– Skydia, Maliath 24, 8030 –
“Hi.”
“…Hey.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…Did you want to talk to me,
or…?”
“Oh, I was just- I was just
wondering how you learned to be so good.”
“’Good’?”
“You know what I mean. We’ve
only been here for three weeks and you’re already outstripping all of our
competition. Except me, of course.”
“Competition? This is just
conscription boot camp…”
“Well, yeah, but that’s just all
the more reason to try our best. Shine brighter than the rest now and you’ll
look even better.”
“…You really think that?”
“You don’t?”
“I’m only here because I’m a
Chaotic… nothing else.”
“I would’ve said the same three,
four years ago. But what better way to say ‘screw you’ to the system than to
best everyone else and reach the top anyways?”
“Finding ways to not participate
at all?”
“…You know what I mean.”
“I guess. It’d explain why you’re
such a try-hard, at least…”
“Wha- excuse me?!”
“Everyone else is thinking it.
You’re always trying to be number one, taking everything so seriously.”
“This is the military! Of course
it’s serious!”
“This is conscription. It’s one
big joke, that’s what it is…”
“Well-! I should’ve known that a
Nimaliakian wouldn’t be any better than the natives around here.”
“Ha, is that your problem? Frustrated that your ice gets
you nowhere in this damn forest of a nation? Try walking a mile in my shoes,
try-hard.”
“I’m sure all I’d manage from
that is getting my feet wet from all of your loner tears. Do you hurt yourself
sometimes on all that edge?”
“…What?”
“Everyone else is thinking it.
You don’t talk to anyone. I thought it was because you were like me, that you
had hidden potential that you couldn’t take advantage of because everyone else
looked down on you. Turns out you’re just a loner, huh. Just as judgmental as
the rest of them.”
“You don’t know what I’ve been
through-“
“I could say the same.”
“…Ha. Tell you what, Rebeh- “
“It’s Tchiréon. You haven’t
earned the right to call me by my first name.”
“You’re sure full of yourself.”
“I think there’s some quote
about a pot and a kettle that fits this situation.”
“Alright, try-hard. If you’re so
keen on proving you’re the best and we’re all idiots, how about a challenge?
Two weeks from now, we have a duel. Best of three. Winner gets to make a demand
of the loser… any demand.”
“…”
“Not so confident now, huh?”
“Oh, no, I’ll definitely take
you up on that. I was just thinking of the most humiliating thing I could make
you do when I win.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.
The peace of mind I could bring us all by shutting you up is strong motivation.”
“…This isn’t the end of this,
Siyua-“
“It’s Wanléon. You haven’t
earned the right to call me by my first name.”
“…Very funny.”
“I do crack myself up,
sometimes.”
“Two weeks. In two weeks, I’ll
show you why I’m the best!”
“Sure thing, try-hard.”
“Shut up, loner.”
----- * * * -----
Present Day, 4 Days after Loss of Maasen
– Mondia, Skydiath 2, 8034 –
“Maasen…
lost. And now Bouy’Xis, Metorilis, and Gonaan are all under attack…”
“Things…
have gotten bad,” Kevérin lamented, sitting back in the briefing room chair.
“Not
just bad, things have gotten terrible,”
Nikéyin scowled, “That’s three Transpace Worlds under attack, and Bouy’Xis is
practically lost. This new threat, these Nanocreatures – their surprise attack
on Maasen proved they have similar FTL tech to the Drakkars; they’re at least
as fast as the Drakkars. But no one else comes even close, aside from the
Earthians’ one ship that they barely
know how to replicate. If the Nanocreatures take out the Transpace systems,
then they can completely isolate the CSA from itself – and the rest of the
galaxy. Gonaan is the big one – if the Siions lose Gonaan, then the Citans and
Dra’kis get cut off from the rest of the galaxy, and the Siions are cut off
from their Primary Fortress World, Siionkagh. That could very well be an ending
blow to the entire CSA. And that’s only Gonaan, who knows if the… Nanocreatures are about to launch
attacks on other Transpace Worlds.”
“There’s
still tons of planets in the CSA…” Kevérin frowned, “It’ll take the
Nanocreatures a while to take them all…”
“They
don’t need to, not right now. It’s an obvious tactic. They aren’t restricted by
Transpaces, but we are. So if they take out the Transpaces, then they’ve
isolated everyone in the galaxy and can attack wherever they please without
fear of reinforcements. It’s classic logistics interruption. And it’s working…”
“I know
Morcii completely… completely defeated us on Maasen, but… are the Nanocreatures
really that powerful? Are they really giving the CSA that hard of a time?”
“It
would seem that the entirety of the Nanocreatures are constructed of
nanomachines, as the leader claimed. And they’ve been developing right under
everyone’s noses for the past twenty years, as the ‘metallic infection’. They
can corrupt and seize control of virtually whatever they touch, and their ships
are surprisingly durable, not to mention far more repairable, as broken parts
simply need to be replaced with more nanomachines… I don’t know where they’re
all coming from, but there’s a lot of them, and they have the element of
surprise. No one expected them. Especially not during Drakkar attack. The
Drakkars have pulled back, thankfully, but the CSA is still in no shape to
mount a solid defense. Chances are they lose Bouy’Xis within the week,
Metorilis soon after, and maybe Gonaan soon after that…”
“Well…
fuck. Is there anything we can do? As the Nimalian Territories?”
“Well…
perhaps the one good thing to come of all this is that as of two days ago, the
Nimalian Systems Defense is official. I suppose impending doom has a way of
scaring politicians into action.”
“That’s
good, right?”
“Relatively.
I was finally able to order a glassing of the Hazard Islands, and I’ve placed
them under quarantine. Hopefully you and the rest of Hero Machina truly
neutralized whatever that… thing was
a couple months ago. I’ve sent teams to monitor Relédiaka as well, due to all
of the infection reports from the forests. I also put the Ayas are on a
rotation, so that they’re on no one planet for longer than three days.
Hopefully that will throw off anyone who’s trying to look for them with
technology like our own Ayas sensor, but… that’s about all we can do. We can
offer support to the CSA, but if the Nanocreatures come for the Nimalian
Territories, then the NSD can’t really do anything. We aren’t as advanced as
the CSA, and our fleets aren’t as numerous… we’d be toast.”
“Damn…”
Kevérin leaned forward, holding a hand to his head in frustration. “Is there
really nothing we can do?”
“News
is still incoming, and it’s all chaos,” Nikéyin responded warily, “Everything I
know for sure, I’ve already told you. We can’t act without more information, as
we can’t risk stumbling into an unknown situation and drawing the attention of
the Nanocreatures to ourselves. In the long run, it’s best to keep the
Nanocreatures focused on the CSA. They can take it better than us, and we can
at least provide support. Maybe we can convince the Earthians to share their
FTL technology, or at least help them reverse-engineer it. If we get wiped out,
though…”
“I
know, I know, this is just… I hate feeling this helpless. What about Hero
Machina? Is there anything we can do?”
