Story Reader / Affection / Lucia: Plume / Story
Lucia: Plume VI
Commandant, you're here.
No. I don't mind waiting if it's you.
A few hours ago. I didn't know when you would arrive, so I came early, just in case.
But enough about that. Let's return to our date. The reason I've invited you here is because my recovery has reached an end.
Through exhaustive reviews of prior files, I've ascertained the kind of person I am, and what I must do.
A fairly playful girl, Commandant.
The thing I'm about to do.
Sit down next to me first. I prepared a sumptuous meal for you.
Halfway through the sentence, Lucia seems to change into a different person. Her voice lightens, and her smile turns softer than usual.
Strange, isn't it? You won't see this side of me often. Relaxing moments like these are hard to come by, after all.
At Lucia's insistence, you take the utensils and sit down on a mat draped on the coarse ground.
...As much as I would like to say "yes", I left it up to the support staff, in the interest of your health.
It should be good. I didn't get to taste-test, but I trust the chefs.
While you eat, you listen to Lucia talk at length about current events.
Once, you were worried about her turning into a different person after the procedure. But from her words and actions, the new Lucia is simply a little more "playful."
...
As the moon rises high, Lucia suddenly goes quiet, her eyes closing as if in prayer.
I'm summoning the aliens, Commandant. Want to join in?
No, I'm just trying to summon aliens. With telepathy.
Mh-hm. I mean, extraterrestrial cultures...
My records indicate that you once had a conversation with Qu, the leader of Kowloong.
She once said that Tabula Akasha was all about leaving traces of humanity behind, letting "travelers" know we were once here... I think by "travelers", she must have meant aliens.
I may not be a big fan of this plan, but I do think it's amazing that there might be other cultures, other beings, out there.
Don't you think so too, Commandant? If "others" really do exist in the universe, what would they look like?
But no matter what they look like, if they can reach us through the void of space, that would mean that their technology far outstrips ours...
If that's the case, they may have a way of stopping, maybe even eradicating the Punishing Virus.
Yes, indeed it would be.
...Then that would be catastrophic. Aliens infected with the Punishing Virus would be no joke.
But aliens are probably just wishful thinking, both for Qu and for us...
If you want something, you have to reach for it. Fight for it. For me, for you, for all of us.
You suddenly feel Lucia's embrace from behind.
Though I may never be myself again, I think this is how "Lucia" expresses her emotions.
So, just like this... let me be with you, Commandant.
