2024-02-15: To an Uncertain Future

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<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.

When the portal to the Yapool Dimension had collapsed mere moments after the team to rescue Shozo went in, it had been a *tiny* bit of a crisis.

When Hokuto had been nowhere to found mere moments later, the crisis had expanded *just a tad*.

And now, as a forearm the size of a *colony* appears, depositing the missing team into the open hangar with Shozo in tow, on the tip of its finger, before disappearing...

Thankfully, the red alert turns off after about a minute. 

<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.

         After a second, Lina realizes exactly where they had been deposited, letting go of Shozo and turning away to wipe the tears off her face before she faces the rest of the Guard.

         "Mission...accomplished!" There is still a slight waver in her voice, but she neither acknowledges it or wishes to.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        A dramatic return with a giant arm that immediately disappears and a blaring alarm means that for a while, people are going to be pretty scattered. That includes both those who actually entered the Yapool Dimension and those who were running support from them to enable their safe return. When the red alert turns off, no doubt not everyone who was on the mission will still be in the hangar. Same goes for the support folks.
        
        One such support person who is in the hangar, though, is Kaworu Nagisa. He greets everyone with his usual gentle smile, seemingly unruffled despite the aforementioned dramatics--or the tears that some of them, like Lina, may be trying to hide.
        
        "Welcome home," he says. 

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

Rikka had been on support duty. It's been a long while since she had to focus on monitoring, rather than being in the thick of an action... It reminds her a little of her days fighting alongside Gridman. It's... definitely nervewracking.

But they're back, everyone's back, and so Rikka steps away from her station, following Kaworu to meet him. In contrast with his as-ever calm demeanor, you can tell that she's just a bit worn out and her nerves are pretty frazzled.

But, undoubtedly, those who are just now returning are in far worse shape - she'll put on a brave face for them.

"Welcome home." Rikka says, echoing Kaworu's words. "Does anyone need anything? The medical team should be on their way soon..."

She watches them closely, ready to give a hand to anyone who might need it. 

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        When the Dianthus had left, it was in excellent condition, ready for deployment for a tough mission into a dangerous hellscape.

        Like Rikka suspected would be the case for all of the pilots deployed, when the Dianthus deposited back, it's in much worse condition, but that would be expected. Depending on how valiant the others were or weren't, it may not even be noticable-- or oddly stand out compared to the other units on display.

        It takes a few tries, but the cockpit opens after Lucine punching in some emergency codes and overrides to manually force the Dianthus's chest to open. Pulling her helmet off, like a snake trying to shed an uncomfortable skin, Lucine leaves the helmet in the cockpit and leaps down the rest of the way to the ground. Part of her hair and face stained red from a superficial wound being reintroduced to gravity, but thankfully, the Dianthus did its job in protecting the pilot like a suit of armor.

        And, over that space that all Newtypes share in some capacity, Rikka may get some hints as to what happened, as Lucine straightens and combs her hair out of her face with her hands.

        There are glimpses, like outlines of a person sprayed by a water hose against a dry wall-- not the scene itself, but the outlines. Something being speared through. Pain. Separation. Death. Anger. Mumbles of 'fate' and 'become Yapool'. Fear. Trust. Decisions. Sadness. Awe.

        ".... Check Lina and Shozo," Lucine says, her voice raw. "The atmosphere seemed okay for Shozo, and Lina did okay, but just to be sure." She rubs her nose, evidence of earlier crying. "Lina, you... that was..." She lapses into silence, her shoulders sagging. "... That was... so close. But... we did it...? I'm... not even sure if this is real... but... It is hard for my mind to fake the presence everyone here, so... it must be true."

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.


        A second machine hits the deck beside the Dianthus with a much heavier clunk. In sharp contrast to the smaller, custom-built craft, the Dilanza Sol that Liam took into the rift is... utterly untouched. The missile racks are still full. The paint isn't even scratched. It's like it never left the hangar at all.

