[FIC] The Only Direction Any Man Needs To Go
Title: The Only Direction Any Man Needs To Go
Groups/Pairings: Arashi, Ohno-centric, Ohno/Jun, if you squint.
Rating: PG-13, for mild action. (pewpew action, not winkwink action ^_^;)
Warnings: Mild descriptions of dire injuries
Summary: In the search for the greatest treasure in the universe, Ohno realizes what really pushes him forward.
Notes: OMG. This was for je_otherworlds as my gift fic for ender839 and not only was it my first fic exchange challenge ever, it was also my first proper Arashi fic ever. Holy mother of god, it seriously ate my brain. I said during the sign-ups that I can’t really write sci-fi or space opera and what did I write? A sci-fi space opera. Orz
This was an idea that just wouldn’t die from ridiculous amount of Pirate Sentai Gokaiger and Firefly watching, and it just was a dirty, uphill struggle to write. I think I cried and flailed the entire time I was writing this.
I really have to give all my thanks and hearts to g_esquared. Without her, I probably would have thrown in the towel and swear off writing for good. Her beta powers are miraculous, I tell you. I’m so sorry for spamming you so much on such short notice. Thank you for putting up with my fails.
Any residual mistakes are either intentional or overlooked. Original post found here.
Ohno swallows hard against the rising panic at the unfamiliar ceiling facing him. Deep breaths, his military training reminds him. Deep breaths. Calm down. Focus.
Ohno opens his mouth and raises his chest before sharp pain immediately shoots up his left side, his calm breathing turning into a harsh gasp.
Deep breaths, he thinks, are a bad idea.
Ohno takes a moment to recollect before scanning his surroundings: his ears ringing, the elevator’s directional buttons and keypad feeling far brighter than they should be, the metal flooring ice cold where it touches any exposed skin, and smoke. Smoke emanating from a sealed door at his feet. A sudden dread grows in his stomach as his senses pick up the unmistakable scent of burning debris… and bodies.
GRENADE!
“Jun…” Ohno says aloud, feeling the ghost of Jun’s forceful shove on his chest. Ohno lets out a breath in an attempt to calm his speeding heartbeat. They’re fine, he forces his brain to think. Trust them. They’re fine.
The pain on his left makes itself known again. With a grunt, Ohno lifts his shaky right hand away from his belly. In its wake, a large stain of blood and dirt, obvious even on his dark shirt, continues to pool.
“Oh… that’s not good.”
***
“You look awfully relaxed for someone put his whole crew on an imperial wanted list.”
“That’s just the way my face looks, Jun-kun,” Ohno smiles at the resigned sigh from his second-in-command. “The bulletin only mentions a Nissen class ship being spotted in Gantz. It says nothing about us.”
Jun gives him a long look. “Of course, because Earth manufactured Nissen class cargo vessels are so common,” he says. Jun leans forward, hands clasped, and sets his gaze upon the blue planet in their horizon. “How does it feel to be returning home?”
Ohno doesn’t answer. “No private company is going to admit the loss of their own security payroll,” he says instead.
“No,” Jun sighs watching the clear protected window burn bright as their vessel breaks into the planet’s atmosphere. “The Empire will, however, be very curious as to why one of their usual payroll drops suddenly doesn’t exist.”
Ohno shrugs. “A crater where a bank should be would bring up questions,” he concedes.
Before Jun can respond, a cheerful voice crackles over the communication speakers. “Arashi is holding steady, Captain.”
“We’ll finally see if there’s any truth to that story you and Sho-chan love so much,” a second voice adds. “That butt of yours wasn’t the only reason why I got on this boat.”
Ohno hears a distant, choked off sound. “Oh, don’t act so scandalized, Sho-chan. You think Captain’s ass is cute too.”
“I swear to god, Nino-“Jun says under his breath.
Ohno just laughs. The story was simple, spread by Ohno’s former commander as a small attempt to boost morale during the Rebellion.
It was a legend of how the gods looked down upon Earth and saw nothing but destruction. In their disappointment, the gods sent a storm to cover the world and wash it clean. As the world grew dark, a young girl offered her life in exchange for mankind. Moved by the innocence of this young girl the gods gave her the gift to recreate the fate of the universe- the Eye of the Gods.
“It’s a good way to rile up a bunch of grown men if you’re challenging them to be braver than a little girl.” Jun told him the first time Ohno shared the story.
It was long after Rebellion was over, and longer after Ohno could think about those times without hating himself.
The communication speakers crackle again. “We’ll be on the ground in about half an hour, if Hina’s intel is legit.”
“Hina and his crew never failed us before, Aiba. Those eight pick up news and Imperial intelligence like Councilors’ wives pick up gossip,” Jun replies tersely.
“Got much experience with Councilors’ wives then, Jun-pon?” Nino’s voice answers back, barely covering Aiba’s giggle.
Ohno laughs again, touching Jun’s elbow to lead him toward the ship’s cargo hold before Jun can retort.
Moments later, the ship jolts, signaling a steady landing. “All I’m saying is we should’ve laid low for a while after that Gantz job,” Jun insists. Aiba’s shrill “Ha! Nothing blew up! You’re on kitchen duty tonight, Ninomiya!” echoes afterward.
Ohno shakes his head in amusement, but when he turns to face Jun, Jun’s worried expression surprises him. He sighs, placing a steady hand on Jun’s arm.
“We’re already hot on the radar, MatsuJun,” Ohno says, congratulating himself when he feels the smile Jun gives at the sound of the nickname. “One more degree isn’t going to make that much of a difference.”
Jun’s smile is short lived. “One degree is the difference between simmering and boiling, Captain.”
***
“I’ve read your file.”
“Doesn’t an Operative have better things to do than take out ex-Rebel criminals like-”
“You’re a good man, Ohno Satoshi.”
“Agent Matsumoto?”
“I’m tired of killing good men.”
Shrapnel. Ohno curses as he fumbles for the small hidden pocket in his jacket. When he finds the clear bottle, he can’t help smiling in spite of himself. Jun will have to stop giving him those disapproving looks about his not-so-subtle drinking habits.
