first sortie.

[unbr8kable]

[Six hours previous, everything had been so much simpler. The Eta cohort had made it to live combat training, out in one of the few areas the Tenno had claimed back from the invaders. Xia had been vibrating the whole day, grinning wide as she suited up in the boring steel training mech (hers would be blue, she decided, or maybe black, with bold red stripes on the limbs) and deployed to the field, not even cracking on Wimperson, the Support (not his real name, but it may as well have been).

The Heralds didn't come up on radar until they were practically on top of the trainees. Maybe if there'd been more lead time, it would've been less of a shitshow, but who the hell knows.

The grimy details aren't important, but they aren't great. Damage to all suits, with two damaged beyond repair; the Leader froze under pressure, the Shadow couldn't keep up with the speedy Heralds. Wimperson actually came through. Johnson the Medic went down right there, in front of them.

Xia and Jacob have only just gotten out of their debriefing, another unexpected first for the day.

She and Jacob did good, Xia knows. They kept their heads, were barely hurt, they moved together well. "You'll make a good team," Corporal Kuwahara tells them before turning towards the medical ward to check on Johnson's surgery. "Go get some rest."

But no, rest is pretty much the opposite of what they need right now, Xia thinks. She turns to Jacob, giving her best attempt at a normal expression.]

Wanna get out of here?

Comments

[crossmyheartandhope]

We could try and catch one. Think the folks you-know-where'd let us have a pet?

[Gives the dude some money, 120% oblivious to his disdain.]

[unbr8kable]

[foreign kids and their money, he probably got it selling drugs or betting on maid fights or something, darned kids and their lack of appreciation for ice creamy gyoza. he returns the change with a bored-sounding 'thanks'.

xia too has nary a shit to give about the ramen guy, instead perking up at the thought of tennodoge]

What if we made him a doghouse on the roof? Maybe no one would notice.

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Sticks the change in his pocket and gives the guy a little wave, then hops to his feet.]

Maybe we could sneak him in with Sir Puffs. Yoshioka'd never notice. He cleans like once a year.

[unbr8kable]

[getting up as well and stretching, popping her back]

Yoshioka wouldn't notice if it was like a person, maybe. A dog, he'd definitely catch on. And wanna give it some ridiculous name, too...

[crossmyheartandhope]

Yeah... I guess that's true. Maybe it's safer to keep it Yoshioka-free. At least till after we name him.

[Let's get out of here.]

[unbr8kable]

[the cool air of the streets is refreshing after the humid warmth of the restaurant, though xia can't help another yawn. purple starts to peep over the skyline, the very beginning of sunrise.]

Let's get someplace higher, huh?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Glances up, a bit surprised; he'd thought they had more time.]

Yeah, we better hurry.

[unbr8kable]

[time flies when you are defying death by acrobatics and food. or maybe there's something crazy going on in the eastern part of the city, bonfires or protests outside the palace again lighting up the sky. either way, a better view won't hurt?]

Wonder if they keep the real pilots on such a short leash? I mean, after saving the city, I think all-night karaoke is the least you deserve.

[crossmyheartandhope]

We'll find out for sure before too much longer.

[He grabs for her arm to pull her off toward a likely-looking tall building.]

Come on!

[unbr8kable]

Hell yeah!

[She is up and running within a few paces; she's finally getting used to the rhythm of his manhandling. The residential tower they approach is older, its architecture and somewhat garish colors hinting at late Showa glory. But it is tall, compared to many of the buildings around it, and more importantly, doesn't have an electronic lock on the door to the elevators. Though with the rolling brown-outs, that was less of a concern recently...]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Even better, the elevator doors face the alcove in the front of the building, instead of making them traipse in through the lobby. He takes a quick glance around and jams at the elevator button; when the numbers light up to show the elevator's on the way down, he gives a little grin.]

Jackpot!

[unbr8kable]

Sweet! This sure beats the pants off of running up all these stairs.

[the elevator dings, slooowly the door opens, and Xia tugs him inside. the elevator sags distressingly as they step inside, and the doors close. After an unnerving pause, the elevator shudders and begins to rise]

Man, HQ needs like 500 percent more high-rises. This underground stuff is the pits.

[crossmyheartandhope]

That's the real reason we gotta wipe the floor with those aliens.

[The elevator chugs and lurches; how old is this thing, anyway?]

[unbr8kable]

Pretty much. Or we just gotta figure out how to reinforce the windows or something.

[the elevator gives a shuddering rattle, almost a stall--but keeps going]

...Gotta say, this elevator feels like those crappy training suits. Are we going to the roof or pushing Gs here? Who even approved this thing?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Someone, I hope. We better not've missed some kind of, "Danger, never use this thing under fear of death," notice.

[unbr8kable]

Maybe the whole thing was a trap. The building was set up so that we wouldn't be able to escape. Like in an action movie!

[crossmyheartandhope]

If it's like an action movie, we've got it covered. We can climb out the hatch up top and slide down the cables when it inevitably breaks down.

[unbr8kable]

...Do you think the hatch'll open?

[eyeing the ceiling, 'cause why not?]

[crossmyheartandhope]

...we could try.

[unbr8kable]

...I've got a 10 yen coin if you can give me a boost.

[crossmyheartandhope]

[It is probably for the best that, just as he's lacing his fingers together to make a platform and going down on one knee, the elevator finally jerks to a stop.]

Oops. Too slow.

[unbr8kable]

Aww...

[a good thirty seconds later--honestly, who approved this thing--the door opens and they're allowed to trip out to the roof. It seems to be well-used for entertainment, with a grill and a table for eating]

Whoa, looks ready for relaxing!

[crossmyheartandhope]

We oughtta keep this place in mind for later.

[He's wandering over to the railing along the side, though, because the view is the most important thing right now.]

[unbr8kable]

[it's clear tonight; from here they can see over to Chuo Park where they were before, as well as the fancy, private Shinjuku Gyoen, and even over to part of the imperial palace grounds before other buildings block the view. the sky is light enough that it's obvious the night is getting shorter rather than longer, but the light that's coming from the horizon is actually more to the north than true east. it's flashes, bright, like a thunderstorm. faintly, when the wind whips their way, there are faint sirens over the twilight quiet.]

...That's the direction of the training grounds, isn't it?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[He stands there for a second, hands on the railing, eyes wide and smile washed away.]

...we gotta go.