        The armor protecting its cockpit block snaps open, layer by layer, exposing the exit. A moment later, a burly figure in a NERV flightsuit clambers down the ladder, and hurries over to the Dianthus.

        "Lucine!"

        She told him to check on Lina and Shozo, but she looks horrible. As his girlfriend sags and slumps, Liam catches up to her, wraps an arm around her shoulders, and pulls her close. "I'm here. Everyone's all right. We made it out. Right, Kaworu? We're home."

<Pose Tracker> Gai Kurenai has posed.

Gai Kurenai - his transformation into Ultraman Orb dispersed - steps off the colossal finger into the hangar, turning to watch Rayblood's arm retreat into nothing with a guarded expression. "Only a matter of time," he says, quietly, before turning to tip his hat to Kaworu with a quiet nod.

The faint qualm in Lina's voice draws his attention, and he steps over to the green-haired Italian, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You went above and beyond, miss Lombardi. You should be proud." He lowers his voice. "Remember Ace-san's words. Even in the midst of doubt and fear, never hesitate to reach out to others."

To Rikka, he shakes his head. "Save the medical team for the others... I recommend trauma counselling for every participant in the mission, as well." He knows he's including himself here, despite his myriad secrets, but...

... well, most of 3G knows his true nature at this point. Being able to talk about some of it might help them as well, if he's going to be assisting them more frequently from now on.

That all done, he moves towards Shozo's form, kneeling by him. "Are you alright?"

<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.

Shozo just kind of sits there, limply, staring ahead like a puppet that has had its strings cut. Slowly, he looks left, then right, then up into the starry sky out the door of the hangar. His eyes flicker back to the red crosses he had had in happier days, before simply dulling to red circles as the sense of fear, confusion, and above all, loss washes over him.

"U-uuh..." he mumbles, as the first fat tears begin to spill out of his eyes, and he simply begins *sobbing*, the sob of a scared child, not burdened with power, or legacy ? simply a child who has lost someone who he considered family. 

<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.

         Lina raises her hand at Lucine's suggestion. "I feel pretty alright for now, I'll get back to you when I'm rested and I can tell what's exhaustion and what's ill effect." That sentence is punctuated with an inopportune cough. Surely that's just a normal sore throat...she could breathe just fine in Yapool!

         She turns her head as Gai approaches. "...Grazie. And yes...I know." She manages a weak smile. "Article 5, Paragraph 14."

         As Shozo cries, Lina joins Gai in kneeling down. She doesn't show much sign of distress at the display of emotion. She didn't know much about Ace, but she was all too familiar with the tears.

         The tears of a 10 year old girl, standing outside of a hospital room as the world around her was at war.

         The tears of a military academy cadet, alone in her dormitory, knowing she would never join her inspiration on the battlefield.

         The tears of a new recruit to 3G, seeing the aim of last five years of her life torn away from her in front of her eyes.

         She puts a hand on Shozo's shoulder and lets him cry.

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Kaworu glances over at Rikka. He's of course aware of how frazzled she is after everything, but she's doing her best to seem fine for the others. He thus gives her a little smile too if he catches her eye, before focusing back on the others.
        
        After all, they are the ones who got the worst of it. Even without other sorts of senses, one can tell that they've been through hell at a glance. (Definitionally, they've gone through hell, even.)
        
        "It's real. You're all back," he reassures Lucine and Liam. He gives Gai a level gaze, then follows his stare out to where the arm of Rayblood had been for just a moment. It may only be a matter of time, but for now, they can only set it aside.
        
        He'll leave calling the medical team to Rikka. (Not to mention trauma counselling, something else that's visible on everyone.) For now, his gaze settles on Shozo, who answers Gai's question eloquently with streams of tears. Lucine and Liam comfort each other, as they usually do; Lina comforts Shozo with a hand on his shoulder. 'What happened?' is the obvious question here, but Kaworu doesn't ask it.
        
