RP: YSS Miharu Mission 5, Aftermath

[Fred]

@Bridge:

Hinoto emitted a "Mm!" In answer to Tom's words, though they proved a poor dam against the sorrow of the disconsolate avatar. Lamely, she tried wiping her tears. More just replaced them.

* * *

Tom's access to his console was somewhat hindered by the dead Ghost Mishhu, but a shove from his feet at least shoved the corpse away enough to give him access. After a few operations, he managed to get a damage report out of Hoshi.

Aether generator's performance was subpar due to its Blue Rift optimization being poorly optimized for normal space - that told him that wherever they were, it wasn't in the Blue Rift expanse anymore. The two newer fusion reactors he had replaced the escape pods with were functional normally. The emergency batteries were depleted, but they would be fully recharged in a few hours time. Coolant levels were optimal, and Hoshi still had a bit in reserve.

Propulsion systems also seemed satisfactory. The CFS would need to be reconfigure back to realspace operation, but that was trivial. The Gravimetric drives had been slightly banged up by ship collisions, but he could turn a blind eye to that for now. Of course, Hoshi lacking a fold drive, it meant the return trip home would probably take a couple of weeks using the Combined Field System.

Luckily, environmental systems and life support seemed to be doing okay. Hoshi wasn't used logistically to support the whole of Miharu's crew, but there had been so many dead that the emergency supplies would probably sustain them long enough to return to Yamatai.

Lastly, combat systems appeared functional. Hoshi's structural integrity had held at 72%. Though Hoshi had her collection of scorchmarks, pockmarks and a sundry of other scars; most of the abuse came from the two collisions - the first when Miharu rammed in, the second when Hoshi plugged the shuttlebay to allow the Black Knights to board it. Particle turrets were functional, positron reserves were stable, 12 mobile weapon pods were on standby, gravimetric barrier and energized armor were functional.

* * *

The CIES of Yukari's armor interfaced with Hoshi's computer, and an array of miniature displayed blinked into existence over her HUD - her helmet's analog to volumetric windows.

Upon examination Yukari realized that out of the supposed millions of warship that had been trapped in the frozen timespace, Hoshi identified 3714 different friendly IFF signatures had emerged with them. Hoshi counted 25 Yuumi battleships, 182 Ayame cruisers
1456 Yui destroyers and 2051 Irim heavy gunships. A very small fraction of the millions of warships that had composed the Second Draconian Fleet, but large numbers considering the number of ships the Empire has been able to logistically support during the Second Mishhuvurthyar War.

For the moment, pandemonium seemed to reign across the communication channels of the surviving thousands. Command chains had been broken, they were trying to reconsolidate and cope with the new circumstances. Small Hoshi seemed mostly ignore for the moment, while the pieces of the Shlarvasseroth seemed to garner more attention.

Progress through the reconsolidation appeared to be made, by the steady orders of one Kasami Erika-Chujo.

@MedLab:

Ayumu's examination of the Taisa seemed to reveal stable lifesigns - the Taisa was no longer in peril. However, the NH-29 Signaler's was not unscathed: her blood pressure was low and despite the nutrient rich HS fluids she was floating in, her energy reserves had been sorely depleted, to the point of burning what little fatty tissues she had had for energy - which in turn made her look wasted, frail and bony.

With almost twenty pounds of weight lost through her body's psionic exertions, it would take a lot of good food and rest to allow Kotori to recuperate. For the time being, if she were let out of the HS tank, she would probably be weak.

* * *

Nimura looked from Nyton to the ceiling of the medlab.

"Ichigo is gone. So are many others. I don't think anything will ever be okay," she said thoughtfully. "We tried to make the cost be worth it, but I don't think it makes it alright. No one should have to go through this."

Her eye glanced sidelong toward Nyton's. "This is why we are out here, isn't it. We suffer, and hope that will make others less able suffer less."

 

[Doshii Jun]

Three thousand, seven hundred and fourteen.

Yukari held that number at the front of her mind. Next to that number was one representing an estimate of how many lives those ships collectively contained.

Mara's face still hung above her head.

The displays at the command station would not operate by themselves, she thought. She didn't consider how, just hours ago, she would not have sat in that seat unless other lives depended on it, and even then it was begrudgingly.

Now, she accepted the burden without complaint. Kotori needed time to recover. They all did, including the Neko on the Draconian vessels. This was a small thing, an insignificant thing, to do. The others had much more with which to cope.

Her battered, still-armored body did not relax in the commander's chair, but her leg thanked her anyway. She reached up to her helmet and, after it unlocked, slipped it off of her head.

She quietly gasped, then sighed as it came off. She turned it around and looked down at the face of it — scratched all over, slightly dented on one side, lashed with black lines of blood — and smiled. It protected her. She was grateful.

Yukari leaned back in the chair, helmet in her lap, and breathed unfiltered air. She corrected that as quickly as she could; dead Ghost Mishhu did not smell very good, and neither did Melisson's discards. Her body lent her some assistance, but the aromas filled her mouth and forced her to focus on speaking.

"Shosa, are you ready?" Hoshi asked.

In reply, she asked for a volumetric mirror. It was a moment of vanity she rationalized by thinking, I must not frighten them more than they likely already are.

What she saw was alien as the Umbral.

A human woman who appeared to have been mugged several times stared back at her. Her hair was greasy-looking and matted down to her scalp. A bruise was high on her right cheek, about where the helmet had suffered a dent. The rest of her face had a sheen of hemosynthetic moisture, except where the blood had flowed down her bottom lip and covered half of her chin. She was unhealthily pale.

Yukari's eyes were still sharp, and after parting her battered lips, so were her teeth. Her irises were still bright, as were her incisors. She was glad enough for that. However, she leaned forward and narrowed her gaze at the mirror.

Nekovalkyrja from YE 24 would not recognize a human woman leading a Star Army vessel.

She leaned back, and made a silent request.

Hoshi complied with a fancy bit of volumetrics, then asked Yukari to approve, bringing the mirror closer to her.

Yukari's ears were a little longer than Kotori's, and were short-haired inside and outside. The fur was a darker brown than her hair was, or would be once Yukari's hair was clean and refreshed. The skin of the inner ear also was brownish, making her ears blend in a little more with her hair. She actually smiled a little — they looked very natural, and telepathically told Hoshi so.

Then, she affirmed she was ready. Hoshi patched Yukari — from the neck up — through to Kasami Erika's bridge.

