Something felt wrong, Eliza thought… Glancing through the door, Eliza could see her father, drinking loudly and grumpily. “Dammit… Dammit!” Frederick grunted. “Someone had done it…”
Eliza was ten… Well, it was her tenth birthday. Ulysses was standing beside her, tugging at Eliza’s hand with anxiety. “Please… sis, don’t… We don’t need Dad for your birthday.”
“But…”
Looking back at her father, Eliza had only the speck of intelligence within her to understand what he was talking about.
He was on the holophone, speaking to someone whilst crying, grumbling and groaning all at once. “I know!” he shouted, startling both Ulysses and Eliza. “I know… I know I can’t do anything about it, James…”
James?
“Are you just going to let it all happen?” Frederick burped into the phone. “My daughter is dead… And you… And Jessica? You started a damn war for yourselves!”
Eliza kept listening.
“If it wasn’t you two behind it… then I’ll find out who… You wait, little boy—” Someone paused Frederick, and Eliza slowly saw him slump against the desk of his study. “You’re right…”
“No justice will come…”
Those words were what filled Eliza’s wrath… Eliza’s ice-cold nature, and the hope – the dream that maybe… somewhere out in the galaxy, the idea of righteousness will finally smite down the murderers of her sister.
But… baby steps, Eliza opened one eye, to the unease of the table she had her head resting upon.
Tick... Tock... The constant sound of the humming clocks uneased Eliza. She sat alone in Kazuki’s quarters on the Phoenix's Fury, but unlike Kazuki's office, his quarters were by far more spacious – it was probably the size of Deltastring’s main barracks room. Eliza leaned back on her chair, grumbling.
Eliza shot up, looking around a bit… If Archius scooted around her place, might as well see what Kazuki has around… But nothing. There were weights in the drawers beneath the bed, as well as Iris-knows-how-many training machines embedded into the walls.
Her beady red eyes constantly darted back and forth between the Alamac along the wall and the digital alarm clock beside Kazuki’s small bed.
It was her birthday, 18 July. But… Eliza knew that things were different now; celebrating her birthday must be a secondary concern, at best, with everything going on around the vessel.
Eliza turned her eyes to her phone.
Ulysses, her brother, had already sent the message earlier that day, but still, nothing from Dad. Eliza sighed, stopping the meaningless grumbling.
Even if it did itch her the wrong way, Kaz and the others were busy with Freyja. Evidently, celebrating a day for her would have been rather silly, with the wolves now encircling Anagora’s surface.
Then, the doors phased open.
"It went as well as it could have been, right, Kaz?" Archius asked, following in after Kazuki.
Archius waved over, and Eliza waved back. "Hey, Eliza! You saw the hearing, right?!"
”I wasn’t particularly tuned into the news,” admitted Eliza.
Kazuki got to business instantly. “Your arm. Improvements?”
Eliza nodded, pulling her sleeve up as she displayed the scar on her forearm. It wasn’t pretty, but it had healed for the most part. “It’s a bit ticklish when I touch it.”
Kazuki nodded. “They’ll fade,” he remarked, before lowering his voice. “Don’t let Archius learn that it’s ticklish.”
Archius, meanwhile, walked over to one of the cupboards, opening a specific shelf to help himself to what seemed to be manga.
A drone slowly hovered over, bleeping whilst presenting tea for the two of them. Eliza nodded, gesturing for the drone to place it down on the table.
The drone extended its arms and twisted around, providing a large teapot. It was a brilliant artwork painted on the China, depicting the Battle of Sawakana during the Crusades, wherein the Trasian Confederation beat back the tide of aliens as the first of the human refugees to have secured their survival.
Then, it whizzed off and hovered away.
"Tea?" Eliza quietly asked.
Kazuki nodded. Eliza slowly poured both herself and Kaz a cuppa. Upon finishing pouring his tea, Kaz snatched it and downed it.
Maybe she should inform him? Well, upon inspection, Eliza knew Kazuki was worse for wear. Eliza pondered a bit to herself, giving a few glances back to Kazuki, silent and still.
