Story Reader / Affection / Alisa: Echo / Story
Alisa: Echo VI
Cecily, look. That's one bright star!
Shh, quiet now... Let me have a look...
That's Beta Lib, and I heard it looks green sometimes... Uhm... doesn't seem particularly green, does it?
Green? Let me take a better look... Woah, there's a star that's flying!
A shooting star?
When Alisa turned around, she saw Cecily had her eyes closed and her hands together, reminding her of the statue of Mary that she'd seen in a book.
Cecily?
People believe that shooting stars can carry our wishes, and I thought it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.
Flimsy as they might be, wishes were what people needed to live through yet another day of this fabricated reality.
And if God did exist and if He were listening, Cecily hoped that Alisa would never again fall for the facade...
Let me give that a try, too! Wait... the star is gone, though...
Oh, oops... Well, I'll make sure to let you know next time as soon as I see one, then!
But then I'll need to wait longer for my wish to come true...
Want to tell me what your wish is? I just might be able to make it come true for you now.
I want to live here with you, Father, and everyone else. Forever and ever!
Did Cecily look happy or sad? I can't seem to remember now...
I'm sorry it took me so long to see the place for what it really was...
But you now have someone you can truly trust...
And that's already more than I could have ever asked for.
...Cecily?
...Uhmm.
The sunlight this morning is anything but blinding, and Constructs don't need much time to grow used to the brightness of day.
Which is why Echo jumps right to her feet the second her eyes fly open and takes a few steps back.
Wait... It's this late already?!
Did I actually sleep for longer than you did, Commandant? I can't believe this is happening!
A-and you should have kept your distance from me until I've groomed myself!
Upset, Echo fixes her hair and coating—both of which seem perfectly fine to you.
No way! Everyone needs a quick fix when they wake up. That's just good manners! And your hair, Commandant! It's sticking out from the side!
And, after giving your clothes a few shakes the same way Echo did hers, you cast her a "mission complete" look.
...
She walks up this way, seemingly at her wits' end.
Uh-hum... May I, Commandant?
Much better now... And here.
Gently, Echo flattens your hair.
I still can't believe I fell asleep last night just like that, though...
The two of you were having a conversation about poetic rhetoric before veering off to books and weird stories and anecdotes... before you drifted off first.
And whatever happened to our... mission?
Before you know it, Echo is done packing and disposing of the burnt chunks from the campfire and ready to go.
You can feel the trembles coming up from your seat, and soon, the transport craft is already traveling smoothly through the air.
And this, you know, means that this trip is soon coming to an end.
You wonder if you still have time...
You wake your terminal up from sleep and start editing the draft you've processed in your head only way too many times. Ideas seem to flow much better now, and you know you have your discussion with Echo to thank for it.
Before long—or perhaps time just goes by faster when one's fully absorbed in something—however, weightlessness sets in, a sign that the transport craft has started to descend.
You unbuckle your seat belt and switch back to your seat beside Echo's, before passing her a folded piece of paper.
Gently, she unfolds the paper and starts drinking in the words on it.
...So this is what you were busy with... I totally thought you were doing work on your terminal.
You want to hear what Echo thinks of your poem, elementary as it might be...
Light of hope rains down as the stars swoosh past...
...into... tomorrow...
Echo mumbles out the words from your poem, looking preoccupied.
Uhm... this is honestly... still very elementary... and that's not to say I consider myself advanced or anything.
But as far as expressing your feelings goes... I really like it!
I mean, I understand the feelings and points of view you're trying to get across with this poem, and I share the same ones.
No... I guess what I'm trying to say is that a part of your poem is exactly what I hope to see in this world...
Echo gives your poem another look before folding it and putting it away in one of the hard slots in her notebook.
This... means a lot to me. I'll make sure to keep it well.
Nothing worthwhile is what they are today right from the get-go. That holds true for poetry, missions, and... how we want the world to be.
If poetry is your cup of tea, I'm sure it won't be long before you start churning out great work.
The two of you carry on talking as land sharpens into view. Before you know it, the transport craft has landed squarely on the ground, the hum of the motor coming to a stop.
And I think this is where we say goodbye... Commandant.
They... as in Babylonia?
But... that'd be going against the rules that have been there all along, no?
And such strict restrictions aren't really that necessary in terms of a normal Construct.
Babylonia... I can't say I'm excited about staying there, but I guess I won't mind it if you're there, too...
Echo smiles at you, her hair aglow with the light pouring into the cabin, reminiscent of an apostle bearing a sacred mission.
I, Echo, have arrived at the mission locale as per order. I shall contact relevant personnel upon discovery of valuable intel as per the terms stipulated in the agreement.
She turns around and starts walking into the wilderness, knowing full well what lies in store for her up ahead.
At the same time, she knows that she can always count on the human behind her—one who will walk alongside her as she makes her way into the future.
And they both know they will go to any lengths to see their vision realized.
