Strike Witches episode 5: Building Better Mousetraps

[Finorskia]

He intercepted the handgun. "Section 16 subsection 4. All officers of Captain class and above are allowed to have there fire arms present at all times." He holstered the weapon. "And can someone please tell me what the traitors girl friend just fucking said."

[Hetland 2]

He intercepted the handgun. "Section 16 subsection 4. All officers of Captain class and above are allowed to have there fire arms present at all times." He holstered the weapon. "And can someone please tell me what the traitors girl friend just fucking said."

Katsumi laughed and snatched the gun back, "Section 4 subsection 23: Should an arguement between a witch and a non-witch of equal standing and rank arise the rule are in favour of the witch. I am a witch. The gun goes away. Not every problem needs to see guns pointing at people. Especially civilians!"

[Finorskia]

Yuri snatched back the pistol. "Actually if I am not mistaken you are technically entered into the roster as an engineer are you not. Which makes you....Oh yea support personnel, and section 4 subsection 3 states that if two officers of the same rank are in disagreement then one who is of official combat personal is of higher authority. Which means Engineer Captain Katsumi. I have authority over you. Witch or not." He again holstered the pistol.

[Malshan]

Yuri snatched back the pistol. "Actually if I am not mistaken you are technically entered into the roster as an engineer are you not. Which makes you....Oh yea support personnel, and section 4 subsection 3 states that if two officers of the same rank are in disagreement then one who is of official combat personal is of higher authority. Which means Engineer Captain Katsumi. I have authority over you. Witch or not." He again holstered the pistol.

Gustave spoke up over Yuri's argument. "She operates as a Witch using the special attachment unit codenamed 'Leviathan'. This enables her to operate as a Witch. You, on the other hand, are not. She has the magic, you do not. Leave it at that. Besides, if you continue to threaten me or anyone else here, my wife here will probably kill you herself."

Nicole rolled her eyes and looked over at Gustave. She spoke in a Gallian accent, "You know that I wouldn't go that far. I may dislike this pig, but he is part of a military unit. I doubt that they would appreciate me offing one of their soldiers, however much of a piqûre he may be."

[Hetland 2]

Yuri snatched back the pistol. "Actually if I am not mistaken you are technically entered into the roster as an engineer are you not. Which makes you....Oh yea support personnel, and section 4 subsection 3 states that if two officers of the same rank are in disparagement then one who is of official combat personal is of higher authority. Which means Engineer Captain Katsumi. I have authority over you. Witch or not." He again holstered the pistol.

Katsumi snickered at him. "As long as you keep that pistol holstered where it belongs its fine." Katsumi had actually been registered in both the Witch and Engineer corps, however due to her familiar she was unable to fly. This was also the reason why Sohvi had given her authorization to pilot the Leviathan. She pulled out a note pad. "Listening to your bitching reminds me. The F-15S is overdue for its check up. So says the Chief Mechanic." She returned to leaning against the wall her predatory eyes gazing across the room.

[Finorskia]

"Grhg. I'll get you back someday." Yuri said clenching his fist. "Just deal with the traitor and make it quick. Don't be to kind on him yah hear. I can't stand to be in this room any more." He stepped out of the room. Slamming his fist on the door as he exited.

[Malshan]

"Grhg. I'll get you back someday." Yuri said clenching his fist. "Just deal with the traitor and make it quick. Don't be to kind on him yah hear. I can't stand to be in this room any more." He stepped out of the room. Slamming his fist on the door as he exited.

Nicole spat at him as he left, barely missing and hitting the wall beyond him. "Good riddance...idiot." She turned back to Gustave and embraced him again, speaking once more in their combination of English and Gallian.

[Hetland 2]

Katsumi grinned under her scarf, Oh how I looove being chief Mechanic. I love it when they get uppity.Seriously though. When was the last time that expensive hunk of scrap got an overhaul. She started making a checklist of things that he most likely couldn't tell were broken and circled the ones she suspected. "Bah. Might as well get on it."

