10/02/20

Here we are, on another step of Elma's journey. I've been writing at a rather comfortable place despite the difficulty which is something I'll definitely get into in a future video. Till then, I can not thank you all enough for continuing to read this. Did you know? XCM on its own is longer than all the fics in my previous continuity? Dang.


Chapter Thirty Five

Respite - (Noun) A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.

"You never change, Colonel."

Looking up from the holographic displays along the table, Elma spotted Irina approaching and holding two cups of tea in her hands. With a smile, Irina offered one of the cups to Elma. Quietly thanking her, Elma took the cup and after a quick sip, smiled as well only for Irina to chuckle and ask.

"It's bad isn't it?"

Elma shook her head.

"Not at all...thank you, Irina."

Elma's gaze returned to the many screens that were still on display tracking various signatures that matched the Lifehold Archives, she was hoping that the data on how they ended up where they did could be used to track down the Core's location that they so desperately needed.

"What I opened with wasn't meant to be ignored, Colonel."

"You're going to ask that I take a rest. I've heard it all before...though I find it interesting that you're the one telling me this, Irina."

Pulling her attention away from the table, Elma faced Irina who could only shrug.

"It is a bit hypocritical isn't it...the rest of the team didn't think this plan through."

Elma sighed.

"Of course it was them."

"They care, Elma. We all do. A lot of Mimeosome functions people may find...odd or unnecessary. Why would we make robot bodies that require sleep?"

Irina waited, a knowing smile on her face as Elma spoke.

"Because it's something that has been a human necessity since the dawn of man...people find comfort in being able to live as people even though…"

Elma shook her head.

"Colonel. You need rest. We will find the Lifehold Core. You…"

Irina trailed off, realization dawning in her eyes. Elma made a move to speak, to deny Irina's conclusion but she knew that there was no point to it.

"I see…"

"Irina I...I don't want you to think that the bonds I have with all of you aren't enough. Of course they are. You, Gwin, Kruse, Frye and L have been with me since we started this mission. I count on you all for a lot, more than you know."

Irina placed her cup on the table, nodding.

"I know. We all do...I should've figured it had to do with Starfall. With Jaynix. You don't sleep not just because you want to find the Core but because you can't."

Elma started to speak once more only for Irina to cut her off.

"The nightmares. How long?"

The women stared at one another, neither making a move to press the conversation that they both knew needed to be had. The only sound breaking the silence was that of Aegis' gentle breathing as the cat turned over on the nearby couch.

Elma looked at the table prepared to give Irina the answer she knew would be coming. Shock filled her features as the displays were no longer showing parts of Mira or the Lifehold Archives they'd recovered. The screens were showing scenes from Starfall. And her.

One in particular was displaying the unforgettable destruction of Firebird, the shock caused Elma to stumble back, Irina was right there, ready to catch her.

Slowly and steadily, Irina eased Elma to the ground.

"I see the same things, Colonel. Not just about Starfall but also about...him."

Elma took a deep breath trying to steady the sensation of a pounding heart.

"I don't have any advice and I'm not really the one who should be allowed to give it because I'm doing just as poorly with handling it. I know that. I see it in how Gwin and Frye look at me...in how you look at me."

Elma turned to Irina, the woman now wearing a faint smile.

"There it is. That's the look."

"Irina I…"

Closing her eyes, Elma took another long and deep breath.

"It's alright, Colonel. I get it, I really do."

Irina moved to sit next to Elma, their arms touching. On the floor of the team barracks, the pair appreciated the calm silence. The hour was either absurdly late or far too early, it didn't matter.

"I keep busy. I do everything I can because of the nightmares. It's the only thing I do that keeps them at bay."

Irina nodded.

"I'm the same...and I'm sure there are plenty of people in New Los Angeles dealing with it as best or as poorly as they can. It's hard to talk about it."

Elma sighed.

"As much as I know I should talk about it, I can't. Not yet. I can't afford to have anything pull my focus. Without the Lifehold Core nothing else matters. Even if she's alive out there, the moment the Core's power fails...she's gone too. I can't let that happen."

Elma made a move to stand, Irina placing her hand on top of Elma's and squeezing.

"It can wait. It can."

Irina smiled.

"Whatever is lurking in the dark for you, I'll be here to fight it off. It's the least I can do. Colonel."

Staring at her dear friend for a few moments, Elma understood what it is that she wanted from her and knew that it was the best thing she could do for herself.

