As the team heads back to Seeira, Finn asks Zia "So you think you figured out the sniper's identity?".
"I have a hunch" Zia replies, "but that's about it".
"Mind filling us in?" Alex asks.
Zia shakes her head in disagreement and says "It'd be better if I spent more time to investigate this".
"I?" Alex asks, "as in alone? You're starting to sound a lot like Siran".
Looking down at her feet, Zia replies "I guess he rubbed off on me".
"Gross" Finn says, to which Zia finds justice with swiftly punching him in the face.
"Aside from violence" Tanya asks while driving, "anything useful come up?".
"More or less" Zia says, "depending on what I can find out from this 'sniper' character".
"You're obviously not telling us something" Alex says, "and it's really reminding me of Siran. What is it that you think you know?".
"We'll find out" Zia says.
"I can't stand all this mystery bullshit" Alex says.
"Anyways" Tanya interjects, "we need a new form of transportation. I can't be the only one driving you guys around like this".
"Good point" Satomi says, "it'd be more efficient if we can move around more freely".
"And" Zia adds, "it'll be more efficient if we split up to expand the search".
"But why?" Alex asks.
"Cover more ground" Zia explains. "I need to find that sniper as soon as possible. I get the feeling that it'll lead us closer to Siran".
"What do you suggest?" Rose asks.
"Maybe motorcycles?" Zia suggests. "Small; so it'll be easily concealable for when we need to hide them, personal vehicles; so we can split up and go our own routes more efficiently, fast; so we can cover more ground quicker".
"Ooh" Mikoto adds, "I've always wanted my own motorcycle!".
"Actually" Finn adds, "motorcycles would be pretty cool".
Zia punches Finn in the face again. "You're not allowed to talk yet" she says, "I'm still pissed at you".
Leaning in close to Alex, Finn whispers to Alex "Geez, when did she become the boss?".
"Just roll with it" Alex replies, "if you don't like it, then it's just all the more reason to find Siran. Use that as motivation for your search".
"You know" Finn replies, "you've picked up some pretty messed up morals from the military, haven't you?".
"So where do you plan on obtaining motorcycles anyways?"Satomi asks.
"We are low on money" Finn adds, "so we can't just buy them".
"You idiot" Vivi says to Finn, "did you forget that we're kind of criminals now? What's stopping us from... commandeering vehicles for our own purposes?".
"We might not have to commandeer" Tanya says. "Remember, we now have ties with a mafia. They often take or already have control of many different kinds of businesses. There's a pretty good chance they have race bikes and a small chance that we can acquire them".
"Right" Vivi says, "so we're robbing the mafia now?".
"What!?" Tanya panics, "No! No no no, we may be able to find an exchange for them".
"Yeah" Vivi replies, "I'd rather just rob them... so much more simple".
"Look..." Tanya says, "I know these people. They might have a quick job for us, or maybe we can pay them a small amount or whatever. Just don't go in and start harming any of them. We agreed to keep trouble off their back anyways".
"... Party pooper" Vivi says with an unenthusiastic voice.
The next day arrived and the team arrived at Vega. It was now Christmas Eve, December 24th 2191. The crew went to the bar that was reestablished and used as their FOB (Forward Operations Base) to get in contact with some of the members of Wolf Pack. A few of the Wolf Pack led them to Don, to once again talk face to face.
"Any day that I see you guys" Don says, "is too soon. What do you want?".
"A favor for a favor" Tanya suggests.
"Also!" Finn speaks up, "I've been wondering. Why does everyone call you Don?".
"It's my name" Don replies.
"I sometimes call him Donny" Tanya adds.
"And if I hear anyone of you guys call me that" Don says, "and it isn't Tanya, you're dead. Now, about this favor?".
"Ah" Tanya says, "Right. We need race bikes for all of them".
"Race bikes..." Don says, "for everyone?".
"Everyone but me" Tanya adds. "I have my own vehicle".
"There's nine of you" Don says, "so you're asking me for eight different race bikes... might I ask why that is?".
"You can ask" Vivi says, "but I don't promise an answer... unless maybe you beg". Don raises one eyebrow after hearing Vivi's boldness. "I'll be honest" Vivi continues, "I don't really like most of you. Well, any of you. I don't like any of you, except this one". Vivi pats Zia on the head and Zia makes an uncomfortable, nervous smile.
