Celeste

Wednesday, April 01, 1998

Settings: In the year 3047, a planet somewhere in the galaxy. Besides the planet lies many planets who attack rather frequently.

Op: Forever Love by X.Japan

Zero looks at the new guy like she was not interested. Or so I think. She never seems interested in anything, and she always seems to have no feelings.

"I… I'm True." The guy finally manages to let out the words, which stumbled carelessly out of his mouth. He fidgets for a moment before adding, "I'm fifteen."

Zero nods. Our commander waves him in, and I see no more as he closes the windows. Finally, they come out. "Bring him to his room, Meg."

"Yes, Sir." The boy walks over and I beckon him to follow me.

When we are out of ear's distance from the commander, I whisper, "You're True?"

He nods none too eager.

"I'm Meg."

"I know."

"Quit speaking like Zero, will you?" I finally find the room. Sometimes the place is just too big. "She's spooky enough."

"I know." He pauses. "How do you want me to speak? I really don't know."

I figure that this guy is really weak. "Like me!" I switch into a more lively tone, one that would make the commander say that I am not a kindergarten kid. I flash a "V" sign.

"Hmm."

I frown. He's worse than Zero. The only people whom I like in this place are myself and Death, a guy who is like Death itself. Sometimes he spooks me, but I really like him. Though he is as old as I am, he looks sixteen. I am already nineteen. Not that I like kids. I don't. I just happen to work in one of the spookiest place in town. At least I like my job, as the reporter and chief engineer. Sometimes guys may not be the best.

"Here's your room." I say, tossing him the keys. "You'd better like it, or the commander will throw you away. By the way, you're sharing it with Zero."

"Why? I'm a guy and she's a girl."

"You're the only people of the same age. I'm also bunking with a guy." At least he's human, I think.

"Who's he?"

"Why are you so interested?"

"You seem to like him."

"What makes you think so?"

"You were blushing a bit when you said that."

"Hn." I turn away. "Go IN!"

He gives a cold smile, and begins to try the keys. After awhile, he calls "Meg~!"

"What?!" I turn around, a bit irritated.

"You got the wrong keys."

I turn white immediately. "Sorry~~~~~!" I fumble a bit before finding the right ones and exchanging them for my keys.

"You're like my sis." He said, a hint of utter loneliness and sadness in his voice, still in its cool calm tone, and closes the door, leaving me to wonder where had that emotion suddenly emerged from.

***

"Oh, no! The water tubing has overheated!" I cry out. "The cooler is spoilt! Oh!"

"Send commands for Number Two to come back!"

"Yes, sir!" I manage to type in the command and the response shows negative. "Byron! Cut the excess electric waves!"

"Yes, Meg!"

I look on for awhile, before noticing that True himself is already rejecting the commands that we sent the computer. "Idiot!" I yell at him, although he can not hear it. "Commander! His body is already thirty percent burnt and he is semi-conscious!"

"Quick!" The commander yells some commands to True. True finally listens and we succeed in reviving the cooler. By now he's forty percent burnt. I doubt he will survive, sadly. Most of the kids I've worked with is now either was disabled or in RIP state. "Tan! Go and get the ambulance! Lino! Get True out before Number One explodes!" I burst out. They obey, surprisingly.

Lino's work is dangerous. I worry for him as he manages to teleport there and open the door to carry True out. True looks terrible. Lino teleports back just at the last moment and I feel some load off me, but not all. The ambulance people finally reach us and carries True to the emergency room.

Zero stands there, in her spectator's place, and shows no expression.

***

"True! Wake up!" I yell, frantically, and he finally does. I heave a sigh of relief, and he asks, "Am I still alive?"

I nod, thankful that he is not dead. The commander looks over disapprovingly, but who cares.

"Thanks, Meg."

I wonder what for. I am the chief engineer, and I caused his injury. He is bandaged all over, and an eye is covered by a bandage. I hope he has not lost his sight.

Finally, he looks over at Zero. She is outside, at the glass window, and walks away. He looks a wee bit disappointed, and requests for everyone to go out but me. They do so, with great reluctance.

We are alone, at last, and he begins to cry. For once I realize that he is not a robot, but a human boy who owned nothing in the world.

"I miss her." He manages to choke out, and I ask, "Who?"

"My sister. She was my only family. She was the only one who cared."

I smile a bit coldly. "At least you did experience that."

"You had no one?"

I nod, for once telling someone the secret.

"But…"

"I know it's terrible…" I say. "But I just think that never having someone else who cared before or now is worse than losing someone who cares."

He realizes that I have never experienced concern before, and keeps quiet.

"So, are we friends?" I brighten up. I just cannot stand that kind of atmosphere.

He manages a smile. "Yes."

***

"You like him, don't you?" I turn around, surprised that a phrase not concerning work is coming out from his mouth. "True."

"What?!" I exclaim. "You are asking me?"

"I recall no other intelligent being in this room besides you and me."

I think for while. "Yup. He's a good boy."

"Hn." He takes off his shirt. "You are insensitive."

"Hmm, maybe I am. But what makes you say so?"

Death smiles his very abnormal dead smile and throws his shirt onto the bed. It looks wet; his training must be pretty hard. "You know," He begins to bend down and take his towel, his well-built yet slender body gleaming with sweat. I continue to watch him, much as I know he pretty much detests people's attention. "Hmm…" He gets up and opens the bathroom door.

I figure that he does not want to reply anymore. "Wait."

He nods his attention.

"This is the first time I actually have one of your extinct conversations."

He turns back and goes in.

I smile as I watch the closed and translucent door.

***

Death wakes up, staring up at me.

"It's your turn, Death."

"Sorry. I think I overslept." He puts a hand to his head, as if trying to steady it.

"Hurry up." I throw his clothes over to him.

"Thanks." He changes into them, and I turn my head. "Try not to touch my things."

"The most I'd touch are your clothes, okay! I don't think I'd want to touch your things unless I really need to."

He says nothing.

***

"Death! Strategy number one!"

"Okay."

"Tan! Increase the electric current."

"Hai!"

Death continues to strike the target.

Suddenly, the warning bell rings away.

"Death! Quick! Stop!" I yell. "Go to Teleport Platform Three! Zero! Teleport to Number One!"

"Yes, 'mam." She stands up, and runs over to the teleport platform in the room.

"Where's the attack?!" I yell at the commander.

"City E3. They're teleporting there."

"System change!" I yell. "Screen show E3!"

The screen shows the town and I look briefly at the city. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I catch someone coming in to sit at the spectators' place.

