05/24/20

I wanted to get at least one more update done before Xenoblade DE drops on the 29th. I am beyond excited to play the game again, you have no idea. Or maybe you do. Writing part 2 has been a blast, I actually skipped this chapter to work on future ones when i was writing it all out. Not for any bad reason I simply wanted to continue the present day storyline.

Regardless, we all know where this past storyline is leading to, its the last bit of X canon that wasn't really explored and while it isn't as hectic or frantic as the years we spent on Earth, I hope its at least entertaining to see the set up just before the game officially kicks off

(Noun) The action or process of reforming an institution or practice.

Chapter Twenty Five

Reformation

July 29th, 2056

In the top floor of the Tower that stood tall in the center of the Habitat Unit's Administrative District: Nagi, Chausson, Vandham and Elma sat around a table. A holographic screen was being displayed from a datapad sitting in the middle of the table. Currently, the screen was showing them the military and governmental restructuring plans that Nagi and Chausson had been working on during the two year journey aboard the White Whale.

Chausson was quick to point out.

"I know we don't have the people or the infrastructure to pull off my plan. Not anymore. But we need some form of placeholder government until then."

Vandham couldn't help but chuckle.

"Are we going to hold a vote of some kind or are you going to run unopposed?"

The men shared a look.

"...or are you just going to take the position?"

"This isn't about taking power. There is no one and nothing to take power from. We're establishing everything from scratch."

"Enough."

Nagi stated, the men fell silent as he cast Elma a look, she was peering through all the files, pulling several from the central holograms onto her own above her datapad. Her eyes were moving across the information quickly.

They had a talk behind the Tower the other day following her decision to leave the Habitat Unit, Nagi could see she was eager to get this done.

Looking back at the center, he cleared his throat.

"If there are no objections I think Chausson is right. We need to put some form of command in place and right now the only people we have capable of running whatever arms of government we have are in this room or the bridge crew who survived Starfall."

Chausson snapped his fingers.

"What about Eleonora Reeve?"

Nagi took out his own datapad and began searching through his information.

"It seems Eleonora was put into cryo in the event that we lost you, Chausson. She and the remaining noncombatants in cryo would have been ejected before the crash so we have to start a search immediately to find her."

The room fell silent and suddenly, Nagi became tense. Turning he found Elma staring right at him, there was anger in her eyes.

Without another word, she shut off her datapad and stood up.

"Elma I-"

She brought one of her hands up and he fell silent. With nothing else to say, she left the room. Nagi let out a heavy sigh, bringing a hand to his face. Vandham could only shake his head.

"You really put your foot in your mouth with that one, Nagi."

"That was not my intention. We lost the ability to set up some sort of continuity with the crash...now all we're left with is picking up the pieces. Eleonora is important to our cause and we know for a fact that she's still alive or at the very least her Lifepod is intact. We have the signal…"

Nagi trailed off. All of the lines for the Reapers have been silent since Starfall mere days ago.

"Captain."

Taking his datapad from the desk, he opened it up to see the face of Irina.

"Yes, Lieutenant?"

"Our divisions have been searching the skies as best we can...there's nothing out here."

Nagi tapped his chin as Chausson spoke up.

"Nothing? At all?"

"Well...that's not entirely true. As I'm sure you all have noticed...there are stars out at night. I don't know what happened after Starfall but the Ghosts are gone...we're not even in the same place...spatially."

"What the hell."

Vandham leaned back in his seat, covering his face with his hands.

"Where in the middle of nowhere did we crash…"

"We'll have to set up a meeting with Albus and Furvus to see if they were told anything else by Javier or Caerulus. Is this the place we were supposed to find?"

Nagi turned his attention back to the datapad.

"Thank you, Lieutenant. Call your divisions back and return to the perimeter."

Once the call ended, the three men picked up their water bottles. Reaching out Nagi moved the hologram to the next item on their list.

The title across the first screen read: Builders of the Legacy After the Destruction of Earth.

Outside of the Tower, Elma continued her walk, frustrated. Any civilians or military personnel who saw her were quick to divert their paths and move out of her way.

While she walked on in the present, her mind was stuck with the exchange she had with Nagi just yesterday.

"You are going to find Jaynix?"

