Explanations, part three {Chapter 7}

[dd]

The summary? A fax, a condom, and a bunch of misconceptions lead to Sousuke being held back from a mission, while Kurz and Melissa prepare to leave.

Why should you read this part? Enter Bobbo, and his thoughts about 'thinking.' Lessons in love? You be the judge....
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After he had said his farewells to his comrades, Sousuke walked over to stare up at his ARX-7. He didn't waste his time counting his regrets. He didn't take the time to wonder how he might have done things differently.
Instead, he looked at the sleek and sturdy Arm Slave and thought how they almost shared a kinship. Arbalest was relatively young, as was he. The ARX-7 had growing pains, just as he had. The Arm Slave had tremedous potential, and so did he.

Arbalest's day would come. So would Sousuke's.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Sousuke turned to see chief mechanic Robert "Bobbo" Taylor.

"Hey, Sonny, what's up with you?" Bobbo asked. To the chief mechanic, every man on board was 'Sonny,' with the lone exception of Lt. Cmdr. Kalinin, who was 'Son.'

Sousuke looked at the rotund mechanic, seeing his scraggly beard, oft-broken nose, and oversized biceps and thighs. The chief mechanic wore shorts and a t-shirt exclusively, always sporting the same grease stains and rips. It was best to stand upwind from him. Despite all that, Sousuke had the greatest respect for him: he was one of the rare breed of men who seemed able to fix any problem in existence with any tool at hand and with any supplies available. At times, to Sosuske, it seemed the success of Mithril's missions revolved around this unlikely man.

"I am here thinking, Chief."

"Do tell! Why? I certainly don't have no use for THAT...got enough bad habits already" Bobbo said, spitting. "What are you thinkin' ABOUT? Is it about your havin' to stay in the corral when them other horses get to run free?"

"Yes, Chief...I suppose that is part of it" Sousuke admitted.

"Well, I can tell you we all been there before. Hell yeh. But like my pappy used to tell me...If you don't see the bottom sometimes, it don't mean as much when you're on top!" Bobbo started. "Heh heh...I used to say that to one of my missus too!"

"I see" Sousuke said.

"And I'll tell you somethin' else, too. We grease-slappers don't say too much, and we don't give two shakes for too many people...but we sure like you, Sonny" Bobbo said.

"Me? Why?" Sousuke asked, curious.

"'Cause even though you look just like a lamb, you do a ram's job, and do it fine! Those of us in the pits like to get the job DONE. And that's what you do, Sonny, you get the job DONE. Hell, I got so many daughters, I wish even just one would catch a man like you."

"Thank you, Chief." Sousuke said, humbled.

"Don't do that! If you ever see me lookin' for for Thanks, I want you to kick me square in my breeches!!! Hard as you can!!! I don't say words for Thanks, Sonny...I say words 'cause they're true." Bobbo spat again. "Now, I got a question for you."

"Chief?"

"How's that pretty little somethin' you brought round here before? You two a match? If not, just let me know, 'cause I might just want to come callin'" Bobbo laughed loudly.

"Uh--" Sousuke started.

"Somethin' crawl in your mouth and eat your tongue, Sonny?" Bobby asked.

"We--" Sousuke tried again.

"Are you tellin' me you're havin' trouble with the ladies, Sonny?" Bobbo interest showed.

"I--" Sousuke searched for the right words.

"Well, do tell. That's all right. You came to the right place. I've had so many wives, and got so many girl children, that there probably ain't a man who knows more about the ladies than me." Bobbo sounded confident to Sousuke, not arrogant.

Sousuke looked at the chief mechanic skeptically, taking in his appearence. Then again, if a man who looked like that had good fortune, perhaps he knew something after all.

But, if he had been through so many wives....

"So, what's the rub, Sonny? What do you need to know?" Bobbo asked paternally.

"Chief...I don't know...I don't know enough to know what to ask." Sousuke said.

"I hear you. You might be the luckiest son of a bitch I ever heard of then, Sonny. Too many people think they know so much, but don't know squat. Too many think they know all they want to know, and don't have use for nothin' new" Bobbo said, pulling at his beard.

"Chief?"

"You got growin' to do, Sonny. That ain't no shame, if you try to grow right! Some people try to be what they think they should be, instead of what they are. Some try to grow before they meet the ladies, so they can be just the catch they think them gals want. Maybe it's better to grow with a lady and find out what you both want." Bobbo looked very serious as he spoke.

"That makes sense, Chief" Sosuske said sincerely.

"Damn right, Sonny. I got to fix you straight before I bring my daughters by, right?!! Bobbo guffawed.

"Uh--"

"That's all right, Sonny. Don't worry yourself none on that account, I'll sell'em all off sooner or later."

"It is not a problem."

"You can say that again! I got to get back to whackin' on some of them big toys, again. But I will tell you somethin' you ought to know before I do. Are your ears on tight?" Bobbo asked

"Yes, Chief. Damn tight." Sousuke said.