“Tyrion,
to put it blatantly, that Nanocreature leader completely curb-stomped you and your
team. You said that much yourself. You won’t be doing anything until everyone’s
recovered, and that may not be for a while. Densalin, Yumach, and Tchiréon may
get cleared from the med center by week’s end, but Kolstén…
he won’t be out for several weeks, at least. Not with full-body fractures. You
and Wanléon were lucky, getting out of the whole situation without injury.”
“…”
“Don’t
blame yourself, Captain. You clearly did the best you could. But, let’s face it;
if even Exdominor and Surdeus – the two most dangerous Drakkar faction leaders
– fled from this Morcii character, then you and your team didn’t stand a
chance. You stood your ground long enough for the Earthians to pick you up, and
that alone is commendable, given the circumstances.”
“That
doesn’t change the fact that we lost the Ayas to Morcii… and it was Arcán, too!
We could have used it to fix the Prior!”
“It is
a shame and I am disappointed that the mission was a failure, but we can’t
afford to dwell on it. Not now. I will admit, I was less than pleased with your
performances back on Teghica and Kotak, but you all have been doing very well
since. You got an Ayas from Rossindon, and you pulled an Ayas from the Tyrnaus
system while also helping out the Black Suns. We have four of the Ayas now,
including the Master Ayas – which may just be what we need to beat the
Nanocreatures, and it’s all thanks to you.”
“We’re
also the ones who let Morcii appear in the first place, by being negligent on
Kotak…”
“Like I
said, Captain, don’t dwell on it. But I’m only willing to offer you so much
solace.” Nikéyin sighed again, leaning back in her chair before shaking her
head and grabbing the folder on the table in front of her. “Hero Machina is on
leave until all of you have recovered, so take the time to rest up. You’ve
spent the entirety of last month traveling around the galaxy, after all. We
don’t know what’s ahead of us, and we all need to be in top shape to face it.
Agreed?”
“…Agreed.”
“Rest
up, Captain. You need it. You and the rest of Hero Machina both. Dismissed.”
----- * * * -----
Timestamp: 8030, Nimath
7, 20:32
Journal Header:
Fucking try-hard.
Dueled with the try-hard today.
Still getting on my nerves with her better-than-everyone attitude. Did you
know, she told everyone about the
duel? …There I go asking questions again. Of course I would know this, I wrote
it. I should be the only one reading it. …If you aren’t me and you’re reading
this, then I already know that you’re reading it, and I know where you are, and
I’m on my way to end you now. Don’t poke through a girl’s private things. …In
both meanings of the phrase.
What was I talking about? …Oh
yeah, the try-hard. So she basically turned the duel into a huge betting match.
Everyone was watching. “I wanted them to know how soundly I defeated you”, she
said. Ha. Well, I showed her… sort of. I, uh… I lost the first round. It was
the crowd, I swear. They threw me off. I’m not used to interacting with so many
people. I spent six years alone in Unonin… Lédia is so much bigger. So much more crowded. There’s too
many people. I guess that’s to be expected of a capital city, though.
Damn it, I keep distracting
myself. Um… right. So I lost the first round. I won the second one though.
Floored that bitch in thirty seconds flat. Can’t beat electricity with ice, not
that easily. We didn’t get to finish the third round, though. We got
interrupted by the boot camp captain. Turns out, when you tell a bunch of
16-year-olds about a secret duel, well, it doesn’t stay secret. Who would’ve
thought? So now, thanks to that, we’ve all lost the rest of the weekend. Have
to work now. All thanks to the try-hard. I’ll bet she feels real smug now, ha.
Good for her we got interrupted anyways, I was totally about to kick her ass.
Oh, shit, the captain’s coming
through. Can’t let him catch me on this. Signing out.
- Siyuakén
----- * * * -----
Present Day
Hero Machina digital communication logs for Mondia, Skydiath 2, 8034
From: Kevérin Tyrion
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 11:12
Hey guys, just talked
to Commander Nikéyin. NSD’s official, and the Hazard Islands have been glassed.
…That’s about the only good news I have.
We’re on leave until
everyone heals up, so get some rest. I’ll have more details for you guys later.
-Kevérin
Oh, afterthought:
someone bash Davídrius over the head. Maybe we can break his skeleton like
Christeané’s. That should shut him up for a while.
From: Kevérin Tyrion
To: Siyuakén Wanléon
Subject: Can I talk
to you
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 11:14
Hey, you free? Wanted
to talk about that whole Ayas-sensing thing you have going on.
-Kevérin
From: Davídrius Wrikax
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re: Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 11:18
Fuck you.
In the ass.
…with a whole fucking
blade prism.
-Davídrius
From: Rebehka Tchiréon
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re:
Re: Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 11:26
Really,
Davídrius? Settle down.
And
that was actually a bad joke, Kevérin. Christeané’s in really bad shape; we
don’t know how well he’ll be able to recover. Don’t take his injuries lightly.
Congratulate the Commander for me, though. I’d do so myself, but they won’t let
me out of the med center…
-Rebehka
From: Siyuakén Wanléon
To: Kevérin Tyrion
Subject: Re:
Can I talk to you
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 11:28
Sorry,
can’t meet in person. Personal reasons. Really tired, too.
-Siyuakén
From: Davídrius Wrikax
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re:
Re: Re: Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 11:45
“Settle
Down”? Sure thing! Here you go:
[Censored]
Oh
man the Relaynet is a great place, so glad Christeané showed me the ropes.
Oh
yeah, Kevérin, Christeané wanted me to tell you: “fuck you”. Except not
actually. He’s still out cold. Pretty sure he’d want me to say that though.
-Davídrius
From: Rebehka Tchiréon
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re:
Re: Re: Re: Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 11:56
I
don’t know what you tried to send, but if the base’s server censored it, well.
I don’t think I want to know.
Can’t
everyone just be civil for once? I know we’re all stressed, but fussing at each
other won’t solve anything…
-Rebehka
From: Kevérin Tyrion
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(5):
Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 12:04
I
just wanted to try and cheer everyone up, but you’re right. The joke was in bad
taste. I apologize.
In
fact, Davídrius, I’ll even give you a present. Here’s a link to some comforting
image albums, hope you enjoy:
<link
to an album containing several graphic Relaynet memetic images>
-Kevérin
From: Kevérin Tyrion
To: Siyuakén Wanléon
Subject: Re:
Re: Can I talk to you
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 12:07
Oh…
hope everything’s alright. Mind if I ask a couple questions here, then?
