Akamori shifted anxiously as he strode in the 7th quarter. It wasn’t the poorest on Aeryn. Somewhere above starving, and just beneath, adequately fed. Sirsir never spoke much about his family. The only reason Akamori even knew where to go was because the Sgt. had to provide a home of address for next of kin. Which also told him that the Sgt. was visiting his mother.
He wore his blue gi today. His armor would not have made the best presentation. And he was starting to get used to moving without it. He still recognized the great advantages it provided, but there was something to be said for the agility he could maintain outside of it. Occasionally, during his bouts with Cenin, he allowed himself to entertain the notion of no longer donning it. Then he remembered there were things like space. And bad smells. No thanks.
Akamori shrugged in his blue and gold gi. It fit a little smaller than he last remembered. He frowned, fussing at the undershirt. His mother would have made a comment about needing to get him something new made but lacking the proper silks, if she were still alive.
“Do it, you coward.” He whispered to himself.
Akamori was the sergeant’s commanding officer. He could do this. It was a simple task. Hand to door. Words to ears. Easy peasy. Whatever a peasy was.
He rapped on the sturdy wooden door three times. There was a shuffling from within. A loud elderly woman shouted, and he heard Sgt. Sirsir’s voice came much softer a beat after.
The door opened an instant later and Sirsir peeked through the cracked door with a curious look on his face. He looked at Akamori and both relief and surprise flashed through his expression.
“WHO IS IT?” an elderly woman asked.
“IT’S NO ONE MA!” Sirsir shouted back into the dwelling.
Sirsir turned back to Akamori and slipped outside, shutting the door behind himself. Akamori needed to double take for a moment. Seeing the well banded muscled body of the Sergeant in plain clothing was weird. The two men shifted uncomfortably. Neither one of them was at ease on their leave.
“Alright, spill it, sir. What’s the situation?”
Akamori blinked. “How did you know something was up?”
The sgt. gave him a knowing look. “Because you’re like me, sir. You don’t bother people on their downtime. But you’re here. Which means something’s up. So what is it? Out with it… sir.” he added after a pause.
“Oh. Uh, fair point, I guess. Morwen’s got a new prophecy. Needs our help. Says if we don’t, the planet could be destroyed.”
“I’m in.”
Akamori blinked, the sgt. replied so quickly he wasn’t sure the big guy had heard all of it. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I said. I’m in. Where we going and on what? I’m guessing we won’t be using the Crasher right. Which means we’ll need a different ride.”
“She’s sorting our ride right now. I’m on recruitment duty.”
“And I’m your first stop? Are you tryin’ to flatter me, sir? Because it’s workin.”
Akamori bit down a laugh and shook his head. “No, but you’re my second. I’d rather know if I’ve got you at my back first.”
Sirsir nodded, more pleased with the answer, and nodded. “Mmm. Yeah. Can’t have my wet nosed Lt. making a mess of everything.”
“So you’re in?”
“Is a dread lord a dragon?”
“The few I’ve met so far, yeah?”
“Ok, good. Let me go get my stuff. And set my mama’s light wine up on the stove.”
Akamori’s face twisted into an unvocalized wretch. Sirsir held up a hand, forestalling any comment.
“I know, I know. I told her that ain’t how yer s’posed to drink it, too. But she don’t listen. She likes it hot.”
“What mama wants, mama gets?”
“Exactly.”
The burly dark skinned NCO stepped back into the dwelling, leaving Akamori at the front door again. Sirsir’s mother lived at the base of a super massive redwood. The home carved right into the wood. The tree was so massive he felt more like an ant than a human compared to it. In the distance, some chittering birds chirped a song that brought a faint smile to his face.
A short wait later, Sirsir emerged with a black leather jacket on top of his white t-shirt and jeans. The non comm caught Akamori’s look and paused. “What?” Akamori could only shake his head half embarrassed.
“It’s nothing. I’m still just trying to get used to seeing you outside your armor.”
Sirsir leaned so close Akamori could feel the sergeant’s breath against his cheek. “You didn’t see nothin. Are we clear?”
Akamori laughed and nodded as the two strode off. “We’re clear.”
“So who’s next then?”
“Well, I know Yasiin’s got a place near here, right?”
Sirsir nodded. “He’s never said much about it. Keeps it mostly for his people. They pass through to resupply and visit.”
“You know where it’s at?”
Sirsir gave him a put upon look, offended at the mere suggestion that his non-commissioned officer wouldn’t know where everyone could be found. He wrapped a big arm around Akamori steering him towards the proper district of the quarter. “C’mon sir. I’ll make you not completely useless. Someday.” He added after a pause.
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“Gee. Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank your recruiter.”
The two shared a look and a laugh. The walk through the residential district of the quarter to reach Yasiin’s apartment didn’t take as long as Akamori feared. He needed to wrap all this up soon so he could take his final test before the headmaster.
“Stuck up nobles busted your ass around the floor in training, didn’t they?”
“How’d you know?” He glanced over, wondering if Sirsir had cast a scrying spell on him.
“Because when the captain picked you up, you were a wiry little guy. Now you’re fillin’ out your clothes, and you walk taller. They might be assholes, but I can’t argue the results.”
He sighed, unable to help but agreeing with the sgt. “Yeah. They lack for empathy in spades. But I’ve been through the ringer.”
“And looking better for it. You look like you could take on a hatchling now.” Sirsir play punched his shoulder.
