Aftershow (Tack, Sess)

[MKR]

August 28th
Taussendfuessler, 221B Baker Street
West Siberian Plain, heading towards Armored Train "Pelegri"

An inhale from the woman this had been a lot more... intense. Then she had planned out originally, between Shiseiten and then the ambush attack there was a lot swimming in her mind. When she opened her eyes again the red pupils she had before had returned to their 'normal' brown hue and with it passed the eerie aura around her. Behind her the Rein Weissritter was slightly convulsing as it patched itself up, lively colors already returned to its limbs as it sought to fix the plethora of battle damage.

There was a lot on her to do list still, with the maiden falling in line now there was no need for her to do the entire plan she had with Pinnochio, but it would be a waste to leave it as was so she could think up alternatives in the meanwhile. She also still needed to check in on the Scorpion, Gourd and check up on the Ox.
And then there was the other thing.

The parting gift from Zest, those crystals.
She held the blue one up into the light, It was like a memory. She tilted her head at that. If she peered close she could see that battle's final scene in it with faint glimpses, or was that a trick of the light. Regardless- if this contained the memories of Zest there were things to contemplate.

The other, wasn't for her. It was both a gut feeling and something confirmed when they had boarded the ship, it shone however when the other girl. Zest's hanger on was near. It was time to find her, one because she was curious to see what that crystal would do and had this gut feeling it would only unveil its purpose once given to that girl and two, to get a distraction from the things plaguing her.

 

[Tackle Jackie]

Millicent Tremaine was having a bad day.

This wasn’t how their story together was supposed to end. They were supposed to be heroes, to have saved the day. But the moment she god that call from Indigo… That all ended.

No more adventures. No more patching her up after a fight. No more sister to help keep her head on straight…

It wouldn’t be too hard to find the girl, seeing that they hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the pilot yet. The cockpit of the Taus was her room more or less, the navigators seat replaced with a cot, crammed right next to the pilot’s seat occupied by Milly.

She still hadn’t said anything to the group she let onto the ship. Just opened the ramp, stared at the corpse of her sister and ran back inside.

Now, following towards some armored train, she had no idea what came next…

 

[Hitura Rael]

Merida knew that look on the girls face, even without knowing her. The loss of a loved sibling bit deeper than the two remaining pilots could ever comprehend. She imagined that look on her own face, back when Adrian was in critical condition and she had lost all hope trying to stay strong for too long for their parents. She could only imagine worse upon her mother's face with the world shattering pain of losing her only son. James didn't want to be rude and had decided to give the girl space.

Merida, however, was not that accommodating. She did not want to be around James or Johana at the moment. She didn't exactly blame them or hold a grudge to them. She simply needed space to grieve the loss of her brother. She made her way through the corridors of the ship, toward the helm of the ship. She did not knock before entering, and she locked the door after doing so. Sorry Johana, but she could not risk that James would bumble this up. She approached the strange girl and bent down to hug her tightly. Her voice cracked, pain leaking into the forced emotional strength, "I locked the door so the idiots can't just walk in."

With nothing more to do, giving their savior from walking who knew how long to Berlin space, James sat outside on Genion's foot, fiddling with his uniform sleeve. He knew better than to follow Merida in the mood she was in. He cast a curious glance now and then to Johana, but ultimately left her alone too. She was strange and it was rude to pry. Until she too got up and started toward the bridge. "Eh... I'd give them some minutes alone. Merida can be volatile." James sighed, "Both just lost someone or found out they lost someone." He cast his eyes down to the frayed threads of his sleeve. "What did they give you?"

 

[MKR]

She paused in front of Genion when James spoke up, glancing up at its frame and its newly acquired prizes.
"So Leo was someone important to her?" She remarked before moving her gaze down to him, the reactor of the fishes and after this display someone with a lot bearing down on him and until that man reappeared to her he was the most interesting person on the planet. Three of the parts greater than the whole, could he wear them all with pride?

"Two crystals, and this thing." She took out the strange object, clicking it a few times like a pen. "It does nothing. But I feel the other crystal belongs to that girl in there." She presented the item to James for a moment before bringing it up in the light. "The Archer, it is not. But she and I didn't particularly get along either." She grinned slightly at that. One that lasted only a moment. While it was pleasant to have that target off her back, the loss of a research subject was frustrating.

"A question for you then James, now that you've hold the second most spheres of all of us. What do you plan to do with them?" She tilted her head at him, trying to measure him up. That internal conflict of the twins, a tug of war with the crab and the sheep now in the mix. It was a volatile combination. Her head straightened on her neck again a moment later, a grimace coming from pain. The crystal was placed in her pocket as she inspected her hand.
How didn't she notice the tips of her fingers were burnt until now?