---

Francesca was sleeping on the roof of the bridge. She was not woken by what was happening.

[Wolfenium]

Maria moved herself up to the distressed witch and stroked her hair. "Don't worry, sweetie. Maria's here to protect you. Maria's here."

"No, please!" blurted Svetlana, struggling ever more violently against her bind as she fought to escape the dark recesses of her mind, "don't blank me out! Don't blank me!" However, hearing another whisper echo from the surface, she found herself snapping back into consciousness, gasping heavily as she tried to get her bearings again. Her crimson eyes shifting to the scarred Maria beside her, she uttered in a confused monotone, "L-Lucinda? What are you doing here? Where am I? Last I remembered, I was leaving the infirmary to deploy..." However, a sudden spike of pain coursed through her limp arms as she noticed the binds holding her down. Slumping back on the bed, she said, "it hurts..." Her memory still fuzzy, Svetlana could not remember the incident she committed just after her departure. But the nightmare that plagued her gave an ominous sign, as she laid down on her pillow.

---

Fei was simply not in the position to do anything about their arguments. His usual diplomatic demeanour melted away by the haunting guilt, Fei could not even speak a word of calm. In the end, he found himself wandering back into the seclusion of the hangar, working feverishly on his daily duties as if trying to forget. However, deep inside, Fei could not fully put behind the reality that confronted him. His hand shaking a bit as he gripped the spanner, his formerly serene composure was fracturing for the first time in years. As he heard the clank of the spanner falling on the floor, his stunned eyes shifted darkly to his trembling arms.

'Why are they making me face her?' he wondered in horror, 'why must she haunt me?...' As fear boiled down to rage, he blindly screamed to the floor, his lungs burning as he howled against the spawns of hell below. He did not know who to blame anymore. He did not know what to say. This was not the calm, concerted engineer he had shown to the 501st. This was a man who clung on to a mask trying to believe the lie he set for himself. He had joined the legion specifically to escape from the past, and yet the past somehow found its way back to him...

[Hetland 2]

"No, please!" blurted Svetlana, struggling ever more violently against her bind as she fought to escape the dark recesses of her mind, "don't blank me out! Don't blank me!" However, hearing another whisper echo from the surface, she found herself snapping back into consciousness, gasping heavily as she tried to get her bearings again. Her crimson eyes shifting to the scarred Maria beside her, she uttered in a confused monotone, "L-Lucinda? What are you doing here? Where am I? Last I remembered, I was leaving the infirmary to deploy..." However, a sudden spike of pain coursed through her limp arms as she noticed the binds holding her down. Slumping back on the bed, she said, "it hurts..." Her memory still fuzzy, Svetlana could not remember the incident she committed just after her departure. But the nightmare that plagued her gave an ominous sign, as she laid down on her pillow.

---

Fei was simply not in the position to do anything about their arguments. His usual diplomatic demeanour melted away by the haunting guilt, Fei could not even speak a word of calm. In the end, he found himself wandering back into the seclusion of the hangar, working feverishly on his daily duties as if trying to forget. However, deep inside, Fei could not fully put behind the reality that confronted him. His hand shaking a bit as he gripped the spanner, his formerly serene composure was fracturing for the first time in years. As he heard the clank of the spanner falling on the floor, his stunned eyes shifted darkly to his trembling arms.

'Why are they making me face her?' he wondered in horror, 'why must she haunt me?...' As fear boiled down to rage, he blindly screamed to the floor, his lungs burning as he howled against the spawns of hell below. He did not know who to blame anymore. He did not know what to say. This was not the calm, concerted engineer he had shown to the 501st. This was a man who clung on to a mask trying to believe the lie he set for himself. He had joined the legion specifically to escape from the past, and yet the past somehow found its way back to him...