Three thousand, seven hundred and fourteen, Mara-san. You saved them all.

"Kasami-Chujo," she started, surprised by the clarity of her own voice. "This is Suzuka Yukari-Shosa, acting commander of the YSS Hoshi, NJ-X1-01. Please acknowledge."

 

[Fred]

Yukari's hail was answered by one of the Yuumi-class battleships, the GSS Mokuren.

The woman that appeared on the communication window was nekovalkyrja, and was dressed in one of the older Star Army skin-tight uniforms, with her shoulderpad-style hinting she was a NH-17. The Chujo - as her outdated rank pin identified her - was something of a soft beauty with pale skin, long layered reddish hair, turquoise almond eyes with a bit of coquettish makeup.

Her eyes, however, were hard with purpose. "You are Suzuka Yukari?" She asked. "You are... not quite as I remember you."

 

[Doshii Jun]

Yukari blinked at the pretty Chujo. Remember me?

"Please excuse me, Kasami-Chujo," she said in Yamataian. "We have met?"

 

[Fred]

"You are Suzuka Yukari, one of our saviors, the Goddess of the Lost," the Chujo answered pointedly. "Where is the Mistress? Is she safe?"

Melisson was done removing the plasma-burned bits of herself, leaving her humanoid body with many holes that would have greatly hindered her survival had she been human. Yukari saw her from the corner of the eye because the interpreter had knelt next to the dead ghost Mishhuvurthyar to seize one of its tentacles and quietly start gnawing on it. She also seemed very alert to Yukari's conversation.

 

[Doshii Jun]

Yukari's blushing was hard to see beneath the bruising and blood, for which she was thankful. How ... how does she know that?

A light came on in her mind. Of course.

"The Taisa is safe, but incapacitated for now," she replied. "I am in command of the Hoshi until she recovers."

Where to go from here ...

"We could not save all of your fleet, Chujo. It is our failure. Please forgive us. However, when your remaining ships are ready, we can lead you back to Yamatai."

 

[Fred]

The askance look Melisson was giving Yukari as she nibbled on flesh seemed to say I told you so.

Kasami, for her part, accepted Yukari's condolences with a sober nod, and then answered her. "My science officer was tasked with figuring out our location and time of arrival. Most of our ships so far appear undamaged and can travel, but ideally we should only leave after we've accounted for our numbers."

Then more out of concern the Chujo asked: "Shosa, is there any assistance we could provide to you, your crew, and the Princess?"

 

[Doshii Jun]

Yukari wanted to slap Melisson to the floor. ... She could not deny her discomfort, though. "Bent" minds.

" ... The Taisa's crew has not been through as much as your fleet, Chujo," Yukari said, wincing. Her body, lacking energy, stopped producing the chemicals she needed to dull the pain of her burns. "However, if there is a corner of one of your vessels that can accommodate us, we will be in your debt. Many of the crew require medical assistance we cannot provide ourselves."

 

[Fred]

Kasami-Chujo nodded. "Of course. Mokuren's hangar can accommodate your vessel. We will receive you shortly."

* * *

GSS Mokuren, Yuumi-class Battleship
Two days later

Yukari's eyes fluttered open as she slowly awoke, her emerald eyes resting on the yet unfamiliar ceiling of the quarters she had been assigned to on the Mokuren.

Being on the Yuumi-class battleship was a bit of a blast from the past. Many things on it were not as Yukari was accustomed to. The tight uniforms the crew wore with familiar ease looked dated to her, the palace-style halls of the ship overdone, the datapads thicker and the earlier version of the Kessaku OS on display over any volumetric window clunkier.

Still, the battleship also had a much larger medical ward and it had received Hoshi's crew with ease. Those whom had gotten away light from the Battle of the Blue Rift Expanse were already back on duty, performing maintenance on Hoshi, while others remained at rest convalescing in quarters like Yukari.

Kasami-Chujo had seemed content with Yukari 'furthering the will of the Princess' and had mostly deferred to the Shosa while Kotori remained comatose, undergoing restorative therapy. Yukari had not even needed to maintain her disguise - apparently most of the people in the fleet had been privy to vague recollections of Mefpralphra and Korori's psionic struggle so they knew how Yukari looked that; the disguise was also futile in light of Nepleslians having been serving at the time in the 'Grand Star Army'.

A desk by Yukari's bedside had a new stack of datapads that had likely been delivered to her during her slumber. Grimacing a bit, the brown-haired nekovalkyrja gingerly hitched herself up to a sitting position - minding the crusty clotting that had replaced her burns - and stretched her hand out to view the first of the reports.

• Star position had confirmed that the time they had emerged from the frozen timespace was around mid-YE 33.
  
• The Second Draconian Fleet had appeared just out of the expanse of unstable space. Kasami-Chujo had the thousands of vessels transit at CDD speeds to maintain discretion into the upper reaches of the Claw Nebula, where the vessels could harvest the materials needed for maintenance.
  
• Search squadrons consisting of Ayame and their Yui escorts modified to apprach the Blue Rift had investigated the wreckage of Amaya's Gate, but failed in their search to find the Soul Savior Pod. MEGAMI sensors did detect antiproton-thruster signatures that did not match any of the combatants on Hoshi's battle recordings. The search squadron did gain valuable hardware salvage from their venture if nothing else.
  
• They had already started on making upgrades to their dated hardware and software. Improvements were already in process in regards to computer calibrations and updated software, replacement of ADN systems in favor of PSC and replacement of Hydrogen Collectors in favor of the more versatile Matter Collection Systems whom they would be able to use to better harvest resources.
  
• Fleet personnel had been handed out historical information on the history they had missed out on until YE 32. Caretakers reported some were stunned and shaken, but in general the transition was going as well as could be expected.
  
• Maintenance and reoptimization of Hoshi's systems was nearly complete. Mokuren technicians were reported to be quite impressed with the advances in miniaturization, defensive armor and nodal technology.
  
• Melisson had behaved herself and allowed Hinoto to confine her into the hemosynthetic tank once Kotori had been vacated out of it. An interphasing field was in place, preventing her from phasing out. PSC activity was minimal. The Interpreter's body had since been entirely regenerated (it was unknown how many bugs presently numbered her body) and she was reported to be sitting at the bottom of the tank, wearing her babydoll dress, her wait sometimes broken up by wordgames and debates with Hoshi.

