Sniping the sixty-fifth target.

[haroicsacrifice]

[ voice ]

--this still working?

[The device shuts on and off a few times. For a moment, it switches to video, revealing this scene. Then it's back to voice.]

See? We aren't so trapped. We can still communicate. That's important, isn't it?

[More loudly:]This is Lockon Stratos of the Curse Brigade, calling off this effort to rescue those trapped

Comments

[acepilotamuro]

The word of the deities... That's gotta be some kind of joke. This is all just some kind of game they're playing... like they always do.

There's gotta be some way to make this all right...

[haroicsacrifice]

For now, stay in communication with the trapped. Somebody might have something useful to report, after all.

[acepilotamuro]

Of course. I knew there had to be a reason he was trying to goad people on so much... At least this place is consistent in being inconsistent...

[haroicsacrifice]

Nobody in charge around here is very trustworthy, Amuro. Whether it's the deities or anyone else who shows up.

[haroicsacrifice]

Then maybe it's not really outside the City.

[haroicsacrifice]

It sure doesn't look like the City.

[ourdenouement]

Well. It's a good thing I didn't try to escape~

[haroicsacrifice]

So you're safe, Kaoru.

[ourdenouement]

Mm. Can I say the same for you~?

[haroicsacrifice]

I'll be fine. We'll get out of here sooner or later!

action;

[worthier]

I should have known it wouldn't be so simple.

[He's still taken aback by how real it had looked-- Veda, a machine impossible to duplicate, is identical to this vision right down to the background streams of accurate data. It's enough to almost anger him, adding insult to injury now that he knows the connection wasn't terminated, but stolen. If these surroundings are all drawn from memory, though... he isn't surprised at all. There is a frustrated sigh, barely audible, before he shifts closer.]

All they can do now is continue guarding the perimeter.

action;

[haroicsacrifice]

We had to try, Tieria. It's our mission here, in the City.

[It's unsettling, to him, to be back in what looks like a world he never wanted to return to. But he hides it. Tieria must be unsettled too; that's more important.]

Let's focus on getting out of here.

[He drifts up to the ceiling, searching for the hatch.]

Even if what's beyond isn't so pleasant, it'll give us a chance to get out. Maybe we can find some of the others who got trapped.

action;

[worthier]

[His thoughts have already started drifting to more unpleasant places, but with those words distracting him for the time being, he agrees.]

Sitting idle is not an option.

[Then he notices.]

It's here, Lockon. Allow me to help you.

[Floating toward the doorway and keypad, he enters in the same code he submitted countless times before. No response. Again he tries, and again, until he's very nearly pounding at the keys in what he knows is a useless and redundant course of action. A vaguely panicked expression settles on his face, though he tries his best to hide it for Lockon's sake.]

action;

[haroicsacrifice]

[Even without the expression, Lockon can tell that Tieria's getting agitated. He drifts back down (the feel of zero-gravity odd after so very long in normal gravity) and starts to put a hand on Tieria's shoulder. After a moment, he changes his mind and wraps an arm around Tieria's shoulders instead. That's appropriate, now.]

Hey, hey, no panicking. This isn't home--

[Without thinking about it, he lets his free hand stray to his throat to check his nonexistent pulse, just to be sure. He hides his relief.]

--so it might not work the same way. We can try forcing it physically. Together.

voice;

[irresoluteness]

How did you get trapped?

voice;

[haroicsacrifice]

Tieria and I hooked up a cable to something on this side, and then he went looking through one of the tears. It seemed like a good way to start looking for the people who've gone through the other side.

I guess it wasn't.

voice;

[irresoluteness]

And you decided to go in with him?

voice;

[haroicsacrifice]

I fell in after he did.

But it's just as well. I wouldn't want him in here alone.