05/02/20

I've been playing a lot of GOD EATER lately so I haven't written a lot but no worries about that.

Xenoblade X is now five years old by way of JP release date. I chose to timeskip 4 years because of the NA release date. So we're in a brand new world! Having written a good bit ahead for part 2 I will say things are different. This was one of the big reasons I said early on I wasn't sure how X ficcy this fic was with the 4 year skip over the events of the game.

Of course there are still a handful of things we have to hit up before we close this here second storyline for good. Look forward to it!

(Preposition) In the time following (an event or another period of time).

Chapter Twenty Three

After

July 27th 2056 - Hours After Starfall

Pain.

That was the first thing Elma could feel. Sharp. Intense. Pain. Eyes closed tight as she waited for the wave of pain to pass or at least fade, she could hear sparks from broken mechanisms and creaking metal. Groaning, she did her best to wrench herself from her current position within her Ares. Slowly she brought a hand to her head, wanting nothing more than for the pounding to stop. She tried to recall what was the last thing that happened, did she crash? She had to have. However the more she attempted to recall, the sharper the pain and the pounding her head was.

Opening her eyes she took a deep breath before examining the cockpit of the Ares around her, while she didn't know what the exterior state was she knew for sure it was far worse than the interior. Luckily her body wasn't pinned under anything but even without checking her diagnostics she could feel at least a dozen things wrong with her if not more.

Pulling herself off the ruined floor of the cockpit she took hold of her seat. The strain of attempting to stand sent a jolt of pain through her entire body. Closing her eyes and clenching her teeth she forced herself up farther until she could sit herself down in the Ares' ruined seat.

Opening her eyes once more, she moved one of her hands to the various sources of pain, the most notable being a massive gash along her lower torso. Bringing her hand into view, she saw it stained blue. Moving that hand to the back of her head she felt around, luckily there was no notable damage back there.

With a heavy sigh, she attempted to reactivate some of the Ares' functions to at least get the cockpit to open; however just as she expected, nothing was working.

Letting out a long calming breath, she leaned back in her seat and let her thoughts drift. She had to remember what it was that brought her here. Wherever here was.

Her arm fell to her side, limp. She'd never felt this comfortable. Jolting upright, she cursed. The last thing she could afford was passing out, especially if she found herself unable to wake up afterwards.

Taking a deep breath she looked to the front of the ruined cockpit. She had no choice but to attempt to kick it open. The Ares was built to withstand almost anything yet in its current state she knew it would be possible to at least get the door open.

Flexing her hands and attempting to ignore the pain all over her body made it clear that if she was to get out of here, she'd need to activate Overdrive. It was risky given the current state of her Mimeosome but it was either force Overdrive for one kick or kick the door an unknown amount of times. Neither option was a good one but she had to get out of the Ares. She had to see where it was that she had fallen.

Realizing something, she searched herself for her datapad, not finding it she began looking around the ruined floor of the Ares. It wasn't much longer before she found it, the datapad was damaged as everything else was but upon tapping a few buttons, she found it switching on. The holographic screens were unstable but that didn't matter, she was still capable of at least sending out a repeating distress signal. Hopefully someone would show up. Assigning her code to the signal, she began broadcasting.

Taking a deep breath, she focused the sensation of Overdrive into her legs and yelled as she delivered a kick, smashing the top of the cockpit and sending it tumbling across the grass and into a boulder.

As Overdrive left her, the pain returned to her all at once. Closing her eyes, she whispered to herself until she felt a breeze. Opening her eyes she looked out of the open door as best she could, the light blinded her.

Forcing herself up, she stepped outside of the Ares and took in her surroundings. Amazed.

Stretching out before her were vast plains and countless rocky structures. Mountains, pillars and a strange rock formation stretching out above like a second layer. She was in awe over this alien world she now found herself on. All sorts of alien life in various sizes roamed the plains. Small creatures feeding on grass. Large, fiercer ones running across the land and howling. An even larger one that looked like a moving rock formation and finally a massive creature not unlike the dinosaurs she'd read about on Earth.

Many more flew high in the sky, she continued to stare at the airborne creatures, trailing them and turning her body to keep them in sight. Her eyes then fell to the horizon and there she saw it.

The Habitat Unit.

Off the shore of the land, the majority of the structure was floating on the ocean with crystallized spires of impact gel stretching out and up high.

Taking her first steps away from her Ares, she approached the edge of the land she found herself on, lost in the view of the Habitat Unit and the Tower at the center of it all.