In a way, despite being addressed as Suzuka-Shosa, the crew of the Mokuren might just as well have addressed her as 'Taisho'... because with the Chujo deferring to her, Yukari was actually commanding the Second Draconian Fleet from her bed... at least until Kotori woke up.

From that point on, the members of the fleet would probably obey Kotori's every order out of imprinted blind loyalty, just as the Black Knights had experienced when Mefpralphra had briefly seized control of their minds. Except, in this case, the imprint Kotori had on them was permanent and no longer could be reversed.

Yukari shook the glum thoughts away and took in hand another datapad that instead reported on the lives of her crew, those whom had been tended by the Mokuren's medical personnel. Most, like her, were convalescing in quarters close to hers. Last she heard treatments had been going well, though the medical staff had been taken aback by how 'inferior' Hoshi's nekos were in comparison to their own NH-17 nekovalkyrjas. They had also nicknamed the Yamataians "Geshrin-2s".

• Suzume, Tsuya, Akiko and Shizuka had been declared fit for duty and discharged.
• Masako's breastbone reconstruction had been completed the day before and she was still at bedrest, her skin healing from the surgery and the various hurts she had taken during Hoshi's defense.
• Nimura's severed arm had been regrown, her other broken limbs set and treated to have the bones fused, though she was going to have to remain at bedrest for awhile until the osteotherapy was complete.
• Rin had just this morning been pulled out from the hemosynthetic tank, her lower body having been entirely regenerated. She seemed to have regained consciousness, but for the time being she was going to be nourished intravenously until her new digestive track 'settled' itself.
• Tom's wounds were mostly healed, and he was still at bedrest until he recovered from a mild case of anemia. He was eating his meals well and his nurse was optimistic as to his rapid recovery.
• Asher's broken bones had been fused back, though he had been discharged prematurely from his osteotherapy on adamant recommendation from his nurse.
• Kai had the embedded bladetip in his body pulled out, and then surgery done on him to pull the dead critter out. While conscious and reasonably comfortable with the use of mild painkillers, he would need to stay at bedrest for awhile longer under hemotherapy to insure that any internal bleeding would be brought under control.
• Kyou had recovered from her mild burns and the deep vertical stab wound dealt through her collarbones. Lung damage was brought under control and she was reported well, still at bedrest and made comfortable with some medecine to improve lung recovery along with mild painkillers.
• Nyton's treatment appeared to be going well. Osteotherapy was now at the medication stage, with his ribs restored and his broken knee tender, but functional. Hemosynth patches had been removed this morning and the Taii had been assured that the paler white facial 'scars' would eventually become nearly invisible as the restored skin became as weathered as the rest.

Yukari set the datapad down, reclining her head back as she rested eyes gone weary from concentration. Moments later, the doors to her quarters opened, with a plebian Elysian nurse driving a wheeled food tray in.

"Good morning, Shosa," the winged woman greeted pleasantly. "Your fiancee insisted on making you breakfast before his morning examination." The nurse revealed a plate with two toasts, covered with meat spread. A simple affair, but likely all Tom had been allowed to do given limited mobility.

The nurse kindly set the plate on the little desk-drawer by Yukari's bed along with a towel and a beverage. "He told me to assure you that the meat spread had been peppered just right."

 

[Kokuten]

Asher stared out the viewing ports in the observation area on the GSS Mokuren, quietly taking in the vista of the stars. His body still ached a bit from the wounds he gained those two days ago. Apparently, even though it was great news to find out that your arm could move without pain, it wasn't as good when you tested it on the bums of passing nurses. As a result, they threw a uniform on him, said he was fine, and kicked him out the door. At least, this was how it was to the muddled Malifarian. The nurses were, in fact, very polite about it. Still, he thought they could've allowed a few more pinches, considering his own role in all of this.

Asher was a basic foot-soldier, a grunt, a Hei. He was indeed the killin'est thing out there, but he knew his place when it came to status. Someone like Nyton? Ho ho! The officer could probably pinch up a storm before he got called on. Not Asher thought, the man had to rely on his own daring to feel the smooth bottoms of unsuspecting medical personnel. If he didn't have his own aversion to rank, he'd probably shoot for a promotion just for that reason.

Another aversion the Malifarian seemed to have was talking. He hadn't uttered a word since he was ordered unto silence in Mefpralphra's chamber. It was difficult to discern whether he was doing it out of loyalty, or some other lip-sealing reason. Perhaps it all began to sink in, the deaths and all that; perhaps the loneliness of a large galaxy had gotten to him, knowing he could never see his family again; or, perhaps it was because the GSS Mokuren seemed to be vivid reminder of the GSS Shikaku.

Whatever the reason was, Asher was quiet, and rather un-Asher for the past 48 hours, save for the time he spent pinching and slapping butts. The only real discernible thing was his interest in staring at the stars in that very moment.

 

[Rabbit Eclair]

Miyoko's scars from the battle had already faded back into her skin, thanks to her hemosynth healing. When she'd first stripped off her armor immediately after Hinoto gave the all-clear, trying to get back into her uniform so she could help tend to the wounded, she hadn't looked that great. A still-healing patch on her stomach where she'd been impaled, and a circle of angry bruises around her neck and down her back, with a few more scattered across her body from incidental blows. It was nothing compared to what some of the other crew members had sacrificed, but as she rolled out of bed two days later, it was nice to not feel stabbing pain in her neck and stomach.

She hadn't even heard that her own death had been announced until hours afterward. Not exactly sort of thing she was used to finding out. She was still only dimly aware of what had happened on the Shlarvasseroth... or really, anywhere outside of her own corner of it. With the entire crew scattered around and limited communication, it was hard to get a complete picture of the battle. Doubly so when a significant portion of the crew was recovering.

And now... the Mokuren's medical staff was taking care of the wounded. With much of the crew on the Yuumi-class healing, the Miharu felt empty. Things were strangely calm, which was only accentuated by the fact that she had very little to do compared to the days leading up to the battle. After taking a few minutes to warm up, she got dressed and pondered breakfast. But first...

"Suzuka-Shosa, good morning. I believe that our medical needs are finally under control, thanks to the Mokuren. Is there anything you would like me to do today? Things are still a little chaotic over here."

 

[Nyton]

Nyton was exhausted and could unfortunately do very little to console Nimura. Eventually he too succumbed and found himself under treatment. Throughout his treatment he allowed himself to rest and thought of little else than returning to duty. There had only been a mild concern over the skin. If anything Nepleslians bore scars with pride so it was with a little regret that there would be no permanent trophy of this battle.

