Recon [Aminee]

[Kira Yamato]

Kira looked at his watch. It had taken some time to get prepared, but he had finally gotten ready for the mission. It was undercover, so he was wearing rather casual clothes. Of course that meant he didn’t have a lot of places to store things like weapons, but he did manage to hide one on him, without is sticking out. He turned to Aminee. She had been the first to volunteer. Truth be told, first because it was an intel mission didn’t mean it couldn’t turn bad.

”You ready?” he asked turning to Aminee. He wanted to make sure she was ready before they entered the city. Even though it was only recon at it’s finest point. Still perhaps he might get that talk he had meant to have. Maybe. Then again perhaps not.

---

Key: Aminee
Song: Fields of Hope by Rie Tanaka
Key: Thoughts; Dialogue

[Aminee Starlight]

"It's beautiful." Many things have taken the Pop Idol's breath away in her lifetime but none has ever done so quite like the small mountain town of Moon Valley with its green fields, cool Spring time air and serene astrosphere it was truly a magnificent sight to behold and made Aminee wondered how something so beautiful could exist in a world so hideous. Or perhaps her time spent in the darkness of Isafaro has placed a great disdain on her view of the world. She was still dressed in rather baggy clothes with a concealed firearm that Kragen was nice enough to lend her back on the base. With a heavy heart she replied, "Yes." Aminee wanted to see more of the beauty. To fill her head up with wonders to replace all the things inside her head she'd rather not think about.

[Kira Yamato]

Kira nodded at her words. ”It is.” he said taking a second to take the scenery in. ”It’s a shame such a place is about to become a war zone.” he said his voice taking on a sadder tone. So many people in this city. He was sure a lot of them wanted nothing to do with the war. And yet it seemed it would be brought here. He slowly shook his head at that fact.

”Then we should get started. Hopefully we can get in and out without much of a fuss.” he said walking towards the city. Of course if ID was needed they had a valid form, but even the best cover could be blown if it was looked at too much or from the right angle.

---

Key: Aminee
Song: Fields of Hope by Rie Tanaka
Key: Thoughts; Dialogue

[Aminee Starlight]

The more things Aminee discovered to be different in this world, the more things she found to be completely the same to her own. Turning peaceful towns into war zones for personal gain was nothing new back on earth and normally happened all the time to third-world countries. "It's still a peaceful small mountain town, not a military base, we should get in and out just fine assuming we do it before they get here," replied Aminee to Kira's concerns.

Reaching the main streets of Moon Valley the place was starting to look like a small market place, with shops on various items such as clothing, food and electronics on either side of the road. Comforts that one can come to expect from a modern times environment. It was unbeknownst to Aminee how the same continent that possesses such an advanced technological metropolis can also have something that reminded her of 20th Century America living. Shouldn't everything be like that or has General Vulture selfish nature left everyone else in the dark ages?

"Hopefully there's a hotel we can stay at."

[Kira Yamato]

Kira let his eyes drift to Animee before silently adding. I hope your right. IT was impossible to tell of tell were already there. If they were though they would find out soon enough, along with the reason for all of it. He followed her into the city not wanting to ruin her mood. His eyes gazed over the shops and people, not really looking for anything, but nothing everything. They eventually fell on a group of children. Actually they weren’t much younger then him.

He watched as they ran by. It reminded him of days back at Heliopolis. Was this place really going to be another battleground? What would happen to people like them? Would they be forced into or swept into it? Animee’s words pulled him back to reality. ”Theres a place right over here.” he said stepping in. People turned their heads to see who had entered then went back to their work.

Kira walked to the counter. “You wanting to stay here?” the man asked. ”Yes sir.” he said sliding some money over the counter. The man handed him a single key. His eyes flickered back to Animee. ”Uh, sir. Could we have separate rooms.” he asked. The man raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as he removed another key and handed it to him. He walked over to Animee. ”I really have no idea how long we’ll be here. I doubt it will be easy getting the time to access the computers.” he said checking his pocket to make sure the device was there.