Closing her eyes, Elma leaned back against the wall and allowed herself to rest. At her side, Irina remained alert and vigilant, prepared to deal with whatever came.


September 13th, 2060

The Prog Ares flew over a dense mountain range and a massive gaping volcano towards the other half of this new and strange region. A wide jungle stretched out below her, through the occasional breaks in the dense trees Elma could see dangerous chasms cutting through the earth, sheer drops led to deeper canyons below and all about were strange new creatures. Several looked to the Prog Ares with passing curiosity but most ignored it.

Elma couldn't afford to be distracted. Not now. Watching the Prog Ares simulation of the spear with rapt attention, Elma continued her flight towards her final destination. This had to be it. It had to be because Elma had no idea what she would do if it wasn't.

She hadn't slept for days, she was fairly certain she had been awake for two or three days straight before her encounter with the lizard Xenoforms.

After that battle, after her talk with Des Raiker and after the spear's analysis she'd been traveling without stopping. The sun was low and night would soon set in once more yet she kept going. She knew better than anyone that sleep helped maintain her Mimeosome's systems, skipping it was not encouraged especially after so many days and such an exhausting series of events, to say nothing of her rather liberal use of her body's Overdrive system. She needed rest. She needed to stop. She could hear Irina's voice as if the Lieutenant was at her side, repeating to her the same conversation they had so many years ago.

Would Irina be disappointed in her? Would she understand why she was doing this? Elma knew the answer to both those questions was yes. All she could do was promise the memory of Irina that she would rest.

But she needed to find Jaynix, first.

"It can wait."


"Still up, Colonel?"

Turning from the master controls, Elma spotted Kruse. The man waved at her before approaching. The pair stood within the Lifehold Core's management and resource center where it kept log of all its complex devices. Following the end of the conflict with the Ganglion, BLADE secured the Core and began the extensive process of determining the full extent of the damages the Core suffered after Starfall.

It was a vital task that no one could afford to put off, unfortunately whole sections of the Core including the most important human consciousness server room were impossible to access without heavy machinery, Elma's plan in the meantime was to look through the computers for any information on the Lifehold Core's status. However that also led her to similar roadblocks as many sections were offline due to heavy damage.

With a heavy sight Elma turned herself away from the computer to face Kruse.

"The crash did far more harm to the Core than I expected...to say nothing of the Ganglion's attempt to breach it."

Kruse crossed his arms as he stepped closer, Elma clearing her throat and explaining more about her work.

"I've been doing what I can to reroute power to other Core systems. Even beyond the debris and the collapsed hallways, there are a lot of jammed doors and inoperable computers...I can't seem to get into anything physically or digitally."

Kruse nodded.

"I'm in the same boat, at the very least I can tell that the Lifehold won't collapse. Despite the damage the Ganglion caused, it was built far more secure than anything else we have."

Despite the situation, Elma smiled.

"You aren't here to talk work, are you Kruse?"

He laughed before shaking his head.

"Then you're here to try and get me to rest. Right?"

After a brief silence, Kruse shrugged.

"That was the idea but I've been up just as long and doing far too much work. I can feel my Mimeosome overheating."

Elma chuckled.

"To think this would be what stumps us. Not a hostile allegiance of Xenoforms and their cult leader of a master but...technology."

Now standing next to Elma, Kruse began laughing.

"It's always been that way. Ever used a printer from the turn of the century? Those things are named for the one thing they don't do."

Elma shook her head.

"Why were you using one?"

Kruse shrugged.

"The why isn't important, all I'm saying is technology has always been a wall...maybe some rest will help us both deal with it."

"Maybe…"

Kruse cleared his throat.

"Besides...you haven't been in your Mimeosome for these last few days. I'm sure the exhaustion is hitting you harder than the rest of us."

Elma looked to Kruse, she couldn't deny the truth. After so many years separated from her flesh and blood body, she wanted to spend some time in it though she knew it made quite a few things...slower. She was no slouch when it came to calculations and mathematics, but a Mimeosome's fine tuned analytical systems helped immensely.

"I have more work tomorrow...or later today...whatever comes first. I can't rest."

"You sure it's not something you can put off?"

Elma took out her datapad and opened her schedule for tomorrow. The first thing she saw being the incredibly important order from Nagi to lead a secure and private team to the Consciousness Server Room. The blueprints for the Core were on display and a route was already plotted.

