Third Roar

[mad-copycat.livejournal.com]

[1]
(Tatsu has been rebooted and is being looked at for any additional damage. While her shell is fine, several of her fuses are shot. They will need to be replaced. She can move but will be very sluggish and her reaction time has been slowed to a crawl. Do you check up on her?)

[2]
(Tatsu is walking through the ship at the moment...Well, walking isn't the right word...More like limping. She seems to be putting in a lot of energy just to move. Help?)

Comments

2

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

Tatsu!

[Hana made her way over to the poor, limping creature.] Tatsu, what are you doing? You're hurt!

[mad-copycat.livejournal.com]

(Tatsu turns to see Hana but this turn proves too hard in her weakened state and she plops onto the ground.)

Tatsu...No like...Staying in one spot. Makes Tatsu...feel weak.

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

Tatsu!

[And she's there, scooping up Tatsu into her arms and cradling her close.]

But, if you move around, you'll make yourself worse!

[mad-copycat.livejournal.com]

(Tatsu tries to struggle and move out of Hana's grasp. Hana can barely feel it is what is worrying.)

Tatsu...still can...move. Tatsu...still can...fight.

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

[Hana's eyes go wide as she can barely feel Tatsu's struggling.]

Tatsu, you're...! [she starts tearing up.]

Stop moving, please! You need help! You need to go back and get some rest or you'll end up dead! Do you want that?!

[mad-copycat.livejournal.com]

Tatsu and...Nanohana-Senpai...work different. Tatsu...no heal...with rest. Tatsu...need repair. Repairs...no can...happen yet.

Tatsu...no die...from this. For Tatsu...to die...Tatsu's...memory chip...must be...destroyed.

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

But, if you don't get repaired, then you will! I don't care what you say, Tatsu, you're my friend and I'm not going to let a friend suffer because of their own hang-ups!

[...this was going to be Haruka all over again, wasn't it?]

[mad-copycat.livejournal.com]

(There is a weak growl from Tatsu.)

What part...of Tatsu...no can get...repairs yet...does...Nanohana-Senpai...no understand? Tatsu's...fuses shot. Fuses must first...be remade. Then repairs...can happen. Tatsu...must wait. But Tatsu...no want...to lie around...and do nothing...while others fight! Tatsu...fight! Tatsu...protect!

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

And what part of "You'll die" do you not understand?! I don't care what you want to do or who you are or what you must do! You're my friend, Tatsu, I don't want to see you hurt anymore!

[Hana chokes back a sob. It was Haruka all over again - she was trying to get them to stop acting stupid and they were being stubborn in their ways. She couldn't stop Haruka, but she wasn't going to let Tatsu do this anymore...]

[mad-copycat.livejournal.com]

Whenever...Tatsu...step into Fury...Tatsu...risking death! But the lounge...important to...Tatsu. If...Tatsu...die protecting...what important...then...Tatsu...die happy!

(Tatsu starts hitting Hana but the hits barely register as pokes. She can also feel Tatsu heaving, as if crying.)

All...Tatsu...Can do is fight. But if...Tatsu...fight...others no have to. So...Tatsu...fights. Tatsu...want to protect. So why...Nanohana-Senpai? Why...Nanohana-Senpai...Stopping...Tatsu...From doing...The one thing...Tatsu...can do?! Why? Why?! WHY?!

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

Because there's more to life than fighting! And I hate seeing the people I care about getting hurt.

If we were stronger, then... then maybe, yes, I'd let you go, but look at you! You can't even put up a fight! If someone came here now, they'd kill you without a second thought! You might be happy throwing your life away to protect someone, but what about the person you're protecting? What if it was meaningless - that the person you're trying to protect got killed in the process?

Tatsu... you're my friend. I love you. I love all of my friends! That's why all of this hurts me. That's why I want you to rethink what you're doing...

[she hangs her head in defeat.]

...because no one else will listen to me...

[mad-copycat.livejournal.com]

(Hana starts to feel Tatsu shake a little. It is obvious that she knows how weak she is now and it really upsets her.)

So...Tatsu...can't even fight. Tatsu...no can protect. Because...Tatsu...is weak. Tatsu...want to fight...so others...no have to feel sad. But...Tatsu...has to go...this far...just to defeat...one enemy. If...Tatsu...was strong...Tatsu...could protect everyone. But...Tatsu...weak! Tatsu...a weapon...and can...only fight! Tatsu...thought at least...Tatsu...could be weapon that...could protect! But...Tatsu...too weak...to do...ANYTHING! What use...is a...weak weapon?

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

No... no... don't give up, Tatsu. I'm not asking you to give up. I'm not asking you to stay weak. You're still young, Tatsu. You... you can't expect to be as great as... as Char or the Getter Team o-or even the older Desu pilots automatically... right?.

O-One step at a time, right? Th-that's how everything goes...

[She smiles, her lips trembling as she does.]

I have faith in you, Tatsu... can you... have some in me?

[mad-copycat.livejournal.com]

(There is a beat for a few seconds before Tatsu weakly nods.)

Okay...Nanohana-Senpai. Tatsu...have faith in...Nanohana-Senpai.

(Tatsu seems to still be rather depressed though. This feeling of weakness has been hitting her hard recently and it shows.)

[crystal-energy.livejournal.com]

[ 1 ]

[Arika, despite her own injuries, was determined to stay with Tatsu as long as the medical staff would let her]

You have to be okay...

[mad-copycat.livejournal.com]

(Tatsu twitches a little upon hearing Arika and tries to look at her. While Tatsu is able to do it, it is obvious to Arika that Tatsu is putting a LOT of effort in doing this simple task.)

Arika? What...happened? Did we...win?

[crystal-energy.livejournal.com]

[Arika wiped a tear away]

We did!

[mad-copycat.livejournal.com]

(Tatsu smiles weakly.)

That...Good. How is...Everyone?

(Tatsu tries to stand but just can't find the strength and plops back onto the table she is on.)

[crystal-energy.livejournal.com]

A bit sore, but no one got really seriously hurt.

[mad-copycat.livejournal.com]

(Tatsu lets out a small sigh of relief.)

Tatsu...glad. Tatsu...sorry if...Tatsu...made...Arika...worry.

[crystal-energy.livejournal.com]

You all were worried about me... it's only fair that I worry about you.

[mad-copycat.livejournal.com]

But...Tatsu...no want...Arika...to worry. When...Arika...worried or sad...Arika...no as...warm. Tatsu...want...Arika...to be...happy and warm.

[crystal-energy.livejournal.com]

[Arika gave Tatsu a hug]

I'm happy as long as you're safe.