Wide Open Spaces [Open]

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

Owen smiled as he surveyed the park in the city. A little bit of terrain and obstructions here and there, but for the most part, plenty of open space. The perfect place for a good workout. He knew he could get the sensorium to take care of this, but right now, he wanted to get a little more of this place mapped out.

He shed his jacket and hung it over a bench, pulling just a standard run of the mill boomerang from a clip. He gave it a lazy toss, letting it arc and come back to his hand at the same spot with a satisfying 'slap' against his skin. He then started up a gentle jog around place, still hurling and catching it. He could feel his muscles start to twitch, but he kept his speed normal. He still hadn't quite managed to always make the superspeed happen, but he could pretty well keep it normal when he wanted to. Hard for running to be good exercise when it's effortless.

He grunted as he made a hurl straight ahead a bit stronger, then broke into a run to try to catch it before it would reach all the way back to where he threw it. This was good and relaxing, but still needed a bit of focus. The perfect level of activity for when you didn't want to think about other things.

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[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara was in the park also, but for a different reason. She was sitting cross legged, in deep meditation. It was also, considering where her mind was going recently, not the most focused she'd been. In all truthfulness, part of Katara thought it wasn't the best time to do this, but another part of her was already set: something had been triggered off in her.

It didn't come all at once but sudden. She'd heard about that trial, but elected to stay out of it because it had happened before her arrival on the ship. When she got some of the details, she still was unwilling to get involved: after all, the security team seemed to have an eye, and the Yeerk, whatever IT was, would be dealt with properly, right? Then, of course, she'd met Ax the Andalite and got to learn exactly what the Yeerks did.

And then of course, she'd found out about Aang.

So now certain things were beginning to make sense, to become clear. She was so focused she barely noticed the running man she would have recognized instantly.

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

Owen scored his latest catch with the help of a small jump, then spotted someone away from his path a bit. "Hey, 'Tara, how's it going?!" He called to her, slowing.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara roused to a start, but relxed when she saw who it was. It was almost funny: she had a coversation with him when he was trying to get drunk, and she had recently come from trying to do the same thing. It was good to see him though: it was a reminder, and made a certain decision easier.

"Hiya Owen. I'm fine, just...concentrating. Had a lot happen to me recently."

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

"Haven't we all?" He shrugged. He trotted over and sat down in the grass with her. "What's up?"

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara chuckled a little. "Yeah, you have a point. I'm going to have to stop acting like I'm the only one that has problems here. But I guess that's something i'm still working on."

She sighed, and looked down. "I found out Aang is here, but not like we are. He's on another part of the ship, away from everyone else. I didn't want to think it was possible, but we were at the statuary and...all the Avatar's eyes glowed. It's HIM, Owen. But They're creeping him for their own reasons, I don't know why, and other than a few people, I can't really trust anyone else to know."

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

Owen blinked. "...Aang? Who's that? And who's 'they' in this case?"

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara looked a little surprised. "I guess I never mentioned the Avatar in my world? That's Aang, a person that's my friend...and more, when you get down to it. I would never have said this before, but you're lucky. At least you KNOW you're girlfriend is here, alive. Aang I just know is here...and I don't KNOW who 'they' are either."

Katara looked down, obviously frustrated. "It's just one more thing they didn't tell me here."

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

"More and more ackward..." Owen grimaced. "You need to talk about it?" He gave her a sympathetic gaze.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara looked at him for a full minute, then shook her head. "No...not really. I think I know what I have to do now. It's pretty simple when I get down to it."

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

"Not going to do anything to put yourself in harm's way, I hope? The ship's probably gonna do that to us in it's own sweet time anyway." Owen furrowed his brow.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara laughed a little, but it didn't sound like her usual pleasant one. "I hope not, but if so it can't be helped. I have to do what I have to do. It isn't as if I could shrug away what I am from my world and be normal here."

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

"Anything can be helped." Owen said, shrugging. "You've just gotta be willing to look for how."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Katara finally did give him a genuine smile. "No, I actually agree with you there. Anything can be helped. And some of us have to look at all the options you have.

"And take one you didn't expect."

[starlightace]

Nanoha, too, was trying to explore the city - once she'd figured out that she still had her proverbial wings, it became slightly easier (and she'd be lying if she said that it wasn't a way of getting her mind off everybody she'd left behind at home). So she was flying overhead, magenta wings sprouting from her ankles, when she passed over the park and noticed a figure tossing some sort of... boomerang, right? That's what they were called?

He seemed pretty good at it, too. Nanoha drew closer to the ground, hovering in mid-air, but she didn't say anything - she didn't want to interrupt the man's practice.

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

Owen was on another circuit, when something in the sky caught his eye, mostly because it was going to be in the way of his latest throw's return trip. "Hey you! Drop some altitude!" He waved urgently at her.

[starlightace]

Her reaction time was quick, and Nanoha swiftly dove, swerving out of the way even as she twisted, scanning the sky to see what he was warning her about... and watched the boomerang come back right where her head had been a few seconds before. Ouch. That would have hurt.

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

Owen caught the boomerang and tucked it into the back of the neckhole of his plantsuit, trotting up towards the flying... little girl. "Y'alright kiddo?"

[starlightace]

A nod. "Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for the warning." Nanoha smiled at him, though she caught the 'kiddo.' He didn't look that much older than her...

"You're really skilled with that!"

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

Owen grinned, drawing himself up a bit. "Well thanks. Runs in the family. That's nothing fancy though." He pulled it out again. "Just some exercise routines to stay sharp. You should see me when I'm using some of the special gear, or working at high speed." He grinned, extending his other hand.

"Owen Mercer, nice to meet ya."

[starlightace]

She tilted her head to the side, closing her eyes for a moment. "I'm sure! I'd like to see that someday." Nanoha reached out to politely take his hand. "I'm Nanoha Takamachi. It's a pleasure."

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

"Be my pleasure, once I get around to the rest of my gear." He winked playfully. "Always happy to show off for a pretty lady."

Even if he didn't flirt with jailbait besides Kara, Owen still had a soft spot for doting on girls.


"Although I should probably use the sensorium for that. Some of my gear expends fuel, and that's best not wasted."

[starlightace]

Nanoha laughed at that - both the pledge and the compliment. "That would probably be a good idea," she acknowledged. "There's no telling how much we'll be able to resupply something like that - if at all. But I'll be holding you to it anyway."

She paused. "...can I ask how a boomerang uses fuel?"

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

Owen grinned from ear to ear. He wished he had Horatio Caine sunglasses for the moment. "When it spews acid, for example. Or ones that explode." He smiled. "I build all kindsa stuff into my gear."

[starlightace]

...acid-spewing boomerangs. Well, now she'd heard of everything, and she laughed again. "...that would just about do it, I suppose."

Nanoha brushed some auburn hair from her face, something dawning on her. "Do you have all of your equipment here?" Maybe she hadn't been the only one whose powers had been limited.

[fast-thrower.livejournal.com]

"I arrived with only a few pieces of gear, but I'm working on rebuilding the rest of my arsenal. I'm good at working with salvaged parts." He tilts his head. "How about you? You got any stuff out of the ordinary besides wings?"