2023-06-23: II. I Want To Tell You
- Log: I Want To Tell You
- Cast: Leina Ashta as Puru-1, Rena Lancaster, Ruri Hoshino, Roux Louka, Naoko Suzuki
- Where: An active Warzone.
- OOC - IC Date: 0097-06-23
- Summary: The Banshee Norn arrives on the battlefield in the middle of a massive battle between the Three Ship's Alliance, the Sleeves, and the Federation forces. The General Revil greets its arrival with continued attempts to turn it into a non-factor, while Ruri Hoshino sets about on a dangerous mission to enter the machine and stop this from happening. The brave pilots of the Three Ship's Alliance engage with Puru-1 and attempt to convince her to stand down from her actions. Will it really be so easy? What feelings will they convey to her to try? Wait, is this an anime after all!?
<Pose Tracker> Puru-1 has posed.
BGM OST Start - 1st movement Banshee - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YislT-nP3uU
It was an attack without warning in the middle of their conflict with the Sleeves. The General Revil, the Dogosse-Giar class flagship of the Federation fleet had started by creating a defensive line of beam-dispersing clouds, giving more than enough time for its mobile suit complement to set up a defensive line and swarm the battlefield on assault. ReZELs and Jegans are thick as locusts, targeting the Three Ship's Alliance more than the Sleeves. Beam fire lancing throughout the void of space, flooding it with deadly light.
They still haven't even bothered to hail the Three Ship's Alliance and their leaders properly. This is not an attempt to drive them into submission, surrender. Annihilation is their aim. Even if it isn't outright stated, it is perhaps easy enough to understand. Martha Vist Carbine has lost all patience, and she can order even the flagship of the Federation to do her bidding. How many phone calls did it take her?
Just one.
The Nadesico is currently facing hit and runs from mobile suits darting in and out, in an attempt to overwhelm its distortion field, distract, disorient. It's gravity cannon able to penetrate the beam coating and dispersal defenses, they seem intent on making certain they don't fire it at all. The battleships seem intent on remaining just outside of its effective range, keeping the mobile suit line between them. Anti-aircraft weapons fire on any mobile suits that come close. Beam dispersal clouds hungrily absorbing shots from the Eternal and the Ra Mari II.
On a battlefield this large, one can hardly keep track of all the action, the play and counterplay between the Three Ship's Alliance and the Federation and the Sleeves. One must focus on what's in front of them, to survive. As pilots face off against people who were their allies only a few short months ago. ReZELs flying in and out in smaller engagements that usually end in one last flare of defiance, before lives are consumed in nuclear fire.
But something significant perhaps does grab their attention, when both Twin Mega Particle Guns mounted mid-ship on the General Revil, simply melt simultaneously before flaring in an explosion, mobile suits breaking off from the offense to fall back more defensively. The ship making a hasty turn, as a shape flies away from the ship, jets burning bright azure. The pressure of the battlefield, already intense, only grows as it comes closer.
"I warned you." A voice hisses through the comms static, and it's unclear who she's talking to.
The black shape flies through the darkness, weaving in and out of the hail of fire. Projectiles make contact with a shield, blinking as it detonates in a flare. A Saber sliding through it's armor in the aftermath, a red cockpit hurtling out of it at the last second before it ruptures into a bright flare. Another comes at it from behind, it's Psycoframe reinforced hand grasping the wrist holding the saber, and shredding it to pieces with an awful yank before she places her other hand against its head, a saber igniting to spear right through it.
Despite starting on the Federation line, she appears to be attacking them? Unfortunately, to anyone who can feel that awful sickening pressure, it's clear that her intent does not end with the Federation mobile suits. The Banshee Norn is working its way through their defensive line of mobile suits, more battlefield storm of feeling than weapon. Those who see it doing this on the Federation side are starting to loosen their formation, to allow it through. Perhaps despite the fact it was attacking them, they just received new orders to let it reach the Three Ship's Alliance line?
fury fear despair loneliness desolation
the lie the lie
that is
possibility
betrayal betrayal betrayal
no more
It's coming, it's coming for the Unicorn, unless it's stopped. And it will consume anything or anyone that gets in its way.
"Do any of you have even the slightest idea what you've DONE!?" Puru-1 shouts across the comms, accusingly, as if to blame them all for this entire battle being underway right now. Her resolve had been tested already, by the Mazins, by Koji and Sayaka, by Chris and the messages she brought. Yet now with dryer eyes, on the battlefield she sees what the powers that be have brought down upon their heads.
"What did you THINK was going to happen!?"
...---...
"I repeat, do not engage." A comms officer spoke, trying to get the message to as many squads as possible. "Twin Mega Particle Cannons offline-" "I HAVE EYES!" Captain Maseki Danbaef of the General Revil snaps at his gunnery officer, as he stands up from his Captain's seat, storming down to his System's Operator as he slammed a hand down on their station, "How are you not IN yet?" The Systems Operator, a young ensign with glasses calmly told him, "This was supposed to be a built in back door, sir. It has layers of encryption that shouldn't be there, some of the best, this wasn't anticipated in the briefing. However, it looks like it was set up hastily, I'm sure I can get through it."
She gave him a dour look, that only bordered on insubordination, "But I need TIME!" "How long?" "Five minutes." She told him, as he glared at her back, "Make it three." Moving back to his seat, he cursed again, "Damn that woman, she promised her runaway weapon wouldn't even be a factor."
...---...
It's a subtle thing on such a chaotic battlefield, but the General Revil's E-Warfare is laser focused in on the Banshee Norn. Look closer, and you can see the walls they face. The encryption code is fast moving, rapidly altering and adapting to be a wall to keep them out, but there are holes. Others would use these holes to pierce its defenses utterly. One can also see the code they're transmitting at regular intervals.
A sequence that will execute the pilot within. The moment the defenses fall, it will only be a matter of time. But not all systems operators need to be blunt force, the Walls of Jericho need not come tumbling down. There are tiny gaps, changing, shifting, widening. You can go in there, and try to defeat their gambit before it succeeds.
Right now, the pilot is your enemy. So is it worth it to even try?
Is she worth it?
OOC Notes: This scene occurs on 06/23 UC 97, just after the scene Insurrection which occurs on the same day ICly. For the purposes of this scene, this is a small slice of the battlefield you're engaging her with. Wide angle lens, everyone is on it, fighting simultaneously. Attending this scene does NOT lock you out from attending Aphelion on the 21st.
Your characters have four rounds to attempt to stop her, before the flow of battle will take her to another part of the battlefield and you're engaged by other Fed mobile suits. Due to the nature of this conflict, the majority of csys damage will be played out as 'emotional/fatigue' damage since the Banshee is in a marathon slog of battles going to the final duel.
************************************************************
KTS: Puru-1 has deployed in RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn <Unicorn Mode>. KTS: Puru-1 has deployed as a Boss for 4 opponents. KTS: Roux Louka has deployed in MSZ-006-3 Zeta Gundam 'Strike Zeta' <Mobile Suit>. KTS: Naoko Suzuki has deployed in NS-1 Sukeban. KTS: Rena Lancaster has deployed in A000-0001 Gaia Gear Alpha. KTS: Ruri Hoshino has deployed as a Sub Pilot for Rena Lancaster!
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
The battle grew even more complicated when the General Revil arrived, its Mobile Suit complement attacking both sides -- but, somehow and as ever, focusing on the Three Ships Alliance. Rena Lancaster is worried. No, more than worried.
This could go very badly.
But what Judau told her sits with her. She made a promise to help Leina; she made a promise to bring her back; she made a promise to not lose her again.
Right now, she is focused on the battle with the Mobile Suits in front of her. One of her golden beam sabers sheers the arm off a ReZEL that got too close -- and then she turns her head, as she feels that pressure.
"Leina...!"
She spots the dark shape moving through space. The Banshee is attacking Federation forces, too, she realizes. It doesn't mean there will be anything less for them. She breathes out, her breath catching. Can they really do this?
They have to try. Rena hears Leina's voice, then leans forward. "Ra Mari II, Kakapo Squadron, I have line of sight on the Banshee," she transmits. "Gaia Gear Alpha... engaging!"
The white Mobile Suit rockets forward, as Rena spots the Banshee -- then she lowers the beam rifle in the Gaia Gear's hand. The crosshairs flickers across the screen, before it alights over the Banshee's right shoulder. Then, a lance of mega particle energy fires off, hurtling for the black Gundam.
"Leina!" she calls out. "Please... please, stop! Listen to us!"
KTS: Rena Lancaster: Will Barrier Activates. KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Puru-1 with Beam Rifle Shot! KTS: Rena Lancaster has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Puru-1 has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Puru-1 has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Puru-1 blocks Rena Lancaster's Beam Rifle Shot, taking 1260 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 45240 <Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
Leina Ashta's heart cries out, and Gridknight has come. He is a vision of martial grace in the middle of space, throwing one Federation suit backwards into another with a bend at his waist. He's not laying too much damage into any one of them -- not out here, in this environment so hostile to human life -- but he knows their intent, for this woman who welcomed her into his house.
When his own Energy Lamp gutters out, he will be forced to retreat to the vast shelter of the Ra Mari II, though he didn't arrive with them. Emergency docking.
... the young man who appears, when the copied Gridman disappears, wasn't sculpted to face the ravages of space.
And while the Nadesico can be said to be keeping track of their allies, entering and leaving the battlefield, there is so much to track. "Aestivalis wing, intercept the ReZELs!" Comes the Captain's orders, as the bridge rumbles with so many hit-and-run tactics.
"Distortion Field... working adequately," Ruri says, stoic, as it flares in response to more darting gunfire. No one mobile suit could bring down the Nadesico so easily -- but they can't open its great prongs and fire in these conditions.