Maria looked sadly at Svetlana. "That would be my fault. I'm glad you're ok now though. We were scared you wouldn't make it. I... I had to rough you up to get you to calm down." Maria clenched her teeth, her right hand curling into a scarred fist, "I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry for injuring you. I am so... so sorry." Maria took another deep breath, and stroked Svetlana's hair again. "I'll take responsibility for your injuries. I promise." She hopped off the bed and grinned, "Would you like me to get some water for you? Or get someone to make some food for you."

---

Katsumi had followed Fei down to the hangar, however her intent was much less comforting. Fei had looked deeply disturbed by something and Katsumi didn't want any of her crew to attempt suicide on her watch. That aside she still had to work on the F-15S. Like it or not the F-15S hadn't had its overhaul or at least a check up since its wing was replaced. She slapped a pair of headphones over her ears and started playing some songs from her Ipod, as to not intrude on Fei's privacy as she agilely started the casing off the the plane. It was a dangerous and exhausting job to do alone, but she was the only one who could really pull it off as Fei was in Meltdown land and who the fuck knew where Ketchup boy was. She sighed and pulled off her scarf, neatly folded it and set it down on a crate near her. "This... is going to be a bitch to do."

[Wolfenium]

Maria looked sadly at Svetlana. "That would be my fault. I'm glad you're ok now though. We were scared you wouldn't make it. I... I had to rough you up to get you to calm down." Maria clenched her teeth, her right hand curling into a scarred fist, "I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry for injuring you. I am so... so sorry." Maria took another deep breath, and stroked Svetlana's hair again. "I'll take responsibility for your injuries. I promise." She hopped off the bed and grinned, "Would you like me to get some water for you? Or get someone to make some food for you."

"Rough... me up?..." uttered Svetlana, confused over Maria's words, "what for?..." However, as her recollections cleared up, she soon noticed what she meant. Pausing over her thoughts, she questioned in a solemn tone, "did... I blank out?... The gap in my mind... the spaces in my thoughts... Maria,... I've been... doing things again... haven't I?..."

[Hetland 2]

"Rough... me up?..." uttered Svetlana, confused over Maria's words, "what for?..." However, as her recollections cleared up, she soon noticed what she meant. Pausing over her thoughts, she questioned in a solemn tone, "did... I blank out?... The gap in my mind... the spaces in my thoughts... Maria,... I've been... doing things again... haven't I?..."

Maria nodded quietly, she paused before speaking, "Its alright though, you didn't hurt anyone." she unconciously brushed her braid back over her ear, revealing a fresh looking cut. Tough as she was Maria had very thin skin, causing it to tear when Svetlana had struck her with the flask. Luckily the damage was superficial. Just me. But I knew the risks going in.

[Wolfenium]

"Rough... me up?..." uttered Svetlana, confused over Maria's words, "what for?..." However, as her recollections cleared up, she soon noticed what she meant. Pausing over her thoughts, she questioned in a solemn tone, "did... I blank out?... The gap in my mind... the spaces in my thoughts... Maria,... I've been... doing things again... haven't I?..."

Maria nodded quietly, she paused before speaking, "Its alright though, you didn't hurt anyone." she unconciously brushed her braid back over her ear, revealing a fresh looking cut. Tough as she was Maria had very thin skin, causing it to tear when Svetlana had struck her with the flask. Luckily the damage was superficial. Just me. But I knew the risks going in.

Svetlana became bereaved looking at the cut on Maria's head. She felt even more guilty than before. This was not the first time she lost control. But the fact that she had done so under her programming only made matters worse. She had not been triggered since she joined the 501st. The last time this happened...

Turning her grief-stricken face away, she growled in retort, "liar... You don't have to lie to me... I know what I am... I'm a weapon... A mindless weapon... My mind... I can't control my mind... Why is this happening to me?..."