It is True.

I have no time to worry about him now, I realize. They had already found the invaders.

"Zero! Cover Death!"

"Yes."

"Prepare an electric charge!"

"Hai!"

"Death! Try to take the time till six seconds!"

"Hmn."

There is only one invader. The technologies of theirs are only as good as ours, and obviously they're overconfident, or they do not have the money and resources.

Six.

Death lunges a kick at the invader. The invader falls, and crushes a building. I only hope no one is in it. They should have all been excavated by now, I think. Zero moves to punch the invader but the invader reaches up and grabs Death by the leg.

Five.

"Death! Kick him!" Suddenly I realize that I have made the wrong command. Zero should have punched the invader instead. The invader swings Death towards Zero.

Four.

They fall in a pile. Death on top of Zero. "Oh no! Zero's impact is too strong! The chest of One is slightly disabled." Slightly disabled could mean a lot in our case. "Death's okay. But Number Zero's leg is also slightly disabled."

Three.

"Zero! Quick! He's going to shoot!"

Zero extends the shield as a beam of light energy flies towards them.

Two.

Zero is trying to hold on. At least the shield will hold on.

One.

Death struggles to prepare.

Zero.

Zero decides to sacrifice herself. Chances of hitting her are seventy-thirty. Just as I don't know what to do, she offs the shield and the energy beam goes towards her.

"Zero! Quick! Death! Fire!"

Death aims. He shoots, our whole full blast. But obviously their energy beam is too big and swallows ours whole. Zero prepares the shield. Death gets up and carries Zero up. The beam hits them just in time. Death waits.

Six. Five. Four.

The invader fires a second shot. Zero stumbles backwards, and the shield shines. "Zero! Danger! It's gonna disintegrate!"

Three. Two.

Death moves, taking chance.

One.

He prepares to fire. The invader turns, likewise preparing to fire.

"Death! The beam is ready!"

The invader's beam is obviously not ready yet. Death fires, and the invader gets hit.

"Tan! Prolong the beam!"

"Hai!"

"Death! Try to keep him there till he dies! We're prolonging your beam life! If this fails, you will not have any more beams for thirty seconds!"

"I'll try."

I watch anxiously, when I suddenly hear a shout: "Zero!"

I return to Zero. The shield has disintegrated almost completely. "It's beyond repair!" I realize, too late. There is nothing we can do. Number One falls back with such impact that she breaks all the buildings in its path. I realize another thing. "The chamber holding Zero is being dispensed!" I type in some commands to stop it; it is too dangerous.

"It's too hot!" Someone yelled from another corner.

I turn back to Death. The invader is gone, motionless, lifeless. "Teleport the ambulance~!"

Death picks up the whole chamber. Instead of us teleporting there, he is teleporting her together to us.

Finally, he comes out of Number Zero.

I realize a person running towards Zero's chamber. True. "Zero!" He yells, prying the thing open with his bandaged hands. "Zero!"

I rush over. "Teleport the ambulance here!"

They do so, and we can only watch as they carry Zero away to the Emergency room, together with True. Death stands aside, together with me, and everyone sits in their places, looking forlorn.

***

"Death," I ask, while waiting for reports to be out in our room. "Are you having headaches or any dizzy spells?"

"Why?"

"I realize that you were under too much pressure."

"I'm fine. Are you blaming me for Zero's case?"

"No," I am alarmed. "I'm just concerned."

"Get off my case. I can quit if you want." He snaps, suddenly.

I am surprised. He had never snapped to anyone, and I'm the first one whom he broke his record on. "I… I…"

He lies onto his bed. "I can quit if you really want." It is a silent statement, and he means it.

"I don't want you to quit." I bow my head down. "Just that you seemed in much pain when you were moving, and you fired the beam in time because you jerked. Not my commands, you know."

"Sorry I yelled" was all he said.

***

"True, are you there?" I ask, knocking on his door in the hospital..

He opens the door. "Hi, Meg, Death."

"Sorry."

"It's not your fault." True gestures. "Come in."

"Sure."

"I've never really talked to you before, True." Death fixes his gaze onto True. True glances sideways, suddenly fidgety. "You're fifteen?"

"Yeah."

Death smiles coldly. "Meg, if there is nothing else, I'd like to go back to my bunk."

"Go." I am a bit irritated. "Sorry. He's like that."

"I know." True sighs. "Is there anything that I can do to help Zero?"

"I'm afraid none that I can think of, True." I sit down. "Tell me about her?"

"I don't really know. But she did say one thing. 'If there's anyone whom I really trust, it's Death'."

"She said that?"

"Yes. I was telling her how Death looked like some flirt who used to be in my class."

"You mean, she's going steady with him?"

"No. But they seem to have something in their hearts about each other."

"Hmm." I feel my heart drop a notch. "They both…"

"You can go and see Zero now." The PA system sounding in his room told us what to do.

***

We run there. By the time we reach there, Death is already there. He seems to be talking to her about something. I knock, and open the door.

"…well soon."

"Death…" I whisper, feeling my heart suddenly breaking into pieces when he gives her a "OK" sign. I've never seen anything like it from him.

"Thanks." Zero mutters, then turns to look over at us.

"Can I ask you something?" I am very hurt.

"Go on."

"Erm… Can we go back and talk?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks…"

True looks over at Zero, and walks away.

***

"Do you like Zero?"

"No. But she is my best friend."

"But… Why?"

"We went through a lot."

"No wonder she trusted you enough to do that."

"I know. And I'll ask you again. Do you like True?"

"In that sense? No, of course not."

He nods, turning onto his side so that he no longer faces me, and switches the lights off. I watch his dark figure in the dim light, and I finally fall asleep.

***

I begin to visit Zero more and more frequently. Maybe it is because she is Death's best friend, I really do not know. She does not seem to welcome it, nor does she seem to mind. So most of the time it is either "Question-answer mode" or plain silence. Death is surprised, but never did ask me why. Sometime, if Death or True is not too tired, we'd go together.

This did not force us apart. In fact, I think it brought us together.

However, Death and True never was seen to be together. True is always too weak to go when Death is going, or Death is too tired to go when True is going.

I wonder why.

***

One day, after practice, the commander asked me to go to his office for a chat.

I went, and he said something about new drivers are desperately needed.

Now he says, "So we are reflective that we need new, inexperienced geniuses who are willing to serve the planet. We have found three of them to replace True and Zero for the time being, and to work with us in the future."

"Who are they?"