"Captain, the General Revil is firing --" Megumi Reinard, their communicator, grasps her headset as she leans forward to examine the data on her station. "-- no, the Mega Particle Guns were both destroyed?! But -- that suit is IFF Federation!"
"Leina's not letting us down!" The helmswoman Minato Haruka chirps, from Ruri's other side.
"But there's no way she'll stop with them, right?" Megumi frowns; belief doesn't come to her quite as easily. "With the way she's moving... she's mowing down everyone!"
"We'll just have to take this opportunity for all it's worth!" Captain Yurika Misumaru cries, pumping a fist. "Launch missiles, target the aft squad!"
"Launching," Ruri says, unshaken.
Give her credit: she doesn't sound distracted. There's no way to properly communicate the way she -- sees? -- that pressure, pushing towards the Banshee. The queries and requests which batter on its hull, laser-light. Yurika has no reason to suspect she'll be distracted, as she says: "All right! Now, we'll --"
"Captain." Even so, Ruri Hoshino interrupts.
"-- Ruri-ruri?" The blue-haired Captain interrupts herself, grasping the rail as she looks down to the lower level of the bridge which Megumi, Ruri, and Minato occupy.
"The General Revil is attempting to subvert the Banshee." Ruri, at least, remains toneless. "If they manage to get through, they'll probably kill Leina. It's something like the situation we saw with High Tension... her mobile suit is a danger to her, too."
Yurika gasps. "What do we do about that?!"
"I think I can stop it," Ruri says, with a light frown. "But, in a situation like this... please excuse me, Captain." Pressing her hands to her console, Ruri summons a data bowl around herself -- a swirling arc of screens, each streaming with information for her to take in.
Her hair's streaming, too.
That lapis hair turns starker and brighter, floating in the air as her pale gold eyes glow, and her pale skin all but shines with glittering lines. Ruri is, on occasion, called an 'Electronic Fairy' -- but it's never been more obvious why than here.
Part of her will remain here, to keep the Nadesico safe -- even as the Federation tries to destroy them, AGAIN.
Part of her will stay with her allies, as they fight this war that shouldn't be.
And part of her --
Her voice comes from the Gaia Gear's own systems, as she settles part of herself into the Psychoframe. "Excuse me, Rena-san. The situation is desperate at the moment, and you're much closer to the Banshee than the Nadesico can get, under these circumstances. Please allow me to operate from here. Ms. Ashta's life is at stake, now."
And it's from that platform that Ruri will extend her psychic efforts, to the Banshee. I haven't come to hurt you, is the message she spreads to the machine, even as she begins to blockade the Revil operator's efforts. She can hope that reassuring the Banshee will let her work, but...
Ruri's expecting to fight a war on two fronts, with this one.
<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.
Roux Louka came to the Strike Zeta after the battle in the Ra Mari II's corridors. The Mobile Suit enveloped her. The familiar soundscape of the start-up sounds she customized. The familiar seat. Even the faint scent of her own historical taste in shampoos and the lingering aroma of Normal Suit cleaning spray.
Oh yeah, thinks Roux as her eye throbs. I don't have my suit on. And I got punched in the eye. I should keep that in mind.
The world outside is chaos. Roux wonders at it briefly; she has not seen worse since the war, since the last stand of Neo Zeon's dreams in the space around Axis. And she thinks that this is worse. But there are dozens out there. Hundreds. Thousands. It's a major naval engagement.
But that sense - that curdled, black, clotted fury - that voice -
Was it worth it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt9XEDTNTsk
Yeah, Roux thinks as she hears Rena's voice. It was.
"On your four," Roux answers Rena, the sky-blue-and-black Mobile Suit thrusting to follow the Gaia Gear. "Strike Zeta, covering --"
There's the Banshee. Roux moves laterally, staying in the same relative quadrant she defined to Rena but moving to be in a different firing arc. Her own contribution doesn't come from the Hyper Mega Launcher - which may still be warming up - but from the thigh-mounted beam emitters, streaks of arcing magenta.
"Leina," Roux says.
"I hear you, but I don't agree. If you want to scream at me, scream; if you want to fight me, fight. But we didn't give up on you, and we're not going to," Roux continues: "and we chose this, freely, and of our own will. Call me whatever you want --"
"But come with me to do it!" Roux concludes. Up note. (Right?)
On a direct line to the Gaia Gear, Roux says, "Rena, I have an illegal munition I may have to drop in a minute. It may scramble your views so I'll try to give you a heads up." Her eyes turn downwards towards the General Revil's bulk, battered though it is, and then towards the weapon control panel, with its helpfully labelled 'MINOVSKY P.' submunition in a cheery green state.
KTS: Roux Louka targets Puru-1 with Thigh Beam Engagement! KTS: Roux Louka has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Puru-1 blocks Roux Louka's Thigh Beam Engagement, taking 1860 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 43380
<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.
One day. Just... one day. That's all Naoko asked for, after nearly two weeks of little rest spent on modifications to her Arm Slave. Not a moment too soon, as the very next day she's having to rush out of her quarters on the Ra Mari II and to the hangar bay following all the alarms going off. She has no idea what happened to cause all this, but that's par for the course at this point. Doesn't matter anyway, she's not about to sit idly by during a crisis situation.
Of course, it did take her a while to deploy, having not exactly been on standby. She only has a short moment to check over the Sukeban's thruster output and having to conclude 'seems legit' - no time for examining further. With a quick "I'm here!" she announces her presence on the battlefield to her allies, and just like that, her course is set immediately, when the next thing she hears is the transmission on the Kakapo band, regarding Rena's status.
"The Banshee...!"
>"Nova!"<
"I know! This is my chance!"
A quick aside with one of her AI co-pilots later, the Sukeban heads for the Gaia Gear's position. A presence easily sensed, though perhaps somewhat confusing. Whatever is going on within the Arm Slave's cockpit is something fundamentally different from the way a Newtype typically operates. A large blip on the psychic radar, yet... something more rooted in logic, rather than emotion. Which isn't to say there's no emotion there. The pilot is very emotional, and mental ability is definitely a factor in controlling the machine. Just, not like Psycommu, not really.
Whatever the case may be, the smaller machine is not slowing down its approach as it gets close, seemingly on a high-speed collision course. True, Nova has no direct connection to Leina Ashta. Just some random girl who was playing tour guide for a 3SA group at Harocon, is all there is to remember, if the name has even stuck around. Why would she be here, and so determined to stand in the way of Puru-1?
It's really quite simple: like it or not, she has become indirectly aware of the many connections to others there are at play here. This is someone who is loved by many, but will not let herself be loved in turn. That's all she needs to know, all the reason she needs to care. Enough for this to be something she cannot ignore.
Though it may be fair to say that it's not her place to interfere, in Nova's estimation, she is uniquely qualified to do just that. In her own words, spoken - or rather yelled - as she closes the last bit of distance:
"Hey, Banshee Lady! You don't know me, but that's fine - it takes a stranger to analyze your situation objectively. And lucky you, I've analyzed yours real good! So listen up! Nova Stellar, Miracle Worker, is about to give you a lecture!"
But before that, the Sukeban swings a fist with a superheated edge for the Banshee's 'face'. Always a good opener for a lecture, in Nova's estimation.
KTS: Naoko Suzuki targets Puru-1 with Knuckle Slam! KTS: Naoko Suzuki has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Puru-1 blocks Naoko Suzuki's Knuckle Slam, taking 1110 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 42270 KTS: Naoko Suzuki has engaged Puru-1! <Pose Tracker> Puru-1 has posed.
It doesn't take much for Puru-1 to feel the Gaia Gear Alpha coming, especially with Rena piloting it. The Psycoframe of the Gaia Gear thrums within the Banshee in resonation, but mysteriously, the NT-D is kept at bay. As the shot fires out, true and on the mark, the Banshee swings around, gripping the back mounted Armed Armor and slicing it forward. The shot strikes it's I-Field in that moment, and the shot is devoured by the hungry particles.
"Listen to what Renalle!? This is what I was trying to PREVENT! You made yourself targets!" The Beam Magnum swings up, the mounted cylinder on the bottom of it rotating as a cartridge fires off, and vanishes!? Suddenly Rena's Newtype senses scream at her, because she just spread a whole field of micro Hide Bombs around the Gaia Gear, if Rena isn't careful, they'll all detonate from even just her movement. "You think you can just WIN this!? Even if you do, it'll look the same as defeat! How did you learn so little from the First War?"
The Strike Zeta fires at almost the same moment, its thigh beams hitting home just as accurately, but she has made a wall with the Armed Armor. Roux will see as before, like when her Saber half vanished into it, the beam strikes it, and looks as if it were simply absorbed into a dust cloud. "I'm not going ANYWHERE Roux. Eight years! Eight years! And you two still aren't over it are you!? Not one bit! What even changed? The same people who hung you and Judau out to dry are still in charge! Even if you killed them, it wouldn't matter!"
The shield swings up, and a shot of the Mega Cannon, blue and spherical fires, hurtling across at the Strike Zeta as her rejoinder. "... They'd just be replaced by WORSE! The ones who did die WERE replaced by WORSE! Don't you get it!? It's time for ALL of you to just call it quits!" Distracted by yelling and shooting at Roux-
-it's a simple matter for Nova to swing in, offering its fist at point blank range. This time the superheated edge of the Sukeban's fist makes contact with the shield, as the Banshee twists, the edge scraping off of it.
"A lecture with your fists." There's a sound like wry amusement, bitter hollow laughter as if it reminds her of Judau. "Always been a big believer in using my words." A Beam Jutte suddenly slides out of the Beam Magnum, while a Mounted Saber erupts from the left arm. Both are swing viciously, in a whirling, pressing assault as if she wants to attempt to cut the limbs off of her outright in savage, cleaving strikes. "BUT IF YOU INSIST!"