The smile disappears as suddenly as it came. Jun.
***
“Why would the Empire reduce an entire planet into rubble and then build the only sound structure near a dead volcano a decade later?” Aiba whistles into the dead, cold air of an imperial research lab.
“Sho-chan?”
Ohno walks over to the thin scholar engaging the lab’s main computer screen in a staring contest; the light emanating from the console enhance the look of shock on his face.
“This,” Sho swallows. “I can’t even begin to-”
Ohno and Jun exchange glances, as Aiba and Nino peer over Sho’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?” Nino asks.
Sho turns to face his crewmates, his eyes larger than usual. “My father said it was a waste of time, but Ohno…” Sho trails off, processing his thoughts.
“Sho?”
“This is my research!”
***
“He really has terrible aim, Captain. My sister can throw books at people better than that.”
“The Empire revoked my degree! They took everything- my research, all my hard work! My father disowned me! You can’t have a raving conspiracy theorist as a son of an Empire Councilor.”
“The Eye of the Gods isn’t just a story to me, Professor Sakurai.”
Gritting his teeth, Ohno lifts the bloody portion of his shirt and pours the liquid on his wounds. He hisses and feels his world spin at the sharp pain that follows. From the same pocket, he pulls free a dark blue cloth and places it over his wounds.
Indirect pressure, he thinks. Keep it covered and you can keep going.
Ohno settles himself into repeating basic first aid instructions to drown out the sounds of stomping feet behind the smoking doors and tells himself that his hands are shaking from his injuries, not from thoughts about his crew’s chances of survival.
***
“They knew what I found was real,” Sho releases a heavy breath. “The Eye of the Gods is a really, really old legend. My father must have known I was getting too close when I tracked its origins to Earth.”
“What’s this?” Aiba reaches out to touch a blinking red file labeled Confidential. In seconds, footage of a meeting fills the lab’s screens.
Nino gapes. “Holy- is that…?”
Jun gives Aiba a curt look, as Aiba yelps and attempts to hide behind Jun’s sleeve.
Ohno’s eyes darken. “Inagaki Goro… the Emperor.”
“We cannot propagate the idea of a backwater planet like Earth to be the origin of the Eye of the Gods. It would be a stain on our prestigious Empire and our Emperor.”
“I’ve already sacrificed my son. This is an entire planet you seek to sacrifice next! You cannot suddenly uproot an entire population from their homes and expect compliance!”
Sho mimics Nino’s gape. “That’s my father!”
“With all due respect, Excellence, the people of Earth have been quite restless ever since we imposed the higher rate of taxes. Some misconstrued idea of representation.”
“Excellence, this may give us just the right opportunity-”
“Wait, Kimura, Kusanagi, what are you all saying?”
“The simplest way to rewrite a legend, Sakurai.”
“Mute it.” Ohno keeps his gaze downcast, feeling his crew’s unsteadiness.
“The Emperor wanted Earth’s rebellion?” Aiba blinks to each member owlishly.
“A planet is easier to search when its people are dead,” Nino says darkly.
“Nino,” Jun warns, eyeing Ohno’s stiff posture. Nino gives Ohno a mollifying glance.
Sho looks faint. “They started… and destroyed Earth… because of my research.”
Ohno sees Nino quickly grabbing Sho’s shoulders. “No,” Nino says firmly. “Don’t do that to yourself. They did this because they’re guilty men. All guilty men want to rewrite their own history.”
“The Eye of the Gods gives the power to remake the universe,” Ohno mutters, moving his gaze to the muted footage.
“They wanted the Eye, destroyed Earth to find it, and then blamed the destruction on the Rebellion?” Aiba feverishly runs his hands over his face and head, as the revelation dawns. Seconds later, Aiba storms to the console and presses Copy.
“We have to get this to Hina,” he says resolutely. “People need to know about this.”
Jun leans back against a pillar and crosses his arms, his hands gripping his sleeves firmly. Ohno recognizes the angry gesture. “All those good men,” Jun says, his jaw tightening.
Before Ohno can reply, the console abruptly beeps and a commanding voice echoes in the room. “Nissen class cargo ship. Ship name: Arashi. Captain: Ohno Satoshi. You are hereby called for questioning concerning an explosion of private buildings on Gantz, in addition to providing an explanation as to your unauthorized access of a restricted Empire facility.”
“Guys, look at this.” Aiba points to a screen displaying a live feed of imperial ships landing adjacent to theirs.
“How did they find us so fast?” Sho exclaims, spinning, frantically searching for any indication of what compromised their position.
“… one more degree,” Jun mumbles, shoving himself off the pillar and quickly scanning the room for points of entry.
“Not helpful,” Nino retorts, ignoring Jun’s glare. Nino lets out an annoyed sound as he pulls out his firearm, slamming a magazine into place rougher than necessary.
“If the Empire is covering something up here, those patrols are standard. There must’ve been a silent alarm or something that’s wired to go off either the moment we found that file, or hell, the moment we entered the room.” Aiba scans the console’s data quickly. “Shit, why didn’t I even think about putting up a scrambler the second we hit atmo?”
Ohno places a soft hand on Aiba’s wrist. “Stop,” Ohno says, steadily. “That’s on me. That should’ve been my first thought too.”
Jun, Sho, Nino, and Aiba halt their movements to watch Ohno pause and peer at the console’s data, his eyes intent and unwavering.
“Landing here wasn’t a waste of time,” Ohno states. “Look at these blueprints and building photographs.” Ohno points as the others follow the movements of his finger.
Jun gestures to his right. “That elevator shaft there,” he says. “According to these diagrams, it only leads down to one place.”
“And that photograph-” Sho starts.
Aiba cuts him off, his eyes wide. “A bright glowing orb floating in the middle of a bigger tube connected to all the power circuits?”
“I don’t know about you, but that seems important-maybe even ‘greatest treasure in the universe’ important.” Nino says, before Sho can finish his thought.
Ohno keeps his gaze intently at the photograph and its blinking title. For a moment, the room falls silent.
