Tequila Sunset

“But Riku,” Marguerite said. “Do you really love me?”

Riku sat across from her as they enjoyed a meal at Hasenrausch, held both her hands in his own and gave them a gentle squeeze. He admired her hair, going from red to pink to yellow in a gradient, much like the sunrise she always brought to his each and every day. “Of course,” he said. “You're a capable mech pilot, a kind person, and second only to Elana in the looks department.”

“Oh, Riku,” she said. “You have a way with words.” They leaned in to kiss, but before they could make contact, the alarms blared. “Drat,” she said. “What could that be?”

Riku stood, still holding her hands. “It can mean only one thing,” he said. “A surprise attack of the Star Children!”

She nodded. They released hands and ran down the corridor to the hangar. Riku felt the press of a square box in his pocket. Why did this have to happen now?

They arrived in the hangar around the same time as Hollis and Maka. Elana was already there, a crowd of people surrounding her and asking her opinions on a lot of things, as she was the resident expert on Star Child psychology. They stood in awe as she thoroughly and concisely answered each and every question all while continuing her mech preparations.

“Looks like we've got to make more space sushi,” Maka said.

“I'm going to give you a high-five because I crave physical contact with you, and that's the most acceptable way I've found to get you to reciprocate,” Hollis said.

Maka laughed, and the two high-fived. “It's possibly due to my insecurities, but I do enjoy the way you make me laugh. That is why I tolerate this behavior and will possibly one day confuse it for non-platonic affection.”

“Awesome,” said Hollis.

The other four, lagging behind Elana, started their own preparations. Soon, realizing that it was best to not disturb a genius at work, the crowd of admirers let Dr. Vollstrand complete her tasks in peace. While she appreciated the attention, she still had her duties.

Soon, the five Space Hunters stood there, their mechmotes ready. Captain Chiffon gave them a stern nod. “We're counting on you,” she said through the intercom before deactivating the Aegis.

Elana started, as without her, the others would probably fly into the side of an asteroid. “Achlys!” she said, holding her mechmote aloft.

“Starbrand!” said Riku.

“Jackal!” said Hollis.

“Clawbyte!” said Maka.

“Tequila!” said Marguerite.

The mechs appeared, backs opened. One by one, they leaped into them, activating them, ready for battle in space.

As they shot out, each mech was followed by a fleet of fighter ships, color coded to their guiding mech. In the sea of stars before them, tiny specs danced and moved. The Star Children!

Riku got on the mic. “Formation Whiskey Tango Foxtrot,” he said.

“Don't you think that Vodka Tarantella Softshoe would be more appropriate for this formation?” said Elana. After all, she did have a PhD and had spent much of her career studying (and being tortured) by the Star Children. But did anybody take her suggestion? No…

“I'm with Starbrand,” said Marguerite. Of course she would side with her boyfriend. Elana had made comments to both Captain Chiffon and the admiral regarding the inappropriate power structure and their interpersonal relationships, suggesting herself as the leader of the group so Riku and Marguerite's relationship would be no more harmful or subject to conflicts of interest than Maka and Hollis’. But did anybody take her suggestion? No…

“Me too,” chimed in both Maka and Hollis. They were predictable, agreeing with each other on most things.

“Very well,” Elana said. “We'll do it your way, but don't blame me if one of us dies.”

They assumed the flight pattern, their mechs flanked by their color-coordinated fighters. The single-pilot ships weren't as well shielded as the mechs, but made up for it in maneuverability and firepower.

They crashed through wave after wave of Star Children. “I wonder what they have planned,” Maka said over the comms.

To answer her question, a large Star Child appeared in the nexus of the swarm. It was the Jack of Stars! It fired blasts of deadly lasers, mowing down several of the smaller fighter ships.

“We have to assume Final Form!” Elana said, but she forgot to push the transmit button.

“We have to assume Final Form!” Marguerite said over the comms.

“Great thinking,” Rikku said.

As one they all said, “FINAL FORM ACTIVATE!”

Marguerite's mech took the form of the head and torso, while Maka and Hollis’ each formed into an arm. Rikku and Elana’s both became legs. They fused at the center, with each one piloting from their respective limb. The larger mech engaged the Jack of Stars, the eldritch beast, the offspring of the evil planet Asturoth, readying itself for combat.

Final Form swung a sword, which was met with a bladed arm of the Jack of Stars. Final Form fired an arm-cannon, but the Jack of Stars used another arm with a shield to deflect it, sending the beam careening into space at an odd angle.

Punch. Block. Kick. Block. There was no hope. Until Elana had an idea.

“Let's use the thrusters to distract it, then go in for the killing blow!”

“I'm ready to try anything,” Hollis said.

“On three,” Rikku said. He counted down. Elana didn't comment, because they were in the middle of a battle.

As one, they spun the Final Form around and burned the thrusters, sending a glowing wave of plasma flame at the Jack of Spades. In the moment of distraction, Maka, the sword-arm, swung the blade into the plasma, skewering the Jack of Stars.

“Take that!” said Rikku with a little kick.

“High-five!” said Hollis

“A little busy right now,” said Maka.

“I'm reading aberrations,” said Elana. She looked up from the foot of Final Form. Not only was Maka's sword stuck into the heart of the Jack of Stars, but one of the Jack's arms was skewering Final Form, stuck right through its heart. Then, Final Form began to glow before bursting apart into its separate mechs.

The head piece drifted off away from the group, its thrusters broken.

“Tequila!” Rikku shouted over the comms.

“St-starbrand,” came Marguerite's weak voice. “It got me.” Her face came up on the viewscreen, her hair messed up, her face bloody. She looked like she was struggling to breathe. “D-did we get it back?”

“We got it first,” Rikku said. “We got it first.” He gripped the controls of his mech. “We have to get you back to Farstation. They'll fix you up, and you'll be right as rain in no time!”

“N-no,” said Marguerite. “I'm afraid they won't be able to fix me up. I think this is it.” She looked down, around, then back at the camera. “I don't think I'll be around by the time we get back to Farstation.”

“Don't be an idiot, Tequila,” Rikku said. “Let's get you back now. You'll be able to hold on until then.”

Marguerite smiled, then winced. “Oh, Rikku,” she said. “I'd try if I could. But let me just say one last thing while I still can.” She paused, breathed, gathered energy. “I know what you were going to ask me before the sirens blared.”

“What?” Rikku said, feeling the weight of the ring box still in his pocket.

“And the answer would have been…” she coughed, then continued: “... yes.” She gave a weak smile, then the viewscreen flickered, then faded out.

“Marguerite!” Rikku shouted. His mech flew forward and wrapped its arms around Marguerite's. Cradling it in its arms, the mech flew back to Farstation.

Elana looked back at the battlefield. With the Jack of Stars gone, the fighters could clean up the rest. “Let's head back home,” she said. They followed after Rikku like a procession. If only they would have listened to Elana sooner.

“Um, Doctor Vollstrand,” said Skip, “while that was an interesting puppet show, can we start talking about my problems now?”

Elana paused, hands in puppets. “Oh,” she said. “Usually during the first session I give you a little background about myself. We'll get to you next time, okay?” Something dinged behind her. “And that's time.”

Skip got up off the chaise longue. “Okay. See you next week.” He donned his cap and let himself out, leaving Elana with her puppets, including one she had never used. She had called it Seltzer.