        He simply watches over the others as their emotions wash over him, a presence that may help bring a sense of calm in time.

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

Rikka meets Kaworu's glance, offering him a small smile of her own in return before turning back to her others.

And as her eyes pass over Lucine... Rikka can feel it from her, as they make a brief connection - the wave of emotions, those sensations, hitting her all at once. She recoils - then takes a deep breath, steeling herself.

"...You've all been through a lot, haven't you." She comments. "It's alright - you're back, everyone's back. You're here."

Gai shakes his head in her direction, saying to save it for the others - and she nods, as he recommends trauma counselling.

"...Right. I'll let them know." She replies, pulling out her phone. She sends off a couple of quick messages to let them know before stowing it away once more. Shozo begins to sob, afraid, and her heart hurts... but others are already rushing to comfort him, and she doesn't want to crowd him.

"Shozo... I'm glad you're back. Everyone was worried." She says - and then looks up, around at the others.

"It's alright if you need a moment, but... what happened in there?" She asks. 

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        It's telling that Lucine sags into Liam's arm, closing her eyes. This memory must overwrite the other. The other, is false.

        And there she stays, for just a moment, breathing.

        Hearing Shozo's crying, and the slow sadness of Gai, the layers of Lina's grief over a loved one lost mirroring Shozo's own, the quiet reflection of Kaworu, Rikka, taking in Lucine's emotions and getting a more personal view than she may have wanted.

        Sadness, and the sacred acceptance of allowing others to express it.

        "Liam... thank you." Lucine gives Liam's wrist a squeeze, as she opens her eyes. "Go to Shozo; he's lost someone dear to him. And Lina... it's hitting her hard too." She turns and looks up at Liam, and smiles. "It's the first day of the start of a new life, for him... his friend's sacrifice wasn't in vain."

        If and when Liam goes to Shozo, Lucine moves to Rikka and Kaworu, taking over so that the others can support the freed Shozo. "I'm not sure if I could give an accurate idea of what happened... but, in summary, we followed the denizens of Yapool to where Shozo was... he was being protected by a large... being that looked similar to an Ultraman. The battle was to injure Shozo's spirit, and not so much his life... all that is in Yapool is fated to become Yapool... however, that meant we couldn't die, as long as our spirits held out. Shozo held out for all that time..."

        There's a lot she's leaving out; doubtless more detail can be provided a little later. "Lina reached out to him like Guy did Mikoto... coming up to him and trying to snap him out of it before he gave in. The Ultraman kept him from lashing out, and... other figures came in. Gai may know better, but this at least helps some." 

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.


        Liam's gaze flicks towards Gai. His jaw tightens as the man mentions more counseling, but...

        It hits home. Liam holds Lucine close, and lets his own fear spill out. Even if he overwrote it, rejected it, erased it--he knows how it feels to die. He didn't see his parents and childhood friends, there was no light--

        The cyborg's eyes flicker closed. Tears drip down his cheeks, spotting Lucine's shoulder. It's a moment before he lets her go, and he's reluctant.

        "...Shozo?" Liam's voice is soft as he addresses him. Everyone here is grieving. And he knows what it's like to be so small and so vulnerable. Liam kneels before him, and just... lets him cry for a moment. "You're safe now. We're here. Let it out."

<Pose Tracker> Gai Kurenai has posed.

Shozo's pain - to lose someone close to you - is one Gai is well familiar with. Before he attends to that, though, he adds on to Lucine addressing Rikka with "I'll contribute what I know in a report later," and then turns back to Shozo, kneeling down next to him. Liam and Lina have said everything that needs to be said, so the Ultraman simply places both hands on Shozo's shoulders.

"I'll mourn him too," he says, quietly.

<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.

"I... He was in my head, the whole time. He kept thoughts I didn't like away. Now I just feel... alone. Empty."