Nagi sounded surprised, which didn't make much sense to Elma. He had to know how much Jaynix meant to her. Taking a deep breath, Elma nodded.

"Yes. She's out there. Alone. I need to bring her home."

There was a long silence before Nagi reached over and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Elma. Her line went dead. All of theirs did. That only happens if-"

"If their Skells are completely destroyed yes but I saw her. I saw her, Nagi. At the end and I can't just accept that she's gone. I won't."

Nagi could see that Elma was determined to do this.

"I hate to say this to you, Elma but...we need you here. If you go off across this alien world all on your own to...we don't know how big this place is. We don't know what the indigenous life is like. The first creature we encountered killed two of our best pilots, two Skelletons and it totaled one of our Skells with no effort. It's true they were damaged and worn but-"

"I've given you over thirty years, Nagi. I've done everything for you and yours because that was my goal. My goal and Aeon's goal. I've never wanted for anything. My only wish was to see you all safe, it didn't matter what happened to me or those around me...but now I want one thing. I want the ability, the freedom to do one thing for myself. I want to find her."

Nagi took his hand from her shoulder, this was not an easy conversation to have.

"I don't want to stop you Elma and you're right. You and Aeon have given us everything...all I'm asking is for you to wait. Wait until we can stand firm. Please."

"If she's as injured as I think she is, waiting will kill her."

"Elma...all I can do is ask you to wait...I know it's not what you want to hear, I know but...please…"

Elma didn't say anything more after that, simply turned and left. If Nagi called anything out after her, she didn't hear it.

Elma came to a stop, looking around she spotted a small park not too far from her. The park had areas within for various sporting activities, it was a place to relax and unwind. Her gaze then moved from the nets and fences to the trees that stood tall and proud.

She wasn't sure when she got to the Residential District but she was here now. With a heavy sigh she moved toward the closest tree, lowered herself to the ground and sat.

Some part of her knew Nagi was right but another part of her remembered the talk she had with Danny and Boris. Starfall was costly, the Ghosts took so much from everyone. She had no reason to doubt Albus and Furvus, they were there when she was not. Aeon was gone, one soul among the many that the Ghosts snuffed out.

Yet Jaynix...Elma was the reason that she was lost. The resulting explosion from the Tandem Aghasura Cannon was what caused Jaynix to crash. It was her fault.

Hearing the desperate screams, Elma brought her hands to her ears, covering them only served to trap the screams inside her head.

She killed Lyla.

She killed Jaynix's wife.

Closing her eyes, she continued to listen to the pain and horror from those final moments of Starfall.

"You all are some of the best we've been able to bring together within the various branches of the Coalition's Armed Forces. We're rolling out new technology to aid in Project Exodus and you all will be among the first to use it. Your new designation is as members of the Coalition's Heavy Armor Training Unit and this...is Elma."

Nagi moved aside, revealing a woman with white hair, dark skin and red armor. Her blue eyes looked among those gathered before her.

"She'll be serving as Colonel, commanding this unit. Not only that but she has graciously volunteered to be the first to test another vital part of Project Exodus. The Mimeosome."

There were some surprised murmurs among the crowd before one young man raised his hand.

"Is that uh. Is that safe?"

"Yes, Sergeant Evans. It's very safe, we took all the necessary precautions and then some."

"Oh. Okay. Good. Cool."

Elma stepped forward.

"I'm sure you're all very curious as to who it is I am. I'm not exactly familiar with most of you yet...if you all wouldn't mind introducing yourselves, I'd appreciate it."

Those gathered before her saluted, the first man, standing tall over the others spoke.

"Doug Barret. Formerly a part of the Special Vehicle Guidance Squad. Before that, I served in the US Army."

Elma nodded, a slight smile on her face.

"I believe I've run some operations alongside you sometime back."

Doug nodded.

"You did. Though I had no idea you were in a Mimeosome at the time. You did well not to get injured.

She shrugged.

"It wasn't meant to be a secret per say but I appreciate the sentiment. Where is your partner? Lao?"

Doug smiled.

"Ah. With his family. I think he turned down the offer to be a part of this merry band. He's looking into teaching last I checked."

Elma nodded before looking to the rest of those gathered before her, specifically the woman next to Doug.

"Lieutenant Irina Akulov. I served in the Coalition's Intelligence Division."

