Episode 20: Inevitability
"Every legend has a speck of truth in it. There is a chance we might be able to find something, at least a clue, from all this."
Mikumo said to Kazumi, picking up a book with pictures of children playing on the cover. She flipped over several pages quickly, stopping only when she needed to read carefully. She put it back when she didn't find anything satisfactory. Kazumi chuckled and ran his finger through a row of dusty books.
"Searching the truth among bedtime stories huh? Having Aisha here would be quite helpful right now."
He said as he picked up a dusty old book with the title of 'The Swan'. It appears to be a collection of children stories. Mikumo though stopped in the middle of picking up a book when she heard Kazumi said a name that sounds like a woman's name. She didn't show a visible reaction but she did get curious… as well as feeling something inside her that she had never felt before.
"Aisha? That sounds like a woman's name."
Mikumo questioned as she pick up another book. Kazumi noted that her voice sounds a bit forced while still sounding like her usual self but since he heard the sound of rustling clothes and a book being removed, he thought that it's because Mikumo is trying to reach for a book.
"Yeah. She's a female zentran who commands the SMS forces on planet Ouroboros. She has a thing for machines just like Makina and also has an interest in Protoculture history. Her knowledge and expertise would be useful right now."
Kazumi replied, remembering his time in planet Ouroboros and the friends he made back then. And certainly Aisha would be helpful right now. The chief of SMS Ouroboros branch is quite a maniac about protoculture history and her expertise certainly would help. The ace pilot picked up another book and began browsing.
"Hee, you sound like you know her well."
If Kazumi were to face her right now and pay a bit more attention, he would see her narrowing her eyes even as she flip through every dusty page of the book she's currently checking.
"Nah, not really. We worked together after I defected from Harvamal. She's a decent pilot but I mostly worked with her boyfriend, Lyon. Speaking of which, I haven't heard from them in a while. Have they decided to get married?"
Kazumi did not notice Mikumo's body relaxing as he currently has his back to her. The mysterious Venus let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. Mikumo resumed her search with renewed calmness, browsing through each shelf, wiping the dust off several books when it covered the title. There are many books in the Royal Library but so far, they haven't seen anything that could give a clue to what they want to know. Mikumo decided to look in the deepest part of the library.
Another book was put back into its shelf as Kazumi sighs. While he knew it's a longshot looking for a clue in the folklore section, he had hoped that they would find something. He also heard Mikumo sighing, signifying that the Star Singer also didn't find anything that could help them.
"Nothing."
Mikumo put back the last book she was browsing and left the section with Kazumi. They regrouped with Arad, Kaname and Hermann who shook their heads, also not finding anything. That was expected though. If there was anything concerning the Star Singer in the library, then Roid Brem would've found it and taken it. They'll need to go through his research notes and then check out Sigur Valenz.
The group exited the library to see Keith walking towards them. The White Knight had finished his reunion with his brother and was about to join them in the search when they walk out. Seeing that they came out empty handed and not looking any happier, Keith knew how the search went.
"So all of you found nothing."
"No, nothing. Not that I expected much in the first place though but it still didn't hurt to make sure. Anyway, we'll be going through Roid Brehm's research notes next."
Keith nodded. That means they'll be heading to Roid's room next. Heinz mentioned to him that they left Roid's room as it is and haven't got round to tidying up the place. Roid's things should've remained untouched since his death and that is where they will find the notes on his research.
"I am guiding them to Roid's room. Will you be coming with us, lord White Knight?"
Hermann asked.
"I will. Plus I wanted to know what Roid has been researching about."
Keith replied. Hermann recalled that Roid and Keith used to be best friends and trusted each other deeply but their friendship started to strain during the last conflict where Roid seems to give them strange orders without fully explaining things, at least from his perspective. Perhaps there are more things that happened between them that he didn't know but their friendship ended when Keith personally slew Roid on board the Sigur Valenz. He figured that Keith is also taking this chance to find out what made his friend change.
The group was about to continue their walk towards Roid's room when suddenly Hermann felt something reacting to his rune. It is faint but he could feel something is coming. Behind him though, Mikumo, Keith and Kazumi's eyes widened and their head whipped towards the window.
"There's an intruder!"
-Aether lounge-
Theo and Zao couldn't help but snicker at Bogue who is 'keeping an eye' on Makina and Reina. While not many knew, Theo and Zao had been aware that Bogue is actually attracted to either Reina or Makina. They're not sure which one, or maybe even both, but the hot headed Windermerean would always blush whenever he saw a video of those two. Bogue even went to their rescue during the second battle of Ragna and would blush when the twin mentioned it to him.
Theo and Zao are sitting together with Hayate, Chuck, Mirage, and Freyja while watching Bogue trying to talk to the two Walkure members who are always around each other. Originally, Chuck and Freyja were talking to Makina and Reina but when Bogue came and claimed to be there to 'keep an eye on them' they got the hint and joined the others watching the awkward hothead.