Looking through the list of BLADEs who would assist she found one odd name that seemed to have been pushed through by Eleonora.

"Elma?"

"It's nothing…"

Kruse smiled.

"You know, despite the late hours which are nothing new really, you've been...happier."

Elma turned to Kruse.

"Have I?"

"Yeah. Cause now you know she's safe too, right?"

Elma turned away, a small smile on her face.

"Safe may be a bit much given we don't know her condition let alone where she is but...yes. I'm happy to know she'll continue to function until I can find her."

"Then that's all that matters."

Kruse let out a long yawn.

"I think it's best I turn in...how about you?"

Elma looked at her datapad once more and the mission set for a few days from now.

"Yeah...that would be for the best."

Disengaging the master controls and shutting down the system Elma turned to see Kruse open the door and gesture. Exchanging smiles, the pair left the control room.


The Prog Ares' analysis of the spear's flight path was far longer than Elma had first expected. However, while the spear was made of Skell parts, the thruster that was used was one that propelled an entire Skell into the air. The spear barely accounted for the total mass of Firebird and so the one thruster was able to shoot the spear far far away which was exactly what Jaynix needed.

Leaning back in her seat Elma allowed the Ares to continue along the projected path on autopilot. Thinking about Jaynix made her reconsider her desire to put off sleeping. If this path did end at finding her friend would she really want to approach her while half asleep?

"Even years later, Irina and Kruse are still right."

Elma felt a faint smile form along her lips. Even still, she didn't want to oversleep so she decided to set an alarm within the Ares' tracking system.

"A nap should be enough. For now...an hour, maybe a bit more..."

Elma fell silent, thinking about the four years in which she had no idea where Jaynix was. Then the weeks of flying away from the Origin Continent. Now she could barely stand the idea of waiting another hour. She couldn't quite believe it and the very thought of it was enough to bring her to laughter.

All of a sudden, one hour felt like an entire day. Just like how she was struggling for four years with no hint as to where Jaynix could be, Jaynix was alone for four years. One hour to Jaynix may very well feel even longer. Or perhaps the time started to bleed together.

Elma's gaze moved to the horizon. Silence greeted her as it had since she left New Los Angeles. She didn't have much else to occupy herself with. The various summaries on the four years they spent on Mira were all done and fully edited. The most important reports she believed Jaynix would respond best to were moved forward and over a dozen apologies were typed up.

Elma had read Moby Dick front to back and understood why Constantine Voliff loved the story so much that he would attempt to introduce it to all of his comrades and research partners. Including his son. Kruse took to it with immense joy and from the way Go talks about the story, he enjoys it too.

"Three generations of wolves bound by one story…"

Elma's eyes traveled to the hardcover book lying amongst her other assorted supplies. She needed to thank Kruse for the gift, it was far more helpful than she ever thought it could be.

Closing her eyes, Elma thought that maybe she should read the book with Jaynix. The Corporal always laughed and waved it off when Kruse offered it but maybe a small story they could share would help whatever condition she found Jaynix in.

Something to bond with.

Something to reconnect.


"Elma."

The Colonel said nothing as she stepped into Jaynix's hospital room. The Lawless were gone. So was Benton. Elma couldn't think of anywhere to go next except here. She had a task to accomplish but she wanted to see Jaynix first. She had to.

"How are you feeling?"

Jaynix smiled.

"Better every day."

Elma nodded.

"Good. I'm sorry for coming by so late I just...I wanted to see you."

Elma moved towards the side of Jaynix's bed, pulling a chair forward before sitting down.

"Late? I didn't think that was something you were familiar with, Elma."

Letting out a long sigh, Elma shook her head.

"Come on, Jaynix. I just got here and you just woke up. I hear enough about my work and lack of a sleep schedule from Nagi and the Skelletons."

Jaynix smiled.

"I hear the same thing from my wife and the Reapers. Sorry."

Elma only shook her head, the apology was unnecessary but she was glad that Jaynix was women stared at one another for a long while, comfortable before Jaynix broke the silence. Her face growing serious.

"We never did talk about it...did we?"

Elma said nothing as Jaynix's gaze moved away from her.

"The attack on the apartment. How I responded."

"I know everything about it now, Jaynix. Everything about the Massacre. I always have but because of Kumon's desire to protect you...I never knew the full extent of how it affected you...until now."

Jaynix remained silent, not sure what to say.