 

[Tackle Jackie]

Millicent felt the hug coming for her, pretty… Unexpected, considering the circumstances, but never let it be said that she wasn’t grateful. She shifted around and wrapped an arm around her new compatriot’s waist, finally letting out a dry heave.



“It’s- I don’t care how it happened… All I know is that…”



She took a deep breath, standing up and catching Merida’s face for the first time, a spark of recognition in her eyes.



“Oh, you- Hey, uh… I… Totally remember who you are and where I… Know your face…”



Messily wiping her face off on her sleeve, Millicent shook her head again.



“Did you guys win at least?”

 

[Hitura Rael]

Merida let her go to let her stand, then hugged her again. They both needed it. More so, now that she knew they were acquainted. "For now... but knowing what I do it's not over with that rat faced bastard." Anger seeped into her voice. "She sacrificed herself to save us... If he didn't have-" her words choked off. She had to release the girl again to wipe her own eyes with the heels of her palms.

He cocked his head in curiosity at the items, then slid off of the mech to join Johana. "She wanted to give you Archer." He frowned, staring up at the ceiling for a long moment. "I don't know how, but that crazy cockmonkey survived. If he didn't, she would have had his spheres to pass on too." With a sigh he cast his glance to the floor, "I should have killed him when he came after the Twins."

He flinched at the question. What WAS he going to do with them? He was stuck with them now, that much was certain. He had always envisioned the chase for balls being a vastly different kind. He was not pleased, to say the least. "I'll have to learn to use them won't I? Do I have a choice? That maniac is going to come back and won't listen to reason. I have no intention of dying... I don't want to collect them all like some kinda weirdo collector so don't worry." He flashed her a tired smile, "I just want to protect everyone, can't do that if I don't know how to use them. Maybe they'll come in handy against the coming storm... At least it's less people to convince to work together I guess. I doubt we would have had that issue with Zest though..." He frowned, sullen gaze cast once more to the floor. "He killed her twin... Merida's. He didn't want involved in any of it, just wanted to live his life."

 

[MKR]

"He has to be alive yes, ever if Zest did not inherit his prizes then I would have noticed them scattering to the winds." She replied, putting her burnt hand in her pocket. "And on top of that he should now have the Archer as well." If there would be a rematch she would have a lot more issues figuring out his secrets now. She grimaced at that notion.

It was good to know however, that the man in front of her would have beaten him and has beaten the mystery attacker before.
"A choice? Of course you have a choice, though you may deny the choice of death. It is still open, additionally the sheep which you inherited you have already seen can be absconded by passing the burden onto another. That is a choice I can offer myself, to take that from you and ease your burden." Her eyes remained on him as his gaze was downwards. Of course Gemini sought to unify people beneath its banner, it only made sense and she too had been swept up by that just before. She wondered however if in this moment, the eye of the storm perhaps, he would choose the easy path or the burden of Atlas.

"These spheres, owning them is a torture as I am sure you've noticed by now. Six months ago I liberated someone from their binds without laying a finger on their life, it is not a feat I can repeat for you so that choice has passed. If you want a tutor however, I can offer some aid there in a mutually beneficial agreement." Finally Johanna turned her gaze away from James for a moment, moving up towards Genion.

"But what would you have to have them, us, work towards?" Just before he was completely unaware of his power to unify people, only with her direction did he achieve that next step. At least that was how it felt to Johanna. "Because protecting everyone, that also means protecting him that and, I wonder, what is the difference between that and taking them for yourself?" She didn't exactly expect an answer now but, with his response it was only fair to see how he would react.

 

[Tackle Jackie]

“Thank you… And uh, take a lay down if you need it, you seem… Yeah. There’s some waters in the corner…” As Merida pulled away to wipe her nose, Millicent passed her a box of tissues. Nothing special, but a smalll gesture at least.

“Now… If you’ll excuse me for a moment.” She wiped her eyes once more, walking towards the door- and pulling out a wrench from beneath her bed, and stomping out the door.

“Where the fuck is Kenneth?”

Shouting down from the raised catwalk that connected the cockpit and the bay, hurling the wrench towards the pair- Not really knowing which was her target and generally missing both.

 

[Hitura Rael]

Merida took a tissue and shook her head. "I'm fine," A clear lie. "I can hang on until we're back home. It's not the first time I've had to bury grief." She wiped her eyes and blew her nose, "Big one to threaten to hit with, smaller one to chuck. Smaller one is easier to aim without the shape making it go wonky or weight dragging it down short of your target." She let the woman go alone, taking the time to compose herself.