”Uh. Here it’s your room key.” he said handing it to her. ”I think they’re right next to each other so if you need something….” he trailed off. They had been told the office, but surely there had to be other places to look for information as well. The problem was where. ”I suppose we should go settle in.” he said as he headed for what would be where he was staying.

---

Key: Aminee
Song: Fields of Hope by Rie Tanaka
Key: Thoughts; Dialogue
Notes: As I write this I’m tired. Anything you need me to edit or cut into smaller posts tell me.

[Aminee Starlight]

Aminee looked towards her room key and took it before looking back at Kira. "Thank you." She watched Kira go into his room with a facial expression that looked like weakness on her face. Turning around Aminee put the key into the lock and turned the knob of her room's door. Closing it behind her there was no way Kira could have known, that the reason she came here was to die. Looking around the room, the Pop Idol went over all the fond memories she had back in her world. Wishing she could go back to them but it wasn't even an option.

Opening up the curtains from across her bed, she made sure she had a nice view of the mountains before sitting down at the ledge of her bed. She just couldn't live in this life anymore. No matter how hard she tried, the memories of that night in prison kept haunting her, tearing her apart. The guilt from her decision when she had encountered her rapist weighing down on her so hard she could barely breathe. Aminee felt there was only one way out and she hoped the others would understand.

Pulling out the gun Kragen had gave her, she looked it over and then wrapped her hands firmly around the handle as she turned the barrel to face her lips. Looking out the window, wanting the last thing she sees to be the beauty of the mountains, Aminee opened up her mouth and closed it around the barrel of the gun. Closing her eyes, her whole body began to shake as her finger inched near the trigger, causing the gun to also shake as her finger brushed across the trigger and then...

Aminee pulled the gun from her mouth. She couldn't do it. Even through all the pain she was feeling, Aminee couldn't bring herself to pull the trigger. To bring about an end to it all by her own means. She just, couldn't do it. Frustrated, Aminee threw the gun into the wall but the second the 9mm made contact with it the gun would go off prematurely, shooting her in the leg and causing her to scream in pain as she fell off the bed and onto the ground, clenching to her now bleeding leg from the 9mm bullet now lodged into it. Kira and everyone on that floor of the hotel would have no doubt heard. How could you not? All Aminee could do was cry as the pain from the bullet spread throughout her whole body.

[Kira Yamato]

Kira reached his room, but he didn’t unpack. He didn’t have much to unpack honestly. He sat on the edge of his bed thinking about why she came. Kira hadn’t thought she was the type that would openly accept it after all that had happened to her. So there had to be a reason she would come here. He stood up with a sigh as he moved to the door. He should check on her at the very least. If nothing else they might be able to plan their next move.

He closed his door behind him and walked across the hall as he lifted his hand to knock on the door, it’s when he heard the shot. His eyes widened as he forgot about knocking reaching for the door finding it locked. Damn. he thought to himself as precious seconds were wasted as he reared back an rammed the door open destroying the lock. Shooting it would’ve been faster, but there was no telling where Animee was in the room. What he say wasn’t close to what he was expecting though.

Just Animee on the ground in pain. Kira could hear the sounds of movement everywhere. Everyone in the inn had heard it. Some were moving to their rooms, some to see what had caused it, but Kira was already at Animee’s side. Did she throw it? he wondered to himself. He pulled out a piece of cloth. A temporary one, but for now he needed to stop the bleeding. He didn’t know enough about the subject to try to remove the bullet. He slowly pulled her hands away before applying pressure to stop the bleeding. ”You’re going to be okay. We gotta stop this bleeding first.” he said turning his head to see that the keeper had come up.

”Don’t just stand there get a Doctor!” he snapped at the man as he came back to his senses and left to do just that. What had happened here? ”So what happened?” he asked trying to keep her mind off the pain.

