Free Fleet #03 No Rest for the Wicked Read Online Free Page B

a variety of bottles.
    “Sitting here making tea and seeing my old squad mates go off and fight at Parnmal makes me want to re-enlist,”
    “Why don't you?” Yasu asked, as Li handed over a large mug as well as a few snacks on the side.
    “That's a complicated question. Mostly because I don't trust myself.”
    Li got a faraway look as Yasu passed her hand over the payment sensor, and it beeped that it had taken the funds for her tea.
    “I was in the Aslarr district on Chaleel. We had to kill so many Sarenmenti that didn't believe that the Syndicate were really the syndicate. We had gotten to know them in our time there, and I had to kill them, or they would've killed me and my squad mates, and maybe people on Earth. I'm scared by how easily people can be convinced to believe something. Human's aren't the only ones that are easily turned by lies and people trying to gain power,”
    “It's scary, but it's the universe we live in. We just have to understand that people want power for themselves, no matter what. I'm just going to make sure that whoever tries to bully those less than them gets some right butt kicking.”
    Li grinned at this and Yasu did too.
    “Well I best get to doing some work,” Yasu sighed.
    Li's grin turned to a kind smile.
    “Good luck,” she said as Yasu's face adopted a disgusted look.
    “Thanks,” she said, a little sarcastically as she took her tea to an empty seat, looking out at the moons. She took a sip of the tea, finding it full of subtle flavours that soothed her tongue, body and mind. The aroma wafting from it was heavenly.
    Sitting there relaxed, she looked to the entrance of the Cafe. Standing there was Takahashi, who looked to be unsure of something. Yasu caught his eye as he went deep red and made to leave. Yasu crooked an imperial eyebrow as Takahashi thought better about his retreat and walked into the cafe, sitting in the chair beside her. He took a minute before talking.
    “I know the things that I did are inexcusable, but I want you to know that...” His voice caught as he looked to the ground before continuing.
    “I want us to be friends. I know this is a lot to ask, but a long time ago I stopped being a master and became your student, even more so when the Free Fleet rose from the bowels of the syndicate fleet to take their own freedom.”
    He raised his head as Yasu looked into his eyes.
    Technically he was the oldest person that had ever been recruited from Earth, but with the physical condition that his body was in they accepted him instead of throwing him into space as the syndicate had done with hundreds of others. A fact that had only been found out when the Free Fleet had taken Hachiro. Takahashi was one of four people that had come from her hometown which was now a large crater. Yasu was another, and the Sato sisters the remaining two.
    “Yes.” She held up her finger. “But now it's your job to socialize the Sato sisters,”
    Takahashi's look of joy faded into one of foreboding.
    “But..,”
    “While we trained them in the ways of war, we did not help them in the ways of the world. It's about time we did, before all they are is two lost girls who know nothing but how to kill,” Takahashi's face fell as sadness filled it. He has changed because of the Free Fleet too, she thought.
    Video gamers and actors might think they were hardcases and all, with their action movies and such, but real warriors, the ones stories were told about, were made from flesh and felt the pains everyone else felt. They weren't superhuman, they were driven. They weren't cold, they were focused, and that was what had changed in Takahashi. It’s how I've changed too , she thought as a small smile formed on her lips.
    “So which manga’s have you been reading?” she said as Takahashi broke into a smile too.
    Maybe it's time to savour what kinship we have, instead of focusing on the past. It's not like I know how long we're going to survive in this universe. Or how many people I'm