Black Feather: Episode XXXXIII
"Qain's Aurora"
Global Cortex Surface Base, Western Dormitory Branch GCWC-WD/S-05
9:51 a.m., 03/23
...It's the truth...
[...What?]
...The real Qastor died one year ago...
[...How could that be...?]
...There are only a limited number of possibilities in this world... However, with Omnis/Anima, there is no limit...
[...What are you saying...?]
...Perhaps Omnis/Anima had something to do with this...?
[...That's nonsense...]
...That's what you think, but one thing's for sure... Whatever, or whoever brought you back, or brought you here, needed a savior badly...
[...Your point...?]
...It looks like you're the link between destiny and humankind... FATE has created a niche especially for you in its immense hall of life and history... If you're gone, then who will take your place...?
[...There are plenty of Ravens out there better than I am...]
...That may be true, but how many of them possess Omnis? How many of them are willing to sacrifice themselves for the continuation of life?
[...]
...That's right...
[...You still haven't told me who you are...]
...All in good time, Qastor. You must realize, that everything in this world has its own time... I'll show you another...
[...Not again...]
"...Qastor...?"
"...Uurrgh...?"
"What are you doing here...?"
[...What in the world...?]
"You shouldn't be sitting on the sidewalk out here this late..."
"...Uagh..."
"Are you alright...?"
[...I... I sort of remember... I never knew how I ended up there... sitting on the sidewalk... under a flickering street light... out in the dark, empty street... Iris had spotted me from her car... I guess she just got back from grocery shopping...]
"Let's get back to base, Qastor..."
[...Iris... She helped me into her car... I didn't know what I was feeling then... It was as if I was... an infant...]
"Be careful... you don't look so well... There..."
[...She... she helped me get into bed... I felt horrible, since a massive amount of information streamed into my brain... My head ached and throbbed... I... These... memories...? Iris took the chair from the desk and sat by my side for the rest of the night... She must've fallen asleep, but I... I didn't... I was being tortured by memories... memories of pain and anguish... lonely memories... I felt like screaming aloud, but something held me back from awakening Iris... It was almost morning when I dozed off... And when I awoke... I was... myself again...]
...No... you weren't drunk or anything like that... You were an empty vessel... waiting to be filled with a soul... That night... in bed... you were granted one... one that was... already used...
[...What's this feeling...?]
...You're waking up...
[...If you're right, then how come this is the first time I've felt like this...?]
...Perhaps this must be the first time you're aware of your sub- consciousness... But, if that's so, then... You're getting closer to the truth each time you come here...
[...The... truth...?]
...Yes... the truth... who you really are... Are you really Qastor...? Are you really the one who met Iris two years ago in that cherry blossom garden...? Were you the one who heard the shrine bells strike in the high winds of the hill...? Were you the one who died with the feathers of heaven and hell in your dead hand...? Are you...
...the one Iris fell in love with...?
_____________________________
Title: Mission Request Sender: Lucifer
"After stealing vital data from one of Sphere's labs, we've obtained schematics of their new main fortress. From the looks of it, it is a floating city high above Jormungand Landing. We plan to attack tonight, as a strategy has already been conceived. I am asking you, as a client, to participate in this crucial operation. Your presence will increase our chances of succeeding in finally putting Sphere out of the corporate war indefinitely. I've prepared a substantial reward in compensation for your participation. Please check your mission queue."
"P.S.: Your AC part should arrive today. It is a prototype tri-barrel rifle, newly developed by Kisaragi. Also, I won't be able to hold a contract conference personally, so an electronic contract will be available upon accepting the mission."
-END MESSAGE-
Qastor checked his mission queue, only to find one mission available. He skipped the briefing and immediately accepted the contract. A fair transfer of credits was added to his rest of funds. He decided to recruit Iris and Rose for the mission.
"What am I doing...?" He despised working with Lucifer, but as a Raven, he had no choice...