"After what I saw that day...I've had these deep worries and concerns for you, Jaynix. I wish we'd been able to talk about this sooner. You're struggling with something I can't even imagine...but it's powerful. It's internal. It's mental. None of those things are good and none of those things should be faced alone."

Jaynix returned her gaze to Elma.

"I have Kumon. Lyla. Flame…"

A smile formed on Jaynix's face.

"...and you. I'm not alone."

Elma reached over, taking one of Jaynix's hands in her own.

"Whatever happens from this moment on I want you to know that I will do my best to help you. Support you. Stand by you. That's what friends are for, right?"

Jaynix laughed, a welcome sound.

"Thank you, Elma...for...well, for a lot of things. I should have told you about my parents. About the massacre. I should have told you all of that a long time ago...though I couldn't blame you if you chose to distance yourself from me because of it."

"Never. Distance is the last thing you need. If you had told me about this back then-"

"You and I would've been attached at the hip."

Elma smiled and nodded before her laughter filled the air as well. Sparing a glance at the clock, Elma noted the absurdly early hour of 3AM. Jaynix followed her line of sight, another laugh escaping her.

"Hopefully we aren't keeping anyone else up…"

"Hopefully…"

There was another comfortable silence, Jaynix looking down at her hand which Elma was holding. Turning it over, she interlocked her fingers with Elma and squeezed. Looking up, she found Elma staring at her already.

"Thank you…"

Elma smiled.

"No need, Jaynix...I'm just glad you're here. I should let you rest now."

"Get some rest yourself, Elma. You look like you need it even more than I do."

Thinking of the slip of paper in her pocket and the mission that she needed to protect, Elma let out a long and heavy sigh.

"Yeah...I definitely do."

Several minutes passed before the pair separated their hands. Elma stood up and bid Jaynix farewell and goodnight. Walking across the room towards the main door, Elma opened it to let herself out. Coming to a brief stop she looked back at Jaynix to find her eye closed.

As tired as she was, she stood up to have a conversation with Elma in her hour of need. She was strong.

Elma watched Jaynix sleep for a few moments before leaving the room. Determination in each step.


Elma's eyes shot open, startled awake by some foreign impact. Her Ares' alarm was registering an attack of some kind. Hands flying to the controls, Elma prepared to engage in battle. The Ares left its tracking mode and armed its weapons as the radar began scanning the dark skies all around it.

Elma watched and waited, ready to fire any of her weapons the moment something made contact, yet there was nothing there.

Elma refused to believe it, something struck the Ares and jolted her awake. The Ares would never release a false alarm and the Skell was more than capable of tracking heat signatures and noticing displacement on the off chance of invisible enemies. There were few things that could get the drop on her as long as the Ares was operating at full capacity.

Elma looked over to the spear trajectory which was still displayed, she could turn off the function temporarily but that idea did not sit right with her. Eyes moving to the clock, she noted that it's only been twenty minutes.

"Hardly a nap…"

Elma waited a few moments longer before engaging the Ares' autopilot once more and leaning back in her seat. Whatever was out there had gone. Perhaps it hit the Skell on accident and flew away. Elma had to believe that. She didn't want to waste any energy worrying about some foreign Indigen.

Jaynix was her primary concern. That was all that mattered. Everything else could wait. Elma prepared to close her eyes once more and finish her nap but the thought of flying into another Indigen, possibly a more hostile one prevented that.

With a silent curse, she leaned forward in her seat and watched the jungle pass by below her, the dark of night falling upon the land as far as the eye could see. Looking at the trees, cliffs and canyons slowly began to blend together before Elma felt herself leaning further forward, eyelids growing heavier.

Her sense of time and place faded, she wasn't sure when but at some point, the Ares jolted again. This time however, no alarms went off. Almost falling out of her seat, Elma looked around the displays trying to determine why the Ares stopped moving. Did she switch the autopilot off by accident while she was falling asleep? How long has it been?

Shaking her head, Elma checked the spear analysis to find that it had resolved. The Ares had reached the projected origin area of the spear.

Going over the Ares diagnostics once more, Elma nodded to herself before examining the area around her more closely. Dense gatherings of trees remained common, the jungle was massive. However not too far from her current position she could see some sort of clearing.

It could simply be the geography or perhaps some trees were cleared out for a small habitat. If any natives were here that would be hugely beneficial to tracking down Jaynix.

