To Another AGE

[break_away_from_fear]

[With the ancient computer system recovered it wouldn't be long before Leos would be escorted off the Unity Group base that the shuttle returned to and back to the institute to continue his recovery, so he simply sat quietly as he turned the unopened pudding cup in his hands round and round. It felt... odd to say the least. Encountering Nineball again was an unexpected and even frightening moment yet...]

Blaming someone for doing something they feel is right when they're broken... it'd be pretty hypocritical of me...

[Where he could have chosen to keep hating it, even after finding out it was responsible for the Vagan and possibly even the Meganoids... he chose to understand and forgive. As he said... there was no point in trying to hate something for being damaged, not when the right thing to do was to reach out and help them find their way... just like his friends had done for him.]

Did I finally do the right thing?.... Feels like it...

Comments

[star_of_sad]

Congratulations.

[Setsuko approaches and puts a hand on Leos' shoulder in a comforting way.]

You did well.

[break_away_from_fear]

I...I guess I really did... didn't I?

[Leos couldn't help but smile brightly, a few tears leaving his eyes as he held the hand on his shoulder.]

Its different... the first time I fought Nineball... I just felt empty after I thought I won. Now though.... now I just feel like there isn't anything weighing me down so much.

[star_of_sad]

Yes, it's different. That's because you did something good... good for everyone.

[Setsuko seems wistful for a moment.]

[break_away_from_fear]

Setsuko...? Is something wrong?

[Leos suddenly feels a little antsy now.]

[star_of_sad]

No, no. It's nothing.

[She's quick to assure Leos.]

It's just that...

We really had to go through a lot to reach where we are now. Didn't we?

[break_away_from_fear]

... Yeah...

[Leos took a deep breath as he thought about what a few people would have had to say.]

We lost some good friends along the way... but...

I think they'd be proud of what we've done... at least I hope they would.

[A soft chuckle escapes him.]

Well... I know Chief and Toby would definitely have a lot of good to say about how you've been doing.

[star_of_sad]

Thank you, Leos. I'm trying to hold up the Glory Star name and I think I wasn't doing that bad of a job...

But it feels nice to hear it from someone else. I appreciate it.

[agedup]

You definitely did the right thing.

[Have a hand on the shoulder, and another celebratory pudding cup. Here Flit thought you hadn't grabbed one already, silly Flit.]

I had my doubts but... it ended that fight a lot sooner than it would've otherwise. And with the computing unit intact too.

[break_away_from_fear]

[Two pudding cups? Bliss! He takes the second one with a smile.]

Yeah... just... it really felt like it was the right thing to do after everything that's happened to me. A lot of the choices I made not so long ago ... I always made the choice to hurt someone...

[There was a soft sigh as he looked at the pudding cups in his hands.]

I think Nineball was as bad off as we were... maybe even worse. It was an AI true... but with how many robots there are with minds of their own, it was probably as alive as we are.

It was alone, hurt... it didn't know if the people who made it would come back or even if they were alive. It didn't have anyone to tell it what it was doing was wrong or to guide it on the right path. All it had was the purpose they left it.

In the end... what it needed was the same as us. Someone to reach out to them. Ending it this way... it feels more right than just shooting it down.

[Leos smiles before handing over the first one he had to Flit.]

Friendship pudding?

[brought_it_back]

...Judging good and evil is a hard thing, but...

...Yes.

[Eva gives a kindhearted smile.]

Welcome back.

[break_away_from_fear]

[Leos beams right back at Eva.]

It is isn't it... but that's what it should be. Deciding who's good and evil on a whim never works out well in the end.

And... its good to be back, even if its for a short while.