Final Discovery

[saikyocivrobo]

I wonder... If there is an over-encompassing, universal force from which every other force is born, then what would be its opposite? Wouldn't it be the personal force that's unique to you and you alone?

[Prometheus shrugs in response to Werter's musing.]

Or maybe I'm just waxing pseudo-philosophically. In the end, Primeval Force was no universal power; it was a parasite born from the paradox of a stable time loop. And it is no more.

Now then. I think I'm done being a hero for now. Time for something even more challenging; I still have that degree in biochemistry to get! I used my strength to protect the world in times of war; now it's time to make it a better place to live in times of peace.
With science.

Comments

[link_to_revival]

I appreciate that you're not saying "science" like -bless their hearts- Alessandra or Dr. West would.



Best of luck in your endeavors, Werter. Compared to everything here... it should be much simpler for you.

[saikyocivrobo]

It's not in my nature to chew the scenery. I live in a small room; if I did that, there wouldn't be much of it left after a while.

Take care, you two. Keep on working on portals.

[link_to_revival]

Well, I have a little bit of time to study the portals that were opened up, so there's that. But for the moment I'll see what Britannia wants to do with me now. It's about time I have my day in court.

[saikyocivrobo]

Oh yeah. About that. You're not going to go to jail, are you?

[link_to_revival]

It's possible for her, yes... but between the revelations regarding Takeda and Typhon, things have been cleared up about what Lynn's responsible for and what she isn't.



Exactly. I'm probably not going to be heading any projects of my own in the foreseeable future, and there's reparations and other matters...

... But the Icarus Bombing was ultimately an accident. And I'll trust the courts to decide what's an appropriate punishment for me.

[saikyocivrobo]

You don't have to do this if you don't want to, you know. After all we've done, finding asylum in another friendly country should be the easiest thing ever.

[link_to_revival]

I... know I don't have to. But I spent seventeen years... almost half my life, running from a mistake I made. And the people who lost family and friends because of me deserve closure.

Besides, what kind of example am I going to present for future scientists if I don't own up to this? I told Simoun that we're all accountable for the actions we do, I'd be a hypocrite to go against that now.

[saikyocivrobo]

Very well then. Just had to make sure.

Good luck with the trial, then. I'm sure you will get a fair one. And if not... Let's just say you made a few powerful friends.

[emorangerpink]

I don't know, Werter, it might be hard to find a job. Do you have any real-world experience you can ponit to?

[saikyocivrobo]

Saved the world several times, worked on a few experimental devices and chemicals, an alien robot poured knowledge directly into my brain.

Hmm. May still not be enough.

[emorangerpink]

Yeah, I mean, who's going to write you a good recommendation? And is Prometheus accredited?

Maybe you'll have to be a kept man for a while.

[saikyocivrobo]

I don't need to get through the period when I can't look Miki in the face without shame again.

Also chemists are in great demand, you know. Someone has to help with the devastated environment.

[emorangerpink]

Oh, I know. You're in for an interesting time, though, juggling a more normal career with Prometheus.

Do you have any ideas about where you'll start? Organizations to approach, anything like that?

[saikyocivrobo]

Prometheus is low maintenance. Only drinks water, hard to break. It's like having a cat who can turn into a giant mecha when you need him to.

[Prometheus folds his arms in a super robot pose.]

I will start with my Alma Mater. It has lots of connections all over the world, and sponsors lots of researchers. It's thanks to this that I participatd in a program on the other side of the world and got into this whole adventure in the first place.

[emorangerpink]

It'll be so strange to work with - well, civilians. I've gotten used to everything being about making ends meet until the next disaster, with only as much structure as the inventory and work rotas in the hangar need...

We're going to have colleagues, and managers, and things like that. My god, I'll have to vote. I'll have to pay taxes.

[saikyocivrobo]

I'm sure that after years of all kinds of monsters trying to kill us and failing, taxes won't be able to do the trick.

By the way... What exactly do you plan to do after your wedding?

[emorangerpink]

I've never done them before, though! I'll have to figure out how.