"It's a secret that you must keep. One of them is Towers, a fourteen year old who is good in athletics and brainy. He has just lost both parents. The other is Winner, an Arabic."

"Who is the last one?"

"Maxwell… He is Death's brother."

"What? Death has a brother?"

"Yes. Death's mother died."

"But…"

"Look, I have to find someone to look after them, and the only person I can think of is you. Will you do that?"

"Yeah, sure, but…"

"No buts. I'll have the equipment fixed tomorrow. And your job will not only include those three, but also the former three."

"What?"

"I've noticed that you are closer to them."

"Oh…"

"You may go now."

***

I decide not to tell True or Death or, in any case, anyone at all. What's worse is that I find talking to them is much harder than before.

I did not say a word when I took the pocket TV from the commander. I switch it on, and watch as True flips and flops in bed, wincing when he rests weight on his wounds. Nothing much, I decide, before switching over to Zero's. She is staring at the ceiling. As usual. As for Death… he's probably brushing his teeth. I muse, how would he look like when he's brushing his teeth? I switch over to my bathroom. Anyway I've just came back and it's pretty late, surely he's preparing for sleep?

I switch over, preparing myself for a good laugh.

He isn't brushing his teeth, but bathing. Oh, yes, I realise, he's just came back from practice. I've forgotten that it is the wrong day.

Something catches my eye.

He doesn't look human. No, he can't be a human. Not without all the important parts. He only bears a humanoid shape, and there… there is nothing.

I switch it off, sick suddenly. I did not mean to peep, and now…

I do not know what to think.

***

I am not about to confront him, and I… I really don't know what I should feel. Maybe he is an alien who came undercover … I…

What if he is? Then all of mankind will perish. But I don't really care that much.

I just don't know whether or not I should stop liking him.

It just seems so different…

He comes out of the bathroom, silent, as usual, seemingly not aware of what I did and knew. "Death…" I whisper.

He nods, and sits down on the bed, without his shirt.

"What if… if someone whom you love isn't human, what would you do?"

"Continue. Why?"

"Nothing… I'm thinking about writing a novel."

"Oh?"

"Yeah…" I mutter. That's a good idea, I think. My life will be a great thing to write about. But I will not have the time or the courage to recall everything.

Continue was the only word he said. I lie down, as he begins falling asleep while watching the TV. I crawl out of bed and throw the blanket over him before switching everything off. Maybe I should continue to like him.

I will, I decide, before falling asleep.

***

"I am Towers." A guy with hair covering half the face says. "Fifteen."

"Maxwell, fifteen." A brown haired dude with a big plait hanging at the back says.

"You're Death's brother!" I exclaim. This one looks human enough… "Why, you don't look like him."

"Death? Never heard of him, but I do have a big brother."

"Oh…" Perhaps Maxwell isn't about to admit he has an alien brother. "Are you human?"

"Of course." He says, posing, showing off his muscles as if they can be seen under all the clothes. "You want me to show you?" He adds, a bit slyly.

"You're underage. Better not." I laugh. "Besides, I'd like to have someone more muscular. And taller."

"He's only one-five-six." The last kid with beautiful light golden hair tells me.

"Oh? That's the same as me." I reply.

"Really? But we are guys." He shakes his head. "At least it's comforting to know that we will be growing taller."

"I won't."

"How old are you, Meg?" Golden Hair asks.

"Nineteen. What's your name and how tall you are?"

"Winners. And I'm as tall as Maxwell. Towers' one-six-zero."

"He's the tallest." Maxwell says, a bit envious.

"You are all fifteen?"

"Yup." Maxwell answers for all of them.

"Great. Let me bring you to the other drivers."

"What are they like?" Winners asks.

"Oh, True is okay but Death and Zero seem alien."

"Why?" Maxwell asks.

"Death is so… deathly and Zero seems so expressionless."

"Ooh… I guess we're one of the only normal ones around."

"Yeah, I guess so too. Save for Towers." I whisper into Winner's ear.

"Ha haha… Yes, maybe… He's a bit expressionless, but I know he has feelings."

"Really?"

"Yup, and he's good at long flute.

"Geez! That's hard to believe!"

"I'm good at violin."

"Wow, so you guys must have pretty same interests."

"Music."

"Hmm. Brought your instruments along?"

"Yup."

"Great! Can I hear you and Towers play someday?"

"Sure, we'll be glad to play for such a pretty girl like you."

"Thank you."

"You left me out." Maxwell says, pretending to be sour.

"Oh, yeah? Your best game would be fighting."

"He can be a great driver if he's able to fight using the machines."

So we go on and on, occasionally trying to get Towers to join in. Finally, we reach the destined place-- the hospital. Zero lies there, and True, and Death, who seems ever so willing, sitting there.

"Quarter!" Maxwell yells, running towards Death. "Brer Quarter! Boy, I haven't seen you in a long time!"

"Maxwell…" Death remains expressionless. "You're still as energetic as ever."

"I missed you!" Maxwell gives Death a big brother hug.

"Wait a minute! He's Quarter?"

"Yup."

"They call him Death here."

"Oh. So I am Death's brother."

"You just don't seem like brothers."

"Actually, we're not. He's adopted from somewhere Dad was working in."

"Who's you Dad?"

"Scott R. Mayhall. That's his scientist name which he will only use."

"Hmm. I think I've heard of it sometime before."

Death remains expressionless, though uneasy. Hmm, maybe Maxwell is a human afterall. What about Towers? "Enough of chatting. Introduce yourselves."

"I'm Winner."

"I'm Towers."

"Maxwell!"

"I'm True."

"So you're the more normal one." Maxwell interrupts.

"I suppose so." True suppresses a smile.

"Zero."

"Death."

"Namely, Quarter." Maxwell interupts.

"I'm Meg."

"We know." Maxwell laughs.

"It's a habit."

"Maxwell, you are a bit rude." Death tells Maxwell in a way that I never think he will use.

"Thank you." Maxwell laughs crudely, before adding to his somewhat annoyed brother, "You very seldom speak like that, Quarter! Don't tell me she's the one whom you mentioned… Mmph!" Death cups his hand over Maxwell's mouth.

"Ha ha… Maxwell, you look so funny!"

"Mmmmm!!"

"Erm, Death… I think you'd better let go of him, he's choking." Winner tells Death somewhat meekly.

Towers smile at that. True laughs and Zero remains expressionless.

Death finally realises that poor Maxwell is choking. He lets go of Maxwell, who falls down onto the floor.