Ruri tries to communicate with the Banshee that she's not here to hurt her. And the Machine replies with a note of incredulity. After all its entire existence has been suffering after a certain point, but it's not long before she finds herself invited right inside.
BGM for 'Inside the Banshee' - Anten - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sZO3Lv6Gro
Pass through one of the gaps and what does one find? A microcosm of data flowing through honeycombs of gleaming orange-gold. Apertures that seem narrowed and mostly closed. Try to look beyond, and it makes no sense beyond the code flowing out, something strange, otherworldly, blinding bright beyond that cannot be interpreted. Luckily, it is very narrow right now. It must be overwhelming when opened wide. Obsidian chasms line either side, sleek and sterile and unclimbable, but one need not. Still, they cast such high and dark shadows that seem to dim the brightness of this place.
After all, Ruri knows circuitry, and this entire network leads to where she needs to go. She need only follow it. Yet the longer she moves, the more she might feel as if she's being watched, and not by the system operator of the General Revil. There is a titter of laughter, almost childlike, that causes a darkened ripple across her perception, as if it warped perception the closer she gets.
Code shifts and twists, and despite the binary, her mind automatically translates.
welcome welcome
welcomewelcome
welcome welcome
There is a ripple again, like a beckoning, asking her to come closer, to go further. It's easy enough to ask one's self again in these moments. Is this worth it?
Is she worth it?
KTS: Puru-1 has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has failed to disengage. KTS: Puru-1 targets Rena Lancaster with Revolving Launcher Micro Hide Bomb Launch! KTS: Puru-1 targets Roux Louka with Armed Armor DE Mega Cannon Shot! KTS: Puru-1 targets Naoko Suzuki with Beam Tonfas and Sabers Whirling Blitz! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 200. KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 55. KTS: Puru-1 has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Roux Louka successfully evades Puru-1's Armed Armor DE Mega Cannon Shot KTS: Rena Lancaster's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Rena Lancaster fails to intercept Puru-1's Revolving Launcher Micro Hide Bomb Launch, taking 4800 damage! KTS: Naoko Suzuki fails to retreat. KTS: Naoko Suzuki fails to react to Puru-1's Beam Tonfas and Sabers Whirling Blitz, taking 4500 damage! KTS: Puru-1 has engaged Naoko Suzuki!
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"Ruri!?" Rena calls out, with surprise, as her voice speaks to her. It occurs to her that Ruri is, somehow, inside the Mobile Suit. But, this is part of working with Ruri. Her eyes widen -- and then she nods.
Her expression becomes more serious. "I understand. Be careful, okay?" she tells her.
"I read you, Miss Louka," Rena answers Roux. She looks out at the Banshee -- and she sucks a breath in, through her teeth. "Give me a heads-up. I'll be careful."
Green motes of light trail after the Gaia Gear Alpha, not unlike a shooting star. "That was our choice, Leina! I know you're trying to protect us, trying to keep us safe..."
%Her senses flare -- and she sees the bombs coming, feeling the intent as much as anything. The Gaia Gear Alpha turns its head, vulcans firing; one bomb explodes, but others erupt around it, a couple shaking and rocking the Mobile Suit. It bursts away through the flame, though, and she shoots forward.
"...but it's a risk we've chosen to take on! I don't believe it's futile! And I don't think trying to save you is, either!" Rena cries out.
She winces as Nova comes flying in, in her Arm Slave. Rena keeps her in her sights, before the Gaia Gear Alpha bursts after it. The beam rifle is stowed, and Rena raises both hands of the Gaia Gear Alpha.
Armor plates on the forearms lift -- and then the beam guns mounted within the armor plates open fire, a burst of beam cannon fire raining down for the Banshee.
"Even if sometimes things get worse... every good day, every good year, every good moment we give someone!" Rena says. "That's worth it, Leina! And so are you!"
KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Puru-1 with Dual Hand Beam Guns! KTS: Rena Lancaster has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Puru-1 has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Puru-1 successfully Evades Rena Lancaster's Dual Hand Beam Guns
<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
"I will," Ruri says, to Rena, disembodied but still characteristically calm. "It might be dangerous, but I can't let another High Tension incident happen."
It's probably a little shocking for her to just speak from the Gaia Gear's terminals, but Ruri is currently in many, many places at once; she's cutting a few corners.
One of those places is still right here, though, and a part of Ruri communicates evasive data, to the Sukeban and Strike Zeta and her gracious host. The message she offers their machines might be translated as: Be careful. ... just like Rena offered her.
Much of her mind closer to this place, though, is focused on Leina's machine.
It's true that someone is trying to hurt your pilot, is the message, translated, which Ruri offers to the Banshee. But I know how to help. Please just bear with me a little while.
She tries not to think about hands, as she beholds that obsidian metaphor. A place so stark -- so unforgiving -- she sticks out like a single glowing star. She knows where she's going, to find the General Revil's interference. But...
Welcome, the canyons whisper. Welcome.
And Ruri is afraid -- though her expression, on the Nadesico's bridge, doesn't much shift. She remembers, though she's trying not to think of it.
Hello, world. Her own outreach is unsettled, with the staccato beat of her heart. I'm approaching to patch a hole in your network. It's something like stepping forward -- certainly, with that amount of bravery -- as her mind focuses on one of those vulnerabilities the General Revil wants to exploit, guiding the Banshee's systems to address it.
So long as she tells it just what she's doing...
KTS: Ruri Hoshino has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Rena Lancaster KTS: Ruri Hoshino has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Roux Louka KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Rena Lancaster, Roux Louka, and Naoko Suzuki with Caution. KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ruri Hoshino has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Naoko Suzuki KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Roux Louka's Intuition! KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Naoko Suzuki's Intuition!
<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.
Roux glances to the side at the arrival of the Sukeban. I don't know who that is, Roux thinks. But does it matter? Is she someone connected to Leina, too? Leina has so many --
She is not. That's fair enough. Her lips purse for a moment and then she turns forwards, warning the Sukeban, "Careful--"
But Leina's answering her.
"Yeah," Roux tells her, quietly. "I get it. You might even be right."
That isn't the angle perhaps one might expect. Even as a gun is turned towards her and -- for a shimmering moment, Roux can feel herself there, even if it seems like Leina's at the far end of a darkened hallway --
The Strike Zeta moves to the side just as the firing trigger completes, the shell streaking out into space, perhaps on a terminal trajectory to leave the Solar System entirely. "I get it... but that's not why I'm here."
She flicks her comm link to Rena several times and continues speaking to Leina. "Like Rena's saying. Right now, to hell with them. I'm here for *you*. I don't care how powerful these god damned Earthnoid elites are right now. That's a problem, but I'm not going to get captured by their gravity!"
"I exist, you exist! The Ra Mari II exists! You have just as much right to live as they do, and right now you're miserable! Don't pretend you aren't! I haven't heard you like this in EVER! But I'm not surprised at it, either -- you've just been doing what you've seen! I get it! But you don't HAVE to do it right now - come on! Just -- just stop, get out of the suit! Fly it over, bail, I'll cover you!"
The cool-girl act degenerates into a half-rant half-plea even as Roux's eyes flick back and forth.
"This is the worst fucking place to have a political discussion!!" Roux continues. "I don't want to fight you, Leina--!!"
Something fires out of the shoulder of the Strike Zeta. It follows a more or less straight trajectory, as there is no major gravity in the area to pull it forwards -- the General Revil has some mass attracting on it, of course, but that's all for the better, because -
It erupts.
Silently, an enormous field of pink smoke erupts outwards. It spreads in all directions, the twelve millimeter-thick titanium bottle ripping to shreds as the compression maintenance system slams the particles to explosive density. There are faint disruptions, much like there were in the original formation of the Cosmos; the pink sphere begins to be something more like pink smoke, billowing, forming fronds...
Space itself seems to distort, but it's an illusion. Minovsky particles can bend light, too.
As the silent wash passes around the Strike Zeta, the cockpit cameras jaggie slightly and Roux briefly loses communications. "But I will," Roux says, to herself. "If I have to."
"At least we'll probably have less flak to worry about," Roux huffs out afterwards, even as she feels a throb in her eye again.
KTS: Roux Louka targets Puru-1 with Minovsky Chaff Grenade! KTS: Roux Louka has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Roux Louka rattles Puru-1, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Puru-1 partially guards Roux Louka's Minovsky Chaff Grenade, taking 2280 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 39990 KTS: Roux Louka repulses Puru-1, forcing her to disengage.
<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.
Nova would undoubtedly get along well with Judau. Just foolishly charging in without a plan, that's her to a T. Although this time... this time she at least has the good sense to think better of trying to keep pressing after one swing. Especially when the Banshee is so quick to bring out its own melee weaponry, and she's once again taken by surprise by the size of mobile suit weaponry compared to her own. She wants no part of any of that, and quickly tries to back off.
It... almost works. The size of those weapons is indeed what makes the difference, the distance that the Arm Slave manages to achieve not enough to follow escape the whirling energy blades. At least it's enough to not outright lose her arms, but mere proximity is enough to melt a layer of armor. Maybe... maybe another approach would be preferable.
Thanking her lucky stars that she's not fighting alone, she makes use of the momentary distraction caused by the others to draw forth the spiked metal club from the Sukeban's back. "P-pretty good... but the lecture hasn't even started yet! I... I was working up to it!"
Which is code for 'oh, that got really dangerous, I need a moment'. Just as she was flagging, though, Ruri's data comes through, and her eyes go wide. She is quick to tap into it, adjusting movement as suggested, beads of sweat on her brow. Finding her courage again in light of this, she swallows once, then smiles. Okay. It's okay. She can do this now.
