[Team Two] Away from the Rim
Prologue-ish piece to some AU that I have no idea what to do with now that it exists, but lmao, uhm. Sorry team for being 'slow' 8D;;;
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“Egos 9 in fifteen minutes,” Kawai yelled from the helm and Takizawa clapped his hands together in glee.
“Lads, we’re finally here!” he said, sweeping back up to the middle of the command deck, plopping himself down into the captain’s chair. “Double-check the compartments, we don’t want anything suspicious showing up on the scans.”
“Aye, sir!”
Takizawa glanced over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow. “Why so quiet, Taipi. It’s so unlike you, especially since we’re on our way to glory, aren’t we?”
“I’m fine,” Fujigaya said, managing the brightest of smiles as he took his place behind Takizawa’s chair, fidgeted as the crew mobilized themselves to give the ship one more scouring. As Takizawa’s first officer of sorts, it was his rightful place, but honestly he just wanted to find some corner of the ship to hide until they went spaceside again.
Egos 9 was the wealthiest planet in the Helios Galaxy, and for exotic dealers (and smugglers on the side) like the crew of the Kimagure it was the capital of Paradise. But Fujigaya’s nerves had nothing to do with excitement or anticipation, but with dread.
He had never told a soul on the crew, not even Kawai or Senga, that he hadn’t really been born on the Rim like the rest of them. He had escaped to the Rim from the Central worlds, trying to run away from his past.
He had escaped from Egos 9.
Mere minutes later, they dropped out of hyperspace and suddenly Egos 9 was there, hanging blue and red and beautiful before him. His heart jolted as he looked through the Kimagure’s viewport. There were pictures, holograms, scenarios, but nothing compared to the actual physical thing, hanging like a work of art before them. Memories, ones that Fujigaya has buried for years, came washing over him and he felt his eyes stung. He was too much in control to actual cry, but there was an ache in his chest that he didn’t want to think about, now that he was here.
“We’re being hailed,” Kawai called out again, “Official channels, planetary security.”
“Let’s get this show on the road,” Takizawa said, leaning forward, smoothing the smile from his face. “Smiles, ladies, let’s make sure this goes smoothly.”
The channel opened a moment later, an officer appearing on screen.
“Kimagure, please power down your shields and submit to the scan before you enter into orbit. We also request that yo-Oh god.”
The officer broke off, but he was also no longer looking at Takizawa. He was staring numbly at Fujigaya.
Kitayama had only been a junior officer when Fujigaya had jackrabbited off-planet, but by his insignia, he was a captain now. How ironic that he held the same title as Takizawa, Fujigaya thought, as he stepped forward, smile forming awkwardly on his face.
“Hello, Kitayama-kun,” he said, and he had no idea where the words were coming from, but they slid off his tongue as easily as if he was trying. “Long time, no see.”
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