IX - Vice Captain Nerissa

"Nerissa Dezastaria! Please come forward!"

She went on her way towards the Commander. She is kneeling before him because he is a short alien. She sighted Yaya holding some kind of a plate.

"Nerissa Dezastaria. We, the TAPOPS, are very thankful for your presence during our very crisis time." Koko Ci said with a loud voice.

Hearing this, Nerissa feels proud of herself. This reminds her time with her brother's friend. Guess all of those fight practices will be helpful now. Not to mention the training from the General.

"And, for your bravery and assistance during the previous event, I now appoint you as one of our own." Koko Ci continues.

Yaya comes forward along with Commander. She handed him a badge. That badge is positioned on her upper left chest. He gave her the TAPOPS salute, and so did she. She rose to her feet and turned around to face the troopers.

"Congratulations! And welcome to TAPOPS, Vice-Captain Nerissa!"

The noise of claps echoes around the room. Nerissa glances her eyes at Kaizo in the distance. He sent her a smirk and responded with a smile on her face.

Free endless drinks and snacks. Some of the soldiers are dancing around with laughter bursting from their mouths. Maybe some are just drinking or have a chit-chat on the sides. The kids are having a good time, eating, dancing, talking, and making fun of themselves. Nerissa watches them from afar, sipping her drink. She feels pretty dizzy from all the crowds and noises, her heart beating faster, her visions getting a little blurry.

"I need some air.." She reconsidered.

She goes to any nearby balcony she could find. As soon as she opened the door, she immediately took a deep breath and exhaled. The dizziness inside her head slowly disappears. The smell of the air is so different than the earth. She continues to take a deep breath multiple times and exhales. The beating of her heart is finally calmed down. She eventually gained back her peace of mind.

She looked at the party behind her, "Maybe I should not go back in there for a while."

She doesn't want to waste this precious time of her being alone and at peace. She felt the stiffness as her arms were stretched, also on her back. She glances at the night sky on this planet.

She usually saw black skies with a small moon and grey clouds. But on this planet outside the solar system, everything is different. The night sky is colorful, and the galaxy she sees now is dark magenta. There could be more colors. The other planets were so close she could see them with her bare eyes. The messy stardust in the sky. She takes this moment to enjoy the scenery with awe.

"H-hi!"

Nerissa was startled at the sound. It's a very unfamiliar voice, a male, to be exact. She turned an eye on the voice source.

"Hello...?" She responds.

"My name is Elzun. Pleased to meet you." The man bowed.

"Nerissa." She bowed back at the response. "What brings you here?"

"I just want to introduce myself to you, haha. Oh! I forgot to mention, I'm a cadet." He said.

She nods and stares at the cadet with a suspicious look. She suddenly remembered this cadet's face back at the party. She sighted him with his friend, and he looked at her with some kind of expression. She knew there was something fishy about this bitch.

"From what I heard, you assisted Captain Kaizo in a fight against Pirate King Ziorta. Is that true?" He asked in curiosity.

"Yes, I did." She answers.

"That is so cool!" said Elzun with sparkles in his eyes.

Nerissa flinched, seeing this expression on his face. "Okay, stop that."

"I-I'm so sorry. I m-mean, it's infrequent to see a strong woman like you. I honestly respected women in any way." He smiles.

"Any....woman?" She asked.

"Yes...?" He answers.

"Even the bitches?" She asked with a disgusting showing on her face.

"Well, not that...kind of woman. I look at girls from their personalities and heart. Sometimes I judge whether they should be considered a good one or not."

She nodded and had a short thought for a while, "You have a sister?"

"E-eh?! How did you k-know?" He was startled at the question.

"Judging from your explanation and reaction, I guess I'm right. Little sister?"

"Y-Yeah. Our parents died in an invasion. That night, my hometown planet was attacked by a power sphere hunter called Tengkotak. It was horrible. Our king at that time, his whole was nearly slaughtered. They even attacked the city, and our parents died defending it. Now it's only my siste-" He stopped.

Nerissa covered his mouth to shut up and released it, "That past of yours, it's best to just keep it to yourself."

"O-oh... I'm very sorry for my rudeness." He apologizes, "Oh right! I saw you back there when I was with my friends. You look kind of disgusted by us. We're very sorry." He added.

"No worries, I also got those disgusting faces when I was in the military in my hometown." She said.

"Oh, you were in the military?" He asked

"Yes, I was." She said.

"Aah, I see..."

The faces of those cadets back there keep bugging her mind. She should at least give them some words.

