Nikolai knelt before the defeated mecha and the body of his older self. He felt empty and beyond feeling. He shrugged off Richtofens' hand as the Doctor tried to comfort him, before moving to collect Nikolais' Soul in the Summoning Key. Nikolai felt nothing as the Key glittered and glowed. He did feel Takeos' hand on his shoulder, but nothing else. He watched as Richtofen raised the Key into the ashen air, calling for Maxis to take them home. The sky above opened with a dull thundering roar, before they were engulfed in a light and taken away to the House.
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Maxis looked up from the computer, anticipating the arrival of his friend and his allies. The Landing Pad light up and a blinding light bloomed in the dimness, like a beacon, before it quickly subsided to reveal Richtofen and crew. Richtofen stepped off the Pad and stood before his old friend, before near-jumping into a tight hug with the older man.
Formalities were issued as Takeo, Nikolai and Dempsey met the real man that was the brain in France. The three watched as the two scientist destroyed the MDT, before they all headed upstairs to greet with Dr. Monty, the man behind the Gobblegums and holder of knowledge they could only dream of. He was an odd man, but cheery all the same and not at all harmful.
"Come, Samantha has been vaiting for you" Maxis smiled at them. "She has been since France."
"I am sorry she has been alone.." Richtofen began.
"Nonsense" Monty piped in. "She has four friends, little 'you's!"
The four men stopped cold in their tracks, staring at Monty and Maxis. Maxis just smiled, telling them to stay in the lounge room, before ascending the stairs and turning left. Nikolai took Takeos' hand and led him to a sofa, where they sat between Dempsey and Richtofen. Monty eyed each of them carefully, smiling in a mysterious way, but he said nothing.
Thudding footsteps lifted the awkward silence, and all heads turned to the stairs where 5 children and an old man stood. Maxis grinned and Samantha quickly ran over to Richtofen, embracing him in a tight cuddle about the neck. Richtofen gave her a gentle hug in return, before the young girl moved to Takeo, then Nikolai, and finally, Dempsey.
"You are mich Heroes!" she smiled, tears of joy in her eyes. "You saved mich and vater! Danke! Danke!"
"Oh, Samantha" Richtofen smiled at her. "It vas the least ve could do..."
"Who are your friends, Sam?" Dempsey asked, looking at the other children.
Samantha looked to them with a smile. "They are my heroes!"
She hopped up from Dempseys' lap and took the arm of the first boy. He was tall with dark brown hair and green eyes. He looked nervous as he shyly looked at the ground, trying to not stare at Richtofen.
"This is Eddie!" Samantha grinned.
"As in... Edward?" Takeo asked.
"Ja..." the boy said, looking up slightly.
Richtofen went a touch paler. "Edward?"
"He is you" Dr. Monty sat back in his chair. "A little you~ As are the other three~"
Samantha let go of Eddie and turned on the next boy she could spy, the other tall boy. She skipped to him and took both his hands, skipping backwards with him in tow. He grinned and chuckled at her, though clearly embarrassed by the actions and situation. Samantha stood him before Nikolai and the pair exchanged a shy smile.
"Nikki!" Samantha declared to them. "He is so funny!"
"Het, Sam" he gave her a gentle push. "I am not~"
"Ja, are too!"
Takeo looked over the little Nikolai as the children argued in jest. Nikolai seemed like a sweet boy when he was younger, someone you could be friends with easily and depend on without fail. Takeo felt a sadness wash over him as he thought of his childhood. It was not in the way of childhood at all, come to think of it. A sense of fatherhood came over Takeo, the feeling he needed to protect these children from any and all horrors imaginable. They deserved a childhood, one free of pain and suffering, of death and hatred, of sin.
Takeo blinked and realised someone was standing before him. He looked up into familiar amber eyes of a young boy he had not seen in a very long time. He sat up straight, staring into the eyes with knowing and those eyes stared back with knowledge far beyond their time. He knew this boy was him, a young him who knew and understood things he did not. It made him more determined.
"Little Takeo is so cute!" Nikolai chuckled.
Little Take looked to him. "You cannot say things rike that alound order me."
"Why not, Take?" Nikki asked.
"Is sirry" Take pouted, a touch of a blush at his cheeks. "We are not kawaii."
Nikolai laughed joyously, before clapping Takeo on the shoulder, enticing him to smile. The children giggled, but there was one little boy left: a boy with fair hair and blue eyes like the sky. He blushed as Samantha took his arm and led him into the group, clearly terrified and embarrassed. Tank Dempseys' jaw dropped and he jolted into standing position when he saw the boy. The little boy jolted backwards in fright, then frowned to look tough.
"Dempsey" Samantha began. "This is--"
"No way..." both Dempseys' said, shaking their heads.
"Ja" Samantha cut in. "Is you! His name is Thomas."
Eyes turned to the marine with interest. Dempsey turned a shade of red, looking embarrassed as his eyes scanned the crowd. The little boy stepped forward, eyeing his older self with suspicion and curiousity, before hugging Tank tightly about the waist. Tank gently petted his head, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. A gentle feeling of warmth and safety settle over the house from this one act of childly innocence. Richtofen smiled as he watched Dempseys' expression soften quite considerably.
Thomas 'Tank' Dempsey sure had a ring to it, did it not?