She wasn't sure how long she was standing there, the sun shining down on her and the breeze sweeping past her, blowing her hair and calming her state.

Closing her eyes, she sighed in relief.

Only for the memories of the desperate battle to flash through her mind, one after the other, jumbled up, instant, all at the same time.

Opening her eyes in shock she stumbled back and fell to the ground as everything that happened continued to flood her mind. She remembered it all.

The battle against the Ganglion, the losses they suffered, Aeon's return, their escape and then the reunion. Everything felt perfect, Aeon brought them a destination, a home. The end of their journey was at hand...then the Ghosts appeared and everything was ripped away from her. She heard their voices, all of their voices. So many voices being cut off and silenced during the struggle.

One voice remained strong in the face of all that loss and pain...only for that voice to fall silent at the very end. Elma felt a tear run down her cheek as she finally found the strength to speak.

"Jaynix."

She heard them then, two engines operating at less than optimal capacity. Turning she watched as two Skells neared her, both making very poor landings. The cockpits opened and the men called out to her.

Elma stood up, recognizing them.

"Boris. Danny."

She began walking towards them.

"Colonel! Thank whatever it is we thank now that you're alive. We lost contact with you, all of us did, we feared the worst!"

Boris called out as Elma picked up her pace.

"We need to get back to base, there is…"

Danny hesitated.

"We need to restore order. Things are not going well."

Elma shook her head.

"We need to find survivors."

Boris nodded.

"We'll get to that Colonel, we will...but Nagi, Chausson...they need you. People are...I don't know how to say this, but people have the wrong idea about what led to Starfall. Blame is being thrown around, no one is talking sense."

Elma now stood in front of the two Skells. She stared at the men as Danny sighed.

"I'll be honest...two sides are starting to form. It'll be civil war if we don't step in. Nagi is trying to convince them all that we have friends, family and loved ones to recover after Starfall but…"

Elma swallowed, Jaynix was still on her mind.

"I know it's serious...I know…"

Boris and Danny looked to one another, the former speaking.

"Colonel."

"I have to find Jaynix. I have to."

"We haven't received any signals from the Reapers' line of codes. All we have are confirmed logs labeling the destruction of all of their Skells."

Danny stated, taking a deep breath.

"They're gone, Elma. All of them."

"No!"

The men fell silent, anger flashing in Elma's eyes.

"I saw her. She's not dead and the more time we spend doing nothing, the more likely she will die before we find her. We have to go!"

"We do! Back to base!"

Boris called out.

"If we can quell the outrage before it sparks a revolt or worse, then it'll be far easier to track down all the people we've lost."

Elma closed her eyes, the choices that followed her since the beginning. Since she chose to care. They continued to set two roads before her.

She knew it was her duty to return to base and deal with the situation before things become worse. But what her heart wanted was to find Jaynix.

"We don't do the right thing or the just thing because none of that matters. All that matters is surviving."

Another tear escaped Elma's eyes. She could save one person. One person who meant so much to her. One person she dearly loved. Or she could save everyone else in the Habitat Unit.

It was one life versus hundreds.

The choice was made for her.

Boris and Danny said nothing, they remained silent as the woman who led them for so many years broke down in front of them. Elma was crying.

Slowly, Danny exited his Skell and approached her, he had no words. This was a situation no training could have prepared him for.

"Elma…"

Hearing her name, she looked up at him and he saw her tear stained face.

"...I've lost...so many dear friends across all the conflicts I've been a part of."

Danny took a deep breath before gesturing towards Boris.

"Him too...most of us...it's...it's not the outcome anyone wants. We're no fools. We know how much Jaynix...meant to you…"

"Stop. Please."

Danny fell silent as Elma shook her head.

"Don't talk about her like she's dead...please…"

He stood there, unsure how to proceed.

"...we need you, Elma...I know how...unfair that is. To always. Always. Be relying on you...but…"

Danny looked down at the ground, a sad laugh escaping him.

"It isn't fair. It's not right. When do you get to do what you want?"

Danny looked back at Boris, the men nodded to one another.

"We'll figure it out...we will."

Elma looked to him, confusion in her eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"We'll go back. We'll help Nagi and Chausson with the people. We're not the most...diplomatic but maybe between all of us we can figure this out. If you believe your best friend. Jaynix. Is out there. Go find her. If we continue to rely on you for everything...we'll never be able to survive. That's the truth of it."