He closed his laptop and leaned back on his chair. His bed was unmade, its sheets in wrinkled disarray and the flaccid blanket lie folded upon itself. Qastor strolled over to the window, waving the curtains away, and lifting the light shutters. He relished in the fresh breeze, allowing it to stroke through his hair. His new dormitory overlooked the courtyard, with an immaculate fountain in the center and spring-stout trees conversing in the brilliance of the sun. His stomach growled. Qastor grinned and was just about to shut the window when he spotted Iris and Rose strolling down an open hallway. Figuring that he'd need to talk to them about the mission, he'd have breakfast with them. He lightly pushed the shutter down and left the curtains to welcome sunlight into the room.
_____________________________
"...I just accepted a mission from Lucifer, and I was wondering if you two could be my consorts?" Qastor blurted the request after gulping down the last of his cereal oats. He drew a slip of gum from his pocket and proceeded to chew it.
"Isn't Lucifer that guy from..." Rose wanted to make sure.
"Yeah. That's him."
"I dunno... Depends on how much I get paid..." Rose jested and said she'd be happy to accompany him. Qastor turned to Iris, who replied with an affirming smile. He tossed the disposable bowl in a nearby trash container, gave Iris a quick cheek kiss, and rushed to the transport area to greet his new AC part.
Iris looked on while Qastor when went about his way, while Rose looked at Iris in a funny way.
"When did you two..."
"Two nights ago..." Rose nodded in affirmation, with a hint of jocosity. Iris eyes wandered to the skies. It's felt like a long time since things returned to normal. But, in fact, they weren't. Malirant's whereabouts and Sphere's next move itched at the back of Iris' mind, not to mention where and what the so-called Rey Vyn will do next. Nevertheless, Iris turned back to Rose and inquired if she would like to go shopping.
_____________________________
Qastor, arms akimbo, looked on as his new AC part was being unloaded, as well as other cargo. Some traffic officers were guiding the descent of the part with glowing traffic bars. He noticed the pilot running toward him with a clipboard.
"Sir! Are you..." The pilot glanced at the clipboard. "...Mr. Qastor?"
"Is that your final answer?"
"Huh? Excuse me?"
"Nevermind. Lemme see it." The pilot handed Qastor the clipboard as the cargo container holding the part was detached from the pulley.
KWG-3XRF-660
Manufacturer: Kisaragi
Type: Triple Rifle
Price: 99000c
Weight: 350
Energy Drain: 11
Weapon Lock: Wide and Shallow
Attack Power: 274
Ammo Heat: 161
Range: 520
Maximum Lock : 1
Reload Time: 21
Number of Ammo: 600
Ammo Type: Solid
Ammo Price: 34
Usage Drain: -
Description:
"Destructive triple barrel rifle with linear shot path. Versatile, light, and compatible prototype."
Qastor called up the chief mechanic, requesting that the old rifle be replaced by the new one. The container split open, revealing a sturdy, bluish-gray rifle, with three triangularly-aligned barrels at the end. A loading vehicle carried the rifle to the assembly chamber. He handed the clipboard back to the pilot and glanced about the horizon. He glanced about the area. Multiple transport planes and vehicles were being loaded and unloaded. Returning planes landed and outgoing ones lifted off. There was a line of idle worker MTs assembled in the outskirts. Far way, a structure was being built by construction MTs, cranes, cement trucks, etc. But, what caught Qastor's eye was...
Streaks of slight lucent ruby settled low in the far sky. An omen...?
Qastor shook his head and wiped his nose a bit, walking back to the hangar.
_____________________________
That night, the bloody streaks, still present, radiated with insanity behind the mountains, pervading through the low horizon. It slightly transfixed Qastor as he made his way up into the transport. The ACs were already loaded into the on-board hangar. Thin manacles held the ACs in place. Iris and Rose had already ensconced themselves into the plane, but Qastor was still on the loading staircase, gripping the railing tightly. His heart performed a tremolo.
"Qastor? Is there something wrong?" Iris peeped from the doorway. Qastor turned to Iris with a fake, jocose expression.
"Nothing. Just taking in the breeze, that's all." He gave a reassuring smile and Iris returned to her seat. Qastor gave on last glimpse at the reddening wounds in the night. He staggered a little up into the passenger cabin.
The plane came to life and the loading staircase was rolled away by a ground crewman. Qastor sensed acceleration. Iris comforted him by holding hands. The thought of Rey Vyn imprecated his being. He'd been very quiet lately... Too quiet...
