Lost Soldiers

In the end, Frank had to pay for his own room, though he seemed to be a new species here so was offered a discount. Not that it made a difference for the hole in his bank account. He grumbles under his breath as he steps out of the shower.

On the other side, Gretal is paying her respects at the balcony, wearing a grey coat and leggings, her breathing emitting small clouds of warm air. She rubs her hands together and putting them, glowing in the dark like one of the stars amongst the others in the sky, over a dull green scarf and an old piece of technology along with a dimmed body underneath.

She sets them on fire, as it burns, pieces of light shimmers and floats towards the sky, she doesn't seem to need the oxygen supply in the room to breathe but locked the sealed tight windows.

She looks at the Sky as the rest burned with slight speed, faster than Earth's fire despite the lack of air. It's been a while since she could do this sort of funeral, it's also been a while since she had seen another human.

Gretal closes her eyes to revel in the warmth.

Frank looks at the windows, not really noticing the soft glow on the right, he wondering where in the universe was this hotel and if it's really far from the bar. Because he has never heard of a universal hotel before, he is sure if a commission of this nature were to be suggested to any of the universe, they are sure to fail at the first one they try.

He sighs and leaps onto the bed, too tired to think anymore, hopefully she doesn't abandon him as soon as he awakens.

Which is why in the morning, he was quite surprised and glad that he found her at the buffet at the lobby eating breakfast and talking to what seem to be a species he didn't see before, a one eyed, reddish purple skinned, huge scale-like with long legs and arms.

"You're finally awake," Gretal replies, Jang, beside her crushes the rock-like food in his plate.

"Yeah..." he notices the very normal looking food already taken for him, a plate of bread with ham and cheese, fried egg with something that looks like orange juice.

"I'm surprised that this place has something like this," Frank muses.

"Hurry or I'll actually leave you here," Gretal replies.

"O' Iron, remember our deal!" Jang exclaims.

"And who are you?" Frank asks, interrupting him.

"None of your business!" Jang exclaims before reaching out for his drink, Gretal slaps his hand away which must not be a simple feat.

"Your name is Iron?" Frank asks half way through his meal, Gretal raises her hand to grab his plate when he blocks it." I'm sorry! I'll stop asking," he downs his drink in one go, it's been a while since he had a meal after all seeing as he didn't eat at all yesterday.

Not that Gretal was really going to take it.

"Her name is the Iron Sakura, I can't believe you didn't-" Jang starts but was interrupted by Gretal when her glare didn't stop him.

"- don't you have somewhere to go to?" Gretal asks. Jang was half way through his fifth rock when he abruptly nods and leaves, leaving only Frank confused and Gretal satisfied.

"It's best if you don't mix with Jang," she explains," Your ship is in the Southern Galaxia Bar isn't it?" She asks." I'll be making a few pit stops so you can use the teleporter if you want," she suggested.

"No way!" He immediately protests," how would I know you won't trap me here?" He accuses.

"Would I really spend one thousand credits just to bluff you?" She muses.

"To afford a room here, you must be very rich," Frank narrows his eyes.

Gretal rolls her eyes before gesturing for him to follow, hands in her pockets which Frank just realised that turned into rather Earth-like clothing. Frank would raise that question had Gretal not walked ahead, almost abandoning Frank that he had to roll to the platform to the ship. She doesn't even glance down as she locks it as soon as it closes.

Frank straightens himself and looks around, though it looks like an old model, it looks well maintained.

"Who uses these anymore?" He asks, eyeing the controls.

"Sit properly," She scolds as she starts the engine.

"Say... your style isn't something I see around here, which planet are you from?" He asks, getting straight to the chase before he forgets again.

"Same place as you," she simply say, before it could register however, the ship shifted and everything was too bright, Frank had to cover his eyes with his hands, all he could hear was ringing along with the bending of his body.

It seemed like ages before the light finally dimmed and Frank jerked a little as the ship slowed down. As soon as he found that his head was intact, he stood up, almost floating if not for the seat belt.

"Wait, you mean you're from Earth?" Frank asks, Gretal presses a button that releases the seat belt, unlike Frank however who was slightly hovering, Gretal was completely rooted to the ground she turns only to find Frank blocking her way.

"Move, this is a stop," Gretal replies, clothes changing into bright pink that reminded Frank of Magical Girl Animes.

"I've never heard of a human doing magic before," Frank retorts.

"Who said I was?" Gretal asks as she easily pushes him aside.

"How, what, when-" his protest falls on nobody's ears as Gretal had already went out the airlock.

Frank grumbles underneath his breath, he just wants his ship already. He grabs a pair of cubes from his belt and puts it on like a headphone, which turns into a helmet. Pressing a button, his boots and belt changed and helped push him towards the airlock.

He easily activates it, much to his relief that it has the layout of what seem to be a modern version and looks out the window. He finds that the ship in on an asteroid belt.

What would anyone want to do with a collision waiting to happen? Frank thinks as he opens the door. Using the side of the ship to anchor himself, he takes a peek outside.

Just when he thought that he had enough fighting for a light year.