Black Feather: Episode VIII
"What Ravens Dream"
Global Cortex Surface Base, Branch GC-05
2:16 a.m., 03/07
"Ravens!? What the hell possessed you to want to become one of those freaks!?"
"Damnit, Dad!! It's my life and that's what I want to do!!"
"Dear... Please calm down..."
"It's no use Carla. If he wants to ruin his life in that... WAR MACHINE, then that's fine. Like he said, it's his life. Go ahead, son... go kill yourself!!"
"Hmph."
"Go on. Get outta here!!!"
Young Qastor briskly walked out of the house, leaving it in disarray. Angry tears ripped down from his reddening eyes. Fake stars glittered the artificial night sky.
"And don't come back!! YOU'RE NOT WELCOME IN THIS HOUSE ANYMORE!!! YOU HEAR ME!!??"
A bitter departing indeed. But, that was only 6 years ago.
"You never know who or what you have until they're gone." This was one phrase Qastor would never forget.
The Controller malfunctioned; its forces attempted to eradicate all of Layered. His entire family lived in one city sector, which was destroyed by The Controller.
Qastor was all alone again, and he didn't know until 4 years later. His piloting skills increased after finding out. He trained constantly to forget his family... his father. But, most of all, to forget his pain. It was during this time that he met THE Raven. The Raven that took down The Controller and brought upon the people of Layered a new chance to start over. This Raven had no name, no past, but he was a model Raven. Cool, collected, and calm, it seemed as if very little could shake his will.
This Raven sat in the benches during one of Qastor's training sessions. It was an hour later that Qastor noticed him. He escaped from the confines of his rudimentary AC.
"Uh... You... were watching everything?"
"Yes, and I must say, I'm impressed. You're quite skilled for an amateur Raven. What's your name, young man?"
"It's Qastor. What's yours?"
"You know what? I don't really have a name."
"What should I call you, then?"
"Hmm, how about... 'Rey Vyn'...? That sound good?"
"Good enough, I guess. So, what are you doing here?"
"Oh, I just come here to think. I received a lot of publicity after "that," so I just come here to be alone."
"That?"
"Yeah, you know. The Controller and all that." He was impassioned when he spoke this.
"Oh~! You're THE Raven! I... uh, didn't notice." Young Qastor scratched the back of his head.
"That's okay. I admit, I enjoyed talking to someone without a request for my autograph. Now, tell me Qastor, what made you want to become a Raven?"
"I'm not sure... I just wanted to make a difference in the world. Unlike my father..."
"Your father?"
"Yeah, he's this 'all-talk no-action' kind of guy."
"You have a grudge against him or something?"
"No, I left my family."
"You should value what you have. Of course, I never had a family, let alone know if I even had one to start with. I missed out a lot of things in life, and I know I can't do anything about it..." He paused for a short while. "Say, tell me something... What's your dream?"
"Me? I... don't really have one. I just let things come their way and I'll figure out how to deal with them then..." Young Qastor turned back to Rey Vyn. "What's your dream, Rey?"
"Well, I've always knew there was a surface somehow... That feeling, you know? And I always knew, that somewhere in that upper paradise, is a family waiting for me. I want to search, but I can't just leave everything behind. So, I come here to think about it."
"That's amazing, Rey. Wish I had big dreams..." Young Qastor's gaze gloomily dropped to the floor, his smile relaxing into a straight, bittersweet line.
"But, you're right. Just let things come together. Maybe then you'll find what you're looking for all this time, even if you didn't know it. Be patient." Rey Vyn encouraged Qastor with a lifting voice.
"I will... I never had big dreams, but you should really pursue what you're looking for, Rey. It's worth it, even if you leave everything behind, right?"
"You got a point there. I'll keep that in mind...... mind......... mind................ mi.......... nd......" Rey Vyn's words echoed into the darkness of a dream.
That was the first time Qastor met Rey Vyn. The next day, Rey Vyn was reported missing, but Qastor had a hunch as to where he went. He also found 1,000,000c left to him in his monetary account and a platinum ring at his door. The ring was sturdy, shimmering, and a flying raven kept vigil on the front. Behind the raven was an etched name, "Rey Vyn."
Qastor wore Rey Vyn's keepsake everyday, but never showed it to anyone. Except Iris. Malirant might have caught a glance at it, but he's not a big fan of jewelry, so he never inquired about it.
__________________________
Qastor awoke early the next day. He gorged a large breakfast, since he had little to eat yesterday. He cordially refunded the cashier. Checking up on the Arena availability charts, he noticed Gaidoz was taken off the list.
"Aw, yeah. I almost forgot." Malirant had an uncanny ability to appear out of nowhere. Despite his large figure, he carried himself more gracefully than most would expect. "Gaidoz just broke off from the Arena this mornin'. Good news, eh?"
