2023-03-12: Countdown to...
- Cutscene: Countdown to...
- Cast: A Tired Woman
- Where: Hong Kong
- Date: 12 March 0093
- Summary: A woman prepares for battle.
5:18AM Local Time, March 12 0097
The Peak
"Sorry. I should have dropped by earlier."
A woman walked out of an artificial cave onto an outcropping, surrounded by trees to hide it. The dawn sun had yet to reach the area, and the morning fog sat around the hill, cloaking all movement.
"I hope you don't mind, I just wanted some company while I waited."
The woman opened a folding chair, took out a seat, and looked out before her. Four moss covered graves, simple and plain, each marked only with a symbol. A diamond, a club, a spade and the face of a joker.
She reached into her pocket to check on two things- one a sign of office, one a treasured gift. And using both this way is a betrayal.
But this was the only way that she could keep the truth safe.
"I'm sure you'd tell me I'm overcomplicating things, Alan." The woman says, before opening a thermos and taking a sip of hot coffee. "That I should just tell everyone and face him."
She sighs. "...But I can't. Too much in my life depends on the lie remaining true. I didn't even tell you, after all. Any of you." She taps her knee, anxiously. "But even then... you had to know, didn't you? Tris at least..."
She takes another sip, watching the sun. She didn't need the sample to feel it now. In a few more minutes she'd have to move. "Did you think about what you were doing all those years ago? Who you were leaving behind to clean up the mess?"
She could feel. The pressure. Enclosing her.
"I have. That's why this has to work. It's not fair for those kids to have to clean up our messes. We weren't supposed to be like this." She seals the thermos, and picks up her things.
"I might talk to you again after this. See if I can get things tidied up. I owe you that much. Maybe I'll finally bring myself to open that bottle you gave me, Nass. I might have people worth drinking it with." She moves toward the cave, turning back to look at the graves one last time.
"I have to make some calls. See you later, Shuffle Alliance."
6:02AM Local Time, 12 March 0097
Stephanie Luio's Penthouse Apartment
In her bedroom, Stephanie Luio's personal cellphone rings. She stares down at it- and sees the name calling. Her eyes narrow.
"What do you want, Doctor?" The voice on the other end speaks quickly and firmly. "That's a large request. Why would I-"
It's rare that Stephanie Luio, the most powerful person in New Hong Kong, is shocked into silence. But shock alone is not enough to make a decision like this.
She looks at the phone, at the numbers presented by the other caller.
"...Fine." Wordlessly, she hangs up and starts new call. "Mayor. Call an evacuation for Kowloon Walled City Park and the surrounding area. Immediately."
6:04AM Hong Kong Time, March 12 0097
Orbit Base
The operator desk lights up with a message. The signal is old, and a GPS coordinate is attached for the sender- an old GGG pager, much like Mamoru once had. It's a string of numbers.
2-911-000-207-320
6:08AM Hong Kong Time, March 12 0097
Somewhere in the Earthsphere
An alarm sounds- in the cockpit of the God Gundam and in the communicators of Domon Kasshu and Rain Mikamura.
A distress call, Shuffle Frequency- destination Hong Kong.
6:23AM Hong Kong Time, March 12 0097
Kowloon Walled City Park
She sits silently in the unit she smuggled in earlier, crouched inside a truck.
She waits, like she did on this day four years ago, fear in her heart. Waiting, wondering if he'll appear... or vanish again. She's not sure which outcome she fears more.
But the pressure, red and brilliant, puts all doubt to rest. She'll be able to see the Light of Dawn backed by the rising of the sun any second now, even if she couldn't sense him.
But she could. He'd be here any second now. So should the aid she 'called'. A perfect ambush- She just had to wait for-
6:24AM Hong Kong Time, March 12 0097
Impact.