Then again, it was fortunate that Des Raiker's people were not malicious, simply cautious. She didn't want to count on stumbling into the good graces of another foreign people. Reaching for the hilt of her Tandem Blade, she let out a long breath before guiding the Ares towards the jungle below. She'd land at a decent distance from the clearing before disembarking and approaching on foot.

Assuming there were any lifeforms about she once again wanted to appear as non confrontational as possible. Despite the weariness she felt, or perhaps because of that weariness, she had to be absolutely ready. She didn't come this far to fail. She refused to.

Setting the Ares down, she once again took hold of the remote control before leaping out. Landing on the jungle floor she gave her surroundings another look, the trees and foliage seemed to be greatly overgrown. Long vines hung loose from some branches and wound tightly around several trees creating natural walls of sorts.

The moonlight cast a brilliant white glow on her surroundings, making the jungle look even more majestic and alien with strange stones along the floor seeming to light up in response to the dark of night.

The familiar yet strangely different sound of foreign insects filled the air, even on such a peaceful night it was clear that the jungle was teeming with life around her. Mira never ceased to fascinate her and she truly thought it a shame that even after four years, she hasn't found the time to truly take in everything that Mira has to offer.

It was a very different feel from the forests of Noctilum and Rendaelum, even Qlu was different from this.

Oddly enough, despite jungles being known for sweltering heat and given the proximity to the massive volcano to the south, it was not nearly as warm or humid as Elma expected. She was glad for that, the last thing she was sure Jaynix needed was to be surviving alone in some insufferable heat.

Then again maybe this was just the season, there were a lot of unknowns in regards to Mira's weather patterns beyond what humanity and their allies currently inhabited.

Elma took one step before realizing she forgot something rather important. Returning to her Ares' cockpit she grabbed one of the bags she had packed with every necessity for Mimeosome maintenance. If Jaynix was here, she would absolutely need this.

Locking the strap around her chest, Elma let out a long breath before she began walking towards the clearing and whatever laid in wait.

Tapping the hilt of her blade again, Elma smiled as she recalled the change. Two swords and two pistols were so familiar to her, she fought through the Ganglion with those trusty weapons at her side. Yet she always had to choose between a close encounter or a fight at range. She was capable of swapping quick enough and it helped to have allies to provide cover but there had to be a better way.

One of each at the same time was hard to grasp at first, but once she got the hang of it, she couldn't imagine going back.

The smile on Elma's face grew wider as she thought of the story, the construction of her Tandem Ether Blade and Pistol. That was a story she absolutely had to tell Jaynix and it was one she was certain that Jaynix would love simply because of the training aspect to it. Perhaps she should move that story up on the list of things to tell her.

Elma turned quickly upon hearing something rustle in the trees. Her sudden motion caused her to stumble, reaching out she steadied herself with the trunk of a nearby tree. Shaking her head she focused her vision on the ground below her, momentarily confused before realizing she really needed that rest.

"It can wait...it has to wait…"

That brief nap aboard the Ares did little to help her state, if anything it only reminded her body how much she needed the assistance. She was no stranger to staying up late but once the signal came to her two days later instead of a week, she found herself unable to get the necessary hours of sleep.

"Have I really been awake for five days?"

Realizing that, Elma found herself laughing. She could hear Irina and Kruse chastising her now. Even though the pair was well aware of their own poor sleep schedules.

Of course that didn't necessarily justify it given they'd readjusted following the final battle with the Remnants, everyone seemed to be living healthier lifestyles. Everyone except her.

"It can wait…"

Pushing herself off the tree, she resumed walking towards the clearing. Then she heard that strange rustle in the trees once more, looking up and tightening her grip on her weapon she found nothing.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed something moving amongst the darkness. She was not alone.

"Jaynix?"

Hand leaving her blade, Elma moved towards the spot where she had seen the movement. Just as she opened her mouth to call out, something shot out of the darkness, a loud piercing cry cut through the night as it emerged from the trees and slammed into Elma, throwing her across the jungle floor.

Rolling to her feet, Elma went for her blade as the creature came back around, a hooked claw of sorts taking hold of Elma's arm and pulling her up through the jungle canopy and into the skies above.

With the aid of the moonlight, Elma drew her blade, the ether lighting up her captor to reveal a massive winged Indigen. The creature was akin to some sort of monstrous bat with four wings, currently one of its bony clawed legs was holding onto Elma's arm.

She knew her first action would be a bad idea but she couldn't afford to be pulled away from her destination, slicing into the beast's leg, Elma tore herself free from its grasp and fell towards the ground.

