2023-04-20: Unicorn ~LION~
- Cast: Alouette Pommier, Banagher Links
- Where: GGG Orbit Base
- Date: U.C. 0097 04 20
- Summary: Banagher brings questions about the mysterious Banshee to Orbit Base. In trying to answer him, Alouette finds they have some things - and friends - in common.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
Orbit Base received a head's up that they would be receiving a visitor from the Photon Power Labs. Someone not necessarily employed by them, but under their protection - who has been directly involved with the Banshee, as well as the fight at Palau. Someone who doubtlessly has many questions for an organization dedicated to opposing threats extraterrestrial and domestic both.
As far as the Banshee goes, Intelligence has been heading the investigation of this entity, along with Akane - but Alouette had taken interest in compiling information about it and keeping it all organized. That's part of the work Mobile Operators do on the desk, too.
As such, Alouette is happy to respond, and Banagher is escorted through the halls of this massive space fortress to a meeting room for a little more privacy. "Banagher Links, right?" She greets him, pleasant smile on your face. "You're one of Leina's partners, if I remember. It's a pleasure to meet you." There's the smell of brewing tea in the sizeable meeting room. "I set up some tea for myself, but.. there's plenty enough for two, if you'd like." She offers. "And then we can get started on our discussion, whenever you're ready."
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
It's a little intimidating to leave the safety of the PPL, but Banagher hasn't seen the Banshee in a few weeks. Besides, few places are safer than Orbit Base, right?
Dressed in his usual jeans-hoodie combo, Banagher feels more than a little out of place in the enormous fortress. His hands are hidden in his pockets, and he glances around -- half nervous, and half curious. When he comes to the meeting room, he hesitates. This isn't a trap. Vist can't have gotten to these people.
Alouette greets him, and Banagher feels a little more at ease. "Yeah, that's me. Leina's boyfriend, and pilot of the Unicorn." The order here matters. "It's nice to meet you, too."
While he doesn't particularly like tea, it's polite to accept. And the warmth will be nice. Banagher always feels a little cold, lately. "Tea sounds great. Can I ask your name? If that's classified, um, that's fine too. Sorry, I don't know how this stuff works."
"As for the discussion." Banagher grows serious. "I'm here to learn all I can about the Banshee. I understand a lot of it might be classified, but I hope -- as the pilot of the Unicorn, I'll be granted permission to hear it. It's been hunting me for months now, and -- the pilot is --"
He takes a breath, steadying himself. "The pilot has a personal connection to someone I care about. I have to save them. I'll sign papers, or whatever's required."
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
It's true that there are few physically safer places than Orbit Base, and besides that it's likely the Photon Power Labs took great care in ensuring Banagher's shuttle wasn't followed. Still, security is strict as ever, and due to the anticipation of discussing classified subject matter, the nature of the meeting has been made totally secret too.
Alouette smiles, and nods as she goes to pour two cups of tea. Placing them down gracefully, she then covers her mouth as Banagher asks her name. "Oh...! How terribly rude of me. No, it's not classified. It just completely slipped my mind is all..." There's a small giggle; she supposes this happens even to geniuses. "It's Alouette Pommier. I'm the second desk Mobile Corps operator, and sometimes mechanoid pilot." She bows politely, AEU-style.
Before taking a seat, as her mind shifts to the incoming discussion. "Right. If you're the pilot of the Unicorn, then I'm sure you'll have information we haven't heard yet, too. It's my hope that we both have something to gain from this discussion, so yes.. I will tell you everything I know." She replies. From here, her expression and tone of voice have totally shifted; she might've seemed nothing more than a flighty teenage girl. Now, there's a certain gravity behind every word.
She then nods empathetically when Banagher explains the Banshee's pilot is connected to someone he cares about. "I see... it must be really hard for both of you. And no, I won't ask that of you. I think I can trust you will do what needs to be done."
"So, to start, we're fairly certain an individual known as Alexis Kerib has made himself involved. Unsightly, black-cloaked, commands kaiju? Him." She doesn't make mention of his own connection to Akane - that is her story to tell. "Concurrent with the attack on the Photon Power Labs, he deployed a kaiju as a distraction." She explains, jogging his memory. "Through an outside source, this was neatly confirmed to us during 'Operation Phoenix Hunt'... our first encounter with the Banshee."