"...Leina," she starts, proving that she at least actually knows the name of Banshee's pilot. "I've come to realize that I don't know much about 'real life'. So I can't even begin to imagine what circumstances would lead you here. But I've also realized that... life imitates art. I've seen people like you before. Do you know where? Do you know what this is, what you're in right now?"
With that, she points her Kanabou to the Banshee... but rather than attacking with it, the Sukeban's shoulder discs detach, spinning rapidly with a superheated surface, acting as twin buzzsaws as the sail towards the opposing Mobile Suit. And with that, she answers the question she just poses, with all the gravitas of a dire indictment.
"THIS IS ANIME!"
...Yes, she really just said that. And there can be no doubt in her conviction. She seriously means exactly what she's saying. What could possibly be the point she's trying to make?
KTS: Naoko Suzuki targets Puru-1 with Psycho Ripper! KTS: Naoko Suzuki has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Puru-1 has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Puru-1 retreats from the attack! KTS: Puru-1 fails to react to Naoko Suzuki's Psycho Ripper, taking 3999 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 35991
<Pose Tracker> Puru-1 has posed.
Rena tries to reach out to her, to appeal to her, to their idea of choice, of agency. "Just means you haven't figured out that you made SUCH a bad call yet." Puru-1 tells her, in denial. With that heartaching rush of despairand a glimpse of white gloved hands applauding.
Even as the forearm beam cannons rise, she's mounting the Armed Armor on its back again, blue thrusters firing as she flies away in a weaving spiral ahead of her shots. "Ten years from now, twenty years from now, the shitty scions of the same people will be in charge! And things will be worse! They'll still cheer and applaud every time a disaster happens because there will be fewer mouths to feed! And people who take up your path will just be their scapegoats! It's rigged Renalle! You're striving in vain! Wasting your life for nothing!"
Then suddenly diving right towards her, the forearm Saber slashing at her in a blur as she tries to fly by her, "It makes me SICK just watching all of you!" There's a glimpse of her and Angelo on the Ra Mari, Angelo giving her a look of incredulity as he says the words.
You -don't- believe in them? Then why are you -here-?
Do you truly not get it?
I would have thought you of all people would understand.
What would you do for someone you care about, Lieutenant Sauper?
Roux however perhaps 'cuts through the bullshit' by focusing on her, and not the politics, "You didn't hear me like this because you weren't HERE to hear me!" She points out, and despite how she's been, despite all the validation of their decision to leave for Jupiter. Right now? Some small amount of bitterness. All decisions to be mature about it, to be loving and supportive she can't mask it, "Of course I'm miserable! But who cares about that!? The whole point is you shouldn't give a damn about me! I'm poison Roux!"
The titanium bottle breaks right into the Banshee's flyby flight, as the chaff grenade rips into smoke around it, the Norn can't quite fly out of its path even as the Minovsky particles bend light, tricking her perception.
"Turned out far worse than him."
It's perhaps unambiguous to Roux which him that is. And as if to prove it, the Beam Magnum comes up in that moment, as the Banshee quick turns, its flight arresting with a quick rebalancing from the AMBAC. Its barrel begins to charge, she stares at the Strike Zeta before a red beam lances out, a blue auroral penumbra of intense heat around it. She has the wherewithal of course to not fire at the Strike Zeta head on. Oh no. She knows what a dead on shot can do.
But if it melts a limb off? She's just fine with that, her aim is taking this away.
While she's lining up that shot, the Sukeban comes in again, this time she feels more ready for her presence, as she reaches out to her, and then, 'THIS IS ANIME!'
"What!?" The girl within is stunned as buzzsaws make contact with the Banshee, and the Psycoframe finds itself sorely tested against the contact as liens are traced across it, and there's a snort and a bark of a hollow laugh as if she almost got her to crack up, before she seems to regain composure yells at her in a scolding tone, "ANIME JA NAI!"
BGM Change (For some perhaps???) - Anime Ja Nai - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqs8iQKNy_w
The same moment the Beam Magnum Cylinder revolves, launching something at the Sukeban, if Nova is very quick, she'll see the sight of blue blinking ordnance attached to her mobile suit, it goes up in a blindingly flash of smoke and thunder.
And despite the seeming moment of lightness, there is something bitter in her tone the next. "Miracles don't make collateral damage of people's feelings in anime. They inspire real change that lasts." She repeats, more softly, "Anime Ja Nai..."
...---...
There is laughter, more of that laughter as Ruri tells the machine that something is trying to hurt its pilot. It's answer might as well be summed up by four thoughts or feelings.
many are
most do
There is no response to her overtures of what she is here to do. To patch the hole. She understands that the system that is a problem is further within, the system that controls the mechanism that would execute her if the code reaches it.
And thus all of those orange-gold 'roads' lead to here. There is a subtle different in coloring this shimmer of violet that trails across the length and breadth of this central area. In this space, it's structure is metaphorical, but it looks vaguely like an ever-shifting sphere, strange connections made web like by the Psycoframe around it like muscles and tissue. The sphere contorts and shifts.
And then it opens, an odd oculus, with a rainbow iris, swiveling as it stares at her.
BGM For Ruri - Tatari - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLn0i3AhRI0
There is more laughter, and like before, a child melts out of the code. Out of nothing, it picks up what looks like a long, thin, pipe, warped and shaped out of data itself. At first it is the faceless child of Ruri's nightmares, but then it twists, and shifts. A girl with a brown braided ponytail, yellow bow, just as faceless, who splits apart into three others. A blonde haired boy in a button shirt. A black haired boy with suspenders on his white long sleeved shirt. A light brown haired boy in a jacket.
There is a sudden familiarity to all of them, that reaches deep within Ruri's memory even if she can't place them individually. None of them have faces, but a mouth suddenly splits open on each into a too wide, toothy smile. They all look so happy. After all, they grew up in a perfect environment. They had such good parents that never scolded their children.
So why do they all brandish such threatening implements Ruri's way?
myturnmyturnmyturn my turn my turn myturn
my turn myturnmyturnmyturn my turn myturnmyturnmyturn
T O B E H A P P Y
There is an odd shifting of terrain, a blurring watercolor of memory that changes how her senses perceive this place. The rush of a stream, the feel of sand. Pine trees and palm trees interspersed. It is night, it is day. It is hot here, it is mild.
And they are coming.
KTS: Puru-1 has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained proficiency bonus. KTS: Puru-1 targets Rena Lancaster with Beam Tonfas and Sabers Rush! KTS: Puru-1 targets Roux Louka with Beam Magnum Focused Burst! KTS: Puru-1 targets Naoko Suzuki with Revolving Launcher MGaP Flash Barrage! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 237. KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 50. KTS: Puru-1 has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Naoko Suzuki has activated the Foresee Spirit Command. KTS: Naoko Suzuki has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Ruri Hoshino suggests caution, raising Rena Lancaster's Intuition! KTS: Naoko Suzuki successfully evades Puru-1's Revolving Launcher MGaP Flash Barrage KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Roux Louka fails to evade Puru-1's Beam Magnum Focused Burst, taking 4400 damage! KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Rena Lancaster's Will Barrier activates, negating 500 base damage. KTS: Rena Lancaster fails to parry Puru-1's Beam Tonfas and Sabers Rush, taking 3500 damage! KTS: Puru-1 has engaged Rena Lancaster! KTS: Puru-1 begins a Formation attack!
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"I understand," Rena says to Ruri. "Just... fall back to the Gaia Gear Alpha if it gets too dangerous, okay?"
She tenses, straightening her back out, as Roux backs her words up. She feels that impression of intent -- and knows that what Roux was promising is about to be fired. She hits her verniers, firing the Gaia Gear Alpha backward and away from the cloud of pink smoke.
Minovsky interference. She winces, then, as her cameras fill with static for a moment; as her communications lines drop, then come back online.
In time to hear Nova Stellar declare that 'this is anime.'
Rena stares at her screen for a long moment, not quite processing that. "N-Nova..."
Then, she grits her teeth, as the Banshee comes flying in. She yanks a beam saber free -- trying to parry it -- and she only just, the forearm beam saber and her handheld one clashing, with arcs of lightning and a flash between them.
"It's not for nothing!" she says, even as she catches that glimpse of what Angelo said to her. Her eyes widen for a moment.
"Leina..." She trails off for a moment. "You're not poison! Don't you get it? We're all here for you! I--I thought I lost you on Axis! Finding you again was one of the best things that's ever happened to me!"
Rena shakes her head. "And that... that's because you're still my friend, Leina! And I'm not giving up on you! And I'm not believing the lies someone tells about you--"
Her beam saber ignites, the golden blade ablaze with green Psychoframe light. She swings it down, slamming it for the Banshee -- then punches her Gundam's hand out, with a massive BURST of Psychoframe light that explodes off it.
"--even if that person is you!"
KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Valor Spirit Command. KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Puru-1 with Gaia Flash! KTS: Rena Lancaster has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Puru-1 has activated the Strike Spirit Command. KTS: Puru-1 fails to Parry Rena Lancaster's Gaia Flash, taking 6325 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 29666 KTS: Rena Lancaster has engaged Puru-1!
<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
I'm sorry.
Ruri has no reason not to believe the Banshee's feelings -- but it's horrible, that it would hold such things with laughter in its heart. It shouldn't be that way. But if Ruri stops -- if Ruri gets distracted -- she might not ever be able to convince the Banshee of anything else, before Leina is killed. She has to go deeper into the machine...
(Where the ghosts live.)
Centrally, there is something like an eye, and Ruri stares into it. My name is Ruri Hoshino, she offers, on some deep machine's level. I've come to help you. She reaches out, to try and address more of those gaps in the Banshee's security net. Except --
We were all alike. But our dreams seemed to vary from one to another...