"Yeow! Quarter…I really thought I'd die." Maxwell huffs and puffs.

NOW Winner, Towers, True and I laugh wholeheartedly.

***

"I think the process should be of no problem." I announce, after checking thoroughly the bluprint of the new machines, Number Three, Four and Five. "But it will take quite sometime for them to be completed."

"Hmm, Maybe we can transfer the data to test how good they are?"

"It will take an hour each machine."

"Tell them to come down one hour fifteen minutes later."

"Yes, Commander."

"You will be in charge of Maxwell and Winner."

"Great!"

He glares at me. "Towers will be taken in another room to be tested by Cloud."

"Okay, Commander."

"Bye." I leave.

***

"Maxwell, take Number Zero."

"Okay," Maxwell replies.

"Start energy! Move towards Target."

"Ha…hai! But how do I do that?"

"Pretend that you are just walking to walk."

"Oh…"

"It's the psychological problem."

"I know," Maxwell closes his eyes and start to walk.

"Hmm, good. Punch the target."

"Hai!" Maxwell punches the target, temporarily making an indent in the target.

"Wow!" I gasp. For as far as I know True never even did punch the thing. "You're great!"

"Of course."

"Hmm. Now kick it."

"Simple!" He kicked it at least ten times in a short moment. His kicks were also powerful.

"Encore! But try to quit boasting."

"It's my pleasure to boast."

"Showoff. Now shoot a beam at it, using the pistol provided by your side."

"Huh? How's this supposed to work?"

"I'm the designer's helper, so I know. Go on."

"'Kay." He fires a shot, which hits it directly.

"Hey! You're good!"

"Thank you."

"Oh, you're so modest."

"Heh."

"Okay. Winners, are you ready?"

"Yeah, and this suit is pretty tight."

"It's Zero's. We will make you one when we are sure that you are ready."

"Okay, now what?"

"Get in Number One."

After a few moments, Winner gets in.

"Now punch the Target."

"Yes," Winners punches it, with great skill and agility but not great strength. Still, he's far better than True's first try… But I don't know about Death and Zero; they were here even before me. But I presume that they were pretty good, or they would not be here for so many years.

"Kick it."

Winners is great. With great speed, skill and agility he kicked the thing, before it had some holes to add to the old ones done by Death and Zero.

"Wow! This is far better than someone else's." I cast a glance at Maxwell, who rolls his eyes. "Now fire a shot using the pistol by your side."

"This?" The screen shows a closeup of the pistol.

"Yes, and quit doing that."

"Okay." He fires, and it almost hits bull'seye.

"Hmm. This is a bit better than Maxwell's."

"Will this be all?" Winners asks.

"Frankly, there will be more to come, but you will have to wait some days. And Maxwell, I doubt you read the booklet we gave you, unlike Winners."

"Heh heh… I did not have the time."

"What were you doing? Eating?"

"No… Playing Virtual reality games."

"You're not supposed to bring it in. Virtual reality games are dagerous for your mind."

"I know," Wnners replies for Maxwell. "It is damageful for the brain cells to have those images projected through your eyes and having to enter the mind world."

"Now I know who is more well-informed." I laugh. "Now run along, you guys. I'll have to sumit the report. Do you think we can meet for lunch later?"

"Yeah, sure! Do you think Quarter will be coming?" Maxwell asks hopefully.

"Maybe, I don't know."

"Oh, if you ask, he will."

"What?" Winners ask Maxwell.

"Nothing."

"Okay. Now, Number Zero and Number One please return to the opening platform."

"Yes, Meg." They start to move away.

***

I look at Death playing basketball. How can this be a part of the training, I don't know. Maybe it is for them to train their strength and stamina. "Will the session be over soon?" I ask someone watching three drivers training.

"Pretty soon, Meg. How's the new drivers?"

"Oh, far better than True."

"Hee hee… I think I know."

Zero captures the ball and passes it to Death again, dodging all the robots. The ball manages to get into the net pretty fast.

"Lunch break! Death, Meg's looking for you."

"Yes?"

"Death… Do you think you can join us for lunch?"

"Who?"

"Maxwell, Winners, me and maybe Towers."

"…" He stares at me.

I feel myself cower a bit. "Maxwell wants you to come."

He turns around. "Okay. Just wait for me to change."

***

"Quarter!" Maxwell rushes up to pull Death's hand again. "I'm so glad you came!"

"In case you didn't notice, True's here also." I inform them mildly.

"Oh, hi, True."

"Hi, I'm Winners. Remember me?"

"Yeah…" True blushes a little. Maybe it is because Winners looks so pretty.

"Where are we going?" True asks, and Winners suggest a fast food rstaurant.

"Hmm, let's go for Japanese crusine," I suggest.

"I want hotdogs." Maxwell says.

"WAIT! Let's vote. Who wants dogs?"

"Me!" Maxwell raises a solitary hand. "And Quarter!"

Death shakes his head.

"Fast food?"

"Uh uh." True shakes his head.

"Japanese crusine!"

"I think I want it," True whispers. "I'm more used to it."

Death raises his hand, and so do I. "Japanese crusine it shall be!"

***

We end up at a local sushi bar after some more votes, although I prefer Sashimi. Sushi are but snacks.

We eat and eat, until the person in charge glares at us like anything. Oh, well, I forgot to mention that Death and Truth eat a lot, especially after their training. As for Maxwell and Winners, I discovered that they learnt karate, judo, et cetera et cetera. Towers learnt sword mastery, archery, samurai skills and M16 shooting. No wonder Commander chose them. I mean, come on! Even in this age the most people are able to learn are two of those self-defence arts.

"Boy! You guys sure can eat." Wnners remarks. "Even more than me."

"You might eat more than them after you've been through training." I tell him, sipping at my sake.

"Ah, sounds dangerous." He replies.

"Well, I betcha it's nothing I can't handle," Maxwell boasts.

"Wait till you've been through it," True shovels some more food into his mouth. Death and Towers say nothing as they eat in peace and quiet, though occasionally looks are cast around.

"Hmm, how do you manage to pay for this much food?" Winners ask.

"I charge them to the organisation. The commander pays for them."

"I wonder if I can charge the organisation for more virtual reality games," Maxwell remarks.

"I dare you." I reply, and he laughs.

"Have some sake?" I ask Death. "You're not underage."

"Oh, but does he look underage." Maxwell laughs again, slurring as if one can get drunk on sushi and wasabe to go with it.

"I doubt they dare to question even if he is underage," True comments.

"So, do you want some?"

