Dragon Tears

Chapter 1

1

      “Solute!” Azuma called to the candidates. He watched as Zero and Hiead walked toward him. Hiead with a serious face and Zero waving to everyone with a big smile. “Good work. Eighty-eight…Eighty-seven you are coming along greatly.”
      Thank you Sir.” Hiead said bringing a fist to his chest to solute him.
      “What do you mean coming along? We’re at the top!” Zero exclaimed.
      Azuma put his hand in his head and sighed. “Dismissed.” He said walking away.
      “You idiot! He was honoring us!” Hiead yelled at Zero as soon as Azuma was out of sight.
      “Well he should admit we already reached the top…coming along huh? I’ll show him.” Zero mumbled walking away.
      Hiead snarled. “What an idiot!” He exclaimed to himself. He started to walk off down the hall when he saw something running towards him in the corner of his eye. He turned around to see Kizna out of breath. “You missed him…he went that way.”
      “I’m not here to see Zero. I have bad news for you.” Kizna said.
      Hiead eyed her waiting for the news. “Well are you going to tell me?” He snapped.
      Kizna nodded her head. “Well it’s about Ikhny. She came down with a very bad virus and she can’t work for about another week.” She said.
      “I told that damned girl something would happen if she didn’t leave me alone. Now god gave what was coming to her.” Hiead said turning from Kizna. He glared back at her one last time before walking off.

      “But Sir! I have to have a repairer to pilot!” Hiead protested. He watched Azuma lean back in his chair smoking a cigarette.
      “I guess you can’t pilot then.” Azuma said simply.
      “But Sir! I’m one of the best out there!” Hiead yelled.
      Azuma glanced at him narrowing his eyes. “Fine you want an engineer? There is going to be a new recruit coming tonight. If you do her profiles and pictures you can have her okay?” He said taking a long drag of his cigarette. “Now get out.”
      Hiead grumbled and opened the door but was stopped by Azuma.
      “She should be here in an hour…take this, you know the drill. Do exactly what we did to you.” Azuma said handing Hiead a camera.
      A look of horror spread across his face as he took the camera. He walked out of the room with sweat starting to form on his forehead. What if she’s fat and ugly? I have to take pictures of her naked! And worse yet I have to look at them! He thought. He shivered and opened the door to his room.
      “What’s the matter with you?” Zero asked as Hiead entered the room.
      “None of your business.” Hiead said walking over to his bed. He sat down on it and placed his face in his hands.
      “I heard about Ikhny. I guess you won’t be piloting for awhile.” Zero said with a smile.
      “I get to pilot!” Hiead snapped. “I have a new engineer!”
      “Azuma wouldn’t replace Ikhny unless you do something for him.” Zero said.
      “I know.” Hiead said running his hands across his hair to the back of his head. He got up and stretched.
      “What do you have to do?” Zero asked.
      “That’s none of your concern!” Hiead snapped. He walked to the door and opened it. “I’m taking a shower.”

2
      Hiead waited for his partner to show. He leaned up against the wall and tapped his foot. He had been waiting for about an hour now and was very annoyed. “She isn’t going to show up.” He said turning around. He walked down the hall back into his room.
      “Where have you been?” Zero asked rudely.
      “Is that any of your business?” Hiead snapped.
      “Sneaking to your girlfriend?” Yamagi antagonized.
      Hiead shot him an evil look after slipping his uniform off. “Yes. And she seems to be even taller than you are.” He shot back.
      Yamagi snarled obviously offended. He turned around on his bed and grumbled to himself.
      “I thought all the girls hated you.” Roose said thoughtfully.
      “Shut up!” Hiead grumbled lying on his bed. He shut his eyes and sighed.
      “What?” Roose said innocently.
      “Where’s the new recruit?” Clay asked.
      Hiead snapped his eyes open and looked over at Clay. “How did you know about her?” He asked darkly.
      Clay swallowed hard and fidgeted with her fingers. “Um Azuma wanted me to do a background check on her.” He said nervously.
      Hiead snarled. “So what did you find out?” He asked lying back on his small bed.
      “Well she’s seventeen…a high school drop out. Goes by the names Teara…real name Victoria Keith Haven. She had been suspended half a dozen times for getting into fights and the other half for disrespecting her teachers. She ran away from her foster parents home, stole a gun, and went out shooting her real mother.” Clay said setting his glasses down beside him.
      “Wow. She seems obnoxious.” Zero said. “How come she was in foster care if her mom was alive?”
      “Her mother was a drug addict. She had shot Victoria’s father in front of her.” Clay said. “She had once been a great student according to her school files until that incident. They had to throw her in juvenile hall for awhile because they said she went temporally insane."
      “Insane?” Roose said. “I don’t think I want her here. Good thing she’s an engineer and not a pilot…or we’d be stuck with her.”
      “I think she is my kind of person.” Hiead laughed.
      “If we let her get to Hiead then life is over as we know it.” Zero said.
      Hiead rolled his eyes. “I don’t plan on getting to know her.” He said.
      “Then I think I will.” Yamagi said. “I’m sure we’ll get along.”
      “I doubt it. She doesn’t like to talk. The files said she keeps to herself. Plus I wouldn’t go around her because of her EX.” Clay said.
      “Her EX?” Zero asked.
      “She is telepathic along with telekinetic. She can move objects with her mind, talk through her mind to someone else, and read others minds. I read that her EX built up into energy and it destroyed whoever and whatever touched her. It got to out of control and they managed a way to knock her out.” Clay explained.
      Hiead sighed and rolled over. “As long as she doesn’t get in my way.” He grumbled.