Taking a small bite of a packet of biscuits, Eliza dusted the crumbs off her long skirt before looking over at Kaz. He was staring downwards, with only Archius’ playful whistling and the hum of the warship emanating through the room.
“Hey, Kaz?”
"I know. Happy birthday, Eliza. Your back will start to hurt from now on," Kazuki stated with not an ounce of emotion in his voice. "I outsourced your birthday.”
"Wait... I’m sorry, did you just say… ‘outsourced’?” Eliza questioned him, pulling on his ear across the table. How in Iris’ good-bright-bloody-galaxy does someone 'OUTSOURCE' a birthday?!
The answer came immediately, and a thud came at the door. Eliza jumped to her feet, nearly tripping over her heels.
"Oh shit! Assassins!" Archius jeered before laughing at Eliza's overreaction. “Don’t worry, assassins would have to make it past twenty levels worth of security… and gunfire.”
Kazuki stood up, slowly walking to the door. Just as Kazuki placed a hand to the button, the door phased open, and Kaz weaved out the way. Yuki swung forward in a tackle, throwing herself forward. She then flopped onto the floor.
“Ouch…” Eliza murmured to herself.
"DANGIT! WHY MOVE?!” shouted Yuki, looking up at her brother. Pi flew in, and Kazuki’s face instantly brightened by a single notch. The Phoenix landed on Kazuki’s shoulder, as always.
"Because you were going to tackle me.” Kazuki looked self-satisfied.
Along with her, a few others came in with us. Chloé blew A party popper.
"Happy birthday, Liz!" she shouted across the room. Nathan was meekly hiding behind Chloé, whilst a tall, dark brown-haired man ducked under the doorway into the room.
"Karl. What are you doing here?" Kazuki asked, raising an eyebrow.
Karl? Oh! The Navy ace of aces! The navy ace proudly placed his fist to his chest. "I am here to bestow my knowledge on your friend as a present!" He grinned. “Your daddy’s got me transporting your sister.”
It was a much less glamorous reason after all…
“See, Lizzie!” Yuki shouted. “I don’t forget, really! I think! I… this is the right day, right?”
Eliza chuckled and nodded.
Nathaniel helped Yuki up, as Yuki’s maid stepped in, seemingly nonchalantly carrying a dozen heavy bags into the room before the doors slut shut.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Eliza’s face lit up slightly, realising that those around her really didn’t forget…
“I should have invited my brother, but he’s probably busy,” Eliza groaned.
“Ulysses,” Kazuki started. “It’s exam season, but I can… get someone to pick him up.”
Eliza shook her head, tilting her head in suspicion at Kazuki’s specific wording. “No, it’s fine! He already left my present in my room if I ever come back.”
It convinced Kazuki, who flicked his uplink off. He continued, “I would have brought some of the operatives, but... They celebrate… differently.”
"Differently?" Eliza asked. "Let me guess! Alcohol and more alcohol?"
“Bingo!” Archius snickered. “The stories I hear…” He shook his head in dismay, which left Eliza rolling her eyes.
“You’re the party animal, you know?!” Eliza jeered at him.
Kazuki scratched his chin. "Contractor and navy grade booze," he said. "Tried it before. Would not recommend."
Eliza chuckled slightly before remembering a small tale Archius told her back during the Gunrunner operations. She paved over the thought of a drunken Kazuki with a subtle smile. Kazuki stared at her, seemingly noting the gleaming unease swirling beneath her red eyes.
"Alright... What did you get?" Archius said, having appeared right next to Eliza, causing her to nearly jump as he leaned on her shoulder.
"Oh! It's an entire barbecue and hotpot kit! With uh... Uh... A lot of other foods!" Yuki shouted, pointing over to Karl, who brought in all the bags.
"Heavy?" Kazuki asked.
"Oh... I think it was," rebuked Chloé, "Karl kept asking passing drones to help carry it."