Namely,
when could you start sensing the Ayas? I don’t remember you mentioning anything
when we found the Dark Blue Ayas back on Teghica, or the Black Ayas on Kotak.
Do you know how you can do it? Maybe there’s some electrical properties to the
Ayas that we didn’t know about before. Anyways, any explanation that you have
would be appreciated.
-Kevérin
From: Davídrius Wrikax
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(6):
Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 12:23
Rebehka:
I’ll be civil if you bring me some of those Relédiakian cake things that you
made a couple months ago. That was some tasty shit, I’d shut up for that.
Kevérin:
Fuck. You. I was eating lunch, damn it! How’d your link get through and not
mine, anyways? Fuckin’ hacker.
-Davídrius
Psst
Rebehka, hurry up with those cakes, I may or may not have ruined my entire
lunch with my breakfast…
From: Kievkenalis Yumach
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(7):
Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 12:26
Did
someone mention cake? I want cake.
-Kevken
From: Siyuakén Wanléon
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(8):
Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 12:30
What
the hell is going on here?
-Siyuakén
From: Siyuakén Wanléon
To: Kevérin Tyrion
Subject: Re:
Re: Re: Can I talk to you
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 12:35
I
don’t know, and I don’t know. I just… can. I don’t know. It’s uncomfortable to
talk about.
-Siyuakén
From: Rebehka Tchiréon
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(9): Rest
Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 12:42
Davídrius,
I can’t make anything. I’m stuck in the med center. Even if I wasn’t, there’s
no way I’d cook for you. Learn some manners first. And Kevken, how would you
even eat the cake? Your arms are immobilized. Wait, how are you even
responding?
Kevérin,
could you take things seriously for once? I’m glad I didn’t follow that link,
if it made Davídrius throw up… I swear, the stuff you two find on the Relaynet…
Siyuakén,
it’s nothing. Just ignore it.
-Rebehka
From: Davídrius Wrikax
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(10):
Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 12:48
Woooow,
you really think that just because you had a proper childhood that you get to
tell me to learn shit?
But
actually. What the fuck’s up with this ‘manners’ shit? Why is everyone in the
‘civilized’ world so uptight? I don’t usually miss Treséd, but, damn…
-Davídrius
From: Kievkenalis Yumach
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(10):
Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 12:49
Voice-to-text. A nurse
was nice enough to set it up for me.
Does this mean there’s
no cake?
-Kevken
From: Kevérin Tyrion
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(11): Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 12:55
…I
really shouldn’t have made that crack about Davídrius, huh. How are you guys
responding so quickly, anyways? If you have enough free time to get into
arguments then maybe I should find some work for you to do.
-Kevérin
From: Kevérin Tyrion
To: Siyuakén Wanléon
Subject: Re:
Re: Re: Re: Can I talk to you
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 12:58
Huh?
Uncomfortable to talk about? Why? What does that even mean?
-Kevérin
From: Davídrius Wrikax
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(12):
Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 13:03
Whoa
whoa whoa, you started this whole thing, you can’t punish me for responding to
an insult. Especially your insult. That’s entrapment. Or something like that.
I’m
already home anyways, so. Ha.
-Davídrius
From: Kevérin Tyrion
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(13):
Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 13:08
Alright.
Get back to the base, Davídrius. I’ve got some work you can spend that free
time on.
And
don’t say getting back here is too much effort. You’re a Superspeed
Introtechnic, it shouldn’t take more than a couple minutes.
-Kevérin
From: Davídrius Wrikax
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(14):
Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 13:12
Fuck
you, that’s discrimination. I have my own injuries too, anyway. Broken ribs and
shit. Gotta stay still. Doctor’s orders.
-Davídrius
From: Kevérin Tyrion
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(15):
Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 13:18
Your
ribs were bruised, not broken. Those ‘Doctor’s orders’ to stay still expired
yesterday. Get your ass up here before I involve the Commander.
-Kevérin
From: Davídrius Wrikax
To: Hero Machina
Subject: Re(16):
Rest Up
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 13:22
Wow,
someone’s getting pissy. Well, whatever. The base’s network speed is faster
anyways.
-Davídrius
PS:
Fuck you.
From: Siyuakén Wanléon
To: Kevérin Tyrion
Subject: Re(5):
Can I talk to you
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 13:31
Uncomfortable
means uncomfortable and that’s that. I’m not talking about this anymore.
-Siyuakén
From: Kevérin Tyrion
To: Siyuakén Wanléon
Subject: Re(6):
Can I talk to you
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 13:37
Well,
alright then. I’ll leave you be for now. But this is important, Siyuakén. The
ability to sense Ayas is pretty significant. I’d like answers sooner or later.
-Kevérin
From: Kevérin Tyrion
To: Rebehka Tchiréon
Subject: Can
you talk to Siyuakén for me?
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 13:42
What
the subject says. I tried asking her about her ability to sense Ayas, but she
got defensive and refused to answer any questions. Can you talk to her for me?
See if anything’s wrong? I’ll be trying to wrench some information out of that
Prior in the meantime, if you need me.
Thanks.
-Kevérin
From: Rebehka Tchiréon
To: Siyuakén Wanléon
Subject: Have
a minute?
Timestamp: 8034, Skydiath 2, 13:59
Hey,
do you have a minute? I’d like to talk to you. In fact I’d just like to see
you. I’m stuck in the med center and you just waltz on home without dropping by?
The nerve.
Anyways,
come up to the med center when you have some time.
-Rebehka
----- * * * -----
Timestamp: 8030, Skydiath
22, 20:16
Journal Header: I
guess she’s not too bad…
Well… I guess I wasn’t
completely right about the try-hard. Recently got stuck with her on the forest
floor after one of the other conscripts messed up and totaled the return
elevator. We were stuck on the floor for a few hours. We got attacked by a few
feral animals… I think they were afflicted by something called the ‘metallic
infection’. It’s not something you hear on the news often, or even at all, but
I’ve heard enough from the officers and seen enough from our various scheduled
trips to the forest floor that I can piece things together. Apparently things
have been getting worse. Access to the floor might be completely restricted in
a few months…
Um, right. Distracted myself
again. The try-hard, Tchiréon. We had… something of a chat. I guess it was more
like an argument, at first, that is. I learned some things about her past.
Nothing as bad as me, but she didn’t have it all that great either. Being a
master of ice in a place that values mobility and life isn’t exactly the best
combination, it would seem. But she decided that, instead of letting them win,
she’d try her best, do well, and show all the doubters that she can hold her
own. That’s what she told me, at least. It sounds reasonable, now if only she
knew she didn’t have to try to be the best at everything.
I also told her about my own
past, about how I was forced to move to Relédiaka from my home in Nimaliaka,
without any of my family, or friends… she didn’t respond to it much at all.