"But I'm gonna give you and your friends some words." She glared at him.

"H-huh?"

She moves closer to him and places her finger on his cheek, "Yes, you heard me right. If you or one of your fuckers talk shit behind my fucking back just because I'm a damn girl and got here without starting over," She slides her finger on his jawline, "I assure you will regret introducing yourself to me. All of you will shit on your pants as I will appear in your worst nightmare." She glared with red blood eyes, intimidating him.

"Y-Yes... I understand." He understood

She calms herself down and is relieved that he took her words. She pats his right shoulder.

"You are a good man, Elzun. Do your best in here." She said.

A door opened behind his back. Nerissa glances her eyes to the door, and so does he. Someone she is familiar with comes out of the door. Elzun suddenly stands up straight and bows to the person.

"C-Captain Kaizo!" Elzun bows.

"Head inside, cadet," Kaizo commands him.

Elzun heads back inside and closes the door. She took a deep breath and laid her back beside the fence.

"What brings you here, Captain?" She asks.

"Fresh air, my Vice-Captain." He responds.

"It's so different here."

"Who was he?" He asks curiously.

"Cadet Elzun, probably an admirer. Plus, I gave him a warning about me being a girl." She explains.

"I see.."

The two went silent for a moment. Nerissa glances at the night sky.

"I've never seen a galaxy this beautiful before."

"Really? It looks normal to me." He said.

"For someone who is always on a mission like you, of course, it looks normal." She said.

"Y-yeah.."

"When I was a military teenager, I always imagined flying around in space. Enjoying all the colors and touching the stardust without worrying about all my problems. Maybe in my afterlife, I will. And I can't believe I would see it now." She said.

"You were in the military?" He asks.

"Yeah. I spend only 2 years in the royal military. I know it's crazy. Then I learned espionage. I was sent to Earth because my father wanted to keep me out of the war. Now that my brother has ended the war, I walk on my path. Until you took me in." She explains

"2 years in the military, but you're already powerful."

"Yea-"

Her left hand accidentally touched something dirty.

"Ugh.."

"What's up?" Kaizo asks.

"Some....dirt."

She shakes her hand, hoping it will come off. Once the dirt is gone, she is still upset.

"Dammit, I bet it's gonna be smelly."

Kaizo pulls out a handkerchief and grabs her stained hand. He gently wipes her hands. Nerissa was surprised and felt a light blush. She tries to keep her calm.

"Do you do this, everyone?" She asks.

"No, except for Fang."

"Psh, you're too much for a womanizer."

"A womanizer? Womanizer..." He grins, "That's a good word for you to describe me." He said while caressing her hand.

"Stop."

"Stop what?" He moves closer until they're on the edge of the fence.

"Stop it! My hand is disgusting." She told and blushed.

"My hands are getting dirty because of you. You're the one who has taken responsibility." He flirts.

"Me? You're the one who took my hand."

"You thought I'm a womanizer. For your information, Nerissa, never in my life I've dated some woman. Until you came into my life and saved me, you're the only thing that's mind. And because of you, I can't get back to my usual self. I've never been a womanizer before. There aren't enough womanizers in your life." He looks deep into her red eyes and her face blushing because of his voice and words. He could feel her trembling breath against his skin.

"I'm more into a nicer man rather than you." Her voice was shaking.

"I'm a nice man myself, my dear Vice-Captain." He smirks, lips a centimeter away from hers.

"You're so ridiculo-"

Kaizo's lips met her red lips. The two closed their eyes, feeling each other skin. Soft, passionate, and sweet the drink. That's what they felt. Hearts beating fast. Everything feels like time is slowing down. The kiss is broken. Staring deep into each other's eyes.

"Yeah... I like that." She smirks.

Kaizo pressed his lips onto hers. Tongues meet. Letting out a soft moan from her mouth. Nerissa slides her hands around his nape, begging for more. She felt strong hands on her waist. Kaizo felt a woman's chest against his. The kiss is so deep and hot. They enjoy every second of it and do not want it to end so quickly.

"Captain! New drinks and snacks just arrived. We should try it!" Lahap suddenly came out of the door.

The kiss is broken again, and they both pant getting a breath. Nerissa could sense Kaizo's pissed aura surrounding him. He turned around to Lahap.

"Sure," said Kaizo, pissed.

Nerissa moves aside and walks fast inside. Kaizo glared at Lahap for interrupting him. He watches as she walks away to the crowds.

"Fuck...That was good."