She folds her hands together when it's time to explain her second encounter. "In a skirmish near Tsutsujidai, the Banshee appeared. It was fighting the Unicorn... I suppose that must have been you." She adds, ruefully. "I tried to deploy the Gatling Driver, but the Banshee 'hit' me... psychic attack." She frowns. "It's really hard to describe, but the feeling was like... something, someone was coming for me."
"Don't take this as fact," she adds softly. "But I felt like this meant BioNet had something to do with it. Alexis works with them... and criminals like that? They would do anything to get their hands on a weapon like that." There's a disgusted tone to that sentence. "Admittedly, I'm not sure why they would throw their lot in with Vist... if not for a really good deal."
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
Banagher sits down as he's handed the tea, smiling gently as way of thanks. "Oh -- it's fine, really! Thank you, miss Alouette. Oh, I think one of my friends is an operator like you are."
Should he bow as well? He just sat down... Bangher sort of inclines his head, hoping that'll be polite enough for the moment.
"I'm happy to share everything I know. Anything to lead to saving the Banshee's pilot." Banagher promises, holding his teacup in his hands. The warmth is soothing. Maybe he really is safe here.
Alouette's tone shifts, and Banagher straightens a little, paying close attention. Alexis... that's something he already knew, but he's glad word of the strange being is getting out. Especially if he hurt Akane in the past.
"A psychic attack." Banagher says, sympathetically. "Yeah, she does that. I'm sorry you had to experience it, it's -- pretty awful. Miss Alouette, have you had any nightmares since you fought the Banshee?"
BioNet? Banagher takes a sip of his tea. "We think --" He pauses. "Let me start from the beginning."
"My name is Bangaher Links. I'm the," a soft pause, "illegitimate child of Cardeas Vist. As he was dying, he entrusted the Unicorn to me. The Unicorn is the key to a conspiracy known as LaPlace's Box."
"My family, my aunt Martha and my," another soft pause, "half-brother Alberto will go to any lengths to prevent the Box from being found, or seal it closed, if they can. Nobody knows what's inside, but they've used it to control the Federation government for nearly a hundred years. That's how they're getting away with things like attacking the Photon Power Lab. They have -- so much power."
Banagher takes another sip of his tea. "For a while, they were content to just send the Federation after me, but I guess -- they're getting desperate, and. The Banshee appeared. First it had a different pilot, but now... Something's changed. It's wrong."
"The pilot was referred to as Puru-1." His face twists even as he says it, like the title is poison in his mouth. "And we believe she's somehow a... resurrected Elpeo Puru. I don't-- I don't know how they would've done that, but people who knew Elpeo well are certain of it."
Banagher's hands tremble. He puts the tea down and shoves his hands back in his pockets. "There's someone inside the Banshee, a real person. I've seen them myself. But there's also this... awful spiritual presence. You've felt it."
He doesn't really want to explain if he doesn't want to.
"The Banshee itself is a sister unit to my Unicorn. Could knowing her specs help develop a plan, or some kind of counterweapon to bring the Banshee in?"
Banagher blinks, then. "Wait, you were hunting the Phenex? Why? It's friendly, and it's been warning people of disasters. I knew the Banshee had gone after it, but -- it's easy to imagine what the Vists might want. Another Unicorn to control.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"One of your friends, here?" She asks, taking a sip of tea. "Well, Akane is one of Leina's housemates, so it would make sense you know each other." She guesses; it could be Hana, because Leina was childhood friends with Mamoru, but she has her own circle, Alouette recalls.
When Banagher nods his head, Alouette just smiles as if to signify that's enough, placing down her cup.
"It wasn't pleasant." Alouette agrees. "At the same time as an Angel appearance, too. Honestly..." She shakes her head, gripping her forehead. "Come to think, the Angel seemed to whisk you and the Banshee away to stop the fight. What was that... like?" She asks. It's useful data for NERV, but she's genuinely just curious too.
At the question about the nightmares, Alouette nods an affirmative yes. "Yeah.. they're hazy sometimes, but they tend to involve purple hands - and feelings of jealousy and envy.. towards me." She recalls. "I'm guessing you've had them too? Most people I've talked to who faced the Banshee have... so we can be pretty certain it's where they come from."
Alouette listens attentively as Banagher explains the whole story - who he is, what was entrusted to him, and why people are after him. "So your family's turned against you... that's even worse." She also considers LaPlace's box... she wonders if it has some sort of awful blackmail about the Federation if it's been able to control them for so long.