The Eye.
“Well!” Aiba’s abrupt voice startling all of them out of their momentary respite.
“You totally jumped, Ninomiya,” Jun snorts.
“Did not.”
Ohno realizes how rare Sho rolls his eyes.
“Well,” Aiba plows on, reaching inside his inner jacket pocket. With a satisfied smile, Aiba walks over to Ohno and places a small object in his hand.
“This is a lock chip,” says, at Ohno’s look. “I was playing around one night and accidentally created one that will sneak into different systems. It should unlock the elevator’s secure keypad and take you to where you need to go.”
Ohno’s brow furrows in confusion as he inspects the chip carefully. Sho tilts his head and blinks while Nino tries to cover a snicker with his elbow.
“… It’s shaped like a puppy,” Ohno says slowly.
Jun just rolls his eyes.
***
“You can’t just throw parts away! Hell, you can’t just throw expensive engine parts away!”
“Satoshi, is that spare storage hold supposed to be mewing?”
Ohno ignores his labored breathing and his bodily pains as he manages to hoist himself up using the elevator wall for support. With his free hand, Ohno takes Aiba’s locked chip and places it in the appropriate port next to the elevator’s keypad.
He finds himself, not for the first time and despite his circumstances, unable to contain a smile, watching the little puppy shaped chip hump the port it was currently plugged into. Oh, Aiba.
As Ohno hears a confirming ‘Woof!’ and the elevator whirring to life, Ohno reminds himself that he will buy Aiba all the yakiniku he wants. The thought manages to keep the growing dread in his stomach at bay, as he hears the shouts of imperial soldiers fade.
***
“In the name of the Emperor, you are ordered to open these doors and surrender yourselves!” a voice boom from behind the lab’s entrance.
Jun looks exasperated as he turns off his pistol’s safety. “That video log, if the Empire knows that we know…”
“They know we know this,” Sho waves the physical data file Aiba copied earlier.
Aiba glances at all of them. “They’re not going to just let us walk away, are they?”
Nino shakes his head and hands Aiba his spare pistol, while Jun does the same for Sho. “There’s only one way out of this, Captain,” he says.
Ohno meets at Nino eyes.
Nino smiles. “Forward.”
***
“Forward. Forward is the only direction any man needs to go. Unfortunately for me, that direction led straight to a jail cell.”
“What are you in for?”
“Smuggling. You?”
“Bar fight.”
Forward. Ohno reminds himself. The word keeps him focused and keeps his attention on calming his breathing. The jolt of the elevator shaft reaching its destination, unfortunately, did nothing to help ease the pain or discomfort of his wounds.
“Forward,” Ohno says. It’s like a simple mantra. He grimaces at the pain when the elevator jolts again, slowly opening its doors.
“Forward,” he repeats. It’s like repeating names you don’t want to forget.
Nino. Sho. Aiba. Jun.
***
“These are blast doors,” Aiba says, dismantling the entrance’s control panel. “I can rig them so they don’t open all the way. We can funnel these guys and get you some time to get down there.”
Though he feels himself nod, Ohno doesn’t realize his hesitation until he catches Jun’s stare.
“We know you’ve been waiting for this,” Jun says.
“Using a legendary orb to recreate a world without an Empire? No one but you can dream something that stupid,” Nino adds, smirking.
Beside Nino, Sho releases a shaky laugh. “You know, I thought my father hated me after the Empire took away my title and research,” he says. “If you didn’t find us, I would’ve continued believing that.”
Nino gives Sho the slightest of touches before facing Ohno. “Not everyone can rally up two ex-Empire lackeys, a thief in a jail cell, and an idiot savant and turn them into a dysfunctional crew.”
Aiba’s “Oi!” and Jun’s and Sho’s vexed looks come a heartbeat later.
Ohno can still feel the hesitation in his chest, next to sudden warmth.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be right behind you,” Sho says, checking his borrowed firearm.
“Fine,” Ohno squares his shoulders, feeling resigned. “I’ll wait for you guys below.” He reaches over to touch Jun’s fingers.
Jun recognizes the gesture, and links their hands briefly. “We’re counting on you, Captain,” he says, releasing their fingers and gives Ohno’s shoulder an affectionate push.
Ohno looks away from Jun’s hands and returns Aiba’s thumbs up, indicating his work with the entrance complete. He nods to Sho and Nino, as the two position themselves accordingly. Ohno turns to look at his crew as the elevator’s doors open automatically at his presence. Forward.
Without warning, the lab’s entrance doors open slightly.
“That wasn’t-“
Aiba’s response is cut short as Ohno feels himself shoved violently into the elevator entrance.
“GRENADE!”
***
Ohno releases a groan as his recent memories flood back into focus: Sho’s shout, Jun’s forceful shove, himself being flung into the large elevator shaft. Ohno’s last visions of Nino yanking Aiba away from the grenade’s blast suddenly fresh in his mind- a memory barely minutes old, but feeling like years ago.
We did this for you.
Forward.
As the elevator shaft doors finally open, Ohno seizes all his strength and hoists himself forward. He completely ignores the overwhelming need to vomit or faint as the object of his arduous journey faces him.
The orb floats serenely in a brightly lit tube. The cables attached to the tube and the platform seems to indicate it as the main source of power for the facility. Ohno can’t couldn’t help but stare awestruck at the Eye’s details. From a distance, the orb looks looked like a smooth piece of round volcanic rock, but as Ohno inches closer, he can see the minute cracks that spread from a small crater at the orb’s center, giving the orb the features of an eye’s pupil and its surrounding veins. Ohno peers and sees the makeshift pupil sparkling in the container’s light. Upon further inspection, Ohno realizes the crater contains minute gems strewn around the center; ember topazes, fire rubies, deep jades, rich amethysts, and bright sapphires that reflect light, bathing the crater with sparkling colors.
Ohno finds himself open jawed as he reaches out to the Eye with his bloodied palm.
