At the end of an endless road

[prismphantom]

[1[

[Another Unity Member biting the dust, and in the wake all the dirty machinations of the Crystal Chimaeras finally coming to light.  If not for Elys's unfortunate passing this might even have been a blessing in disguise; everything was laid out on the table and one way or another it'd be all over soon.  Then all that would be left would be the Lady and Loni.]

We really do have to win this, Elma.  If we don't, then...

The Balmarians would call it "Apocalypsis", right?

... Yeah.  And they already had enough trouble dodging one bullet.  And then there's everyone else's own problems we've gotten past.  The Lady wants her encore, but the audience isn't up for it.

But still...



... Don't tell me.  Selena, is that feeling is-

Still there.  Like I'm forgetting something obvious... and something in me's trying to hammer that in and make me remember more and more every day.

But Selena, you're... you can't keep fretting about this!  With what's ahead of us, we're going to need to be at the top of our strength.  Whatever's eating at you, just... just please don't let it get to you!  Please, it wouldn't hurt to get some rest.  I'd even cook whatever you want in the meantime too!



Anything?

Yes, anything!  You have my word as a Subot!



Oh, so even that one special omelette recipe?

[A pause.  A very pregnant pause... and one might even think that Elma's starting to sweat.]

... Of... course!  I said anything, and I won't back down on that!  It might take a while but no matter what I promise I'd-



Good!  Then be sure to make extra.  I'm sure people'll be curious and want to sample it themselves.  And you wouldn't want to disappoint them, would you?

But Selena-

You said anything and that you wouldn't back down on that!  So you better not be backing down on me Elma!  Chop chop, don't keep a lady waiting!

[And cue a playful kick to send him flying into the kitchen.]

[2]

[A short time later though, Selena's flown the nest... only to queue up in the line to help bolster the Discovery.  That playful smile she'd sported is gone again, and in fact, her anxiousness has only grown now.  After all...]



You're right about one thing Elma... with what's ahead, we really need to be at the top of our strength.

Though that's going to mean... everything.  Laying all of it out.

[She's got a date with a certain Inspector about her whole life.]

Comments

2)

[defies_fates_hand]

[Selena would find that she wasn't currently the only UG member in line as there was one quietly fidgetting kid present as well. It was actually a little surprising how long it took him to realize she was there.]

Miss Selena?

[prismphantom]

Volya?

[And vice-versa. Goodness you look different with your hair grown out like that.]

... You're here for this too?

[defies_fates_hand]

Yeah...

[Volya glanced further ahead of the line, still fidgeting anxiously.]

... This is... Its really important. If this could help then ... why not?

[prismphantom]

My sentiments exactly.

And it's reassuring too. That so many people are willing to take part in this too. Some people just can't not hold onto their secrets, but you know what they say. The truth will out.

[defies_fates_hand]

Maybe... it might be also because there won't be any point to keeping them anymore if the Lady takes over... everything would stop mattering.

I don't want that to happen... its not just because the Lady taking over would be the worst... but...

We both had people important to us die Miss Selena... and so did a lot of other people ... I don't want everything they did to just be wiped away like they don't matter.

[prismphantom]

That's... a very good way to look at it.

[It really has been a brutal road, hasn't it?]

I never put that much thought into it myself, actually. What would happen if the Layd would win. She has to be stopped, but the full extent of what she'd do...

It's so obvious, but I just... hadn't realized it.

[defies_fates_hand]

I don't think anyone would want to, its a scary thing to think about if you focus on it too long.

[It truly has. Dead families. Dead friends. Countless innocent lives gone. So much destruction to boot...]

But... we're not going to let that happen... right?

[Volya's voice was a little unsure. So very like a child to seek reassurance from someone to know that things will be alright.]

[prismphantom]

Of course not.

[Her hands ball up into fists.]

And in a few days we're going to make the Lady just a distant memory, dead and buried for good.

[defies_fates_hand]

[There was a small sigh of relief.]

Yeah...

[Though now that was said...]

... Miss Selena... what happens after that?

[prismphantom]

... That's going to be the million dollar question. I'm not quite sure myself.