Drawing her Ether Pistol she charged it up and fired at the rapidly approaching ground, the pulse slowed her descent, hitting the ground at a much safer speed.

The Indigen screeched in the night before shooting down towards her, Elma dove aside only for the beast's wings to extend and strike her. Falling to the floor she raised her blade as it neared her again, the face was wide, occupied by four glowing eyes and a gaping maw that was somehow too wide for its own face with a long tongue lashing out. Elma rolled to safety before getting to her feet and striking the side of the beast, searing into its flesh.

Rearing back the beast screeched before slamming itself into Elma, throwing her into a tree across the small clearing. Falling to her knees, Elma shook her head and tried to force herself to focus. The darkness combined with the beast's dark colors and her own exhaustion was making it hard to see.

The creature vanished into the shadows of the trees, leaves and vines rustling as it made its way through the night. Elma went for her Ares control just as the Indigen emerged from the trees once more. Charging forward, Elma buried her blade in its hide just as it slammed into her again.

As she fell to the ground the beast leapt up and reached for her with its clawed legs again. Aiming her pistol, she fired into its chest, causing it to pull back and screech.

Tearing her blade free from the creature's body she struck several times in rapid succession, burning through its skin and flesh, drawing out more screeching all the while charging her pistol.

The beast took to the skies, extending its four wings before diving towards Elma. Holding her gun forward she fired, the ether wave forced the beast's wings back and threw off its aim causing it to crash into the ground next to her.

Leaping into the air, Elma raised her blade high, prepared to bury it in the beast's body when something moved. Taken completely off guard, she could only watch as a second beast flew in from the darkness and struck her from the side, throwing her down to the jungle floor. Not only did Elma lose the grip on her blade but this impact tore the bag's strap causing it to fall elsewhere in the darkness.

Coughing, Elma struggled to her feet, watching as the dazed Indigen got up and flew into the air, the second one remained on the ground and began talking towards her.

She was putting so much effort into focusing on the one Indigen, she did not see the second one until it was too late. Cursing, she raised her pistol, the Indigen watching her and waiting.

Hearing a screech, Elma knew the first one was shooting towards her. If she avoided its attack, she knew the second one would take the opening.

"Think. Think."

She could almost hear Jaynix's voice yelling at her, nodding to herself, Elma aimed her gun off to the side and fired. The first Indigen missed as the pulse wave carried Elma across the clearing.

The second Indigen charged just as Elma picked up her blade, planting her feet firmly on the ground and skidding to a halt as the weapon lit up. The beast was right on top of her as she extended her blade, the weapon cutting right into the Indigen's head as its body collided with her.

The Indigen fell dead on top of Elma, the first one screeching before charging in. Pistol at the ready, Elma fired a powerful wave to push the corpse off of her, standing up and narrowly avoiding the first Indigen's charge only for its wings to clip her once again.

Stumbling back, Elma shook her head and yelled at herself as the Indigen leapt off of a tree, extending its wings and ramming into Elma, sending her rolling across the ground and into another tree.

The beast whirled back around and struck the tree, the trunk snapping as it fell over. Overdrive flowing through her body, Elma jumped to safety as the tree collapsed.

The Indigen shot back at her once more, Elma flipping high over it, her blade slicing its back open as it slammed head first into another tree which collapsed on top of it.

Landing, Elma turned to see the beast struggling to escape it's pinned position. Walking over to it, Elma raised her blade high and yelled as she buried it deep in the Indigen's flesh. Moments later, it's limbs fell still.

Stumbling away from the creature Elma fell to the jungle floor, breathing heavily and cursing at herself for not being aware enough to see it coming.

Looking up at the night sky she couldn't imagine how much of a horrible joke it would be to die right here. Right as she was about to find Jaynix. Or at least, as she believed she was going to. There was no time for thoughts like that. Searching herself for her Ares' remote control, she found that it was missing. Sitting upright abruptly, she searched again and again but it was simply not on her.

Either the beast's first strike knocked it out of her grasp or she dropped it while it carried her, either way, it was gone.

Elma was too tired to express the rage and frustration she felt for a brief moment, instead coughing before forcing herself to her feet. Returning her weapons to their places she pulled out her datapad and had it point her back towards the Ares.

Shaking her head, she examined her surroundings, she could barely make out the ruined bag which luckily didn't fall open. The contents were safe and secure though possibly a little rough up.

