A Chance Encounter

[Tackle Jackie]

The PLANT Juniper, nearest colony to Io, and a busy port for those looking to restock between moon hopping. It was on this particular plant where the crew of the Regalia were enjoying a brief shore leave after an encounter with the High Center, leaving as friends at the end, and gaining a new crewmember in the end.

The Starlight Inn, popular with Hunters and Vultures alike for its strict no conflict rules, leaving it a fine place for anyone to get a good nights rest. It’s food was somewhat lacking, or so Thomas thought as he ate his burger while the newest member of the Skadi, Stig, was eating a bowl of Mac and Cheese with one hand and scrolling through a manifest of the ship’s MS. “So you’ve got a some neat suits... Can-“

“No, you cannot scrap the GM.”

 

[Lukas]

PLANT "Juniper", 1100 Hours

Mesa - Docking bay.

"Well, I'll catch you all later. Gimme a call on comms if you need me at the ship, but I'll be back in a few hours if nothing huge comes up."

Joshua gave the rest of the company a nod as he opened the docking port, but stopped halfway when Hazel stepped forward and opened her mouth. He raised an eyebrow but let her say her piece all the same.

"Ooh, can I come? You always vanish on shore leave, and I wanna see where you go."

Joshua sighed. Kids... these sort of breaks were the closest thing he got to peace and quiet, so he faked consideration for a moment before shaking his head.

"Sorry, Hazel. Got to handle a bunch of adult stuff, probably wouldn't go well if I take you three along. You know how it i-"

"Actually, that sounds like a good idea. You can help Joshua carry the supplies back, and make sure he doesn't spend too long getting distracted." Alicia cut in, smirking as she pushed Hazel towards Joshua. "You two have fun now."

---

Some time later.

"Hey, Joshua. You feeling that girl? She's weird."

"Hazel... don't say things like that in public. Please. And besides, you know I can't feel things like you can."

"You could just look at her. Over there!" Hazel pointed into the crowd seemingly at random, but singling out Thomas and Stig. Joshua frowned at first as he followed her gaze, pushing the girl's arm down when he recognised just who she was pointing at - or more specifically, the man beside her.

"Well, I'll be damned. What're the odds?"

Joshua's smile returned for the first time that afternoon, approaching the two with a cheerful grin on his face. Hazel followed a few feet behind, giving them both a wave while he spoke up.

"Thomas! It's been too long, you old git. How've you been?"

 

[Tackle Jackie]

“Oh. That girls weird. You feel that too Mister Tommy?” Stig took a break between mouthfuls of cheese, only for Thomas to chuckle in response. “Probably another Newtype. Guessing you didn’t run to many of your own kind working in a scrapyard, huh?”

It was innocent enough, and something he’d actually been looking forward to teaching his own kids and grandkids before none of them turned out to be Newtype themselves. He’d even prepared a whole speech about the “responsibility and nuances of not prying into others brains.”

“You see, when-“ and then he was quite rudely interrupted by a familiar voice. “Old git? Well excuse me for aging with dignity!” The old man pushed himself to his feet and quickly embraced the old pilot, patting him on the back enthusiastically. “Been good, Great even! How about yourself?” He looked over to the girl accompanying him, raising a brow. “My god did you actually have a kid?”

The ginger girl just gave an awkward wave, somewhat put off by the change in mood. She played along with it anyway. “Hi. I’m The Stig.”

 

[Lukas]

"Oof!" Joshua let out a gasp when he was embraced, but still seemed cheerful about the reunion. Bonds formed in war never truly broke, no matter how much time passes. "Good to see you too, Thomas. And your friend, too. Name's Joshua - people used to call me Loki back during the war, but I grew out of that nickname a while back."

"Three, actually. I'm Hazel - nice to meet you!" Hazel added in an innocent fashion, causing Joshua to cringe for a moment. She kept on going, never taking her eyes off of 'Stig'. "You're like... a cyber newtype, right? You feel like I do, but the old guy feels more like my mom."