"Death isn't a choice, it's the cowards way out. Oh I tried running off. Got dragged back after Selene practically stabbed me in the back." He grunted, a flash of anger across his face. "No, I'm not a sacrificial lamb to be lead to slaughter or put out of it's misery. I'll fight. Whatever comes of it, I can bare it. I just wish I didn't drag Merida down with me." He scrubbed the back of his head with curled fingers, "I practically kidnapped her into this."

He flashed Johana another smile, the same dazzling princely one he flashed before, "It's alright. I'm from tough stock. A tutor... hm... I'm down for mutually beneficial agreements..." He followed her glance back up to the Genion. "I'd unite us to fight back against the end. The Pale Lady says the final end is coming... Selene was going to use Gemini to give her life to stop it... But I feel that if we all worked together, everyone in harmony... we can defy this supposed destiny." He heaved a small sigh and shoved his hands in his pockets, "Welp. If it means shielding him from the end too... That's how it's gonna be. If we succeed, Merida can tear him a new asshole afterward. He tried to kill my brother, but he succeeded in killing hers. She gets dibs on his balls to hang over the fire place. Not even joking, she's a rabbid mongoose of a shortstack. The difference between protecting him and taking the spheres myself?"

He paused a moment to think before pulling his hand out of his pocket to scratch his nose. "I suppose the difference is he lives. I advocated for my brother to live, despite the cries to execute him for treason. But he was just trying to protect someone he loves. Murdered the entire royal guard... caused the dimensional quake, released that shark faced psycho... and still I advocated for his life. It's easy to cry for death of those who wronged us, but it's harder to forgive them. It would be very unkingly of me to execute one and let another equally wrong in their actions to live. I wonder, what is he trying to fight for? Who's he trying to save?"

James jumped near out of his skin with the violent clang of the wrench nearby. He spun to face the diminutive girl and went pale, "Oh shit! This is getting out of hand! Now, there are two of them! Quick Jo! Shorty squad is growing, run for it!"

 

[MKR]

As James spoke, her mind wandered to the slideshow beyond comprehension she had witnessed months ago. At least it proved noteworthy he wouldn't relent even in spite all that had just happened, invariably inviting further torture and bloodshed to his doorstep even admitting that it would be hypocritical of him to let one live and have another face consequences. So far this man had proven quite interesting as befits one in line for the crown of Luna.

"And you're fighting for her now, hmmm." It made sense, the tug of war of the twins was unfolding itself before her eyes. Even with a practical backstab here he was still, risking life and limb for her sake. Willing to shoulder the world for the sake of others. He was frankly throwing her off balance, at the same time an utterly lost cause but also a breath of fresh air. Or maybe that was more the shadow of the battle that had just passed. She still couldn't shake that weight off of her.
"In that case I'm willing to use my sphere to offer you what help I can with learning your new acquisitions, the recompense we can talk about later." He seemed like enough of a man of his word she could do this without too much worry.

"Though, the final end hm? Well that is a bit more subjecti-" The clang of the wrench interrupted what she was about to say, Johanna bringing her gaze upwards in annoyance only for the demand to ring in afterwards. That discussion it seemed, was for another time now.
"Kenneth is fine, he was quite grateful once he learned what fate I saved him from." She replied "As for where he is, I wouldn't know currently he's set out on his own. Have you tried calling him?" She put her arms to her sides. Some people just got caught up on somethings and never let go did they.

"You are Archer's sister then I take it?" She took the crystal out of her pocket again holding it up towards the catwalk. "Because they gave me something for you."

 

[Tackle Jackie]

“We didn’t exactly get a chance to exchange numbers.”



Millicent felt all the bravado fade away as the Goat explained herself. She helped him? Certainly looked more like she was dragging his body away, but… It’s not like she was in any position to argue with the Reactors in here.



With a bit of effort, Millicent heaved herself over the catwalk and slid down one of the supports to the ground with a practiced motion- far from elegant or “cool”, but it was better than the stairs. Approaching and squinting at the strange crystal that Johanna was holding, she gingerly picked it up, feeling her shoulders go weak again…



“After the fight, we broke away from JR, didn’t feel safe being around him and whatever he was dealing with. So you tell me what to do, and I’ll get you and the himbo there.”



“Oh. Right, hi, I’m Millicent Tremaine, uh, nice to meet you both.”

 

[Hitura Rael]

James moved from between the two, not wanting caught up in any wrath. Tiny people were suprisingly capable of holding a LOT of anger for their size. Or maybe that was just Merida and he was projecting. Women were terrifying but short women more so. It was best to give them space...