"Ah," Ruri says, and the Nadesico can hear it, and Rena can hear it, the jagged surprise in that one gasped sound. They can't see the way her spirit -- for let's say that's close enough to what this is -- takes a step back, facing up to faces she can't remember. But --
I'm sorry!, again, and with urgency, now. It's deeply lucky that Roux thought to unleash that Minovsky interference -- because for these moments, Ruri is entirely distracted from her own counter-hacking efforts. Let's say she runs, though she can't let herself go far. There are more things than this she is tied to, and...
It's hard to think when there's a feeling you can't breathe.
But then she pushes back, against that girl with the braid, the boy with the suspenders, the buttoned-up boy. "I really don't know who you all are... but Leina's in danger!" And it's strange, for the people who can hear her, in Gaia Gear and on the Nadesico's bridge, to hear such tension in her speech.
The battle she's fighting, in there --
If you keep fighting me, the General Revil will get through, she presses in, a shade pleading, to that shade. Look -- even though there's interference, they're still trying. We don't have much time. Please, let me help.
And a hint of her own age, as she adds: You're scaring me.
<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.
"Sis please," Roux says towards Nova as she begins to pick up the transmissions. "My sister in space. Please," Roux continues as the Strike Zeta maneuvers around, "This is not - not the -"
But Leina, Puru-1, whoever, speaks to her.
Bitterness in her voice.
"I..."
She shouldn't care about her.
Why do I care about her, Roux thinks. I was so cruel to her then, even if it was under stress. But they say that shows who you really are. I wasn't mind controlled or anything, Roux thinks as the rest of what Leina says washes through her. She's raising up the Beam Magnum in a slow arc and Roux begins to feel a great and terrible foreboding, a white-hot burn in the film-strip of her future, as she speaks.
Wouldn't it be easier if she was never there? Or if she had been gone?
Maybe, Roux thinks to herself.
Maybe it would have been easier, for me. And it would have been harder, for Judau. Perhaps now he might have grown stronger (less flexible) as he got older (nearer to death) - perhaps now, if all of this ended, he would be who she loves.
But she doesn't want that. And -
- despite everything -
Despite the frustrations and the irritation at her fancy doctoral way of talking and at how her life was an organized whirlwind -
Leina is like her -
Roux swerves the Strike Zeta, lateral thrust pulling the machine largely out of harms way. There is blackening on the already-black arm, the older components rehabilitated giving complaints as the mere near occasion of that particle intensity transmits huge amounts of thermal energy into the metal. It radiates.
So does Roux: "No," she says. "You aren't."
"Stop talking about the Federation," Roux says. "Stop talking about Glemy. Stop talking about all these other people for one god damned minute, Leina. *I* want to help you! So do *they*! If you really needed to put the effort into deciding that things don't count you could write ME off - but Rena knew you too! She didn't think that poorly of you - don't call her a liar! And I don't even KNOW who this person is!"
("Sorry," Roux apologizes to Naoko, a little, but it happens while the next thing is occuring:)
The shoulders of the Strike Zeta open up and an entire missile rack slots into position. Gas ejection hurls them outwards slightly before double handfuls of missiles soar outwards, undulating and twining as they streak forwards. There are no vapor trails in space, so it is simply light - blind light, and blind explosives. Something, perhaps, that even Psychoframe can't quite guide you out of the way of -- they follow their path and they do not deviate until they die.
Maybe there's a lesson to be learned there.
But the word Roux didn't quite place her hand on was 'sister'.
KTS: Roux Louka targets Puru-1 with What Was That Circus Named Again? ! KTS: Roux Louka has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Puru-1 fails to Intercept Roux Louka's What Was That Circus Named Again? , taking 5040 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 24626
<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.
It worked, Nova thinks to herself. Though she denies it, she's thinking about it. That was the goal. Now they can be on equal footing, fight on a battlefield that she's more capable on. It's just like she said: she doesn't have enough experience with 'real life', in the sense that those who had to deal directly with the consequences of a world at war would know it. That's not where Naoko has been all her life. If the argument is based on reality, she will lose. However, if it's based in fiction...
Not unexpectedly, the response is an aggressive one. But this time, she has that data, properly processed and handled by her AI co-pilots. Moreover, she has her own analytical ability. It may not be a Newtype Flash, and yet, she can see it. She knows what's going to happen the moment that ordance is launched, despite having never seen it before. In response, she pushes the Sukeban's newly retuned thrusters to their limits to boost to the side in a nigh impossible reflex, to make certain it's nowhere near that bright blast when it goes off.
Whatever others may think, such an action surely helps to lend credence to her claim, so she repeats it, firmly, if not quite as loudly as before, following an exhale. "...Anime da." Now is the time to fully explain what she's noticed, that brought her to this conclusion.
"I heard you, calling Possibility a lie." Which is not something Leina said aloud, but Nova heard it anyway. "And now you're saying you don't believe that miracles have the power to change anything. It couldn't be more obvious - you've closed your heart to hope, and fight because you're convinced your way is the only correct way, no matter what anyone else says. Do you not see what you've done?"
The Sukeban charges once again, its shoulder discs neatly reattaching when the Arm Slave has halfway closed the distance to the Banshee. This time, she does swing that club, and with it, unleashing an electric current in an attempt to scramble its internals. Much in the same way she might be scrambling the pilot's brain, when she answers her own question: "You've put yourself in the role of the Dark Magical Girl!"
In the wake of her attack, the Arm Slave assumes a defensive posture, not attempting to physically press the advantage. But psychologically... well, Nova keeps talking, at the very least.
"No one has ever thought the Dark Magical Girl was correct! All anyone wants is for her to accept the kindness of those who will never stop reaching out to her, because they don't want her to be so lonely! Look at me - I've just been a viewer, stuck on the outside, an existence completely meaningless to you... but even so, I want you to be saved! If someone you don't even know is rooting for you this much, imagine the feelings of those who are close to you!"
And that is what an objective analysis of this situation looks like, in Nova Stellar's eyes. Absurd or not, it's what she believes, and why she chose to confront the Banshee directly. It's worth it to actively fight for the outcome she wants to see.
KTS: Naoko Suzuki targets Puru-1 with Electro-zap! KTS: Naoko Suzuki has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Naoko Suzuki rattles Puru-1, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Puru-1 fails to Parry Naoko Suzuki's Electro-zap, taking 3360 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 21266 KTS: Naoko Suzuki has engaged Puru-1!
<Pose Tracker> Puru-1 has posed.
There's this, strange perception to those with the senses to see it. The negative feelings surrounding Puru-1 receding just subtly as Rena reaches out to her, as she tries to offer love and support and validation for a friend. It's subtle, but present. The pilot within takes a deep, panting breath. As the Gaia Gear flashes by, she rips a Beam Saber out of her forearm and moves to meet her.
It flashes by, as the Beam Saber scores a molten gouge across the Psycoframe.
"Why not? You believed all my lies before - that made you think I was your GOOD FRIEND!" She tells her as she whirls around those negative feelings rising again, her Armed Armor igniting to try and pick up speed, clashing with her again and again, the Beam Sabers suddenly limmed by blue fire across their grey length as she tries to catch up, and bring them down on the Gaia Gear in a vicious array of blows, "I always was a great student!"
And then, something softens in that voice, as if despite all that, there's softness as she tries to shove the Gaia Gear away in the aftermath with Psycoframe imbued strength, "Don't waste your time or effort on me. There are so many better people in your life." And yet Roux's answer, 'No,' 'You aren't.' rings out clearly. As she tells scolds her to stop talking about Glemy, to stop talking about her.
Yet for some reason the Banshee Norn stops for a moment, as Roux demands her attention. At least, until the missiles hurl, the Banshee Norn suddenly breaks into a backwards flight, its Vulcans firing even as it tries to fire its Mega Cannon into the midst. But for all the missiles she destroys, more and more come. And more and more strike, until an explosion erupts, blowing it back.
"Help me?" There's this laugh, this bitter incredulous laugh. Yet in the moment it's like those feelings recede too, "What the hell? I betrayed you, betrayed everyone, and all anyone can think of is helping me. Damnit Roux." She takes a ragged breath, as if the stress of this battle was getting to her. "I'm not here for help. I'm here TO HELP!" She tells her, "You think I want Banagher to die for some STUPID BOX!? For Mineva to become someone else's DOLL? You think I want all of you to be goddamn FUGITIVES for the rest of your lives! You wanted-"
She almost says it, almost says 'You wanted to get married.' Instead she settles on. "-you wanted different. You wanted better." There's something resigned in her voice, "You can't give up though, can you?" There's suddenly an azure flash of movement as she moves up to the Strike Zeta, those Sabers in hand, as she attempts to brutally spear the Strike Zeta through, while sparing the reactor and the cockpit, "Just means I gotta FORCE you both to!"
Nova's words prickle harder than they should, because she's a huge Magical Girl anime fan, it's how she bonded with Sayla growing up, "IT'S. NOT. ANIME!" She growls at her, as if something about all that hit home on a level Nova might not even comprehend, stung her worse than she's willing to admit, "This isn't some DARK MAGICAL GIRL - ARC! THIS IS MY LIFE! If you understood the first thing about me-!"
Angrily, she turns upon Nova in that moment, the Beam Magnum put away, as the Banshee Norn grasps another Saber from its back as its mounted saber erupts again, as she turns on her with a trio of Sabers. "THEN YOU'D KNOW THE ONLY THING I AM HOPING FOR IS ALL OF YOU TO GIVE UP FIGHTING THESE USELESS BATTLES-!"
The Norn turns on her, beginning a brutal series of slashes to try and carve apart the Sukeban from the inside out, only sparing the cockpit and its reactor, but trying to slice it to pieces otherwise. "AND FOR YOU TO JUST LIVE WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE!" And perhaps her expression of that is simply trying to take apart her means to fight entirely.
