View source for 2022-11-23: Canary

{{Cutscene
|cast=Michele Luio
|location=Michele Luio's Apartment
|summary=Michele prepares to chase a miracle.
}}
{{PhaseAndTurn
|phase=1
|turn=2
}}
The penthouse apartment is a sleek but expensive affair. Windows overlook the island city of New Hong Kong, the hustle and bustle of traffic and daily life occuring outside.

Michele Luio traipses through her apartment in a much different way than she moves through life. She's still in her underwear post-shower despite it ostensibly being afternoon - she canceled all appointments for the day except a meeting with her secretary at the penthouse - as she decided to finally start getting dressed. Slipping on her clothes, her one-piece black jumpsuit with built-in pockets (important) and her loose red and white jacket, she moved to the mirror to wash her face and start doing her makeup. Eyeshadow was important - a peculiar shade of reddish-pink under the eyes - as was remembering to grab her violet choker and fasten it around her neck at the last moment.

And then, it was time to wait. 

----

Once Brick Teclato, her ever loyal bespectacled secretary, arrived, Michele began nursing a glass of red wine of the finest vintage. She'd need it - the data she was receiving today was personally important.

A file rested on the glass table in front of Michele. "Alright, let's see what we've been given." She could have done this personally - but having Brick there meant she had someone to talk it through with.

Opening it up with a casual motion, there was a set of pictures and documents. The first was a white Gundam, with a heavily redacted document marked ''''TORRINGTON''''."

"What the hell is this?" Michele glanced over it, taking a sip of her red wine.

Brick, holding the bottle of wine as he stood upwards by where Michele was sitting, pushed his glasses up once. "They call it the White Unicorn. It's a rogue Gundam, spotted at the destruction of Torrington Base - which we don't know much about. We were lucky to get this much."

Having finished off her glass, Brick offers another pour with the wine bottle. Michele holds up a hand. "No, thank you."

"It's a sister unit, isn't it? I don't care much about it even so, but..." Michele flips to the next file set.

''''UNDERGROUND EMPIRES''''

Photos of the recent Dinosaur Empire attack in Tokyo, the original New Yark detonation, as well as various Kikaiju led in the past year are glanced at, as Michele twirls the empty bottle of wine around. "The thread here..."

Brick nods as he clarifies. "A series of disasters linked to the past. They've returned to the present despite all odds." Michele flips to the next set. 

''''MODERN MIRACLES''''

Michele's eyes glanced over. A bulky, large red machine, seen from afar.

"How is this a miracle?" She glanced, reading the file.

"This Behemoth defied the laws of physics to hold up its mass. Frankly, it shouldn't have walked, let alone reaped what destruction it did."

Michele flips to the penultimate file. She knows she's getting into the important stuff, as this one is as redacted as Torrington.

''''OATH OVER OMEGA''''

Brick lets Michele read, but then elaborates regardless, as pictures of the recent Frontier Fleet attack and an attack in Nouvelle Tokyo earlier this year both cross her vision. Michele holds up the glass with a 'please', and gets another pour.

"A threat against all life, fought by an exiled hero. We're in an era of new miracles."

Michele pauses, taking a long sip of her wine, before pulling to the last file.

''''THE CANARY''''

A golden Gundam similar to the Unicorn seen before, seen flying in the depths of space. This is the least redacted one - yet it's clear that's only because someone removed the redactions.

"It's her." Michele said firmly, picking up the photo and lifting it up.

Brick nodded. "The Phenex has been spotted at disaster sites recently. Your target of interest...are you sure you're ready, ma'am?'

It was out of care, but Michele dismissed it with a wave of the hand. "Of course, Brick. According to this data...they're unclear of the machine's motives. But if it's her - she's a canary in a coal mine. Which means if there's a disaster, she'll show up."

Brick nodded once more, as Michele gazed longer at the photo before putting it away and closing up.

"Call every reliable connection we have. Press them, bribe them, I don't care. I have utmost confidence in your abilities - we're going on a hunt."

Brick bowed briefly, placing the wine bottle away as he parted to follow her orders. Michele stared into her wine glass. She lost track of time, as a memory briefly passed her by.

----

'Hey, do you believe in Heaven?'

----

Michele reawoke on her couch, having zoned out. The glass was still steady in her hand - a few moments, tops.

"I'll find you. No matter what it takes."

The glass was downed, and Michele stood up.

Time to get to work.