inhaled deeply. She didn't regret her decision, but this was her home world. Nostalgia hit her and left in the same second. She was eager to start her journey.
She started to climb the steps to her new home, when someone called her name. She turned to see Sashia and Gates, her two star pupils, running at her. The twins stopped when they reached her, neither out of breath.
Sashia was the youngest of the twins by only three minutes. She was nineteen but acted older. She had snow white hair which hung between her shoulder blades and velvet eyes. She was the top female fighter in her ranks. She had won second place in the planet wide competition for best female fighter. She was only defeated by Mirage herself.
Gates, on the other hand, was almost the exact opposite of his sister. He had short black hair, but did share his sister's velvet eyes. Though not in the top ranks, he was an excellent fighter well capable of taking care of himself. Unlike his sister, he didn't act as mature.
"Where ya goin'?" Sashia asked.
Mirage shook her head. She hadn't had the guts to say goodbye to anyone. She was hoping to sneak away unnoticed. She had left the two a note, but had planned on being gone before they read it.
"Look, Sashia, Gates…I have to leave. I can't explain it but there's something I have to do."
Gates leaned on his sister, his elbow on her shoulder. "Well, let us come. I'm sure you could use the help."
Mirage thought about it. What Gates lacked in fighting, he made up for with engineering skills. He was more the scholar while his sister was the fighter. His skills in space flight and ship maintenance would come in handy. But, on the other hand, there was no guarantee that either could return home anytime in the near future.
"If you come with me, you might not be back for quite a while."
Sashia laughed. Mirage knew that the two teenagers were on their own. They had lost their parents two years ago. Since then, Mirage had taken them in. The three were a team.
"Come on, Mirage, it gets pretty lonely in space." Sashia smiled. "Besides, when we read your note, we packed up everything we needed and came straight here."
Mirage chuckled. She knew that with them the trip would be more bearable.
"Okay, let's go."
The three boarded the cruiser. As they took flight, Mirage was happy for the company but even happier that she had finally cut away from her own self oppression.
---------
Albel sat quietly in the corner of the small, damp cell. He hung his head, breathing at a steady and peaceful pace. He would seem to be asleep to all those who observed him. In reality, he was listening. He listened for movement. He listened to the voices of the guards at the door.
He had been in the cell for a few days. He was feed small potions of food with no flavor and given just enough water to keep him alive.
He waited in silence, hoping that his captor would reveal himself.
-Flashback-
Albel had reported promptly to the throne room. The king had sent an urgent message and had demanded an immediate response.
Albel entered the chamber. Instead of sitting on his throne, the king was pacing the floor. He looked up at Albel, worry on his face.
"Albel, we have received reports of lights on the northern horizon. There is something truly strange about them. I wish for you to take a team and investigate."
Albel nodded. He knew that after the events in the dungeons underneath the castle, the king wouldn't assign just anyone to an important mission. Albel had been the only one to return alive that day.
The king looked at him and nodded. "My concern is not only the lights. The animals from that region have fled their homes. Even the dragons and porcupine have left the area. The lights have been accompanied by foreign noises and are located far too close to the castle for ease."
Albel assembled a team of soldiers and left the castle. That had been almost a week and a half ago.
-End Flashback-
Albel chased away most images from his mind. He needed to focus on the present. He needed to find a way out.
His cell provided no window and the only way out was a large metal door. He knew he was no longer on Elicoor. He had enough experience three years ago to understand he was far from his home world.
He heard the guards at the door grow uneasy. There was the sound of more men walking the hall towards his cell. Albel raised his head slightly and peered through the window in the door. All he could see was the ceiling to the hall. If he wanted to see more, he would have to get up and look. He stayed were he was and listened.
"Well, this is good," one guard said.
"Just open the door. I hate lugging people around." That voice belonged to someone Albel hadn't heard before.
"Yes sir."
Albel heard a door open. The door to the cell beside his opened with a soft sound. The rustle indicated that someone was being lead into the cell. He heard a thunk and the door close.
"The boss might get mad…" One of the men sounded nervous.
"Naw, I didn't get too violent. Besides, he has no love loss for these idiots."
One of the guards laughed. "Really?"
"Snap out of it, Jonnas. You go hurting anyone beyond reason and the boss will have your head."
"Damn," the guard cursed. "Well, at least I can look in…just to check up on the prisoner."
More noises indicated that the newcomers had left the hall. Albel was slightly relieved that they had not come to get him…again. He had received two rounds of torture already. His tormenter had been discreet, wearing a mask and concealing himself.