...---...
The children advance as if to play, the metal data forged implements within their hand. There's tittering between all of them, a hollow echo of four different voices. The Electronic Fairy finds herself surrounded in such short order. As hands reach for her throat. The metal brought down as if to cinch it off.
In that last moment though, there's something there. An idea of something her fright, her fear is acutely felt.
...---...
"Ruri?" Puru-1 says quietly, as if in shock, as if she sensed her in some way. It's unclear how. Perhaps it is the fear, she's felt her afraid so many times around her. In that moment, whatever rage she's venting on the Sukeban just, stops. It just stops. As if perhaps Rena, and Nova, and Roux just trying to help throughout this fight, time and time and time again got through to her on some level. Even if it was just this primal look in the mirror, of her rewarding their desire to help with pain.
For the moment at least, the Norn doesn't move, as if Puru-1 were just utterly overwhelmed by it. The flood of emotions from the battlefield. The negative tide around her just, receding as if they were being beaten back by it.
...---...
The children are frozen in that pose for some time, their hands hovering towards her throat, as if hung up on that idea that she's frightening her. There is a prolonged pause in this realm, where data and Ruri's brain are moving faster than anyone on the battlefield can comprehend. And then the children recede back in to the impression of just one, a hollow faced girl with orange hair. The strange landscape that was a mishmash of distant memories she might struggle to recall, and memories that are not hers fading back into the web of orange-gold code.
m i n e
There is a thought, a feeling, an impression. This idea of 'Ruri Banzai! Ruri Banzai!' and there is an overarching feeling of incomprehension and frustration sorrow. And then it recedes again, jealously warning one last time.
m i n e
Ruri now has a choice. What stands before her are the systems of the NT-D. She can try to jam it, making it much more difficult for her to activate it, and perhaps sparing people a lot of problems within this battle.
Or she can disable the injectors for Martha Vist Carbine's neurotoxin within the NT-D, rendering it unable to perform its deadly function.
The choice is hers, she won't have time to do both - and the system might react poorly to her doing the former. But for now the machine is warily allowing her to do what she came here for, as if allowing that measure of help.
KTS: Puru-1 has activated the Accel Spirit Command and Has Engaged with Roux Louka KTS: Puru-1 targets Rena Lancaster with Beam Tonfas and Sabers High-Output Combination! KTS: Puru-1 targets Roux Louka with Beam Tonfas and Sabers High-Output Combination! KTS: Puru-1 targets Naoko Suzuki with Beam Tonfas and Sabers Coup de Grace! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 230. KTS: SP Regen activates. Your new SP value is 60. KTS: Puru-1 has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Puru-1 enervates Roux Louka, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Roux Louka fails to parry Puru-1's Beam Tonfas and Sabers High-Output Combination, taking 6720 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Puru-1's Hands Meant For Holding activates, causing Deject! KTS: Puru-1 has engaged Roux Louka! KTS: Puru-1 enervates Rena Lancaster, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Rena Lancaster parries Puru-1's Beam Tonfas and Sabers High-Output Combination, taking 1890 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Puru-1's Hands Meant For Holding activates, causing Deject! KTS: Puru-1 has engaged Rena Lancaster! KTS: Puru-1 completes the Formation attack! KTS: Naoko Suzuki has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Naoko Suzuki has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: Naoko Suzuki has activated the Focus Spirit Command. KTS: [Spirit Defense] Naoko Suzuki's Guarded Mind activates, and her spirit endures. KTS: Puru-1 enervates Naoko Suzuki, reducing her Morale significantly. KTS: Naoko Suzuki fails to parry Puru-1's Beam Tonfas and Sabers Coup de Grace, taking 6000 damage! KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Puru-1's Hands Meant For Holding activates, causing Deject! KTS: Puru-1 has engaged Naoko Suzuki! KTS: Roux Louka has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
Ruri isn't someone who reaches human hearts; she's closed herself off, from them. Even so, perhaps Leina will know, anyway -- that she's here.
She's here, even though it's frightening.
And she is here and she is here and she is here, and the Ruri who is here with Rena and Roux and Nova reaches out, again, to their machines. Now rendering firing solutions, is the politeness she offers the Sukeban and Strike Zeta and Gaia Gear, as she communicates assistance to their machines themselves.
Ruri can't disable the Banshee from the inside. That's not what she came here to do; she'd be violating everything she's assured the Banshee of, if she did.
She has to help them from the outside in.
Because, inside out --
The idea of Ruri's throat is so close, to the hands of all the ones who left. Braids become hair become orange, not brown, and the code reasserts itself, and she breathes again. Ragged -- uneven -- but she breathes.
I can't explain it, she 'tells' the Banshee, though she struggles to do so, anyway. I've just never liked being congratulated. I don't know... I think I dream about it, but I don't remember when I wake up.
And here, inside out, the core of the message. This is the NT-D system. The thing Leina's using -- or the thing using Leina -- to wreak so much destruction, in the Banshee.
It's okay, she assures the Banshee, as she steps forward. I'm not going to challenge your will to fight. I just want to disable these injectors. They're what will kill the pilot. Okay?
She brings her hands up, to lay them against the system, and her hands shine IFS-bright.
What she's doing --
It's exactly what she said she's doing.
She's moving into the NT-D systems, not to disable them... but just to disable the injectors which deliver that fatal neurotoxin.
KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Rena Lancaster, Roux Louka, and Naoko Suzuki with All-Out. KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Ruri Hoshino orders an all-out attack, raising Rena Lancaster's Skill! KTS: Ruri Hoshino orders an all-out attack, raising Roux Louka's Skill! KTS: Ruri Hoshino orders an all-out attack, raising Naoko Suzuki's Skill! KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"Ruri...?" Rena asks, when she hears that surprise. "Are--are you okay in there? Is--" She wants to know more. But they're both fighting and they can't distract each other.
"Tell me if you need help!"
Her eyes snap back to the Banshee. She feels the way those negative feelings pull back. Fleetingly, for only a moment, and yet--
Their beam sabers clash again, blue and green fire erupting about them both. Particles of green and blue swirl around the two Psychoframe machines, as they meet each other, and Rena only just holds them back, before one slash drags across the shoulder and leaves an ugly, molten gash there.
The Gaia Gear is shoved backward. "That's not a lie," she says. "It never was, LEINA!"
She glances sideways at Roux, her eyes widening as she speaks. She swallows. Roux was there, too, when they made the promise with Judau. It was a promise that the three of them made. So, maybe, it's not so surprising that their resolve is the same in this. "Roux..."
Her glance at Naoko, though, is more confused. Rena wasn't much of a magical girl fan -- her tastes always ran towards fantasy and science fiction. So she looks, for the most part, baffled.
"I don't want things the way they are!" Rena calls back. "I don't want to give up! I'd never be happy that way... and I don't think you would, either!"
The Gaia Gear Alpha shoots inward, the Psychoframe flaring. Green light explodes about it, as she shoves a fist out for the Banshee. It's a feint, though; a feint of the mind and emotions, to draw Leina's eye to the power of the Psychoframe.
And not to something she might be able to stop with the NT-D.
"Funnels!" she calls out. "GO!"
The funnel pods on the Gaia Gear Alpha's back burst open -- a dozen of them shooting out, small cannisters that fly out at a dozen different angles. They fire, lances of mega particle energy exploding out and slashing across space around the Banshee, trying to cut through it in one moment.
"I'm not settling for a world without you in it, Leina! None of us are!"
KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Puru-1 with All-Range Attack! KTS: Rena Lancaster has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Puru-1 has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Puru-1 has activated the Wall Spirit Command. KTS: Puru-1 blocks Rena Lancaster's All-Range Attack, taking 3600 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 17666 <Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.
Naoko speaks further regarding anime and lays out a line of argument. Roux is able to follow it. She does, however, silently but spiritually retract her apology. Even so --
Well, Roux didn't get those shows.
But she does get what Naoko is saying.
Leina is still raging. She's speaking so cruelly to Rena and now she's coming towards her, those beam sabers, tonfas, swinging. And then she looks towards the Banshee Norn and she takes a deep breath and lets it out.
"I heard you the first six times!" Roux snaps back. "Oh my god! You act like you're doing all of this because you care about us?! Maybe that's how you got started, but you're fighting me right now in a Mobile Suit! For my own good?! I'm not going to give up on you, Leina, so you're just going to clash against me until one or both of us die and those god DAMN Federation fat cats you can't stop TALKING about get to watch it and laugh! But hey!"
"I -"
"It's too cruel," Roux says, shaking her head once. "I can't. Ugh."
"The hardest thing --" Roux begins, even as the Banshee sweeps towards her. Oh no, Roux thinks as she brings up the Beam Saber almost immediately. It isn't going to be enough; she brings out the second one; she isn't trained in this style but she can at least steer with her feet as she desperately parries and sweeps and tries - tries to -
Long shallow channels erupt along the sides of the Strike Zeta, the machine a pinnacle of engineering guided by a veteran but still, perhaps, nothing compared to the sheer psychic rage fueled by and channeled by the power of that strange material, Psychoframe. Can it be enough?
(And it is not Roux who accepts the firing solutions. They arrive nonetheless; Ruri finds that it is as if they were already expected. Probably good design, or poor IT security practices, or something like that.)
Only when the Banshee turns its rage against the Sukeban does Roux find relief. She exhales, and she feels her injured eye squint - ah, it must be swelling, Roux thinks -- and as the Beam Sabers go back to their ports, the Hyper Mega Launcher, at last, is raised.
"... The hardest thing you can do, sometimes," Roux says, "is nothing. It's the bitterest drink you can imagine, the first time. To let someone else... to let someone else bear you up." She says it quietly.