---

Key: Aminee
Song: Fields of Hope by Rie Tanaka
Key: Thoughts; Dialogue
Notes:

[Aminee Starlight]

Aminee yelled when she heard the door being kicked down but calmed down once she saw it was just Kira. Her eyes looking at anything in the room besides the people that started filling it up, embarrassed and ashamed to be this way in what was supposed to be a quick and painless escape from life. Now it was a spectacle for all to see, for all to draw their own conclusions from and once rumors started to spread Aminee knew she would never be able to show her face here again. She removed her hands from the wound when Kira came in to stop the bleeding, some of the blood already on her hands and a flash back to that day in Isafaro where human blood was on her clothes returned to the forefront of her mind, causing more tears to flow freely from her eyes.

Kira was talking to her but Aminee could barely string a sentence together in the state she was in now. She wanted to die. She wanted a mystic force to have mercy on her and just strike her down where she was so she wouldn't have to deal with the pain of life anymore, but that wouldn't come to past. Instead she was forced to keep on living and look Kira in the eyes as she thought on how to reply. Should she be truthful? Would he want to talk about it if she was? Could she? Looking away towards a nearby wall the shadow of a former Pop Idol finally spoke, "I was cleaning the gun and then it went off." No more was said as the pain from the bullet plus the tears took away most of her ability to speak. It was nothing like the movies.

[Kira Yamato]

Kira held onto the wound as his eyes went to the gun. He knew what she said was a lie, but for now that wasn’t important. He glanced back over his shoulder noticing all the people crowding the room. ”Everyone get out.” he said. A few feet shuffled, but no one left. Kira gave them an irrated glance. ”This isn’t something for you to watch, if you don’t intend to help then leave!” he demanded the fire in his voice surprising some people.

The people finally exited at this though most it seemed were more slow then others. He turned his attention back to Animee. ”Just hang on.” he said. And then waited. A few moments later the doctor came along with a rather nervous looking keeper and Kira moved aside to let him work.

---

Key: Aminee
Song: Fields of Hope by Rie Tanaka
Key: Thoughts; Dialogue

[Aminee Starlight]

Aminee could hardly stomach the idea of being touched by another man and wanted a female doctor but was unable to say anything from all the pain, and squirming didn't do a lot to tell them what she wanted. All she could do right now was close her eyes and distract her mind from the horrible images of that night in Isafaro Prison as the doctor looked over the wound for a moment and decided to have her numbed before trying to pull the bullet out. Meanwhile the Pop Idol imagined herself in the only place on earth that she felt at home, the only place where she felt like nothing bad could ever happen to her. Live in concert. This time her mind fought away the bad thoughts that wished to ruin this perfect dream in the form of those who raped her, picturing security dragging them out on their asses and roughing them up outside the building while she performed in front of thousands upon thousands of screaming fans who adored her.

Because of these thoughts, and the numbing prior to removing the bullet, Aminee didn't even feel the doctor carefully remove the bullet from her body and sterilize the wound so it wouldn't get infected afterwards. Aminee slowly allowed herself to drift away from the fantasy world she had created just in time to see the medical team stopping the bleeding and wrapping it up in bandages. "Thank you," were the only words that could come out of her mouth and the only words needed as the doctor smiled down at her before looking over to Kira and saying, "We really should get her to a hospital and keep her overnight just to be safe." "No!" Aminee protested. "No hospitals. I'll be fine."

[Kira Yamato]

Kira watched the man. While it wasn’t that he didn’t trust him per say, it was because of what he knew she had bee through. At the very least she seemed to have quieted. Perhaps she moved her mind to other things. To be honest, he was also a little curious as to how it was done in case he needed to do it himself. He blinked at her words as the doctor stood up grabbing a towel from his supplies as he wiped his hands on them to clear the blood off.

His eyes softened even more if that were possible at her protests. He knew where she was coming from, but still if something happened. He opened his mouth to protest her decision, but instead said ”It’s fine.” The doctor turned to stare at him about to say something. ”Please. Just go.” he said as the doctor gave a shrug. “You call, but I still would recommend it.” he said as he walked out the door the innkeeper close behind. He let out a sigh as he slid down the door not trying to get closer.

”You shouldn’t mover around to much. You might reopen the wound.” he said as he went silent for a while as if thinking. He spoke again in a much softer tone. One that almost said ‘Please don’t lie this time.’ ”What were you really doing?” he asked turning to gaze at her.