"Huh... Why'd he do that?" Qastor was fixed upon the screen as always.
"Said he was getting' too old for this kind of thing, so he quit."
"I see..." They both remained silent until...
"Hey, look. Vulture's available. Why not take 'em on now?" Malirant's plump index finger pointed at the screen.
Qastor took a look at the specs. Vulture's AC, Scavenger, was a mid-heavy reverse-joint AC with two light grenade launchers and dual arm missile launchers.
"Got some free time, don't ya? I'll be waitin' fer your victory when I come back."
"You're going somewhere?"
"Yep, Sphere offered me a mission. The mission contact guy just left, so there's no rush." Malirant's beamed a wide smile. Qastor sent the challenge to Vulture, which was immediately accepted.
"I'm looking forward to our private duel." Qastor turned around. A frail, tall man came into view.
"Uh... Vulture!" He was behind him the entire time on another availability chart.
"Let's see... The Arena will suffice. How does noon sound?" Vulture spoke confidently, as if Qastor was just another pushover.
"Yeah, noon. Sounds... good."
"Better not be late." Vulture exited the lobby.
"Noon huh... That's..." Qastor looked at his watch. "FIVE MINUTES!!!" It was 11:55 a.m.
"Get 'em good, man!" Malirant slightly waved as Qastor shot out of the lobby.
Qastor sprinted to the Arena registrar, dodging people as he rushed, his numerous apologies returned to those he impacted upon.
"Pilot Vulture is on standby in the Arena. Pilot Qastor, please report to Arena registrar GCA-N/RE-00." The message echoed throughout the hallways. Qastor scoffed with embarrassment.
"Damn, he's fast!" He arrived at the registrar and signed in with active haste.
"AC Xanthippius has been moved to the Arena paddock. Pilot Qastor, please report to Arena paddock GCA-N/PD-00."
No need to rush. The paddock was a short way from the registrar. Nevertheless, Qastor jogged. In a glass hallway near in the Arena, Scavenger was visible. A towering gray and white reverse-joint, with a vibrant pink head. He might have chuckled to himself at the sight of such an AC, but he kept it down, for looks are just looks and only skill mattered in the Arena.
Qastor next found himself inside Xanthippius' cockpit, with Scavenger clearly in his view.
"What Ravens Dream"
Global Cortex Surface Base, Branch GC-05
2:16 a.m., 03/07
"Ravens!? What the hell possessed you to want to become one of those freaks!?"
"Damnit, Dad!! It's my life and that's what I want to do!!"
"Dear... Please calm down..."
"It's no use Carla. If he wants to ruin his life in that... WAR MACHINE, then that's fine. Like he said, it's his life. Go ahead, son... go kill yourself!!"
"Hmph."
"Go on. Get outta here!!!"
Young Qastor briskly walked out of the house, leaving it in disarray. Angry tears ripped down from his reddening eyes. Fake stars glittered the artificial night sky.
"And don't come back!! YOU'RE NOT WELCOME IN THIS HOUSE ANYMORE!!! YOU HEAR ME!!??"
A bitter departing indeed. But, that was only 6 years ago.
"You never know who or what you have until they're gone." This was one phrase Qastor would never forget.
The Controller malfunctioned; its forces attempted to eradicate all of Layered. His entire family lived in one city sector, which was destroyed by The Controller.
Qastor was all alone again, and he didn't know until 4 years later. His piloting skills increased after finding out. He trained constantly to forget his family... his father. But, most of all, to forget his pain. It was during this time that he met THE Raven. The Raven that took down The Controller and brought upon the people of Layered a new chance to start over. This Raven had no name, no past, but he was a model Raven. Cool, collected, and calm, it seemed as if very little could shake his will.
This Raven sat in the benches during one of Qastor's training sessions. It was an hour later that Qastor noticed him. He escaped from the confines of his rudimentary AC.
"Uh... You... were watching everything?"
"Yes, and I must say, I'm impressed. You're quite skilled for an amateur Raven. What's your name, young man?"
"It's Qastor. What's yours?"
"You know what? I don't really have a name."
"What should I call you, then?"
"Hmm, how about... 'Rey Vyn'...? That sound good?"
"Good enough, I guess. So, what are you doing here?"
"Oh, I just come here to think. I received a lot of publicity after "that," so I just come here to be alone."
"That?"
"Yeah, you know. The Controller and all that." He was impassioned when he spoke this.
"Oh~! You're THE Raven! I... uh, didn't notice." Young Qastor scratched the back of his head.
"That's okay. I admit, I enjoyed talking to someone without a request for my autograph. Now, tell me Qastor, what made you want to become a Raven?"