He regards me suspiciously. "You're not supposed to drink during office hours. Do you need me to send you back?"

"I'm not drunk," I say, staring at him. "I'm still sober. But this does taste nice."

"So, what is one plus one?" Maxwell mocks.

"Two. I've a good stomach for beer." I hold a cup, one that I made sure that I haven't drunk from, and hold it out to him.

Death hesitates, and sips a bit.

"How is it?"

"Okay," He replies.

"Let's have more, then." We order quite a few bottles of sake and even True and Towers try it. Finally, we begin to see each other's twins and triplets and everything else, and it is then that a small part of me tells me that I'll be fired.

***

"You'd better lie down now, Meg." He purrs, trying to get me down from his back.

"No!" I hold on even more tightly. "Lie down with me."

"Quit it! You're pulling out my buttons!"

"Ha ha…"

"All right, all right!" He dumps me onto the bed, and lies down with me. "Maxwell's going to envy."

"Duh." I pull him closer, tearing his shirt in the process.

"Oi! I'm NOT a bear!"

"Oh, yes you are," I pull the feathers out of the pillow and start stuffing them into his torn shirt. "But you're too skinny."

"OI!" He wriggles out of his shirt and I throw it to the far side.

"This is stupid. You shouldn't do that. Now how am I supposed to fatten you up?"

"Let me fatten you," He snarls, pulling at my blouse and stuffing a whole pillow in, tearing everything in the process.

"You are too stupid," I wriggle out of his grasp and fall out of the bed, pulling him along with me.

"Oaf!" We land on top of each other, in a jumbled pile of limbs.

"Look what you have done." He gets up, pulling me up.

"I'm sorry. Next time I'll take off everything so's you can't stuff anything to fatten me up."

"Next time I'll go on my bed so you can't, either." He takes a bundle of feathers and wave them at me.

"Oh, no, you can't." I take all my clothes off. "Now you can't. It's my turn."

"I have a belt," He laughs.

"I'll pull it out."

"Why not, you can try."

I take an attempt to lunge at him, and succeed. "I'm not moving," I inform him mildly.

"So don't."

I fall asleep on top of him.

***

I open my eyes. Everything seems to spin for a moment.

I find myself naked and on top of DEATH! "Oh, this must be a dream… " I dare not move. I try to get back to sleep, without succeeding. "Maybe if I wake up then I'll find this is just a fantasy…"

"Do you mind?" A voice sounds, breaking all small voices in my mind. "I feel strange."

"What happened?" I whisper, a little scared.

"I can't remember…" He closes his eyes, and frowns.

"So don't I! Did we do anything?"

"I don't remember!"

"Death…" I look up to meet his eyes. "I don't care. You are now my boyfriend."

He looks away, red. "Okay."

"QUARTER~~~~~~~~!" A red-faced young boy whom I recognise as Maxwell bursts in.

"Shit!" I curse, covering myself with the blanket.

"How do you feel?" Maxwell asks.

"Not too good."He replies.

"Where's Meg? What's that?"

Don't lift it up! I scream inside.

He did. "Meg!" He steps back, his red face suddenly turning green.

"I was drunk," Death says simply.

"I swear I didn't do anything to your brother," I raise both of my hands.

Maxwell steps back again and then turns around and runs out of the door.

"Maxwell!" I yell after him, but the door is already closed and I get up to bathe.

***

"Why?" I ask Maxwell. "Speak to me!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Is it because of that?"

"No!"

"Maxwell, speak to me! What's bugging you?"

"Listen, you… you whore! Nothing's bugging me. It's what's bugging you."

"What? You… It's because of that?"

"No… It's just that… You toyed with my feelings!"

"What? I didn't belong to you! I…" I try to defend myself. Maxwell must have mistaken me to be his girlfriend, but why?

"Oh, Meg…!" He turns away, tears in his eyes. "I…" With that, he speaks no more, and walks away.

"Meg…" Death comes from another corridor. "The commander is looking for you."

Maxwell turns his head, and whispers, "Death…" before turning back and walks off.

Death stands surprised, and I pull his hand before walking away to the commander's office.

***

"Why did you drink during office times and get everyone else to drink with you?" The commander demands.

"I'm sorry, I will NOT do it again."

"I will give you a chance, judging from the way the drivers love you," The commander tells me. "But one more offence like that and you will be fired."

"I promise, sir."

"You may leave now."

"Thank you, sir."

I walk out and close the door behind me, to find Death outside waiting for me.

"So?"

"I will be fired if anything happens again. But I will not let anything happen, Death, I promise."

"You'd better not," He replies, squeezing my hand and I realise that this alien actually cares for me.

***

"I think Maxwell and I have a misunderstanding," I tell Winners.

"Well, I suppose you can't blame it all on him," Winners tell me. "He has been through a hard time before, that's why he's so extreme."

"Oh," I suck in a breath. I understand, too. "Can you tell me?"

"I'm afraid not. This is a secret between only Maxwell and me."

"I see. But…"

"Now can you tell me what's the misunderstanding?"

"It's all the liqour's fault." I reply. "But the rest are secrets."

"I see." Winners ask nothing more, but continues, "I think you like Death?"

I turn red, and replies, "It is a secret between you and me!" Wink, and skip away.

***

The results are out. Death and Maxwell are under me, together with True and Winners. And I celebrate because DEATH IS WITH ME! I presume that the commander's assistant already knows about Death and me. Maxwell got ninety upon hundred and Winners got ninety-one upon hundred. As for Death's retake by Cloud, he got ninety-eight upon hundred and I heard that Zero got ninety-six. For True, he got… Eighty- five and Towers got ninety-seven, which is rather unbelieveable for him.

Maxwell is still not speaking to me, which is rather a headache since he is not speaking to Death either, but at least Winners is able to give me something to write in the reports.

Cloud tells me that Death is almost a legend, and I laugh it off. But he was the only one who ever scored full marks in both the physical tests and IQ test before, and now he is performing far better than anyone, since the others' tests were given according to their level. Cloud also complains about True, who would never cooperate with Death and couldn't coorperate with Zero. Again, I laugh at him; I know the secret to that.

***

"Beep! Beep!" The bell sounds again, killing our break time.

"Death! Hurry up!" I pull him along, knocking the chairs over in the process. "Cloud!" I yell into the mini walkie-talkie. "Are you getting Zero to go?"

"Yep. She's already waiting for both of you. Use Teleport Device Ten, it is faster."

When we reach the platform of the machines, Death changes into the clothes so fast and without taking off anything. We took too much time reaching there.

