The Ring

[caressthedarkness]

[There has certainly been a lot of chaos as of late. But the brief respite that follows also comes with a video call from a familiar face.]

Ah, hello...?

...Can...anyone hear me?

[Seta waves awkwardly at the camera while you are walking by a terminal or checking your phone. She isn't alone, though - behind her are a handful of curious looking human-shaped figures, both male and female, whose real identities are betrayed by their glowing eyes staring at the lens. They say nothing, and the dim lighting in the room doesn't help much.

Still, the former UG member smiles on the screen.]



If you can see this...how is everyone faring?

It has been weeks now...I am doing fine. And...I hope it is the same for all of you.

Comments

[kill_all_vagans]

[Here Flit was just going to hook up the AGE Device to the Builder when suddenly's Seta's face and some spooky people behind her appear on it!]

Seta!

[It's a cry of shock, and down goes the AGE device clattering to the ground underneath the Builder!]

Oh no... uh...

I'll be right with you!

[caressthedarkness]

It's alright...please take your time.

[One of those spooky people, a female, looks over at Seta.]

"Who's this? He looks young for someone working with that group, doesn't he?"


Ah...his name is Flit Asuno, and he is talented when it comes to robots. I believe he pilots a...Gun-dam...that he built himself.

[This explanation stirs a discussion in the background. Hard to tell what the others are saying, though.]

[kill_all_vagans]

[In the midst of trying to find a broom for use in getting the AGE Device out from under the Builder, Flit could only tell that Seta had been speaking, and not the actual words. The group was already in mid-discussion when he could finally take hold of the Device though.]

R-right... I'm Flit. Flit Asuno.

... Seta what are they talking about?

[caressthedarkness]

That you appear about the same age as them.

[One by one, the shadows approach the camera. Surprise, Flit; some of them look like they could be your classmates.]

"He really is that young, huh?"

"And he's already out there fighting! Gah! Hey Seta, why aren't we out there fighting yet?"


That is not up to me to decide...

[kill_all_vagans]

I'm here because of my Gundam. I made it, I helped make its special systems... and it's not something I'd just trust to anyone. It's going to help save the world from the UE, and even develop new hardware the ESUN can use!

I've even been trying to get a start on creating a new successor machine for the Genoace, something stronger and more versatile!

[cloningblues]

You have a lot of people watching in the background, Seta.

[caressthedarkness]

Yes...

They are curious to see what the Unity Group's members are like.

[Hearing what Asagi said, a few of the figures immediately try to take cover behind Seta and her chair.]

"Hey, he sees us!"

"What do we do now...?"

[However, one of the males who doesn't duck for cover hits them over the head.]

"He's seen us since the beginning, dimwits!"

[And then a wave of realization hits.]

"Ohhhh..."

[cloningblues]

I assume they're other members of Gloster Foundation.

[That's a very familiar way of derpiness.]

[caressthedarkness]

Our youngest ones...

They are not prepared for combat just yet, so I am here to look after them.

[A few of them are clearly upset by this.]

"We so are. It's not our fault that the big boss lady sets standards that high! Why are we supposed to hit that many targets from that many directions at the same time as a warm-up?!"

"Hey, hey. You mean big bitch lady, am I right?"

[Commence laughter.]


...Please pardon their behavior and language.

[cloningblues]

It's okay. I can get where they're coming from.

Be patient, kids. When fighting real enemies you often have to hit many enemies from many directions at the same time too - your instructors want to make sure you can do stuff like that. I had to train even longer than you before I saw real combat.

[majestic_keiki]

Hi

[Even smiling, if faintly, there was an awkward pause before Kei said anything else.]

Anything happen since you left?

[caressthedarkness]

I have been busy with many assignments in place of our deployed members...

The Foundation is also resuming its research to find better countermeasures for the Gates. I did try my best to assist them...but there is no guarantee that the results will be as great as most of us are expecting.

[majestic_keiki]

Sounds much like here...We've been busy with assignments too...

[Her voice trailed off as it got closer to more depressing topics.]

So these are all your coworkers?

[caressthedarkness]

Um...something of the like...

[Some of the people in the background are excited by this.]

"You hear that? She called us 'coworkers'!"

"We're totally gonna be agents soon!"

[As they inch closer to crowd around the screen, it becomes clear that they aren't really all that menacing or spooky. In fact, most of them appear to be around Flit or Volya's age, along with a girl who looks no older than twelve.

Seta tries to stay focused on Kei, though.]


...They are our trainees. For the time being, my duty is to care for them.

[herodrawing]

Seta!

[Izuru seems really happy to see you.]

There was a lot of recent happenings. Some uplifting, some tragic... but we're not giving up yet. Unity Group has a duty to fulfill, a hero's vow. We must upkeep it no matter what.

[caressthedarkness]

...That is good to hear, Izuru.

[There is now movement in the background.]

"Why does this guy sound funny?"

"Wait a second. Seta, is this the person you were talking about?"


Yes. A hero.

[Cue 'ooh's and 'aaah's.]

[herodrawing]

Yo.

[Izuru waves at the trainees.]

You're not giving Seta any trouble, right?

[caressthedarkness]

"No, sir!"

"We'd never do that."

"Hey, I can't see! I wanna see!"

[There is much pushing and shoving. You're definitely getting a lot of reactions, Izuru - from curious gazes to a little girl with vampire-like fangs who is beaming at the screen.]


Please stop pushing...I am trying to speak with him.

[booty_chaser]

Hey there!

Doing alright? The bossy lady isn't giving you too much trouble, is she?

[caressthedarkness]

Madame has not returned for a while. Even though my time with the Unity Group has ended, the Foundation is still an ally of the ESUN. So...I suppose she has many duties abroad.

[There are giggles from the shadows in the background.]

"Let's hope it stays that way!"

"Seta only loses to Astara in babysitting anyway, and that's 'cause her hugs kinda hurt sometimes."


[This face.]

[booty_chaser]

I should feel bad for the ESUN guys who ahve to deal with her, but hey. Better her than us! [Ashe laughs]

So who are all those behind you? Did everyone in your family run and leave you to babysit all the kids?

[caressthedarkness]

You...could say that.

Most of our experienced agents are intercepting Gates elsewhere, and the ones who are not doing so now carry double the duties.

[While this is being said, the young Kijin gather around their babysitter. The youngest looking one tries to sit on Seta's lap.]

These are our trainees...

[mistaken_for_monster]

Seta-

[Volya's greeting was cut off with a startled yelp. Then a sudden shuffling noise as Interitus does her best to push her way to the screen.]

Gah! Wait your turn!

[Cue Volya struggling to push the oversized head out of the way.]

We're fine... mostly.

[caressthedarkness]

I am glad to hear that...

[The kids notice the head though.]

"Hey, who's that?"

"Can't be one of us...there's no disguise!"

"That's really brave, being naked like that..."

[mistaken_for_monster]

Has everything been going alright with you Seta? I kinda heard from some people how Madame acts so...

Thhbbthhht

Interitus- I- what?! No! Seta isn't going to bring them the next time she comes here!

Thbthhhht....

[Sad plant creature is sad.]