Mmmm. Tastes just a little... odd. Overall - I am satisfied. Time for a little walkabout.
Sure, I've got some free time.
Chocolate or vanilla? Or would you just like to eat out of my bowl-
Uh... on second thought, no thanks. I think the instant noodle I just ate is doing a number on my stomach at the moment...
Ooooh, do you need some medicine? Maybe a Japanese Massage? Ahaha? Can't say no~ can't you?!
NO! KEEP AWAY! STAY THE FUCK AWAY! Seriously, Claude! What's the matter with you? Are you always like this with every guy you meet?
Tsk...no way in hell that's gonna pass as an excuse.
What's the matter, Captain? you don't think Claude's cute?
Aside from the pink hair, you're okay. Really. You look great. It's just that... seriously. Your personality. Everything. God. It's like you're a s-sl- Argh! I don't wanna say it! I just...can't be with you! Ava will kill me for sure!
Ahahah. Just what's your relationship with your first officer anyways? Ex-wife?
Hell no. I think we have regulations against that. No seriously, we just went to the same high school together, that's all. Used to be pretty close back in the days, but it's not like we were dating or anything. (Heh, I wish.) I guess... she's more of an...elder sister figure to me.
Haha. So cute~ And now she's your first officer? That's so awkwarddddd!
(You wouldn't know half of it...) Anyway. Claude, just... don't push it with Ava, okay? She's busy with work and all...
Bleh. That woman just never lets up. Just 'cause I'm staying here for now doesn't mean I have to do the military thing.
Hey, I know Ava can be a little bit much at times, but she's only doing her job. Can't you two at least try to get along?
OH! CAPTAIN!
W-what?!
I-I think I've been hit with a sudden bout of sleepiness.... Good night!
What the fuck? Claude?
(Is this bitch for real?) Hey! I'm not done talking with you!
Zzzzzzz... Mmmmm...
Hey! Are you gonna let me take advantage of you here?!
Ooooh, Captain. Zzzzz mmmmmm...*shifts her chest to allow easier access*
You're kidding me... you sick nympho! I'm going back to work. Enjoy your ice cream.
Mmmmm...Zzz...nom nom nom...bye~
Tsk...the nerve of that woman! How am I gonna instill discipline with that slut around?! O-oh! Hey!
Sorry about the ranting. It's been a long day.
It is dark. I cannot tell if I have truly awakened, or if I still sleep on board the Sharr'Lac, and this is merely a strange dream.
Trust me. You're awake. All of this is no dream.
Very well. You wish something of me?
Yeah... I wanna ask some questions... about you. What are you planning to do now? Y'know...after coming back to life-
... I do not know. The world I know is no more. The war against the Fallen has long concluded, and history no longer even remembers who the victors were. All which I swore to protect are now long dead or destroyed. I now live a hollow existence. I wish to close my eyes once more, and disappear into nothingness. As it was meant to be.
I'm sorry to say this, but I'm afraid your story isn't over yet. Ryuvia is still in danger. If you are a soldier as you say you are - it's time to pitch in once more and fight.
You speak of your enemy, PACT?
Yes.
I know not of what quarrels you have with them. War is an ugly affair. The truth is lost amidst the sea of blood. No side can claim the moral high ground.
Bullshit. Tell that to the millions of civilians lay dead in my homeworld. 'Oh, sorry - you can't claim moral high ground. You were shit at fighting and a big, juicy target to PACT's dreadnought cannon.'
... Even after countless millenia, leaders still speak the same words before leading men to battle.
Sola. I'm sorry if I sound a bit blunt. But Asaga is a Princess of Ryuvia, is she not? And you being part of Ryuvian military - shouldn't you be obliged to aid her?
... Very well. My arms belong to Ryuvia alone. If there is a threat which threatens my people in this timeline, then I shall once again offer my life to the Holy Ryuvian Empire. But I shall only exist for the defense of Ryuvia. That is all, Captain.
Sigh. That will have to do for now. Tell me, what was the HRE like during your time?
It was a violent time. The Emperor and Crown Prince were assassinated, leaving the throne to my father, the second prince. Yet Crow Harbour, the jealous bastard son of the Emperor, laid a competing claim to the throne. A succession war broke out as he split the kingdom into two factions.
The Fallen?
Yes. For fourteen years, the HRE was caught in a bloody civil war. The Empire seemed doomed to crumble if drastic measures were not taken.
Drastic measures. Like what?
The awakening of the Sharr'Lac.
That giant ship you were in?
Yes. A weapon of unimaginable power. Yet, it can only be helmed by one of the King's daughters.
Huh? A weapon powered by a royal princess?
Yes. The Sharr'Lac cannot be awakened without sealing the fate of the princess. When it fires, it also takes the life of its user.
That sounds straight out of a fantasy novel, not science.
Our ships are operated by the power of science, just like yours. Not magic.
Yeah, but yours sound more like the 'magic' of science.
Long before my time, countless warships bearing the same power as the Sharr'Lac were built. War truly became horrible. Humanity possessed the power to not only destroy itself, but to collapse the entire universe into a singularity.
Tsk... same old shit.
It was the fear of our own power which led to the creation of the Sharr'Lac. The wise Emperors of the past decreed such almighty power could only be used for the sacrifice of the Emperor's most precious daughter. With the price of infinite power so high, even the most arrogant of Emperors bid second thought before awakening the Sharr'Lac. And so, with our most devastating weapon so limited, the HRE could continue to exist in peace.
Well obviously something had gone wrong. Or else you wouldn't end up being inside that thing.
... It was a desperate time.
I'm not judging you for that. But you said firing the Sharr'Lac would kill the Princess within it. And yet- here you are. Why?
I too, ask myself the same question.
I've already spoken too much. I do not wish to speak of this further.
(...and if she's the Princess, why isn't the Crown Jewel reacting to her presence? Something's fishy.) Hey, I also noticed your eyes were glowing when you fired that shot at Chigara. What was that? Some kind of hidden power?
... You find me unnatural?
Look, I've never seen anything like that before.
Perhaps I am not of your species, Captain. Or do you fancy that I am some kind of android?
(Did she just crack a joke?) Uh...
Fear not. I am as human as your parents. My eye is merely the result of millennia of scientific research. Thanks to genetic modification, I can momentarily increase the vision in my right eye one hundred fold.
Impressive. But is there any side effect to it?
It is not just limited to my eye, but also affect a tremendous boost to my muscle control and brain function. Perhaps such a technology appears radical to you, but it was a trite affair during my time.
So everyone during your time possessed Super Human abilities?
No. The HRE Emperors feared the power the masses would wield if they had access to such technology. Thus, the law across the galaxy was that only the royalty could augment their own DNA.
Makes sense. So you'll help Asaga, won't you?
The current Princess?
Yes.
Very well. I am still sworn to protect Ryuvia, even millennia in the future. I will defend Ryuvia with my life. I have already cast down my body for Ryuvia once, and I do not flinch a the thought of doing so again.
Cut the sacrifice talks already, times have changed. This is my ship. And in my ship, everyone's coming out of this alive.
Hmm...we shall see. Farewell, Captain. Leave me to my peace.