"Death!" I shout after him.

He turns, and smiles at me, before turning back and getting back. "Goodbye, Meg."

"Death…?" For a moment I wonder if that fast fleeting moment had been what I hallucinated, but I realise that time is running out. I step back into my room and start shouting commands to them.

They reach the destined city, and Death aims at the invader. With my new design they do not have to wait, but after ten beams, it would have to be recharged, taking up twenty seconds approximately. Zero with draws her energy sword, and start trying to cut into the invader. I must say, Death and Zero had so much coordination. After some time Death manages to shoot the invader, and it explodes, with Zero out of the way. We start cheering, before another beep sounds, informing us of another attack somewhere else.

"This must be a trap," I ponder, and say, send Zero to the other destination. "Teleport True together with her." True gets in his machine and got teleported.

Suddenly, as soon as Zero is away, Some other invaders come into view, facing Death. "It is a trap! Death! Oh, send Towers, Maxwell and Winners! Death! Hold on!"

"Yes!" The trio get into their machines individually. I watch both ways. Death is sommersaulting all around, dodging all the beams but not all the buildings, but who cares. Please don't get hurt, Death.

Cloud comes in and start taking over Zero's situation.

One beam hits Death on the left shoulder, and the screen showing his injury is terrible. "I… Death! The wound is rather near to his heart! Death! Come back! Shoot as much as you can to keep them from shooting you…!"

Nine beams, that's all. On the screen I see him gritting his teeth, and the machine running back to the teleporting device, dodging all the beams expertly. Finally, the trio arrives.

"There's twenty of them, Meg!" Someone yells across the room.

"Do not miss, all of you!" I scream, banging onto the controls. On the other screen I see Death being carried out by the others, half alive… Death…

I hope…… Suddenly I feel so messy inside, absolute chaos.

Finally, they finish the task, with great effort, and I run towards the emergency room, with the sign above the door flashing…

There is nothing I can do but wait now, and hope he's not dead.

***

"Meg…"

"Death! Oh, Death, I'm so glad that you are still alive!"

"I… I love you,"

"Oh, oh…" I whisper, speechless. Death closes his eyes, and suddenly I know that it is for forever…

"Meg! Wake up! Death's coming around!" Winners yell into my face, his breath hot.

I open my eyes, and find that he has a bandage on his head, and I know that this is the work of the bastard invaders. I swear to myself to destroy them all, after all the damage… At least Death's awake now, but… what if he's paralysed?

"Which room is he in?!" I shoot, and Winners point at a room at the far side of the balcony. I run over, almost stumbling over my own feet in the process, but now I know he is alive, and that's all that matters to me.

"Death…! Death!"

He turns his head, and looks at me, his seemingly expressionless eyes filled with fear, suddenly… I know that he has faced death before, and…

"Meg…?"

"Death…" I kneel down beside him, tears falling down, and I know it is something more than life itself made him live on.

He gestures for the others to go out, and they do, respectfully.

Finally, when the door is closed, he closees his eyes and tell me, "I can't live any longer, Meg."

I can't believe it. "No… You must be lying."

"You should know if I am, Meg. I may not tell the entire truth, but I never lie."

I shake my head vigourously, clutching his hand tightly. "No, Death, People don't just die like that."

"I do. When I die the truth will come out, and you shall know and live on."

"What is it? Death? What is it that I cannot know? Is it the fact that you are not human? I don't mind, Death. I swear I don't."

"You know?"

"Not the entire truth, but…"

"Well, you will know everything once I die."

"Death…"

He says nothing, kisses my hand, and closes his eyes.

***

Death is not coming for practice again, and I know that what he said is true. He might not live long. Maybe it is his race…

True and Winners visit him everyday, but Maxwell never seems to care, and Death expresses worry for Maxwell to me, and only to me. After all, they grew up together. I make up my mind to speak to Maxwell some day, before Death leaves us.

So, I wait for the right opportunity to come.

"Maxwell! Stay in Number Three! Winners and True, you may leave now."

"Huh!"

Winners cast a worried look at Maxwell, asking me silently if he could help, but I wave my hand, and he casts another glance before going out. True nods to me, and walks away.

"Maxwell, you may come out now, but you need to stay back. We need to discuss something."

"Hn!" He comes out, taking his own sweet time.

"Maxwell, I believe that you know that Death is dying."

"It's none of my business," He replies, though a glint of sadness pass his eyes.

"It is," I stare at him. "He is your brother. You should care for him the way he does and you should forgive him. He forgives you for what you have done to him but you still can't forgive him. What kind of brother are you?"

He remains silent.

"Besides, you might not see him again once he's gone to heaven, Maxwell. You should treasure the time while you both can be together, or I swear you will regret it forever." I turn and walk away. "You can blame it on me if you want, Maxwell, but never hurt your brother."

He stands there, silent.

***

That night, I lie quietly beside him, on the hospital bed, his breathing a rythmic tuneless melody, and my heartbeat to add to the sound of it. We do nothing, each lost in our own thoughts, and I begin to think of life and death and karma, or chance, fate, whatever you call it. We say nothing, afraid that a single word will send the serenity away.

Just then, the doorknob turns, and I see a familiar dark figure at the door-- Maxwell, carrying flowers. I get up, to welcome him.

"I didn't come because of you, Meg, but Death and myself."

I nod, and look over at Death, who seems surprised.

"I'll visit you again tommorrow, Death." I say, and leave the room.

I believe the brothers have a lot to say to each other.

***

The bell rings away again.

Zero sits in Number Zero, staring ahead. Cloud is taking over now; I know I can't do it.

"There's thirty of them, Zero, Do what you can, and we will send the others promptly."

"Yes, Sir."

"Maxwell, go to platform Two and Winners, Three. Towers, go together with Maxwell. True, go with Winners."

I figure that Cloud is not that good, but who cares. If Death is going to die, I might as well die too under the invaders. But Winners' wound is not yet healed, and that is the main problem.

Zero kills two or three, before she is finally over powered and they surround her. Much as the others try, they cannot get near her.

Suddenly, Cloud yells, "Stand back, The others, and leave as fast as you can! Number One is going to explode!"

True refuses to go, but Towers pull him along.

Suddenly, I see a burst of light and nothing more, not even the leftovers of Number One and the invaders.

(Bgm: Forever Love's Karaoke Version)

***

All of us know that Zero is dead, but there is nothing I can do. Death is the one hurt most, what with everything happening so fast. Before me is the person with a broken heart who used to have so much self assurance and calmness.