3
      Hiead woke up with the light shinning down on him. He winced and climbed out of his bed. He picked up his uniform that he had laid out and slipped it on. Yawning he glanced at Zero and the rest of the gang that were still sleeping. He walked to the door and was about to open it when it swished open in front of him with Azuma standing behind it.
      “Why didn’t you wait for your engineer last night?” Azuma snapped.
      “I did wait. For about on hour. She didn’t show so I figured that she wasn’t going to at all.” Hiead said calmly.
      By now Zero and the rest of the boys where sitting up in their beds stretching and yawning.
      “Well, meet Teara.” Azuma said moving out of the way to show a girl.
      She had long black hair and sharp crimson eyes. She had on a red spaghetti-strapped tank top and black baggy jeans with a red bandanna over her head. She crossed her arms and popped her gum with a nod of her head.
      Hiead looked at her and narrowed his eyes. He knew that this wasn’t going to be the best week of his life.
      “Eighty-seven, get her in suit up.” Azuma said. “Then I want immediate training.”
      Hiead watched Azuma walk away lighting a cigarette. He looked back at Teara who was staring at him. He turned away from her and walked across the hall opening the door that was there. He grabbed a white engineer suit off the shelf and handed it to her. “Put this on.” He said not even looking at her.
      Teara eyed the suit. “Um, where do I go to get dressed?” She asked.
      Hiead turned to her and raised an eyebrow. “Step in.” He said moving aside from the door to his room. He watched her as she walked in and shut the door behind her.
      Teara looked at the gazing faces of the boy’s. “Can you please turn around?” She asked softly.
      “Oh, sorry.” Zero said. He turned around and nudged Yamagi who was staring intently.
      “Oh, right.” Yamagi said turning around nervously.
      Roose and Clay did like wise.
      Teara slipped off her pants and shirt nervously until she noticed Hiead standing against the door facing her but looking away. She blushed slightly not knowing if he was looking from the corner of his eye. She quickly slipped on the suit and picked up her clothes. “Where do I put these?” She asked holding up her clothes.
      Hiead looked at her. “Set them down.” He said. He opened the door and leaned against the wall beside it.
      Zero walked over to Teara and held out his hand. “I’m Zero.” He said with a big smile. His smile faded as Teara stood there backing away from his hand. “What?”
      “I’m sorry, but I can’t have skin to skin contact. I’m telepathic and I want to keep your privacy.” Teara said sadly.
      “That’s okay…I guess.” Zero said slowly.
      “Hi, my name’s Clay Cliff Fortran.” Clay said waving nervously.
      “I’m Roose.” Roose said in his innocent manner.
      “And I’m Yamagi.” Yamagi said pushing back the small part of his bangs.
      Teara waved and smiled. “So you’re Hiead Gner right?” She asked Hiead.
      Hiead glared at her with an emotionless face. He grumbled to himself and glanced back towards the side.
      “Not the talkative type.” Teara said quietly.
      “Don’t mind him he’s always like that.” Zero said narrowing his eyes at Hiead. “But come on we better hit training.”
      “Don’t want to be late on your first day.” Clay said walking out of the room.
      Roose nodded and followed Yamagi out.
      “I’ll catch up.” Teara said sweetly to Zero.
      Zero raised and eyebrow and shrugged. “Okay, if you insist.” He said before running out of the room.
      “Are you done flirting with that ignoramus?” Hiead asked as Teara approached him.
      “Why do you say that?” Teara asked.
      “I read your profile…or at least heard it. What kind of juvenile are you?” Hiead asked still leaning against the wall by the doorframe.
      “I was messed up then. I went to see a shrink and he helped me out.” Teara said sadly. “So I guess you know about my messed up life…people usually are scared to be around me because of the thing with my parents.”
      “You did what you had to.” Hiead said simply. “At least I’m not the only one with a messed up life.”
      “You had a bad past too?” Teara asked trying to look Hiead in the eyes.
      Hiead looked towards the ground to the side to avoid eye contact. “Let’s go.” He said walking outside the door.
      Teara slipped on the knuckle gloves she was holding and followed him out the door. “So what do we do in this training?” She asked walking behind Hiead.
      “Wait and see.” Hiead said.

