Through the heart

[jianai]

[1 - locked to Argos Flight]
[Immediately after the mission ends, someone is checking on VG's downed TSF.

VG himself can see a weird person appearing in the entrance to the cockpit, looking at him with a concerned expression.]

Are you wounded? I know you didn't die, but it'd be a shame if you were hurt because of me.

[2]
[Later, back at Unity Group Bases, someone is making a video introduction.

That someone is an individual with horns and an unchanging smile on their face. Ren switched the old robe to standard, baggy technician overalls. The reason for that is simple: the robe had a gunshot hole at the heart, and was stained with blood - Ren's blood.]

Hello, my name is Ren Ubuntu. I am really grateful for saving those ESUN soldiers. Let me explain. Hmm, where should I start? Ah yes. These...

[Poke at the horns.]

They are real. No, I am not a demon or anything supernatural like that. I am an artificial human-like being, birthed from a cloning pod. I'm afraid that my kin, beings similar to me, are after me. They want to, well, kill me and eat my flesh. I am not too concerned for my own safety, but they started to target people around me as collateral.

So I'm turning to you for help. I know Unity Group is powerful and can defend itself against my kin, and your Commander-in-chief agreed to grant me asylum, at least for a little while. I have a little bit of skills I learnt here and there, so don't worry, I won't be a freeloader. If there is a way I can help you with anything, I will.

This introduction feels... impersonal, but I'll gladly talk to everyone in person. I'd like to get to know all of you better.

I'm sure you are all wonderful people.

[The transmission ends there, but Ren is easy to find in person. They don't exactly blend in with the crowd.]

[3]
Several people have died that night. So many more could've perished, but even that few make me sad. It's a tragedy.

[Ren found the memorial, and puts a lit candle in front of it.]

I know most of them were not members of Unity Group, but I hope it's alright if I remember them this way.

Comments

[mistaken_for_monster]

[Well Ren, touching Interitus you feel something... sensations? Curiousity. Playfulness. Loyalty. A sense of youth and energy. Yet there was a distant connection to something vast, and a closer connection to someone within the base. Yet all of it carried something in it that would be familiar to Ren.]

Tbttthht...

[Love, true and unconditional and a desire to protect life. Interitus seems to coo happily, finding a kindred spirit.]

[jianai]

Oh my.

[Ren blinks, genuinely surprised... and elated.]

Despite our superficial differences, we really are similar.

I don't know your name, or even if you have one. But I am really glad we could have met.

[mistaken_for_monster]

Tbtthht...

[The feeling was mutual. Truly right now Ren was probably the only being who got a deeper look within the Plant Beast's thoughts.]

[jianai]

There's someone around who is very close to you, isn't there? Could you show them to me?

[mistaken_for_monster]

Tbttthhttt.

[This earned a nod as a vine slithered from its hand, sliding across the floor before looking 'up' at Ren in an almost snakelike fashion before moving along the ground, guiding her towards where Volya was.]

Graah... stupid math problems...

[The young russian was suffering over some homework, his head pressed into the scattered papers and books as he grumbles in discontent. Then he gets poked in the side by the vine.]

I already watered you two hours ago... 'n I'm busy...

[jianai]

Hello.

[mistaken_for_monster]

?! Gwah-

[And Volya's eyes just bug out at the sight of Ren. He's trying to figure out something to say and its REALLY difficult. He gives a glance at the vine, then at the person in front of him.]

Uh... h.. hello?

[He's very anxious honestly... he isn't quite sure how to approach this person who very much resembles demons of myth, yet seems so very serene.]

[jianai]

I'm not intruding, am I? I just wanted to introduce myself.

I'm Ren Ubuntu. Are you this one's precious person?

[Ren pats the Intentacle.]

We just became friends.

[mistaken_for_monster]

No... its fine. I wasn't getting anything done anyway...

[Volya just gives the homework a dirty look before sighing.]

And...

I guess I am. He didn't bother you or anything did he? I mean you said you became friends but...

[jianai]

Oh no, to the contrary. I am really glad we could have met.

You have quite an incredible friend.

[mistaken_for_monster]

Yeah... I guess he is.

[Volya smiles a little and pats the vine, which curls around his hand a little like it was trying to hold it.]

I'm kinda surprised though, people usually don't get along with him this fast...

[jianai]

It's hard to discern someone's nature with words alone. Especially since he cannot talk at all.

We opened our hearts to each other.