2023-01-22: Ensign Lina (Coming Home)
- Log: 2023-01-22: Ensign Lina (Coming Home)
- Cast: Lina Lombardi
- Where: Tsutsujidai
- Date: U.C. 0097 01 22
- Summary: I'm coming home real soon, so just wait for me, okay?
The stars have never been so beautiful.
That was the last thought crossing Lina Lombardi's mind, looking up into the newly restored sky of Tsutsujidai as her exhaustion overtook her.
When next she opened her eyes, she found herself in the infirmary of an unknown ship. Sonia had taken the liberty of having her and the ReLion moved to the Paradiso for the night. As she pulled herself up, she noted that she should probably thank her. When her feet hit the ground next to the bed and her legs are privy to the entire weight of her body, her muscles scream out, causing her to wince. Just a little sore, that's fine.
"Nngh...jacket..." As Lina's senses came back to her, she realized that she wasn't wearing her jacket. Blinking a couple times, she notices it hanging by the door and hobbles over to grab it and hold it over her shoulder. Sonia would have to forgive her for running off, but she had a couple calls to make.
As she made her way through the halls of the Paradiso, she pulls out her communicator. She had to let G-Hound know she was back. "G-Hound, does anyone read? This is Ensign Linelise Lombardi, 21st G-Hound Aerial Juno 1. Does anyone read?"
"LINA!" She was met with the first voice she expected, her trusty technician Alina Pride. A wave of relief washed over her upon hearing a familiar voice for the first time in a month.
"Mousetrap! Yeah, it's me. As you can probably tell, I'm back."
"It's been almost two months...what happened in there?"
"Listen, it's...kind of a lot. I expect the Colonel's going to want a full report."
"The Colonel's going to be a bit busy today. Big operation going on."
"That's alright, I'm gonna be a couple days anyway. Can you get a transport to the Tsutsujidai PLANT on Tuesday? I really don't feel like taking the ReLion all the way home."
"I should be able to manage that."
"Oh, and can you have them take me to the Grove first?"
"...Sure."
"Talk to you later, Mousetrap."
She hangs up and stares at the screen for a second. Speaking of the Grove...
The phone rings...rings again...and before Lina can speak, she's greeted by the sound of a woman sobbing in hysterics.
"LINELISE BEATRICE LOMBARDI YOU ASSHOLE! Do you have any idea how much I've been worried about you?!"
"Elsa, Elsa, Elsa...calm down. You know it wasn't my fault."
Lina's sister audibly sniffs on the other end of the line. "You missed Christmas!"
"I know."
"I thought I had lost you, just like--"
"I know."
Another sniff. "I'm glad you're okay..."
"Yeah. I'll be at Uncle Francis' on Tuesday. Tell him for me, okay?"
"I will. Hey, Lina. I was going to ask you this at Christmas, and you're probably not in any condition to answer me, but..."
"Shoot."
"Since you're not working for that company anymore, I thought you might like to move back home."
Lina paused. Certainly now that she wasn't part of the mercenary world, there was little reason for her to stay in Moralia. Her lease was about to come up anyway.
"There's this really nice little place in town that I think you'd love. It would...just be nice to have you closer."
"I'll think about it. Listen, I got a bit to do before I come home. Just wait for me, okay?"
"I will. I love you, Lina."
"Love ya, sis."
She places her comms back in her pocket and pulls on her jacket as she exits the Paradiso to get some air. Looking up into the sky that they had worked so hard to win back, it didn't feel quite as oppressive as it used to. Something had clicked during that fight last night. She had broken through. Rita would be ecstatic to hear. She'd have to reach out to her.
She wondered what would be waiting for her out there. A world where she was a Newtype...a world with Amuro Ray...
No time to dwell. Sonia will be fine holding the ReLion for a couple days while she packs.
Everyone, I'm coming home real soon, so just wait for me, okay?