By the time Nyton was capable of doing anything though he found himself somewhat limited. With Yukari being waited on devotedly by a much larger and more mobile command staff Nyton found himself with fewer responsibilities. Free of the logistics he decided to instead focus on other matters that occupied him. Now that he was more mobile he took some of his initial steps on the still sensitive knee. His duties to his princess however could hardly be performed with said neko still in recovery. A brief check to see if her condition had changed resulted in little else than a brief exercise. With Kotori still unconscious he decided to visit Nimura. The newly freed sprite's condition concerned him. Now that she was free to experience emotions he was not sure how she was taking the death of her sister.

Nyton limped while he tried not to put too much stress on the recently healed knee. "You are looking much better, Nimura. I take it they have been treating you well." he said as he approached her bed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Akiko and Shizuka, having been discharged, returned to Hoshi and did their best to help with the clean up of the ship. The battle may not have damaged too much of the interior but there was still a bloody mess in the medical center, the hallways, and good food to be made. If anything they had to try and keep the spirits of the crew up. With all the hardship and loss experienced the need to raise morale was more crucial then ever.

"Maybe we should throw a victory party?" Akiko had suggested.

Shizuka shook her head. "No, Akiko-chan. Everyone is still in mourning. It is too soon for any festivities. That does not mean we should not smile when we can."

"I would be really really really sad if I lost you, onee-chan. Everyone here lost many times that many of you. I don't know if smiling is going to help at all. Its like I can't even get the heart up to sing anymore." Akiko sighed.

"Maybe smiling will not do much at first. Remember though that every smile we give is one less frown seen. And one less frown on a face is one step closer to seeing smiles all over the place." Shizuka replied, the last sentence in a sing song way.

"When smiles abound on every face, then even outer space is a happy place." Akiko replied in tune with her sister. A slight grin washed over the younger sister. "You know I can't stay sad when you sing mommy's song."

"I know. That's why I sing it." Shizuka replied.

 

[Doshii Jun]

It still felt like YE 24.

Seeing the Elysian nurse was just the latest. Everywhere Yukari turned, signs of her past told her she was an NH-17 again, a red-haired, green-eyed weapon in the service of the Empire.

It made things awkward. She felt shame each time a Neko looked at her, especially her ears. She guessed that was why she bowed her head to an Elysian nurse, instead of an NH-17. The Chujo was gracious about it, and Yukari was thankful the Chujo did not bring it up any further.

The other Neko telepathically spoke about it; she could hear the encrypted chatter and watch their body language. Perhaps the Neko felt as awkward as she did.

Tom's toast, for the few minutes it lasted, transported her back to Ralt, where meat and cream were in almost every dish. There was a little spice in it, too; nothing more than some all-seasoning, but it was enough to brighten her mind. Her body certainly rejoiced, immediately tearing the nutrients out of the food and rushing them to where she most needed them — wounds and muscles.

How she wanted him near her. Even if it was just to be scratched by his scruffy chin. She wanted to pull him against her and never let him go. Not ever, not for as long as her soul could find a body, and even if it could not, she would haunt him for all his days. Just to be near him.

When the toast was done, she set the plate aside and took up another datapad. It contained information on the Mokuren's crew, as well as the major officers of the other primary ships.

Then, she heard Miyoko's telepathic voice.

It was the first time she had heard it in days. Since Amaya's Gate, she thought. The last report she received told her the Juni was brought back to life by Kotori.

Yukari drew a long, slow breath, held it for a few seconds, then let the air rush out of her. It hurt a little to smile so big, but she did it anyway.

"Saito-Juni-san. Good morning," she replied in Yamataian. She looked up at the ceiling, where a holographic render of the bridge's view of space hung. She imagined it was more comforting to an NH-17. "I do not, for now, have any duties for you. Please watch over Hoshi during the absence of the senior officers. She is your ship. If she has needs, attend to them."

Out of the corner of her left eye, Yukari noticed a slight movement. Her body reminded her that she was unarmed when her hand clenched around the butt of a pistol that was not there.

"Who is there?" she asked.

A pause, then a pair of green-haired Neko — red-panelled Yui clones — came from around the portal's edges. They deeply bowed to her from the hallway.

"So sorry, Suzuka-Shosa," they said in unison. "We were told to deliver a datapad," one said, and Yukari saw the pad held in the lap of one of them.

"Of course," Yukari replied, trying to sound grateful. Even if the Neko were spying on her, they also tended to revere her despite her ears. She tried dozens of times to stop the Mokuren's crew from acting so deferential around her, but it never stuck. She had given up inside of 12 hours.

The one with the datapad rose and came forward. Yukari's eyes zeroed on the Neko's bare shoulders. She remembered what that was like, along with the revealing uniform. Never able to cover up. Never able to keep eyes off of her. Never able to feel like more than a visual sweetener.

The Neko's eyes went to Yukari's ears. Or lack thereof, she thought. Yukari took the pad held out for her.

"Thank you," she said. The Neko bowed again, stiffly this time.

" ... I was ashamed of what I was," she said to the datapad as the Neko rose. "I am not shameful now, sister. Forgive me for my madness."

The Neko looked at her, confused and stunned and unable to say anything. Then she bowed again and left with her partner, telepathically chattering away.

Yukari blinked, lowered her gaze and leaned back into her bed. The idea of hugging Tom seemed better with each passing moment.

... Why must I wait for that?

Everyone was safe.

Melisson was captured.

Mefpralphra was dead.

What did she have left to do but read datapads?

The NH-29H winced, growled, then breathed deeply, in and out, as she twisted her body and put her feet on the ground. Her left leg could take no weight, but the idea of floating made her stomach growl, so she used just enough to keep weight off of her leg.

She limped out of her room in her hospital gown, and queried the Mokuren's KAMI to guide her to Tom's room. She realized that she probably looked quite ugly and unkempt, and she pushed some of her hair behind one of her ears before she limped her way to the portal of Tom's room.

 

[Fred]

@Nyton:

"More than well," Nimura answered quietly from where she lay on the bed, turning her head on the pillow to look at him but not rising. She gestured for Nyton to sit on a foldable chair that was deployed by her bed.

"You and I, we've both been thralls to Melisson. The crew of this ship - of this fleet - are much the same as we have been," she noted. "How do you feel about these people?""

 

[Gallant]

It had been a long two days.