Picking the bag up, Elma checked her datapad before she continued stumbling through the jungle. She needed to get back to the Ares. To the clearing. To the place where she believed with all her heart that Jaynix would be.


"As you can see fair Elma, the state of your room is perfection!"

Elma looked around her bedroom, she had to admit that L's handiwork was incredibly thorough. She was far from a disorganized person, she prided herself on her cleanliness at times but L made the place look immaculate.

"Think you can work this magic on Frye and Gwin's room?"

L laughed.

"I have given it as they say, a fair attempt, but they enjoy the chaos far more than I have the waiting time for."

"You mean the patience?"

"As I said!"

Elma shook her head.

"Of course. Thank you, L."

"Perhaps you would fancy a short retire upon your softest of beds."

Elma placed a hand on L's arm.

"I appreciate the help, I really do. But I've got a lot of work to do, L. I can rest later."

"I think not fair Colonel. I'm not one to be, how you say, shovey but-"

"It's alright, L. I'll be fine."

Patting his arm, Elma turned and left her room. Reaching the holographic table she began to open the necessary screens to take a look at her tasks for the rest of the day. And for tomorrow. Only to find herself unable to access them.

"L. If you wouldn't mind giving me another hand."

"L can't help with that."

Looking up, Elma spotted Frye, arms crossed and a proud smirk on his face.

"Frye. What did you do?"

The man held his hands up in surrender.

"WE didn't do anything bad."

"We?"

Frye approached, gesturing for L to join him.

"See, Elma. We all know how much the formation of the Remnants have thrown off your personal plans. Her."

"Frye…"

"But you need to take a breath, we need to tackle this problem bit by bit. Badul's smart, tactical, everything that Luxxar wasn't so this fight isn't gonna go down the same way."

L cleared his throat.

"Thoroughly untrue Fryer. This battle will end in our victory as the last did! I guarantee it!"

Frye chuckled.

"L's right. We'll win. But we gotta focus on ourselves or whatever it is Boze says."

Elma sighed.

"What does locking me out of my work do to help our fight against Badul?"

Frye moved over to Elma, opening a window and entering a code.

"I didn't lock you out. I convinced Kruse to do it and then he, Irina and Gwin have been handling your tasks all over BLADE. Residential, Administrative, Commercial, they've got it all covered."

Elma looked to see her tasks all marked off by Kruse, Irina and Gwin's BLADE IDs. Smiling in spite of herself, Elma looked to Frye.

"You really want me to take a rest, don't you?"

"We all do, Elma. We don't really want to force you but you haven't given us much choice."

Elma looked from Frye to L who was simply nodding, aggressively.

"I just...I want this done. I want to find her. I need to find her."

Frye moved closer.

"We know. We believe in you, Elma. You believe in her. We're not gonna stop until she's home. But let's face it, we do our best work when we're at our best, physically. Right?"

Frye stood there, waiting for Elma's answer as she looked down at her tasks, one more being marked off by Irina. With a wave of her hand she closed all of the screens.

"I appreciate the effort...I'd hate for my...nightmares to ruin all the work you've put into this. All of you."

Frye nodded.

"I'd hate that too...but there is nothing we can do about that. You've been talking to Hope right? Not skipping sessions?"

Elma sighed.

"I can't keep putting my problems on Hope."

"She was Jaynix's physical therapist back on Earth, Elma. She was around Jaynix during one of her most vulnerable moments, I'm sure Jaynix talked to Hope about...private things that she'd share with you."

Frye watched Elma smile.

"You really don't understand patient confidentiality do you?"

"I do...but that is privileged information to Jaynix. Or her family. Believe it or not, Jaynix still has family. Us."

Elma looked away from Frye, tapping her fingers along the table and thinking.

"Just a few days Elma, then we'll go kick Badul's ass."

Taking a deep breath, Elma faced Frye once more.

"Alright. I won't take all of your effort and concern for granted. Frye. L. Thank you. Make sure to tell Irina, Gwin and Kruse the same."

L nodded before holding two thumbs up.

"We shall at once fair Colonel!"

Elma and Frye exchanged one more look before Elma made her way to her room while Frye and L left the barracks.

Despite the many nights plagued by the failures and responsibilities she couldn't uphold, this night with the caring and concern of her close friends, her family. She found peace.


