A Return

[lastfeather]

[With everything that's been happening, especially in the aftermath of Primeval Force's appearance. The last thing anyone would expect is a black blur tearing through the sky towards the Chalice. Nineball. It was a Black Nineball. As if things weren't problematic enough-]

Sorry I'm late. Took me a while to dig my way out and get myself sorted out...

[Wait... Was that... Ryou? In any event the Nineball lands and its pilot exits.]

... I heard about what was happening on the way back... If I knew I would have worked faster.

Comments

[lastfeather]

I said I would be.

And Nevermore wasn't exactly in any condition to get out of that hole.

I'm guessing you're about to tell me that it was a terrible idea and I should have taken my chances with a broken down wreck?

[His tone was mildly amused to say the least.]

[not_the_deer]

Why would I say that? You had perfectly usable Nineballs just lying around everywhere, and without the main control unit they were harmless. It's only smart to nab one of them!

...Its AI won't reactivate on its own, will it?

[lastfeather]

Probably not... this one was... everything in it was built like it was meant to be piloted.

If it had an AI like the one that ran the rest, I probably wouldn't be able to fit in there. ACs are cramped enough as is.

[not_the_deer]

You should probably let a technician take a look at it anyway, just to be sure.

Where's Naiza?

[lastfeather]

Dead.

[not_the_deer]

What!

How did that happen!?

[lastfeather]

She wanted one last fight. She lost.

I don't have any doubts she would have killed me if I didn't bother or I pulled my punches.

[Ryou paused to take a deep breath.]

She was always proud of how strong she was. I think to her... fighting me would've been her last test.

[not_the_deer]

But you were friends! She didn't have any allegiance to your enemies, any vendettas...

I don't get it.

[lastfeather]

... I doubt most people would.

To her, strength was a meaning for itself. She needed to know that she was stronger than anyone. Than me.

She always preferred to be alone. I guess part of it was, nobody could dissuade her the thoughts that took her to this.

[not_the_deer]

[A sigh.]

At least she died the way she wanted to. But I still don't get it. There's so much more to live for than just being the strongest.

[lastfeather]

Maybe. But some people prefer to think otherwise. That's the reality of life I suppose.

[not_the_deer]

So, are you going to use that thing against Primeval Force?