With a cry of surprise, he feels himself yanked forward by his gut and flung onto a floor of a stark white room. Immediately surprised by the sudden lack of pain in body, Ohno sits up and blinks at the room’s brightness.
He blinks again at a young girl facing him with a curious stare.
She tilts her head and peers at him. “You look like a fisherman,” she says.
“How?” he asks awkwardly as he continues to blink in confusion.
The girl pokes his cheek. “You’re tan,” she replies. “My Papa was a fisherman. He was tan, too.”
“Where…?” Ohno asks, scanning the room. Not that there was much to scan.
She only pokes at his cheeks again. “Are you here to change the world, Mr. Fisherman?”
Ohno opens his mouth to answer, but closes it as he catches the change in her expression.
“The world is bad again, isn’t it?” she says, sadness and disappointment in her voice as she stares at his ruined clothing. “That’s why you’re here.”
“You’re- wait,” Ohno starts, feeling the tumblers in his mind fall into place. “Am I in the Eye?”
The young girl nods. “You must be very brave, Mr. Fisherman. I was told only brave people would to want to find me.”
Ohno notices the white of her traditional yukata-the old fashioned clothing in stark contrast to his dark, bloodied, and filthy attire.
“You’re the girl from the story,” Ohno says. She only looks sadder, making Ohno’s heart drop. Ohno heeded the urge to hold one of her hands. “I heard you’re really brave too.”
“I was scared,” she says, staring at their hands. “When I saw the big storm, remembered everyone in the village. I had to warn them. So, I ran, and ran, until I bumped into this old man. He was just standing there with a hat, staring at the sky. He looked really disappointed.”
“He said, ‘You. Why are you running? You’re going to die either way.” Ohno sees the girl’s lips quiver and tightens his fingers around her hand.
She pauses to look at him and continues. “But I had to save Papa and Mama- and my friends- I didn’t want them to die too.”
Ohno places his free hand gently on top of her head. “You said you’d give up your life for them.”
The little girl nods at Ohno, her eyes glossy. “He looked at me for a bit then he made the storm go away. Then he said he’d leave it up to me. If the world is bad again, someone will come find me, but… I had to wait.”
Ohno sees the girl’s face contort and quickly pulls her close. He feels her tears on his neck and shoulders and rubs her back soothingly.
“I don’t want the world to be bad,” the girl hiccups. “I just- I just want to see Papa and Mama again.”
Ohno breathes out a heavy sigh and remembers.
… recreate a world without an Empire.
We’ll be right behind you.
“You are so, so brave,” Ohno pulls her away and looks into her sad, round eyes. “I’m sorry you had to wait so long.”
“Do you want to change the world, Mr. Fisherman?” the girl asks again, swallowing her breaths.
Forward. He remembers. Nino. Sho. Aiba. Jun.
“I think,” Ohno sighs, offering her a tender smile. “I think, I just want to see my family again too.”
The girl seems momentarily surprised, but she breaks outs into a bright, warm smile. Ohno feels her take his hands and warm, white light envelopes him once more.
***
Ohno blinks spots away as he finds himself back on Arashi’s bridge, watching his ship pull away from Earth.
“It wasn’t a bad plan,” a voice says from Ohno’s right.
Ohno visibly jumps. “What?”
Jun raises his eyebrows at the movement. “Scrambling the signals,” he says. “You told Aiba to scramble any signals when we entered Earth’s atmosphere. Keeping patrols off our scent?”
From his left, Nino slides his arms around his shoulders. “Definitely one of your better calls, Captain,” Nino adds, leaning in to close Ohno’s slacken jaw with a finger. “Gave us time to hightail it out of there when that silent alarm went off.”
“Judging by those ships that just passed us, though, we got out of there by the skin of our teeth,” Aiba says from his pilot’s seat, watching an upload progress on one of the bridge’s screens.
Ohno’s mind tries recollecting itself- the bright white room, the soft spoken brave little girl, his wounds. Ohno looks down at his abdomen and found it whole and clean. Well, less bloody, anyway.
“And Hina’s already got that video log broadcasting on every radio and video feed he can get his hands on. Aiba’s uploading it to our backup, just in case,” Sho says, interrupting Ohno’s self-inspection and leaning against Aiba’s seat. “By the end of the week, the universe is going to know what really happened on Earth.” Ohno hears the contentment in Sho’s voice.
“You might say we’re creating our own storm around the world- well, the universe,” Aiba laughs, as the screens blink Complete. “Thing are going to change. Your dad’s sacrifice won’t be wasted.” Aiba nudges Sho affectionately with his elbow.
“It’s not going to bring the Empire down any time soon, but might loosen its grip a little,” Jun says, reaching over and takes a solid orb Ohno didn’t realize he held.
“Too bad the Eye was really just a giant piece of volcanic rock,” he adds, slightly disappointed.
“Yeah, wouldn’t mind it being a giant gem that could, I don’t know, pay for actual food,” Nino takes the orb and looks at it forlornly. “I’m getting tired of this protein nibble crap. Maybe if we can chip off these little specks of gems here-” Nino peers closer at its crater.
“No, don’t do that. I like the rainbows it makes!” Aiba laughs, lifting it out of Nino’s hands. “I think it’s rather cool that the Eye actually existed, even if the rest of the story was just a legend. It gave people something to search for,” he adds, glancing at Ohno fondly.
“So, what now?” Sho smiles, taking the orb from Aiba and handing it back to Ohno. “Now that we’ve found the Eye of the Gods…”
Ohno takes it and stares fondly. He imagines, somewhere, a little girl also being reunited with her family. “Greatest treasure in the universe,” he smiles.
Nino shrugs. “Doesn’t look like much, does it?”
“No,” Ohno runs his hands along the cracks of the orb. “I still think it’s the greatest, though,” Ohno adds, quietly.
Jun touches Ohno’s wrist. Ohno gives in to the urge to link their hands. He thinks he never wants to let it go and, judging from the blooming smile on Jun’s face, Jun might feel likewise.
“What makes you say that?” Jun asks, slightly breathless.
Ohno could feel warmth spread as he returns the smile and considers his crew- his family.