Ominous skies bleed a crimson night...
"Qain's Aurora"
Global Cortex Surface Base, Western Dormitory Branch GCWC-WD/S-05
9:51 a.m., 03/23
...It's the truth...
[...What?]
...The real Qastor died one year ago...
[...How could that be...?]
...There are only a limited number of possibilities in this world... However, with Omnis/Anima, there is no limit...
[...What are you saying...?]
...Perhaps Omnis/Anima had something to do with this...?
[...That's nonsense...]
...That's what you think, but one thing's for sure... Whatever, or whoever brought you back, or brought you here, needed a savior badly...
[...Your point...?]
...It looks like you're the link between destiny and humankind... FATE has created a niche especially for you in its immense hall of life and history... If you're gone, then who will take your place...?
[...There are plenty of Ravens out there better than I am...]
...That may be true, but how many of them possess Omnis? How many of them are willing to sacrifice themselves for the continuation of life?
[...]
...That's right...
[...You still haven't told me who you are...]
...All in good time, Qastor. You must realize, that everything in this world has its own time... I'll show you another...
[...Not again...]
"...Qastor...?"
"...Uurrgh...?"
"What are you doing here...?"
[...What in the world...?]
"You shouldn't be sitting on the sidewalk out here this late..."
"...Uagh..."
"Are you alright...?"
[...I... I sort of remember... I never knew how I ended up there... sitting on the sidewalk... under a flickering street light... out in the dark, empty street... Iris had spotted me from her car... I guess she just got back from grocery shopping...]
"Let's get back to base, Qastor..."
[...Iris... She helped me into her car... I didn't know what I was feeling then... It was as if I was... an infant...]
"Be careful... you don't look so well... There..."
[...She... she helped me get into bed... I felt horrible, since a massive amount of information streamed into my brain... My head ached and throbbed... I... These... memories...? Iris took the chair from the desk and sat by my side for the rest of the night... She must've fallen asleep, but I... I didn't... I was being tortured by memories... memories of pain and anguish... lonely memories... I felt like screaming aloud, but something held me back from awakening Iris... It was almost morning when I dozed off... And when I awoke... I was... myself again...]
...No... you weren't drunk or anything like that... You were an empty vessel... waiting to be filled with a soul... That night... in bed... you were granted one... one that was... already used...
[...What's this feeling...?]
...You're waking up...
[...If you're right, then how come this is the first time I've felt like this...?]
...Perhaps this must be the first time you're aware of your sub- consciousness... But, if that's so, then... You're getting closer to the truth each time you come here...
[...The... truth...?]
...Yes... the truth... who you really are... Are you really Qastor...? Are you really the one who met Iris two years ago in that cherry blossom garden...? Were you the one who heard the shrine bells strike in the high winds of the hill...? Were you the one who died with the feathers of heaven and hell in your dead hand...? Are you...
...the one Iris fell in love with...?
_____________________________
Title: Mission Request Sender: Lucifer
"After stealing vital data from one of Sphere's labs, we've obtained schematics of their new main fortress. From the looks of it, it is a floating city high above Jormungand Landing. We plan to attack tonight, as a strategy has already been conceived. I am asking you, as a client, to participate in this crucial operation. Your presence will increase our chances of succeeding in finally putting Sphere out of the corporate war indefinitely. I've prepared a substantial reward in compensation for your participation. Please check your mission queue."
"P.S.: Your AC part should arrive today. It is a prototype tri-barrel rifle, newly developed by Kisaragi. Also, I won't be able to hold a contract conference personally, so an electronic contract will be available upon accepting the mission."
-END MESSAGE-
Qastor checked his mission queue, only to find one mission available. He skipped the briefing and immediately accepted the contract. A fair transfer of credits was added to his rest of funds. He decided to recruit Iris and Rose for the mission.
"What am I doing...?" He despised working with Lucifer, but as a Raven, he had no choice...