Until she called him a himbo and introduced herself. He scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest, "Hey, I am not a himbo. I'm an otter. I am too smart and not built enough to be a himbo and too muscley to be a himbim." He smiled pleasantly, "Thank you for finding me attractive though. You're cute yourself." On second thought Himbo might be accurate and he was likely going to get hit now. Crap.

 

[MKR]

"Johanna." She replied to the introduction before James besides her caused her to just pause and blink, really that was the takeaway from all that? With the crystal handed over she took a step back, "A good choice, the Ox can be rather volatile if it decides to want what you have. I'll check in on it soon, but that isn't anything you need to adjust the course for."

She had ample mobility in that respect, a glance back to the Weissritter. "There are a few things I'll need to handle before I can meet up with the Endymion forces. But I should be able to meet up with you before you arrive at their location." A good influence, in all likelihood the Gemini was simply going to drag her along in a way but for now that was fine.

"Though thinking about it, they may not particularly... Like the Weissritter's form, in that sense it can be best that we do your training aside." Last thing she wanted was to be barraged by Endymion forces, that was an enemy she didn't want on her list. For now however, there was the second of Archer's parting gifts. The burden of guardianship. "As for you Millicent, the Archer requested I protect you. For now, think it over." She sighed at it, it wasn't a task she was much looking forward to but answers were promised, though she knew not which. "Whether that is something you agree with or not."

The girl wasn't a sphere user, no one of importance really as far as she cared. So why was she even considering this. The answer should have been obvious dismissal or using that relationship established by the archer for her own benefit, not giving the girl the final say.

 

[Tackle Jackie]

Millicent fiddled around with the crystal as she listened to Johanna speak, and trying to ignore the fact that she had just been called cute. She had far too much to think about first-

What if they had gone to try and meet with Endymion first? Would Indigo still be alive if they didn’t rush for the Goa- for Johanna? No, it wasn’t worth thinking about… If they hadn’t been there when they were, these two chuckle fucks probably would have gotten themselves killed. And whatever that mess was would still be alive probably.

“Alright. Don’t… Worry about protecting me. You guys have a lot more to worry about than watching out for me.”

“I’ll get everyone who wants to go for Berlin there, and then…” Millicent stared ahead for a few seconds, looking blank. She clutched the crystal to her chest, a faint green glow that she missed. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. So whatever you need, I’ll try and help.”

 

[Hitura Rael]

James hopped up to approach the two girls as Johana was passing off the crystal. He did not let her get far before pulling both of them into a tight hug. He'd definitely get punched in the balls if he tried that to comfort Merida. "Screw them if they don't like her. Weis saved our asses and she doesn't deserve to be shunned just cuz she looks different. They can accept her how she is or they can lose Genion too, right pal?" James beamed up at the silver and azure mech. "We'll protect you from whatever problems they have with her."

James gave his best big brother smile to the two girls. "I think right now... both of you could do with some rest and a good meal. Merida too. Two of you lost siblings today, and two of you stared down a giant zombie whale crab farting gold mist that made everything go disturbingly quiet." And now Genion would eventually be the one farting gold mist that made things too quiet for him. Well, it would be a good way to keep Selene from pestering him anyway even if it gave him the biggest heebies of jeebies.

His tone shifted as he let the two go, to something more serious and somber. "I know I come across as an idiot, but humor is just... my coping mechanism. Better than Merida's. Millicent, you're going through something neither Jo or I can comprehend. Merida is going through the same thing. I think both of you could benefit from support. And Jo, he's going to come back, and he's going to be gunning for both of us eventually. We'll have a better chance of survival against him together rather than apart... especially with Adrian's sphere." His voice trailed off, calm mask slipping into sorrow. Adrian deserved better than to deal with that monster. If only he could have done something to free Adrian from the sphere, trained him better, made him go with him... Anything to protect him! He steeled himself and forced a smile. He had to shoulder the burden of two friends dying because of his weakness. He had to protect them now, because their siblings could not any longer. "So, let's stick together? Merida is a mechanic, I can cook, Millie can pilot the ship, and Jo can... Uh... Sorry, I don't know your civilian skill set to make that anymore motivational or convincing."

 

[MKR]

Not only was she being forced into a group hug but the man doing so was anthropomorphizing the Weissritter into a girl at that. What aspect of it was deciding that factor in his mind? Actually no, she really didn't want to know at this point.
"Well I appreciate that." She replied, awkwardly. At this point she didn't bother resisting the hug but also didn't exactly participate in it. So when James let go she took the opportunity to make a little more distance then before.

"At least you're aware how you sound." She crossed her arms at him a bit "And yes, of course he's still around otherwise the spheres he held would have been available. But there are also loose ends I need to wrap up before we join back with Endymion and this is the one time I can do them that wouldn't be seen as going MIA. Besides, it isn't just us. Have you considered the state of the Ox, the Scorpion and the Gourd?"

