Kagaku Ninja-Tai Gatchaman Fan Fiction ❯ Joe's quiet moment ❯ A rare moment of peace ( Chapter 1 )

The race is long over, the spectator stand is left empty safe for the empty drink cans and popcorn bags that are lying scattered around. Aside from the old wrinkled janitor, who is laboriously bending down to pick up the garbage, my cup of cold coffee and the half-finished cigarette, dangling from my fingers, seem to be my only companion at the moment.

It has been a long time since I have last raced. Since I was back from death and Dr. Raphael's place? Well, my cover was busted; racing was no longer an option. That has been years.

Isn't it pathetic when one does not even have the freedom to do what one enjoys most in life? Especially when one is constantly dating death? Even more pathetic is that, it's not just me, or even Ken. We have both been both into the war, no choice about that. What about the others?

I take a sip of the cold bitter coffee as I lean forward against the railings, overlooking the pit. A few new drivers are still cleaning up after the race. New faces. New blood. Ones that I do not know and probably will never know. Not that I remember much of the past anyway, the faces of my parents, in my dreams, have faded into blankness for a long time now. I am dreaming of them less and less too. Their images are so blurred. I can hardly picture how they looked like. It has been a long time after all.

I take a deep draw from my cigarette and blow out a ring of gray smoke. It floats slowly up into the air, dispersing and dissipating, just as the hundreds of lives or thousands of lives that get torn apart and terminated at each Galactor attack and the possibly thousands of goons that I have personally taken care of. The civilians are innocent, the goons not. That's probably their only difference. Yet, the fragility of life is still the same. Kids are still left orphaned. Families still pain for the departed.

Crush! I leap backwards from the spray of cold coffee down the front of my pants as I must have inadvertently crushed the cup. Cybernetics enhanced strength is good, when you need it, but it can be quite bothersome in daily life. I shake my hand clear of the remnant of the coffee on it and casually throw the cup into garbage can beside me. Then I walk to another spot by the railing and continue to indulge in my rare quiet moment.

Death. Something that has been such a common occurrence in my bloody life, that I have been more or less sensitized to it. She is just like an old mate or maybe even an old casual lover. You see her, dance with her and maybe even bed her. The next morning, you wipe your ass, take another shower and it's all over. Maybe until she gets jealous and claim you permanently, like some lovers do.

But that's just my point of view. What about Ken? It has been a long time since we had a good man-to-man talk. His heroism seems to be preventing his opening up, even to me. Has he talked to Jun about it? I have no idea.

I can literally smell Death upon him.

I swear, if I can, I'd take his place for him, for him, for Jun. I have even volunteered to both Nambu and Pandora. But they have said that I wouldn't even stand a chance.

Duty has to come first. Again, as always, it seems.

I shake my head to clear my brain and look up towards the sky, watching the clouds drift by.

When would I next have the time to do so again? Or even if I would have another such chance? I have no idea.

A squeeze on my shoulder announced the arrival of my brother, my commander. I have not heard him approach. He has either learnt to move even more stealthily nowadays or maybe I have been plainly too deep in thoughts.

Not a healthy pastime.

At least, not for us.

"They are waiting for us at the briefing" he said blandly.

I turn to face him. He is not saying anything more and I am not going to push.

"Let's go then." I said, just as blandly.

A nod and we silently make our way out of the spectator stand.

Will I come again? Maybe.

Him? I am not that sure.