In Silent Dreams

CHAPTER 7 - Trip Home

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Eva: Well done. One question though. How did you know that ship two was the carrier? Or was it just a play of probability?

Elizabeth: "It was a giveaway. Just before the ships started remaining stationary to charge the weapon, I noticed that this particular ship was moving a lot less than the others. In addition, all the other ships were moving as if they were orbiting around this particular vessel. It was almost as though they treated this vessel as a central ship. I made a risked deduction that this was the rail weapon carrier and it paid off."

Eva: Very good observation. An extraordinary human pilot can take a ship to perform feats far exceeding a mechanical AI's competence level. We are just weapons. The operators are our triumph cards.

"We live a hundred and forty years, then we die. We fade into the unknowns of afterlife. What happens then? Nobody knows. No one has ever been known to come back after crossing the divide to tell us of wonderful tales of journeys over there. What do they eat? Do they have great Muffins? Nobody knows."

-Jason Tiete, fan/ researcher into the paranormal and death

Eva: The planet Gaia. Welcome home, Beth.

Elizabeth: "Ichika is waiting for us."

The Eva descended into the planet's atmosphere. Diving through the clouds, the mountainous planet greeted the ship. There were snowy mountains and building ruins scattered around the planet surface.

Elizabeth: "Reminds me of the old Gaia... All the wonderful forests and lakes that we used to fish at... Mom would always take us on trips to the mountains, and we saw breathtaking views of Gaia and its cities. Everything here is now just death and nothingness."

Eva: We are fast approaching the old city of Tokyo. MARK VI is fully operational. You have four days down there.

E: "Land on the road beside the small house over there."

Elizabeth stepped out of the craft, onto a red tarmac road. a wrecked structure that resembled old Gaian house stood before her. Elizabeth treaded carefully over the debris-filled road and down the street, which had signs in Gaian Japanese, and artefacts from a time gone.

A white box with colourful visuals stood before Elizabeth. The visuals were fading, and the box was damaged beyond repair. Elizabeth kneeled before the box, placing the hands on the front of the machine. It was a Gashapon.

Walking down the street further, Elizabeth came across a wreckage of a car. It had been a long time since she saw one. Ever since leaving Gaia, humanity had stopped using cars. The inhabitants of Gaia held on to their ancient traditions, and continued the use of these landlocked vehicles, up to the day the impact happened.

Near the car there was a small road that formed a trail into the other side of the town. Albeit now lifeless and barren, the trail once existed as a lush green trail with beautiful flowers and hedges that Elizabeth used to play Hide And Seek with Ichika.

Eva: Hey Beth.

Elizabeth: "I just remembered."

Eva: What about?

E: "Nothing."

Elizabeth walked up on a familiar structure. Most of the building was burned away, though the doorway still stood, with several rooms still standing. Elizabeth sat on the doorway and leaned on the frame. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

** **

"And in English the word is pronounced as such bla bla bla bla....."

"Pssht.... Kira. Wanna check out the flower I planted?"

'Now?!'

"Yeah of course! Unless you wanna listen to sensei ramble on and on."

'Heck no! Let's go!'

Miss Maria is distracted. Time to go!

So tired... But we have to keep running...

Out of the school grounds! Great!

Oh shit...

'Kozuki-sensei is there! Hide!'

Ichika keeps trying to laugh. If she laughs we are going to get caught...

It's safe now. Time to continue. This trail is so beautiful! The flowers on the hedges are pretty!

"Here we are, Kira."

A single flower blooming in the centre. There is nothing else around it... It's simply beautiful.

"Let's mark our names in the ground with magical stones!"

'Kira and Ichika's flower (:'

** **

Elizabeth: "Kira and Ichika's flower."

Eva: You okay there?

E: "Yeah, I'm fine. There used to be a flower here. Its long dead and gone, like all things Gaia."

Eva: You're still alive.

E: "Unfortunately..."

Elizabeth kneeled down on a stone slab. Half of the stone was worn off, but the magical engraving remained. Half of the sentence was floating in the air.

'Kira and Ichika's flower (:'

Elizabeth took out a flower from her suit's pouch. She placed it on the slab.

Elizabeth: "Ichika. Wherever you may be, know that I always keep you in my heart. This flower is for you. I got it from Qing, it is a beautiful place far away from here. I got a postcard for you as well."

Elizabeth took out a piece of paper with a house and a heart drawing on it, and placed it underneath the flower stalk.

Elizabeth: "Eva, I am going to rest here for tonight. I just want to be with Ichika for a moment."

Eva: Understood. I will keep watch.

E: "Thank you."