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.]

[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..."

[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.

[cloningblues]

I assume they're other members of Gloster Foundation.

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

[majestic_keiki]

Oh...I hope it's not too much work.

[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]

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.

[caressthedarkness]

...At times, it can be somewhat-

[Suddenly, one of the girls rests her chin on Seta's head.]

"Hey! We behave when Seta's babysitting us!"

[And another goes for a thinking pose.]

"Well, when it's Madame, we don't get to do ANYTHING. But if it's Seta, we can do whatever we want!"


Ah...that may not necessarily be a good thing...

[majestic_keiki]

[Have a long, awkward silence as Kei practically shrinks back, Seta.]

[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]

"Huh? Why's she quiet now?"

"It's your teeth! Hide your teeth, Mary!"

"...But...I didn't even show them..."


It is because...you are all making her uncomfortable.

[And with an 'oh' uttered in unison, the trainees go quiet. They're still staring at the screen with a variety of expressions, however.

Meanwhile, Seta waves to get Kei's attention.]

I am sorry. This happens very often...

There is something I do wish to ask...

[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.

[majestic_keiki]

[Kei visibly relaxed as the trainees quieted. It was almost like back when she'd had to visit that kindergarten to boost morale...]

Oh?

[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...

[caressthedarkness]

Astara...has not visited you, has she?

[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!

[caressthedarkness]

[The young Kijin are clearly impressed.]

"This guy's going places."

"We'd be going places too, if a certain bossy lady didn't stop us."

"So you're saying if we could get our hands on some Craft of our own, we can fight too, right?"


...Um...that's...

[booty_chaser]

Hey there!

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