"After the Crisis"

Her thoughts were in a mess and she was unsure if she was alive or dead; her last memory was feeling her battered body, encased in a mix of her hardsuit and the motoslave, crashing through Galatea�s chest, piercing her mechanical heart, her core. She began to slowly move her body and felt the pain from her bruisies shooting through her like lightning. She decided that she must be alive, to be experiencing this amount of pain. She struggled free of the remnants of her suit, surveyed her surroundings, and found herself standing in a wide, expansive, desert. She felt isolated and confused; she had no idea what state she was in, much less which country. She could have landed anywhere in the world.

Time had become relative. On the horizon she saw the sky was a mix of purple and red hues with a small sliver of bright yellow light; was it sunrise or sunset? How long had it been since her body had begun careening towards the Earth. There she was standing in the middle of this vast, open, area and trying to keep her head from spinning, she closed her eyes and tried to stop her mind and without even realizing it, she began to sing.

Though I can�t feel you
I know that you�re near
I feel it inside of my heart
The presence is all around

You hide in my mind
In the core of my soul
Miraculous presence inside
I�ve opened the path to come through
Tomorrows my promise for you

Sha la la la
I give all I have freely for you
I ask for nothing more
Than a place to lie down, next to you

And in time, our history
Will go on as shooting stars
As you give to the wind

Suddenly, the wind picked up speed and her naked body became chilled. She wrapped her arms around herself trying to shield herself from the cold. She turned back to look at what was left of her hardsuit and see if it would be enough shelter, when she gasped at the image before her. It looked like the image of wings on the back of her hardsuit, wings that had guided her back to Earth and helped to save her life. Galatea�s last act before death had been to save her life. Macky, Motoslave�even Galatea, their capacity for human emotion, loyalty, and respect, left her even more confused and wondering where the line really existed between Human and Boomers. Did such a line even exist anymore?

Another gust of wind blew at her and caused her to shiver again. Her instincts took over and she slowly maneuvered her body back inside of her hardsuit, waiting for someone to rescue her. She tried to keep warm and stay awake, she sang softly to herself every song that she could think of but at some point she slipped back into sleep.

When she awoke, she was being pulled from the shell of her hardsuit, as a warm blanket was being wrapped around her. She barely registered the faces of her saviors; Linna, Nene, and Nigel. They helped her into a helicopter being piloted by Nigel and as they took to the air, Priss could not stop her eyes from drifting closed again.

When she opened her eyes again she expected to still be in the helicopter with Linna and Nene sitting around her, instead she was laid up in bed. The room was small but quaint, she wondered if this was Sylia�s place, since it certainly was not a hospital. As she sat up in bed she heard voices from down the hall and recognized them as Linna and Nene.

�I�m going to check on Priss again,� Linna whispered.

�Every time you have checked she was still asleep,� Nene replied. �I think we will know when she wakes up.�

Linna quietly opened the door and when she saw Priss was sitting up she screamed, �Nene! Nene! She�s awake!� Then Priss saw both of them come rushing in and jumped onto the bed beside her and before she could get a word out they were both hugging her.

With a light laugh, Priss asked, �How long was I out, a couple of hours?� Nene and Linna�s facial expressions changed from smiles to concerned looks. They both seemed to look away from her and got very quiet. �Does someone want to tell me what happened?�

Nene cleared her throat and explained, �When Nigel found you it had been almost 2 days since the fight with Galatea and you were huddled in your hardsuit and you were experiencing symptoms of hypothermia. We brought you back here and you have been asleep for a few days.�

�So is she dead...really dead?� Priss felt compelled to ask, though she knew it was true.

�Yes,� Linna answered. �You saved us all Priss.� The way Linna said that, it made her uncomfortable. The last thing she wanted was to become some world savior, she just did what she had to do. �I�m sure that this is a lot for you to deal with,� Linna continued. �But, I must admit that we are all a little curious as to how you managed to stop her.�

Priss instinctively said, �I don�t really remember.� That was a lie, in fact even now, as she sat there in that bed, more and more memories of the events that took place at the Umbrella rushed into her head. She put her hand to her forehead and said, �I think I may need to rest a little more.�

Linna looked a little disappointed but Nene grabbed her hand and and began to pull her from the room. �Well, of course you do,� she admonished. �We will just go downstairs and get out of your hair.� At the door she turned back to add, �Leon-chan has been coming by to check on you every day. I�m sure he will want to see you when he comes by tonight.�

Priss was not sure what response Nene expected but the only one she got was Priss looking away to the window on the other side of the room. After Nene had left she sighed. Leon�she was still recovering from hypothermia, a trip into space, a battle with the most intriguing and dangerous piece of technology man has ever created and now she had to deal with Leon. No, she should not say deal with him, she liked him but she was so mixed up that now was not a good time for him to see her.