That is, she didn’t really say anything about it. I noticed she stopped calling
me a loner though. Well, not as often, at least. She’s starting to mellow out,
too, I think. She hasn’t been as insistent on being the best at everything, not
since getting stuck on the forest floor. Not sure if that’s an effort on her
part to actually be a better person, or just some leftover shock. If she keeps
it up, she could actually be decent company one day. …I guess I could make some
efforts to change, too. I’ve kept to myself a lot these past five and a half
months, I guess I should make some effort to be more social… I mean, if the
try-hard can change, then it can’t be that hard, right?
…I’ll think about that later.
For now, the captain’s coming through. Time to sign off.
-Siyuakén
----- * * * -----
Present Day
– Mondia, Skydiath 2, 8034 –
“Hey
guys.”
“Oh,
Siyuakén,” Kievkenalis turned to look at the Electrotechnic as she stepped into
the room. “What brings you here?”
“Rebehka
wanted to talk to me,” Siyuakén replied, and then glanced down at Kievkenalis’s
arms. The Chaostechnic was bed-bound and his arms were immobilized in casts up
to his shoulders, giving him a painfully stiff appearance. “Are you feeling any
better?”
“It
doesn’t hurt, at least, but I don’t know if that’s because it’s better or
because of the drugs,” he sighed, “If this were just a regular dislocation I’d
have been out yesterday, but Christeané didn’t really re-locate my shoulders
all that well… I don’t blame him though, we were
in the middle of battle, and he, well… he’s a lot worse off than any of us.”
“I
heard it was something like a full-body fracture?...”
“It
almost was, but the Chaos Armor shielding actually held some things together.
He was… mostly intact. The Earthians
didn’t have the right technology to properly stabilize him, though, and it was
a couple days before reaching Nimalian care, so his skeleton is as good as
shot. Last I heard they’re going through with a composite replacement.
Full-scale operation to replace almost every bone in his body.”
“That’s…
pretty bad.”
"I'll say. It's even worse since he's an Introtechnic. They had to move him to a facility with an industrial-grade laser cutter, just to pierce his skin... If we had gotten him back here even a day or two later, he would've been fucked."
“Heeeey,
that’s a bad word, don’t say that.”
Siyuakén
paused and glanced over at Kaoné, who was sitting in a hospital bed across the
room and staring at Kievkenalis deliriously. “Oh, Kaoné, you’re up-“
“Huh?”
the Materiatechnic squinted at Siyuakén, “…do I know you?”
“…Uh,”
Siyuakén glanced back at Kievkenalis uneasily.
“Head
trauma after being knocked out by Morcii,” the Chaostechnic whispered, “she’ll
be fine in a couple days, but until then she’ll be a bit of an amnesiac.
Combination of the drugs and the healing wound.” He then turned his attention
to Kaoné. “Of course you know her. She’s Siyuakén.”
“See
you akin? What does that mean?”
“No,
that’s not- …what do you remember?”
“Remember
what?”
“That’s
what I’m asking.”
“What
am I supposed to remember?”
“Anything.”
“…What
was the question?”
Kievkenalis
turned to give Siyuakén an exasperated look. “This is what I’ve had to deal
with for the past twenty-four hours.” He then shrugged. “I guess it could be
worse. Things like this are exactly what Assist is for. If I hadn’t opened the
battle with that move we’d all be
worse off, I’m sure…”
“…If
you say so,” Siyuakén replied, “Anyways, where is Rebehka?”
“Right
here,” the Cryotechnic limped around the corner, walking through an open
doorway on the opposite side of the room from the entrance Siyuakén had used
and leaning on a crutch. “So you finally showed up. You kept me waiting for a
while!”
“Sorry…”
the Electrotechnic responded sheepishly, and then glanced down at Rebehka’s
left knee. “How is it?”
“Oh, my
knee?” Rebehka slowly moved her leg back and forth, her movements restricted by
the mechanical cast bound to her knee. “I can walk on it, thanks to the powered
cast and the crutch, but it’s still a little painful. Jogging or running is out
of the question.”
“Wait,
I remember, you asked me a question!” Kaoné suddenly exclaimed, sitting up
straight and staring at Kievkenalis. Her expression then faltered. “…What was
it, again?”
“I
can’t wait to be out of here,” the Chaostechnic deadpanned.
Siyuakén
smirked in response to the exchange before turning her attention back to
Rebehka. “You wanted to talk to me?”
“Yeah.
Come on. We can walk around the med center courtyard while we talk,” the
Cryotechnic slowly turned back through the doorway as Siyuakén crossed the
room.
“…You did ask me a question, right?” Kaoné
muttered as the two girls left the room.
“…No,
Kaoné,” Kievkenalis sighed irately, “Go to sleep.”
Siyuakén
smiled amusedly as the two bed-bound Chaotics fell out of hearing range. “How
long have they been like that?”
“At
least since Ligdia night,” Rebehka rolled her eyes, “It was funny at first, but
now Kaoné’s amnesia is just annoying. I’ll be glad when she’s back to normal.
…In fact I’ll be glad when everyone’s
back to normal,” she added as the two girls stepped outside into the afternoon
sunlight.
“Back
to normal…” Siyuakén echoed hollowly.
Rebehka
glanced at her friend with concern before slowly limping toward one of the
courtyard paths through the trees. “I guess this brings us to what I wanted to
talk about.”
“Wha…
what? Here?” Siyuakén quickly stepped
forward and then fell into stride alongside Rebehka. “Rebehka, this-“
“Relax.
The only monitoring equipment in the courtyard are cameras; no microphones. I
checked earlier.”
“…You’re
sure?”
“Of
course I'm sure, why would I lie?” Rebehka glanced over at Siyuakén, “How are
you feeling?”
“…I’m
fine.”
“It’s
the middle of summer,” the Cryotechnic replied incredulously, “How are you
feeling ‘fine’ in a jacket and gloves?”
Siyuakén
tugged at the aforementioned articles uncomfortably before looking away, toward the small pond in the middle
of the courtyard. “It’s not that hot.
Nimaliaka Central is farther from the equator than Lédia is.”
“Not by
much.”
“Hn.”
“How
much worse is it? The… infection?”
“…It’s
covered my entire arm, fingertips to shoulder. It’s on my chest, too. And my
neck,” Siyuakén rubbed her neck uncomfortably, “Another week and it’ll be up to
my cheek…”
“Has it
gotten any worse since… well, since the Nanocreatures appeared?”
“A… a
little. But it was getting this bad anyways. I never had much time in the first
place…”
“Don’t
say that. If anything, you have a better chance of overcoming it now than
before!”
“How
does that begin to make sense?”
“We
know what the metallic infection really is now. And now that we know that, we
can start figuring out how to actually stop it,” Rebehka replied
optimistically, “The most obvious solution is to just destroy Morcii and see
what happens.”