Tears welled up her eyes as she tried to hold back her sorrows, gripping the pure white bedsheets as tightly as she could. Revealed beneath her cold façade was a fragile young girl broken at the whims of her homeland. A victim of unspeakable brutality, her obedience to authority stemmed from fear rather than respect. She could not fathom why she of all people was put through this horror. All she knew was never to question anyone above herself, that it was pointless to the extent that said authorities could switch her mind on at their whim. For a time, she actually gave up trying... but a fellow witch, Charlotte DeBellevue, managed to convince her otherwise, until her attempted desertion drove Svetlana back to the depths of despair. While she could never remember the face of the man responsible for keeping her on the leash, she could still recall fully well the compelling voice that drove the order for her to open fire, among other actions.

But what Svetlana could not fathom was how what triggered her programming this time. The minder that been attached to her throughout her life as a witch had long vanished, and yet she ended up drifting back into a state of blind murder once again. Was it a sign of madness, a psychological affliction from the torture she went through. She did not know for sure. One thing was in her mind, though. She believed herself to be a danger to her teammates and the 501st; a serious liability unworthy of her position as a witch...

[Hetland 2]

Maria nodded quietly, she paused before speaking, "Its alright though, you didn't hurt anyone." she unconciously brushed her braid back over her ear, revealing a fresh looking cut. Tough as she was Maria had very thin skin, causing it to tear when Svetlana had struck her with the flask. Luckily the damage was superficial. Just me. But I knew the risks going in.

Svetlana became bereaved looking at the cut on Maria's head. She felt even more guilty than before. This was not the first time she lost control. But the fact that she had done so under her programming only made matters worse. She had not been triggered since she joined the 501st. The last time this happened...

Turning her grief-stricken face away, she growled in retort, "liar... You don't have to lie to me... I know what I am... I'm a weapon... A mindless weapon... My mind... I can't control my mind... Why is this happening to me?..."

Tears welled up her eyes as she tried to hold back her sorrows, gripping the pure white bedsheets as tightly as she could. Revealed beneath her cold façade was a fragile young girl broken at the whims of her homeland. A victim of unspeakable brutality, her obedience to authority stemmed from fear rather than respect. She could not fathom why she of all people was put through this horror. All she knew was never to question anyone above herself, that it was pointless to the extent that said authorities could switch her mind on at their whim. For a time, she actually gave up trying... but a fellow witch, Charlotte DeBellevue, managed to convince her otherwise, until her attempted desertion drove Svetlana back to the depths of despair. While she could never remember the face of the man responsible for keeping her on the leash, she could still recall fully well the compelling voice that drove the order for her to open fire, among other actions.

But what Svetlana could not fathom was how what triggered her programming this time. The minder that been attached to her throughout her life as a witch had long vanished, and yet she ended up drifting back into a state of blind murder once again. Was it a sign of madness, a psychological affliction from the torture she went through. She did not know for sure. One thing was in her mind, though. She believed herself to be a danger to her teammates and the 501st; a serious liability unworthy of her position as a witch...

Maria smiled weakly. "Svetlana, if you're a mindless weapon what does that make me? A gun rusting over from old age? Listen, if you really feel that badly about it then listen to me. I instated you as my second in command for a reason. You're a good witch with a good heart." Maria gently wiped the tears off Svetlana's cheek. " Svetlana... Would a mindless weapon cry for injuring her friend? No. You're a sweet girl. With a horrid past." Maria bent down and gave Svetlana a kiss on the motherly forehead, "Just like me."

[Rupudska]

"Grhg. I'll get you back someday." Yuri said clenching his fist. "Just deal with the traitor and make it quick. Don't be to kind on him yah hear. I can't stand to be in this room any more." He stepped out of the room. Slamming his fist on the door as he exited.

Nicole spat at him as he left, barely missing and hitting the wall beyond him. "Good riddance...idiot." She turned back to Gustave and embraced him again, speaking once more in their combination of English and Gallian.

Ruya sighed. "Ah. You do speak English. Excellent." She clapped her hands together. "Sohvi and I have decided that it's probably for the best that you stay here, to keep Gustave from wanting to break out again. You will, however, have to obey any order we give you. And the Admiral can't know anything."