In the end she spent the next couple of hours pacing the room and sitting on the bed with a mix of dread and anticipation, waiting for Leon to return and talk to her. She thought back the last time they had spoken, right before she had decided to try and launch herself, Linna, and Nene into the sky hook. As she had been revving her engine she had heard him say something; she was sure he had said that he loved her. She remembered immediately cutting the engine so that she could hear him. She wanted to hear him say that he loved her, instead he seemed embarrassed. When he repeated himself he simply reminded her that she had promised that she would come back. He then walked away and she had allowed herself a moment to look at his retreating form before she realized that Linna and Nene were commenting on it and turned to face forward on the bike.

The night before it had all happened, she had not been sure what the next day would bring. More than in a general sense of not knowing what to expect from day to day, she and Leon stood there on the rooftop wondering if the next day would be the end for them both, maybe the whole world. Though she had never really felt an intense need for a connection or support system, she had all the support system she needed in the Knight Sabers and her band, but now they could both be gone come the light of day. She could see that same need in Leon, like he needed someone to tell him that he was important, needed someone to sit beside him for what could be the final hours of their lives.

Though it was not their first kiss, they had just been interrupted by Linna and Nene a couple of hours before, Leon timidly wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss. His kiss was tentative for only a few seconds before becoming intensely passionate. She felt her fingers running through his silver hair and the pressure of his hand on her back increased as he held her as close and tightly as he could. Without breaking their kiss it seemed that they had both made up their minds that they needed each other and all the issues, the silly reasons they had been apart, were gone.

They made their way into one of the empty bedrooms and found themselves struggling with each others clothing as they landed on the bed. Leon was blushing and fumbling as he reached for her shirt, and as he raised it above her head she had heard him say, �I�m really glad that you are not wearing a bra.� Priss could not stop herself from smiling at his nervousness. In fact, she had to admit, that the way he could not seem to stop blushing or losing his cool around her was what attracted her to him. Every guy could put up a front and act cool, it was someone who pursued her despite all her resistance and tried so hard to communicate his feelings that impressed her.

As they kissed, she hungered to run her hands over his body. She had always been so distant, this would be the first time she would even see him shirtless, much less allow herself to feel his body underneath her fingertips. After a few moments she was caught off guard when he grabbed her hands and pulled them away and said, �If you keep touching and looking at me like that, I won�t be able to make this last.� She took her hand and lightly stroked the bulge in his pants, hearing him groan only excited her more and she was ready to experience this passion with Leon.

She was no virgin, but feeling Leon inside of her was different from every other time. Was it the adrenaline pumping through her veins as she prepared for what could be her death in the morning, or was it simply Leon�s affect on her? She was so lost in what they were sharing, that she barely noticed that he was talking to her; telling her how sexy she was, how good it felt inside of her. Then she heard him say that he had never seen anyone more beautiful in his life, and she believed him.

Priss was snapped out of her dreamy reverie when she heard Leon�s voice behind her, �You�re awake!� She turned around to face him and was surprised to see how worn out and tired he looked. �I�ve been checking on you every day, waiting to see if you would wake up,� he continued. �It�s great to see you.�

On impulse, she gave a mocking chuckle. �I�m covered in bruises and even though I have spent the last few days asleep, I still feel exhausted. �

�It�s still great to see you awake, and I think you look amazing.� Priss could feel herself blush and was amazed the effect that he had on her. She looked back out the window and watched as the sun was setting.

�It�s good to see you too,� Priss said softly. �I am surprised that you have been checking on me every day.�

�What did you expect me to do?� Leon asked. �No one was sure if you would wake up and if you would be all right, I had to stay and make sure you were all right.�

Priss said nothing and continued looking out the window even though there was so much that she really wanted to say; she wanted to tell him that he had no idea what it meant to her that he had kept showing up to check on her.