As she lay back in the pilot's armchair, arms crossed, the windows and panels dimmed to facilitate a sleeping environment, Yuzuki relived them.

It had all started with the uniforms. None of the sprites, Yuzuki included, had uniforms on the Hoshi, so uniforms had been provided to them by the crew of the Mokuren of the general engineering make and model. They were tighter than the bodysuits that Yuzuki was used to, and parts hugged her form so tightly she had some trouble getting into them, although she was assured the size was correct. They also had bright orange panels, which wouldn't have bothered Yuzuki, except that it was clear at a glance that the sprites on the Mokuren were modeled after Yui, or after other historical figures. Their personalities were straightforward and almost dry, though they were polite and very interested. At least Yuzuki was uncomfortable around them.

There had been a small discussion and fallout over that. The Miharu sprites, for the most part, hadn't wanted the orange again - their color was red, or blue, as befit their purpose. The 'regular' crew assigned to work on the Hoshi, some of whom wore orange themselves, were too ashamed to ask for anything like that, and the real engineers assigned to supervise the Mokuren's sprites - Yuzuki thought the word 'real' with a certain, growing animosity - hadn't wanted it because they felt the sprites - even aboard Miharu were somehow inferior. As the Miharu's new senior enlisted engineer, Yuzuki had been forced to address the issue, and it wasn't something she relished.

The Miharu had paid for the red, with red. That was the reasoning she gave the Mokuren's Chief Engineer.

She remembered the conversation distinctly.

The Chief Engineer on a ship as large as the Mokuren was a Chui, with blue hair that was even shorter than Yuzuki's, and she had been extremely surprised to find a Heisho pin on an orange-paneled collarbone. The Chui had listened with extreme intensity, and afterwards the sprites - even the ones temporarily assigned - were put in red. Some of them were given over to facilitate the upgrade and recalibration of the Mokuren. The rest were retained aboard the Hoshi, and set to supervising the repairs there, as senior to the oncoming, 'real' engineers. That chafed, every once in a while, but Yuzuki didn't care.

Miharu-Heisho didn't care.

The conversation with the Chui was the first and the last conversation Yuzuki had participated in onboard the Mokuren. She had afterwards returned to the Hoshi, and assumed her duties moodily. The sprites and engineers had been divided into two groups - a team for restoring the Hoshi, and fixing the damage sustained during the prolonged combat action, and a second team devoted to clearing away the bodies of the fallen and scrubbing the decks, bulkheads, and even the ceiling until they were all presentable again. Even then, the damage was mostly cosmetic, so a large percentage went to the second group.

What was left, Yuzuki worked on, but the work was simple and routine, and she quickly realized how uncomfortable the gold disc on her uniform was making the Mokuren crewmembers. Their ship was much larger and far more formal. They were conducting themselves around her with the pomp and circumstance she usually only afforded to Juni or above, if that. This also made Yuzuki uncomfortable, so she soon found herself with the second group clearing bodies. The end of the first day saw the passageway, central engineering, and a few other spaces cleared away.

The suits they put aside for maintenance and repair, and the bodies they pulled out and lay on tarps on the deck in whatever condition they were found. With no soul savior pod, and all their backup information logs lost on the Miharu, they were all well and truely dead. They were to be put back into the hemosynth. Somehow, it fit. From the ship, to the ship again.

Yuzuki took down their names.

With Melisson occupying the only chamber, this abbreviated funeral was delayed, and the bodies remained even into the second day in the hangar bay, eyes closed, swathed in blankets. The enemy corpses were taken to the Mokuren. Yuzuki didn't care to ask why.

The second day they were working on the hangar bays specifically, and it was on that day that Yuzuki found a naked corpse buried under some of the Misshu that had been piled in the area. It had short, blond hair, but was otherwise so marred by the fighting that it was unrecognizable. She put it on the tarps, with the rest, and pulled the discarded armor out and placed it on the rack with the others. After a moment's thought, she put it aside, and went back to work.

After that, they scrubbed down everything - or started to. The paneling would all have to be replaced. Then, after everything was done, Yuzuki would conduct a general inspection along with the remaining engineering sprites as they recovered, and they would declare the ship fit for duty again.

But for now, Yuzuki went to work on the Daisy. It took her mind off of things.

And so passed the second day's evening. She had worked all night, and the suit was once again in full working order, including that absurd insert that Kai had wanted in it, because he hadn't wanted to take his clothes off when dawning it. After everything, that seemed like a really stupid concern. And, Yuzuki noted idly, it was pretty unsanitary. But, there it was.

Now here she sat, trying to sleep, closing her eyes and leaning back in the most comfortable and unbloodied place she could find on the Hoshi, haunted by memories she didn't have the courage or possibly even the capacity to delete. Over and over again, she relived thirty minutes of her short life. Over and over again she felt the warmth of real human contact, of mutual fear, of desperate companionship. The feel of clippings between her fingers, and quiet words tickling the hair of her ears.

Weighed against everything, what did it matter? It seemed a whole year ago. If one took into account the affect of the time-movement, it was an entire three or possibly four. And he wouldn't even remember it. He would just go home, to his planet, and his trees and be happy with his family and maybe they would never see each other again after this fleet went to Yamatai. That's just fine with me, Yuzuki thought to herself. I never want to see him again.

But she did, and that was the problem, and it made her sad, angry and hopelessly frustrated.

 

[Kai]

Kai was tired. Not physically, really, he had been resting for two days, but mentally. He had been resting for two days. The surgeries had gone well enough, and he had enough painkillers to feel normal. His head was back in working condition. However, something felt weird. this ship, it was so different from the Miharu, but the Miharu was gone. All that remained of what he had called home for so long- and he now considered his birthplace, considering what had transpired, was now gone. He wanted to go back to the Hoshi. It was all that was left. All of his 'new' new memories began there.

Kai moved out of the bed in the room he had been given- he didn't care about possible internal bleeding. As far as the Yamataian was concerned, it was worse to remain stationary. He dressed, absentmindedly- Putting on the clothing he had worn before- they had been washed, but he had refused to get them mended. The shirt still sported a small hole from where his chest had been pierced, the legs of the pants showed faded spots from the heat when he had shot his own capacitors off of his armor.

Slowly, he padded through the Mokuren's hallways, trying to remember where the Hoshi was, and eventually finding it. Kai looked it over, pondering. Should he go in? what would he find? his memory of the end of that fight was so hazy, he didn't even remember going to the Hoshi, much less what it was like inside.