“Destroy Morcii? Rebehka, were you not there when he crushed us?”
“I never said we had to. If we can find him on some other planet then we just
have to throw a few orbital bombardment rounds at him. No one can survive a
good glassing.”
“No one’s ever fought the
Nanocreatures before.”
“True. But he didn’t completely crush us. You and Kevérin got
out with relatively few injuries, after all.”
“And Morcii got out with none.”
“Siyuakén…”
“Have you not been hearing the
news, Rebehka? They’ve attacked three of the CSA Transpace Worlds, and the CSA
is losing. If they can’t do anything, then we don’t stand a chance.”
“That’s not true. We still have
time to come up with a solution. And,
we have the Ayas! Four of them, that is. I don’t think it’s too farfetched to
think that we can come up with a way to beat the Nanocreatures… or at least a
way to hold them at bay.”
“…”
“Trust me, Siyuakén. We’ll find a
way to help you. I’ll find a way to
help you. That’s what I’m here for.”
“…There is another way you could help me… and everyone else, too.”
“…What is it?”
“If… if I do end up losing to the
corruption-“
“No. No, you won’t. It won’t
happen. I won’t let it.”
“Rebehka, it’s not that simple-“
“Didn’t you hear what I told you
back when I first found out you were infected? Even if your body loses, I’ll
just beat you, take your brain, and store it until we can make you a new body.
You’ll be fine!”
“In any other context, that would
actually sound pretty creepy.”
“Maybe, but I mean it. I won’t let
you lose. I won’t lose you. And
that’s that.”
“…Do you really think you can do
it?”
“Of course I do. Come on, Siyuakén,
you know me. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.”
“You’re reminding me of back when
we first met.”
“Heh, well, if regressing back to
my ‘try-hard’ stage is what it takes to save you, then I’ll do it. Then we can
become friends all over again! It’s the perfect plan.”
“…Ha, alright, if you say so.”
“I do say so.”
“…Thanks, Rebehka,” Siyuakén turned
to embrace her friend.
“Ha, don’t worry about it,” the
Cryotechnic returned the gesture with her free arm, “It’s what best friends are
for.”
----- * * * -----
Timestamp: 8033,
Nimath 22, 21:39
Journal Header: East
Nimaliaka Research Trip, Northern Deepsough Region, Day 3/5
It’s the third night that
Rebehka and I have been in East Nimaliaka, but I wish it were still the first.
Everything is so… different here. I
guess environment can really change how a culture develops, huh? Relédiaka is
all dense forest and huge trees, but East Nimaliaka is almost entirely plains,
and it seems like the people here are accordingly more carefree and
freedom-loving than people back in Relédiaka. It’s really refreshing. It also
makes me wonder what it’s like back in Nimaliaka, where there’s forest, plains,
and mountains a plenty…
The East Nimaliakian liaison
that was assigned to us, that Christeané guy, he’s a pretty laid-back person.
He’s made a couple jokes at Rebehka’s and my expense, but he responded well
when we replied with some jokes at his own. He’s also shown us around town,
pointed out most of the attractions that we can see here. I think I could like
him, if only he took his work a little more seriously. Getting to see the
sights is fun and all, definitely, but it’s not the sole reason we’re here.
It’s no wonder East Nimaliaka called for a couple of Relédiakians to
investigate their metallic infection problem; it seems like no one here cares enough
to do it themselves.
On that subject, though, what
we’ve found is mildly concerning. Rebehka managed to catch one of the infected
animals earlier today and move it to cryogenic stasis, but it suddenly became
active again and almost destroyed the pod before it came fully online. She had
to completely freeze it through to stop it. Suffice to say we can’t study that
one anymore, not alive. We need to get our hands on faster-freezing stasis
pods, it would seem… and, of course, we’ve yet to actually learn anything more
about the infection. We still don’t know what causes it, when it first
appeared, if there’s any other symptoms beside the rashes and the increase in
ferocity… it’s all so frustrating. I hope we reach a breakthrough soon. I hate
being in the dark.
-Siyuakén
----- * * * -----
Present Day
Textual Communication
Log 80340602001
Beginning Timestamp:
8034, Skydiath 2, 14:50
Communication length:
00:18
Participant Alpha:
Transfer Captain Kevérin Tyrion
Participant Beta:
Prior Aegis Arcán
– Begin Log –
Tyrion: I’m back.
Arcán: I demand
to know why I have been further isolated from your computer systems!
Tyrion: It’s a
precaution. With everything that’s gone down recently, some of the higher-ups
have gotten a little wary.
Arcán: They
removed my ability to communicate by voice!
Tyrion: They’re
paranoid?
Arcán: They
underestimate my power. And my relevance. You do, as well. Do not think that I
haven’t noticed that you are withholding information from me. Exactly what has
“gone down recently”?
Tyrion: Alright
then, let’s get straight to business. Does the term “Nanocreature” mean
anything to you?
Arcán: Where did
you hear that?
Tyrion: It’s the
apparent name of the metallic infection.
Arcán: That is
not what I asked. Who told you the name, “Nanocreature”?
Tyrion: It was
Morcii. He claimed to be their leader.
Arcán: Morcii has
returned? Did you stop him?
Tyrion: No. He
scared off Exdominor and Surdeus and stomped my team before we escaped.
Arcán: This is
grave news, indeed. Where did you encounter him? Do you know why he appeared?
Tyrion: He said
something about freeing the Morikai? I think he showed up where he did because
of the Ayas.
Arcán: An Ayas?
Which one? Did you protect it from him?
Tyrion: It was
yours. And no.
Arcán: The Ayas
Arcán?! And you let him escape with it?! Are you mad?!
Tyrion: There was
nothing we could do. He was too strong.
Arcán: Surely you
at least attempted to use the Chaos State?
Tyrion: We
didn’t.
Arcán: You fool!
You always use the Chaos State against Morcii! Even if it does not provide
enough power to defeat him, it will nonetheless seal the Ayas within the user
and prevent Morcii from stealing them! The advantages are obvious!
Tyrion: We had
only just learned of the Chaos State from Mystryth, we don’t know how to
activate it.
Arcán: You met
Mystryth? The Prior Vigilem Mystryth?
Tyrion: On
Rossindon, near the supposed hypocenter of the Chaos Energy Quake, yes.
Arcán: You
visited Rossindon two weeks ago! Why was I not informed of this meeting?!
Tyrion: We know
nothing about you except that you call yourself a Prior, whatever that is. You
can’t expect us to instantly trust you on your word alone.
Arcán: Of what
topics did Mystryth speak to you?
Tyrion: I don’t
understand the question.
Arcán: What did
you talk about with the Prior Mystryth?
Tyrion: If I
remember correctly, she mostly just talked about the Aldredas and the Morikai.