"...They're adopted. Long story. I did get married, though. Found a wife, found some kids... hell, even found a new mech after my old Rick Dom gave up the ghost. Life's been pretty good to me, I guess."

 

[Tackle Jackie]

“Oh? Well, nice to meet you then, Mister Joshua.“ The young woman nodded, taking another mouthful of cheese. She had retreated inwards a bit, feeling considerably out of her element if we weren’t talking about Mobile Suits or the like.

“Three, that’s more than I’d have thought you could handle! But, it does seem you’ve survived so far, kudos bud!“ He guided the other two to sit down, resting his hand on Joshua’s shoulder. “Eh. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve wound up replacing my old GM III about four times by now. WAIT. You got married?”

The Stig almost gave a small jump as the other girl, Hazelnut or whatever, spoke to her. “Cyber Newtype, yeah!“ She visibly cheered up as she could contribute to this conversation, pulling back her scarf to point to some very visible, old scarring around her neck and presumably leading down her back. “Built from the best the there is!”

 

[Lukas]

"Built? Neat!" Hazel reached out as if to touch the scars for a moment, but quickly pulled her hand back when she realised exactly what she was doing. "Me and my sisters are the same, but all the surgery stuff happened before we were born. Does that mean you can use funnels?"

Joshua took a seat next to his daughter, sprawling out over the chair like a man half his age. "Believe me - I wasn't sure I could survive at first. Normal kid screaming is bad enough, but at least you can block that out with earplugs. But Alicia's worth it - and if we both lived through the war, I don't think a couple of kids could finish us off."

"Yeah - mom was part of some fancy newtype unit during the insurrection. Then she became a mercenary after you old timers won, and kicked Joshua's ass and stole his heart~" Joshua rolled his eyes at Hazel's description, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead and giving her a good-natured pat on the shoulder.

"That's... not actually what happened, Hazel. But she is the reason I spend more time behind a bridge than in the cockpit nowadays."

 

[Tackle Jackie]

“Oh, can I use funnels? Maybe. Never actually tried it.” Stig shrugged, pushing her food aside to allow for polite conversation. “You got your stuff before you were born? That’s cool!” She seemed curious about how they had been assembled, but maybe that wasn’t a dinner conversation.

“Oh, us old timers, hmm?” Thomas couldn’t help but chuckle, waving a waitress over. “Well, your dad is definitely a solid guy. And I’ve got to hand it to ya, sounds like you lucked out!” The next laugh was heartier than before, leaning back in the chair reminiscing a bit.

“How do you... control a funnel? Do you plug something into your head? Is it magic?” The young CN leaned in curiously to her new friend, biting her lip.

“You guys feel free to order what you want, my treat. And you got hooked by a special forces girl? Anyone I would know?”

 

[Lukas]

"There's this fancy helmet you have to wear. It... amplifies your brainwaves, and after that you just need to think about where you want them to go. You have to focus pretty hard though, especially if you're coordinating a whole bunch. Hard stuff." Hazel explained cheerfully, happy to talk about this with someone new.

"Alicia Kent. I took her surname, too. No more calling me 'Mr.Riley', even if that's the tradition. Really nice lady, and her - well, our mobile suit handles like a dream. It's even a two-seater, so she can handle every funnel while I fill the very important role of keeping us both alive."

"Oh, and I'll take a burger! With... uh... I dunno..." Hazel ummed and ahhed, leaning over the menu in deliberation for a moment before Joshua leaned over and put his finger down on the list of sides.

"Chips, peanut. I'll take some as well - with a beer. Not feeling too hungry right now, and Alicia might get annoyed if I'm out too long."

 

[Tackle Jackie]

“Oh? Sounds familiar, can’t quite place a face with the name.” Thomas couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of Joshua and this Alicia figure scuffling in the cockpit. “So, what kind of trouble have you guys been getting up to nowadays. Can’t imagine you guys setting down with all this.”