Elma studied the woman, of those gathered before her, the stance she had was the most rigid, the most professional and not the slightest bit nervous.

"Intelligence gathering. Good to have you aboard.

"Thank you Colonel."

Next to her, a younger man smiled. His stance was the weakest of the group but there was determination in his eyes.

"Sargeant Gwin Evans, Forward Operating Forces. A grunt I suppose but a really good one!"

Elma smiled, nodding her head.

"Danny Myson. Coalition Airforce Pilot and New Aircraft Live Tester. I think that's the way they phrased it."

Elma nodded.

"You've probably experienced more G forces then the rest of those gathered here."

"I definitely have. No offense."

The man added, looking to the rest of the group who rolled their eyes.

"It'll be greatly beneficial with what we have in store."

Elma could see the excitement clear as day on Danny's face before moving on to the last man in the lineup.

"Boris Quaid, heavy weapons and artillery specialist. Howdy."

"Howdy"

Elma replied, crossing her arms as she returned to her post next to Nagi.

"I look forward to working aside all five of you. I have a lot of goals I want to achieve and Nagi was kind enough to form this special team to get them done faster. I've looked over all of your combat and mission history. I know you all are the right hands to put my trust in. We'll start with the six of us and from there we'll expand to bring in offensive and defensive support units. Our group is to be the backbone of our forces as we proceed with Project Exodus. I thank you all for taking on this task."

Elma bowed her head, those gathered before her followed suit. Turning to Nagi, she smiled, the older man did the same.

Taking her hands away from her head and opening her eyes, Elma sat still and silent. Every moment she had to herself since Starfall was full of memories. Peaceful times long since gone full of people who were no longer around. She couldn't stand it.

She couldn't even return to her memories of her homeworld, of her brother. He was lost and she wasn't there to help him in his final hour.

Closing her eyes she did her best to recall anything more from the end of Starfall, but after the destruction of Firebird, there was nothing.

All she knew was Aeon engaged the Vita in battle and while no one was around to witness the battle or who won, the truth of it was that both Aeon and the Vita are nowhere to be found. Much like the Reapers' lines of communication, Aeon's Ares was silent.

Thinking about his Skell reminded her of her own, as much as she wanted to take off in search of Jaynix, her Ares was in no shape to go anywhere and the maintenance facilities in the Industrial District have yet to be officially staffed. The engineers were largely noncombatants and so most of them were currently in stasis around the planet, severely hampering Skell maintenance. Everyone who had one would have to be very careful.

It seemed as if everything was against her going out there to look for Jaynix. Shaking her head and forcing the thoughts away, Elma closed her eyes and continued to sit in place.

As she expected, her mind was soon flooded with countless memories. She was unable to stop them and part of her didn't want to. As much as they hurt, she needed to hold onto the pain of all those who have been lost since the Exodus.

Her recollection was cut short when she heard footsteps approach, they came to a stop nearby and waited. Patient as ever. She of course knew who was there. However that also meant she'd been sitting in place for hours. It didn't feel like that.

Neither person made any move or tried to say anything for at least another minute or so before Elma opened her eyes, stood up and turned.

"BLADE. It's a good idea."

Nagi nodded.

"We're going to gather the combatants that remain. Former soldiers from all fields. Then we'll begin the process of forming the divisions. Tomorrow."

Nagi crossed his arms.

"As much as I'd love to do it today, we burned far more hours than expected during the meeting. While having search teams and those on watch has helped...we still need to reorganize in a more official and effective capacity. We have to handle this situation that we're in right. Everything is unprecedented and…"

Nagi sighed.

"I didn't mean to say what I said, Elma."

"I know, Nagi. I know."

Looking up at the sky, he tapped his fingers along his arm.

"Regardless...I owe you an apology...I don't want you to think even for a second that I don't care about Jaynix. That your belief she is alive doesn't stir something inside me...I'm not saying the things I am to...I just…"

With a heavy sigh, he turned away.

"I understand Nagi...I would never storm out of an important meeting like that. Maybe Jaynix's temper was contagious."

Nagi chuckled.

"Whoever watches over us now, let's hope that isn't true."

Unable to stop herself, Elma began to laugh. Nagi doing the same. Once they settled, Nagi turned back to face her and Elma could see in his eyes what he had been trying to hide so desperately.