"And what can you promise in exchange?" Don asks.
"So you do have the bikes?" Vivi asks. "How about you give us the bikes, and we do you the favor of not robbing you".
"With kindness!" Tanya panics. "Robbing you with kindness". Tanya leans in close to Vivi and whispers "stop being so rude".
"Who the hell says 'robbing you with kindness'?" Finn asks.
Tanya thinks to herself for a minute and then asks "I don't suppose you're feeling the Christmas spirit?".
"You know I don't celebrate Christmas" Don says, "so no... no I am not. However, I am curious, where's that one loud mouthed brat that was here last time?".
"You mean Siran?" Tanya asks.
"He's..." Zia says, "not with us at the moment. It's actually part of the reason we need the vehicles".
"A rescue mission?" Don asks.
"Well... no" Zia says, getting anxious, "not exactly".
"Well, unfortunately" Don says, "I don't have anything that I require you guys for at the moment... however, do I have your honest word that whatever I ask in the future, that you'll handle with no questions asked?".
"That's too sketchy for me" Vivi says, "it'll have to be reasonable and within our area of expertise".
Don's right eye twitches in irritation. "I'll keep that in mind" he says, "do we have a deal?".
Everyone looks at Zia, as if she were the new leader who needs to make this decision. Zia looks around and then jumps from the realization that the room was waiting on her. She walks forward and shakes Don's hand and says "It's a deal. Anything to get Siran back".
"Alright then" Don says, "now leave. I don't enjoy your presence. Aside from Tanya, I hate all of you". A group of Don's henchmen then lead them out the door and to a warehouse. There was a man in racing gear, taking off a motorcycle helmet at the garage doors of the warehouse. The henchmen spoke to him privately and then left. After the henchmen left, the man walks up to the crew.
"So you guys are taking some of our bikes off of our hands?" He asks as he approaches. When he gets close, he holds his hand out towards Zia for a handshake. "The name's Jake. Jake Mueller".
Zia shakes his hand and says "I'm Zia Mahina".
"Ooh, an exotic name" Jake says.
"Not really" Zia says, "my village was just outside of Vega".
"Oh" Jake says. Then after a couple seconds of thinking, he realizes that Zia is from the Mahina clan and realized what has happened to her village. "Oh..." he says in a disappointed tone. "Anyways" Jake continues to say as the garage doors open, trying to change the subject to get rid of the awkward tension "take your pick". As the doors open, there were several cars and bikes. Although, all of the bikes looked the same. They were all sleek, and fully painted a glossy black. They had one large shiny exhaust pipe on the left side, but what looked like a small rocket propulsion engine above the rear tire. The regular body of the bikes seemed to have been changed for thick and aerodynamic armor plating too.
"These bikes" Jake says as he pats one of the bike's handlebars, "have compact armor plating that's strong enough to survive an impact from a standard military rifle. The armor weighs it down, so they're also equipped with a micro rocket engine to compensate. They can easily run at the speed limit of any highway without the boost, but in case you really need to skedaddle; and seeing as how you're specifically interested in racing bikes, I'd say you probably do need to skedaddle time to time, the micro engine will handle that for you. Each of them custom made, non-traceable to car dealerships, so you can't get in trouble for stealing them. However, they aren't street legal in the slightest, so I guess that's not even the issue at hand anyways. Nonetheless, these babies should fit all your mischievous and non-mischievous needs".
"These have two seats" Finn interjects.
"I'm... sorry?" Jake asks.
"These have two seats" Finn repeats. "Why do they have two seats if they're racing bikes? Don't you only need one driver to race?".
"You're asking the right questions!" Jake replies. "Like I said earlier... mischievous needs. These weren't only customized for racing. There's a reason why you're getting them straight from a mafia".
"It's a good thing too" Zia says, "because if we ever need to fit Siran, Demetri or Robin on one of these bikes, then there's already a spot for them".
"I guess that wraps up any questions on why they know how their armor can withstand military rifles" Alex adds.
"Don't forget gear" Jake says, "helmets and jackets will be necessary too. You probably aren't big on safety measures, but trust me, you don't want that wind to catch you off guard".
"I'm fine with a new jacket" Rose says, "but I think I'll do without a helmet".
"Why's that?" Jake asks.