Eliza chortled at that. She hooked her uplink awake to two drones, helping by picking up the bags, setting out a large dinner at the table – with cake as well…
However, as Eliza was getting everything ready, she felt her control of the drones cease, as Yuki’s maid, Ruriko, stepped forth. Twirling her finger in the air, she got the drones to work at an instant, setting everything up…
Wait… people can hijack drones? Eliza seemed dumbfounded, but was thankful either way. At the end, Ruriko simply left, as Eliza could see the maid take out a small pack of cigarettes before leaving the quarters…
Must be quite a stressful job, Liz thought, looking after Yuki.
Though Eliza greedily kept the cake in the box, believing that the others… probably won’t want to leer at the unopened cake.
More for her later! Eliza hid a smirk at her ingenious plan… This level of ingenuity and genius was what got Eliza where she was now!
"Oh, and I think this is for you!" Archius said as he placed a party hat on Eliza’s head. "See! It fits nicely!"
Eliza tried to look up at it, but it fell right off her head. "Hmm?"
“Huh.” Archius caught it before it fell to the floor. "You're just going to have to trust me on it, you totally don’t look like a deformed unicorn."
Everyone gathered around the table after the drones had set everything up. Eliza awkwardly sat with the party hat on her head. After the pots and barbecue were set up, both Kazuki and Yuki clasped their hands together momentarily.
"I almost regretted choosing you, Yuki.” Kazuki cooked a whole bundle of squids wrapped in noodles before chomping down on it.
Yuki held up two peace signs with her chopsticks, along with a grin. “Heheh.”
Kazuki noted Eliza's gaze. "Want some?"
Eliza's eyes lit up as she nodded. Kaz placed another one into the cooking pot. After a few seconds of cooking, he brought it out. With his chopsticks, he pinched it and placed it down on her plate. Then, he turned to bicker with his sister.
Alright... Eliza wasn't the best at using chopsticks, but she was determined to improve! She placed her fingers around them, having to readjust their position with her other hand. Then, when she finally fidgeted everything into the right place, she did as Kazuki had instructed beforehand…
Despite the bad instructions and the weird feeling of it all, Eliza picked it up!
Chomping down on it, Eliza quickly felt the heat. “Yush… No…” Eliza grumbled whilst blowing air into her mouth.
There was a small plate by the end of the table, near Kazuki, Yuki and Karl, where Pi was seated. It was a strange sight, seeing a Leviathan devour everything that was set upon it. Still, it was quite polite, no Erudian proportions of gluttony or anything…
Yuki glanced over at Eliza, blowing air into her mouth using Bernoulli’s principle to cool her food down.
"Oh yeah! " You get used to the heat!" she remarked.
Looking past her at Nathan, it seemed that he was also experiencing the same lesson. The two crossed glances, and in a brief moment, the two understood the boiling pain seething in their tongues.
After dinner, video games seemed to be on the agenda, though Kaz only had a few controllers with him. Evidently, it was Yuki, Nate and Archius playing games whilst Karl was backseat gaming, and behind him was Synthia, acting as an amateur music playerfor the most part – if that was even possible.
Whilst they were playing, Pi was merely dancing along to the beat, watching who was winning intently and squawking whenever someone won.
Kaz and Liz watched. Both were drinking apple juice, hanging behind the sofa. Eliza glanced around once again, noticing the old Imperial era banners along the walls, hidden and rolled up.
“This wasn’t just another room, was it?” inquired Eliza.
Kazuki replied, “No. When my aunt was a part of the Imperial court, she stayed here...”
Oh no… A notion that perhaps Eliza struck the wrong chord rose in her mind quickly, and she zipped her mouth shut after that, dragging their eyes back to the holographic television set, sprawling wide and tall.
"You're not supposed to make a Karlhold manoeuvre in a bomber!" Karl shouted. "Why are you doing that?!"
Yuki shot back, "Because it looks fun!" Right before her spacecraft was blown up by Nathan, who chuckled and revelled in victory.