"They all affected you. Nagi. Didn't they?"

Barely above a whisper, he spoke.

"They did."

Elma sat back down and gestured to the place next to her. With a quick nod, Nagi joined her. The pair sat in the park, looking at nothing in particular. Simply thinking. Feeling. Anything and everything.

They remained there, motionless and lost in thought for some time before Elma finally spoke up.

"Reclaimer."

A small smile came to Nagi's face.

"I was never going to ask."

July 30th, 2056

Within the barracks that provided temporary housing to civilians and military personnel alike, there was a meeting going down in a large hall towards the back.

Elma stood with Nagi, Chausson and Vandham on an elevated platform with a large holographic screen displayed behind them detailing information on the various divisions that would make up their new offensive and defensive forces as organized within the new hierarchy: BLADE.

The crowd in front of them was filled with dozens of soldiers and pilots who survived Starfall. Among them she saw Irina Akulov, Gwin Evans, Frye Christoph, Boze Lowes and Sharon Effinger as well as the Qlurian Neilnail Pilots, Albus and Furvus.

"We believe all of these divisions working in tandem will help make the monumental task of understanding our new home a little bit more manageable."

Nagi stated.

"Instead of trying to tackle every new thing all at once and all at the same time, we're going to break it all apart into sections and leave one or two primary tasks for all of you to handle. All of us. We have to do this together."

Elma looked to the image currently displayed on the holographic screen showing the titles of all of the BLADE Divisions.

Reclaimers. Pathfinders. Interceptors. Harriers. Curators. Prospectors. Outfitters. Mediators.

"I wish we could simply focus on one or two divisions at the moment...but we simply cannot afford to. We've been here on this planet for only four days and we have not explored beyond the confines of the Habitat Unit. We must fix that, immediately."

The soldiers gathered all nodded as Vandham cleared his throat.

"In a slightly less related note we're also working on setting up a provisional government. Maurice Chausson will be acting as Director General, he'll be in charge of the Habitat Unit...I have been appointed as Commander of BLADE so I'll be in charge of all of you and finally Nagi is Secretary of Defense. He's the big boss."

Nagi chuckled, shaking his head.

"Regardless of what title I may carry, it doesn't change that I can't do my job...we can't do our job without you."

Vandham clapped his hands together.

"With all that said and done, we'll be sending out the required BLADE registration forms to all of your datapads. I should also admit that our datapad network only works within the Habitat Unit, the farther you go the more unstable it is. We'll also be working to correct that."

Everyone gathered nodded as their datapads all went off.

"While you all choose your Divisions, we'll have several teams involved with...housekeeping? We're going to get the barracks set up. Officially. Chausson will be handling the relocation of the civilians and the Qlurian refugees. They will all be moved to the Residential District, properly granted housing and all that. We don't have enough staff to help with the moving so when you've completed your registration, return to the civilian quarters and help us get them to the Residential District. That will be all. Get to it everyone."

With that, all those who had gathered were dismissed. Vandham and Chausson began to leave as well, talking amongst each other.

"Elma."

Turning to Nagi, she crossed her arms.

"I know how eager you are to get searching...it's written all over your face. If I could, there are several other people of note we could benefit from having among our ranks."

Elma nodded.

"Kriss."

Nagi took a deep breath.

"Yes. We'll need the Professor's expertise for...well, everything. There is no one aboard the White Whale who comes close."

Elma prepared to say something else, but decided against it as Nagi brought up a list.

"I'll put together a team to track down Eleonora Reeve. We need her for the provisional government as well as Kirsty Allen. She is part of a team called Frontier, during our journey they were developing a network database capable of cataloguing whatever planet we wound up on. That is what we'll have to use to bolster our communications devices beyond just our datapads and the local Habitat Unit network."

Elma looked at the images of all three women displayed.

"Beyond that we do have several other people of note who were aboard the White Whale. ECP Medical staffers Harriet Sinclair, Hope Alanzi, Eliza Jun and Arnold Bradbury as well as MMC Proprietor Iris Falkan."

Elma studied the faces of those gathered before her, she knew them all well enough. Staring at Harriet however reminded her of someone else.

"Kruse."

Nagi looked at his list.