Shozo's body shakes and shudders under the touch of the others, and he crawls out towards the open hangar door, as if he wants to... He stops, however, by the entrance, looking back at the others... as he casts the long shadow of the monster Yapool made him.

"I'm just so... angry. It's not fair. None of this was fair." There is a note of bitterness in his voice, from a child who doesn't understand why the world should work this way.

<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.

         "Oh, Shozo...It's never fair. It's perfectly alright for you to be angry. That's a part of healing." She stands up, but does not go after him. He deserves the respect of mourning as he chooses. "...It never stops hurting, but it does get better. I promise you that, bambino."

         She closes her eyes, tossing her helmet aside and walking over to the hangar door as two medical officers wait to offer her over to the infirmary. "Gonna insist on a check-up? Fine, fine, I need to lay down for a bit anyway."

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Kaworu marvels in silence as Lucine expresses her care for Shozo by sending Liam to him, prioritizing his mental well-being over her own. But then, it's only natural, isn't it? Shozo is the one who needed to be rescued. He's the one who's suffered the most.
        
        Still, when Lucine draws closer to him and Rikka, Kaworu listens to her explanation. "Mister..." he murmurs, echoing the name Shozo told him once long ago--and remembering what Lucine said just now about Shozo having just lost someone dear to him. But... so of all of them, Lina reached out to him the most, hm...
        
        He gives Shozo another long, level look as his sobs level out, as he crawls away and begins to express his grief in words--the emptiness, the anger, the unfairness. "Shozo..."
         

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

A friend's sacrifice... concern crosses Rikka's face - but she listens, as Lucine approaches them and explains, with Gai promising to contribute what he knows in a report later, as Liam moves to comfort Shozo.

...They weren't able to die...

It takes her a second to process what that means - how they must've realised that. She covers her mouth with a hand for a moment.

"That's... horrible. I can't imagine..." Rikka replies, shaking her head in disbelief. "...Thanks. It can't have been easy. To hold out like that... you've all been very strong. If you need me... I'm here."

She looks toward Shozo, then. A friend's sacrifice... 'Mister' Kaworu says - and Rikka remembers Shozo mentioning him before. So he sacrificed himself for his sake...

"...I'm so sorry." She offers. ...But... so much has happened. It's not an experience one can go through unchanged. Rikka is quiet for a moment, then shakes her head.

"...No. It isn't fair." She agrees. Kaworu makes a good suggestion and Rikka nods - though ultimately, it's up to them whether or not they take the offer. 

<Pose Tracker> Gai Kurenai has posed.

"If the world were fair - if bad people always paid the price for their actions and justice prevailed, and good, innocent people didn't suffer and die needlessly..."

Gai sighs, exchanging another look with Lina. "Then there would be no need for people like me. For people like this very institution."

He smiles - a sad little smile, one heavy with centuries of battle and loss - as he looks at Shozo, rather than the monstrous silhouette he casts. "Your pain is because you loved him, and he loved you, despite everything that made you both so different. We only mourn the loss of that which is precious to us."

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        Rikka covers her mouth with a hand, and Lucine looks towards her, possibly sharing a glance, and nods with a pained grimace. ".... It was to our advantage. But... it didn't make it easier for Shozo to see any of us die like we did." She doesn't mention the other side of the equation-- Rikka's already clued in.

        'None of this was fair.'

        Yellow eyes flick back towards Shozo and lid halfway at that statement, sensing an echo in that anger that offers a mirror. This, even before she notices something odd about the shadow.

        There is nothing 'alien' about those emotions, and the many, many paths they can lead to, no matter where someone's parentage may be. Vicious may have merely used her father as a weapon to stab into her psyche, but it's not as if she's not heard similar from other people.

        A bounty hunter with a dodgy past is a far, far cry from an embodiment of something dark and hateful, of course-- she realizes know she was lucky to have the life she did. Shozo doesn't even have those memories to comfort him like they do her and Lina, and doubtless others with their own.

