Goodwill, Chapter 1:
My name is Cross, also known as the "Blue Reclaimer", and I work for Team Elma, who are often considered BLADE's #1 team. Considering all the things we've done, including recovering the Lifehold Core, they're not wrong.
What I value the most in my time of BLADE are my teammates. Elma, my team leader who fought so hard to save humanity from Earth's destruction and also my very first friend; Lin Lee Koo, a 13-year old who's a talented engineer, mechanic, and even more talented chef, whom I see as a surrogate sister; and the team's rookie, Mia, whom I first met when she was a BLADE washout, but after a series of interesting events throughout Mira (it's a long story), she's now a BLADE.
Anyways, I've always valued my time with my teammates, regardless of the good or the bad. But I was told that there was one tradition from back on Earth... A holiday, as they call it... that may seem like commercialism, but is actually more meaningful than that. If I recall correctly, wasn't it called... Christmas?
So, yeah. I am an amnesiac. Which means, I can't recall anything about my past prior to being discovered in a LifePod in Primordia's Starfall Basin by Elma. I won't give up my search for my memories, but here's where my story begins.
I was walking by in the Commercial District, wearing my morning jogging gear, heading to Sunshine Cafe, when I noticed something that caught my eyes. There appeared to be some decorations that were just installed onto the building.
"I wonder what that's about?" I thought with a look of puzzlement on my face. Then, I happened to be seeing Jo, a worker at Sunshine Cafe who's incredibly clumsy with machines, outside hanging up some circular decoration of a sort next to the cafe. Piping my interest, I decided to ask her more. "Excuse me, Jo?"
"Ah! Cross!" she replied, turning towards me after hanging up the decoration. "Good morning. May I help you with something?"
"I noticed some decorations on Sunshine Cafe. I wonder what it's about?" I asked.
"We're getting ready for Christmas."
"Christmas?" I was confused.
"Do you celebrate another holiday or something?" she asked, wondering about my confusion. But then she saw a solemn look on my face, and then she realised. "Ohh... Right. Your amnesia. Why do I keep forgetting about your amnesia? Either way, that was very insensitive of me."
"It's okay. I'll have to ask Elma and Lin about this." I reassured her.
"Thanks for your understanding, Cross. Now, is there anything I can get you? As long as it isn't coffee."
"Let me guess... You broke the coffee machine? ...Again?"
Jo replied just by nodding.
"Ouch. I think I'll have tea with today's pastry of the day."
"What kind of tea?"
"Umm..." I thought as I placed my hand on my chin before saying, "...Surprise me."
"Alrighty. Order's set. Come right in." Jo informed me as she went in, to which I followed.
After some tea and small talk with Jo about menial things like work, I decided to take my leave and start heading back the BLADE Barracks, hoping to ask one of my teammates about Christmas. Fortunately, Lin was right there in the Barracks, hanging out with a Nopon named Tatsu, whom we had accidentally rescued from the Ganglion when we first met him.
"Tatsu, did you get the weather report?" Lin asked her Nopon companion.
"Tatsu heard! It gonna snow in Primordia. Dangerous critters hibernate soon." Tatsu replied with certainty.
"Oh? So some indigens hibernate when it snows?" Lin was surprised.
"Yep. Snow only occurs in Primordia, and Noctilum. Tatsu not sure about Sylvalum, but Oblivia and Cauldros both too hot for snow to appear." Tatsu nodded.
"Obviously, Tatsu. Oblivia's a desert, while Cauldros is a volcanic region. So those places would make sense for it to not snow."
Just then, I had entered. "Hello?"
"Oh! Hi, Cross." Lin greeted me, with Tatsu hopping and flailing his arms around.
"Lin, I have a question based on my most recent encounter at Sunshine Cafe." I came with a look of curiosity on my face.
"Oh? I'm listening, Cross." Lin was intrigued as she replied.
"As is Tatsu." Tatsu agreed immediately.
"Do you know anything about something called "Christmas"?" I asked.
"That's your question?" Lin asked back with a tone of understanding, and I replied by nodding.
"Christmas? What is this "Christmas"?" Tatsu was confused.
"Well, I'm glad you both asked. Christmas was a tradition back on Earth." Lin replied with a smile.
"I'm listening, Lin." I nodded.
"Now, hear this, from the first impression one would normally get, it'd be about commercialism. But from what my parents taught me, there's more to Christmas than that. A LOT more."
"Really? More to this "Christmas" than commercialism?" Tatsu said with a look of awe on his face.
"Yeah. It's about spending time with friends, and more importantly, family. Having fun, having joy, but most of all, having goodwill." Lin explained.
"If that's what Christmas truly is... then I'm interested in it already." I smiled.
"Indeed, it is. Elma truly loves Christmas, based on what she learned of it." Lin nodded.
"Speaking of which, where is Elma?" I asked.
"Tatsu last saw Elma hanging out with Irina. Tatsu not sure what that about." Tatsu said while scratching his head.
"I think it's an Interceptor mission, Tatsu. Considering most indigens will be hibernating soon, I think they're getting ready for one more Interceptor mission for a while." Lin explained.
"Hibernate?" I asked.
"Even Tatsu know what that means. Hibernating is spending wintertime in very deep sleep." Tatsu explained.
"Wow, Tatsu. I'm surprised to hear that coming from you." Lin was surprised.