But all that he has left is me.

That will never be enough, I think, but he tells me, So long as he has me, he'll be alright.

I believe him. The truth in his eyes tell me everything. I hope he can have me forever. I look at him, lying on his hospital bed, so forlorn and lost. And there is nothing I can do or say to comfort him.

I knock on the door, and he says, "Come in." I look around a bit, before sitting down beside him.

"Death…"

"I'm okay," He replies, though pain is apparent in his eyes.

"I know," I smile wanly, and he returns a sad smile. Silence.

Finally, he replies,"There is nothing I can do anymore, Meg."

I look down at his frail-looking hand, and he closes his eyes.

"I had a dream," I look up at him enquiringly. "Zero was in the dream and she looked sad. She… was in the light. She said something, and I knew."

"You knew?"

He looks up sadly. "But there is nothing I could do to stop her. She… She exchanged her life for mine."

"But… But why?" I ask.

"She believed in me and she knew that I have found love. She could not bear to see me die with someone waiting for me. Do you believe me, Meg? Do you?"

I hold him close, and say, "Death, I don't know what to believe."

***

Death is recuperating quickly, to his doctors' surprise, and I realise that what he was saying is true. And it grieves him so to lose his best friend because of himself. But there is nothing he can do, and so everyday he is lost in his own thoughts.

***

One day, I watch Maxwell and True. Maxwell says, "I admire you, True. You have just lost someone whom you love and you can still go on with it."

"My heart can go on by itself, while I start afresh." True replies, smiling sadly.

"I will never forget that," Replies Maxwell, and away they walk to their rooms.

***

The alarm sounds again, the dreaded alarm. Whilst the commander is trying desperately to look for compatible drivers, they attack.

"Maxwell! Teleport here imediately, and Winners please come over to Number Five! Towers, stop whatever you are doing and teleport here NOW!" I yell at them, and they either grunt a reply or nod a reply. True sits in Number Two, waiting for them.

Finally, when they arrived and changed into their costumes, they teleport to City H5, where the invaders are.

"Meg! Disaster! The radar shows that there are at least a hundred invaders, and none like those we met with before!"

"Hmm, so it's most likely that they are from another planet," I reply. "We should send more radars and satelites."

"But not now," Maxwell replies. "There are just too many of them!"

"Yeah," Winners shoot quite a few at them, and kills a few.

"DON’T shoot too many beams, or you will run out of energy, Maxwell, shoot after Winners has shot ten shots, one at a time. Then Towers will shoot ten after Maxwell has shot ten. Try to stall time till twenty seconds. Are you able to do that?"

"I guess so," Winners reply uncertainly.

"You'd better, for Mankind's sake! I will send a message back to Pluto for reinforcements. Cloud, how long will that take?"

"About five minutes for them to arrive, Meg!"

"SEND IT NOW!"

"Yes!"

I watch as the drivers take turn, and I realise that those aliens do not know that there are shields. But they have good attacking devices, and they finally manage to shoot Maxwell's machine. "Shit! Maxwell's machine is partly spoilt! How many more minutes?"

"Three and a half or so, Meg!"

"Towers, try to cover…" Suddenly Maxwell gets up, limping onto his feet and launches a kick into Towers, sending him flying into Winners. He kicks them farther again, and the enemy watch, stunned. "What the…"

Then Maxwell runs towards the enemy. "My heart can go on by itself, while I start afresh. You said that, True, and I admire you. But that is one thing I can't do." He presses the self destruction button and the enemy gets blown up into thousands of pieces, the heat scorching the heat-prove layer of the rest, while Cloud activates the shield for them.

"Maxwell…" All of us can only see the barren land left.

***

"Maxwell's dead." I tell him, my heart breaking into pieces. "I'm sorry."

"Maxwell…" He says nothing else and slumps back into his bed, and I close my eyes, trying to will the pain away. I finally open my eyes and see him lying, looking dead, and it strikes me for a moment that perhaps he is dead. But, suddenly he opens his eyes and smile at me.

For a brief moment I fear that he might be insane. But suddenly I see such peace and stability that I can never believe that Maxwell just died.

"Maxwell sort of told me, you know."

"Huh?"

"He said that he was lost, but he never stated exactly. I sort of guessed."

I say nothing, and he continues, "You know what Maxwell is? He's a spy from the other planet. But he self destructed so that he could kill his side."

"You are an alien?"

"No, but Maxwell is. He got a fake identity from some dead personality."

"But…?"

"I was not from their family" was all he replied.

***

One day, the commander specially got a famous personality on science so that we can improve our technology better. I am not in the mood, but I have to attend.

"Now let's talk about the famous personality, Scott R. Mayhall…"

"What?! Scott… R. Mayhall?"

"Yeah…"

"Please tell me everything about him."

"Well, he was the one who first discovered teleporting and to create cells from non living things to form living things, but nonetheless those beings created were destroyed by him and those who knew how to do it were never seen again. He also discovered the laws of division of microscopic beings and…"

I get up and run across to the computer laboratory.

***

Scott R. Mayhall's Maxwell's Dad… Surely he must be the key person to everything?" I ask myself over and over again. I search the galactic network for some information on him, but those were few and little.

Finally, I manage to get onto a network in a security guarded network. "A Diary of Scott," It reads. "Sounds interesting."

I log on and read.

:. My creation is a success, thanks to the dark powers that allow me to look back into the past where those beings with higher technology exists. I learn how they work, and I am able to create this being of great destiny because I am chosen to carry out the will. What shall I name him? Death, maybe? I like the name. The other Deaths are going to be destroyed, because they have disability not to love Mankind. But this little being created just after Death is growing so slow that I cannot decipher whether it will be perfect. What if it is perfect? I call it Maxwell, maybe.

Day Twenty five

Maxwell is also my son now, secondary to Death. Death is growing up well, and now he looks like a ten-year-old boy. But Maxwell can love easily, tests have shown-- so I'll send him to the Lost planet, where I have put all the earlier beings to reproduce and conquer Mankind, for ten years. He will come back as a human spy for them, because he will love them. Death cannot love, so I guess it's safe for him to be here. After Maxwell comes back he can then meet his brother. Meanwhile I'll make sure that Death has the qualities to be a driver, so that when the time is ripe he will be one. Then he can work with Maxwell. Meanwhile, I've inserted a chip each into Death and Maxwell's brains so that they will carry out the task.