"Heh heh, good for you Sonny!!! Listen up then." Bobbo shared his truths with Sousuke.

"First, Sonny, don't spend your time thinkin,' spend your time doin.' If you like it, it's good for you. If she don't like it, find someone else."

"Second," the chief mechanic said, thinking as he went, "If you try too hard, you might chase away your gal...but if you don't try hard enough, you might just give her to another guy. You gotta find out how fast you can go, and see if it's fast enough for her."

"Third," Bobbo said after spitting, "You gotta be able to talk what's true, and you gotta be able to hear what's true. And, you can't say anythin' if you don't talk...can't see anythin' if you don't bother lookin.'"

The chief mechanic scratched him self vigorously, trying to remember something he had heard about Sousuke. "You like to fish, Sonny?"

"Very much, chief!"

"Alright then. I'll say it this way. A hook don't do much good without bait. And a fish ain't gonna jump up on the shore. You can't always tell how big the fish is by the pull of the line. And some times you don't know you have the biggest fish in the pond until you throw it back, and get nothin' but bait fish after that."

"I see"

"You gonna remember this, Sonny...or you want me to write it down?" Bobbo asked, smiling.

"I will remember, Chief. Thank you."

"Didn't I tell you not to thank me, Sonny? Hope you can remember better than that!" The chief mechanic headed off.

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Sousuke couldn't help but smile. The Chief Mechanic was quite a different kind of person. And, he admitted to himself, his words made sense. Sousuke knew it would take time to see if they rang true.

Heading back out of the hangar, Sousuke saw Melissa, Kurz, and Captain Testarossa standing together near Melissa's M9, which was just then heading towards missile encapsulation. Captain Testarossa signalled to him, and he walked over to her.

"Good morning, Sousuke," Tessa said. "We were just talking about you?"

"Captain?" Sousuke said, with a guarded look.

"It was nothing bad, Sousuke" Tessa replied, interpreting the look correctly.

"I see."

"Ohhh yehhh...it wasn't bad" Kurz chimed in, "it was something reeeaaalllyyy good, Sousuke my boy. I can't wait to see you blush! Heh heh."

"Sergeant Weber!" Tessa said, "Stop teasing Sgt. Sagara"

"Sure, Captain babe, that's your job...." Kurz said under his breath, earning an elbow from Melissa, the only one who could hear the words.

Tessa looked towards Melissa, who raised an eyebrow slightly.

Tessa nodded ever so slightly, and Melissa gave Kurz another elbow for good measure.

"I had asked Sgt. Major Mao and Sgt. Weber how you were handling your involuntary withdrawal from the mission. They both spoke very highly of your actions" Tessa said.

"See! See! Isn't that something good?" Kurz asked. He eyed Melissa's midsection expectantly, and readied his own elbow. He stopped when--without looking at him--Melissa somehow knew to say "It would be the absolute last thing you did, Sgt. Weber!!!"

Seeing he wasn't going to have any fun at Melissa's expense, Kurz looked for another likely target. He found two birds to kill with one stone. He retrieved his marking pen and went to stand in front of Tessa. He slowly and deliberately drew a black 'X' on his left cheek."

"What are you doing, Sgt. Weber?" Tessa asked, taking the bait.

"Nothing Captain. I assure you. There is no problem" Kurz said, in good imitation of Sousuke. "I just thought you might want to give me a reeeaaalllyyy big kiss!"

Both Tessa and Sousuke blushed. Melissa started walking towards Kurz.

"Sousuke, I'm your best friend. Protect me!" Kurz said, moving to stand behind his younger companion.

Sousuke stepped aside, giving Melissa a full view of her target. "If you don't, Sousuke...I'll tell Tessa about your 'book!'" Sousuke stepped back in front of Kurz.

Curious, Tessa asked "What book, Sgt. Weber?"

"Sorry Captain, it's a secret: that knowledge is the only thing keeping me alive right now" Kurz said, watching Melissa try to get around a very determined Sousuke.

"I see. Sousuke?" She asked Sousuke sweetly.

"Sorry, Captain. It is my duty to protect Sgt, Weber!"

"Melissa?"

"Give it a rest Tessa!" Melissa said, with a wink only Tessa could see.

"Oh, yes Sgt. Major, you are correct. I must certainly mind my manners!" Tessa said with mock sincerity. Kurz grinned, suspicious as always.

Tessa looked at her watch and said "I must return to the bridge, gentlemen. I wish you the best of luck and the greatest success."

She turned to Sousuke and said "I have been very busy, as you have no doubt suspected. I must apologize for not being able to arrange a time to speak with you. Please stop by my quarters after all launch activity has ceased."

"Yes, Captain."

Tessa walked off towards the command center.

Melissa ran off to catch up with her M9.

Kurz put his hand on Sousuke's should and chuckled, watching while his own M9 started to move.

Sousuke---having need of some advice---went off in search of the chief mechanic. He would bring paper and pencil.

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