2

[srwu_mods]

"Miss Recital. I see you've decided to contribute as well."

Waiting didn't take long. Volunteers appear - and there's more than but a handful of them, but the process doesn't take much time for every one.

"I appreciate it."

[prismphantom]

Welll, as I saw it, it's the least I can do to help keep down this lady in name only.

[A smile, but one weighed down by a growing sense of realization.]

And you really will get to see it all, then? My 'story'?

[srwu_mods]

"That's how it works. It's not easy, especially for people of your profession who hold secrets. Secrets you may wish remain hidden from others."

The inspector shrugs.
"I'm not judgemental."

[prismphantom]

The secrets are one thing... but I'm willing to trust a gentleman of your status with them. And it's not like I've done anything I'm ashamed of. But at the same time...

The fact it'll all be out for someone else to see has got me thinking about it myself. The missions, lurking in the shadows, gathering intelligence, helping out with the Unity Group, and everything with Balmar...

[To say nothing of the growing sense of worry.]

Without realizing it, the world wound up becoming a much bigger place than I was used to.

[srwu_mods]

"As is often the case. People live their whole lives not realizing the full scope of affairs they're entangled in - until the same affairs hit them in the face."

Inspector Jou allows himself a nostalgic look.

"As you know, I used to be a minor paper pusher."

[prismphantom]

I do recall hearing that before.

And there's been... a lot of that. La Gias and Shu, the Spheres... everything with Balmar...

I got exposed to a much bigger world, but I ended up staying right where I started.

... no.

[She shakes her head.]

Before there was still Team Jelba.

[srwu_mods]

"It still exists. It just has only one member."

[prismphantom]

Two.

You'd break Elma's heart if he heard that.

[srwu_mods]

"Perhaps he'd like to contribute here too, then."

[prismphantom]

I'm not quite sure if that'd work out, or how you'd handle all the encrypted data in his adorable little head. And besides, I wanted to keep him busy while he's thinking I'm just relaxing, rather than.... well...

[Coming face-to-face with her own insignificance?]

[srwu_mods]

"Trust me, this works for anyone sapient and capable of having a memory. There were many people of the past, and similar devices had to work for all of them. Hmm..." The inspector shrugs off not wanting to get Elma entangled in this, but something else draws his attention.

"Are you embarassed of the imprinting process?"

[prismphantom]

Maybe not "embarrassed"... but like I said, you're going to get to see all of my "story". The story of a woman who made the most of being a decent pilot and any face she wanted in a crowd. And she outlived everyone on her team that outranked her. But that's going to be it. There was trying to kill Spectra and keeping Armana safe, but that really wasn't my "story" now that I think about it. Just playing a supporting role in hers so she could guide the Balmarians.

And regardless of what you started as, look at you now. Look at... anyone else. They came, they grew, and they came out for the better some way or another.

For Elma and me, this might be our last operation in the light. It could be right back in the shadows for us until the day fate realizes it missed us when it came calling for the Captain and the rest. And then that'll be it. The End.

It's certainly a story, and one that'd go against our dear Lady's preferences, but it doesn't look like it's going to have much payoff.

[srwu_mods]

"You're feeling insignificant."

[prismphantom]

And of all the times too.

[Even now she laughs at it.]

And if Elma were to hear me talk like this, he'd probably call it a midlife crisis.

... Then I'd have to hit him for implying I'm middle-aged.

[Another laugh. Yes, she could see that happening so easily.]

I don't suppose anyone else is getting these kinds of jitters when we're so close to the moment of truth, are they?

[srwu_mods]

"No, actually - many do. And most of the time, it turns out their lives are far less exciting than yours."

"Do you think their worries are correct? Social expectations of politeness aside, would you be willing to walk up to a factory worker, a garbage collector, a secretary, and tell them - 'that's right, your life was only a background for something far greater, on a large scale you achieved nothing'?"

"You don't have to answer."

[prismphantom]

... Well... when you put it that way.

[One last smile. The difference between it and those previous is clear, and Selena nods her head in appreciation.]

Gracias, inspector.