She also said some things about the Ayas. She clammed up when we mentioned the
metallic infection, though.
Arcán: Did you
ask her about repairing my core?
Tyrion: She said
that she could fix it if we brought it and some of the Ayas to her, but we
can’t do that now, for political reasons.
Arcán: Political
reasons?!?
Tyrion: We also
have the Ayas constantly on the move, to prevent them from being easily sought
out. I don’t think the Commander would approve of them all being in the same
place for very long, not with the Nanocreatures attacking everything.
Arcán: You
ignorant, incompetent fools! The Chaos Ayas are the very keys to defeating
Morcii and his Nanocreatures! You have no hope of stopping him without them.
Treating them as mere objects to protect will simply lead to Morcii
obliterating you entirely as he searches for them!
Tyrion: Alright
then, how would you suggest we stop the Nanocreatures? I’m all ears. Or eyes.
Arcán: [no
response for several minutes]
Tyrion: Arcán?
Arcán: Yes.
Sorry. It would appear that the actual key to defeating Morcii is inaccessible
to me.
Tyrion: You mean
you can’t access it because your core is damaged.
Arcán: Yes.
Tyrion: Damn it,
Arcán. Don’t get mad at us for not knowing how to stop the Nanocreatures if you
yourself don’t even have the answer!
Arcán: That is
incorrect, I do in fact possess the answer. My core simply needs to be
repaired…
Tyrion: Well
we’ll be right on that. Just as soon as we can take an Ayas back from the
Nanocreatures. I don’t suppose you have any advice there?
Arcán: …No. But I
can tell you how to activate the Chaos State. That should at least give you an
edge.
Tyrion: I’m
listening.
Arcán: Activating
the Chaos State requires a set of keywords, much like Overdrives or
Chaostechnic attacks. The formula is simple: “Chaos State: ___ Tier” where the
blank is filled with the ordinal number corresponding to how many Ayas you wish
to enter the state with. For example, if you have two Ayas, then using both
would require the keyword activation phrase “Chaos State: Second Tier”.
Furthermore, if you wish to utilize the Ayas Syn, then you must insert the
keyword “Master” in between “State” and the ordinal. In the previous example,
this would yield “Chaos State: Master Second Tier”.
Tyrion: That
seems complicated.
Arcán: It is
necessary to have full control over the Chaos State.
Tyrion: Why can’t
we just concentrate really hard? That’s how it always goes in stories.
Arcán: That
sounds ridiculous. How would pure concentration achieve anything? Are you
talking about Telepaths?
Tyrion: Not quite.
Just forget I said anything.
Arcán: You
Aldredanoids can be so confusing.
Tyrion: Is there
anything else you can tell me about the Ayas? About Morcii?
Arcán: If you
have already discussed this topic with Mystryth then there is nothing that I
can add.
Tyrion: I see.
Well, if that is it, then I have other things I need to tend to.
Arcán: Wait.
Tyrion: What?
Arcán: Morcii
cannot be allowed to possess all of the Ayas under any circumstance.
Tyrion: We’re
aware.
Arcán: Just know:
however strong you think Morcii is, increase that tenfold. He is even stronger
than that. Do not underestimate him.
Tyrion: Trust me,
we won’t.
Arcán: Very well,
Aldredanoid. Do keep me apprised. And good luck.
Tyrion: Thanks.
We’ll need it.
– End Log –
----- * * * -----
Timestamp: 8034,
Nimath 10, 15:12
Journal Header: Hope I
don’t regret this…
I’m currently on a ship back to Nimaliaka after
spending half a week in the deserts of Treséd. I don’t really know what to
expect… I haven’t been to Nimaliaka in eleven years. I don’t know if I have any
real attachments to it anymore. I’m traveling with the girl who I got traded
for, though… I don’t know how I feel about that. Kaoné Densalin. Apparently
she’s a Materiatechnic. So I guess, logically, I can see why the trade was
carried out. I mean, having a Cryotechnic and a Materiatechnic vs. an
Electrotechnic is considerably more imbalanced than a Cryotechnic and an
Electrotechnic vs. a Materiatechnic. But… it just doesn’t sit right with me. It
never has. People are willing to move ten-year-olds from their homes just to
balance some political power… it’s bullshit. And to top it off, I don’t even
know if Kaoné’s benefited at all from this. She sounds like an annoying
idealist. I can’t believe I got traded for her…
At least, by joining this Hero
Machina group I should be able to look into the metallic infection more deeply.
Apparently, our stated goal is to look into the Chaos Energy Quake, which is
interesting, but it’s not quite what I want to learn about. But there are
various pieces of information that suggest the infection is somehow tied to the
Quake, so… hopefully I’ll find something. Hopefully Rebehka agrees, but she’s
off on the Continental Glacier right now so I can’t really contact her.
Then there’s the two guys. The
Captain, Kevérin, he doesn’t seem too bad. A little on the annoying side,
maybe, but he seems to know what he’s doing, for the most part. Davídrius,
though… I don’t know what to think about him. He’s a Tresédian. He can hold his
own in a fight, but I don’t know if there’s anything else good about him. His
temper is almost non-existent, he has a major chip on his shoulder about the other
nations ignoring Treséd’s condition, and he might have the most vulgar
vocabulary I’ve ever heard. When we first met him, and saw the situation he was
in… I guess he reminded me of my old self? Except if I had been stripped of my
family from birth. And was the only capable Chaotic in my entire home region.
And became friends with no one and had no one to temper my attitude. …In short
I have no idea what I was thinking. He had a shitty childhood, that’s for sure,
but I don’t know if that excuses the way he is now. I hope trusting him doesn’t
turn out to be a mistake…
- Siyuakén
----- * * * -----
Present Day
– Mondia, Skydiath 2, 8034 –
“Damn
it, why the fuck am I the one he
drags back to work… fuckin’ everyone else, gettin’ off easy just because
they’re injured an’ shit…”
Davídrius
glared at the screen in front of him and sat back in his chair, wincing as the
action caused a minor twinge of pain to shoot through his chest. He glanced
around the rest of the Hero Machina office, noting how none of the other desks
were filled, before sighing and grumbling to himself and turning his attention
back to the screen.
“Davídrius?”
“Eh?”
He looked up as Siyuakén poked her head through the office door. “What’re you
doin’ here? Kevérin call you back too?”
“Not
quite…” the Electrotechnic replied, stepping into the room and closing the door
behind her before crossing the room and taking a seat at Christeané’s desk,
next to Davídrius. “Rebehka wanted to talk to me.”
“Sounds
great. Dunno why you’re telling me though.”
“Why am I telling you…”
Davídrius
stared at Siyuakén curiously. “You okay? You seem a little off.”
“No,
I’m fine… I think.”
“You… think.”
