[Tieria's bemused reaction to the explanation of pumpkin-carving only served to encourage Lockon more. And now, the thought of Tieria actually trying to carve a Gundam into a pumpkin, with painstaking attention to accuracy, is just too entertaining; Lockon laughs out loud at the thought.]
It's the spirit that counts. Not how accurate your designs are. As for me, I'll do my best to make a Haro pumpkin. Even if confuses Haro.
[He hesitates a little as he sees Tieria trying to get that one step ahead of him--then allows it. It's a small concession to make, after all, and he's pretty sure that he can quickly get ahead of him if he has to. If fighting breaks out, Lockon knows, he will have to get ahead of Tieria. He can't trust his aim enough anymore to try shooting with his teammates in front of him.
But when they do pass through the trees and into the area that was supposed to have bigger pumpkins, he freezes momentarily, and then Tieria is too far ahead of him for Lockon to easily overtake him.]
Tieria, something's gone wrong. Let's stick to--
[And he's cut off by gunfire. His good eye widens. It's not even the gunfire that worries him most, though. It's what he heard Setsuna say before it erupted.]
Setsuna! Are you sure?
[He draws his own gun, knowing bitterly how useless it's likely to be. He finds himself looking for the exit--but it's nowhere to be seen.]
[Of course, Tieria barely has the chance to process the real meaning behind Lockon's explanation, or how likely it is that Haro's programming would mistake an immobile object for itself, before the sudden change in scenery overwhelms him.]
How did -
[Cancel that. This is no time for questions. He'd only stood in place for the span of half a second, but it's one he wastes no time in compensating for. The gun is out automatically, without so much as a thought. Those are all trained in on analyzing the surroundings with a raw efficiency that people unaccustomed to conflict might deem unfeeling, but is very much the opposite, their only key to escaping safe and alive: Gundam Meisters remain in stable condition, currently zero civilians in the probable line of fire, assailant advancing-
One more shot.
-south. His head whips frantically toward the noise, then in the direction they originally came from (forcing down his own brief dismay when he reaches the same conclusion Lockon seems to be), and his determined eyes connect with Setsuna's.]
Keep moving!
[Muscles tensed in preparation, Tieria starts hurdling westward for the corner of one among several run-down shops as he issues an urgent signal for the others. They need to find an alternate route or dispatch the source of conflict immediately, and the former simply won't be safe until they do.]
[There's a nod as he follows Tieria's lead, picking up the Kurdish phrases spoken at a distance as he runs: Cursing, along with words such as "hurry up" and "don't hesitate" and "for the Kingdom of God". He could think of a few things that the attackers could have done, but he chooses not to dwell on them and instead focus on a way to oppose their acts of conflict.
He leans against the rough, unpainted wall of the shop, gun still pointed to the ground, and glances at Tieria and Lockon.]
This must be an act of terrorism; we should-
[He's cut off by the rattling of a machine gun, followed by the loud, distinct thud of a heavy object connecting with the sandy land. His eyes widen with dread as he identifies one of the sounds associated with his childhood days.
No, it isn't simply terrorist activity. He leaves his hiding place to get a better view and confirm his suspicions. True enough, the outline of one of Azadistan's Anf MS appears in the horizon, its gigantic steps quickly closing the distance between it and the small town.
There's an overwhelming sense of concern for both the civilians and his comrades now, and he cries out as if the one inside can hear him.]
Don't... This is civilian territory!
[He then glances around, eyes wide, estimating the number of people within the vicinity. It might be difficult, but he is not going to allow them to die. With that, he turns back to Lockon and Tieria. Determination now, as he says:]
[An act of terrorism, Setsuna says. Old rage stirs in Lockon--rage he hasn't truly felt in months. It's all been hiding under a veneer of contentment that's almost new to him.
But he can't afford to let it overtake him now. He has to be the voice of reason here, a middle ground between Tieria's instinctive analytic observation and Setsuna's memory-muddled horror. He has to be.]
Setsuna, this isn't real. It's something the City conjured up. We can't do anything but get out of--
[And then he stops, because he's seen something that he can't ignore, can't be the voice of reason about.
Approaching the three of them is young Soran Ibrahim, his gun cradled in his arms, violence on his face.]
[Reality wouldn't make these fabrications less lethal, not in a world that subsists on the impossible. Then as if proving his point, Tieria feels the ground shudder beneath them on the approach of Azadistan's outdated mobile suits - how didn't he detect them sooner? - which explains the uncomfortable, frustrated and helpless sensation gathering in the pit of his stomach. They're virtually nothing now. At Setsuna's command, Tieria shoots him a concerned look as he observes his teammate's sense of control slowly slipping. He may well have a point, though: if this is his past, maybe there isn't any choice but for him to fight it. And this time, he would have help. Nodding, Tieria turns in Lockon's direction, not wanting to let him out of his sight for an instant.]
It could be another test of theirs. The odds are against us, but perhaps our only way out is to neutralize the situation.
[He's lucky to get that through, because the scene before him doesn't leave much time for words. In a way, Tieria knows, Lockon is now dealing with a component of his own past. He wants to ease him, keep him rooted in the present, yet Tieria can't do anything to hide the vague tremor building in his voice under the strain of what he's faced with.]
Lockon, stay calm.
[The grip on his gun tightens. This is not Setsuna, it's a ghost and a memory; he's all too aware of what the child will do if given half a chance, what he undoubtedly sees in these unknown men. If Soran attacks first, there won't be a moment's hesitation to protect his would-be target and retaliate.]
