That which remains

[star_of_sad]

[1]
Yes? H... hello there.

[Everyone who was out there knows what happened. Setsuko certainly does, after all she was the one who got beaten up and put in a hospital bed. She was the one who had to watch helplessly as Toby got killed.

And now, after patching up in the medbay - bandaged, but not bedridden, she tries to act like everything's fine. And failing.]

[2]
[A bit later, Setsuko looked around to make sure no one's around. She didn't do a very good job so it's easy to eavesdrop.]

Just... just this one time. Toby, Chief, I know I promised, but...


[Just this one time, Setsuko can't stop the tears from flowing.]

I'm sorry...

Asakim Dowen... you wanted me to hate you. I don't know why but.

Y... you succeeded...

Comments

1

[actuallyselfish]

"...I'm sorry, Setsuko." Dido says quietly, sitting down by the bed. "I couldn't keep up with that bastard...and Toby paid the price."

[star_of_sad]

It's not your fault.

It's nobody's... fault.

[actuallyselfish]

"...that's true." Dido mumbles.

She stiffens. "No. No, that's not true. We both know just whose fault this really is!"

She clenches her fist. "And I swear to you, we'll end his sadistic killing spree. We'll free the universe from his existence!"

[star_of_sad]

That's easy to say, but...

Toby tried and...

[She's starting to break down, looks like it.]

[actuallyselfish]

Dido gently touches Setsuko's hands. "I know." She says urgently. "Toby and Denzel...they fought magnificently...and Asakim destroyed them anyway. It's not fair."

She squeeze's Setsuko's hands. "But that man isn't invincible. He can blather on about 'despair' all he wants, but we hurt him badly today! Enough that he had to use all his dirty tricks and secret aces-in-the-holes to come out on top! Now that we know all he can do, we can devise counters..."

Her voice trails off. "...I'm terrible at this. All I mean to say is this: one day, all this suffering will end. We–you, I, and everyone else–will end it."

[star_of_sad]

I... Dido.

I want to believe you.

[Setsuko closes her eyes.]

I really do.

[actuallyselfish]

Truth be told, Dido isn't quite sure about it either. She hesitates and looks away for a moment.

"What would Toby and Denzel say to you, if they were here right now?" She blurts out.

[star_of_sad]

That... they'd say that everything will turn out alright.

But it won't! It won't because they're dead.

[actuallyselfish]

"They are." Dido says, glancing at her feet.

"But even if they showed up here after their death as ghosts or something...I think they'd still tell you it'd be alright. They'd still tell you to keep going!"

Dido wipes something from her eyes. "Hell, I think Denzel would tell you to not give that Asakim bastard the satisfaction of seeing you down!"

[star_of_sad]

That's true. That's true, isn't it?

But... I'm sorry, Chief, but it's easy to say.