"Danny…"

In his Skell, Boris laughed.

"This guy, acting like a hero...but I'll be honest, he's put it better than I could."

"My Ares…"

Danny looked to the Colonel's Skell, clearly it was inoperable.

"Our Skells aren't doing much better...but of the three, mine is in the best condition. Take it. Start your search. I'll share with Boris."

"Oh man, this is gonna suck."

Danny looked to the other man again, seeing Boris smile before returning his attention to Elma.

"Danny...I don't know what to say…"

"Just find Jaynix."

Elma nodded, a silent thank you escaping her lips before a foreign screech cut through the silence. Elma and Danny turned as a massive creature leapt up onto the cliff behind Boris.

"What the hell is that?"

Danny drew his assault rifle.

"Boris!"

The man closed up his cockpit and turned the Skell around, opening fire on the alien creature as it screeched again and leapt towards Boris, colliding with his Skell and slamming it to the ground.

"Back off!"

Danny roared as he fired on it and began making his way to his Skell. Elma drew her pistols and fired as well, though she could see their arms were barely scratching the alien creature's shell.

Boris began firing point blank into the underside of the creature with his Skell's weapons as it screeched once more and raised one of its pincers high.

Elma's eyes widened, a scream never leaving her throat as it slammed its pincer down onto the Skell, slicing into the damaged machine's cockpit and killing Boris instantly.

The Skell fell limp as the creature pulled its pincer out and turned its attention to Danny. Elma watched the man roar at it, yet she couldn't make out any sounds as it charged him.

He just managed to dodge to the side as it rampaged past him and slammed into a boulder. Danny looked to Elma and yelled at her as loud as he could, pointing at his Skell.

Elma looked in the direction he was pointing, his voice becoming more and more desperate as the creature turned around once more.

She heard the last thing he could say.

Find her.

She ran past the man as he activated Overdrive and evaded the creature's charge once more. Getting into the Skell she brought up its weapons and began firing on the creature. It looked to her just as Danny fired off more grenades, the blasts riddling the monster's face. Turning to the small figure it screeched again and charged. A weblike fluid shot from its mouth, Danny continued to dodge as best he could but the strain of Overdrive proved too much and he fell over.

Elma got in front of the creature and tried to fire only for its pincers to slam into her Skell. With all the damage sustained from Starfall, that one strike caused all the alarms to go off, the Skell's flight controls becoming irregular as it fell over and crashed into the ground.

So she had two choices once more.

Escape with her life.

Or die with Danny.

The creature approached her again, Danny firing on it with everything he had, screaming his lungs out to try and divert its attention.

As it raised its pincer, Elma activated the Skell's thrusters and took off just as it slammed into the ground once more. She flew off and kept going, unable to tear her eyes away as the alien creature turned to Danny.

She saw the man stand his ground and raise his gun as the monster descended on him.

Closing her eyes, Elma instructed the Skell to return to base.

In the silence, she focused on the one thing she could still feel. Something she was sure she'd feel for years.

Pain.

Nagi, Chausson and Vandham stood in the Administrative District's plaza in front of a crowd of engineers, soldiers and noncombatants as well as the Xenoforms they rescued during Starfall, the Qlurians.

Voices were loud, desperate and angry. Countless fingers were pointing to Rock who was crouched in a corner covering his ears with Celica at his side while even more pointed to the Qlu warriors next to Nagi, Albus and Furvus.

Taking a deep breath Nagi drew his pistol and fired into the air, everyone falling silent.

Nagi took several steps forward and watched as those closest to his position began to move away. They could see anger in his eyes and it struck fear deep within their hearts.

"Two years."

He spoke, clearly, barely containing his anger.

"Seven hundred and thirty days we've survived together. During all that time, all of us were hoping for Starfall, we all wanted to start our new lives in peace. Away from forces that wanted us dead. Two years."

Nagi lowered his pistol.

"...and after all that time, the first chance we have to breathe...after a massive, horrible and unforgettable tragedy...we fight amongst ourselves."

The sensation of Overdrive filled his arms as he crushed the pistol to pieces, letting the remains of the weapon fall to the ground.

"Shameful. Disappointing. And above all. Absolutely disrespectful to the men and women who gave their lives for us."

Nagi put a hand on his chest.

"Hideo Kumon. I'm sure most of you know the name. I've known him for decades. A man I held in high regard. I trusted him with so much. I knew that with him among us...we could survive any challenge. A man that was infallible...died in the line of duty. His entire unit is gone. And we're still here thanks to them."