-Flashback-
Albel hung from the chains around his wrist. It had taken a group of guards to hold him down and shackle him. Now he hung in the middle of the room. The lighting was dim and the room was cold. Albel's breath was visible when he breathed.
Albel looked up to see a man approaching him. He wore a black trench coat with a matching leather mask.
"Now, now…how the mighty shall fall."
That voice…was familiar…but from where?
"Only a coward hides himself. Show yourself, worm!"
The man laughed. "I take no orders from you. You would be wise to hold your tongue." At that the man backhanded Albel across the face.
"Coward! Let me loose and I'll show you how to really fight."
He laughed again, hitting Albel in the gut. "Not a coward, mind you. Just smart enough to know better."
Albel had withstood two solid hours for torment. The man cut him, hit him, and did everything but kill him. He knew the man took extreme pleasure in this. He held on, as long as he could, before blacking out.
When he came to, he was in his cell. His wounds had been treated. Obviously, his captor didn't want him dead…at least not yet.
-End Flashback-
---------
Mirage put in the settings which would lead her to the last know place Cliff had been. She had just gotten off the communications terminal, where she had been talking to a Federation representative for the past half hour.
"So, this is where we are head, huh? Why would he go there, Sensei?"
Mirage chuckled. "No need for formalities, Gates."
Gates leaned over Mirage's shoulders, his hands resting on the back of the Mirage's seat. "So, we all know the story about how you and him and the others saved us all…but why is it so important to find him?"
Sashia was sitting at the terminal beside Mirage. "Humph. You can be so prying. If it's something she wants to share then she'll tell us in her own time."
Mirage waved at the two. "No need for secrets. We're old friends and I need to see him. That's all."
"Uhhuh…" Gates tone suggested he knew that there was more then just wanting to see him.
Sashia rolled her eyes at him. "Anyway…I think it'll be fun to check out this planet. Back to the basics and stuff. So, we're off to Elicoor."
Mirage smiled. "Yup."
---------
Cliff never understood why his blue haired friend wanted to stay on Elicoor. But the boy was happy, so Cliff wouldn't complain.
"So, you heard from anyone?" Fayt asked as the two walked the path back from Greeton.
"Heard from Maria about a week ago, and Sophia last month. Sophia just finished her freshman year in college – top of her class no doubt. And Maria's still hiding out on Expel. I actually saw her the last time I visited. She's cut her hair and bleached it blonde!" Cliff let out a chuckle.
Fayt tried to picture Maria with short blonde hair, but he was sure that was something better seen then imagined.
"Oh, and I came across one of these." Cliff handed Fayt a piece of paper.
COME ONE, COME ALL
SEE THE AMAZING ROSSETTI TROUPE
IN THEIR RENDITION OF
THE DEATH OF A CIRCUS CLOWN
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT ONLY!
AT MOONBASE #7
START TIME 7:00PM'
'WE BRING YOU A FLEETING VISION OF THE FUTURE!'
"Well," Fayt commented. "We know what Peppita's up to."
"How about you…you talk to Nel, Albel, Roger, or Adray lately?"
"Well, not lately. I've been kinda hanging on my own. I saw Adray six months ago. He was trying to convence me to marry Clair…again. Roger's been around. He pops up every now and then. Nel keeps taking on mission after mission. And Albel…haven't heard much of him. He went back to Airyglyph and doesn't come out much."
"Seems like things are pretty much normal around here."
Fayt slowed his pace. "Um, Cliff?"
"Yeah?"
"What about Mirage? You didn't mention her."
Cliff felt like he had been stabbed in the gut. He searched for air. "Um…spoke to her not that long ago. Real quick conversation. She's running the dojo on Klaus right now."
As they walked, Cliff felt like his stomach was on fire. He really should have taken his vacation to see her. But going back to Klaus was something he wasn't ready for. He felt like he had abandoned her. What right did he have to barge into her life right now. He left and hadn't seen her, face to face, in three years.
He should have at least been there for the funeral. But he had been unable to make it.
He didn't know what he would say to her. He wanted to see her, but would she want to see him? He didn't even know if she had moved on…found someone. That thought was more then he could bear.
End Chapter 1
------------
Well? Any good? After finishing my last story and reading 'Phantom of Time' by Demon Priestess Saturn, I decided to write a Mirage fic. Hope you like, I have more in the works...I'll post if anyone wants to see what happens next.