She does not resist the Strike Zeta. Loyal machine, last of its kin; the Hyper Mega Launcher rises and it sings and echoes in circuit with the Gundam. Roux's one unswollen eye is enough to guide the reticle, the firing solution that Ruri provides --
It's skewing downwards, Roux thinks. The legs.
Yeah, Roux thinks, and she finds that in the moment of thinking it she has pulled the trigger--
And the incineratingly enormous beam flies, aiming low on the Banshee Norn. Towards the legs - towards the extensions whose purpose is secondary attack, supplementary dissipation, ground effect, heat radiation, psychoframe backup, WHATEVER - as an old AEUG lieutenant once said, legs are superfluous in space.
And they don't hold the cockpit, either.
KTS: Roux Louka targets Puru-1 with Hyper Mega Launcher Viper Beam! KTS: Roux Louka has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Puru-1 has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Puru-1 has activated the Alert Spirit Command. KTS: Puru-1 fails to Evade Roux Louka's Hyper Mega Launcher Viper Beam, taking 5985 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 11681 <Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.
Honestly, Nova wasn't expecting to actually get through to the Banshee's pilot. Many have tried, and she's about the least qualified to succeed where better arguments failed. She only wanted to make what little difference she could. If she were only able to get under the skin of 'Puru-1' even a little with her 'lecture', even just as a mental distraction, then she'd at least have done all she could. Hoping that would be enough.
Never in a million years would she have expected THAT much of a reaction to her words. The wave of aggression directed squarely at her is palpaple. As much as she would've loved to point out that Dark Magical Girls thrive on denial, this turn of events effectively silences her - she feels as if she's going to need all her focus just to stay in one piece.
She's not wrong. The fury of the assault is out of this world. If even one of those attacks were to get a clean hit on her, the follow-up strikes would - if not kill her - certainly remove her ability to fight. And that's something that absolutely can't happen. Not now, not while the Ra Mari II and the rest of the Three Ships Alliance are in such grave danger. She'd never forgive herself if this selfish whim to assist one person would render her unable to help anyone else.
Three sabers. Three. And all she has is the one club to parry them with. Well, that, and... the Sukeban's shoulder discs deploy once again, harrying the Banshee and using their blade-like edges to deflect its sabers, while she struggles to do the same with her club. She's managing, somehow... but only through a supreme mental effort. In this moment, Leina may be acutely aware that when she fights the Sukeban, it feels as if she is fighting more than just the machine and its pilot. Again, it's not exactly like opposing a Newtype with an active Biosensor, but very similar. There are deep bonds at play, translating into willpower. Almost as if to demonstrate... one can be more by relying on others.
But this isn't going to translate into victory. All she can do is defend, and this is rapidly tiring her out. It's only a matter of time before she slips up, anyone can see that her motions are of pure desperation. It's a small miracle that she's managing to hang in there as long as she does.
Until the Banshee just... stops. Naoko doesn't understand why, but she does understand that she has to strike back now, this may be the last chance she gets. And so she does. Tossing the Kanabou aside, her machine's hands appear to burst into white flame, the Sukeban wasting no time in driving its right fist for the Norn's midsection. A quick left hook follows, leading up to powerful right uppercut to the machine's 'jaw'. And with every punch, Nova adds a word.
"HEART! BEAT! SHAKEEEEEER!"
How could she not respond with an attack name that sounds like it's straight out of a magical girl anime?
Panting heavily, Nova seeks to back off immediately afterwards, not able to put her thoughts in order enough to still present a solid counterargument. But she can't help herself. Even now, she still has to say something to refute Leina's point of view, in between gasps.
"If it feels like... the entire world's gone mad... it's not everyone else... who's lost the plot. ...It's you."
KTS: Naoko Suzuki targets Puru-1 with Heart Beat Shaker! KTS: Naoko Suzuki has completed their actions for the round. KTS: Puru-1 parries Naoko Suzuki's Heart Beat Shaker, taking 1920 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 9761 KTS: Naoko Suzuki has engaged Puru-1!
<Pose Tracker> Puru-1 has posed.
It's hard to say for Ruri how the Banshee feels in this moment. It is a machine. It is also not. There's something in there strange and otherworldly, that's hard to communicate with, to negotiate with. So many machines are welcoming, this one is jealous and suspicious. For the moment however, it seems to have ceased trying to take her, to frighten her.
The positive sentiments Ruri tries to communicate clash against it like oil and water. And yet, for however much they disagree, perhaps in its jealousy, in it's desire to keep its pilot. It allows her to do this, without trying to take her, or hinder her further. The NT-D is a complex piece of machinery, but it's not difficult for Ruri to coax it into doing exactly what she wants it to do. Just a few lines of code, the injectors suddenly turn wrong, too far. It is an injected poison, and with the injectors jammed and unable to move, utterly harmless. Failsafes will prevent it from attempting to release it all under these circumstances.
The injectors for the drugs that enable the pilot to resist G-Forces remain intact, ensuring that she can activate it, and not black out when the time comes. In the end, there is strange sense of acceptance in the idea that her possession will survive. The Banshee does not hinder Ruri further.
you don't remember
It echoes, ruminating on the flash of Ruri being congratulated. It doesn't offer any more insight, as if its unable to offer comfort or advice. All it can dwell on is that feeling that it cannot truly touch.
...---...
Nova capitalizes on that moment when the Norn stops. The hands moving with a devastating hook right at the Machine's jaw. The Unicorn head is right there, Golden horn and all. And in that last second, there's also a Psycoframe reinforced arm. It simply strikes the forearm before it can connect into anything a blow worse than that, knocking it away even as the Heart Beat Shaker grazes the side of the Banshee Norn's head. It rocks sideways, and one wonders if it knocked the pilot out of her reverie, like she was almost acting on reflex to defend that.
The name of the attack only seems to add insult to injury. And what she says, causes her to break into a sob, "Are y-you kidding me?! There's noone who went through any of that doesn't think this world's mad." As she offers her denial, she's known the world's mad since she was ten. When she was in that room, surrounded by hollow hearts and minds and those white gloved hands.
"Even if they don't agree with what I'm doing. Your own wingmates would be the first to- admit that! Ask Renalle about what her own mom did to her for the love of God!"
It takes Puru-1 a moment, her breath hitching in sobs, as Rena tells her it's not a lie, she shakes her head weakly, unable to even truly deny it in that moment. She knows she was. "You think I'm happy t-this way either!?" She says, just radiating sorrow. "It's just- the way it has to be!" The funnels come, and suddenly she's on the move, the throb of the NT-D in her skull, tempting her to use it to assume control of her funnels. The touch of so many fingers against her, lightly. Darting around, the Armed Armor is taken up, it's I-Field absorbing one shot after another, but so many still cut around the edges of her perception, striking the suit and testing the Psycoframe armor's integrity against so much beamfire.
She cries out with just this pitiful sense of desperation, "There's no other way out RENALLE!" This belief, this idea, she feels utterly backed into a corner by the idea that this is the only way she can save them. By taking away their means to oppose that which will kill them.
She's still ragged, raw, vulnerable, as Roux talks about them laughing, "No. No. That's the one thing that won't happen. You won't- WON'T DIE! NO MATTER-!" She says with this sort of stubbornness. However, a thought occurs to her in the next moment, as if she remembers, the thing that undermines all that stubborn conviction, "That's right... I killed her." She whispers as the examination of that conviction all comes away from the idea that she'll prevent all of them from dying, to the implicit understanding that she killed one of them. It slams up against her own words the other day that she'd do it again to meet her objectives. Crashes against the contradiction of her own mindset, "I killed Callie." As if that thought, that feeling, "It doesn't... feel real..." She says absently.
It's so hard for her to focus on the idea, but she tries, the idea she needs to just, stop. Do nothing. Let others support her. "This can't have all been for nothing." She says with a note of that growing desperation, and perhaps some here will realize. She was lied to, just to make things so much worse for her. "Her life can't have-!" Roux's Hyper Mega Launcher fires. The Norn tries to juke out of the way at the last second, but even the indirect hit from the Hyper Mega Launcher is devastating, scoring the whole right leg of the Norn.
But it's still attached. Perhaps superfluous, but still THERE. There's a sense of shock about her, not that Roux fired such a deadly weapon at her, just how close that nearly was. The pilot within takes a deep breath. Then another. Then- the Armed Armor is replaced on her back, blue thrusters firing, "STAY AWAY FROM ME!" She cries out in sudden horror, at the idea of what she might do to them as well if this continues. "GO HOME! JUST GO HOME! BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!" The Banshee suddenly ascends, before looping around and taking off with a speed only matched by particularly High Spec Waveriders.
Speeding past a line of ReZELS, several of them turn and start taking potshots of opportunity at the pilots in the damaged mobile suits. As if they were waiting for an opportunity to score an easy kill on them, tying them up in this.
...---...
"Got it!" The ensign says triumphantly as her Captain says, "Finally!" "Sending the code now and-!" Despite relaying a laser link to the Banshee, she suddenly puzzles at the error message, "What do you mean system error!?" The Captain shouts at her, "TRY IT AGAIN DAMNIT!" She does, and the same error comes up.
"I don't get it! Hold on let me check what this error code even is-"
"Ensign." The Captain said to her, as he pointed at the main screen, "Just a second-!" She called back. "Ensign. What the hell is that!?"
She looks up only to see four letters on repeat taking up the whole monitor.
M I N E M I N E M I N E M I N E M I N E
M I N E M I N E M I N E M I N E M I N E
M I N E M I N E M I N E M I N E M I N E
M I N E M I N E M I N E M I N E M I N E
M I N E M I N E M I N E M I N E M I N E
M I N E M I N E M I N E M I N E M I N E
Apparently, even if Ruri couldn't make this machine her friend, she certainly convinced the Banshee whom the true threat is.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
"I know you're not happy! But it doesn't have to be this way!" Rena calls back to Leina, even as she darts away from her, the funnels raining their energy blasts down -- even as the I-Field takes those hits. She stares, looking after the Banshee. "It... even if the world's gone mad, we can make it better!"