        "....As everyone's said, it might feel that way, for a while. Maybe, for a long time," Lucine speaks up to Shozo, her expression gentle. "But... there's something you need to keep in mind. That friend of yours... placed their bets on you. Remember it, and carry it in your heart. Don't give that gift away, and don't let anyone take it away from you, Shozo." Kaworu may have the right idea of getting Shozo as far away from that tear as possible.

        ".... Right now, you need to rest. All of us do. You can't go back to the past to undo your friend's choice, but you can look towards the future and make your own... after some sleep and a meal."

        She wills her expression to harden, slightly. "If you do go back, I'll come after you myself, and drag you here. You wouldn't be the first person I've dragged out of hell." It's a bit of a lie, and anyone who has had even a glimmer of world experience will see it all as just the puffed feathers of an owl trying to look much bigger than it actually is. 

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.


        Liam rises, but stays where he is. Shozo needs a little space, it seems, and Liam lets him claim it. His eyes flick down to the shadow he casts.

        "You're right," he says. Even if Lina and Rikka and Gai said it, it needs to be reinforced. "It's not fair. It's horrible." He glances at Lucine, and swallows. "But Lu and Kaworu are right. You've been through far too much. Would you... like to go to the cafe? What would you like to eat?"

<Pose Tracker> Shozo has posed.

Shozo swallows hard, still sniffling.

"...I was made to not need to eat... and I can't actually taste anything..." Another note of bitterness -- a child realizing, perhaps for the first time, something he *lacks*. It is tinged, however, with apologetics. He recognizes the others are trying.

"...But I'd like to be somewhere I can't see the stars, please. Is there a booth in the cafeteria with no windows?

He doesn't want to see the red eyes that steal their place in the night sky. But more importantly...

He doesn't want to wonder which one Mister was taken to, without him.

That's twice now that Shozo has been denied a true goodbye. 

<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.

         As Lina walks over to the medical staff, she pulls down the top half of her normal suit, tying the sleeves around her waist and pulling at the sleeveless compression top underneath. "Once I'm done, Shozo, I'm going to come see you right away. And you 'can't taste?' I'm going to take that as a personal challenge. Trust me, I use enough garlic, you'll taste it."

         She hardly reacts as one med pulls out a blood pressure meter and wraps it around her arm. "At least the medbay here is a bit better than the hospital I was at on Mars, though it's distressing that I'm beginning to develop preferences."

<Pose Tracker> Kaworu Nagisa has posed.

        Kaworu has also died many times. It doesn't register at first that this specific thing might be traumatizing to beings who usually only die once, and it might take a while before that occurs to him.
        
        For now, Shozo doesn't take his hand. Kaworu withdraws it to tuck both into his pockets. "If there isn't, we can make it so," he tells him.
        
        He chuckles a little when Lina takes it as a challenge to cook something Shozo can taste. She seems quite protective of him, even among everyone here who went out of their way to protect Shozo. It's good to see.

<Pose Tracker> Rikka Takarada has posed.

Rikka shakes her head. No... she can't imagine that knowledge was any comfort in the least. Not when knowing it means being fully aware of everything they were going through.

She listens as Lucine offers her words. She can tell that she's putting on a front, to an extent... but she respects the effort she's going through to help him.

Shozo can't taste anything... But he makes a request, and Rikka nods.

"Right." Rikka says, agreeing to Kaworu. "We'll find one, or we'll find someplace we can get things delivered instead." 

<Pose Tracker> Gai Kurenai has posed.

Gai sighs deeply when Shozo says he lacks a sense of taste, understanding why Yapool neglected this - and hating him all the more for this thoughtless cruelty.

"If you want, I'll stay nearby, so that if you want to talk about anything you have someone to listen to," he offers with that familiar gentle smile, before turning to the rest of the group. "That goes for everyone else, too. We all went through much the same in that... place."

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