Kai took a deep breath, and waited.

 

[Rabbit Eclair]

"Thank you, Shosa," Miyoko replied briefly before severing the connection. She didn't want to interrupt Yukari's convalescence any further with the intrusion. At least, not at the moment. Perhaps later she'd make her rounds and visit the wounded crew members. The one person she was itching to talk to was Kotori, to ask her what in the hell had been going through her head when she'd almost literally boiled herself alive to save her... but that answer didn't look like it would be forthcoming soon, since the Taisa was still out cold.

She couldn't sit in her room all day waiting, though. Miyoko stepped out the door into the Hoshi. The sight of the near-empty ship filled Miyoko with an uncomfortable energy. Now was a time to relax and recover for most of the crew, but she couldn't feel at ease just yet. It wasn't a time for a leisurely breakfast... and with Tom still recovering, there likely wasn't anything in the Hoshi's kitchenette that would be worthy of that anyway, she noted with annoyance. A quick detour there proved her correct, but she was still able to snag an apple, which she idly munched on as she walked.

A quick stroll up and down the length of the Hoshi showed that the repairs and cleanup had progressed faster than she expected. She could complain of the occasional long night of data analysis, but it seemed like the engineers just never got to sleep. Well. She was just fine with the engineers (or anybody, for that matter) working longer hours than her, but she could at least try to give them a run for their money. Yukari had asked her to attend to the ship's needs. Step one would be finding out what those were.

When she'd finished a lap of the ship, Miyoko entered the bridge. She was surprised to find it looking rather tidy, another sign of the engineering staff's dedication... but rather more surprised to see somebody's head sticking up over the back of the Flight Ops chair. She moved down the stairs to get a peek, then relaxed when she saw Yuzuki's face. Strange place for a nap, but with the remaining crew only having a handful of rooms on the Hoshi, she wasn't going to hold it against her. Miyoko slid into the Ship Operations seat and started pulling up the ship's status report, doing her best to stay quiet so as to not disturb Yuzuki.

 

[Nyton]

Nyton limped over and wearily sat down. Despite having rested the past two days his body's facilities continued to direct all energy towards restoration. As a result he became tired due to the focus of energy. He discovered that he was still just learning to exist in this Yamataian body.

The man took in a breath and looked at Nimura while he sought to reply her question. The once mighty warrior appeared somewhat frail to him now. She was more talkative now rather than keeping her conversation private via telepathy. "Right now I feel relieved that they are so determined to be helpful to us. That is just the short sighted answer though." he said, the statement giving him more time to think upon his answer.

"I distinctly remember how good it felt to be in Melisson's thrall. Everything was so simple. So clear. There were no doubts or fears to contend with. Whenever I look back at it or replay the memories in my memory recorder all I get is this sensation of feeling good to be enthralled. Like it was some kind of drug which I was happily addicted to. Then it ends abruptly and I find myself conflicted. It is as if I am looking at myself through a distorted mirror but the image was not at fault." Nyton said before pausing to collect his thoughts again.

"I feel concern for these people. It feels as though we rescued them only to inadvertently wrong them in doing so. Their freedom to some extent has been stolen from them. I chose to serve Kotori-dono with all entirety. These people did not." he answered.

 

[Tom]

Convalescing in the spacious interior of the Yuumi-class Mokuren felt very differnt for the Chief Engineer of the Miharu. And compared to the tiny Hoshi, the very room he laid in may as well been the size of the engineering section of that ship.

Not that the engineer had much time to enjoy it. The first day he spent slipping in and out of consciousness, so great was his exhaustion. The anemia fatigued him in those moments he was awake too.

Thoughts of Yukari and the crew dominated his mind. What else could he do but think? The volumetric displays he could open at will, but being an orphaned Juni on a foreign ship meant he had no responsibilities to perform.

Several times he had looked over the engineering schematics of the battleship, and it was then he realized just how much time had passed for those trapped in the rift. The designs were functional but archaic. Everything was bigger and bulkier and had redundancies that frustrated him.

Several times he had opened a window to the Chief Engineer, a Chui by the name of Mei Nakata. Unfortunately, he never got really far into the message before he deleted it in frustration. Tom had forgotten a lot of the subtle formalities required when addressing superiors by mail, not to mention having trouble dealing with the added weight of treading carefully on another engineer's territory.

Engineers had a nearly religious commitment to and great pride in their ship. Why else would a soldier agree to work within the noisy, messy bowels of a ship while others in more visible areas got fast track promotions and glory? You had to love the work.

It also created an insular environment when it came to the 'technician community' as he liked to call it. On a ship this big, there had to be a lot of engineers, sharing a common communication style. 'Outsiders' would only get in the way.

The letter was left unwritten.

So, he sat in his thoughts of the crew. Occasionally, a fragment of battle would flash in his mind, and he would instinctively clutch at his white bedsheets. Sometimes he saw the faces of his dead friends above scenes of carnage. The smiling Junko sliced cleanly in half, the sliced-open skulls of Kai and Masako dripping brain matter. The half-calcinated Nepleslian body of Nyton lying in a hallway, his head cracked open like an egg which held a pink yolk pudding.

Such carnage was always canceled by a few calming breaths, and reassuring thoughts that the battle was over. He still had his friends.
He still had Yukari.

But, had it not been for Kotori...

Tom's eyes closed and he remembered vividly the battle of his mind. The corruption of his soul through Melisson's power, his near murder of his love through the Infection Queen's influence. Each time, Kotori had saved him.

He was thankful, that was sure, but for a single man from a small hamlet in the icy north of Yamatai, Kotori was beyond comprehension. Her power was overwhelming, insignificant in respect to his own convictions.

Ralteans prided themselves on their independence, community and sense of purpose. It was what made them strong enough to fight on through the winter. And, even though there was always hospitality for those who came to visit, genuine reflections of kindness, there was just a tinge of darkness to that pride.

We know of the winter in ways you cannot possibly imagine. Only we are equipped to endure this burden. Do not concern yourselves with it. We will protect you.

Tom eyes glazed over as he stared at the white ceiling.

Snow.

Kotori knew. She knew everything about him, and he knew everything about her. Their minds had touched. It was embarrassing how pitiful he seemed before her.

His convictions.

However wrong those twisted convictions he held in dream were, they were still a wall he held to protect himself, to assert his self-control and identity in a swirling, hostile universe.

And Kotori, in protecting him, had inadvertently rent that asunder.
A complex cocktail of emotions swirled within him, overpowering his weak frame and dulling his senses until he lost consciousness.