      “Go to lunch.” Azuma sighed in annoyance. He watched everyone run out the door but two people. He looked up to see Hiead and Teara. “You can go now.”
      “Um, I was wondering Sir, if I could try and go out in the training room.” Teara said fidgeting with her fingers.
      Azuma looked up at her with a surprised look. “Engineers aid the pilots not do the pilots job.” He said.
      “Yes, but on my time could I? Just to try it out.” Teara pleaded.
      Hiead looked at her and an evil grin appeared on his face. “Sir. I’ll go out there with her.” He said.
      Azuma turned around waving his hand. “Go ahead…do what you want.” He said.
      Teara turned and looked at Hiead. “Thank you.” She said to him.
      Hiead snarled and grabbed his equipment. “Borrow Zero’s.” He said.
      After getting equipped Teara joined Hiead out on the training field. She looked around and was amazed as she floated in space. “Wow.” She said looking around.
      “Ready?” Hiead asked evilly.
      Teara nodded and smirked.

      “Look at them.” Zero said gazing down at Hiead and Teara.
      “Their EX is clashing.” Clay said. “This is amazing. No one lasted this long against Hiead except you Zero.”
      “Looks like she wasn’t meant to be a engineer.” Azuma said to himself. I’ll train her a bit more…just to see if she can be the second female pilot. He thought.
      “I don’t think they can move any more.” Roose said as Hiead collapsed on Teara.
      “Get them out of there.” Azuma said.
      Zero and Yamagi nodded but before they could enter the room Hiead stood back up slowly. They stared at them for a second before looking at Azuma.
      Azuma shook his hand to tell them never-mind.
      Hiead breathed in deeply looking down at the girl he had just crushed. He took his foot and flipped her over on her back to see if she was conscience or not. He sighed when she didn’t open her eyes. “Not quite good enough.” He whispered. He bent down, picked her up, and threw her over his shoulder. He walked out of the training room bleeding with an evil smirk on his face.
      “The reports weren’t lying when they said she had a strong EX.” Hiead said.
      Azuma walked over to Hiead and took Teara from him. “Is she good enough to be a pilot?” He asked.
      “Depends what you mean by good. She’s strong but careless.” Hiead said.
      “You better get down to your room and rest. Clean up a bit.” Azuma said. He checked Teara and frowned. “We better get her medical attention.”