And I'm planning on a honeymoon. But I assume you mean after that... well, Lily's still an Angel Force agent, but I'm not planning to move to Cosmic Ark full time. I'll be studying myself, and helping out Lowe to pick up contacts. I want to put my mechanic experience towards something more constructive than patching up combat machines.

[saikyocivrobo]

That sounds reasonable... Although you also have other alternatives. I really doubt the world will become completely peaceful just because we've beaten Primeval Force. If nothing else works out, you can return to being a full-time superhero.

[emorangerpink]

I don't think I could just stand by and refuse to fight when people need help... if nothing else, I expect to lend Lily a hand when we're on Cosmic Ark. Still, though... I never wanted to spend my whole life fighting. I wanted the fighting to get us to a place where it isn't needed, somehow. I want to see what that's like.

What about yourself? Think you might take Prometheus out at full size again some time? Going to keep Herb's -

- well, I'm not sure how you'd stay in touch with Herb, really.

[saikyocivrobo]

Well, we both live in Europe. Keeping in touch with Herb can't be too difficult - especially with all the promises of including global telecommunication in the following years!

Prometheus can be used for more than fighting monsters; helping in disasters, for example. I'm sure there will be many situations when I'll need his help. Maybe in a few, I'll even need Logos' help.

[emorangerpink]

I suppose we'll still have disasters to deal with, even if they won't be comparable to the last few years'...

It's strange to think of the world moving back to the way it was... before. Growing up in Britannia, things were so... normal, so sheltered. Traveling with the Chalice showed me how much hardship so much of the rest of the world has to face...

It'll be good to do something about that.

[saikyocivrobo]

Yeah. Even before I joined White Chalice, I had the desire to make the world a better place for those less fortunate than me. Only back then, it was just an idle dream, something I was too powerless and lazy to make reality.

I am neither powerless nor lazy anymore.

[emorangerpink]

Just be careful. You start out wanting to make the world a better place, then you start calling Alessandra and West when you can't figure some chemical thingumy out, and before you know it...

[saikyocivrobo]

Don't worry about it, Laura...

Because this ship has already sailed. I fully intend to work together with Alessandra at some point.

[emorangerpink]

...Just make sure there's a third party around, so that you keep her in check rather than getting drawn in.

[saikyocivrobo]

Won't be needed most of the time, I believe. After all I went through, I'm pretty good at staying level-headed.

[emorangerpink]

Still, I'll instruct Prometheus to keep an eye on you and make sure you behave.

Of course, I'll be keeping an eye on you myself. I may be traveling a lot, but that doesn't mean I won't keep in touch. We've got two goddaughters to watch over, after all.

[saikyocivrobo]

That will be the day when Prometheus becomes the responsible one.

Fortunately, Gucun is not that far away from Germany, and Prometheus is fast. If anything endangers the girls, it might find a giant white robot on its tail quicker than it expects.

[emorangerpink]

You take your duties seriously. I'm reassured I can leave them in your hands until I return.

[saikyocivrobo]

Return from your honeymoon among robots, I presume?

Have fun.

[emorangerpink]

You too, Werter. Try not to go too crazy with your own honeymoon period while we're gone.

[saikyocivrobo]

Me and Miki are not getting married, you know. We've been together officially for how long? Two weeks?

[emorangerpink]

Hey, Lily and I had our honeymoon period well before we got married. It's when the relationship is new and you can't get enough of each other. Well - ideally it stays like that, you just get better at fitting in other things...

[hobo_lantern]

So, what do you think is going to happen about Prometheus and Epimetheus now?

[saikyocivrobo]

It's obvious, isn't it?

Our contract hasn't expired. It never will. Prometheus will stay with me, to help when I need him as my parnter. And friend.

[Chibi robot smug hero pose, go.]

[hobo_lantern]

I guess they'll stay with us forever, eh? I wonder how good Prommy is with kids.

[saikyocivrobo]

Awful. You've seen how he gets along with Devon's kids. It consists of mutual artillery fire.

[hobo_lantern]

He'll be good training for you though.

[saikyocivrobo]

Are you assuming I'll get kids or something? Because I won't. A wife is one thing, but children are a bother.

[gift_of_magus]

You still owe me that museum visit, you know.

[saikyocivrobo]

Isn't it a nice coincidence that Berlin has all the museums, then?