Seventeenth Light (A hero's welcome)

[curseu_reflexes]

1.

[The Seattle colony of the LS Cluster... a colony not even graced with a stationary orbit unlike those lucky bastards at the Sides.  The outer reaches of humanity's settlements in the Earth Sphere.  And more importantly, it was home.  It had been for eleven years of her life, and it had been almost a whole year since she'd said goodbye to

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[minorbeat]

That's quite the welcome for you Richardson.

(While Seiren's tone is happy and has a playful smirk, her eyes look almost jealous of this.)

[curseu_reflexes]

It's just some close friends and family is all. Schoolmates, a few teachers I was really close to-

Oh she's just being humble. When Reilev first got the mascot job, journalists from neighboring colonies flooded the place! It was one of the big events that helped put this colony on the map! And she was so brave, reviewing her speeches before press conferences and needing help with the big words!

[And at that she blushes a little.

M-Mom! Y-you didn't need to say that last part!

[minorbeat]

(Seiren continues to look out at the people. Her envy is shown in a sad smile and a look of longing.)

I see...It must be nice to have so many people close to you welcome you back. I wonder what it feels like.

[curseu_reflexes]

Well... I'm sure you were all worrying about me though. I-I mean the expo was a disaster and a lot of people died! And then I just... went into the fight again!

[And at that her father's expressions darkens somewhat.]

I'll admit... I wasn't excited to hear that, Julia. Especially when we got word that the original Corona was destroyed. News travels here slow though... had we known when the Chalice was heading to Mars we would've sent for you.

[She felt the color begin to drain from her face when she heard her father speaking.]

Dad, I didn't mean to-

[Aaaaand cue him getting elbowed in the ribs by his wife.]

Of course we were just worried for you all that while. Using a mech meant for advertising in combat like that! But that's all in the past. You've grown quite a bit, both after you left us and after the old Corona's destruction!

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[sunshine_maiden]

It's been a long time, hasn't it, Reilev?

[Sora had heard enough about Seattle Colony that she'd wanted to see it; she hadn't expected such a sizable group to be waiting for Julia, though.]

[curseu_reflexes]

It really has!

It's... hard to imagine that almost twelve years ago the outer regions of the Earth Sphere were a battleground between humans and Irgelions, isn't it?

[sunshine_maiden]

That's a sobering thought. All those years ago, you and I were citizens of an empire set on the destruction of the human race... and now we're living on a ship fighting to save it. Crazy, huh?

[curseu_reflexes]

It happens. This place is our home... humanity took us in, in spite of everything that happened between us. We're just... paying it back for all of that.

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[a_human_work]

[Michelle is somewhere in the back of the crowd leaving the ship, looking on the parade in Julia's honor with a slightly baffled expression.]

Am I the only one around here who isn't famous somewhere?

[curseu_reflexes]

Oh come on! I'm sure if we went somewhere people would still recognize you or have a welcome party?

... Come to think of it, where are you from?

[a_human_work]

I didn't mean to complain. I'm just surprised at how many famous people we have on the Chalice. If I were to return home, my friends from back in school and my family would certainly be there. Probably some of my old coworkers too. It would just be a bit more private thing...

And I'm from Marseilles. It's a big dirty city in southern France, but it's also my home.

Ummm, and sorry for sounding depressing at your welcome party, I really didn't mean to.

[curseu_reflexes]

Its fine! Besides... I'm really only famous here.

Closer into the Earth Sphere, I'm just a little fish in the ocean. Compared to showy idols that can sing well, I'm way too mundane. That and Prominence Armors still haven't sold very well close to Earth even with all the fighting I did in one!

Still sell like hotcakes out here though!

Well yeah, but it helps that everyone remembers that the original Prominence Armor, the Daybreak, is what helped end the war.

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[orewagundamda]

[You aren't the only one wandering the colony, Julia, though admittedly Setsuna was wandering for different reasons. The loss of Veda was a great blow to Celestial Being, and the fact that he just came back from facing those MS equiped with Psuedo-Solar Furnaces meant that the status quo had changed greatly. The Technological edge had been lost. Still, with the existance of Trans-Am... Did they have a chance yet?]

[Setsuna bumps into Julia in the midst of his musings, and blinks.] Julia Richardson. You seem troubled.

[curseu_reflexes]

[SHOCK!]

S-Setsuna!

I-I thought that Celestial Being's pilots had stayed on Earth!

[orewagundamda]

[Nods] We did. Our Gundams are capable of exiting the atmosphere, and it was decided that one of us would rendezvous with the Chalice to give them a status report, so I volunteered for the job. ['Tieria was less than pleased.'] Is something the matter?

[curseu_reflexes]

Oh! Well that's good then!

So then... how do you like Seattle then? It's the farthest we've gone out since we went to Mars all those months ago, can you believe it?

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[emorangerpink]

Julia! Your home colony's a really lovely...

Er...

Are you okay? Sorry - did you want to be alone?

[curseu_reflexes]

O-oh... it's fine Laura. I was just...

You ever hear about good news that, the more you think about it, isn't all good?

[emorangerpink]

[Laura thinks about it.]

...I think I've only had bad news that turned out to be worse than I thought. Well - and good news that turned out to be better...

I think I know what you mean, though. What's happened?

[curseu_reflexes]

I got an offer... from some people that Mr. Herrera left an awful lot of money to in his will. The Deep Space Survey and Development organization... DSSD. It was in Mr. Herrera's will requesting that they offer me a position in their group...

... But it would mean leaving the Chalice...