"Ah yes. Alpha Wolf. Constantine Voliff, Kruse Voliff as well as the other engineering leaders Orwell Simmons and Hilda Earhart. All of a sudden my request is becoming a little too much…"

Elma smiled.

"It's fine. They're all vital, it's hard to put priority on...one over...the other…"

Elma trailed off, closing her eyes.

"Which is what I've been doing…"

"Elma. I'm not here to-"

"It's fine Nagi...it's fine. Anyone else?"

With a sigh, the newly appointed Secretary of Defense brought up one more.

"Frye's brother, Phog Christoph. More of a personal favor...Michael had asked Hideo to keep his eyes on the younger brother after Starfall. It was a promise from one man to the other...we have to fulfill it for them."

Elma nodded once more.

"Do we have tracking signals for all of them?"

"Most of them. Some of the Lifepods have no doubt been heavily damaged in the crash. They're built to last but some mechanisms are bound to fail after what we went through. We also can't forget that they landed...everywhere, as did the White Whale's wreckage and our Lifehold Archives…"

"...and the Lifehold Core…"

The pair fell silent, steadily easing themselves to the ground. Nagi watched Elma's face as conflict began to brew within her eyes.

"I'm not asking you to do this alone, Elma. You'll be a team leader within the Reclaimers Division. There will be a whole slew of Reclaimers to work with. We'll get this done. Not to mention in trying to find these specific people we may find others…"

"That's not what concerns me…"

Nagi fell silent, Elma brought a hand up over her chest.

"I...I know it's wrong but all these tasks...I see them as things getting between me and…"

"Jaynix."

Elma took a deep breath, nodding.

"I shouldn't feel this way...but I just...I can't accept that she's dead. I'll never be able to forgive myself if I do. What did they all...I…"

Nagi raised a hand.

"Elma don't-"

"I killed her wife. I killed Lyla."

"You didn't-"

"I did!"

The pair fell silent once more, Elma lowering her head into her hands and sighing.

"I can't...I shouldn't be leading anyone. Not until I can…"

She took a deep breath. Nagi crossed his arms, nodding.

"Do whatever makes you feel most comfortable Elma. I know you're going through a lot…"

"Not just me, Nagi. Hideo. I've known him as long as I've known you but the two of you…"

Elma thought back to Jaynix's last words.

"...you knew that their mission was to give their lives for the White Whale...didn't you?"

Nagi kept his eyes on her, betraying no emotions before speaking.

"That's not what their mission was. Not entirely."

Elma raised an eyebrow.

"...their other task, it was a more personal task. Something Hideo and I discussed shortly before the Exodus and something he told the Reapers mere days after the Exodus."

Naig looked down at the floor, thinking about whether he should say this or not.

"Their primary mission was ensuring that you survived come what may."

Elma shook her head.

"Me? That's not true."

Nagi looked back up at her, she looked into her eyes and saw the truth.

"You're the backbone of everything, Elma. It was a long discussion Hideo and I had. No one knew what became of Aeon and if we lost you for whatever reason...we'd all be as good as dead. Hideo offered his services, his team...but they were going to do it regardless. After we left Earth, we left the chain of command behind. Hideo wanted to do it so he did...they all did…"

Elma looked away, unsure of what to say. The silence continued as Elma stood up, walked past Nagi and left the room.

July 31st, 2056

The next day found the newly formed BLADE preparing to take action. All those who joined with the Mediators were the primary group aiding the civilians who were still in the midst of moving from the Administrative District to the Residential District.

However they did not have enough manpower to handle the work so members of other divisions lent their services.

Meanwhile the bulk of the other BLADEs gathered outside both of the Habitat Unit's Gates, team leaders were named and mission details were outlined, plans were made to finally head out into the alien planet proper and explore.

Everyone was ready to reclaim their lives they nearly lost. Something new was set to begin and this would be the first day.

Outside of the East Gate, Elma stood with Nagi, Chausson and Vandham, the group watched as the first team of Pathfinders departed.

"Operations will be centralized in this region first. We have to understand our immediate surroundings above all…"

Nagi stated.

"The use of Skells is also limited to the Habitat Unit and a perimeter line we will establish soon. Those who chose to join the Outfitters are looking through the Hangar in the Industrial District now and preparing to work but we don't have enough to put our Skells at risk...if we lose them, we're as good as dead."