That by itself caused Yuki to immediately start brawling with him. Archius shrugged, swooping in for the kill and destroying Nathan’s craft as Yuki wrestled with him.
“Damn it!” Yuki grunted. “We were supposed to team up on him!”
"I win, once again!" Archius shouted. “You’re not supposed to let me third party, you know?”
"But we can't even... find... you!" Nathan replied, using his slender arms to keep Yuki away from him.
Yuki turned towards Kazuki.
"HELP ME!" she shouted. Kazuki shook his head. "Well, can you at least tell me why you ignored Father today!?"
The feathers were being ruffled. Chloé and Archius immediately turned to look at Kazuki. Karl paused, then slowly spun his chair to face Kazuki. "Oi, you got in trouble with your father again?" he asked. “Is that what you’re telling me?”
Yuki then closed her mouth. "Sorry..."
Kazuki sighed. "It's nothing. I spoke to my grandfather a bit. He enjoyed the hearing, but I was busy. Right, Archius?"
Archius was put on the spot. Calmly, he nodded and said, "Well, yeah? It was Eliza's birthday, and he had to get something prepared for her in just an hour or two."
Eliza nodded, watching and helping as the fox and the phoenix covered each other’s backs… Of course, not a real fox or phoenix, the real phoenix in the room was just chomping on the leftovers…
So much for a majestic beast, she thought.
With that out of the way, everything was slowly going back to normal. "How estranged are you from the rest of your family?” Eliza asked in a hushed tone.
“Think my sister… but worse,” Kazuki replied, then with another glare.
Eliza slowly shifted her hand up to tap his. She turned back to the television and the spaceship game they were playing. Karl took over for a little bit, winning every single time – even as Archius convinced everyone to gang up on the ex-navy ace.
Looking back at the drones cleaning up the table, Eliza felt a little bloated... Nonetheless! It was her birthday! She can enjoy things like this on her birthday, yes! Of course! Eliza attempted to justify all of the calories she just consumed in one sitting.
"I didn't eat too much, right?" Eliza asked.
Chloé shrugged. "It's your birthday, you can drink and eat all you want," she said. "Who knows, maybe a few extra pounds will help with the workload?"
"Ugh... I don't do manual labour," Eliza commented. “Mental gymnastics, maybe? Drone training is quite enduring at times.”
Kazuki cut in, standing beside her, "Yeah. You're not going to lose those kilograms."
Eliza smacked him across the head instantly, but her hand simply pinged off his skull, and he looked back as if he didn’t register that.
Archius and Yuki broke into sneering and sniggering beneath their breaths at this whole charade, yet adamant perseverance was something Eliza had in spades!
"What?" Kazuki asked.
"You're not supposed to say that..." Eliza grumbled to Kazuki.
It took a moment for the answer to click in Kazuki’s head. “Oh.” It was such a bland response, but one expected of Kazuki.
Glancing at the small pile of presents by the bed, Eliza smiled. A flicker of memories past fluttered into her mind… Her tenth birthday…
Barely anything, barely any laughter or smiles. Only dad… drinking alone whilst holding onto a picture of the family…
Blinking, Eliza glanced at the current life she has, bright and full of light, sparkling. Eliza… really didn’t want to have this any other way.
"Well. You haven't... gained that much, Eliza," Kazuki remarked, causing Chloé to chortle.
Eliza turned the other way, crossing her arms and pouting in annoyance. "Shut up," she said.
After the celebrations, things died down, and it was time for the others to leave.
Eliza watched Chlóe leave, along with Karl, carrying Nathan and Yuki. Karl activated a small probe, which extended out, grabbing several smaller components before it formed a cage. Pi instinctively flew into the cage whilst squealing goodbye to Eliza and Kazuki.
Hopefully they weren't that drunk... Archius waved back to Kaz and Liz. "I'll go see them off," he said.
With the doors phased behind them, it left Kazuki and Eliza… alone, except for the drones. They kept cleaning things up, humming their own decimal language and tunes.