"So, which one do you think Bogue likes? I bet it is Makina Nakajima."
Theo whispered to Hayate who happened to be sitting across him and was also looking at the scene with interest like the rest.
"Why do you say that?"
Hayate inquired.
"Ohh come on, it's obvious! Didn't you see those racks?"
Theo made a motion of jiggling something in front of his chest to emphasize what he meant. Hayate blushed as he stole a glance at Makina whose cleavage can be seen from his position. Everyone knew that she's the sexiest of the Walkure girls and he can see where Theo is coming from.
"True. Makina-chan is sexy and cute. Who wouldn't love her?"
Chuck agreed with Theo.
"No, it might even be Reina Prowler. Not everyone prefers a sexy big sister chara with big boobs. Who is to say that Bogue is not attracted to a cool flat chested chara?! Kuudere is definitely the way to go!"
Zao suddenly proclaimed. Chuck thought for a while and nodded in agreement.
"True. Kuudere is also attractive in their own way."
"Right? Now, what we have to figure out is which one is Bogue's type."
All four male pilots nodded to each other and continue to observe Bogue's interaction with Makina and Reina. The lone Walkure member with them chuckled weakly while the only female pilot sighs as she shook her head.
"How immature can they be? They should be taking their job a bit more seriously."
Mirage muttered while pouting, mainly because she is unhappy because Hayate is joining the other male pilots staring at Makina's bust but she wouldn't admit that out loud. Freyja who also has been listening to the boys looked down to her own chest and sighs.
"Nee Mirage, do boys really prefer girls with big bust?"
Freyja asked.
"Freyja, please ignore them, they're just being silly."
"Really?"
Freyja then look at Mirage and then back at her own chest and then at Mirage again. Narrowing her eyes while forwning and leaning closer towards Mirage, Freyja poked Mirage's chest with her index finger, causing Mirage to jump in surprise.
"Uwaa! F-F-Freyja, what are you doing?!"
"Hnn, with boobs like that, no wonder Mirage doesn't have to worry."
"F-Freyja, stop that!"
Mirage screamed as Freyja kept poking her chest, the Windermerean's lips curving from a from a frown into a mischievous grin. Just as Freyja was about to poke Mirage's chest for the ninth time though, she stopped. Not just Freyja but also Hayate, Theo, Zao, and even Bogue stopped whatever they are doing and suddenly look alerted.
Someone had just forcefully broken through Windermere's dimensional rift and infiltrated the planet!
The problem with infiltrating a planet filled with people that can sense the slightest shift in fold waves using the Diva Fold Resonator system is that it is impossible to stay undetected during entry. The moment she passed through the dimensional rift surrounding Windermere using her DFR system she knew her presence is already known. But that is it. The moment she switched off the system, she will be undetected once more and with her unit's stealth camouflageability, she can still remain hidden.
That still didn't change the fact that the Windermereans would know that there is someone who had infiltrated their airspace and is hiding on the planet. That's already a big problem as in infiltration missions, the main advantage one could have is making the enemy believe that you're NOT there in the first place. After all, they won't actively search for something that is not there. But if your presence is known, even if your identity still remains unknown, the chances of being discovered have skyrocketed as the enemy will be even more alert and would notice things they normally wouldn't.
But that's a risk Mary knew she would have to take.
That is fine for her. She wanted to be found anyway, but only by one person.
Mary landed her VF-29X in gerwalk mode by the slope of a mountain not far from Darwent but still remote enough that she wouldn't be found easily. The advanced cloaking mechanism in her VF would allow her unit to remain hidden. Putting on a fake rune as a disguise, she took off her mask and changed her outfit, exchanging her pilot suit with what a local would wear.
Tying her long white hair into a ponytail with a black ribbon, Mary completed her disguise by putting on a brown cloak that would hide the sword she wore on her waist from view and began to scale the mountain. Her implant made it easy to climb over the mountain and to the other side.
There is quite some distance to cover but that's not a problem to Mary. She had also confimed where Sigur Valenz and Aether is when she flew over them in stealth mode. Now it's just a matter of getting there. Finally, she and Kazumi would meet properly in the way that it should be.
Mary then looked up to the sky. Up there is where Macross Styx is, the place that had been the closest thing she has to a home in the past several years.
"Well, there's no turning back from this."
Mary took a deep breath as she continue to walk. Her destination; the Sigur Valenz.
Sorry that this episode is so short but took so long to release. Ya see, this episode was supposed to contain a hint about the history of the Star Singer and Star Knight in the form of a fairy tale but after nearly two months of thinking, writing and rewriting, I got nothing. I began to regret not paying more attention in my children's story class. So because I have not idea how to write the history in fairy tale style, I had to rewrite the whole thing and write a new scenario and this is what I got. Sorry that this takes so long and probably not a satisfying episode but if nothing else, I can promise something good for Kazumi and Mary's meeting.
xzorshio: I can promise that I will incorporate Passionate Walkure movie elements in the future. In fact, I already have several planned.