Vandham couldn't help but laugh.

"If we do anything wrong at all, we're dead and that's a fact. For all we know there is a plant out there that vaporizes you the second you touch it...I know the Pathfinders and Interceptors understand the risks, we all do but damn if I don't have gigantic worries about this planet…"

Elma looked to Chausson, another memory returning to her.

"It may be a small thing...but we're going to need to start naming things as well. Locations. Landmarks. Creatures. Fruits. Whatever it is we come across."

Chausson nodded.

"We've got the Curators for that...and the Prospectors to an extent...finding materials we can use to craft what we need is essential. We have a few fabricators in the Habitat Unit but we need a more reliable energy source. The Unit has self contained power but if anything should happen…"

"We're all dead."

Vandham stated, earning a chuckle from Nagi.

"Chausson. I think it's time we named our new home."

The man looked to Elma.

"I was told once...you had already made a decision about it."

Nagi and Vandham looked to Chausson now, interested. The older man sighed.

"She really did tell you everything. Didn't she?"

Chausson looked from the others and out to the sprawling fields before them as more BLADEs began their deployment, among them Elma could see the Interceptor team led by Irina.

Chausson took a deep breath before he spoke.

"Call me sentimental. Call me a lovestruck fool. Call me what you will...but I made her a promise. She may have laughed it off and never thought it a serious one but it was...in her honor I would like to name this planet...Mira."

No objections escaped Nagi or Vandham as they joined Chausson in looking out over the horizon.

Elma's gaze moved once more to the BLADEs setting off to explore their new home, among the teams she spotted a group of Reclaimers.

That was her signal to go. Not with them. Alone. While Nagi was still strongly against the idea, she didn't want to have someone with her. Not for this. Not after Danny and Boris. Not after Aeon. Not after Jaynix.

Putting a hand on Chausson's shoulder, Elma gave him her approval and walked away.

Once she was out of sight, Vandham moved closer to Nagi.

"In all our years...I've never seen her like this…"

"Me neither."

Vandham sighed.

"Will she be alright?"

Nagi nodded.

"Regardless of what state she is in...she has one goal and only one goal. Nothing will stop her from finding Jaynix. Not even death."

Vandham looked away from Nagi, back towards the ridge Elma had disappeared over. Crossing his arms the man forced his doubts away and moved towards the remaining BLADE teams, barking out orders.

Once Elma was far enough away from the Habitat Unit, she pulled out her datapad, noticing rather quickly that all the holographic displays were fuzzy. That was to be expected.

Taking out a notepad she began to write down the coordinates to the Lifepods they did have on record. While Nagi had said most of them had tracking signals, the group had looked over how many were deployed from the White Whale and the majority were not being picked up for who knows how many reasons.

Pinpointing the closest one, Elma began to walk when she heard steps. Turning she drew her blade as a man poked his head out from behind a boulder.

"Hey Colonel."

With a sigh, she put her blade away.

"Frye. What are you doing here? Didn't you have a team?"

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't...but once I got wind that you were looking to go it alone. Well, I ain't having that."

Elma shook her head.

"Frye-"

He brought one of his hands up.

"You know me, Elma. You trust me, I trust you. Hell, I helped you round up those traitorous snakes back on Earth remember? Let me help you again."

Elma looked down at her notepad, the list seemed to grow longer. Having another pair of eyes and a capable fighter was hugely beneficial, she couldn't deny that.

Frye was also stupidly stubborn. If she wanted him to stop following her, she'd have to knock him out. With a sigh, she looked back at Frye.

"Alright. We'll go together."

"Kickass."

Rolling her eyes, Elma turned and began walking once more, Frye fell into step next to her. She expected the man to start talking but he seemed to understand that she was not in the mood for it and so he remained silent.

Keeping her eyes focused on the grassy plains and rocky features before her as well as the various forms of indigineous life in the area around them, Elma couldn't deny the beauty of it all.

The task before them was massive but the farther along she could get, the more she could push and every step she took from this moment on was bringing her ever closer to finding Jaynix.

She would not rest until she accomplished her mission.

Determined gaze set on the land before her, yet mind set on the future, Elma picked up her pace and began exploring the Planet Mira.