Always a dawn after the dusk

[empress_without_a_throne]

[So Mizuki's on the phone, talking with someone at home.  And things are pretty standard until-]

... You're kidding.  They actually pulled it off?!  That's- right.  I understand but that's one more hurdle cleared.

I have some things to tie up here, but I'll be heading back to HQ shortly.



And thanks Mom.  This was... the kind of news I'd never think I'd hear.

[1]



[Later...]

So Solaris contacted me a bit ago.  The DawnBird's nearing completion and we've managed to contact an old pilot interested in coming back for "one last ride" as it were.  It won't be long until SolSavior'll be back in action, and living up to its name finally too.

I'll be heading back to accompany them with the finishing touches, and also to "donate" the combination servos on the DuskBird.  And after that... well, we'll have to wait and see.

[2] (locked to people Mizuki has good CR with)



Hey...

[Before it was a big group-wide broadcast.  Now though, it's just the Abyss Empress finding you at some quiet point.]

How're you holding up?

Comments

2

[star_of_sad]

Yes? I... I think I am fine, all things considered.

What's the matter, Mizuki? It's not like you to ask a question like this out of nowhere.

[empress_without_a_throne]

I know, I've just had some things on my mind for a while. Between Seta and Willis and everyone else...

A lot of us wouldn't have gotten very far if we were on our own, would we have?

[star_of_sad]

[Setsuko thinks about the past. The answer comes to her immediately - and she sounds really sure of it.]

We wouldn't. We really, really, wouldn't.

[empress_without_a_throne]

That's what I was thinking too. There's something about us that... I don't know how to put it, especially without making light of the regular armed forces. But it's there.

Whoever decided to call this the "Unity Group"... they had the right idea.

[star_of_sad]

Teamwork is the basis of operations for any military unit. I don't think it's just Unity Group...

Or is there something else that others don't have?

2)

[mistaken_for_monster]

Been better...

[Volya shuffles in place, clearly anxious.]

I'm just worried about everyone.

You, Seta, Ren... everybody's been having rough times.

[empress_without_a_throne]

We have, haven't we?

Still... we've made it this far in spite of what the world wanted us all to be.

[mistaken_for_monster]

I guess we did...

Mizuki... you're going to come back right? Just because you, Dido and Ken aren't on the same team anymore doesn't mean you're leaving does it?

[empress_without_a_throne]

Of course not. I have my own reasons for... well, stepping down so someone else can take my place with SolSavior. But I still have a place here here.

I'm not going to leave all of you guys.

2

[63rd_shockwave]

[Well it's like 4pm so it's not like the bar's gonna be real busy or anything.]

Eh, been better, been worse.

...Bit worried about Jacob, but he'll be fine. Leg's a bit sore too, but it's nothing much.

You?

[empress_without_a_throne]

Just touching base before I head back. Not sure how long the process there is going to take.

... Do you mind if I ask a more personal question though?

[63rd_shockwave]

...Unless it's about my relationship with my parents, no. Go ahead.

[empress_without_a_throne]

It's not your parents but...

... Your old partner. I don't think I ever got the full story from you.

2

[tiger_ken]

[Ken doesn't verbally answer as he draws back his hand from the punching bag in front of him, and then letting it open in a 'so-so' shake.]

So who they did pull back? One of my parents isn't planning a surprise, are they?

[empress_without_a_throne]

I doubt it'd be one of them. They're helping out enough as it is.

Though Ken...

[Now... how to go about this?]

I'm hoping you'll be able to stop brooding over this like it's the end of the world.

[tiger_ken]

[So she doesn't know either then...]

Already did.

[The renewed punching might say otherwise. Then again...]

Though I guess this means my suggestion for your replacement didn't go through then.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Probably not.

Who did you have in mind?

1

[abugslife]

The end of SolSaviour as we know it is soon, it seems. What will you do afterwards? I hope you do not think of abandoning the field of battle just yet.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Don't worry, I'm intending to stay with Solaris and the Unity Group at least for the foreseeable future The world has plenty of problems still, and there's few uses a gigantic mechanical, transforming bird has.

In the long-term... we'll see.

[abugslife]

Good.

Who is the new pilot?

[empress_without_a_throne]

Old pilot. Just one of the last ones. The idea they had was to call in a previous pilot to help provide some additional experience and guidance.

1

[majestic_keiki]

So you'll be leaving? We'll miss you.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Only for a little while. I'll be back before long.

[majestic_keiki]

Okay. It's good to hear that the project is moving forward. Who is the temporary pilot?

[empress_without_a_throne]

It's an older one, from the last group who fought back during the glory days. Don't know which one... but they're good people. I wouldn't be alive today if they weren't.