[Lockon's words snap Setsuna out of the trance the City had placed him in, and he hastily collects himself. Lockon's right; this is the effects of a curse, and it is only attempting to replay his past, and he knows by now that the past is something that cannot be changed.
But he also agrees with Tieria's statement. It might not work, but there is the possibility that it can. That is reason enough for him to attempt to act.
But Lockon's sentence cuts off, and Setsuna's eyes quickly follow the path his comrade's stare is directing. And then both surprise and alarm color his features.]
No, that is...
[The younger him continues to advance towards them-he knows that expression on Soran's face all too well: It is one that is determined to kill in the name of God without remorse, one that is not afraid of getting wounded, or dying. The child soldier raises his gun at Lockon and proclaims, in Kurdish:]
People like you are the ones who defile God's Land!
It's the spirit that counts. Not how accurate your designs are. As for me, I'll do my best to make a Haro pumpkin. Even if confuses Haro.
[He hesitates a little as he sees Tieria trying to get that one step ahead of him--then allows it. It's a small concession to make, after all, and he's pretty sure that he can quickly get ahead of him if he has to. If fighting breaks out, Lockon knows, he will have to get ahead of Tieria. He can't trust his aim enough anymore to try shooting with his teammates in front of him.
But when they do pass through the trees and into the area that was supposed to have bigger pumpkins, he freezes momentarily, and then Tieria is too far ahead of him for Lockon to easily overtake him.]
Tieria, something's gone wrong. Let's stick to--
[And he's cut off by gunfire. His good eye widens. It's not even the gunfire that worries him most, though. It's what he heard Setsuna say before it erupted.]
Setsuna! Are you sure?
[He draws his own gun, knowing bitterly how useless it's likely to be. He finds himself looking for the exit--but it's nowhere to be seen.]
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How did -
[Cancel that. This is no time for questions. He'd only stood in place for the span of half a second, but it's one he wastes no time in compensating for. The gun is out automatically, without so much as a thought. Those are all trained in on analyzing the surroundings with a raw efficiency that people unaccustomed to conflict might deem unfeeling, but is very much the opposite, their only key to escaping safe and alive: Gundam Meisters remain in stable condition, currently zero civilians in the probable line of fire, assailant advancing-
One more shot.
-south. His head whips frantically toward the noise, then in the direction they originally came from (forcing down his own brief dismay when he reaches the same conclusion Lockon seems to be), and his determined eyes connect with Setsuna's.]
Keep moving!
[Muscles tensed in preparation, Tieria starts hurdling westward for the corner of one among several run-down shops as he issues an urgent signal for the others. They need to find an alternate route or dispatch the source of conflict immediately, and the former simply won't be safe until they do.]
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He leans against the rough, unpainted wall of the shop, gun still pointed to the ground, and glances at Tieria and Lockon.]
This must be an act of terrorism; we should-
[He's cut off by the rattling of a machine gun, followed by the loud, distinct thud of a heavy object connecting with the sandy land. His eyes widen with dread as he identifies one of the sounds associated with his childhood days.
No, it isn't simply terrorist activity. He leaves his hiding place to get a better view and confirm his suspicions. True enough, the outline of one of Azadistan's Anf MS appears in the horizon, its gigantic steps quickly closing the distance between it and the small town.
There's an overwhelming sense of concern for both the civilians and his comrades now, and he cries out as if the one inside can hear him.]
Don't... This is civilian territory!
[He then glances around, eyes wide, estimating the number of people within the vicinity. It might be difficult, but he is not going to allow them to die. With that, he turns back to Lockon and Tieria. Determination now, as he says:]
Order the civilians to evacuate!
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But he can't afford to let it overtake him now. He has to be the voice of reason here, a middle ground between Tieria's instinctive analytic observation and Setsuna's memory-muddled horror. He has to be.]
Setsuna, this isn't real. It's something the City conjured up. We can't do anything but get out of--
[And then he stops, because he's seen something that he can't ignore, can't be the voice of reason about.
Approaching the three of them is young Soran Ibrahim, his gun cradled in his arms, violence on his face.]
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It could be another test of theirs. The odds are against us, but perhaps our only way out is to neutralize the situation.
[He's lucky to get that through, because the scene before him doesn't leave much time for words. In a way, Tieria knows, Lockon is now dealing with a component of his own past. He wants to ease him, keep him rooted in the present, yet Tieria can't do anything to hide the vague tremor building in his voice under the strain of what he's faced with.]
Lockon, stay calm.
[The grip on his gun tightens. This is not Setsuna, it's a ghost and a memory; he's all too aware of what the child will do if given half a chance, what he undoubtedly sees in these unknown men. If Soran attacks first, there won't be a moment's hesitation to protect his would-be target and retaliate.]
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But he also agrees with Tieria's statement. It might not work, but there is the possibility that it can. That is reason enough for him to attempt to act.
But Lockon's sentence cuts off, and Setsuna's eyes quickly follow the path his comrade's stare is directing. And then both surprise and alarm color his features.]
No, that is...
[The younger him continues to advance towards them-he knows that expression on Soran's face all too well: It is one that is determined to kill in the name of God without remorse, one that is not afraid of getting wounded, or dying. The child soldier raises his gun at Lockon and proclaims, in Kurdish:]
People like you are the ones who defile God's Land!
Reply
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