Light of hope

[star_of_sad]

[1]
I think that's enough for now, you two.

[Project Unification wasn't the only one to fight the Lost Seekers, obviously. Setsuko met some (alternate universe versions of) old friends during the fight at Sakihama - the Glory Stars are reunited again! And now, they return from mobile suit training, just like old times. But unlike old times, it's not Denzel who is the non-sweaty one...]


"Ahh... can't catch my breath... when's the last time I saw someone move so fast..."


I can't hear you, Lieutenant. Are you asking for another round? Speak louder.


"Sir, no sir!"


"She seems so nice and kind, but talk about a demon woman in a fight. Lt Ohara, where did you learn this kind of tricks?"


Well... you taught me. I mean, the other you. The other Denzel taught me, and so did so many experiences and circumstances, too...

[2]

[Somehow, the training she had with Glory Stars put Setsuko in a pensive mood, and now she's pondering things over a sweets-and-drinks celebration.]

The Sphere...

Edel is stopped, Asakim is dead, but the Sphere is still active. I can feel its power even now, feeding on despair.

[That the cake in front of Setsuko tasted mostly like nothing is proof of that. Her taste has yet to return.]

But... we won't just succumb to it, right? I know everyone, I know you won't. Even as the Lady is trying to make this world hers, we'll see this through to the end. We'll come out on the other side, looking forward to a better tomorrow.

And, I will too.

Comments

1

[a_linear_mind]

There's something I thought I'd never get to see again.

[A familiar face is watching as the three Virgola return to Sakihama.]

It seems a bit different this time though.

[star_of_sad]

Oh, Willis? What do you mean?


"Something about being the rookie, and not Chief getting schooled like a little boy, maybe?"


"Give me five minutes and you'll see what it means to be schooled yet, Toby!"

[a_linear_mind]

That's about right I think.

Although technically I think this is the second time that Glory Star #1 and #3 have switched.

[glorystargo]

"I'm still using Virgola 1. Trust me, I'd notice if I wasn't."


It's... well, complicated. A bit of a long story, too.

[a_linear_mind]

In this case I was talking about pilot skill rather than the units themselves.

[star_of_sad]

Oh. Well, like I said, I've been through a lot...


"Maybe. But I'll rest well knowing I'm still better than Toby."


"Hey!"


Ha ha... I've been through a lot, but in the end Chief and Toby are still themselves.

[a_linear_mind]

Some things are better when they stay the same, aren't they?

[star_of_sad]

Yeah... some of them really, really are. And you wish you could keep them like that forever...

2

[prismphantom]

WHhn you say active...

[Selena looks down at that cake.]

How "active" are we talking?

[star_of_sad]

It's not trying to create more dimensional distortions, or anything like that. It just... feels like it's always there. Like a body part that you can't control.

A body part that lies in wait and waits for its power to be used.

[prismphantom]

Sounds like something I can almost relate to.

[It's less some sleeping power inside of her and more just a growing sense of something being wrong, but yeah. Close enough, right?]

... If only we could make it feed on this Lady's despair instead once she realizes we're not going to go down easily, let alone at all.

Certainly would make things easier for us... and for you too.

[She looks down at the cake for a moment.]

[star_of_sad]

I'd rather not give the Sphere any more power. I don't know what may happen...

If the Lady even feels this kind of despair in the first place, that is.

[prismphantom]

We can only hope, really.

As for our own? Well... you're right. I'm not intending on giving up anytime soon. Not after everything we've been through.

[star_of_sad]

Yes. Too many people are watching over us, putting their faith in us, that we could just let them down. Isn't that right?

[Setsuko smiles awkwardly.]

Both those alive, and our friends who are no longer here.

[prismphantom]

Not for them, no.

[Selena slowly, but resolutely nods her head.]

Especially not for them.

1)

[break_away_from_fear]

[Leos heard about the alternate Denzel and Toby from around the base. At first he thought it was a bad joke... then Lana confirmed it all with all the grace and subtlety of a baseball bat to the face. So here he was, off to the side looking anxiously.]

...

[He felt... sad. They acted, sounded and looked exactly like them. Yet he knew without a doubt...]

Hey Setsuko.

[He waved with a small smile on his face, two unopened packs of pudding cups held in his hand. They weren't the Toby and Chief he knew. But maybe he could befriend these new ones.]

[star_of_sad]

Oh. Hello Leos.

[She knew he's out after all - but those puddings are new. She can guess what are they here for.]


"Oh? Who's this guy, someone you know?"


Yes. You could say that we knew each other for a... very long time. At least it feels that way sometimes.

[break_away_from_fear]

We were both around when the Unity Group started off...feels like its been forever since then.

[Leos is carefully snapping the pudding packs free from each other and holding them out with a small grin.]

Friendship Pudding?

[glorystargo]

"Friendship... what?"


It's... something of a thing Leos does. No, not just him. It's almost like a small tradition we have.


"Well, you're out of luck. If it doesn't have booze in it, Chief won't like it."


"I can think of one thing with no booze in it I don't like right now! Or were you drinking again you lousy wingman?"

[Denzel quickly grabs the pudding before Toby can, like it was a contest.]