3/4ths Beat, Finale

[marinefashion]

[There's a familiar, if badly battered mecha flying into docking. When the pilot gets out, she sighs and brushes a hand through her blue locks which had been chopped hideously short.] Man, it hasn't changed a bit.

[In her hands she had a data pad, holding it up.] I wonder if anyone missed me.

[Later on, she'll be found in an unoccupied room, and setting up a presentation. When she's ready, she'll turn to the others.]

I know where DUNE went.

Comments

[sunshine_maiden]

[In the hangar, Eri will find a certain familiar redhead, looking somewhat worse for wear herself, having been assessing Itsuki's repairs. She frowns at the damage Eri's taken, but she can't help but smile when Eri finally gets out.] What kind of question is that, silly girl? Of course we did.

[marinefashion]

Sora hey. [And she collapsed into a hug with a breathless sigh.] God I feel worn. I'm glad you look okay despite everything.

[sunshine_maiden]

[The girl suppresses a wince, both at the sudden weight and at the missing feeling in her back. But she wraps her arms around her partner all the same.] I don't know how. I'm very good at skirting the line between reckless and dead. I... almost didn't make it, this last time.

And what in the world were you doing that got Eri so damaged?

[marinefashion]

Geez, I leave, you get reckless, this is ridiculous. You're tender too.

Eh heh, would you believe in a run and gun with DUNE?

[sunshine_maiden]

It's... not on purpose? Well, it was, but- [She sighs.] I'm sorry. You're right, I was being a little reckless, if not for quite as bad of reasons as you might think. And... yeah. Everything still hurts, honestly, but I've been laying around too long. I need to get back to work.

[Sora can't help but gawk at the explanation.] You fought DUNE? By yourself? That's... sheesh, I'm amazed you came back with this little damage.

[marinefashion]

I'll help you out. We'll need all the help we can get.

[Eri rubbed her hair.] He was toying with me. That's how I survived. The haircut is courtesy of Seiren who still hates me so much.

[sunshine_maiden]

Yeah, we do. We're one big mess, these days. Hana's managing somehow, Ciel's off making her own preparations but being quiet about it, Momo... is Momo... that just leaves me. I want to put everything I have into this, I do. But it's going to be hard for me. I think about running headlong into combat again... and I just freeze up. I'll get over it soon, but myself aside, we're about as ready as we're going to be.

Joy. So we still get to worry about the other half, on top of DUNE being a royal pain. At least there isn't really any way this can get worse.

[marinefashion]

Yeah, sounds like it's a big mess but things'll get better.

We'll figure out how to beat everything and come home safely.

[sunshine_maiden]

It will. We'll make it better. We owe Hana, and the rest of the Project, that much.

If I can find the time, and not be in too much pain, I need to get some more practice in. I'm sure my reactions will be different after all that, and I need to get used to myself again. [Oy, Sora, you just got out of the infirmary.]

[marinefashion]

It's the final fight after all. Lets do this.

And don't worry, just be sure you're good.