Nagi shook his head.

"There is a lot I can stomach...there is a lot I can take...but I will not have you all disrespecting his memory or the memory of those who followed him into battle. Those who bled and died for us."

Nagi took a deep breath, turning to face Albus and Furvus, holding a hand out towards them. Slowly, both Qlurian Warriors stepped forward. Rock took his hands away from his ears, noting the silence.

"These two had no reason to throw themselves into the fire after we rescued them. They were tired. They've been fighting the entire time we've been traversing space...yet when the Ghosts appeared, they deployed alongside us. They could have died. Several of their comrades did. They didn't have to do that and yet they did. How could you possibly want to blame them for something none of us could have ever expected? How?"

Nagi watched the faces of those before him change.

"Kentaro Nagi."

The man turned to Albus.

"If you require us gone...if your people wish us gone. We will go. We do not wish to destabilize your efforts."

Before Nagi could respond, he heard it. A Skell. Looking to the sky he saw it, one of theirs. It began its descent, landing not far from the crowd.

He sighed in relief as Elma stepped out of the Skell and began walking through the crowd, everyone parting to let her through, whispering her name as she took the stage.

Looking down at the ground, she gathered her thoughts before facing Nagi. The understanding in his eyes threatened to break her resolve. She then looked to Albus and Furvus, both bowing their heads to her before she found Chausson and Vandham in the back.

Turning to the crowd she spoke.

"I just woke up. Alone on this...strange but beautiful new world. Comrades I've fought with for years found me and told me of what's been happening here...and before I could process any of it, they were gone. Taken from me because I hesitated…"

Elma looked out over the crowd, thinking.

"If we do nothing. We don't just surrender our lives. We spit on those we've lost. We're alive. We have to continue to survive and thrive for them. For ourselves. For our future."

Elma sighed.

"I'm asking all of you...to place your trust in us once more. To trust that we want nothing more than to live our best lives…"

At the silence, Elma looked to as many faces as she could find and saw what she needed to see. Acceptance.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, she turned to Chausson. The pair nodded to one another as Chausson now addressed the crowd.

"We don't have assigned housing yet so all of us will make room here in this district. Take the rest of the day. Gather yourselves. Sleep. Tomorrow we honor the fallen. The day after...we start to live."

In silence, the crowd began to disperse. Elma saw what she knew would come next, realization. People let go of their anger, their desperate need to blame something or someone and only now could they understand what just occurred.

She saw men and women crying, holding one another in comfort as they vanished from view.

"Elma."

Turning, Elma took a deep breath.

"Albus. Furvus. Thank you…"

Furvus shook his head.

"We deserve no thanks...your brother fought long and hard to help us and our people...and after all that he...we failed him. We failed you."

Elma looked down and whispered.

"He didn't make it?"

Albus and Fervus exchanged a look, Albus speaking.

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you but...no...he didn't…"

And that was it.

Elma fell to the ground, Nagi called out her name, barely able to take hold of her unconscious form. Roaring for a doctor immediately.

"...you trust them?"

There was silence as the three of them stood not too far from a lovely, serene and quiet park. A woman sat on a bench looking out to two young girls running circles around each other as a man neared them.

"Yes. With my life."

Elma turned to the man next to her, Hideo Kumon.

"Just like how Nagi trusts me...and how he trusts you…"

Elma shook her head.

"I haven't done enough to warrant that trust. Not yet."

Kumon chuckled as Nagi, who stood next to him, spoke up.

"You have. Mira told me as much and who am I to doubt her."

Elma raised an eyebrow.

"You place a lot of faith in your leaders."

Nagi smiled.

"Mira isn't really my leader per say. She's simply a woman I respect. Immensely. I've no reason to doubt her when it comes to you or your brother."

Elma looked back to the girls who were now jumping up and down, holding each other's hands, spinning in circles and singing some sort of song.

She then looked to Kumon and Nagi, both men seemed incredibly pleased and at peace by the sight before them. Elma adjusted the hood obscuring her features as Kumon began his approach, raising an arm to wave. The other man and the woman on the bench spotted him and waved back as he called out.

"Maxwell! Sonja!"

July 28th, 2056

Opening her eyes, Elma sat up to find herself in a bed wearing a simple white tank top and shorts.

"Where am I?"