Forward.
“It brought me you guys.”
Groups/Pairings: Arashi, Ohno-centric, Ohno/Jun, if you squint.
Rating: PG-13, for mild action. (pewpew action, not winkwink action ^_^;)
Warnings: Mild descriptions of dire injuries
Summary: In the search for the greatest treasure in the universe, Ohno realizes what really pushes him forward.
Notes: OMG. This was for je_otherworlds as my gift fic for ender839 and not only was it my first fic exchange challenge ever, it was also my first proper Arashi fic ever. Holy mother of god, it seriously ate my brain. I said during the sign-ups that I can’t really write sci-fi or space opera and what did I write? A sci-fi space opera. Orz
This was an idea that just wouldn’t die from ridiculous amount of Pirate Sentai Gokaiger and Firefly watching, and it just was a dirty, uphill struggle to write. I think I cried and flailed the entire time I was writing this.
I really have to give all my thanks and hearts to g_esquared. Without her, I probably would have thrown in the towel and swear off writing for good. Her beta powers are miraculous, I tell you. I’m so sorry for spamming you so much on such short notice. Thank you for putting up with my fails.
Any residual mistakes are either intentional or overlooked. Original post found here.
Ohno swallows hard against the rising panic at the unfamiliar ceiling facing him. Deep breaths, his military training reminds him. Deep breaths. Calm down. Focus.
Ohno opens his mouth and raises his chest before sharp pain immediately shoots up his left side, his calm breathing turning into a harsh gasp.
Deep breaths, he thinks, are a bad idea.
Ohno takes a moment to recollect before scanning his surroundings: his ears ringing, the elevator’s directional buttons and keypad feeling far brighter than they should be, the metal flooring ice cold where it touches any exposed skin, and smoke. Smoke emanating from a sealed door at his feet. A sudden dread grows in his stomach as his senses pick up the unmistakable scent of burning debris… and bodies.
GRENADE!
“Jun…” Ohno says aloud, feeling the ghost of Jun’s forceful shove on his chest. Ohno lets out a breath in an attempt to calm his speeding heartbeat. They’re fine, he forces his brain to think. Trust them. They’re fine.
The pain on his left makes itself known again. With a grunt, Ohno lifts his shaky right hand away from his belly. In its wake, a large stain of blood and dirt, obvious even on his dark shirt, continues to pool.
“Oh… that’s not good.”
***
“You look awfully relaxed for someone put his whole crew on an imperial wanted list.”
“That’s just the way my face looks, Jun-kun,” Ohno smiles at the resigned sigh from his second-in-command. “The bulletin only mentions a Nissen class ship being spotted in Gantz. It says nothing about us.”
Jun gives him a long look. “Of course, because Earth manufactured Nissen class cargo vessels are so common,” he says. Jun leans forward, hands clasped, and sets his gaze upon the blue planet in their horizon. “How does it feel to be returning home?”
Ohno doesn’t answer. “No private company is going to admit the loss of their own security payroll,” he says instead.
“No,” Jun sighs watching the clear protected window burn bright as their vessel breaks into the planet’s atmosphere. “The Empire will, however, be very curious as to why one of their usual payroll drops suddenly doesn’t exist.”
Ohno shrugs. “A crater where a bank should be would bring up questions,” he concedes.
Before Jun can respond, a cheerful voice crackles over the communication speakers. “Arashi is holding steady, Captain.”
“We’ll finally see if there’s any truth to that story you and Sho-chan love so much,” a second voice adds. “That butt of yours wasn’t the only reason why I got on this boat.”
Ohno hears a distant, choked off sound. “Oh, don’t act so scandalized, Sho-chan. You think Captain’s ass is cute too.”
“I swear to god, Nino-“Jun says under his breath.
Ohno just laughs. The story was simple, spread by Ohno’s former commander as a small attempt to boost morale during the Rebellion.
It was a legend of how the gods looked down upon Earth and saw nothing but destruction. In their disappointment, the gods sent a storm to cover the world and wash it clean. As the world grew dark, a young girl offered her life in exchange for mankind. Moved by the innocence of this young girl the gods gave her the gift to recreate the fate of the universe- the Eye of the Gods.
“It’s a good way to rile up a bunch of grown men if you’re challenging them to be braver than a little girl.” Jun told him the first time Ohno shared the story.
It was long after Rebellion was over, and longer after Ohno could think about those times without hating himself.
The communication speakers crackle again. “We’ll be on the ground in about half an hour, if Hina’s intel is legit.”
“Hina and his crew never failed us before, Aiba. Those eight pick up news and Imperial intelligence like Councilors’ wives pick up gossip,” Jun replies tersely.
“Got much experience with Councilors’ wives then, Jun-pon?” Nino’s voice answers back, barely covering Aiba’s giggle.
Ohno laughs again, touching Jun’s elbow to lead him toward the ship’s cargo hold before Jun can retort.
Moments later, the ship jolts, signaling a steady landing. “All I’m saying is we should’ve laid low for a while after that Gantz job,” Jun insists. Aiba’s shrill “Ha! Nothing blew up! You’re on kitchen duty tonight, Ninomiya!” echoes afterward.
Ohno shakes his head in amusement, but when he turns to face Jun, Jun’s worried expression surprises him. He sighs, placing a steady hand on Jun’s arm.
“We’re already hot on the radar, MatsuJun,” Ohno says, congratulating himself when he feels the smile Jun gives at the sound of the nickname. “One more degree isn’t going to make that much of a difference.”
Jun’s smile is short lived. “One degree is the difference between simmering and boiling, Captain.”
***
“I’ve read your file.”
“Doesn’t an Operative have better things to do than take out ex-Rebel criminals like-”
“You’re a good man, Ohno Satoshi.”
“Agent Matsumoto?”
“I’m tired of killing good men.”
Shrapnel. Ohno curses as he fumbles for the small hidden pocket in his jacket. When he finds the clear bottle, he can’t help smiling in spite of himself. Jun will have to stop giving him those disapproving looks about his not-so-subtle drinking habits.
