Fourth Game

[break_the_nine]

[When Leos was brought back to the Star Rose after the failed attack on the Wulgaru... the state of the Huckebein he came back in was... phenomenal to say the least. Practically EVERYTHING was destroyed except for the cockpit block. EVERYTHING. It lost all its limbs, thrusters, its communications systems were fried, its controls busted, monitors either fallen apart or shorted out, its OS was completely fragged and the oxygen tank died the moment it got back.]

[But what's more he was piloting when he should have been in the off duty roster due to his issues! He hadn't even went for his first meeting with his therapist yet! What does he have to say?]

I'm sorrryyyyy! Its just that this Admiral guy wanted me to turn up... I don't know why but he said if I could make everything look good...

[Wait... was Leos only there because of just how crap a pilot he was? Was it to boost morale that even raw rookies like him would be able to take on the Wulgaru... or was it to make Team Rabbits look better? Either way though.... we all know the results.]

I know I shouldn't have been out there... but I really wanted to help! I won't let anyone talk me into something like this again! I promise!

[He ducks his head, looking painfully apologetic.]

Comments

[glorystargo]

You're just too easily persuaded by bad influences, aren't you Leos?

[break_the_nine]

What? No! I just... he made it sound like I could help Izuru, Asagi and Miss Kei if I went along...

[glorystargo]

Damn! That's exactly what I mean - just because someone spins a story saying it will help your friends doesn't mean it really will!

[Denzel sighs. He doesn't want to yell at Leos too much - it's obvious he takes it hard enough as it is.]

What are we going to do with you, Leos?

[break_the_nine]

I... I don't know...

[Leos crouches down and rested his hands on his knees, eyes aimed to the ground.]

I really don't know... should you even be asking me that? I... don't have good ideas...

[glorystargo]

Just make sure you attend the counselor meetings. And get permission from your actual superiors - not Komine, not even me, before you try to pull stunts like this.

Alright?

[break_the_nine]

[Leos nods anxiously.]

'kay...

[glorystargo]

What was that? I couldn't hear you from all the way down there.

Get on your feet!

[break_the_nine]

YES SIR, MISTER DENZEL SIR!!!

[He practically leaps up and salutes, shaking just a little from how straight he's trying to stay.]

[glorystargo]

Aren't you overdoing this a little?

[Denzel looks with a slightly amused expression.]

Remember this, Leos. You have your own pride and dignity. As a pilot, and as a person. Don't let others trample over those, or use and manipulate you, just because you failed once or twice.

Because failure happens to everyone, even the best.

[break_the_nine]

Eheh... a little..

[Leos smiles sheepishly, but at the very least he's smiling without a hint of lapsing into a case of crazies.]

I'll do my best to remember it Mister Denzel sir. Thank you.

[glorystargo]

That's the spirit. Also...

I'm no psychologist - but if you need to talk, I'll always be here to listen.

[genericbiggerbrother]

Yancy gapes at Leos. For multiple reasons.

Then he abruptly nods. "I'll hold you to that promise, Leos. I'm trusting you to keep it."

In the meantime, Yancy sees an opportunity.

"So tell me, Leos." He says. "Why do you think that EDF admiral wanted you to do this?"

[break_the_nine]

I... dunno... because he needed more people there?

[genericbiggerbrother]

"Even though you aren't part of the EDF, and have no spaceflight training whatsoever?" Yancy asks rhetorically. "No, something's screwy about this. Why would that Admiral send you into that battle, knowing you'd most likely get shot down?"

[break_the_nine]

He... wanted me to get shot down?

[Leos sounded incredulous.]

But... that's stupid! Why would he want that?!

[genericbiggerbrother]

"I have no idea." Yancy admits. "Maybe he thought that your clumsiness would make Team Rabbit look better on television? Maybe he wanted to 'prove' to the world how dangerous the Wulgaru are in combat so that the EDF would get more funding? I don't know."

He shakes his head in disgust.

"Either way, you're completely right, Leos: what that Admiral did was just. Plain. Stupid. I hope that bastard's been busted down to a paperwork position."

[break_the_nine]

... I thought since he was in charge of Asagi, Miss Kei and Izuru he would have been a good guy. I guess I was wrong.

[Leos sighs and presses his hands to his face.]

I don't even want to know what Lana's going to say to me... she's got to be really mad.

[genericbiggerbrother]

"Don't beat yourself up over it." Yancy says, sighing. "Most of the people in the world are alright...but the rotten apples are really good at disguising themselves."

And then Leos goes on to worry about Lana's approval. Yancy pinches his nose.

"Mad about you getting shot down, or mad you didn't put advertising decals on your Huckabein?" He asks.