      Teara woke up to be in a bed. She sat up and looked to her side to see Hiead in the one next to her and Zero on her other side. She looked at the row of beds next to Zero to see the rest of the boys. What am I doing here? She thought. She tried to get off her bed but felt a strong pain in her side when she put the weight on her legs, causing her to fall back down to the bed, making a little squeal as she did so.
      Hiead opened his eyes and saw Teara lying on her bed sideways wearing nothing but bra and panties. He watched her as she propped herself up on her elbows wincing. “What are you doing?” He asked coldly.
      Teara looked at him and blushed. “Uh…trying to get up.” She answered. She looked down at herself and for the first time realized that she was only in her under garments. She sat herself up completely and crossed her arms trying to cover her chest.
      “You’re the second person I beat that seriously.” Hiead said. “At G.O.A. anyway.”
      Is he okay with the fact that I’m naked? Or does he have yet to notice? Teara thought. She scooted back on her bed and pulled the blankets up over herself quickly. “Who was the first?” She asked beginning to sweat at the heat of the room.
      “Kushida over there.” Hiead said pulling off his covers and standing up. He stretched and walked over to the window sitting on the sill.
      “You mean Yamagi?” Teara asked. She looked at Hiead and about drooled. He was only in his boxers sitting in the moonlight.
      “The only short stuff.” Hiead said still gazing out the window.
      “He isn’t that short. Probably only an inch shorter than me.” Teara said matter-of-factly.
      Hiead glanced at her. “Stand up.” He demanded.
      Teara started to blush. “I’m can’t exactly.” She said quietly.
      “It can’t hurt that bad from all the morphine you’ve been taking.” Hiead said crossing his arms.
      “It’s not exactly the pain.” Teara said fidgeting with her fingers.
      “I just saw you half-naked anyway so what’s one more time going to matter?” Hiead said calmly.
      Teara blushed. How can he be so calm about this? Maybe he feels okay sitting half-naked in front of people but I sure don’t. She thought.
      “Well?” Hiead said getting more then a little annoyed.
      Teara gulped and stood up wincing at her side. She looked down at the floor not knowing what to do.
      “Come here.” Hiead said between clenched teeth.
      Teara slowly walked over to him wincing at every step she took. She approached him and looked down at her fingers playing with them.
      Hiead stood up about a foot away from Teara. “Stand up straight and look at me.” He said.
      Teara slowly looked up into Hiead’s blood red eyes, which were the same color as hers.
      “You’re about five foot three.” Hiead said. “Five centimeters taller than Yamagi.”
      “I was close.” She said quietly.
      “I never said you weren’t.” Hiead said. He sat back down on the windowsill and gazed out at the full moon. “Azuma is thinking about letting you become a pilot.” Hiead said after a moment of silence. “You would be the second female pilot.”
      “Teela is the first. I heard about her while on Zion.” Teara said.
      “How’d you come up with the name Teara?” Hiead asked.
      “That was what my mother had started calling me before she gave me up for adoption. She couldn’t remember my real name and I decided to stick with it because that’s what everyone called me.” Teara said.
      “I like Victoria better.” Hiead said.
      “Victoria…I haven’t heard that name in a long time.” Teara said softly. “My friends used to always call me Tory, but I didn’t like it.”
      “Tory? I don’t like it either.” Hiead said.
      “How old are you?” Teara asked.
      “Eighteen. One year older than you.” Hiead answered.
      “So you’re a pilot?” Teara asked.
      “I go where I am needed.” Hiead said.
      Teara studied his emotionless face as he looked out the window. “I guess your EX isn’t even close to mine huh?” She said with a laugh.
      Hiead looked at her and her cheerful expression. “I heard that you can move objects with your mind. Care to demonstrate?” He asked.
      Teara smiled. “Sure. Find any object in this room.” She said.
      “Your pillow.” Hiead said.
      Teara nodded and looked over at her pillow. She made it hover slowly over to her. “Pretty neat huh?” She laughed.
      “Anything heavier? Like people?” Hiead asked.
      “I guess I could try.” Teara said. She studied Hiead as a sweat drop fell down her forehead.
      Hiead’s eyes widened as he started to rise in the air. He moved his arms around and swallowed hard as he levitated about five feet off the ground. “Okay!” He exclaimed.
      Teara slowly lowered him down until his feat touched the ground. “I never tried moving a human before.” She laughed. “It takes a lot more thinking.”
      “You mean you just think?” Hiead asked.
      “Not really. I have to be able to pick the object up physically before I can do it mentally. I like lift it up…but I stay in one spot. It’s hard to explain.” Teara said.
      “Do you know how handy those skills will come in?” Hiead said evilly.
      “I don’t really use them much. I try working on being able to control the mind reading part. I don’t want to get all of it just by a touch. I want to control it.” Teara said.
      Hiead grabbed Teara’s arm and saw the shock that went through her. He let go and watched as she stared at him. “Well?” He asked impatiently.
      “You despise anyone that had a good life. You feel trapped and your only goal is to beat Zero and be the best pilot.” Teara said.
      Hiead looked at her in shock. “You got all that in just that split second?” He asked.
      “Yeah.” Teara said. “Pretty weird huh? That’s why no one wants to be around me. They think I’ll get into their mind.”