[Finorskia]

Heinz walked into the hanger holding a white envelope. "Hey Cap you in here?" He called. He looked around the hanger and spotted Fei crying on the ground. He walked over. "Hey Fei is something the matter." Heinz sighed. "Don't tell me you'r still depressed about what happened earlier. I thought we went over that already.

[Malshan]

Nicole spat at him as he left, barely missing and hitting the wall beyond him. "Good riddance...idiot." She turned back to Gustave and embraced him again, speaking once more in their combination of English and Gallian.

Ruya sighed. "Ah. You do speak English. Excellent." She clapped her hands together. "Sohvi and I have decided that it's probably for the best that you stay here, to keep Gustave from wanting to break out again. You will, however, have to obey any order we give you. And the Admiral can't know anything."

Nicole nodded and turned to Gustave. "You'll have to explain to me what exactly happened during your....tenure in this other place that you were." she whispered. Turning back to Ruya, she spoke. "Of course. If I may ask, though....I'd like to have a few bottles of the red wine that he likes so much brought aboard as well. And then there's the matter of our child....I need quarters suitable to taking care of her if I am to stay here." Gustave gripped her shoulder and spoke to her. "Melody? She's here?"

Nicole turned to Gustave and nodded. "Yes...she's beautiful. She looks a bit like your mother."

[Hetland 2]

Heinz walked into the hanger holding a white envelope. "Hey Cap you in here?" He called. He looked around the hanger and spotted Fei crying on the ground. He walked over. "Hey Fei is something the matter." Heinz sighed. "Don't tell me you'r still depressed about what happened earlier. I thought we went over that already.

Katsumi lifted her headphones, Heinz's smell of arrogance had wafted into the room, "Heinz, get over here and help me with this engine." Her clothes and skin were stained with grease and oil, not to mention she smelled like sweat, but Katsumi was enjoying herself. She enjoyed machines. She wiped off her hands and grinned, she was still in a fairly good mood, so far her guesses about the plane's interior had been dead on.

[Rupudska]

Ruya sighed. "Ah. You do speak English. Excellent." She clapped her hands together. "Sohvi and I have decided that it's probably for the best that you stay here, to keep Gustave from wanting to break out again. You will, however, have to obey any order we give you. And the Admiral can't know anything."

Nicole nodded and turned to Gustave. "You'll have to explain to me what exactly happened during your....tenure in this other place that you were." she whispered. Turning back to Ruya, she spoke. "Of course. If I may ask, though....I'd like to have a few bottles of the red wine that he likes so much brought aboard as well. And then there's the matter of our child....I need quarters suitable to taking care of her if I am to stay here." Gustave gripped her shoulder and spoke to her. "Melody? She's here?"

Nicole turned to Gustave and nodded. "Yes...she's beautiful. She looks a bit like your mother."

Ruya nodded. "I'll see what I can do, but we'll have to get through Liberion customs, which is easier said than done. And once we get back to our time..." She paused. She wasn't even sure how they would, or if it was even possible to do so. Shaking the thought of staying in a time before the Civil Rights Act, she cleared her throat. "When we get back to our time, we'll be stopping in Sydney. If you want to get off there for your safety, you may do so."

[Finorskia]

Heinz walked into the hanger holding a white envelope. "Hey Cap you in here?" He called. He looked around the hanger and spotted Fei crying on the ground. He walked over. "Hey Fei is something the matter." Heinz sighed. "Don't tell me you'r still depressed about what happened earlier. I thought we went over that already.

Katsumi lifted her headphones, Heinz's smell of arrogance had wafted into the room, "Heinz, get over here and help me with this engine." Her clothes and skin were stained with grease and oil, not to mention she smelled like sweat, but Katsumi was enjoying herself. She enjoyed machines. She wiped off her hands and grinned, she was still in a fairly good mood, so far her guesses about the plane's interior had been dead on.