Rose points at her goggles and says "These don't come off".
"Well" Jake says, "as long as you have eye protection, it should be fine".
The crew each choose a bike, and ride out of Vega. Zia lets Tanya sit on the back of her bike until they get out of Vega. Once they leave, Tanya then gets back into her van and they return to Seeira. When they get there, Tanya returns home to spend as much time as she can with her daughter.
Meanwhile, in that tavern in Farnhardt that Alex and Siran first met in, Siran sits at a table. His mechanical mask is off, and he was wearing the dark blue hat that Zia gave to him as well as the dark goggles over his eyes that were also on the hat when Zia gave it to him. He was still in his other form, with his dark skin, white hair, and red eyes. The goggles were dark enough to hide his eyes, and he still wore his robes. Under his robes, he hid his broken armor so no one could tell who he was and what he's been doing. He was drinking alone at a table and staring at the television.
"It's strange" he says to himself, "I've taken down a fortress and a secret base and not a single word of this has been reported. No news article, no rumors... nothing. It's like The Ly'Lum is trying to hide that it ever happened".
"You been 'ere fer quite a while now" the old bartender says as he approaches Siran. "Do ya need me ta call a cab er somethin'?".
"No, I'm fine" Siran replies, "thank you".
"Alright" the bartender says, "if ya say so. Don't ya got somewhere ta be?".
"Yeah" Siran says as he gets up from the table. Siran then leaves some money on the table and pushes his chair back under the table. "I'll be fine if I walk. I've got a family I'm worried about, so I should start heading out".
"Alright" the bartender says kindly, "jus' be careful out there. Crazy things a'going on lately. What with The Six Guns and whatnot runnin' around".
"I'll keep that in mind" Siran says as he nods to the bartender, then leaves.
Late that night, Siran arrives in Seeira, and walks close to Vivi's house. He looks in through one of the windows and sees everyone of his former crew resting after a long day of work. He smiles to himself, contempt with knowing that everyone is okay. Suddenly, Siran feels another shock in his body. He falls to his knees and vomits blood again. The blood hits the ground and soaks into the snow that began falling earlier that night.
"Looks like all that endo is tearing my body up from the inside" Siran says to himself. "I shouldn't have tried absorbing the remainder of that endo from Naris's body, but I couldn't think of any other way to keep it out of their hands". Siran stands back up and takes one more look at his former crew. A wide smile grew on Siran's face, accompanied with streams of tears rolling down his face. He walks away to find somewhere close to rest. For tomorrow would be another Christmas spent alone for Siran. Although he was used to being alone for so long, he couldn't help but feel especially alone now. However, he was happy with just knowing that everyone he loved was still alive and well.
The next morning arrived, and everyone in the crew was waking up. Zia still looked very depressed and anxious, but suddenly a voice sprang up.
"Guys!" Holly says in a rush, staring at her laptop "big news, turn on the TV".
Vivi turns the TV on and on the television was a news report of an attack going on currently against a large base in Omnia. The base was in Forehold, a town very far south of Farnhardt and the one commencing the attack was none other than the sniper.
"We found him!" Zia says as she starts preparing to leave.
"Leaving already?" Alex asks, "we just woke up".
"This attack is going on right now" Zia says, "which means that if we don't act fast, then we might miss our chance! We have to move now!".
"I guess I'm good to go" Vivi says. "I never get business on a holiday, which comes as no surprise, so I don't have anything else to do".
"Anyone else coming?" Zia asks.
"You already know I'm coming!" Finn says as he starts getting ready to leave too. "If it'll lead to finding cap'n, then I'm coming!".
"Count me in!" Rose says.
"I'd say it's safe to say that we're all coming" Alex says, "except for Demetri and Robin".
"Let's do this!" Satomi says.
The crew all get ready and leave Seeira. They take a detour to avoid driving through a checkpoint, in order to avoid running into soldiers. They pass Farnhardt and several other towns and eventually arrive in Forehold. When they get there, it was obvious where they should go. Smoke was rising from the base and was visible from the time they entered the town. When they get there, they're met with a base that has been halfway turned to rubble and a raging fire. The sniper wasn't anywhere in sight yet, but Zia knew what to do. As everyone takes off their helmets, Zia says "Get ready for a fight. We're going in and we're not coming out until we find that sniper!".