The Land Crasher (Post: Countdown)

[srwu_npc]

[There's yet another SSR member making their appearance. In fact there are apparently two of them. A large older man and his much smaller partner have parked their machine on the outskirts of Fort Alhambra hangar and are keeping themselves busy inside the Unity Group by taking on repairs for the machines that had returned from the excursion to South America and even a few that weren't. They seemed pretty proficient in repairing a wide variety of robots.]



Darling, are you sure we should be here? I mean...those things they said about Asakim...



I'd feel bad if I left without fixing some of the damage we caused.

Besides, I don't think they were lying...they were being honest and genuine with us. We should at least try to figure out what was going on with him, especially after he sacrificed himself to save us. For now let's just focus on paying them back for now.

Comments

[star_of_sad]

I still find it hard to believe. But I cannot change the reality of what happened.

[Setsuko approaches the two. It's unusual to have SSR people around, especially people with a certain relation to Asakim.]

If Asakim was trying to seal Volkruss away and we interrupted him...

What does that make of Unity Group here?

[srwu_npc]

I'd rather not play the blame game, thinking like that will just lead to pointless fights.

[As evident by what had just happened.]

You're all trying to do good, we're doing the same. In the end we were able to seal that god away. No point in worrying about that particular thing anymore.

[star_of_sad]

That's true, but what happened still bothers me. In more than one way.

[Setsuko pauses.]

My name is Setsuko Ohara. I don't think I had a chance to introduce myself yet.

[srwu_npc]

Nice to meet you Setsuko, I'm Mail Beater, one half of Beater Services and you already know my darling's name.



Mail, I already told you not to call me that when we're introducing ourselves. It'll give people the wrong idea.



Oh, don't be so modest darling.

[Mail seems to be trying hard to keep the mood up.]

[star_of_sad]

Wrong idea? No, nothing like that, really. Nice to meet you, Mail, Rand.

[Setsuko tries to smile to dispell the awkward atmosphere. Better not to dwell on it too much. Instead...]

You have... the same kind of power as I do, don't you?

[srwu_npc]

It sure seems like it, the Sphere of the Wounded Lion. That's what Asakim called it. To be honest it's not really my power...well it's kind of a long story but we share it between the three of us.

Although I'm glad the side-effects only affect me.



[Mail looks slightly bothered about the Sphere conversation, why this was is something she's keeping to herself.]

[star_of_sad]

That sounds like a long story indeed... wait. Side effects?

[Setsuko blinks in surprise. That's new.]

The Sphere was trying to cause dimensional anomalies and transport me away - and possibly do much more, whenever I was in danger.

But that's not all there is, is it?

[srwu_npc]

Well, my Sphere is powered by pain....so whenever I use it I'm put under a lot of physical pain. That's why I only use it in bursts, if I kept using it I'm sure that I wouldn't be able to make it through a fight.

It doesn't sound like yours operates the same way. Although I've also had my fair share of being warped around like that.

[star_of_sad]

It's sadness for me. Sadness and mental anguish - but the sphere doesn't cause those. Rather, they power it...

[srwu_npc]

...I see.

[The implications given were not pleasant ones.]

Sounds like you have it harder than me if your Sphere feeds on your suffering.

[star_of_sad]

[Setsuko nods hesitantly. She is not sure if it's time to reveal it yet - but no. Rand must know.]

When I take a look back at things, it's obvious. This is why Asakim was targetting me... no, not just me. I am a member of the Glory Stars test team, but nowadays I'm the only one left alive.

Because of him.

And I still don't know why he did it. Why would he want my Sphere to awaken?

[totallyhonest]

Interesting mech. So you're from SSR group?

[srwu_npc]

She's a beauty isn't she? Rand Travis of Beater Services and yes, the SSR also by association...I guess.

[totallyhonest]

Is that your kid?

[srwu_npc]

I'm not a kid! I'm 16 years old!

[actuallyselfish]

Dido lowers her welding torch, raises her face guard, and stares at Rand with wide eyes. "You're gonna...help fix things?"

[actuallyselfish]

Suddenly, Dido drops her torch and wraps Rand in a bear hug. "At last!" She chokes, tears brimming in her eyes. "A pilot who gets it! A caring man who understands the plight of the mecha mechanic! Its been too long...!"

[srwu_npc]

[Mail makes this face]



Ah, don't worry about it Mail. She's just met a kindred spirit for the first time. I do need to get these repairs done though.

[Especially since he helped cause some of them.]

[actuallyselfish]

"Oh, uh right!" Dido awkwardly disengages herself from the Senior Beater before the junior Beater beats her. (Say that ten times fast!)

"If you ever need any solder material, armor plate or synth musculature, just call out my name!" Dido says. She extends a greasy hand. "That name would be Dido Sybil, Senior on-site Tech for the Solaris organization. And you guys are-?"

[srwu_npc]

Rand Travis of Beater Services Repair Workshop...on the road

[Rand takes the handshake with an equally greased up hand and gives it a very firm shake.]

This here is my partner and boss Mail.



Nice to meet you Dido.

[cloningblues]

Talk about an uneasy situation, huh.

[Asagi watches what these two are doing with the damaged machines for a while.]

Are you absolutely sure that man was Asakim? The way you describe him, and the Asakim I knew... They're like two completely different people.

[srwu_npc]

The person you've all described sounds nothing like the Asakim we've known either but that man back there was Asakim, the same one that I called my friend.



He's been watching out for us since we arrived in this world...

[cloningblues]

...Arrived in this world? Are you from La Gias?

[srwu_npc]

Never heard of it, we're both from another Earth. It was in rougher shape compared to here though. We were both brought here thanks to one of those Dimension Quake things.



We were separated when we got here, Asakim protected me from some weird monsters that went after me and then reunited me with my Darling and then introduced us to our friends in the SSR.

[cloningblues]

Another Earth? I never heard about something like th-

[Click. Asagi only now notices something.]

...Darling? Are you two in a... relationship?

[srwu_npc]

It's not like that! We're just partners!



Oh, don't be so shy Darling.



Like I said we're just partners, don't give them the wrong idea Mail!

[cloningblues]

Right, right. I get you.

[Brushed aside almost as if Asagi had experience dealing with overly attached young girls or something.]

So, about that world. Are you the only ones who came from it? Do you know how to go back?