"It makes sense." She points out. "The Federation has lost a lot of its power.. they wasted way too much resources on the war against ZAFT... on Blue Cosmos propaganda." She pauses and sips. "If Vist really is this desperate, I can't say I'm shocked they turned to human experimentation." She sounds detached, but Banagher may sense some pain behind that statement.
"Right," she nods as Banagher explains the nature of 'Puru-1'. "If I may, I have an idea about that." Alouette interjects. "Maybe it's not conventional resurrection, but that might not be the right way to stab at it... after all, they have Alexis Kerib on their side." Something almost seems to click, for a moment. "Weaponizing thoughts and feelings is what he does: it's how he makes the kaiju. I don't know about his methods but.. do you think it's possible that he used his powers to instill Elpeo's feelings into the Banshee?"
She considers Banagher's question.. having the specs for the Unicorn. "Hmm. I wouldn't ask you to turn in the Unicorn: we're still beholden to NERV and the Federation after all. But it might be safer to get the data from the Photon Power Labs."
"The Phenex is still an extraterrestrial anomaly - and still dangerous. It's our job to investigate these things, and make sure they're not a threat. That said, our intent was never to bring the Phenex to harm." She explains, hoping that's good enough for Banagher. "You also might be interested to know that the Banshee wasn't deployed by Vist at all during that mission... it was Luio."
"I didn't get the sense that Michelle Luio just wanted to control a Unicorn... she was after something else entirely." Alouette remembers she seemed to have an almost obsessive fixation over the Phenex. "It's definitely something to look out for, though. For one, it means the Banshee is on loan. That makes it so much more unpredictable."
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
"Yeah, Akane!" Banagher smiles. "She seems to really like it here. We don't know each other that well, but we've been on a few double dates with our partners. She's pretty cool."
Golden eyes turn down when Alouette mentions the Angel. "Is that what that thing is called? I've met it once before. It felt like..." Banagher pauses, thinking. "When the Unicorn tried to attack the Banshee through the Angel's force field, it was like hitting an unbreakable wall. There was no chance of getting through it. And then it was -- one moment I was there, right in front of the Banshee, and the next I was just gone."
"It wasn't angry, or hostile. It felt more distressed than anything. I think it didn't like that we were fighting. It definitely didn't want to hurt us." Banagher smiles just a little. "I think it was trying to help, in its own way."
So the nightmares are affecting even non-Newtypes now. Banagher thinks this over. "Yes, mine are very similar. The hands, and the entity promises it'll find me wherever I go. Which... it has. I wonder if I've somehow connected to it... How else could it find me so easily?"
A rueful shake of his head. "No, I've never even met them before. They certainly don't consider me family. I don't think they knew I existed before all of this happened -- or at least didn't care."
"If the Federation fell apart, none of this would matter anymore!" Banagher sounds almost desperate. "I hate that their greed will go this far. It's inhuman."
Alouette's pain resonates with Banagher, and he looks at her, sympathetic. "I'm sorry. I wish I was more capable. This has to end. Somehow, it just has to end..."
Banagher brings his hands back out to sip his tea, listening to Alouette's idea. He nods, encouraging her to speak. "Instill..." Golden eyes blink. "Yes, that's entirely possible. Psychoframes can hold feelings, even souls. If they trapped Elpeo inside the Banshee--"
"...it makes sense. I don't know why Alexis would do that, but it makes sense. Vist has power and money, but what would a being like that want with either?"
A little laugh. "No, I'd never turn her in. But I'll give you permission to look at her data. As for the Phenex, that makes sense. I've read about her, and --" Banagher cuts himself off.
"...So Vist has... contracted the command words out to a company?" Banagher's hands clench around the tea glass, and he glares at it, hard. The young pilot practically radiates anger. "On loan. They're loaning out that child's spirit, and whatever poor pilot they've conditioned into serving them."
Abruptly, Banagher stands, walking a few steps away and breathing hard. He takes a moment to calm down, running a hand through his fluffy hair, then returns to the table.
"Can't anything be done legally? Vist might be protected, but what about Luio? They can't have half the power of the Foundation!"
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"I'm really glad she's starting to make new friends." Alouette smiles back. "We've known each other for almost a year... but I'm happy to count her as one of my best friends now." She says of Akane. "She's a very earnest person."
"Honestly, if we're already mutual friends, I almost wish our first meeting was over something more fun." She asides, wistfully. "I hope I haven't given you a bad first impression..."