“…It’s
a long story.”
“I’ll
bet it is,” Davídrius deadpanned.
Siyuakén
responded with silence, staring off into space as she gathered her thoughts.
Davídrius stared at her for another couple moments before shrugging and turning
back to his console.
“Remember
Sunova?”
“Huh?”
the Introtechnic turned back to Siyuakén, “…What, that Earthian colony? With
the bugs and the dragon and shit?”
“Yeah.
You know, I thought you were just full of yourself back then.”
“’Back
then’? That was a whole three an’ a half months ago.”
“I
know, but it feels like three times that…”
“…You
sure you’re okay?”
“Hah.
If I was, I’d be at home right now.”
“I am
so confused right now.”
“…Hey,
Davídrius? Can I ask you a favor?”
“Oi,
oi, oi… what is it?”
“If… if
something goes wrong… can I trust you to just end it?”
“The
fuck are you on about?”
“If
something happens to me, can you… can you stop me?”
“Stop
you? Sounds like Rebehka’s job.”
“Right,
Rebehka’s job… if only…”
“…Did
something happen between you two?”
“No,
no, nothing happened. …I almost wonder if that’s the problem.”
“I…
what? That… what’s goin’ on?”
Siyuakén
paused for several moments, staring at Davídrius before shaking her head and
looking away. “No, it’s nothing. Forget I said anything. I just need some rest.
We’ve been pretty busy lately…”
“You
can say that again,” the Introtechnic sighed wearily, watching the
Electrotechnic stand up and head for the office door. “…Hey, Siyuakén.”
“What?”
She stopped at the door, half-turning to face Davídrius again.
“If
something’s up, you can tell me,” he commented, and then scratched his head
uncomfortably. “I, uh. I hope I’m not getting ahead of myself, but, you know.
Rebehka may be your best friend, but she’s not your only friend. You know, all of Hero Machina, that is. So, if you
need to talk…”
“Heh,”
Siyuakén smiled in response. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”
“Well,
good. But remember what I said. Mostly because you’ll never hear me say it
again.”
“Don’t
worry, I will,” the Electrotechnic turned back toward the door, opening it and
stepping out. “Good-bye, Davídrius.”
“Yeah,
see ya later,” he responded, watching her close the door behind her. He then
turned back to his console, muttering to himself. “God damn, getting all
sentimental and shit. I need to go beat something up now. Blegh…”
----- * * * -----
Timestamp: 8034,
Nimath 29, 20:36
Journal Header: Fuck.
I’m fucked. I don’t… I don’t
know what to do. It’s, I, aaaahhh! Fuck me!
I’m infected. I have the
metallic infection. It’s on my left arm, a silver rash, just like, just like
all the other cases I’ve seen… fuck! What do I do? There’s no known cure for
it. For all we know you just, I don’t know, you just go feral and die. Maybe
worse, if the Sunova and Hazard Islands incidents have anything to do with the
metallic infection. In both those cases, it seemed like there was a critical
case that eventually just straight-up turned into those fucking metal bugs. Is
that going to happen to me? I can’t, I don’t want that. I can’t have that!
At least I can hold it off.
Applying a current to the rash seems to, I don’t know, kill some of it off? It
shrinks, anyways. Doesn’t disappear completely, but it shrinks. Thank god I’m
an Electrotechnic. I don’t know if I should tell anyone, though. I think if I
told anyone, I’d just get locked up and quarantined. I’d be a lab rat. Or I’d
just be shot, I don’t know. As far as I know there hasn’t been a case of a
sentient being getting infected, so I guess that makes me patient zero, but… I
can’t tell anyone. I’d just get locked up. Staying with Hero Machina is my best
bet for finding a cure, I’m sure of it… sorry, Rebehka, I hope you can
understand… don’t really want her to panic, either. She can’t do anything about
it, so no sense worrying her by telling her… At least, I shouldn’t make things
worse by not telling people. The metallic infection isn’t airborne, so as long
as I don’t touch anyone…
How did this even happen? Was it
the wound from Sunova? That has to have been it… it was the closest to the
infection I’ve ever been. Hell, the damn bug created an open wound, that’s just
about worst case scenario when it comes to infections. Just… fuck it all! I hope
I find a cure for this, and soon… who knows how much time I have…
-Siyuakén
----- * * * -----
Present Day
– Mondia, Skydiath 2, 8034 –
“Da…
Davídrius? What are you doing here?”
“What
am I doing here?” the Introtechnic stared at Kevérin blankly as the Transfer
Captain froze in the doorway to the office, “The hell do you mean, ‘what am I
doing here’? You told me to come in!”
“I
know, but I never thought you actually would!”
“What-!
You even sent me a bunch of shit to do!”
“That
was just wishful thinking. I was fully expecting you to just stay home.”
“…You
motherfucker!” Davídrius scowled, “Well, at least I was just about to go home.
God damn. Waste my whole fuckin’ afternoon… ‘least now I have an excuse to walk
‘round the city outskirts during the sunset…”
“Sorry,”
Kevérin apologized sheepishly, “I didn’t mean to bother you. I guess I just got
a little frustrated.”
“…Can’t
blame you for that,” Davídrius sighed wearily, “Considering everything that’s
been happening lately...”
“Yeah.
Who would’ve thought we’d live to see the end of days,” Kevérin joked bitterly.
“Ha,
the end of days. Now that’d be a real
sight,” Davídrius smirked, and then frowned. “But… actually. That Morcii guy…
do you think we can beat him?”
Kevérin
sighed as he fell back into the chair behind his desk. “You saw what happened
to us when we tried to fight him.”
“No,
not us. I mean the whole fuckin’
galaxy. Do you think we stand a chance?”
“…That’s
hard to say. It hasn’t even been a full week, so we don’t know everything the
Nanocreatures can do. But what we do know is that they’ve launched attacks on
three different Transpace Worlds and have almost taken one of them…”
“Fuck…
and that’s just the Nanocreatures, right? Has anyone else seen Morcii?”
“He’s
sent a few messages to the CSA fleets and the galaxy in general, with the same ‘I’m
going to take over the galaxy and free the Morikai’ message he told us. As far
as I know, though, no one else has fought him, or tried to fight him. There’s
no way of knowing what all his abilities are…”
“Well, he’s
at least strong enough to fuckin’ break
Christeané,” Davídrius snorted bitterly, “…how’s he doing?”
“They sent him to one of the Introtechnic facilities in Tekdecé for a majority-skeletal replacement.”
“Shit, that
bad?”
“Seems
like it. I don’t know how, but Morcii dealt him a devastating blow… which leads
me to wonder, why Christeané? He’s an Introtechnic; aside from maybe you, he’s
the most resistant of us all to blows like that. So why was he the only one to
get hurt so badly?”
