The gift

[srwu_mods]

[1]
Unity Group's finance-related problems have eased over time. Nowadays they are pretty much gone and situation is back to how it was before.

But now, you get a reminder why the problems started in the first place.


"Holy crap! It's like Christmas came early!"

Loni's here. And so is his new unit. In the hangars, equipped with twin beam katanas, stands a stark white unit. The top of the line one of a kind prototype - the BrightSaber.

[2]
What about the old FightSaber? It's still being used, as a matter of fact someone is taking it through a training course right now. It jumps from cover to cover swiftly, shooting down target drones with gravity blasts while avoiding their counter fire.

Once the course is over, the time and score displayed are impressive. Browsing the results database would show that despite the unit being underequipped compared to its loadout from before, it scored higher than Loni ever did. But he's not the pilot this time.


"Yes, that's acceptable. I can work with this."

Ilinka is.


"Nice, Ilinka. This is a much better ride than a crappy old Gespenst. Now you won't need rescuing all the time anymore!"


"..."

By the way, Desta's nowhere around. Maybe the third of the Gavin party is not in mood for Christmas spirit.

Comments

[srwu_mods]

"Ah! I'm Apollonius Gavin, but friends call me Loni. This is Ilinka."

[brought_it_back]

No. I mean...I know that. But I don't know much else...Your past, or how you came to be here.

[srwu_mods]

"I swear I said it already. THere's not a lot to it, I was just hanging out with Desta in my uncle's laboratory when those wacko cultists attacked. The place was in ruins but I got into FightSaber which was still under construction, and Desta got into ShotSaber - and we drove them off!"

"Everything continued from there."

[brought_it_back]

...Perhaps you told someone else...

...Um, and Ilinka?

[srwu_mods]

Loni looked at Ilinka with a questioning gaze...

"It's alright. You can tell her."


"Okay then. Ilinka was used by some kind of secret project assholes. Trained to be a combat pilot as soon as she could walk, and they treated her not like a person... like a weapon!"

"So me and Desta went out and freed her. We've been friends ever since."

[brought_it_back]

Is...Is something wrong with being a weapon?

[srwu_mods]

"Yes there is! Ilinka's not a weapon, she's a person!"

[brought_it_back]

I...don't understand?

Is the...mislabeling what's wrong?

[srwu_mods]

"You don't know the difference between treating someone like a person and treating them like just a tool?"

[brought_it_back]

No...No, there is definitely a difference! I just don't see anything...wrong with being a weapon.

Weapons are precious and valued tools, and of great importance in these times...they are cared for and carefully maintained, while people without anyone else are left to rot...

You keep talking like it's a terrible thing, but...to have a purpose, to have someone who needs you...isn't bad.

[srwu_mods]

"That is..."


"You're right. It's good to have purpose and someone who needs you."

"But a weapon can't choose who needs it, and that person can control you however they want. The weapon can't argue or disobey, no matter what. That's not good."

[brought_it_back]

...Yet, people still become soldiers.

[srwu_mods]

"I'm sure they must have their own reasons..."


"Well make no mistake, I'm no soldier and I'd never become one!"

[brought_it_back]

...

[Somehow, this is not very surprising.]