Where are you?

[star_of_sad]

[1]
[Setsuko is busy, very busy. She's sitting in front of a computer console, and the surrounding area is covered in notes she made during her research.]

Kaiju, BETA, Wulgaru, the Noise, so many others... it's hard to judge if humanity is winning, or losing.

[Just taking a glance on her reading material makes it obvious that she's focused not only on enemies of humanity.

She's searching for something, anything at all, related to the now-defeated black stranger, the Virgolas, and their mass produced version, the Canis. Beating her head against military secrets, insufficient clearance and plain old lack of news means Setsuko learnt very little.]

Just... where are you? I know you must be somewhere out there. You have to be.

Wouldn't it be better to go out into the world and hope to randomly stumble upon, well, something? That sounds exactly what Lt Watson would do. But if I do that, there's no guarantee I'll find anything.

[She sighs and goes back to work.]

[2]
[The work lasted long into the night. Setsuko is still at her desk - asleep on her own stack of papers, without any sheet or cover.]

Comments

[caressthedarkness]

Yes...

You were asleep without any cover, so...I thought it would help...

[As she walks closer, she inadvertently glances at those papers, too. And as that piques her curiosity, her gaze stays on them...]

[star_of_sad]

It did help, thanks. I feel really warm.

[A bit too warm in fact. Winter coats are too thick for this kind of situation!]

Ah.

It's nothing important, really.

[Setsuko comments, seeing Seta staring at the papers.]

I was trying to find something, but in the end nothing came from it.

[caressthedarkness]

[Seta stays quiet for a moment before she decides to ask...]

...This is about what happened a while ago...is it not?

I was not there myself...but I have heard others speak about it...

[star_of_sad]

... Yes.

Lt Watson is still missing and I hoped to find clues to where he might be. I know it was only a small tragedy compared to the big picture...

[caressthedarkness]

[She shakes her head.]

...Each tragedy means much to those involved. Even if there are those who choose to remind us that there are other issues to be addressed...I know that it is sometimes impossible to change how we feel.

Well... emotions are the strongest when it comes to those we are close to. At least, this is what I think...

[star_of_sad]

We're not even particularly close, we just... knew each other for a few months.

Still, I thought I was able to do something about this situation, but it seems my efforts were fruitless.

[caressthedarkness]

...Is there...really nothing else that can be done?

I do not know Lt. Watson well myself...but...

[She seems to struggle to describe how she feels here.]

He was a part of the Unity Group, so...

[star_of_sad]

There must be something else.

I just...

Don't know what else to do. My only option I can think of right now is to scout around various remote areas in person.

[caressthedarkness]

If it is scouting...then...

[She fumbles with something she pulls out of her pocket - it's none other than her cellphone.]

I...understand how to use this now. So it should help...

[Said very confidently. Like she just solved the biggest puzzle in the world.]

[star_of_sad]

I'm sure it will. Thank you, Seta.

[Setsuko cheers up a little. In fact she seems rather amused. Look how helpful you are!]