The dead of night was filled with the croaking and chirping of alien insects, the trees and vines rustled with a passing breeze and every broken branch pulled Elma's attention as she continued stumbling through the pitch black jungle.

Adjusting her Mimeosome's eyes to allow her to see in the dark only made it clearer to her how far the Indigen had carried her before she tore free of its grasp.

What were the odds of falling prey to some new creature? If Elma had been well rested she knew she would've been able to avoid it's surprise attack. She would have dealt with it in moments and been on her way to find Jaynix, instead she was following her Ares' signal back to where she let it rest.

The clearing was directly east of the Ares and beyond that was most likely wherever Jaynix had landed. She was close. Closer than ever.

In the darkness, Elma found herself whispering.

"It can wait."

Over and over again, in the shadows of the trees she could see the concerned faces of her team following the end of the campaign against the Remnants.

Free of imminent threats, BLADE had changed its focus from offense to foundation, building up and expanding not just NLA but humanity's presence on Mira leading to the eventual construction of NLA Units 2 & 3 as well as the three port towns in Primordia, Oblivia and Noctilum.

Elma remembered those days far less fondly than everyone else did because while the majority of BLADE was set on Project Expansion and Civilization along with their Xenoform allies, Elma dedicated her entire being into finding Jaynix.

Irina, Gwin, Frye, Kruse and L were with her every step of the way as they had been during both conflicts and the short period of rest in between.

Stumbling forward, Elma reached out into the darkness, her hand making contact with a large tree, sliding off some sort of slick substance which caused her to fall over. Lying on the ground, Elma looked up through the jungle canopy at the brilliant night sky.

She was sure she'd felt this exhausted at least once before, Elma had an intense anger and hatred for Badul the One Eyed. The Lifehold was recovered, the Ganglion were defeated and finally she could focus on finding Jaynix. Yet four months later, Badul and his Remnants arose to destroy everything she'd sacrificed so much for. He ruined all her plans.

Closing her eyes, Elma tried to push those memories away. She had given in to the same hatred that drove Jaynix to destroy the Lawless and kill Lao. Recalling what she did during that campaign brought to mind someone so unfamiliar to her as well as the concerned looks of her team.

To say it was a dark time was an understatement. It was a story Elma hoped that she would never tell Jaynix but perhaps it was one that Jaynix needed to hear the most.

Elma was not infallible, she'd known this for decades and tried to tell everyone else that she was just as capable of making mistakes as they were. She only wished the mistakes she made didn't leave such horrifying results.

Yet for every outburst, Gwin and Irina were her strength, Frye showed the compassion someone with a younger sibling would show, Kruse used all his wisdom for her in whatever way he could and L did his best to bring a smile to her face.

They raised her up and pushed her through that darkness.

Forcing herself to her feet Elma took a deep breath.

"It can wait…"

Turning, she resumed her walk towards the Ares. Hearing a twig snap, Elma spun back around and drew her blade, the weapon igniting as a creature flew away.

Whatever it was, it was far smaller than the ones that assaulted her and made no move to return.

Putting her weapon away, Elma continued walking as a faint smile formed on her face. Despite everything, there was this impossible idea that if she should fall here, someone would come to her rescue.

Jaynix would.

The ultimate irony of leaving NLA alone in search of someone who's been missing for four years with the intention of bringing them home. Saving them. Only to be saved by them.

At this point, Elma didn't care. If it brought Jaynix back to her, she would be fine with whatever happened.

Breaking through the thick trees and foliage, Elma looked upon the familiar form of her Prog Ares, kneeling on the jungle floor and glowing in the moonlight.

The sight brought a surge of joy to her as she moved towards it and placed a hand on the body. Turning her head slowly she looked upon the trees before her, the thick lines steadily growing sparse until they led to some wider space. She could barely make out the shapes beyond it, her night vision failing.

Tapping the side of her head, Elma cursed before drawing her blade. The ether shell's light barely broke through the all encompassing darkness around her but it was better than nothing. She couldn't stop now.

"It can wait…"

Stepping forward she felt as if she was floating in midair. It was a strange, comforting feeling. She felt warm and at peace. She didn't even realize she had fallen over, lying on the ground and unmoving she felt like she was in the softest bed.

Eyelids growing heavy she whispered to herself.

"It can wait."

Closing her eyes, she lost grip on her blade, the weapon falling out of her hands and deactivating. In the dead of night, in a deep vast jungle, in an unknown region, on the far side of Mira. Elma finally fell asleep.