"If you're willing to shelter the Weissritter then I'll be back before we reach Berlin but between us well, I don't really have much of a civilian skillset and I'm the only one who can move around fast enough to do that and still probably beat you to Berlin." That and after that she really didn't want them to see that side project of hers. "So don't worry, I did promise I'd teach you as well and I don't intend to go back on that."
In all likelihood James was even more dangerous than that box of mysteries, not for any reasons of direct power but more his ability to be a beacon for people, her included.

Those words, a good influence, they were still in her head bouncing back and forth. Those two, they had barely met and were unable to exchange many words due to the influence of the crab. So for the Archer to already rally to the banner of the Gemini. For her to almost already rally to it, still his presence was a pleasant one. And that, exactly that solidified why she needed to be away from him for a bit after that unification.

Lest she lose her path.

 

[Tackle Jackie]

The smaller girl tensed up as James pulled her into a hug, very not at a stage where she felt comfortable touching these strangers. She’d have to find comfort eventually at some point, and, well, these folks seemed nice enough.

“Christ tell me it wasn’t the crab that did Zest in…”

Millicent joked, trying to brush off some of the mounting anxieties. “And alright. You sure you don’t want any backup with you?” This was directed firmly at Johanna, arms crossed as she tried to cut an intimidating figure. “If anything, stay in contact. I’ll probably start trying to… Well, there are some leads that Indigo wanted to track down, so… Just meet us in Berlin in one piece, alright?”

 

[Hitura Rael]

James chuckled at Jo, "Yeah, Merida constantly reminds me. She's scary but she keeps you honest." James cocked his head to the side, tapping his chin in thought as Jo went on about her check ins. "I honestly haven't given ANY of the other spheres consideration beyond Adrian's... It didn't really concern me and I had planned on avoiding as many as I could." Of course that plan went out the window. "I suppose now, after all that... There's no choice but to try to keep tabs on them. Maybe we can convince everyone to work together or something. At least until whatever scares the pants off the Pale Lady is dealt with."

He started pacing, He had three now. Jo had two. That bastard had at least three. Jo listed three more... That left one unaccounted for or in the hands of the crow. "Can I snag some pics of Weis before you go? That way I can at least prepare them for what's going on. Maybe I can also organize some kinda task for specifically for dealing with the rest of the spheres so we both can go deal with check ins and handling their shenanigans as necessary without risk of punishment."

"They didn't die to that disgusting abomination. It was this giant raging dickbag in a mech that looks like a crow that fell out of the ugly tree, hit every branch on the way down, and received the personality of a beaten bag of microwaved shit laden with corn and nuts." James halted his pacing to grimace and shudder, "I guess I'll have to appraise Selene of the situation to get her to fast track that request too... Damnit, I really didn't want to tell her." He sighed and dropped down to the ground, "I'm not worried. I trust you Jo." As far as he could throw her anyway. The days where he blindly trusted and gave the benefit of the doubt died when ZONE went up in chaotic smoke. He scratched his nose, mulling over Milie's confirmation. "You know... If you want backup you can just shove me in the cockpit with you and I can just summon Genion as needed. If not I'll keep an eye on the girls and help Millie with whatever I can while Merida either faces her grief or obsessively works on every machine in this ship in a desperate bid to avoid dealing with it. Ten-ninty odds."

 

[MKR]

"And what is that?" She asked, "What the Pale Lady is scared of that is." Her knowledge of the mythical lunar figure didn't go far, though she did indeed seem to be an actual presence rather than merely a rumor left to escalate with the way James spoke about it.
"And feel free to take some pictures, I can wait that long at least and yes I'll stay in contact."

She took a few steps away, James was explaining the situation already and there was no need to double up on explanations. But his plans, those easily got sidetracked, sure the moon knight seemed to be made of proper moral fiber but if say one of the sphere users decided to go against them. That justification of protection would be able to become a justification for seizure. Not that she would say that out loud but it was just one more reason to not take him along, could slow down that process or stop it before it could start even.

"I'll be fine, promise." She stepped closer again, her voice silencing as she whispered to James and only James. "Besides leaving two people in the middle of grief without a shoulder to lean on, doesn't seem that great an idea." With that she once more made some distance, stepping towards the Rein Weissritter. By now it had regrown all of its missing parts which was good as it would help for the picture.
"I'll begin preparing, let me know when you've taken the pictures."

 

[Tackle Jackie]

Millie would just… leave the others be for the time being. Merida probably needed some hugs, after all…