"An Angel... yes. They're what the main branch of NERV is dedicated to fighting." She nods. "Well.. at least we didn't have to fight this one, I suppose." It's a good thing too, with none of the Evangelion squadron remotely in the area. "Even if I couldn't get the Gatling Driver up in time, I'm glad the Angel could at least protect Tsutsujidai in my stead."
Banagher explains that the Vists hardly turned on him: they never even knew of him. "Ah, I'm sorry.. that isn't easy either." Alouette's mother didn't know she was alive years after she was born - but still accepted her with love. So for Banagher's 'family' to treat him like this... it's an unimaginable cruelty to her.
"I think we all wish we were more capable." Alouette replies. "But no one is going to solve the world's crises on their own. It takes a lot of courage even to just make a small difference. But as long as courage still exists in our hearts..."
Banagher mentions the forbidden Psychoframe technology, which leads Alouette to consider it for a moment. "Elpeo Puru died before the psychoframe was even invented, didn't she? I can't imagine how they manage it.. but we know so little about it, or Alexis, that we can't rule it out either." She crosses her arms in contemplation.
"Power and money? No.. he's just bored. He told us that much some months ago. He's deeply empty, and just wishes to inflict that emptiness on others.. especially those he finds fascinating." Her expression almost turns into a glare. "Treating life like a game? In my opinion, that's such a juvenile way to live."
Alouette can sense Banagher's anger even before he clenches that tea glass. "Yes, on loan. It's unbelievably cruel..." She frowns. "The pilot.. I can't imagine how they're feeling, being a pawn on all these games." She hopes they can rescue them.. but they've barely made any headway on who it is - she'll have to touch base with Akane for that, probably.
"Legally.. intelligence has been doing everything they can. Ultimately, the Federation's response was weak at best. My best guess is that Vist itself is providing protection to Luio and any other entities it contracts out to." She takes a sip... the tea is starting to grow cold, regrettably. "Likely in exchange for something they really need, don't you think? You did say they were desperate for intel on LaPlace's Box."
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
"Akane and I met almost a year ago in this strange, empty city." Or at least, it felt empty at the time, to a Newtype. "I was glad to see her again. Especially with her girlfriend! Rikka has a way of putting everyone around her at ease, I think."
Alouette worries about a bad first impression, and Banagher blinks, then shakes his head. "No, don't worry! What could be a better first impression than helping me save someone important to me?" He smiles, hoping to reassure her. "Besides, we can always do something fun next time. Like..." His mind goes blank. Oh no. "...do you like Haros?"
Haros. The evergreen fallback for conversations.
"Is there any way to communicate with the Angels? I know most of them are hostile, but -- this one definitely wasn't. I hope they're not planning on killing it." Banagher sighs. "I wasn't going to win that fight. The Angel saved me. I'd be... really upset to hear someone was planning on hurting it."
True, earnest sympathy and compassion radiate from Alouette, and Banagher smiles. His posture eases just a bit, and he drinks the last bit of his (slightly-cooled) tea. Maybe tea isn't so bad. It's the company you keep while you drink it that matters.
"Phrasing it like that makes you sound like some kind of superhero." Banagher grins. "Courage still exists in my heart, too! Until all of this is over. And even after that. I won't give up!"
A nod, about Elpeo. "Yes, she died years and years before they were invented. Whatever happened to capture her spirit is a horrible corruption of what psychoframe should truly be used for. It's let me and the Unicorn save people, and I've read that the Phenex did something similar. That the Banshee has been twisted into something so monstrous." Banagher squeezes his eyes shut. "We have to save her and put a stop to this."
"Bored?" That anger threatens to rise in Bangaher's heart again. "He commits these atrocities because he's --" Another breath. "It's not just juvenile. It's disgusting. Is there any way to stop Alexis? If we can take away his support, the Vist Foundation will at least be a little more vulnerable..."
The young pilot of the Unicorn nods, a little absently. Are there any details he's missed? Any fragments of a clue that could lead to finding the Banshee's pilot? "So many Newtypes are taken and used by labs this way." He murmurs. "Vist has a wealth of options..."
"That makes sense. Why would Luio take a move that would hurt them, after all. We can't count on legal protection or help, then. Not really. Um -- not to discount your team, but... It doesn't seem likely." Banagher frowns. "I don't understand how the Vist Foundation has been blackmailing the Federation if they don't even know where the Box is. My father was the head of the Foundation, but he's dead now. Was he the only one who knew?"