Heinz looked up from Fei. "Oh Cap. There you are. Yeah sure I can help, but uh." He held out the envelope. "There is something important I need tell you about."

[Hetland 2]

Katsumi lifted her headphones, Heinz's smell of arrogance had wafted into the room, "Heinz, get over here and help me with this engine." Her clothes and skin were stained with grease and oil, not to mention she smelled like sweat, but Katsumi was enjoying herself. She enjoyed machines. She wiped off her hands and grinned, she was still in a fairly good mood, so far her guesses about the plane's interior had been dead on.

Heinz looked up from Fei. "Oh Cap. There you are. Yeah sure I can help, but uh." He held out the envelope. "There is something important I need tell you about."

Katsumi's smile faded slightly, her fangs still shown. "About what? I don't think we can get much in the way of specialty parts here. Unless you're looking for something old." She wiped off her hands as much as she could and took the letter, carefully avoiding touching him. "This what ya need help with?"

[Finorskia]

"It's not help, or a list. It's a transfer order. It arrived before we left port. I was going to tell you earlier, but with the time travel business and all. I put in the request about a month ago. I'm being transferred back to Karlsland R and D." He sighed. "This isn't because I don't want to be here, or because I'm selfish and want to go back to my old life. I'm going for the opposite actually. I'm going to help this squadron. The witches and men of this squadron are in need of help. The mental kind. They don't have a therapist. I talked to someone I know from my child hood. A really good therapist. I'm going to be studying psychotherapy while I'm there. I will only be gone for a few months before I return. I know it is not much time, and it won't make me an expert, but we don't have time. When I return I am going to help these people. When I return I'm going to be a different person." He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. "Do you remember when I first joined this unit how I was working on a project. I finished it. It never flew, but I ditched it. I decided new toys weren't what this squadron needed. So instead I just decided to stick in the back round. Every now and then I would try to get a witch to try out the project, but they always said no. I've felt myself changing Kat. This is whats best. I always thought that what I needed to do to prove my worth was help the war effort by building new weapons. I was wrong. Going and learning how to help these people mentally is what needs to be done, and you can't stop me." He sighed. "I was going to leave when this voyage was done, and I will leave when it is done. Cause there is no doubt in my mind that we will return, and that the world we return to will be the same." He looked her in the eye. "Now, what do you need help with."

[Wolfenium]

Svetlana became bereaved looking at the cut on Maria's head. She felt even more guilty than before. This was not the first time she lost control. But the fact that she had done so under her programming only made matters worse. She had not been triggered since she joined the 501st. The last time this happened...

Turning her grief-stricken face away, she growled in retort, "liar... You don't have to lie to me... I know what I am... I'm a weapon... A mindless weapon... My mind... I can't control my mind... Why is this happening to me?..."

Tears welled up her eyes as she tried to hold back her sorrows, gripping the pure white bedsheets as tightly as she could. Revealed beneath her cold façade was a fragile young girl broken at the whims of her homeland. A victim of unspeakable brutality, her obedience to authority stemmed from fear rather than respect. She could not fathom why she of all people was put through this horror. All she knew was never to question anyone above herself, that it was pointless to the extent that said authorities could switch her mind on at their whim. For a time, she actually gave up trying... but a fellow witch, Charlotte DeBellevue, managed to convince her otherwise, until her attempted desertion drove Svetlana back to the depths of despair. While she could never remember the face of the man responsible for keeping her on the leash, she could still recall fully well the compelling voice that drove the order for her to open fire, among other actions.

But what Svetlana could not fathom was how what triggered her programming this time. The minder that been attached to her throughout her life as a witch had long vanished, and yet she ended up drifting back into a state of blind murder once again. Was it a sign of madness, a psychological affliction from the torture she went through. She did not know for sure. One thing was in her mind, though. She believed herself to be a danger to her teammates and the 501st; a serious liability unworthy of her position as a witch...

