2023-04-01: A Flash of Inspiration
- Cutscene: A Flash of Inspiration
- Cast: Naoko Suzuki and friends
- Where: Nova Stellar's Quarters, Ra Mari II
- Date: 0097-04-01
- Summary: Naoko prepares for the battle of Palau, in her own way.
There's nothing quite as soothing as the clacking of keys, pressed down in rapid succession. It's like a pleasing melody to go along with your work, a little reward for getting in the zone. Yet it is also a forbidden melody, for actively perceiving it means that you've lost the very focus that caused the melody in the first place, dooming it to cease before long.
Naoko leans back in her chair, averting her eyes from the screen of the laptop in front of her to stare at the ceiling. Is there even a point to doing this now? If only she had more time. Somehow, she doubts that it'd be an option to ask Char Aznable nicely to wait a little while with dropping giant space rocks so she could finish her work first.
>"You really should sleep, Nova..."<
Smiling at the concern from the familiar feminine voice, she glances to her left shoulder, where the white butterfly-shaped hairclip rests. "I know, I know. But do you really think I can sleep, knowing what could happen tomorrow? There's only so much I'll be able to do then... I have to do everything I can right now."
From her other shoulder, the black butterfly responds, >"You say that, but you still have no idea how you're gonna make this work, do you?"<
Naoko sighs, turning back to her screen, filled with elaborate programming code spread across several windows. She can't deny what Uriel's saying, but... "You don't understand, this has to work. It's the best thing I can do, so I need to do it."
She places her hands back on the keyboard. But it's too late. She's started doubting herself, she can't possibly muster the focus nor the motivation to continue. She ruffles her hair in frustration.
"Ahhh, dammit! I'm so close! If only I could figure out the delivery method..."
>"I hear a lot of talking, but I don't hear any typing. Come on then, you are 'Nova Stellar, Miracle Worker', aren't you?"<
Naoko grits her teeth. He always knows just what to say to motivate her into doing her best. But it's not so simple this time. As if to justify her inaction, she begins to explain.
"Look, this is tough to figure out, okay? You can't just rewrite the OS of a machine on the fly. There's safeguards, and for good reason. You're messing with the fundamental aspects of how the machine operates, so even if you could do it, at the very least it's gonna be a bumpy ride while you're working on it. And that's if you know exactly what you're doing. It's far more likely to shut down a bunch of essential processes because, well, that's generally what's necessary and what you should have done in the first place. If you had the choice. But, we're out of time. So this is how it needs to happen. I just... I just need to do this. Somehow. Some... how..."
Abruptly, her fingers start to move, as if on their own accord. The speed increase of her typing makes her previous, already rapid pace seem like that of a novice. The melody of the keys has become a cacophony. Yet Naoko's focus remains absolute. Window after window opens, filled with line after line of code, while she stares unblinkingly ahead with wide-open eyes.
>"Heh heh, yeah! Now that's more like it!"<
The white butterfly does not share the black one's enthusiasm. >"Uriel... I think something's wrong."<
>"Ahh, you worry too much, Ariel! ...Wait a second. Ariel. Is this... is it happening again?"<
>"I think it is. We have to snap her out of it!"<
>"Right! Oy, Nova! Nova, listen! HEEEEY!"<
There is no response, Naoko continuing to type, not seeming to hear anything. Just then, a sound mimicking that of a deep breath emanates from the white butterfly, right before...
>"NOVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"<
The black butterfly makes a strained noise, then falls off Naoko's shoulder. As for Naoko, her hands slow, and her dilated pupils slowly return back to normal. She blinks several times, before wondering, "...what happened?"
The white butterfly doesn't miss a beat, >"You just dozed off all of a sudden. Are you okay?"<
Naoko rubs at her eyes. "I think so..." Catching sight of the screen, she stares in disbelief. "...Did I...?" As she clicks through the various open windows, her eyebrows go waaay up. "When did I write this? This is nonsense. An absolute mess. It's... it's..." Then, a wide grin. "It's exactly what I need! Ahahahaha! I did it, I did it!!"
When the initial elation passes however, she has to wonder. "But, wait. How long was I out?"
>"Mumu... that's mean, Nova. You know we can't tell time."<
"Oops! Sorry, sorry, slipped my mind." She wasn't exactly paying attention to the time herself either, but regardless... how did she just forget all about coming up with this idea, let alone writing it out? Is that really something that can happen if you overexhaust yourself? It's far from the first time she's done that... in which case, what else might she have forgotten about? A slowly dawning horror threatens to overtake her...
She resolutely shakes her head, pushing those emotions away. This is not the time. There's work to do.
As Naoko returns her attention to the keyboard, a groan can be heard from the floor.
>"...She has no mouth, but she sure can scream..."<