Alarmed by this new change, she looked around the room. It reminded her so much of some of the Coalition or the ECP's facilities. Was she back on Earth? That's impossible.

Some strange sense flooded her body, coupled with a desire to escape. Standing she approached the door and struggled to open it but to no avail. Slamming onto it, she yelled.

"Where am I!?"

She slammed her hands onto the door once more before hearing a click. Before the door could open, she charged it, throwing it open and shoving the man behind it away. Quickly he moved back forward and took a hold of her before she could get away.

"Colonel! Colonel! It's me!"

"Let me go!"

Overdrive flowing through her, she punched the man in the chest. He gagged in pain as he flew across the hall and slammed into a wall, leaving a crater before he slid to the ground.

It was only then that she realized who he was.

"Frye."

Coughing he looked up at her, features scrunched up in pain and a barely noticeable smirk on his face.

"Yeah...that's me...oof...damn woman. Remind me to never get on your bad side again."

"Frye?"

He nodded as he stood up.

"Yeah, yeah. That's me….listen Elma I-"

Frye fell silent looking to his old friend who was covering her face with her hands, eyes wet with unshed tears as she repeated his name once more.

It didn't take long for him to realize why.

"Yeah, Elma...I made it...I'm real."

Stepping forward, he took her into his arms.

The day following Starfall was solemn. The Tower at the center of the Administrative District finally lit up, displaying a bright 100% and while it seemed to be a good sign, there were whispers of something unfortunate regarding the time they had left. On this day however, everyone had no choice but to push it out of their minds.

Those who survived Starfall by taking shelter in the Habitat Unit and those who were able to land their Skells close enough to the Habitat Unit now gathered around the Tower as Nagi, Chausson and Vandham began reading the names of every man and woman who fell in the line of duty during Starfall, including the Qlurians who came to their aid.

The gathered personnel were silent, only those shedding tears could be heard when Nagi and Chausson weren't announcing names. The people closest to Rock could see that he too was moved by the proceedings, requiring Celica to constantly soothe him.

Elma stood just out of sight of the crowd gathered at the front of the Tower, her heart beating more and more intensely as the names became more familiar and meaningful to her until Nagi came to a brief pause.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke.

"Alto Moore. Sagis Fair. Hideo Kumon. Tai Alistair. Eren Hills. Lyla Copeland. Jaynix Copeland."

Elma closed her eyes.

"Aeon."

She wanted to vanish.

"Boris Quaid. Danny Myson."

She wanted to go back in time and fix this. There had to be a way. It was too much.

Nagi found her not long after the proceedings ended and those who gathered were sent to their temporary homes. She was behind the Tower sitting along the edge, her legs dangling over a sheer drop to the pool below.

With a heavy sigh, he sat down next to her.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us, Elma. A lot."

She turned to face Nagi.

"We have to begin granting houses to our people. We need to finish restructuring our military forces. We need to divide up the barracks. We need to start scouting our new home. We need to determine what threats there are. We have to figure out what the weather is like on this planet. We…"

Nagi fell silent.

"There is so much to do…"

Elma watched the man bring his hands to his face and sigh. He seemed so old at that moment. It wasn't a look he normally wore and undoubtedly it was one he hated.

"...and we need to find our people...the ones who made it to Lifepods. Too many of them remain unaccounted for…"

Nagi looked to her once more.

"...what will you do, Elma?"

She looked away from him.

"Yeah, Elma."

Elma's hairs stood on end as she turned to her other side to see her. Sitting right next to her as if nothing had happened.

Deep red hair, bright red eyes, confident smirk.

Jaynix.

"What are you gonna do?"

Elma stared at her, heart frozen. It took everything she had inside to not reach out and touch her.

"Elma?"

She heard Nagi's voice, his confusion but she didn't want to look away. She knew the moment she looked at him, Jaynix would vanish. She didn't want that.

"I'm sorry."

Elma whispered.

"I'm so sorry."

Jaynix continued to look at her, but said nothing. Elma couldn't stop herself from bringing one of her hands up, slowly moving towards Jaynix's face.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder broke the illusion, reality setting in as she faced Nagi.

Lowering her hand, she recalled her final conversation with Boris and Danny. She'd been the selfless defender of humanity for over three decades. Every decision she made was for the betterment of the plan, for the security of the people. Every choice was for the benefit of everyone else.

This time. She was going to be selfish.

"I'm going to find her."

Her gaze moved to the empty space next to her.

"I'm going to find Jaynix."