Maria smiled weakly. "Svetlana, if you're a mindless weapon what does that make me? A gun rusting over from old age? Listen, if you really feel that badly about it then listen to me. I instated you as my second in command for a reason. You're a good witch with a good heart." Maria gently wiped the tears off Svetlana's cheek. " Svetlana... Would a mindless weapon cry for injuring her friend? No. You're a sweet girl. With a horrid past." Maria bent down and gave Svetlana a kiss on the motherly forehead, "Just like me."

Sveta paused as Maria planted her kiss on her forehead. She failed to understand why the girl would be willing to forgive after what she did - whatever it was. Breaking in tears again, she tried to lift her arms against the steel binds holding her, as if trying to embrace Maria.

"Forgive me..." she pleaded in despair, "please... forgive me..." Unable to continue, she simply broke down, falling back on her bed as she wept uncontrollably.

[Hetland 2]

Sveta paused as Maria planted her kiss on her forehead. She failed to understand why the girl would be willing to forgive after what she did - whatever it was. Breaking in tears again, she tried to lift her arms against the steel binds holding her, as if trying to embrace Maria.

"Forgive me..." she pleaded in despair, "please... forgive me..." Unable to continue, she simply broke down, falling back on her bed as she wept uncontrollably.

Maria looked at Svetlana, smiling softly, "All you had to do is ask. And I will forgive you in heartbeat. Because... I realized something, when my magic is gone, what will I have left? I have no home to go home to when the military throws me out. My sense of touch is decaying. But I will have my kindness. I... I can live with that. So dry up your tears and smile for me... If... you... keep crying..." Tears began rolling down her cheeks, "I'm going to start crying too..."

---

Katsumi gave Hienz an odd look before sniffing a few times. "You seem... like you're telling the truth. Unfortunately, transfers aren't in my jurisdiction. But... I'll put in a good word for you in command. As for what I needed you for," She pointed at the F-15S. "I'm giving this bitch a system overhaul." She looked at Fei and sighed, before muttering something unintelligible in Fuso.

[Wolfenium]

Maria looked at Svetlana, smiling softly, "All you had to do is ask. And I will forgive you in heartbeat. Because... I realized something, when my magic is gone, what will I have left? I have no home to go home to when the military throws me out. My sense of touch is decaying. But I will have my kindness. I... I can live with that. So dry up your tears and smile for me... If... you... keep crying..." Tears began rolling down her cheeks, "I'm going to start crying too..."

---

Katsumi gave Hienz an odd look before sniffing a few times. "You seem... like you're telling the truth. Unfortunately, transfers aren't in my jurisdiction. But... I'll put in a good word for you in command. As for what I needed you for," She pointed at the F-15S. "I'm giving this bitch a system overhaul." She looked at Fei and sighed, before muttering something unintelligible in Fuso.

Svetlana struggled to hold her tears in, not wanting to upset Maria further. She knew fully well it was not her fault she became this way, that the whole mess was an accident. Still, that did not absolve her from her actions. However, watching a tear roll down Maria's cheek onto her, Svetlana finally stopped, muttering, "alright... I'll stop..."

But the one thing she could not force herself to do was smile. She could barely turn her mouth up at all. To her, it was an unnatural sensation that came from happiness, a feeling she was forced to forfeit. Still, with her stay in the 501st, she had come to find out what happiness meant once again. The one question that dogged her, however, was whether she deserved it. Looking away again, she soon gave an onimous question.

"Say... Lucinda," she asked in worry, "may I ask you something?... When was I triggered exactly?... The last thing I recall was being in the infirmary, talking to Lieutenant Ouyang... Did he... tell you guys anything about it?... Did he hear anything?"

---

Fei was a soulless wreck, working his way through one of the strikers. It was as if he switched off all his senses just to work on the machines. His eyes heavy in concentration. It was unclear what he was feeling, if he was actually feeling anything. But one person was still burnt into his mind - the one girl he least wanted to meet.

'I wonder how long...' he thought to himself, 'before 'Sudʹya' catches up to me...'