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

1

[ugyuuya]

[Removing himself from the locking bolts in his seat VG nods.]

Not the cleanest landing but between the auto-correction systems and my own skills I'm a bit sore and annoyed but not really hurt.

[Looking up at Ren he then pauses and cocks an eyebrow.]

I was going to ask how you were so sure I wasn't dead after a crash like that but first I just have to ask the obvious. What's with the horns?

3

[ugyuuya]

[Stella approaches with a small bouquet of flowers and nods to Ren.]

There's nothing wrong with honoring the dead. If we ever forgot to do that and just accepted the losses we face while fighting then I think that would be the point where we'd have lost our reason to fight.

[She places the Bouquet on the momument and steps back a moment before bowing her head in silence. After around a minute she raises her head and looks at Ren.]

I know this may seem like an odd time to talk but with everything else going on there never seemed to be time. Have you been settling in alright here?

[jianai]

Ah, thank goodness! Those robots were really built to keep their pilots safe, weren't they?

The horns, well, the answer is pretty obvious just as the question. I have them because I am not human.

Re: 3

[jianai]

So many people I have met have died over the years, often suddenly and violently. I tried to make a difference where I could...

And I wasn't alone. Everyone wants to live, and even more so, to keep people precious to them safe. I have seen people do incredible things for their loved ones. Humanity... really is beautiful.

[Ren pauses for a silent contemplation as well.]

I only just arrived, didn't I? But there's no need to worry about me. I'm used to travel and changing places where I live.

[ugyuuya]

Yeah the suit was built to help protect from the high G-force maneuvers and the pilot bolts into the seat while piloting. Makes rough landings easier than most other units but still frustrating.

As for your other answer. Yes that is somewhat obvious but are you an alien, esper, science experiment, or hell maybe even just a magical entity from another world. I think we've actually had pretty much all of those join us by this point so you'd be in fair company if you came along in any case.

[VG can only accompany his musings with a shrug and surprisingly casual attitude.]

Re: 3

[ugyuuya]

[Ren's musings seem to strike a brief cord with Stella as she nods and then follows up to her comment about travel.]

Well even if you're used to travel there are times where having a helping hand isn't a bad thing. You never know when you might need a hand or need to borrow something.

I just try to help where I can, even if I find that certain members of our team may need it more than others.

[jianai]

I'm a psychic, but not a naturally occuring one. It'd be weird if humans sprouted horns by themselves for no reason, right?

I'm alive thanks to human hands... or rather minds, an artificially created being. The ones you just fought are similar to me.

Well. Let's get out of here.

[Ren offers a helpful hand.]

[jianai]

That's true! I experienced human kindness first hand so many times, too. I only hope Unity Group will be just as welcoming.

You are a kind person. What is your name?

[ugyuuya]

[VG looks a bit confused at the nature of Ren's response but accepts the hand to exit the cockpit.]

Sounds like a good idea, I'm a little curious what you mean by those things being similar to you but I guess that's something to follow up on later.

[ugyuuya]

My name is Stella Bremer and for the most part we are a welcoming group, assuming you don't try to do anything you shouldn't to any of the other pilots. We've had some issues with some of the pilots being impacted by certain support personnel which has led to an intolerance of their presence, but I don't think that will be an issue with you.

3

[majestic_keiki]

I think that'll be fine...Not sure who'd show up to tell you only to remember the correct people here. Or how they'd tell you were remembering the wrong ones, for that matter.

[jianai]

[Ren looks around the darkness. The Huckebein and the rest of the ESUN squad are long gone, but Unity Group is still there... shuttle-free, as the transport craft was destroyed.]

They are my kin, as in they were born in the same way as me.

Unfortunately they are not as friendly. You could even say that they hate humanity.

[jianai]

Intolerance? I'm curious now... but don't be concerned. I will not try to impose myself on others.

Stella, there is one thing I would like to make clear if I am to stay around the Unity Group for any longer amount of time. So please don't misunderstand.

I love you.

[jianai]

You make a good point. After all, it'd be an insensitive thing to say, wouldn't it? That kind of insensitivity would mean no such memorial would be built in the first place.

At least that's how I look at it.

[majestic_keiki]

It would rather miss the point of it, wouldn't it?

And I don't think anybody here can read minds, so people wouldn't know what you're thinking about anyway.

[jianai]

In this case they would know as I just told you.

But...

[Ren's smile fades a little.]

It seems Unity Group has been through some hard times.

[majestic_keiki]

Recently it has...Several people died, some vanished and one got trapped in another world.

2)

[mistaken_for_monster]

[Hey Ren, there's a big thing watching you when you walk through the Hangars. Its crouched down in one of the spaces reserved for mecha.]

Tbbtthht?

[It shuffles out of its little den, just a little. Curiously reaching out with a finger.]

[jianai]

It was a recent thing? So the wounds are still fresh... I'm sorry. It must have been hard for you.

[jianai]

Ah! You're unusual.

[Ren approaches with curiosity.]

Are you a robot used by some of the Unity Group? Or are you one of its members?

[mistaken_for_monster]

[It lets out a low rumbling noise as if trying to answer, then tilts its head. It didn't really understand, letting out a confused whining.]

[majestic_keiki]

You do know how that sounds when you're smiling all the time, right?

One of my friends died a few weeks ago.

[jianai]

I'm sorry, but I can't understand what you are trying to say. We'll have to use something else than words to communicate.

[Ren reaches out, a hand to touch Interitus's head.]

[jianai]

I... know. It's just... an unusual part of who I am. It is the same as my horns.

[Ren shuffles awkwardly.]

But I'm not taking any joy from suffering of others. Every single person is like a universe, full of hopes, dreams, fears and memories. Even a single death, of a human being I never knew, means the death of an entire universe. It's a tragedy.

2

[cloningblues]

They want to eat you? Why? That sounds really messed up.