"I'm not sure... I just wanted to make a difference in the world. Unlike my father..."
"Your father?"
"Yeah, he's this 'all-talk no-action' kind of guy."
"You have a grudge against him or something?"
"No, I left my family."
"You should value what you have. Of course, I never had a family, let alone know if I even had one to start with. I missed out a lot of things in life, and I know I can't do anything about it..." He paused for a short while. "Say, tell me something... What's your dream?"
"Me? I... don't really have one. I just let things come their way and I'll figure out how to deal with them then..." Young Qastor turned back to Rey Vyn. "What's your dream, Rey?"
"Well, I've always knew there was a surface somehow... That feeling, you know? And I always knew, that somewhere in that upper paradise, is a family waiting for me. I want to search, but I can't just leave everything behind. So, I come here to think about it."
"That's amazing, Rey. Wish I had big dreams..." Young Qastor's gaze gloomily dropped to the floor, his smile relaxing into a straight, bittersweet line.
"But, you're right. Just let things come together. Maybe then you'll find what you're looking for all this time, even if you didn't know it. Be patient." Rey Vyn encouraged Qastor with a lifting voice.
"I will... I never had big dreams, but you should really pursue what you're looking for, Rey. It's worth it, even if you leave everything behind, right?"
"You got a point there. I'll keep that in mind...... mind......... mind................ mi.......... nd......" Rey Vyn's words echoed into the darkness of a dream.
That was the first time Qastor met Rey Vyn. The next day, Rey Vyn was reported missing, but Qastor had a hunch as to where he went. He also found 1,000,000c left to him in his monetary account and a platinum ring at his door. The ring was sturdy, shimmering, and a flying raven kept vigil on the front. Behind the raven was an etched name, "Rey Vyn."
Qastor wore Rey Vyn's keepsake everyday, but never showed it to anyone. Except Iris. Malirant might have caught a glance at it, but he's not a big fan of jewelry, so he never inquired about it.
__________________________
Qastor awoke early the next day. He gorged a large breakfast, since he had little to eat yesterday. He cordially refunded the cashier. Checking up on the Arena availability charts, he noticed Gaidoz was taken off the list.
"Aw, yeah. I almost forgot." Malirant had an uncanny ability to appear out of nowhere. Despite his large figure, he carried himself more gracefully than most would expect. "Gaidoz just broke off from the Arena this mornin'. Good news, eh?"
"Huh... Why'd he do that?" Qastor was fixed upon the screen as always.
"Said he was getting' too old for this kind of thing, so he quit."
"I see..." They both remained silent until...
"Hey, look. Vulture's available. Why not take 'em on now?" Malirant's plump index finger pointed at the screen.
Qastor took a look at the specs. Vulture's AC, Scavenger, was a mid-heavy reverse-joint AC with two light grenade launchers and dual arm missile launchers.
"Got some free time, don't ya? I'll be waitin' fer your victory when I come back."
"You're going somewhere?"
"Yep, Sphere offered me a mission. The mission contact guy just left, so there's no rush." Malirant's beamed a wide smile. Qastor sent the challenge to Vulture, which was immediately accepted.
"I'm looking forward to our private duel." Qastor turned around. A frail, tall man came into view.
"Uh... Vulture!" He was behind him the entire time on another availability chart.
"Let's see... The Arena will suffice. How does noon sound?" Vulture spoke confidently, as if Qastor was just another pushover.
"Yeah, noon. Sounds... good."
"Better not be late." Vulture exited the lobby.
"Noon huh... That's..." Qastor looked at his watch. "FIVE MINUTES!!!" It was 11:55 a.m.
"Get 'em good, man!" Malirant slightly waved as Qastor shot out of the lobby.
Qastor sprinted to the Arena registrar, dodging people as he rushed, his numerous apologies returned to those he impacted upon.
"Pilot Vulture is on standby in the Arena. Pilot Qastor, please report to Arena registrar GCA-N/RE-00." The message echoed throughout the hallways. Qastor scoffed with embarrassment.
"Damn, he's fast!" He arrived at the registrar and signed in with active haste.
"AC Xanthippius has been moved to the Arena paddock. Pilot Qastor, please report to Arena paddock GCA-N/PD-00."
No need to rush. The paddock was a short way from the registrar. Nevertheless, Qastor jogged. In a glass hallway near in the Arena, Scavenger was visible. A towering gray and white reverse-joint, with a vibrant pink head. He might have chuckled to himself at the sight of such an AC, but he kept it down, for looks are just looks and only skill mattered in the Arena.
Qastor next found himself inside Xanthippius' cockpit, with Scavenger clearly in his view.