The return

[star_of_sad]

[Setsuko looked around various locations in Unity Group bases. The memorial, with Chief's name written on it. The hangar, where remains of Virgola unit 3 rest, its combat data and special attack already transferred to the first unit. All to realize - yes, she did not make it up. The recent past is as painful as she thought it was.

Yet there is still hope.]

I'm sorry for worrying everyone. I was transported to Paradigm City, and also lost my memory... I don't know why. But I think that... whatever is responsible for all that happens to me, was trying to protect me somehow.

I won't accept that. I can't lie low and do nothing for the rest of my life. That'd be disrespectful to Chief. And there's Toby - he wasn't with me. But somehow... I just know he's still alive. I'm sure of it. And I'm going to find him.


It's good to be back.

Comments

[star_of_sad]

That man... you mean Chief's killer?

[majestic_keiki]

Yes...Dr. Shirakawa trapped him in a black hole. Then it blew up.

[star_of_sad]

That's good.

It means I won't have to kill him, since dr Shirakawa did it for me already.

[majestic_keiki]

Yes.

[She stood awkwardly for a bit.]

Sorry about talking about that mission as the first thing after you get back.

[star_of_sad]

It's fine. I was the one who asked first, after all.

[That smile does not look entirely genuine.]

[majestic_keiki]

Still...

[The smile Setsuko got back wasn't anymore convincing.]

So, what was Paradigm City like? And...Want to go get cake or something to celebrate that you're back?

[star_of_sad]

That's definitely a good idea!

Paradigm City... hmm, how to say it. It felt very... retro.

[majestic_keiki]

I heard a bit about it, but not much and you were there longer than the rest of us. It's pretty hard to imagine what a retro city is like.

[star_of_sad]

Paradigm's technology is primitive... mostly. The cars, telephones, it's like something you'd see in a museum. The computers were pretty advanced though.

Also the people just felt like something out of an old gangster movie.

[majestic_keiki]

That sounds really weird...And like somewhere Asagi would like to go on vacation.

I wonder how something like that could stay hidden.

[star_of_sad]

I didn't know Asagi liked things like that...

And it's a mystery for me too. Maybe... it's something to do with how no one in Paradigm has memories from 40 years ago?

[majestic_keiki]

He likes old stuff and jazz, so it fits.

And it probably does...I wonder how that happened?

[star_of_sad]

40 years ago... that's even before, well, everything started. I mean the Wulgaru, BETA, all the wars.

It almost feels like ancient history.

[majestic_keiki]

Yeah, and you'd think somebody would notice an entire city disappearing. Or at least there was an area people didn't know what was in, but kept avoiding.

[star_of_sad]

Maybe... I mean, don't take it the wrong way, but maybe there was something supernatural going on there.

[majestic_keiki]

With all the things I've seen since joining Unity Group that wouldn't surprise me.

[star_of_sad]

Yeah. I'm one of those things, so...

[majestic_keiki]

[There was a long, awkward pause before Setsuko got any replies.]

I didn't mean it like that.

[star_of_sad]

No, I didn't mean to imply that you did, either!

It's just that... there's already something weird going on about me, so it means I can accept other supernatural events easily because I know they actually happen. That's all.

[majestic_keiki]

I guess that's true...But I think that by now, most people around here have come to just accept it. Hard to explain much of what's happened here without it.

[star_of_sad]

Maybe... all of it makes sense from a scientific point of view. The technology used is just too advanced.

I know, it's quite far fetched.

[majestic_keiki]

It's not more far fetched than magic...I guess the world is just stranger than we used to think.

[star_of_sad]

I wonder what other strange phenomena will we stumble across... hopefully some friendly ones for a change.

[majestic_keiki]

Yeah...But some have been. Seta is pretty weird and seems nice, for example. And Paradigm City seems more weird than anything else.

I wonder what else, we'll run into, though...