“I’ve
thought about it too, and I really don’t know… I think the only answer is that
Morcii was tryin’ to drive home how much of an advantage he had. What better
way to do that than to completely obliterate the physically strongest person on
our team?”
“Why
didn’t he completely destroy anyone else, then? Did he hold back when he hit
you in the chest? Kaoné in the face? Rebehka in the knee? Everyone else is
recovering just fine…”
“Maybe
he was. Maybe he just wanted to send a message. ‘I’m more powerful than you, I
can do what I want, there’s nothing you can do to stop me’ kinda thing. He
seemed like a right ol’ megalomaniac, I’m sure that’s up his alley.”
“Nothing
we can do… that’s something we need to change, and soon.”
“Hah.
Easier said than done.” Davídrius sighed again, and then stood up warily,
grasping his chest as slight pain ran through it. “Shit, maybe I should drop by
the med center again. See if they have any pain meds…”
“Be
careful. Last thing we need is for you to suddenly break, too,” Kevérin replied
cheekily.
“Yeah,
yeah, I’ll be careful. I promise I won’t try to fight any evil megalomaniacs
for the next couple days.”
The
Transfer Captain watched the Introtechnic head toward the exit before suddenly
speaking up again. “Wait, Davídrius, I had a question for you.”
“Yeah?”
the Introtechnic paused in front of the door, turning to face Kevérin. “What is
it?”
“Have
you seen Siyuakén, lately?”
“Yeah,
actually. She dropped by a couple hours ago. Said a bunch of nonsense before
leaving. Why d’ya ask?”
“I’m…
concerned about her. She seemed upset earlier, when I tried asking about her
Ayas-sensing abilities.”
“I
dunno if I’d say upset, but something felt a little off, aye. D’ya want me to
drop by her place on the way home, check on her or somethin’?”
“…No, I
don’t think that’ll be necessary. I’ll check on her tomorrow morning… failing
that, I’ll see if Rebehka can talk to her again.”
“Sounds
good. Tell me if you need my help. Just don’t send me a graphic image album in
the same goddamn message.”
“Heh,” Kevérin
smirked, “Duly noted.”
“’Aight,”
Davídrius turned back to the door, opening it and stepping out, “Talk to ya
later. I’m out.”
----- * * * -----
Timestamp: 8034,
Beauth 33, 20:04
Journal Header: She
found out.
So much for hiding the infection…
I guess Rebehka figured it out at some point. She barged in on me last night
while I was taking a shower and looked straight for the infection. She was understandably
irritated at first, but she seemed to get over it quickly. She said she just
wants to help. I figured as much, but I didn’t want to give her the burden of
worrying about this… she certainly seems sure that we’ll find a cure, though. I
want to believe her. I really do. But I don’t know if it’s actually that easy…
It’s getting worse. Before the
attack on Kotak, the rashes were manageable. I could zap them and they’d
recede. They’d grow back a little longer each time, but it seemed like an
indefinite solution. But after encountering the bugs on Kotak, it’s just gotten
worse. The rashes won’t recede as far, they grow back even longer, and the
current I have to apply is getting dangerous, even to me. If I apply any more I’ll
start giving myself burns. I need a cure, and I need it fast…
I want to agree with Rebehka. I want to be as hopeful as she is. But I don’t
think I can…
-Siyuakén
----- * * * -----
Present Day
– Mondia, Skydiath 2, 8034 –
Ssssss-chk.
Siyuakén exhaled deeply as she
turned off the showerhead and stepped out of the small cell-like space. She
stretched briefly before grabbing a nearby towel and beginning to dry herself
off, while glancing back at the shower and sighing. With Rebehka still stuck in
the base’s med center, Siyuakén was left in their apartment all alone and with
nothing to do.
“Oh, I was just- I was just wondering how you learned to be so good.”
Siyuakén smirked bitterly as the
memory suddenly popped into her head. Back
when we were the try-hard and the loner, huh. You’d almost think we’d never
actually changed, given our reactions to the infection… The Electrotechnic
shook her head of the thought and slipped into her soft pants and shirt that
she always used to sleep in.
It was the crowd, I swear. They threw me off. I’m not used to
interacting with so many people.
She
faltered slightly before reaching for the bathroom door and opening it. I guess even that much hasn’t changed…
she thought bitterly as she tossed her dirty towel to the side and moved to her
bedroom. I’m still keeping secrets to
myself. Even after all this time. I guess I haven’t changed as much as I
thought I did… She shook her head again, clearing it as she sat down on her
bed and slowly looked over her room.
She decided that, instead of letting them win, she’d try her best, do
well, and show all the doubters that she can hold her own.
So why can’t I…? Siyuakén frowned, glancing
down at her left arm. Her arm had long been completely covered by the rash,
giving it a silver, metallic shine, as though it were simply a steel
prosthesis. I miss the old days. Playing
with the animals back in Unonin, or competing with Rebehka back in conscription
boot camp, or working with her in research…
Everything is so… different here.
“Argh,
why did it all get so difficult?!” She threw herself backwards, lying
haphazardly across her sheets with her face to the ceiling. Now everything I do is so important! Find
the Ayas, figure out the Chaos Quake, learn about the metallic infection… back
when I joined Hero Machina, I thought I could make a difference. I thought I
could learn things. And what did that get me? It got me infected. What was I
thinking?!
In short I have no idea what I was thinking.
Why now? Siyuakén slowly sat up again,
frustrated with her busy mind. Why am I
remembering all this now? Is it- “Guagh-!” she suddenly winced, a distinct,
sharp pain shooting through her arm before being replaced with a deep,
throbbing sensation. “What is this-!?” she muttered through clenched teeth as
she quickly sent several massive shocks through her body – to no avail. Damn it! She scowled, ripping off her
shirt to glare at the rashes, only to see that they had spread even farther
across her chest and down her side.
How did this even happen?
She
inhaled sharply and wrenched her eyes shut as pain suddenly shot through her
entire body. “Not… now…” she muttered in between ragged breaths, taking all of
her effort to withstand the sudden storm of pain that ravaged her body. “I… can’t
lose…!” Several lightning arcs jumped from her arm and chest to random items
within her room as she shoved as much current through her body as she could
stand, all in an effort to counteract the suddenly hostile infection.
I want to agree with Rebehka.
I want to be as hopeful as she is. But I don’t think I can…
“I’m…
sorry.” Siyuakén instinctively curled into a fetal position, unable to continue
shooting current through her body as the concentration required for doing so
was broken by the immense pain. “I… can’t…”
Rebehka smirked. “I won’t let you die. I also won’t let you lose to the
infection. You have my word.”
.
.
.
“And now… you belong to me.”
End of Chapter 50:
End of Known: Corruption
* * * * *
* * * * *
Data Entry: {null}