      “Don’t try and do it to me.” Hiead said. He walked over to his bed and pulled on a pair of jeans.
      “I wont.” Teara said. She walked over to the bed she was on and sat down. “Where are all my clothes?”
      “In your bag under your bed. We’re not going to put them away for you.” Hiead said not even looking at her.
      Teara pulled out her bag and unzipped it. She dug through all her clothes until she came across a long white night gown. She slipped it on over herself and pulled off her bra. She looked at it and noticed it wasn’t the one she had on earlier that day. She stuffed it in her bag and sat wide-awake on her bed. “Why am I in new under garments?” She asked with a slight blush.
      Hiead turned around on his bed and looked at her. “We changed you.” He said simply.
      Teara’s eyes grew big. “Um…who exactly?” She asked nervously.
      Hiead rolled his eyes. “Why do you want to know? So whenever you’re around the person you can get embarrassed that he seen your body?” He asked rudely.
      Teara looked at him with pleading eyes. The ones the Roose uses to get his way with Yamagi. “I just wanted to know.” She said innocently.
      Hiead grunted and snarled. “I’m going for a walk.” He said getting up off his bed and opening the door.
      Teara was about to go after him but the door swished shut behind Hiead before she could ask.
      “What are you doing awake?”
      Teara looked over to see Yamagi sitting up in his bed. “I uh…couldn’t sleep.” She said quietly. “I’m sorry to wake you.”
      Yamagi rubbed his eyes and sat at the side of his bed. Now that he was awake he couldn’t just go back to sleep. “It’s almost time to get up anyway.” He said with a yawn.
      “Really? Oh…I guess I should get dressed.” Teara said standing up. She grabbed the white uniform that was sitting at the top of her bed.
      Yamagi immediately turned around and stood up stretching.
      Teara made sure he wasn’t looking and pulled on a sports bra and slipped the suit on. She grabbed her brush from her bag and gently brushed her long black hair.
      Yamagi turned back around when he felt it was safe. He had slept in his clothes and was too tired to change them.
      “Can you help me with this?” Teara asked. She was holding on to her ponytail and searching for a rubber band.
      Yamagi walked over to her. “What are you doing?” He asked.
      “Can you help me find a rubber band?” She asked digging through her bag one handed.
      Yamagi nodded and opened a pouch on her bag. He found a thin piece of cardboard with a couple hairpins clipped to it and some rubber bands wrapped around it. He slipped a rubber band off and handed it to Teara.
      Teara smiled sweetly at him and wrapped it around her hair over and over again until it was tight. “Thanks.” She said.
      “No problem.” Yamagi said smoothly. “I saw you yesterday with Hiead. I don’t think any one besides Zero lasted that long in a fight with him.”
      “I’m use to pain.” Teara said with a sweet smile.
      “That isn’t necessarily a good thing.” Yamagi said.
      “I guess not.” Teara said thoughtfully. “Well I’m glad I know what I’m up against.”
      Yamagi sat down next to Teara on her bed and felt his shoulder brush hers.
      Teara was relieved that her suit had long sleeves. “You’re cute.” She said after a moment of studying him.
      Yamagi blushed and scratched the back of his head. “Thanks.” He said. “I wish more girls thought so.”
      “I don’t see why not. You have that tough guy attitude. I like that quality in a guy.” Teara said.
      “All the girls like Roose because he’s so nice. I just don’t get it.” Yamagi said.
      “Roose is cute too. He has the innocent thing down which brings out his quality.” Teara said.
      Yamagi watched as the lights flickered on above them. “And here starts my day.” He said standing up. He walked over to Roose and shook him violently.
      Teara laughed as Yamagi got the surprised Roose up. She smiled sweetly and stood up stretching.
      “Done flirting?”
      Teara turned around in surprise and saw Hiead leaning against the wall by the door.
      Hiead smirked at Teara’s shocked face. He could feel the fear that ran through her body that spilt second.
      “I wasn’t.” Teara said as Hiead walked over to his bed.
      Hiead pulled off his pants and slipped on his training suit while Teara stared intently at him. “Problem?” He asked rudely.
      “N-no.” Teara stuttered. I think I have a crush on Hiead. I don’t get it…how can I like someone who is just so damned distant and disturbed? She thought. “I was just thinking.”
      “And what would that be?” Roose asked from behind Teara.
      She turned around to have Zero, Yamagi, and Roose staring at her. “At why I’m not sharing a room with the other girls.” She said.
      “Because you might be a pilot.” Zero explained.
      “And this was the only room with an extra bed.” Roose said.
      “Because Erts is gone.” Yamagi added.
      Teara nodded and felt a bit relived the subject was changed. “So when’s breakfast? I’m famished.” She said patting her stomach.
      Roose’s eyes lit up. “Follow me!” He exclaimed. He ran to the door and flew down the hall with Teara right behind him.
      “Man Clay. She doesn’t sound like anything you described her as.” Zero said. “I expected her to be like Hiead.”
      Hiead snarled and started for the door. “She said she saw a shrink.” He said before walking out the door.
      “If she changed tremendously then why not make Hiead go to counseling?” Zero asked more to him self.
      “I’d say that she never really was that bad in the first place.” Yamagi said. He walked over to the door.
      “He just likes her because she’s about as short as him.” Zero said.
      Clay just nodded.


Chapter 2