He's actually on stage!

[itbelongsinamuseum]

[Like many others Alex had come to the Batavia Fleet to take part in chaperoning Grace and trying to actually find the correct antique dealer among the crowds drawn there by the conference. This afternoon, however, she's away from official duties at the place to instead have a seat at a café on one of the ritzier ships, sharing the table with a wealthy-looking middle ages man bearing a distinct family similarity with her. There aren't any cups in front of them yet.]


I was pretty surprised when you called. I hadn't expected to see you here of all places. Some kind of military duty?


[She tenses for a second at some of his words.]

Yeah, we're here to look after a con artist whose trying to learn about the power of some ancient artifact she got stuck with. Pretty similar to what happened to me. Seems common around Unity Group.

[Interrupt the chance reunion between father and daughter?]

Comments

[a_monetized_mind]

Oh, Alex. Fancy meeting you here.

[Jen is not wearing a suit for a change, instead being dressed up like she's got a fancy date-not entirely out of place here. She looks the older man up and down for a second.]

...Friend of yours?

[itbelongsinamuseum]

My father. He's here for the conference.



Kasper de Witt. I don't believe we've met.

[a_monetized_mind]

No, I don't think we have. Do you mind if I sit here a while?

[itbelongsinamuseum]

[Alex looks to her father, but doesn't say anything yet.]


Go ahead. So you're one of Alex' colleagues? Or a friend she hasn't mentioned...Or maybe she has, I didn't catch your name.

[a_monetized_mind]

Jennifer Douglas.

[She takes the seat.]
We work together, yes...Actually, we joined up in similar circumstances, but at different times. So, Alex, I guess that makes you my senior.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

I guess. I never really thought about it. I wonder how the first people came to join Unity Group, it was before I got there and not all of them were soldiers even back then.


Similar circumstances?

[a_monetized_mind]

Yes-we both got caught up in this by random chance, ended up with sole control over an advanced robot...well, god in Alex's case, but you get the idea.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

There are several more like that. That Ashe girl for example.


[Kasper raises his eyebrow briefly.]
I thought Unity Group was a military unit, not a superhero team.

[Flashbacks to fighting with Kagura]

[a_monetized_mind]

You'd think that, wouldn't you...

...Not everyone seems to have gotten the memo, but it's not a bad place.

Re: [Flashbacks to fighting with Kagura]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

[Alex winces slightly at that comment.]


I was just commenting on my surprise at the kinds of weaponry you were using.

[star_of_sad]

[One of the tables is occupied by a giant girly fruit dessert. Also, Setsuko is sitting behind it.

Before she can dig in though, she hears the conversation. It'd be rude to interrupt it just yet, but apparently listening in curiously is okay because that's what she is going to do.]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

[Noticing Setsuko, Alex gives the soldier a quick wave before returning to her conversation.]


...Did you say that a military unit under the UN is helping a con artist learn about magical artifacts?


Yes, it happens around here. I got used to it a while ago.

[star_of_sad]

Ah, excuse me.

[Setsuko waves back, and decides to approach to add something of her own.]

It is not exactly a military unit, either. For better or for worse, there are several differences.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

I guess, but it isn't a superhero team either...Some kind of paramilitary unit with lax standards and a tendency to attract weirdness?


...I'm not sure I want to hear that about what my daughter is doing.

[star_of_sad]

Actually, if I may... as someone who had experience being in a military unit, it is not that Unity Group has lax standards. Its standards are simply... different. And for its members like Alex, it actually works better.

I am Setsuko Ohara. My apologies for speaking up before introducing myself.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

We haven't had any problems without all the waking up early to polish boots and whatever else they do for discipline in the actual military. With how few we are, we don't need uniforms either...We could probably do with officers when on missions rather than just distant commanders, though. [Her expression grows more somber as she thinks about it.]


[For his part, Kasper is quiet, apparent unsure how to deal with that information.]

I'm Kasper de Witt, Alexandra's father.

[star_of_sad]

It's not just discipline. Combat doctrine of normal military forces wouldn't work well for a group like UG. But in the end that's good, isn't it? It means everyone can do a lot of good. And return home, unharmed.

[Setsuko seems rather thoughtful, but she turns to Alex's father instead of continuing this trail of thought.]

I'm glad we could meet, mr de Witt. It's almost a chance encounter, but I'm happy to get to know the family of a friend in person.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

It's true that I wouldn't even begin to know how to apply normal military doctrine to Enki or all the people running around on foot and capable of fighting alien robots and monsters.