"Well, Tatsu spend whole life on Mira, so of course Tatsu knows. You two still speak Nopon language very well, by the way." Tatsu smiled.
"Well... I suppose from his perspective, he's not wrong at all." I whispered, to which Lin nodded in agreement. "Also, where's Mia?" I asked afterwards.
"You called, Chief?" Mia came in, wearing a towel.
"Mia was just having a shower. That explains why she's only got her towel on right now." Lin explained.
"So, what's this gathering about?" Mia asked.
"Lin was teaching me about what Christmas is." I explained.
"Huh?" Mia was confused for a split second until she realized. "...Oh yeah, your amnesia prevents you from remembering that. Welp, considering I was in the shower, it made sense for you to ask Lin. But what did she say, Chief?"
"She was telling me that Christmas is not about commercialism, as much as it supposedly seems, but spending time with friends and family. For fun, for joy, and for goodwill." I explained.
"Oh, is that what she said? Welp, from experience alone, she's not wrong. After all, I recall my parents coming home to meet me for Christmas. They say that being together as family is what truly defines Christmas." Mia smiled.
"Believe it or not, though, Cross, Christmas has religious origins." Lin closed her eyes as she explained.
"Oh? Do you know about it?" I asked with intrigue.
"I do, but I'm not good with explaining it. What about you, Mia?" Lin asked Mia.
"I'm in the same boat as you, Lin." she responded. "Although... maybe you can try asking Hope. She knows religion due to being raised by a priest."
"Sure thing. And Mia? Your towel's about to..." I pointed out, but Mia quickly fixed her towel before it fell apart.
"Meh! Tatsu had to avert eyes from Mia until towel fixed." Tatsu sounded startled.
"Sorry, Tatsu. If it helps, I'll put some clothes on immediately." Mia said as she went back into the bedroom.
"Anything. Tatsu not want to stain innocent 13-year old eyes." Tatsu shuddered, to which Lin and I giggled.
"I'll go and see Hope, now. I'll be back, guys." I stated, with Lin and Tatsu nodding.
"Mia?" I asked, before she came back and waved me off.
"Go right ahead, Chief."
"Oh, and one more thing, Cross?" Lin asked.
"Yes?" I replied as I turned around.
"Some people in NLA have a different religion, and therefore celebrate a completely different holiday altogether."
"Really? Interesting. Thanks for the heads up, Lin." I nodded.
Eager to learn more about this Christmas, I left the Barracks towards the Residential District, hoping for some answers. (No pun intended, by the way.)
Later, in the Cathedral in the Residential District...
Apparently even when a holiday is rapidly approaching, Hope still takes it to herself to help as much clients as possible. Though there were surprisingly less people today with only one client, which was interesting since there were normally a line of people seeking counseling of some sort.
"...I hope my advice can help you reconcile with your boyfriend." Hope said enthusiastically to the client right before me.
"Thank you, Hope. You're as sincere as always." a female citizen thanked her for advice before leaving.
"Now, may I help whoever's next?" Hope then asked, to which I appeared. "Ah! Cross! Good day. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"I have a question, Hope. In regards to something called Christmas." I asked.
"Christmas? Well, I suppose we'll be having our first Christmas on Mira. But what is it you want to know?" Hope queried.
"Well, Lin's been telling me what Christmas is about and some things that it may seem about, but she and Mia told me that Christmas has religious origins. Neither of them claimed they could explain it in great detail, though." I pondered.
"I see. And so you came to see me. Would you like to come inside the cathedral so I can tell you in greater detail?" Hope asked as she directed her left hand at the door.
"Of course." I replied by nodding.
"Alrighty. Follow me." Hope requested, to which I obliged. Hope was preparing to enter the Cathedral, but before entering, she spoke to a man named Letrick, who runs the cathedral. "Letrick, may we enter the cathedral, please? I wish to teach Cross the religious origins of Christmas."
"Of course. You two are always welcome." Letrick nodded before letting us by.
"You know, Hope? The last time I was inside the cathedral, Alexa wanted you to help her get her mind off Skells for a while." I smiled.
Hope giggled before replying, "Yes, that was quite the time. Hopefully, Alexa remembers what I taught her in case she wants to take a break from thinking about Skells."
And I giggled in the process, before clearing my throat. "Anyways, Hope? You were going to teach me?"
"Right. Have a seat, Cross." As she said it, I complied immediately.
"Don't be afraid to go overboard, Hope, for I am a good listener."
"You and I have that trait in common, Cross. Anyways, where to begin? Christmas began when a very special person was born on December 25th."
"Really?"
"Yes. A good fraction of some religions celebrate his birth."
"Wow... Then I guess it makes sense to have this cathedral."
"Absolutely, Cross. But back to my story..."
For the next two hours, Hope explained to me the story about how Christmas came to be in the religious sense. From the birth of a man named Jesus from a virgin mother, to a star that led three wise men to witness said birth, and more regarding his life living as a preacher, I was entranced with the origins of Christmas.
"Wow... That is very deep." I said with awe as Hope finished.
"Indeed. Some people still celebrate Christmas for this very reason. I'm not sure if Lin mentioned this, but some religions celebrate different holidays altogether." Hope nodded.
"She did. She did mention that."
"And I'm happy that you understood every detail I told you." Hope smiled.
"Thank you for teaching me, Hope. I should return to the Barracks, now." I replied before getting up from my seat.
"You're welcome, Cross. See you later." Hope got up and waved.