How else could one process touching the mind of a God?

~~~~~

The second day, he awoke early in the morning.

Oh yeah... breakfast time.

It was a morning ritual he performed almost every day since he met Yukari. It was his responsibility to make her breakfast. Instinctively, he rolled onto his side and tried propping himself up.

He had just made it to the end of the bed when his strength gave out, and he toppled to the ground. The IV of hemosynthetic fluid attached to his arm toppled over and fell on top of him as he smacked into the ground on his right shoulder.

"Ow.."

A shot of pain from his chest caused him to wince and breathe heavily. The pain was dull but consistent, a sign his body was healing, but a good piece of advice to not exert himself either.

"Freeman-Sama!"

Tom heard the female's voice from the door to the room. Apparently, whoever it was had duty to watch over him.

Before he knew it, the Raltean was lifted into the strong arms of a NH-17 and returned to his bed.

"You must not move, Freeman-Sama," the Neko chided with a frown. "You are still recovering from your wounds!"

Tom then got a good look at his keeper. Like all Neko, she was attractive, lean and fit with a perfectly contoured body. Her violet eyes were a perfect compliment to her black hair, which was neatly tied in a small bun. Special attention was paid to her bangs which formed a gentle wave across her forehead, just long enough to permit small parts in that wave along her eyes. Her fluffy, catlike ears, the same color as her hair, moved just barely, as if she was listening for some far off sound. Her skin as well was a dark brown color, almost the color of chocolate.

Naturally, Tom's eyes wandered, and he absorbed the rest of her body, including her full, but not too large chest and curved hips. She wore a skin tight, green-paneled outfit with a skirt which showed off just a little too much flesh for it to be unintentional.

His eyes fell across the rank emblem on her left breast and the small inscription on it.

Joto Hei Kana Nishimura.

"Thank you, Nihimura-Hei," Tom said with a nod. "Nice to meet you."

With a visible blush, the neko bowed deeply.

"I am sorry for not introducing myself properly to Freeman-Sama."

Tom cocked his head slightly.

"No... need to call me something like that," he said. "Tom is fine."

The nurse known as Kana shot to attention at the reply, shaking her head sternly.

"There is no need for modesty, Freeman-Sama," she said. "The Goddess of the Lost has placed great importance on you and your well being. You are not just Tom."

The Raltean felt a wave of discomfort wash over him, but the polite smile he returned help him suppress it. Goddess of the lost? Yukari?

"Ok ok... whatever makes you happy."

Kana approached Tom's side, bending over to pick up the hemosynthetic drip.

"Why did Freeman-Sama try to get out of bed," she asked as she calmly drew her finger over his exposed arm to make sure that the needle's position was not altered. "Do you need to use the bathroom?"

"N-no, well yes, but," Tom said, now his turn to blush a little. "It is morning. I have to make breakfast for Yukari."

Tom felt a squeeze on his wrist. A small volumetric timer appeared in front of her face. After 30 seconds, she spoke.

"Pulse is 42 beats per minute," she said. Tom heard a small beep of reply from somewhere. Then a cuff was placed on his arm as the nurse took his blood pressure. "Blood pressure is 111/50."

Another beep. Tom quietly watched the nurse work as she continued to examine him, but was startled when the nurse took his head into her hands, cupping him by the cheeks. He tried to move, but the NH-17 held more strength than he could possibly muster.

She gently floated above Tom as she held him, then bent forward and stared into his gray eyes. Tom smelled traces of sweet lavender wafting from her skin.

"No sign of concussive damage from fall. No changes to recovery regimen needed."

Beep. Kana held Tom in her gaze a moment longer before floating back to the side of the bed and taking him by the arm. With gentle strength, she helped Tom sit up.

"I am in charge of your recovery. Chief Medical officer Suzuki-Shoi is tending to the seriously wounded. You nearly passed out as soon as you arrived here yesterday. You were suffering from severe anemia and nutrient deficiency due to your wounds and the stress you endured."

The nurse's pink lips parted in a smile which revealed her perfectly white teeth. Tom felt the gentle squeeze of four fingers on his arm.

"Your condition has improved considerably since then, but you are no doubt very weak still. Do not worry. With a little more rest, food, and hemosynthetic fluid, you will be just fine. Your body simply needs time."

A deep breath escaped Tom's lips. He knew little about medicine but Kana's reassurances calmed him greatly.

"That's great. Thank you for the good news. Is Yukari...?"

"She will be fine," Kana said quickly. "Her strong Neko body can sustain much more damage than yours after all, Freeman-Sama."

"Mmm... Yeah."

Some moments passed before a giggle escaped Kana. Startled, Tom blankly stared at the nurse.

"W-what?"

"You were staring off with a strange smile on your face," she said. "It was very cute."

"Uh... could I go to the kitchen and make some food," Tom asked, changing the subject quickly. "I need to make Yukari something to eat."
"I cannot allow you to leave this room after your evaluation," Kana replied. "But I can have some things brought here for you to use."
Tom held his frustration in check. Some options were better than none, and he didn't want to press the issue. With a quick thought, he constructed a simple affair, toasted bread with a spiced meat spread. He sent the details to the nurse.

"What you need will be here shortly, Freeman-Sama," she said. "In the meantime, shall I help get you ready for the day?"

Tom tried to hide his embarrassment. He thought about refusing the offer for help, but the painful fall reminded him of how weak he really felt.
"...I could use a hand. Yeah."

After disconnecting him from his drip, Kana gently lifted Tom to his feet and guided him, slowly to one of two small door across the room. One held the toilet, the other a small bath, separated as was popular in the more affluent parts of Yamatai. The whole process was slower than it needed to be, but Tom appreciated the deference Kana gave to him. She could have carried him easily, but did not.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure."

As they walked in silence, Tom felt the warmth of Kana's body pressed against his. He breathed deeply the scent of lavender once more. Something about it was intoxicating...

...it reminded him of Yukari.

They had laid together only two days ago, but it felt like two years. He had laid with Yukari after she agreed to marry him, but he longed to do so again.

It was selfish, despite all the pain and sacrifice they had witnessed, to bask in pleasures of the flesh so soon after their mission, but Tom still thought about it. He wanted to ravish Yukari, reaffirm their relationship in passionate bliss. He wanted to feel her soft touch, the touch of a woman.

It was only natural. It was what made him a man.

Another giggle broke him from his reverie. Tom looked down to see a pair of violet eyes staring at him.

"Huh? What?"

"Nothing," came the innocent reply. "I will get the bath ready."

