Archcore: Echoes of Ion

[20] - [Choice]

It had taken some time, but after having hijacked a ship and taking it to Mars, Nina had turned it back towards the direction of the Vanadis central colony. Meeting with Hilda, who was the acting president of Cradle, and Kate, Nina joined the two on one of Cradle's flagship, AAC Delphinium.

"Are you certain of this plan, Nina?" Hilda asked, "Using something like this? You saw Kate's reaction too, right?" 

"I have." Nina said, "It's not a good plan, I'm aware of that, Hilda. But what else can I do? Kate no doubt hates the idea as well, she hasn't left the hangar since departing."

Hilda sighed, "Something like this requires two key pieces, Nina."

"I know. I already have someone in mind."

Within the hangar, Kate stood on the catwalk, her hands tightly gripping the railing as she looked towards a large object covered in sheets. The expression she had was one of pure disgust and hatred.

"A monstrosity like this... it shouldn't exist..."

-[Vanadis]-

Much of the sphere had been damaged, it was like a warzone. Many who lived and worked in the sphere had since left while others stayed together what they could.

As for Azuma, who stood at the dorm Petra and her friends lived in, what was left of it at least. During the chaos, a Dreadnought had fallen on the area, crushing most of the dorm as well as the small garden Azuma and Freyja had worked on.

Most were either dead or dying, some not lasting the night of or after the attack. Some were lucky while others were in medically induced comas, Petra was among those. Then some were still missing, likely still buried under the collapsed buildings.

In the main colony, the news of Davide's death, as well as the attack, seemed to be too much for Alisa as well. Not long after the fighting came to an end, she simply opened the doors to a balcony and walked off the ledge, dying the instant her body hit the ground.

All of this occurred within the first four days after the attack.

* * * * * *

"How is she?" Freyja asked.

Azuma gave no response. Freyja just let out a low sigh as she looked into Petra's room as well. She laid still on the bed with a large machine at her side helping her to breath.

"Some of her ribs were crushed, a few punctured her lungs and they were filling with blood." Azuma finally spoke, "Several other bones were broken as well. She's stable right now, but I don't know."

"What about you? Are you alright?"

Azuma was silent again. Looking to his hands, Freyja could see them balled into tight fists.

"If only I had my Dreadnought, then maybe..."

Meanwhile, Carla had come to Eld. Since the attack, he never spoke a word to anyone, he had never left his room. When food was brought to him, it would be returned and untouched. When Carla had come into his room, she found it completely dark and Eld sitting in the corner of the room.

"Eld," Carla started, "I'm sorry..."

"How did all of this happen so fast?" Eld asked in a weak voice, "Is this... what it feels like? Is this... something the past Eld had to deal with?"

"Don't blame yourself, Eld." Carla started, "If you need someone to blame, then blame me. But know that this isn't your fault."

Slowly, Eld looked to Carla.