Another testrun!

[whats_a_good_end]

1.

[So.  A mission's come to a close.  People are returning to base, there's going to need to be debriefs and mechs will need repaired and all of that jazz.  But juuuuust as you're finally free to go...]

Not quite yet.  You're not leaving until we discuss your little spectacle on the battlefield.

[Ah yes.  Maybe you said something indicating your allegiance to an enemy force, or you disobeyed direct orders, or maybe you wound up hijacking a machine meant for someone else.  Whatever the case, there's a nice lady who's going to be assessing you.]

If you need a reminder I'll be more than happy to give you one.

2.



[Time for downtime.  The weather's bee n really great recently, and Ana's taken one over one of the base's balconies for her own use.  She's got an easel set up and you'd almost think she's trying to make a landscape of the horizon...]

A touch of red, and then... hmmm... more red here before we switch it up with some green and then-

[... She's fingerpainting.  Each finger occasionally dunks into one of ten cups of paint.  The canvas itself looks like a haphazard clutter of streaks, blobs, and round circles.  And when she turns to wash her hands clean she finally spots you.]

Oh, hello!  I was just...

Well I suppose you saw enough anyways, didn't you?

3.



-No, I don't think my life's turned for the better ever since I had to work together with Selene and-

[Well someone's having an angry shouting match with someone on the other end of a phone line.]

-I'll call her by her first name as much as I want!  And if you don't want me doing the same to you, Dad, then you'll get off my case about it!

And NO!  I DON'T THINK PILOTING'S BETTER!

[Face red with rage, she just slams the receiver down and collapses down onto a chair before looking up at everyone who most definitely heard that last bit.]

... parents.  Yeah.

[A really weak laugh.  Embarassment adds to the red on her face now too.]

And I didn't... mean it like that.  I don't have anything against you!
4.

[It's the obligatory battle post!  Action!  Heroics against a gigantic behemoth that's some kind of weird mashup between an elephant, dragon, and scorpion with whole chunks of its body composed of crystals.  And with a city as the battlefield, there's also civilians to and property damage to worry about on top of everything else.  But the weirdest thing-]

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-

[Is coming from the machine on the monster's back, trying to avoid its stinger tail amidst all its thrashings while stabbing into it's backside at the same time.]



CAN'T EVEN SCREAM RIGHT, CAN YOU!?!

[The machine raises up its knife again, letting the build-in chainblade rev up for a few moments before bringing it down.  The monster just roars and rams into a building, causing rubble to fall down on Ana's machine!]

THAT... THAT WAS CRAP!  N-NOT EVEN CUT OUT FOR A BOYBAND!  NO TEENAGE FANGIRLS FOR YOU... Ha.... ha... oh my god... please don't let me die...

[These are not the hot-blooded cries of a warrior.  It's closer to a more verbose way of just screaming 'no u' back to an enemy who didn't even say anything in the first place.]

Comments

1

[a_linear_mind]

I was perfectly confident that you guys could have kept the city safe while I took on those guys on the other side of the city.

[Unfortunately, his words don't mean particularly much considering that you had to bail him out. It also doesn't help that his mech was trashed beyond belief when you brought him back.]

[whats_a_good_end]

And so you weren't concerned with potentially leaving a gap in our defenses, that's what you're saying.

[a_linear_mind]

No see, I had the utmost confidence in your abilities. Frankly, if I had stayed around during the defense I would have only made things harder for all of you.

They also lightened up their offense going after me. So all in all I think it worked out for all of us.

[He says all of this in front of the wrecked mech.]

[whats_a_good_end]

By that logic, you would've made it even easier for us if you just sat it out and let someone who can resist playing cowboy take your place instead.

You were lucky out there we could bail you out. In different circumstances you could've been captured, and I don't have much faith in you holding out under torture.

4

[a_monetized_mind]

Ana? ANA?!

