Story Reader / Affection / Alisa: Echo / Story
It's several hours past sunset by the time you're done dealing with Pickman's minions and settling the refugees in.
The Constructs are still busy reviewing the data at the collection point beside Conservation Area 104. Echo, on the other hand, has gathered up a bunch of items on her own and taken them to a nearby empty lot.
Paper products, dirty bandages, old decorations, etc.—these are the things that lie around her feet now.
Echo squats down and gathers them into a pile. Moments later, she produces a lighter—and sets these ownerless items on fire.
She is only inches away from the burning pile as specks of ash flutter in the rising, heated air, close enough to catch a few if they drift her way.
As you look at Echo, you wonder if her weird apology from earlier had anything to do with what the guy had said about her.
You find yourself standing next to her now, your feet seemingly having carried you here with a mind of their own.
Still not entirely sure what you want to say, you're caught in the awkward silence of the moment.
You mean those people who just got taken away?
Echo puts on a barely noticeable smile.
Makes sense that they don't understand what I'm trying to do... when Pickman has done such a good job brainwashing them so thoroughly.
Don't worry, though. I'm not going to give up just because of a few words.
Why did I apologize just now?
I wanted to apologize to you for making a move on my own and putting all of you at risk.
I'm willing to accept any judgment and punishment that might come my way, but I just thought I owed you all an apology...
I'll try not to.
...Right. Yes, I'll follow the rules going forward.
So long as there's still going back, that is...
It's been a while now since Pickman and his central flying fortress went down.
His headquarters have been staying in touch with all these branches of Utopia out there, but these people probably already had a hunch about what'd happened to Pickman...
Echo nods at you.
They seemed to have learned something from an outsider visiting them last night when I was watching them.
And at noon today, they put all the refugees into some of the bigger tents to stop them from going wherever they wanted to.
Some of the guards started burning printed materials... and I thought it wouldn't be long before they started doing away with the refugees.
Right. I did a quick headcount of the guards and figured I should be able to handle them on my own just fine.
Not knowing they were so heavily armed, that is...
Well... sure glad I didn't end up worse than I did.
I do have a hard time forgetting all the people I couldn't save, though.
Says Echo as she turns to face the fire that's still burning—and that's when it hits you that these items belonged to those who didn't survive the battle...
Cecily was very quiet. She would always tell me all these fairy tales after "work," and this ornament with a hawk on it was her favorite.
Nata wore her heart on her sleeve and was always brimming with energy. I was pretty surprised when I found out that she loved reading these books that... you know, numb the heart.
And these...
People were probably just going about their everyday business carrying these things—until Utopia's peace was shattered.
I think I was only trying so hard because that's where I grew up.
And feel free to let me know if you find that a little...
Really? You would?
Same.
You put on a funny face as you throw up your hands, which cracks Echo up and brings a smile back to her face.
Well, that's something I never knew about the Gray Raven Commandant.
See, I totally thought you were a...
Hmm...
She bites her lip in hesitation.
Ahem... I think I'd prefer it if you gave me some time to come up with a better way to put it.
But anyhow, thank you, Commandant.
So, I take it that you're here to give me a pep talk? That's nice of you. Seems like Babylonia treats people a lot nicer than how they treated us at Utopia, in a realistic way.
Says Echo as memories belonging to Lena pop up in her M.I.N.D.
Echo can now seem to wrap her head around the ad hoc squad and all those different figures.
Sometime...?
...Sure. I'll sleep on that.
Says Echo, with a smile that looks obviously forced. It's anyone's guess what just crossed her mind.