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"I first met her during a very important mission in that city." Alouette recounts - she helped them save Renais. "We got along pretty well.. and even if a lot happened in the year since, I trust her with a lot now - she is my operator in battle after all." Banagher's mention of Rikka also gets a smile from her. "Rikka is also an important friend to me - and I'm really glad she and Akane found happiness together. Definitely Couple of Couples material." She grins.
"I suppose you're right." Her expression softens as Banagher reassures her. "I can't say I have much experience with Haros, but I have lots of programming knowledge. So it could be fun." She nods, enthusiastically. "You should introduce me to yours next time."
"Communication? That's..." She does remember something. "Normally, it's impossible. But when it showed up in Tsutsujidai, Administrator Nagisa taught this particular Angel to communicate in understandable symbols. ...In other words, the Angel can speak emoji and maybe that's enough." She holds back a slight laugh at the ridiculousness of it. "It's usually hard to tell what NERV high command has up their sleeves. They had us tested for mental contamination but everything seemed okay... so I don't think there's any plans to kill it unless it decides to attack after all." She pauses for a moment. "...It does worry me to leave such a powerful entity unchecked, though. Especially one we know so little as an Angel."
"I might be a Brave, but I've been taught so many times that it's something that anyone has the potential to be." She nods, resolutely. "For me, it's about taking my life back in a sense. If I can live with courage and dignity, and fight for the people I love.. that's enough for me." Banagher has the same resolution in his heart, she can tell. "Keep those words close to your heart. If you're able to say that even after everything you've been through... you're a Brave in your own right." Alouette smiles.
She frowns as Banagher explains how the purpose of the Psychoframe has been twisted in such a horrible way. "The way they're manipulating the psychoframe, the Banshee's pilot, and Elpeo Puru's feelings... they'll get theirs, and we'll rescue them no matter what." She clasps her hands. Another person she's promised to save, and she doesn't even know who they are. Alexis seemed to imply it was someone very close by, though...
"Disgusting... well-put." She nods, but then Banagher asks how they can stop him. "Stop him. Well.. this might be hard to believe, but as far as we can understand, he's immortal." She gazes directly into Banagher's eyes. "But even if he is.. maybe we just haven't found the right way to stop him yet. He must have a weak point that he's desperate to hide." Could that lie in his fear of Oath over Omega? Of Guy when he stabbed him with the Will Knife? Alouette doesn't know - but she won't give up even if it's Alexis supporting them.
"I know.." Alouette replies, dejected at the the amount of Newtypes in labs. "That's why I suggested BioNet first, they've taken an interest in the potential of people from Tsutsujidai. And Alexis seemed to imply it was someone close to Akane..." Alouette frowns.
"Right.. 3G has a lot less influence in that matter, because we've been put in a delicate situation because of the Gutsy Galaxy Guard's exile. Everyone knows it was a ruse these days, but it won't stop the Federation from hanging it over our heads. In short... it means we can't send, say, Volfogg in there guns blazing with his Holographic Camouflague without being extra careful about it." She laughs, slightly. As for the Box... "That is curious. Maybe there's something more to their blackmail than just the Box?"
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
Banagher grins. "Fighting with someone you trust is important. I'm glad you two have each others' backs. Leina was so excited when Akane and Rikka won Couple of Couples. I'm glad it was them."
Though, Prom night still makes Bangaher a little worried. Leina had her walls up so high all through the evening. It was surprising -- what could she have wanted to keep him from on a night celebrating their togetherness? Maybe it was her trauma from what Glemy did?
His worry returns to the back of his mind as Alouette responds positively to the idea of talking over Haros. "You know, I could use an expert's opinion on a project I'm working on! A close friend is having a baby soon, but she has a really demanding job, so I want to make a Haro designed to help out in the nursery. But trying to account for everything is a little impossible."
"I'm sure Haro is going to love you. I'll bring him by, next time." Banagher smiles -- it's obvious the little companion robot means the world to him.
Banagher blinks, then laughs, eyes lighting up. "Kaworu would be capable of something like that! Emojis? I barely know how to use emojis, and he managed to get an unknown entity to communicate with them. I'm glad Kaworu is on its side."
"It saved me, so I'm biased, but," Banagher brings a hand to his heart. "I believe in that Angel. I'm sure it's on our side."
