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?

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?

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]

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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[tiger_ken]

...I spoke to Ilinka about it.

[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.

[empress_without_a_throne]

[He what.]

You what.

[tiger_ken]

I spoke. To Ilinka.

[He turns to face Mizuki directly, so she can't misread him.]

She's a skilled pilot, and whilst I know what she did was terrible... she only did it because of Loni's influence. I thought maybe that, with him in a cell, and the Lady's Good Men gone, maybe Ilinka could at least try for a second chance. If she squandered the opportunity or whatever, fine, lock her back in and throw away the key. But she's hardly had a taste of a real life. And she seemed to really consider what I said...

[empress_without_a_throne]

[There's a cold hard stare coming Ken's way... but then it gives way to a sigh. A disappointed one.]

Ken, you can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped. And no matter how you look at the Birmingham incident, Loni didn't force her to do anything. She chose on her own. If you want to give her a second chance, wait until she at least proves herself, don't just hope for the best after what she's done on her own...

Moreover...

[... But should she really go that last step?]

[tiger_ken]

That's not the way she was when I spoke to her. And besides, 'she chose on her own', when she's either lived a life as someone's tool, or... next to those two... is not what I'd call an informed choice.

[He wants to make a certain comparison, but who knows how it'd backfire...]

I dunno, I just... felt I could relate, whilst you...

[empress_without_a_throne]

I can sympathize with her, but I won't go so far as to relate or project onto her. Even if it wasn't an informed choice, it was still a choice. The Crusader team found us before my parents and I did anything wrong, and if we had I'd imagine we would've been treated more like prisoners. She needs to face the consequences of what she did.

[tiger_ken]

And I'm not saying she wouldn't have. But she could have at least...

[Ken sighs, and just shakes his head.]

Nevermind. It's a pointless discussion now anyway. DawnBird has its pilot... whoever they are. I guess I can talk to one of the older generation more directly.

[63rd_shockwave]

Ah.

Well, it's pretty long. Sure you've got the time for it?

[empress_without_a_throne]

Right, right.

Just a warning though... the choice is probably going to surprise you.