[break_the_nine]

The first part...

[Leos let out a tiny noise halfway between fear and relief.]

If I did the second thing she'd be out for blood for sure with how badly I got kicked around!

The enemy's gate is down, Leos!

[genericbiggerbrother]

"Speaking of which..."Yancy says, stroking his chin.

"Do you want to sign up for zero-g training? I know a guy who knows a guy."

[break_the_nine]

Yeah. Yeah I do! If I can do better than I can help Izuru and Asagi and Miss Kei and everyone next time without screwing up!

Can you? Please?

[Well Yancy, you now have to deal with the AC pilot looking at you with big sad puppydog eyes.]

[cloningblues]

Damnit Leos, you almost died out there. I told you to be careful.

[break_the_nine]

I'm sorry! I didn't think it'd be that bad! The Admiral Guy said it'd be really easy and that someone like me wouldn't have to worry so much!

[cloningblues]

I have no idea what that guy was thinking. Or who made him admiral in the first place.

You wanted to get your AC back, didn't you? Sounds like this had the opposite effect.

[break_the_nine]

I know...

[Leos hangs his head, feeling so very dismal.]

I mean I was bad before but this is crazy! Everything broke in it!

[cloningblues]

Mistakes were made. We're lucky we had strong backup.

Although it'd help if you pulled back after you got damaged too much, instead of pushing even harder to the front line.

[break_the_nine]

I know, I know...

But you and Izuru were being shot at, I had to try...

[cloningblues]

[Sigh.] Yeah, I know how you felt. But you'll never get your AC back if you almost die every time you deploy.

Stay away from that admiral for the time being.

[break_the_nine]

Kay!

... I'm really glad you're okay too.

[cloningblues]

Mostly okay. But yeah. So am I.

[way_of_vengeance]

Well, as long as you got back in one piece.

[break_the_nine]

You're right Miss Kanae! If I'm still alive I can just get better right?

[He pouts though.]

I wish I was as cool as you though.

[way_of_vengeance]

Y-you think I'm cool...?

[break_the_nine]

Of course you are! You're the coolest person I've ever met!

[Granted he's met a lot of cool people, but Kanae just gets him - which plays a major factor to her coolness to him. That and...]

I mean you're really smart, you can do everything with your eyes closed and you're really tall too!

[way_of_vengeance]

...somebody thinks I'm cool...!

Thank you. That means a lot to me, you know.

[a pat on the head for the adorable little kid.]

[break_the_nine]

You're welcome!

[Leos just beams sunnily, not minding the pat at all.]

[ugyuuya]

[Watching Leos break down into his whimpering apology leaves Yuuya to watch and sigh as soon as the younger pilot is finished.]

I have a hard time believing that Leos, you've been reckless and overly enthusiastic since you've started with the UG. What I really think you need is a bit more discipline and some brushing up of your basic skills. The Argos flight was sent up here to make use of the zero-g training sims for if we were ever called up on a space mission, I think it would be a good idea if you came along and got some more practice.

[Yuuya gives one more look at the "unit" Leos was carried back in.]

I guess the good news is the only way we have to go from here is up in this environment.

[break_the_nine]

I'm not that bad am I-....

Nevermind... I'll... just follow you and Miss Stella...

[ugyuuya]

It's not a matter of good or bad really Leos, I doubt I could have done much better before the training that my team was undergoing today which you apparently did not receive. I'm more worried about you and if it comes where you do need to sortie in this environment again I want you to be prepared.



Really Leos it's rather foolish for anyone to sortie an untrained pilot in a new environment. It's part of why we have been more limited to missions on Earth but given the last few sorties and the greater likelihood of continued missions in space we've begun training for that eventuality. There's nothing wrong with not knowing exactly what to do as long as you take the opportunity to learn when it is offered.

[Stella wraps an arm around the remorseful pilot and gently squeezes his shoulder encouragingly.]

[break_the_nine]

Kay...

[Leos nods, while what Stella and Yuuya said made sense he still honestly felt a bummed about the whole matter. Still, he put a smile on his face as he promised himself that he'd do better.]

[kill_all_vagans]

Leos...

[He's staring. He's staring. He's staring. And...]

... You're... how'd you...

Are you always this lucky?

[Wait. LUCKY?!?]

[break_the_nine]

Eeeh?! Lucky? But this is like the opposite of luck! I broke everything!

[Yeah, Leos is having a hard time really getting this Flit.]

[kill_all_vagans]

I know but... just looking at you... the suit doesn't look like you did.

[break_the_nine]

But I had a monitor drop on my head too! I mean does that even happen? I don't get it at all...