Promises Written by: D.Cooper Noriko and Kazumi speed down towards the Earth, the planet they saved. The planet that they willingly sacrificed countless lifetimes for. All they know is gone. All they hold dear. All those they love. Gone. But they have no regrets. They knew the price of their choice and they accepted it. And were remembered for it. Kazumi and Noriko had no idea that Earth would be waiting for them after all this time. Twelve thousand years, according to the chronometers on their escape ships. They did not expect to see the "Welcome" beacon; signaling to them that Earth had survived, to show them the way home. They knew from that moment that though they had lost so much themselves, at least everyone on Earth got to keep their right to live; the very thing that Noriko and Kazumi fought for. As Earth came closer, Noriko looked back one last time at Gunbuster, the titan that helped save Earth. She and Kazumi would never leave Gunbuster out of their hearts; it did too much for Earth to be forgotten. Noriko suddenly thought of the last person that she and Kazumi saw before going into the Black Hole Bomb, Jung Freud. Noriko cringed at the thought of Jung. She would never see her again. By now, Jung was long dead. She remembered that Jung was willing to die with them rather than give them up. Noriko wouldn't allow that; she couldn't. She'll never forget Jung's words: It'll be thousands of years before you escape from the black hole! If I'm going to die, I want to die with you! In our own time! Noriko remembered how shocked she and Kazumi were at hearing that. Noriko wouldn't hear of it. She convinced Jung that they would come back. Jung reluctantly accepted and pulled out. That was the last time she saw her. Jung Freud. Combat Genius. Onesan. Yes. Noriko knew. She knew that she grew to love Jung as she has Kazumi, a sister. But she was gone. Noriko couldn't bear the silence anymore and kicks in the communications and Kazumi appears on a mini-video monitor. "Onesama..." Kazumi could see it on her face. She knows whom Noriko was thinking about. "I know Noriko. I miss Jung too." "We kept our promise to her, onesama. We came back. It's just if only..." Noriko's voice trails off, unable to say what she doesn't what to hear. Kazumi knows what Noriko is going through. She thought back to when her and Jung first fought. Kazumi learned why Jung was called Combat Genius. But Kazumi proved herself as well; it was a standoff, only ended when they accidentally broke into a classified area that was holding a captured alien specimen. From that point, Kazumi thought that her and Jung would be bitter rivals. She was proven to be wrong. She remembered how Jung walked into the showers as her and Noriko were bathing; Kazumi expecting more trouble to erupt at any moment. To the contrary, Jung apologized for what happened and even complimented Kazumi on her fighting abilities. Kazumi laughed to herself at the scene as it played in her mind. Then she was slammed back into the present; Jung was gone. She lost Ota and now she lost Jung. Then Kazumi snapped out of her depression. She knows that Jung wouldn't want this! She'd want them to go on with their lives, not cling to the past. "Noriko!" Noriko snaps to attention, coming out from her own dwellings of the past. "Hai, onesama!" "We can't do this! We can't sulk! This is not what Jung would have wanted! Besides..." Kazumi places her right hand, open, over her heart. "She'll always be here. As long as we keep that in mind, she'll never truly die." Noriko also place her hand over her heart. "You're right. Jung will always be a part of us." With that settled, Noriko and Kazumi break through Earth's atmosphere and prepare to land. * * * After landing, the two are awe by how much has changed. Nothing was as it was before, as to be expected. They have a lot to adapt to before integrating into this "new" Earth. As they disembarked from their ship, Kazumi notices two strips of light, like those use to illuminate a runway, forming a path. "Noriko-chan! Look! These lights are here to guide us, I know it!" "This could be a new way of greeting someone when they land." Noriko shrugs her shoulders. "We've got nothing to lose! Onesama, let's see where it leads to." Kazumi agrees and the two follow the path until it reaches a building. The door is unlocked, so the two step inside. They discover it's a museum of some sort, housing some of the old RX units that were used during the war. The two women were amazed at how well they have been preserved. As they go further in, they see a large scale replica of Sizzler Black, Jung's mech. Noriko and Kuzumi couldn't help but let loose some tears while looking upon Jung's mech and the memories that go with it. "What are you two crying about?" says a mischievous, familiar voice. Noriko and Kazumi turn to the source of the voice, they are complete stunned to see Jung standing before them, looking the same as they remember her! "Jung!", both Noriko and Kazumi shout out in happiness! Tears are streaming down Jung's face. "Noriko-chan! Kazumi!" The three of them run towards each other in a massive group hug. Jung can't believe that finally they've been reunited! All of her waiting has now been rewarded! Jung wished this feeling would never end! Then it does. * * * Jung wakes up with a jolt. This is not the first time that Jung has had this dream, but she doesn't mind; they are a reminder to her not to give up her promise. She knew that Noriko would keep hers: We're not committing suicide! We're not going to die! We'll come back! Jung gets out of her bed and goes to the window and opens it, letting the cool night air gently caress her soft skin; the breeze blowing her nightgown, seeming to look like water. Jung's red hair is let down as it rides the gentle night wind, the moonlight giving it a unique glow. Jung stares up into the night sky to see one bright star outshining all the others. "I'll remember your words," says Jung. "Noriko-chan...Kazumi...I will find a way! I always keep my promises! I won't let you down." Jung closes her eyes, a tear gently riding down the contours of her cheek, as she remembers the promise she made to Noriko and Kazumi after the bomb exploded: I'll be there...I'll be there waiting for you to welcome you home! A small smile forms on Jung's lips. She will see them again. THE END Never give up and always aim for the top! Top o Narae!