[And Jen's not doing too much better, having set up her tiny little robot on a parking garage, from which she shoots at the giant monster. Or she was shooting; now she's grappling over to Ana and trying to drag her friend's much larger unit out of the way.]

Come on, speak up!

[In her haste, she actually ends up forgetting about the monster...]

[whats_a_good_end]

[Ana's as-of-yet unnamed machine is still in the process of getting out of from under the pile of cement, steel, and glass, shanking the monster's backside at every chance it can get though for good measure. Fortunately she's no berserker, and when Jen makes her arrival-]

J-jen...

[a_monetized_mind]

Ana! Come on, we have to get out of here!

[whats_a_good_end]

... Right. It's just...

[Yeah, there's still building chunks falling down on them. So instead Ana activates the electron tether connecting one of her knives and its respective drill stake and she throws it into the ground nearby. The weapon tunnels down into the pavement, and Ana's already scooping up Jen's machine.]

Pray to God that keeps it occupied long enough.

[Time to abscond, leaving the monster roaring in anger as its makeshift leash keeps it from escaping the rest of the skyscraper caving in on it.]

2

[sleepyhades]

Ummm...you mean, I wasn't supposed to see it...?

You looked like you were having fun, though...

[whats_a_good_end]

And I was, but...

Well unlike most forms of art, a lot of people figure there's a cutoff date for when you're allowed to fingerpaint. That it's just for kids.

[sleepyhades]

Really...?

I like making dolls more, but I like fingerpainting too...

[That doesn't really help disprove it, Plutie.]

[whats_a_good_end]

Then I suppose that just means we're not like everyone else.

Would you like to paint too? I'm done, but everything's still set up.

1)

[break_the_nine]

But it was so awesome! I mean the fireball went up to like eighty meters or something!

[He was looking at Ana like a thoroughly excitable puppy, eyes bright and eager for walkies. Despite the fact that she was clearly about to lay down the riot act on him, his cheeriness was not deterred one bit.]

And besides! They said the fuel tanker was evacuated right?

[whats_a_good_end]

Civilian infrastructure is not a means of cheap entertainment for us! The company will have to be reimbursed for one, not to mention it's a PR nightmare about we must have some mad bomber in our ranks!

[break_the_nine]

Oh come on, its not that bad! I mean, sure our wallets are a little lighter and people are saying things about us ... at least everyone's alive and we got to see a huge fireball!

1

[ben_dixon]

I'm sorry, Lady. Apparently even a talent like me can't fight that many enemies at once.

[whats_a_good_end]

Keep that in mind next time. Talent or no, losing pilots isn't in our best interest.

[ben_dixon]

But what's done is done right? I've been punished enough, look at my injuries. That means I'm off to go, right?

3

[no99]

Ah, youth.

[whats_a_good_end]

It's not youth that's the problem here.

Just a bunch of idiots who think me having to pilot now is reason to celebrate and send me an invitation when it comes time for the family Christmas party.

[no99]

Sounds fun, unless you've got a serious bone to pick with your family.

3

[a_reserved_mind]

[Elys was more surprised by the shouting match, if anything.]

No harm done. It did sound quite serious on your end, though.

[whats_a_good_end]

It's my family, I hate every one of them.

And now I have to be working with the worst of the lot.

3

[emissary_from_the_sky]

[A flash of light! A clash of steel! Without warning, a sword flies out of the air, and buries itself up to the hilt in the monster's head. Anyone who looks will be able to easily see the thrower-a man, standing atop a nearby building, his back framed by the sun.]

Standing against the forces of darkness to protect others, even when one is afraid...that is what people call "courage."

I'll assume you meant 4

[whats_a_good_end]

[Well, seems like God answered your prayers, Ana, with the Celestite good and angry from Rom's unexpected attack! Ana takes the chance to spring off of it, firing her rifle into the monster's back all the while. Yeah, it's angry now.]

That's... that's one way of putting it, Rom.

But there's just such a difference between being prepared for doing something and keeping a level head while doing it.