�Listen, I know that you have been through a lot but there is something I have wanted to talk to you about,� Leon continued. He walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders and began lightly rubbing, almost as if he was scared that she may be bruised underneath her shirt. �They are already talking about sending people back into Tokyo to clean up and rebuild the city, especially members of the AD Police. I have been thinking it over and I want to go back to Tokyo, but I also want you to come with me, as my wife.�

�What?!� she exclaimed, as she quickly turned to face him.

�I know it is a lot to deal with right now, and we could wait to get married until things are a little more under control. I would just like to hear you say that you would marry me that would be more than enough for now.�

Suddenly, Priss was overcome with mixed emotions; happiness that he would want to marry her, warring with her self preservation instincts and the look on her face became one of anger and frustration. �Marry you?� she asked. �Why would I agree to marry you? My head is spinning, the world almost came to an end less than a week ago, and I spent the night with you the day before I thought the whole world was going to end. Is that a good foundation for a marriage to you?� She was practically screaming at him by the time she finished talking.

After her barrage she expected him to be angry but when she looked into his eyes all she saw was hurt. Even then as she wanted to reassure him she could not seem to get the expression on her face to change or the words to come out of her mouth. He looked away and said, �Maybe, after you have a little time to cool down.�

�I�m not crazy!� she screamed at him. �I�m not going to change my mind if you come back and ask me tomorrow. Why don�t you just go to Tokyo and forget about me?�

Finally, she saw a hint of the anger she had been expecting from him. He turned and began to walk away. As he pulled open the door he said, �If you change your mind, come find me in Tokyo.� Then he walked out and slammed the door behind him. Her anger immediately dissipated and she could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She looked out the window again and saw only darkness, she had burned another bridge. Her head began to throb again and she made her way back to the bed and waited to fall asleep.

Hours later, she had not yet fallen asleep and decided that she would make her way downstairs to get something to eat. As she quietly made her way down the stairs she was heard voices coming from the kitchen Linna and Nene were talking but she could not quite make out what they were saying. She made her way closer wanting to hear what they were saying, as she was next to the kitchen doorway she heard Linna say, �-people are already heading back to Tokyo.�

�I can believe that Leon wants to go, he knows how much help he can be, what I can�t believe is how Priss acted towards him,� Nene replied angrily.

�You said yourself that Priss had a lot to deal with,� Linna countered.

�Well of course she does, but that is no excuse to treat Leon that way,� Nene responded.

Linna changed the subject by saying, �I think that the Knight Sabers should make an appearance in Tokyo to assist with the rebuilding effort.�

�What does that have to do with Priss and Leon?� Nene asked.

�Well�if we could convince Priss to come with us, maybe she and Leon could meet up with each other and work things out.�

�That actually sounds like an okay idea,� Nene mused. �But, I�m not sure making an appearance as the Knight Sabers would be a good idea right now.�

Priss did not stick around to hear the rest of their conversation. She made her way back up the stairs to the room she had been sleeping in and wondered what her next move should be. The last thing she wanted to think about right now was being a Knight Saber and Linna and Nene seemed to consider it an inevitability that the group would reform. She sat on the bed and wondered what her next step should be?

�

The next morning, Linna decided to check on Priss. No one had seen her after what happened with Leon and Linna was a little worried about her, When she opened the door she instantly noticed that Priss�s clothes that had been folded on a chair were gone and the bed was made. She also saw a small piece of paper sitting on the bed, she picked it up and as she read the letter she shouted for Nene. Within minutes Sylia and Nene burst into the room

�What�s wrong?� Nene asked.

�Priss is gone!� Linna exclaimed. �She left a letter telling us not to look for her, that she wanted to get away.�

�Let me see that letter,� Sylia demanded. She read the letter with Nene examining it over her shoulder. �If she wanted to go, she could have told us in the morning,� Sylia continued calmly.

�She said she was going to look for her band mates,� Nene interjected.

�You all seem so calm,� Linna seemed shocked.

�She has every right to leave,� Sylia interjected calmly. Linna watched Sylia and Nene leave the room and grew angry. They did not seem the least bit upset that Priss had taken off, where did that leave the Knight Sabers.

To Be Continued. . .

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