The smile disappears as suddenly as it came. Jun.
***
“Why would the Empire reduce an entire planet into rubble and then build the only sound structure near a dead volcano a decade later?” Aiba whistles into the dead, cold air of an imperial research lab.
“Sho-chan?”
Ohno walks over to the thin scholar engaging the lab’s main computer screen in a staring contest; the light emanating from the console enhance the look of shock on his face.
“This,” Sho swallows. “I can’t even begin to-”
Ohno and Jun exchange glances, as Aiba and Nino peer over Sho’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?” Nino asks.
Sho turns to face his crewmates, his eyes larger than usual. “My father said it was a waste of time, but Ohno…” Sho trails off, processing his thoughts.
“Sho?”
“This is my research!”
***
“He really has terrible aim, Captain. My sister can throw books at people better than that.”
“The Empire revoked my degree! They took everything- my research, all my hard work! My father disowned me! You can’t have a raving conspiracy theorist as a son of an Empire Councilor.”
“The Eye of the Gods isn’t just a story to me, Professor Sakurai.”
Gritting his teeth, Ohno lifts the bloody portion of his shirt and pours the liquid on his wounds. He hisses and feels his world spin at the sharp pain that follows. From the same pocket, he pulls free a dark blue cloth and places it over his wounds.
Indirect pressure, he thinks. Keep it covered and you can keep going.
Ohno settles himself into repeating basic first aid instructions to drown out the sounds of stomping feet behind the smoking doors and tells himself that his hands are shaking from his injuries, not from thoughts about his crew’s chances of survival.
***
“They knew what I found was real,” Sho releases a heavy breath. “The Eye of the Gods is a really, really old legend. My father must have known I was getting too close when I tracked its origins to Earth.”
“What’s this?” Aiba reaches out to touch a blinking red file labeled Confidential. In seconds, footage of a meeting fills the lab’s screens.
Nino gapes. “Holy- is that…?”
Jun gives Aiba a curt look, as Aiba yelps and attempts to hide behind Jun’s sleeve.
Ohno’s eyes darken. “Inagaki Goro… the Emperor.”
“We cannot propagate the idea of a backwater planet like Earth to be the origin of the Eye of the Gods. It would be a stain on our prestigious Empire and our Emperor.”
“I’ve already sacrificed my son. This is an entire planet you seek to sacrifice next! You cannot suddenly uproot an entire population from their homes and expect compliance!”
Sho mimics Nino’s gape. “That’s my father!”
“With all due respect, Excellence, the people of Earth have been quite restless ever since we imposed the higher rate of taxes. Some misconstrued idea of representation.”
“Excellence, this may give us just the right opportunity-”
“Wait, Kimura, Kusanagi, what are you all saying?”
“The simplest way to rewrite a legend, Sakurai.”
“Mute it.” Ohno keeps his gaze downcast, feeling his crew’s unsteadiness.
“The Emperor wanted Earth’s rebellion?” Aiba blinks to each member owlishly.
“A planet is easier to search when its people are dead,” Nino says darkly.
“Nino,” Jun warns, eyeing Ohno’s stiff posture. Nino gives Ohno a mollifying glance.
Sho looks faint. “They started… and destroyed Earth… because of my research.”
Ohno sees Nino quickly grabbing Sho’s shoulders. “No,” Nino says firmly. “Don’t do that to yourself. They did this because they’re guilty men. All guilty men want to rewrite their own history.”
“The Eye of the Gods gives the power to remake the universe,” Ohno mutters, moving his gaze to the muted footage.
“They wanted the Eye, destroyed Earth to find it, and then blamed the destruction on the Rebellion?” Aiba feverishly runs his hands over his face and head, as the revelation dawns. Seconds later, Aiba storms to the console and presses Copy.
“We have to get this to Hina,” he says resolutely. “People need to know about this.”
Jun leans back against a pillar and crosses his arms, his hands gripping his sleeves firmly. Ohno recognizes the angry gesture. “All those good men,” Jun says, his jaw tightening.
Before Ohno can reply, the console abruptly beeps and a commanding voice echoes in the room. “Nissen class cargo ship. Ship name: Arashi. Captain: Ohno Satoshi. You are hereby called for questioning concerning an explosion of private buildings on Gantz, in addition to providing an explanation as to your unauthorized access of a restricted Empire facility.”
“Guys, look at this.” Aiba points to a screen displaying a live feed of imperial ships landing adjacent to theirs.
“How did they find us so fast?” Sho exclaims, spinning, frantically searching for any indication of what compromised their position.
“… one more degree,” Jun mumbles, shoving himself off the pillar and quickly scanning the room for points of entry.
“Not helpful,” Nino retorts, ignoring Jun’s glare. Nino lets out an annoyed sound as he pulls out his firearm, slamming a magazine into place rougher than necessary.
“If the Empire is covering something up here, those patrols are standard. There must’ve been a silent alarm or something that’s wired to go off either the moment we found that file, or hell, the moment we entered the room.” Aiba scans the console’s data quickly. “Shit, why didn’t I even think about putting up a scrambler the second we hit atmo?”
Ohno places a soft hand on Aiba’s wrist. “Stop,” Ohno says, steadily. “That’s on me. That should’ve been my first thought too.”
Jun, Sho, Nino, and Aiba halt their movements to watch Ohno pause and peer at the console’s data, his eyes intent and unwavering.
“Landing here wasn’t a waste of time,” Ohno states. “Look at these blueprints and building photographs.” Ohno points as the others follow the movements of his finger.
Jun gestures to his right. “That elevator shaft there,” he says. “According to these diagrams, it only leads down to one place.”
“And that photograph-” Sho starts.
Aiba cuts him off, his eyes wide. “A bright glowing orb floating in the middle of a bigger tube connected to all the power circuits?”
“I don’t know about you, but that seems important-maybe even ‘greatest treasure in the universe’ important.” Nino says, before Sho can finish his thought.
Ohno keeps his gaze intently at the photograph and its blinking title. For a moment, the room falls silent.
The Eye.