Banagher isn't entirely sure what a Brave is, but Alouette says it as though it's a great honor. So the young pilot of the Unicorn smiles to her. "Thank you so much, Alouette. I will, I promise. Leina and I talked about Miracles a lot time ago, and how they don't do enough for people. That people really need -- something like a symbol, that they can believe in and be inspired by! Something to help them improve their lives with their own effort."
Flushing a little, Banagher goes on. It's a little embarrassing talking about your dreams so openly... "That's what I want the Unicorn and I to become. A Symbol of Hope. I know I can't help everyone, but maybe I could do a little, that way."
"Yes." Spoken like a vow. "No matter what. There's so many people who wants to save the Banshee's pilot. There's no way Vist and Luio can take out all of us."
Scowling at the news of Alexis' immortality, Banagher shakes his head. "Even if he is immortal, I bet it'd take him a while to recover from a clean shot from the Beam Magnum. I'll try it out, if he crosses my path."
"Tsutsujidai is still brand new. I'm glad it has that Angel guarding it -- I'm sure groups like BioNet or the Institute would love getting their hands on people from there."
A city made from the heart of a god... Or so the Shuffle Alliance reports said. Even Bangaher finds himself curious as to what Tsutsujidai's residents are capable of.
"Wait, Alexis hinted at who the pilot is?" Banagher snaps back to the conversation. "Someone close to Akane? Can we just -- make a list, and put surveillance on everyone? Are any of her friends or family missing? We've got to use this!"
Banagher's near-frantic with desperation to put this information to use. "If Alexis is so arrogant that he's dropping hints -- if we can trick him into revealing more, somehow..."
"Well, um." Banagher smiles, a little embarrassed. "I'm technically a fugitive. So I'm happy to be the one going in guns blazing. Will me meeting with you get you guys in trouble? And I guess my father must've died before telling anyone where the Box was. Otherwise they wouldn't bother with me, and just get it themselves. But if they don't know, why is the Federation still listening to them..."
"I've gone around and around in my head on this so many times. There must be something big we don't know." Banagher sighs. "Something that would make everything make sense."
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"I was glad too. I mean, I did vote for them." Alouette grins. "Prom really was fantastic..." Alouette reminisces, unaware of Banagher's worries regarding it. "I was kind of expecting to clock out early, and I was worried I'd have a bad time. But it didn't turn out so bad after all."
"Oh! I'd love to help out with that. It's definitely important to have a positive environment for the baby." Alouette nods. "I've worked with the Brave Robos - far more complex AI.. so I should be qualified to help you out, I hope." Alouette looks excited at the prospect of meeting Banagher's though. "I'll look forward to it!"
"Oh, so you know the Administrator? Yeah, he is incredible. He taught me piano for a time.. and I couldn't ask for a better teacher, really." She lightens up herself. It's not so bad, having such a heavy conversation, if they at least know some of the same people. "I'm glad too. With someone like him, maybe there's an easier way to end the war against the Angels." Banagher really does seem to believe in that Angel, though... she hopes his conviction is right.
Banagher's own perspective on miracles is quite interesting. "You're right that symbolism can be a very powerful thing. It's why I think the imagery of the King of Braves, standing up for people no matter what comes at them, was so effective." Alouette nods. "If you and the Unicorn can become something like that too.. I think that'd be wonderful." She says that from the heart, even if Banagher sounds embarrassed to admit that's what he wants. "But miracles... I think they're something we make from our own hands, too. That's how they're linked to courage. And if the Oath Over Omega is to be believed... the fact that we're able to live our lives and keep surviving is its own miracle." She asserts her own perspective.
"I'd love to encourage you because that's what he deserves but..." Her tone falls flat, serious. "You don't want his attention. You just don't... he'll do whatever he can to make your life miserable if he thinks it's interesting enough."
"Akane herself's currently looking into it. She's putting together a chart, she showed me. And I think she's cooperating with Intelligence, too. But.. it doesn't seem like anyone in particular is missing who shouldn't be." She answers Banagher, who almost goes into a frenzy chasing after what can be gleamed from that tidbit of information. "It's hard for me to feel convinced, and I don't want to go brazen in surveilling people I care about because of Alexis's word." About tricking Alexis... "If he's feeling arrogant and dropping hints, he probably has a reason to feel so confident. The pilot might have a way to cover their tracks... or he's leading us down the wrong path in the first place. Watching us struggle against that would be plenty entertaining for him, too."
