Second Game

[break_the_nine]

[The moment Leos was dragged back to base it was clear things were going to be pretty bad. Why? Because his handler was chewing him out royally right there in the hangar.]

Lana-



Pale Rider is being put into repairs again Leos, and not only that your actions are having PROGTECH question your competence. They are planning to drop your sponsorship altogether because of your childish, undisciplined and impulsive behavior-

He was there Lana! Hustler One... Nineball... He was there! I had to-

[This was punctuated by a tremendously hard slap that sent Leos to the ground with a cry. That definitely left a mark, and that whimper he let out was more along the lines of a kicked puppy than the wild, anger driven animal that had been out in the field. Lana didn't even raise her voice as she proceeded to tear into him like a frigid wind with a side order of ice cold rain.]

Cause irreparable damage to several of Pale Rider's systems for the sake of revenge. Revenge I may add that you aren't even prepared to take because of how under-trained, inexperienced and ill equipped you are. Not to mention your immaturity and utter lack of ability to maintain focus on a designated objective.

You. are. pathetic. I'm locking down the Pale Rider after its repairs are complete and speaking to PROGTECH about suspending your access to the Arena for the time being. Until you can actually learn to grow up as well as use a machine without completely destroying it, don't you dare so much as even get five feet of that Armored Core.

[Lana does a precise turn without even looking back at Leos, who looked up at her with a piteous expression on his face.]



Lana... Lana wait...'m sorry... please don't go... don't be mad... please..?

[No dice, she just walks out the closest exit, leaving Leos to slump to the ground.]

[Do you go after Lana? Or Stick with Leos?]

Comments

[herodrawing]

Leos?

[Izuru stares at the scene. He quickly runs up to the Armored Core pilot, too shocked to say anything but...]

Leos! Hey...

[break_the_nine]

[Izuru, Leos barely acknowledges your calling of his name. Giving you a weak glance and a wavering smile that had all the strength of a rusted, corrugated metal shack in a tornado.]

H... hey Izuru... We won.. Everyone's safe...right?

[herodrawing]

That's right. Look, we saved everyone!

[ugyuuya]

[Yuuya is standing on the other side of the exit and speaks to Lana as she leaves the hangar]

"You know that machine is pretty much what kept him alive right? He's ballsy and doesn't think clearly but he's got the start of some talent I'm not sure if I'd write off yet."

[Looking at her he continues.] "Despite that his smart assed stunt could have gotten people killed and he is not a stable pilot. I know something happened and you've got your reasons but I want to know what game you're playing before it gets myself or anyone on my flight hurt or killed."

[break_the_nine]

There isn't any game here at all 2nd Lieutenant. Leos Klein is an exception, an anomaly. In a situation that left an entire city devastated and almost its entire population dead, he survived - after an encounter with the Rank One of Raven's Nest no less, one his family did not.

My recruitment of him was to assess his potential and to give him a chance. However your concerns are noted. If your unit is as reputable as I believe it is though, then Leos' actions will cause no issues for you. To himself on the other hand is another matter altogether.

[tiger_ken]

[Doot.

That's the sound of a pudding cup against the side of Leos' face, handed by Ken. He doesn't pause to chat, instead merely moving past to go after Lana...]

Not exactly supportive, are you?

[break_the_nine]

My job is to ensure Leos' progress goes smoothly as well as to take care of the administrative work between him and the Progtech Corporation.

What isn't my job is to hold his hand and coddle him whenever he makes a mistake. Especially one on a scale such as this. While the situation was under control, it was despite his presence rather than assisted by it.

[Her tone remains absolutely level as she looks you dead in the eye Ken.]

Tell me, how exactly would you impress the fact on a childish and irresponsible person like him that they had essentially made a costly mistake and ensure that it stays in their mind.

[majestic_keiki]

[That was rather severe. Especially the slap. Even so, once things settled Kei moved closer to Leos, not really sure what to say.]

[break_the_nine]

...What....what 'm I supposed to do... I don't... I don't know...

[modern_ancient]

[After watching the exchange, Njall ambled over and squatted next to the prone Leos.]

That looked like it hurt.

[break_the_nine]

It does... I just ... Lana's never hit me before...

I've never made her that angry until now...

[Leos is just going to stay like this. He doesn't see the need to get back up with how terrible he feels.]

[cloningblues]

[Staring at Leos.]

Why did you do this? Why couldn't you wait until we finished the PRAYER?

[break_the_nine]

W...what else was I supposed to do...?

That man... he murdered my family... I HAD TO TRY!

[Leos near screamed the words before he just dropped his head to the ground, unable to keep eye contact with Asagi.]

I had to try... I just had to the moment I saw him, I keep seeing their bodies... I keep seeing my parents buried under rubble, keep trying to wake up my brother... keep trying to tell Callista to stay awake and not leave me alone...

[genericbiggerbrother]

"Christ!"

Yancy spots the tirade and bruise-causing slapping from a distance, and rushes over to help Leos up.

"Answer me honestly kid, just yes or no: is that woman abusing you?"

[break_the_nine]

No... 's my fault.

[Leos sounded like an absolute mess.]

Lana's never been that angry with me before... she's scolded me a few times but she's never hit me...

[The pilot's hand moved to where he was struck and his fingers flinched away.]

Lana wouldn't... she's not that kind of person. She's really strict but she's done so much for me and I...

[chidori]

[Okay, so maybe the hangar wasn't the most normal place for a high school girl to be hanging around, but she was tired of sitting around in her room. Over the past few weeks, she had been allowed free access to the military base, despite being a civilian herself.

And that's exactly why she overhears Leos' conversation with his handler.

Wow, somebody's in trouble. The bluenette is about to surreptitiously sneak off before anyone can catch her eavesdropping when she catches sight of Leos, slumped on the floor.]

Hey...

[She approaches, hesitantly.]

You okay?

[break_the_nine]

Lana's angry at me...

[Leos sounded downright lost right now.]

She's been angry at me before but she's never hit me... I...

[He was trying to find a way to get his brain back on track but he just can't get past the fact that she hit him - hammering in just how badly he screwed up.]

Kaname... I don't...

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Lana's not getting far before Sara makes her presence known, grabbing at the woman's arm!]

Don't you think you're being a little hard on him, all things considered?

[break_the_nine]

[Lana's going to give Sara a downright icy look as if to tell her 'let go of my arm or I'll make you lose yours'.]

No. As I said before, Leos is childish and impulsive. If I were any softer it wouldn't dig deep enough into his mind that he made a mistake.

So, care to tell me why is it that a member of Solaris is finding the need to tell me how I can and cannot handle the Raven I'm managing?

[kill_all_vagans]

Leos...

[Oh boy. Flit can not even BEGIN to imagine what he'd be feeling if the AGE-1 were put through the same kind of damage that the Pale Rider had just been. It's all he can do to try to support his friend.]

Leos... hey, she can't... this won't be the end, right?

[break_the_nine]

Flit?... I don't... I don't know... This is twice Pale Rider's been wrecked... am... am I really that bad?

[smileys]

[May stays behind after Lana leaves. For a while, she quietly looks at Leos and says nothing...after all, even the Lynx know about Hustler One.]

...So, what did you learn from that?

[break_the_nine]

...That... I'm still not good enough... not yet.

[Leos shakes his head, keeping his eyes locked to the ground.]

I couldn't think when I saw him. Everything just went red.

Leos

[way_of_vengeance]

...That was quite the show today.

[break_the_nine]

It was? I'm glad you had fun watching.