“Well!” Aiba’s abrupt voice startling all of them out of their momentary respite.
“You totally jumped, Ninomiya,” Jun snorts.
“Did not.”
Ohno realizes how rare Sho rolls his eyes.
“Well,” Aiba plows on, reaching inside his inner jacket pocket. With a satisfied smile, Aiba walks over to Ohno and places a small object in his hand.
“This is a lock chip,” says, at Ohno’s look. “I was playing around one night and accidentally created one that will sneak into different systems. It should unlock the elevator’s secure keypad and take you to where you need to go.”
Ohno’s brow furrows in confusion as he inspects the chip carefully. Sho tilts his head and blinks while Nino tries to cover a snicker with his elbow.
“… It’s shaped like a puppy,” Ohno says slowly.
Jun just rolls his eyes.
***
“You can’t just throw parts away! Hell, you can’t just throw expensive engine parts away!”
“Satoshi, is that spare storage hold supposed to be mewing?”
Ohno ignores his labored breathing and his bodily pains as he manages to hoist himself up using the elevator wall for support. With his free hand, Ohno takes Aiba’s locked chip and places it in the appropriate port next to the elevator’s keypad.
He finds himself, not for the first time and despite his circumstances, unable to contain a smile, watching the little puppy shaped chip hump the port it was currently plugged into. Oh, Aiba.
As Ohno hears a confirming ‘Woof!’ and the elevator whirring to life, Ohno reminds himself that he will buy Aiba all the yakiniku he wants. The thought manages to keep the growing dread in his stomach at bay, as he hears the shouts of imperial soldiers fade.
***
“In the name of the Emperor, you are ordered to open these doors and surrender yourselves!” a voice boom from behind the lab’s entrance.
Jun looks exasperated as he turns off his pistol’s safety. “That video log, if the Empire knows that we know…”
“They know we know this,” Sho waves the physical data file Aiba copied earlier.
Aiba glances at all of them. “They’re not going to just let us walk away, are they?”
Nino shakes his head and hands Aiba his spare pistol, while Jun does the same for Sho. “There’s only one way out of this, Captain,” he says.
Ohno meets at Nino eyes.
Nino smiles. “Forward.”
***
“Forward. Forward is the only direction any man needs to go. Unfortunately for me, that direction led straight to a jail cell.”
“What are you in for?”
“Smuggling. You?”
“Bar fight.”
Forward. Ohno reminds himself. The word keeps him focused and keeps his attention on calming his breathing. The jolt of the elevator shaft reaching its destination, unfortunately, did nothing to help ease the pain or discomfort of his wounds.
“Forward,” Ohno says. It’s like a simple mantra. He grimaces at the pain when the elevator jolts again, slowly opening its doors.
“Forward,” he repeats. It’s like repeating names you don’t want to forget.
Nino. Sho. Aiba. Jun.
***
“These are blast doors,” Aiba says, dismantling the entrance’s control panel. “I can rig them so they don’t open all the way. We can funnel these guys and get you some time to get down there.”
Though he feels himself nod, Ohno doesn’t realize his hesitation until he catches Jun’s stare.
“We know you’ve been waiting for this,” Jun says.
“Using a legendary orb to recreate a world without an Empire? No one but you can dream something that stupid,” Nino adds, smirking.
Beside Nino, Sho releases a shaky laugh. “You know, I thought my father hated me after the Empire took away my title and research,” he says. “If you didn’t find us, I would’ve continued believing that.”
Nino gives Sho the slightest of touches before facing Ohno. “Not everyone can rally up two ex-Empire lackeys, a thief in a jail cell, and an idiot savant and turn them into a dysfunctional crew.”
Aiba’s “Oi!” and Jun’s and Sho’s vexed looks come a heartbeat later.
Ohno can still feel the hesitation in his chest, next to sudden warmth.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be right behind you,” Sho says, checking his borrowed firearm.
“Fine,” Ohno squares his shoulders, feeling resigned. “I’ll wait for you guys below.” He reaches over to touch Jun’s fingers.
Jun recognizes the gesture, and links their hands briefly. “We’re counting on you, Captain,” he says, releasing their fingers and gives Ohno’s shoulder an affectionate push.
Ohno looks away from Jun’s hands and returns Aiba’s thumbs up, indicating his work with the entrance complete. He nods to Sho and Nino, as the two position themselves accordingly. Ohno turns to look at his crew as the elevator’s doors open automatically at his presence. Forward.
Without warning, the lab’s entrance doors open slightly.
“That wasn’t-“
Aiba’s response is cut short as Ohno feels himself shoved violently into the elevator entrance.
“GRENADE!”
***
Ohno releases a groan as his recent memories flood back into focus: Sho’s shout, Jun’s forceful shove, himself being flung into the large elevator shaft. Ohno’s last visions of Nino yanking Aiba away from the grenade’s blast suddenly fresh in his mind- a memory barely minutes old, but feeling like years ago.
We did this for you.
Forward.
As the elevator shaft doors finally open, Ohno seizes all his strength and hoists himself forward. He completely ignores the overwhelming need to vomit or faint as the object of his arduous journey faces him.
The orb floats serenely in a brightly lit tube. The cables attached to the tube and the platform seems to indicate it as the main source of power for the facility. Ohno can’t couldn’t help but stare awestruck at the Eye’s details. From a distance, the orb looks looked like a smooth piece of round volcanic rock, but as Ohno inches closer, he can see the minute cracks that spread from a small crater at the orb’s center, giving the orb the features of an eye’s pupil and its surrounding veins. Ohno peers and sees the makeshift pupil sparkling in the container’s light. Upon further inspection, Ohno realizes the crater contains minute gems strewn around the center; ember topazes, fire rubies, deep jades, rich amethysts, and bright sapphires that reflect light, bathing the crater with sparkling colors.
Ohno finds himself open jawed as he reaches out to the Eye with his bloodied palm.
With a cry of surprise, he feels himself yanked forward by his gut and flung onto a floor of a stark white room. Immediately surprised by the sudden lack of pain in body, Ohno sits up and blinks at the room’s brightness.