"Just don't be reckless.. we don't want to put you at risk. And trouble? I doubt it. We're still smart enough to take precautions. I know you're probably worried because of the Photon Power Labs... but no one would dream of attacking the Orbit Base at full security."
Banagher shuffles through the possibilities... what else is Vist hiding? "I think you're right. Perhaps we have to think outside the Box for this one. ... pffft, snnrk" Bad jokes aside, she straightens herself back up. "In any case, I hope the information I was able to give you helps. There's a lot we don't know... but I think we made a lot of progress too, and it helps to keep all the facts and ideas straightened and sorted out." She takes the last sip of her tea, setting the cup aside.
<Pose Tracker> Banagher Links has posed.
"Since I don't go to school anywhere, I didn't even know there was voting..." Banagher admits, sheepishly. "But it was really great. I'm really glad you had a nice time too, Alouette."
Brightening at the thought of another collaborator coming on board for Operation Nanny Haro, Banagher pulls his phone out. "What's your VERTEX? I'm thelastHaro. I can send you what we've got so far -- and I'd love to hear any ideas, if you have them! I've never really interacted with babies before, so I want to make sure I don't make any obvious mistakes."
"Yeah, Kaworu and I have been friends for a while. He helped me out when I really needed it, once. And gave me some advice on piano music for Leina, too." Banagher smiles at the memory. "Maybe we could all play together sometime? I have complete faith in that strange Angel. I just hope NERV will feel the same way."
Alouette takes Banagher's dream seriously, which earns her a gentle smile. He looks so thankful -- perhaps Banagher had been expecting to be mocked for his idea. It seems Alouette would never do such a thing.
"Thanks. It's really more Leina's idea than mine, I just jumped on board with it. I definitely believe in Miracles. They've saved us so many times now." Banagher murmurs. "But Leina's right, too. We can't rely on only miracles to fix everything. Everyone needs to be able to fight for their own happiness."
"If getting him to focus on me saves the Banshee pilot, it'll be worth it." He grits out, before calming himself down. "Alright. As long as it's being worked on... I can definitely trust an entire Intelligence division to get more done than I can. And you're right. Maybe he's just messing with us."
Banagher sighs. "I'll be careful. I've gotten a lot of people hurt by being too hasty before, I won't let that happen again. I'm glad you'll all be safe here. That means Akane will be, too. Do you think --" A pause. "I'm worried Alexis will go for Rikka, if he likes tormenting Akane so much. Could she be protected here too?"
Alouette's terrible, terrible joke manages to get a laugh from Banagher, though he shakes his head through it. "That was awful. I can't believe I haven't heard that one yet..."
He smiles, standing up. Banagher's shuttle will be ready to bring him home soon. "You've been so much help. Thank you, Alouette. And I'm really glad we could meet, besides all that. You're an amazing person. I'm glad we can be friends."
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"There was this.. whole thing around the voting at my school if you'd believe it. One of our classmates mistook the list of names for a hit list and before we knew it, the entire Prom Committee was being interrogated." It was absolute chaos looking back, but at least it's something of a funny story now. "Jindai is... an interesting school!"
"My VERTEX? flechefinale. I wanted something a little fencing related that also sounds cool..." She admits. "I don't have much of any experience with babies, either, honestly. But at the same time.. it's a little like the Haro is growing up alongside them. I think that's sweet."
"Definitely, that sounds like a great idea.. I'm surprised I didn't know she plays piano. I'm still a total amateur, but I'll do my best to keep up with you both."
"I agree with her on that much. You have to take happiness by the hand. It won't come if you just wait for it." She nods, resolutely.
Alouette looks.. tense as Banagher seems willing to sacrifice himself to Alexis to save the Banshee pilot. But he does gradually calm down. "Thank you for being careful. I know it sucks.. but one day will be the right day to settle things with him."
Banagher suggests the possibility of Alexis targeting Rikka, which leaves a troubled pause for a moment. "Rikka is a strong person herself. She heads Tsutsujidai's own Rescue Team. And at the same time.. I think Akane loves Rikka too much to ever let Alexis hurt her. Still... if it comes down to it, we'll be glad to protect her, as long as she needs it."
"Honestly? I expected you to say you've heard that one a million times. Guess my sense of humour is pretty creative..." She grins. Before standing up herself - she'll see Banagher back to his shuttle. "You're welcome, Banagher. You've been a wonderful guest and.. I'm looking forward to being friends too."