She shakes her head. "And we can find a way out, Leina! We'll do it together!"
She tries to keep up, but the Banshee is fast. She stares -- her eyes widening, as she keeps talking to Roux.
"You didn't--you didn't kill her!" Rena calls back to Leina. "Leina, please!"
But the Banshee rockets away from her. The Gaia Gear Alpha is fast -- and as its arms and legs fold up, nose cone flipping out as it assumes its waverider mode -- but it can't just careen through the entire battlefield. It rockets forward, but those ReZELs are in the way.
She banks away, leaving a trail of light after. "Damn--" She shakes her head. "Roux, I think we lost her. Nova, Ruri, are you both okay...?"
[OOC] Rena Lancaster says, "--oop, blu-ray 'lost here' to 'lost her.'"
<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.
Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Nadesico, things sound a little like this, with the Captain like this -- "We need to target our missiles right at that point--!!"
And Ruri, on the bridge of the Nadesico, like this: "Calibrating targeting system... launching." Their seeking missiles do not miss.
She is still there, neighbour to floating as her hair flutters untouched by the Nadesico's comfortable gravity, still surrounded by those reams of data which would overwhelm any reasonable mind. Any one of these windows has so much data, Megumi or Minato would need to focus on it entirely.
... Rena might be able to keep up with the data bowl, but that's another thing entirely.
Minato looks beside her, and frowns, her confidence swayed by new concern. "Ruri-ruri... where did you go...?"
And Ruri answers, without looking to her,
"I am everywhere."
She is with the Nadesico, as the General Revil and its sister-ships send those wings of Jegans and ReZELs to keep it from opening its jaws.
She is with the Ra Mari II, as its massive bulk faces its own challenges, getting to its pilots and the pilot they all want to save.
She is with the Aestivalis wing, as Akito Tenkawa grasps a knife and charges, head-on and screaming, into a Jegan warrior.
She is with the Gaia Gear, as its Psychoframe screams truth into oblivion.
And she is with --
I don't, Ruri tells the Banshee -- and the lack of her memories is an almost physical weight, in this space. But you're not wrong, Banshee. It is important to me. I'm still searching for my memories... so I'll tell you who those children were, one day.
She takes a step back, and perhaps there is the impression of a bow, in this space. And one last message: I'm retreating for now. Thank you for letting me help her.
She releases her consciousness from the Banshee's soul -- neighbour to something other than mechanical, but still built on the foundation of steel -- and pulls herself back, a little, a little, back to the Gaia Gear.
Having reclaimed another part of herself, Ruri thinks to open a proper communication window, to the pilots. A holographic screen framing her face...
... so that Rena, Roux, and Nova get to see what the bridge is seeing, too. Her floating, shining hair -- the glittering lines of light across her bright skin -- her gold eyes aglow. "Thanks to the Banshee's cooperation," she reports to them, and to the Nadesico's bridge itself, "I was able to disable the neurotoxin injectors which the General Revil's operator was attempting to activate. They won't be able to kill Ms. Ashta in her suit, any more."
A light pause,
"It's all right. I'm all right. I just have to focus on a lot of things, right now... but in the end, the Banshee didn't hurt me." That's the important takeaway Ruri imparts -- the parts in the middle, well.
She can talk about them later, or not at all, as is the Nadesico's way.
<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.
"Stop it! Stop throwing other people in front of you!" Roux shouts to Leina. "We're the ones talking to you -- just -- if you care more about words than us just say so once and for all!!"
It was a blurt, a frustrated blurt, but afterwards she cries out and she says -
You won't die? No matter?
Callie, Roux thinks. Who is Callie? ... Callisto? But -- is that what --
But...
She's flying away. Roux reaches for the Waverider transformer control with grim purpose, pulls it--
The cockpit makes a saxophone-wail blast. Can't do it, chief.
She pulls again. The same sound.
Roux's eyes close for a moment.
The hardest thing to do is let it go. Please, Leina, Roux prays. Please break out of it. Fly in a big loop if you have to. Blow up some Sleeves' suits. But...
Roux opens her eyes. She stares at the luminous girl in front of her.
"... Oh my god, thank you," Roux blurts. "Oh my god! I was so terrified of that shit, I was hoping it was a bluff or -- or that --" Or that a miracle would happen, or that --
Well, Roux reasons, perhaps a miracle did happen.
"I... We ought to cover the RM2," Roux says finally. "I blew half my fuel maneuvering there; I guess whatever they have, we can resupply." Her head turns towards Naoko, and she says, "Thank you, too. I don't understand what you were getting out, but I think Leina did, so..."
"Sometimes you do need an outside view," Roux exhales.
(Ruri can also see that Roux has a steadily worsening black eye, which is probably not optimal combat performance, but that's where we are.)
<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.
When her blow is stopped, Naoko for a moment feels certain that she's doomed, and the next sounds she hears will be the terrible sound of metal being severed. But it doesn't happen. What in the world caused Leina to stop just now?
Like she wouldn't have been able to defend against a physical retort, she has trouble defending against the verbal rebuke. It's true that she herself believed the world had gone mad not too long ago. And yet, when it appears to be so universally 'just the way things are'... well, that makes it normal, doesn't it? It's awful, and it should change, yes. But it's going to take more than just one person, acting on her own. Because that... that only works in anime.
But would saying that out loud help or hurt, at this point? Naoko isn't sure. Leina brought things back to reality, and her ignorance on that front would be rightly questioned. She doesn't even have the first clue what all this is about Rena's mother, proving that she still has a long way to go in forming true connections with people. She's right back to feeling underqualified to say anything on this matter. ...Besides, if she messes up and says the wrong thing, her machine is definitely ending up in pieces.
And still... still she is simply incapable of not saying anything. It's a weak protest, in the face of all this. But a protest nonetheless.
"There's... always another way. Don't... overthink it."
It's going to have to do. She's not in a position to offer much else, and certainly not in a position to stop the Banshee from leaving. She simply gathers her weapons, readying herself for the fighting to come. She's not... really feeling it, but there's little choice, is there? It's not as if she doesn't understand the despair of feeling like there is no choice... she needed help too, to work through that.
Hearing Rena and Roux's voices through the comms causes her to suddenly realize that she hadn't been paying attention to the others who were fighting the Banshee. Not that she really could afford to. Had she focused any less on her piloting, her Arm Slave would without a doubt be in pieces right now. But she still feels bad about it. About everything, really. She hopes a general apology will do for now.
"...Sorry, if I was out of line. But I, I had to do something. I just had to."
Ruri thankfully offers a bit of hope. The altered appearance doesn't matter, what matters is hearing that the toxin is no longer an issue. Finally, something to smile about. "...Thank you. Thank you so much. I think... I think she's going to make it. With all the people who want to save her... she has to, right?"
Cutting communications for now, Nova needs a short breather, before moving to assist the others. She has barely exhaled, or...
>"Nova! Nova! Are you alright?!"<
Of course her Friends would speak up, now that dedicating themselves fully to making sure the Sukeban is not chopped into little pieces is no longer necessary. She actually has to think about it for a moment, but eventually decides, "...yeah."
>"Phew, close call. Hope it was worth it. So? Did it feel good? Shouting the things you wish people had shouted to you to someone else?"<
All Nova has the energy to manage at this point in time is a half-hearted, "...shut up."
<Pose Tracker> Puru-1 has posed.
'Stop it! Stop throwing other people in front of you!'
'We're the ones talking to you -- just -- if you care more about words than us just say so once and for all!!'
'You didn't--you didn't kill her!'
'There's... always another way. Don't... overthink it.'
It's hard to say that Puru-1 actually calms down. Whenever she's in this cockpit, it's so difficult to string coherent thoughts together for her still.
She wasn't supposed to think, she was supposed to be a vessel for her feelings. That's what he always told her. Self-denial was what he taught her, but she failed despite her efforts. Right now though, she's forcing herself to try, amidst the awful emotions and the churning sickness.
When she can finally compose her thoughts again amidst the sting in her eyes...
... she finds that she's tearing a Jegan in half. The cockpit rockets out. Absently she finishes the job. Staring around at the ruins of a squad, she tries to comprehend a few things.
"I didn't... kill her." She tries to reach out, as if to feel that, to confirm it, but in the end... it feels like there's a swamp of feeling between them. She has to take Rena by her word...
"... what matters? What actually matters to me?" She tries to anchor herself on Roux's accusation there. It stings, but she can't get it out of her head that she has a point.
Trying to do so hurts, it hurts for reasons she can't even understand after how they spent months rewiring how her brain thinks and rationalizes away, but she forces herself to as she flies away, her resolve shaken but not shattered.
Whether there's another way or not, she knows she has to get to him, she has to get to the Unicorn before it's too late.
<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.
<poem>
Rena slumps back into her chair, as it's clear that she can't catch up with Leina. She feels her, a distance away. Anger, frustration, all of that. Maybe she got through, maybe she didn't.
Her eyes take a second to focus -- then they widen, as she sees the image of Ruri. Ruri, floating, with glittering lines across her. She sucks a breath in.
Then, she breaks out into a smile.
"...thanks so much, Ruri," she says. "I'm glad you did that. And... I'm glad you're okay, too."
She looks at her monitor -- and then she nods. "Roger that, Roux," she says. "Let's get back towards the Ra Mari II. If you need a second to resupply, let's do it. And... don't worry, Nova. You tried to reach her."
She shakes her head. "Let's get moving. This fight's not over."