He absorbed the blow in stride as they strode through an area flush with dwarves and halflings. This was the outcast district. The walkways were a little dirtier. The shops were a little less shiny. Life here felt a little more grounded. It reminded him of home. And he realized to him that meant this place looked poorer even though one shop’s worth of goods here would probably equate all of Honshu’s harvests.
A warm breeze carried with it the scents of cooking meat. His stomach groaned and in that moment he realized Honshu had nothing on the food these people were fixing. Sirsir heard his stomach and laughed.
“Yeah, it’s that good down here. I think Sala keeps most of the vendor’s flush with coin.”
“He does?”
“Yeah. I think he spends most of his coin into the food shops. His way of helping.”
“I’ve seen him eat. That guy can put food away.”
Akamori chuckled at that, heartened to hear that his team was socially and civically involved. Sirsir led them to a ramshackle apartment. They built it from ironwood planks, scraps of bronze and ironwood sap. It reminded him of freight containers stacked side by side and covered in planks.
Sirsir stuffed his massive hands into pockets just barely large enough to contain them. He glanced over to Akamori, gesturing up to the three story dwelling. “Well, that’s it. Not sure which one specifically, though.”
Akamori spotted some kids running about, playing tag. He stepped over into the group and kneeled down. They scattered like weary stray cats. Cautious, but curious. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a golden apple. He had everyone’s attention now. The children crept a few tentative feet closer.
“I’m looking for a friend of mine. A couple, actually. One has dark skin and braided hair. The other has red fur and black hair.”
Several pairs of eyes lit up in recognition and grins all around. “The first one one that shows me which of these doors is theirs gets the apple.”
The children burst into motion in a blur. Sure enough, a fleet footed little girl reached the door first and pointed. “Here!”
Sirsir chuckled softly next to him as they strode up a set of stairs, making for the third floor. Akamori crouched and handed the little girl the apple, and pulled a few more from his gi. “Here ya go. Be sure to share with your friends, eh?”
The little girl nodded, cradling the magic fruit, and scampered off once he stood. He knocked on the door several times and Yasiin opened the door. Sala had several Nomad children hanging from his arms inside the apartment, laughing.
“Sir. I didn’t realize you’d be coming.” Yasiin said, stepping outside.
“It wasn’t planned.”
“Got a new mission.” Sirsir said.
Akamori glanced inside and saw several Nomad men and women with the children. Yasiin followed his gaze in and back. “My family and my partner.”
“I had no idea,” Akamori said, smiling at Yasiin.
The soft-spoken spell sniper shrugged. “To be fair, I don’t say much. You mentioned a mission?”
Akamori frowned. He’d thrust himself into this crusade with the Captain because he had nothing left but his revenge for his people. Protecting Amara and Kusinaki and now his new friends. He watched Sala stand in as a playground for the Nomad children inside. The giggling and smiles were like a knife in his heart, being twisted slowly. He sighed, hating himself for what he was about to say.
“Yeah. The Captain is putting a team together to go save the world. Again.”
“Yeah? Which one?”
“This one.”
“So, when do we leave?” Yasiin said, glancing back inside again.
“We don’t. At least, what I want to say is I don’t think you guys should go. You’ve got people here. And this war isn’t going to slow down soon. Take the time. Spend it with your people. We may not get to again for quite some time.”
“Sergeant?” Yasiin said with a confused look.
“Hey, don’t look at me. I just stand around and make sure he doesn’t get lost or drool on himself.”
Akamori rolled his eyes, and the three of them exchanged a short laugh at his own expense. Yasiin went silent, brows furrowed in thought. It was a tough decision; he knew. The Captain needed help. But Yasiin would know he had a point. Finally, the Nomad glanced up and bowed his head.
“Thanks. After consideration, Sala and I will stay here. If anything, it might help to have a few of us left back in case whatever hair-brained scheme the Captain’s new mission needs doesn’t pan out.”
“A rear guard. I like it.” Sirsir nodded his approval.
“It’s agreed then. Hold down the fort while we go try to save it. Good luck and enjoy your family time, Corporal.”
“Thanks, sir. Good luck out there.”
“Luck? I don’t need luck. I have the Sergeant.”
“No one likes a kissass sir.”
Akamori shoved Sirsir as they made their goodbyes and turned to leave. Sirsir gave him a sideways look while they walked. “That was a good thing you did. He don’t talk much about his people, but I think this is the first time he’s seen them since he joined up with our outfit.”
“I saw his family in there and all I could think about was how much I missed my own. That I’d give anything to see them again, even for a little. What about you? No pressing need to stay with your family?”
“Nah. Service is my life. Ma’s got my sisters to keep her company. I was always the invisible middle child. My big sis? She got a fancy job in the Brotherhood. Keeps the family flush with enough coin to afford her place here. Little slice of paradise. Me? I couldn’t just sit back and live like a fattened pig. Needed to get out. When Morwen asked for volunteers? I was first in line.”
“For what it’s worth, I really appreciate you offering to come along.” Akamori said.
“It’s like the Captain said. We’ve got leave to spend as we will. If that means we have to save these stuck up snobs from themselves? All the better. So! What’s next?”
“Pack your things and find the Captain at the docks. She’s seeing to our ride right now. I’m going to go pitch Amara.”
“Good luck.”
Akamori chuckled, “Thanks, I think I’ll need it.”
The two gave each other parting waves and split up. Akamori moving towards the 1rst Quarter where the Spell Warrior campus was. Sirsir heading lazily in the opposite direction as he cast a missive spell to link up with Morwen. Akamori wrote his own missive summoning Amara. He needed to get ready for his match soon.