~~~~~

When Tom entered the private bath, he was pleased with how much it reminded him of Miharu's baths except on a miniaturized scale. The simple tiling and recessed bath were the same, as was the single shower stall for those short on time.

Lured by the temptation of a warm bliss, Tom found renewed strength. With ginger steps, he reached the edge of the bath and entered it slowly.
The first half of his descent was without problem, but once he reached his chest, the water stung his chest ever so slightly before smothering the pain in comforting warmth.

"Mmm.... so good."

He reached for a basket of soaps and shampoos Kana had undoubtedly left for him, but withdrew his hand. Why rush things? It would be nice to just sit there and soak for a while...

Reclining against the edge of the bath with a happy sigh, Tom was asleep before he knew it.

~~~~~

Tom was awakened by a weight sitting on his lap. The sound of running water reminded him that he was still in the bath, but the Raltean didn't understand why he felt glued to his seat.

That is, until he opened his eyes to see violet. Again.

"GAH!"

"Good morning, Freeman-Sama," Kana said with a grin. "I was just about to get started."

"Woah woah woah woah WOAH!" Tom waved his hands. "What are you DOING?"

A puzzled look came over Kana's face as she tilted her head to the side. She backed off Tom and stood up, exposing herself freely to the Raltean.
Tom was still staring at the naked sprite in shock when the confusion in Kana's eyes disappeared.

"Ah! I am sorry Freeman-Sama! I did not know!" Crossing her arms in front of her, she bowed deeply, almost touching her hair to the water.

The Raltean quickly turned his head away, trying to salvage some degree of chastity in this bizarre turn of events.

"W-well yeah... I'm just glad you-"

"Freeman-Samaaaa."

Against his better judgement, Tom turned his attention back to the nurse...

...only to see her nude form bent over the lip of the bath, her black skin glistening with droplets of water.

"I've been a bad girl... punish me nowwwww!"

Kana was gorgeous, there was no doubt about that. Tom felt the stirrings of his loins in reaction to such an offer, but the Raltean's will was firm and he shook his head, mouth agape.

"No way! Are you--"

"Ehhhh!?" There was genuine suprise in the Neko's voice. "You are neither submissive or dominant? Is... is Freeman-Sama a... virgin?"

"GAH! S-STOP TALKING, DAMMIT!"

Silence. After a few deep, calming breaths, the shock wore off and Tom was in control of his facilities once more.

"Ok, ok, look," he said. "I don't want to have sex with you. It's not that you're not my type. I mean you're GORGEOUS, but like, I don't need those services right now."

"There is no need to be shy, Freeman-Sama," came the demure reply. "I saw... your excitement... when I held you close."

Gracefully, Kana brought her hand up to the bundle of hair and, with a gentle pull, undid the bun. Rivers of hair fell down around her shoulders. Her violet orbs burned with carnal lust, and she bore her teeth in a wicked smile.

"I am very good at servicing others, Freeman-Sama. I can be anything you want to be, can do anything you want me to. I'm well trained and my clients have told me I feel wonderful."

With deliberate steps, Kana approached her prey, drawing wet hands along the curves of her body, letting out soft, barely audible moans as she touched the more sensitive parts of her form.

"So, Freeman-Sama," she said, almost on top of him now. "Shall we begin?"

"Do NOT touch me."

Time froze, and so did Kana under the piercing gaze of the Raltean. In that moment, the young Hei saw the power held within those stormy gray eyes, the experiences and the conviction that helped shape him into the man he was today. And, just like that, she had become his prey.

"I belong only to Suzuka Yukari. Do you understand?"

Trembling, the Hei withdrew from Tom. She crossed her hands over her chest and floated out of the water. Tom saw the fear in her eyes.

"Wa...Wakarimashita... Gomennasai Freeman-Sama."

"...it's ok," Tom replied, calming down, the storms of his eyes dissipating. "You didn't know. But... like... listen to people when they talk to you, ok?"

Kana nodded before she landed by the side of the bath. She picked up a towel and wrapped it around her body. She coughed once, clearing the air, and turned around to address her superior. Her face was neutral and professional, the same as when they had first met.

"I will take care of your breakfast order before tending to the other patients," she said. "If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. By your leave, Juni."

With that, she grabbed he clothes and left.

As he sat alone in the bath, Tom contemplated what had just happened. Then he came to the only reasonable reaction he could have, given the circumstances.

A hearty laugh and a shake of the head.

~~~~~

When Yukari entered his room, she found her love sitting in bed looking at a datapad. It seemed that he hadn't noticed her yet, mainly due to the earphones he was wearing.

 

[Gallant]

The first sign of Yuzuki stirring was a vague, almost idle flick of her left ear. She moved her head slightly to the side, as if to readjust her use of the headrest as a makeshift pillow.

Then she sighed, audibly, and cracked her pale blue eyes open, settling sullenly on the form of a Juni in the nearby operations chair. Yuzuki lingered on her for a few moments, examining her face, or what she could see of it from this angle. Lightly colored hair, darker, bluer eyes, skin the color of pale cream. And even sitting down, Yuzuki could tell that she was the Nekovalkyrja version of 'correctly preportioned', which was a trait the two of them didn't share. Too tall, too thin, Yuzuki briefly found the time to envy the Juni. That was Yuzuki's first real impression, now that she'd had time to make it. She hadn't ever paid attention, before.

Yuzuki knew her by name alone, but even that was enough for her to recall the personnel file. It hurt to do so, without the ever-present confirmation of the Miharu's MEGAMI, like tearing a single page from a book and then calling it a full novel, but Yuzuki could dimly recall. She had, after all, been born into the knowledge.

And Yuzuki could smell the apple. The sweet aroma made her stomach want to turn, and it was at that point Yuzuki realized that she had not only forgone sleep, but also food. The shock of that one single day had yet to release her. She realized, dimly, that she was even using this interruption as an excuse not to sleep. Yuzuki was afraid of what her dreams might be.

She turned her head away again, recrossing her arms and snugging into the chair again. She didn't close her eyes, but fixed her gaze on one of the pilot's incomprehensible dial indicators, just for the lack of anything better to look at.

"If you're here to check on our progress, Juni-san, we haven't inspected everything, yet, but the repairs are minor. We're not finished, they're just taking a break, right now."