He closed his laptop and leaned back on his chair. His bed was unmade, its sheets in wrinkled disarray and the flaccid blanket lie folded upon itself. Qastor strolled over to the window, waving the curtains away, and lifting the light shutters. He relished in the fresh breeze, allowing it to stroke through his hair. His new dormitory overlooked the courtyard, with an immaculate fountain in the center and spring-stout trees conversing in the brilliance of the sun. His stomach growled. Qastor grinned and was just about to shut the window when he spotted Iris and Rose strolling down an open hallway. Figuring that he'd need to talk to them about the mission, he'd have breakfast with them. He lightly pushed the shutter down and left the curtains to welcome sunlight into the room.
_____________________________
"...I just accepted a mission from Lucifer, and I was wondering if you two could be my consorts?" Qastor blurted the request after gulping down the last of his cereal oats. He drew a slip of gum from his pocket and proceeded to chew it.
"Isn't Lucifer that guy from..." Rose wanted to make sure.
"Yeah. That's him."
"I dunno... Depends on how much I get paid..." Rose jested and said she'd be happy to accompany him. Qastor turned to Iris, who replied with an affirming smile. He tossed the disposable bowl in a nearby trash container, gave Iris a quick cheek kiss, and rushed to the transport area to greet his new AC part.
Iris looked on while Qastor when went about his way, while Rose looked at Iris in a funny way.
"When did you two..."
"Two nights ago..." Rose nodded in affirmation, with a hint of jocosity. Iris eyes wandered to the skies. It's felt like a long time since things returned to normal. But, in fact, they weren't. Malirant's whereabouts and Sphere's next move itched at the back of Iris' mind, not to mention where and what the so-called Rey Vyn will do next. Nevertheless, Iris turned back to Rose and inquired if she would like to go shopping.
_____________________________
Qastor, arms akimbo, looked on as his new AC part was being unloaded, as well as other cargo. Some traffic officers were guiding the descent of the part with glowing traffic bars. He noticed the pilot running toward him with a clipboard.
"Sir! Are you..." The pilot glanced at the clipboard. "...Mr. Qastor?"
"Is that your final answer?"
"Huh? Excuse me?"
"Nevermind. Lemme see it." The pilot handed Qastor the clipboard as the cargo container holding the part was detached from the pulley.
KWG-3XRF-660
Manufacturer: Kisaragi
Type: Triple Rifle
Price: 99000c
Weight: 350
Energy Drain: 11
Weapon Lock: Wide and Shallow
Attack Power: 274
Ammo Heat: 161
Range: 520
Maximum Lock : 1
Reload Time: 21
Number of Ammo: 600
Ammo Type: Solid
Ammo Price: 34
Usage Drain: -
Description:
"Destructive triple barrel rifle with linear shot path. Versatile, light, and compatible prototype."
Qastor called up the chief mechanic, requesting that the old rifle be replaced by the new one. The container split open, revealing a sturdy, bluish-gray rifle, with three triangularly-aligned barrels at the end. A loading vehicle carried the rifle to the assembly chamber. He handed the clipboard back to the pilot and glanced about the horizon. He glanced about the area. Multiple transport planes and vehicles were being loaded and unloaded. Returning planes landed and outgoing ones lifted off. There was a line of idle worker MTs assembled in the outskirts. Far way, a structure was being built by construction MTs, cranes, cement trucks, etc. But, what caught Qastor's eye was...
Streaks of slight lucent ruby settled low in the far sky. An omen...?
Qastor shook his head and wiped his nose a bit, walking back to the hangar.
_____________________________
That night, the bloody streaks, still present, radiated with insanity behind the mountains, pervading through the low horizon. It slightly transfixed Qastor as he made his way up into the transport. The ACs were already loaded into the on-board hangar. Thin manacles held the ACs in place. Iris and Rose had already ensconced themselves into the plane, but Qastor was still on the loading staircase, gripping the railing tightly. His heart performed a tremolo.
"Qastor? Is there something wrong?" Iris peeped from the doorway. Qastor turned to Iris with a fake, jocose expression.
"Nothing. Just taking in the breeze, that's all." He gave a reassuring smile and Iris returned to her seat. Qastor gave on last glimpse at the reddening wounds in the night. He staggered a little up into the passenger cabin.
The plane came to life and the loading staircase was rolled away by a ground crewman. Qastor sensed acceleration. Iris comforted him by holding hands. The thought of Rey Vyn imprecated his being. He'd been very quiet lately... Too quiet...
Ominous skies bleed a crimson night...