He's baaaaaaaaack~

[a_linear_mind]

[There's a somewhat familiar looking machine landing inside the hangar of Fort Alhambra. Those of you who've seen it before will probably be able to tell that it's that loveable scamp Willis' machine Strahlend. However...it's a bit of a far cry from how the machine looked in the past. The new almost regal appearance of the machine completely betraying the demeanor of it's pilot. Eventually, the pilot emerges from it and sticks a landing on the ground below. Unlike his machine, Willis looks...exactly the same as he always did. Same beat up jacket, same shaggy hair, same child-like expression on his face. He looks rather happy to be back at the base. ]

Wow, this place hasn't changed at all in the last two years. Some of the same machines from back then are still here!

[It doesn't look like he's realized how much time has passed on the surface.]

Comments

[a_linear_mind]

[Still just this face]

[empress_without_a_throne]

You can't be this shocked at that.

[a_linear_mind]

I'm already old enough, and now I'm a year and a half older.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Like anyone could tell. And if you're really old, then what's another year and a half?

[a_linear_mind]

I'm sure some people could, you'd just have to look very carefully.

[As if.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

What, like under a microscope?

[a_linear_mind]

...kind of yeah.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Well then I guess you're in luck. In your absence we haven't made a habit of using those on our people, and even if we did I'd imagine that Loni'd be the first person we'd like to put under them.

... And I'd probably volunteer to go before you too, for that matter.

[a_linear_mind]

Thanks, but even if they cut me up I doubt they'd figure out what makes me tick.

As for the kid...he just has a bit of an ego. To be honest I've seen worse.

[empress_without_a_throne]

I can imagine.

Still... it's not like people here haven't tried to get it through his thick skull after... pretty much every time he makes a fool of himself out there.

I've seen, or at least knew of pilots who needed some lessons hammered into them. Solaris picked up quite a few during their time of not being an outmoded relic, though never anyone quite like this.

[a_linear_mind]

Sometimes...it's just impossible to get certain people to listen to you.

[empress_without_a_throne]

... Or talk someone out of a bad idea.

[... Sara...]

[a_linear_mind]

With a tone that depressed you must be talking about something else that happened recently.

[empress_without_a_throne]

Not recently, but... it's something that still stings.

Sara, she didn't just get captured by the Indalph... she decided to join them. All the bad turns we had before and then right after her disappearing just made her decide that trying to be a hero and that only ends one way. Even tried to hammer home that no, she wasn't being mind-controlled, and still then tried killing us.

So... yeah.