2025-05-02: The Clock Strikes Midnight
- Log: 2025-03-27: The Clock Strikes Midnight
- Cast: Ranka Lee, Brera Sterne, A few Billion Vajra, Grace O'Connor
- Where: The Vajra Homeworld
- OOC - IC Date: REDACTED
- Summary: On a diplomatic mission - or defection to the Vajra, depending on your point of view, Ranka Lee and Brera Sterne attempt to make contact with the Vajra.
Her first glimpse of it was as Brera's variable fighter arced around the planet's moon, a chiaroscuro of dark, ringed in light, the glare became blinding even in her suit's shielding, before she saw a glimpse of it.
It wasn't that different from Earth, she first thought, bright blue, continents of green, wreathed in a watercolor of wispy clouds planet wide. And then one saw the organic looking ring, sharp and spiky and different, built planet side.
A hive, her mind knew. The ring was their hive. Maybe it was planet side but...
"It's not much different from Earth." She commented, quietly, thinking of how they built their own ring surrounding it. "No." Brera replied neutrally, "If Earth were inhabited entirely by Vajra, this is what it would look like."
Despite the insulation, she felt a shiver run across her skin, something about the world felt welcoming, in contrast to that image of an Earth without people. Ai-kun flew in parallel to the ship their constant guide... or perhaps escort was a better word.
He didn't look much like he did. Alto pointed a gun at him when he saw him, she could hardly blame him, after watching so many like him descend upon her concert, killing and killing and-
-but that's why she decided, this was for the best. Sheryl needed him, it was selfish of her to even think of asking for him to come. Betraying everything they'd fought for, was an act of supreme selfishness, just because... of how she felt.
This felt right.
"Thank you... Brera, for coming with me. You really didn't have to do all this for me, but... you're the only reason I can, I would have been too scared to do this alone."
Brera flew with his eyes closed for a moment longer, before opening them, his expression distant, "Cyborgs with no memory data like us live by our orders. That was in essence my only reason for existing. But something inside of me started to overflow when I heard your song... even though I wasn't meant to be anything but a combat machine." Turning fractionally in the cockpit, he looked at her, "But it's not just repaying you for that. Thinking of you scared or alone... I feel the need to correct this, so it doesn't come to pass."
For a moment, Ranka looked surprised, but then there was a smile, as something like tears welled in her eyes, "Brera... I'm so glad you're here." Overwhelmed herself, she considers the matter, "Can I ask you again, about that song?" His chin dipped, and- "That song, to me, is a memory. The sole piece of memory adorning my otherwise empty soul."
Ranka's eyes blinked, shocked at the similarity, "It's - isn't it the same as-" Alarms blared in the cockpit, and suddenly like numerous, red eyes in the dark of space, Vajra ships began to melt out of their fold gates. "It's the Vajra defense forces." Brera's sensors detected each and every one individually. This was not a battle one could survive. "Are you sure, Ranka?"
With a nod, she confirmed, "Yes. I'm sure my song will reach them. When it failed before..." Her eyes trailed down, "... I wasn't at my best, I wasn't singing what I wanted to sing. Now, I'm sure."
Brera only nodded, and as the Vajra defense fleet began launching numerous heavies, he braked hard, his Lucifer pivoting before transforming into a Battroid form, as Ranka raised herself in the cockpit, and began to sing the song - the way she had thousands of times before, this time though, there was more of a sense of conviction, resolve.
This is what she left them for, this is what felt right to her.
"Aimo aimo
"Nedel lushe
"Noina miria
"Endel prodea
"Photomi."
"Here we are in a warm sea."
And as she sang, Brera put the Harmonica up to his lips, and began to play along, the melody matching her own... a flash of a hill.
"Lulei luleia
"Skylarks soar like lapping waves over me."
Herself, singing, too young to remember, and with her was-
A cord slid over her neck, knocking her out of reverie, as she looked at Brera, startled to see his harmonica around her neck, "Brera?" "A charm. It'll help your wish reach the others."
Alarms blared again in the cockpit, as a Vajra heavy slammed into Ai-kun, and three others surrounded the Lucifer, latching hold. Brera made a noise of frustration, before immediately ascending at high speed to try and shake them off.
Then accelerating hard to the sound of Ranka's shriek, he tried to dive through asteroid debris on the way to the planet. "I'll protect you, even if it costs my life." "I don't want you to die!" Ranka told him back, suddenly frantic. "I came because I thought I could stop them from fighting-!"
As they took cover behind an Asteroid, the Heavies broke off, and instead around the corner, a green shape descended towards them, "Ai-kun!" Hitting the cockpit latch, Ranka said to Ai-kun, as she leaned out from it, "Tell everyone to stop! There's something I need to say to all of them!"
"Ranka, get back inside!" He couldn't close the cockpit with her there, as Ai-kun floated near, his eyes began to glow... a distinct, red. His tail sweeping out to snatch Ranka out of the cockpit, her eyes widening with a scream.
"RANKA!" Brera shouted, and through a glimpse - there was a flash of him on a hill, again of a boy sealing her behind a hatch. Another of him being pinned by a mobile suit foot, "BRERA!"
But the word that came to mind is 'Brother.' A swift flier catching Ai-kun, and carrying them both away in pursuit. As more and more Vajra descended upon the Lucifer, Brera fought, but was overwhelmed until...
One of them detonated, and several Variable fighters hovered before him.
"Well done, Brera." An extraordinarily familiar voice sounded over the comms, "Did you really think you were getting away from me?" Grace asked, smugly, "You were always following my orders."
His breath hissed, as if preparing himself for what would follow, anger and frustration seething over his body, "Though you've created quite a mess here along the way. It looks like the Vajra have noticed us. What annoying pests... still, are you going to thank me for letting you spend some quality time with your little sister?"
The anger left him immediately, becoming abject shock, "My sister?" "That's right... but it's time for the magic to wear off..." As Grace raised her fingers, placing two together, "... The clock is about to strike midnight for our 'Super Dimension Cinderella.'"
And in that wild rollercoaster of emotions that overflowed, Brera did not have a prayer in the world as Grace snapped her fingers...
... and a shock flooded Brera's body, as she subjugated his free will, the word-
SLAVE
Appeared over and over on every screen within his Lucifer.