He blinks again at a young girl facing him with a curious stare.
She tilts her head and peers at him. “You look like a fisherman,” she says.
“How?” he asks awkwardly as he continues to blink in confusion.
The girl pokes his cheek. “You’re tan,” she replies. “My Papa was a fisherman. He was tan, too.”
“Where…?” Ohno asks, scanning the room. Not that there was much to scan.
She only pokes at his cheeks again. “Are you here to change the world, Mr. Fisherman?”
Ohno opens his mouth to answer, but closes it as he catches the change in her expression.
“The world is bad again, isn’t it?” she says, sadness and disappointment in her voice as she stares at his ruined clothing. “That’s why you’re here.”
“You’re- wait,” Ohno starts, feeling the tumblers in his mind fall into place. “Am I in the Eye?”
The young girl nods. “You must be very brave, Mr. Fisherman. I was told only brave people would to want to find me.”
Ohno notices the white of her traditional yukata-the old fashioned clothing in stark contrast to his dark, bloodied, and filthy attire.
“You’re the girl from the story,” Ohno says. She only looks sadder, making Ohno’s heart drop. Ohno heeded the urge to hold one of her hands. “I heard you’re really brave too.”
“I was scared,” she says, staring at their hands. “When I saw the big storm, remembered everyone in the village. I had to warn them. So, I ran, and ran, until I bumped into this old man. He was just standing there with a hat, staring at the sky. He looked really disappointed.”
“He said, ‘You. Why are you running? You’re going to die either way.” Ohno sees the girl’s lips quiver and tightens his fingers around her hand.
She pauses to look at him and continues. “But I had to save Papa and Mama- and my friends- I didn’t want them to die too.”
Ohno places his free hand gently on top of her head. “You said you’d give up your life for them.”
The little girl nods at Ohno, her eyes glossy. “He looked at me for a bit then he made the storm go away. Then he said he’d leave it up to me. If the world is bad again, someone will come find me, but… I had to wait.”
Ohno sees the girl’s face contort and quickly pulls her close. He feels her tears on his neck and shoulders and rubs her back soothingly.
“I don’t want the world to be bad,” the girl hiccups. “I just- I just want to see Papa and Mama again.”
Ohno breathes out a heavy sigh and remembers.
… recreate a world without an Empire.
We’ll be right behind you.
“You are so, so brave,” Ohno pulls her away and looks into her sad, round eyes. “I’m sorry you had to wait so long.”
“Do you want to change the world, Mr. Fisherman?” the girl asks again, swallowing her breaths.
Forward. He remembers. Nino. Sho. Aiba. Jun.
“I think,” Ohno sighs, offering her a tender smile. “I think, I just want to see my family again too.”
The girl seems momentarily surprised, but she breaks outs into a bright, warm smile. Ohno feels her take his hands and warm, white light envelopes him once more.
***
Ohno blinks spots away as he finds himself back on Arashi’s bridge, watching his ship pull away from Earth.
“It wasn’t a bad plan,” a voice says from Ohno’s right.
Ohno visibly jumps. “What?”
Jun raises his eyebrows at the movement. “Scrambling the signals,” he says. “You told Aiba to scramble any signals when we entered Earth’s atmosphere. Keeping patrols off our scent?”
From his left, Nino slides his arms around his shoulders. “Definitely one of your better calls, Captain,” Nino adds, leaning in to close Ohno’s slacken jaw with a finger. “Gave us time to hightail it out of there when that silent alarm went off.”
“Judging by those ships that just passed us, though, we got out of there by the skin of our teeth,” Aiba says from his pilot’s seat, watching an upload progress on one of the bridge’s screens.
Ohno’s mind tries recollecting itself- the bright white room, the soft spoken brave little girl, his wounds. Ohno looks down at his abdomen and found it whole and clean. Well, less bloody, anyway.
“And Hina’s already got that video log broadcasting on every radio and video feed he can get his hands on. Aiba’s uploading it to our backup, just in case,” Sho says, interrupting Ohno’s self-inspection and leaning against Aiba’s seat. “By the end of the week, the universe is going to know what really happened on Earth.” Ohno hears the contentment in Sho’s voice.
“You might say we’re creating our own storm around the world- well, the universe,” Aiba laughs, as the screens blink Complete. “Thing are going to change. Your dad’s sacrifice won’t be wasted.” Aiba nudges Sho affectionately with his elbow.
“It’s not going to bring the Empire down any time soon, but might loosen its grip a little,” Jun says, reaching over and takes a solid orb Ohno didn’t realize he held.
“Too bad the Eye was really just a giant piece of volcanic rock,” he adds, slightly disappointed.
“Yeah, wouldn’t mind it being a giant gem that could, I don’t know, pay for actual food,” Nino takes the orb and looks at it forlornly. “I’m getting tired of this protein nibble crap. Maybe if we can chip off these little specks of gems here-” Nino peers closer at its crater.
“No, don’t do that. I like the rainbows it makes!” Aiba laughs, lifting it out of Nino’s hands. “I think it’s rather cool that the Eye actually existed, even if the rest of the story was just a legend. It gave people something to search for,” he adds, glancing at Ohno fondly.
“So, what now?” Sho smiles, taking the orb from Aiba and handing it back to Ohno. “Now that we’ve found the Eye of the Gods…”
Ohno takes it and stares fondly. He imagines, somewhere, a little girl also being reunited with her family. “Greatest treasure in the universe,” he smiles.
Nino shrugs. “Doesn’t look like much, does it?”
“No,” Ohno runs his hands along the cracks of the orb. “I still think it’s the greatest, though,” Ohno adds, quietly.
Jun touches Ohno’s wrist. Ohno gives in to the urge to link their hands. He thinks he never wants to let it go and, judging from the blooming smile on Jun’s face, Jun might feel likewise.
“What makes you say that?” Jun asks, slightly breathless.
Ohno could feel warmth spread as he returns the smile and considers his crew- his family.
Forward.
“It brought me you guys.”