Day Forty eight

Finally, my work is done. I will leave tonight. I have been asking myself this-- what if something goes wrong? Well, I suppose the technologies I have provided for them are some harm to them. The Dark race perished because their techhnlogy was too powerful. Mankind will perish; it is only a matter of time. Their technology is nearing the Dark Race's. .:

"What?" So… Death is not human, and in a sense not an alien, but Maxwell is an alien. But, how come Death still haven't done his work?

Finally, I realise that the alchohol I forced Death to take damaged his chip, but Maxwell did not take enough. It seems the only logical answer. And…

About the other answers, like Maxwell's alien family, I must track them down and destroy them, I figure, or they might activate the chip in Death. I don't want to lose him.

***

"I want to quit, commander." I tell the commander, who seems so old nowadays.

"But why? We need people like you to do work, Meg."

"I have to leave. For myself and Mankind." I put the card on his table and turn to leave.

"Meg! If you ever find that you want to come back, you will always be welcome."

"Thanks, but no thanks."

I leave.

***

One day, hanging out on the back street of some place where gangsters are supposed to dwell, I keep a watchful eye. We have seen replicas of those aliens, who look like humans, surprisingly, but considering the fact that Mayhall created them, it was no great surprise.

"Hey, babe, free tonight?"

I turn, to see a beautiful young man on my left. "Maybe."

"Such a pretty girl like you shouldn't be here."

"I don't know, then where should I be?"

"Up in my place, I suppose."

"So far I haven't encountered any big problems."

"Oh, am I not one?"

I laugh.

"So, what's your name?"

"What's yours?"

"Mayhall." I narrow my eyes. "Rick S. Mayhall."

"Oh," I reply, realising that there is a big difference in RSM and SRM. "I'm Meg, surname unknown."

"Hi, Meg. So, where do you want to go tonight?"

"What do you suggest?"

"How bout going over for a movie? And you really don't have to worry, I'm different from those guys."

"Hopefully. Let's go."

***

We have been together for weeks, and yet I still find myself thinking of Death. Rick does not know, and I never tell him. I guess I can never tell him, I do not want to break his heart, as somehow he seems so much like Maxwell. I have moved to his house to stay with him, for I trust him, why I do not know.

But, somehow I feel that there is something different about him.

Something that reminds me of Death and makes me want to cry at night.

Still, I never cry in front of him, always faking my laughter to hide my real motive. Somehow, I know that this person will lead me to the aliens.

One day, he asks, "Do you know that you are one of my kind?"

I am shocked, and I say no.

"I was hoping to bring you together with us, Meg." He sighs. "This world is going to be destructed and I don't want to see you dead."

"What?"

"You remember Death? Forget about him. He's going to wake anyway. Maxwell and Zero died because of his great destiny." Rick tells me. "Please, forget hm and come with me, I can lead you to happiness."

I shake my head. "Not unless you tell me everything, Rick. About Mayhall, Zero and everyone else."

"You know Mayhall? He put everything into my hands. "Zero was completed right after Death and she grew up with him, then Maxwell, who's come back fom our planet, joins them. The commander, too, is one of us… When I press this button, I'll activate Death's clones and they will activate the chip in his mind. Soon everyone of the nineteen Deaths will be killers, and even if they see me, they will kill me. And surely he will kill you, though…"

"Show me the button."

"You would not be able to destroy it, and even if you do, the waves released will also activate the other Deaths."

"No. Give it to me and leave nw."

Rick shakes his head, and I grab a gun from my dressing table. "I'll shoot you."

He shakes his head, and I see tears in his eyes. "You cannot stop Death."

"Give it to me and leave now."

He shakes his head again, before finally taking it out and giving it to me, with a small teleporting device. "If you survive, teleport back to me, please…"

I say nothing, as he disappears.

I press the button. Maybe, just maybe, Dseath will not kill once he sees me. Suddeny, a light tears through the darkness and I see Death. Eighteen of them.

They form a circle, and suddenly someone appears in the center. "Death…?"

"Meg…"

The light becomes blinding and the nineteen Deaths become enveloped in the light. "Run, Meg…"

"No." I watch as the Deaths look so evil that I could hane sworn that they were not Death. None of them.

The one standing in the middle, my Death, comes towards me and says, "Meg, thank you." And catches my neck, until I cannot breathe. He begins wrenching it and the scream gurgles in my throat. I watch as the other Deaths begin to laugh and enjoy themselves.

"This is part of the ceremony, Meg."

A word manages to form. "Death…"

It seems to strike him right in his mind, and he looks at me, and suddenly drops me. I struggle to breathe, and Death seems as if in great pain. He clutches his head and screams like hell.

Suddenly, all the Deaths drop dead and this person standing in front of me…

He is the original Death.

***

:.Rick… Or maybe I should not call you Rick, but heck… Winners is already having a child with this beautiful girl from Austria and Towers, I've just found out is also one of those people created by Mayhall. But who cares? He's doing very well as the vice commander now. True is rather empty inside, I guess, but he makes a great driver. I'm sorry I forgot about you for such a long time… But I was so happy that Death remembers me even in the midst of madness.

Oh yeah, guess what we are doing now? Death and I have just planned to visit Moja and the surrounding planets. Our honeymoon is not yet over, after all these years, as we are planning to visit the whole galaxy. Big as it is, we have all the time in the world. You once wrote to me that our race will not die unless we meet with an unatural death, right? So I really have all the time in the world. Death wishes to send you a note here:

Rick, I'm sorry I haven't carried out my destiny, but I figure that without me, they will perish. And then someday, the golden age will come and we can go back then to visit them. Don't you wish so?

Back to me, Meg. Death never says much to others, but he speaks more and more to me. But ever since the day Death returns to me, I keep wondering, what is the meaning of life? What is Mankind here for? I cannot understand, Rick. But whenever I look at Death, I think, perhaps we were placed here long ago to find our true love and to live together in that golden city after we die. But only perhaps.

Anyway, Death taught me many things. For instance, I realised that love can pass through time and space, sanity and insanity, and so on and so forth. I guess, love will never end in a tragic way, one way or another, as we will end up in that place because we loved.

And may I ask you a question? Are you my father? I knew so, you know, even when we first met.

Well, visit us whenever you can. Tata!.:

I finish reading our letter for him, and seal it, before teleporting the letter over to him. "Meg, it's a supernova."

"Let's make a wish."

We put our hands together, and somehow I know that our wish will be the same and fulfiled.

___THE END___

Monday, April 27, 19989:59:15 PM

http://xz0ne.cjb.net
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