[Kasper nods as well.]

It's a pleasure to meet my daughter's friends, especially in a situation like that. But, are you two sure you aren't a superhero team? People on foot fighting mecha seems like it.

[star_of_sad]

That'd be nice... I mean, it would mean everyone has super powers, as opposed to just a few people.

[Nevermind Setsuko's own power. She didn't ask for this.]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Right. Only a few like Ashe or Hibiki really have superpowers. [No mention of Setsuko's, that was for her to choose whether to mention.] I mean, I still summon something else that has the actual superpowers.

[star_of_sad]

Regardless of it counting as super powers or not, Unity Group does have a lot of uniquely talented people.

The first contact can be a bit of a surprise, but it just shows how many different things are on Earth.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Yeah...I don't think anybody meets the cats without getting freaked out and puzzled at first.

The Earth really is a weirder place than most of us thought. Enough to make me wonder if my education is worth anything.



Cats?



Yeah, there is a pair of talking, mecha piloting cats at Unity Group.

[star_of_sad]

Ah, but they are just an exception! I don't think any coursebook would mention talking sapient cats just because a few of them exist... or rather came to be only a few years ago. And in secret.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

...This is some kind of hazing ritual to see what you can convince your old dad of, isn't it?



No, there really are a pair of talking cats. They were fighting evil cassowaries...And, yes, I know how insane it sounds.

[star_of_sad]

It's no less insane than ancient mythological gods and monsters being real, I'd say.

[Better not mention Symphogears or Kagura for now. Or Neptune.]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

At least those are things that used to be considered important and gets used in serious fantasy.

[star_of_sad]

I remember tales about talking animals, too. Fables, and such.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

I guess...



[Kasper just looks between the two with a vaguely disbelieving look, not interrupting to try to make sense of it all.]

[star_of_sad]

Umm. I'm sure you know by now what I meant, mr de Witt, when I said it can be a bit of a surprise.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Yes, I do...Make sure you stay safe out there if you aren't going to return to school. [He looks squarely on Alex as he says it.]



I will, how reckless do you think I am?

[star_of_sad]

If I may, everyone in Unity Group works hard to that goal too. We are always doing our best, keeping each other safe. Alex is no exception.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Right. And I have to do my part too. No matter how you look at it, I'm a superhero now. With great power comes great responsibility and all that.

Having people around to help me when Sumerian monsters or obsessed terrorists attack helps too.



...There are terrorists too? I really can't make you just leave, can I?

[star_of_sad]

Compared to gods and monsters, terrorists aren't that unusual... or dangerous, though of course we can't ignore them or take them lightly either.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

They seem better at sneaking than something like Asag or Humbaba, though. Which makes them dangerous if I'm alone. And all of those are more dangerous to bystanders if I spend more time among civilians.


And these terrorists are polite enough to not target loved ones? [He's clearly getting nervous as he's talking.]

[star_of_sad]

... Ah.

Mr de Witt, it might be a good idea to lay low for a while.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

...Fuck. I hadn't even thought that. And nobody else had either. I'll get the officers to send somebody to protect you.


Thank you for being so reassuring. I feel much safer now.

[star_of_sad]

There is no need to panic. These people operate off Europe, don't they? We are too far away for them to reach us easily.

[Setsuko raises her hands reassuringly. She tries to contain the situation somehow.]

If we get someone like Major Kagura to keep an eye out, they would really need heavy ordinance to threaten anyone. And they can't send something like that in without us noticing.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Flanders is pretty far away and they're not going to find any sympathizers to help them hide anywhere else. Still, I'll try to get them to send some low key personnel to guard you...Not sure the major counts, despite her size. She stands out quite a bit.



I'll be careful. And at least you're here, so I'll have somebody for now while you talk to your superiors about witness protection.

[star_of_sad]

That's true, and we have friends who aren't too far away either. Everything should be alright.

[Setsuko tries to sound reassuring.]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

And they haven't gone for people I care about yet, so maybe they aren't going to at all. They might even have given up on it.



Hopefully that's it.

[reactorhead_russians]

Sasha takes a seat at a nearby table and pours over the menu. "Ah, Alex," she says with an approving nod. "Kak požyiváješ?"

[itbelongsinamuseum]

...I have no idea what you just said.


Hmmm [He looks thoughtful for a bit.] Asking who I am? Kasper de Witt, Alex' father.