---

Key: Aminee
Song: Fields of Hope by Rie Tanaka
Key: Thoughts; Dialogue

[Aminee Starlight]

After the doctor took his leave Aminee got up on the bed very, very, very slowly as to not risk further injury to her leg. Laying down on her back the Pop Idol began to relax, gladly taking Kira's advice to not move around too much and when he inquired as to what really happened in this room Aminee was unable to hide the frown that grew on her lips as she turned to her side, back now facing away from her fellow spy, as she spoke. "I told you already. I was cleaning my gun and it went off prematurely." Aminee was sticking to her story and refused to budge on the issue. "Why? What did you think I was doing?"

[Kira Yamato]

She might think Kira wasn’t watching, but he was. Her frown only severed to confirm he had been right it was something other than just an accident. He didn’t answer her question. In fact it would seem as if he had left or that he had fallen asleep, however neither was true. He was merely thinking. ”You don’t have the supplies out.” he finally said. It was neither an accusation, nor a statement made in anger. Merely a fact.

The silence settled in more as he continued a few seconds after that. ”The guns to far away as well.” he said. While it was possible for her to have tossed it after that and it have gone that far it was unlikely. He paused this time the silence seeming to go on for a much longer time then was needed. He wanted to pick his next words carefully. He had a theory on what it was and why she had tried it, but if he was wrong…..

”It’s because of what happened while you were in the prison isn’t it?” he said his voice much quieter then it was before. Much softer if that was actually possible. He turned his gaze to rest on her to wait for the answer.

---

Key: Aminee
Song: Fields of Hope by Rie Tanaka
Key: Thoughts; Dialogue

[Aminee Starlight]

Aminee sat up and turned to scream at Kira for what he said but she moved too quickly and hurt her leg further as a result. Grabbing a hold of it the Pop Idol let out a loud hiss of pain as she laid back down on her back and cried some more. She was too weak to fight and too tired of lying. Ashamed she closed her eyes and refused to look at Kira while she answered. "Yes. I came here to die but I couldn't even do that right." She was in pain. More than many could have imagined and more than any deserved to be in regardless of what they have done. "I used to be somebody, Kira. I used to be a huge star. You wouldn't have believed how many people would wait in line at ungodly hours in the morning just for a chance to see me perform. I had it all; fame, glory, power, money, boys. Then I'm dragged here. In this world who has never heard of me and... and now every time I close my eyes I see those bastards having their way with me!"

Aminee slowly turned around again, back facing Kira once more as she opened her eyes. She didn't want him to see her cry. Even though he could still hear it she didn't want him to see any more. This was supposed to be so simple. All she had to do was come to Moon Valley, find a nice quiet place to settle and then take her life while looking at something beautiful to give her peace. It was meant to be her final bow out but instead it was now her greatest shame as Kira knew. And no doubt anyone inside the inn with a brain would know what she had attempted to try here. It made her want to kill herself for a whole new reason but she couldn't bring herself to do it then.

She wouldn't be able to bring herself to do it now.

[Kira Yamato]

Kira didn’t bat an eye at her quick response to his last statement. Even though he had tried to not upset her with his words, he knew there would still be something from how she opposed being examined at their base. He merely nodded at her words. It was different hearing about it and actually being involved in it. It caused a shock that was hard to get over.

He could relate. Something she couldn’t know. Before he became a solider he had a life. A peaceful one. His eyes closed as memories of those times drifted into his mind. ”It’s hard adusting to something you’re not used to. he said agreeing with her. It was entirely different in these environments. He couldn’t exactly relate to what happened to her, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t try to console her on what had happened.

”But it’s not the end you know.” he said as he slightly shifted his position from where he was at the door. ”We’re alive. And we’ll keep on doing what it takes to stay alive.” he said quoting something that his superior’s had once told him. ”We’re still around. So we can keep living. Even through the worst.” he said.

---

Key: Aminee
Song: Fields of Hope by Rie Tanaka
Key: Thoughts; Dialogue