Stormtouched

I'm falling (Link: " >>>")[ Yet my body isn't moving.(link: " >>>")[ My two feet are still resting on the pedals, and my hands are griping the handles without truly squeezing them. (link: " >>>")[The weight of my body is on my back, relaxing on the chair of the cockpit, while my eyes look forward and up past the flashing instrument panel.(link: " >>>")[ At the sky.(link: " >>>")[ I'm not quite falling. (link: " >>>")[ Rather the mech is falling.(link: " >>>")[ And I'm just along for the ride. (link: " >>>")[ Somehow... (link: " >>>")[it feels...(link: " >>>")[ peaceful.(link:" >>>")[ Like, (link: " >>>")[it //is// right to think (link: " >>>")["well, that would have happened anyway, (link: " >>>")[it isn't my fault, (link: " >>>")[or my responsability." (link: " >>>")[ It's normal. (link: " >>>")[I'm normal. (link: " >>>")[Right? (link: " >>>")[ "Get a grip, you ass!" [[>>>>>>->Falling 2 (16)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Title: Touching the heart Storm Touched -Romance/friendship/queerplatonic relationship (depending on player choices) between player character and a rival character, in mecha pilot school? -Everybody is agender. Milie's origin nation had binary genders, but not her current one. -Milie and Chao Using music to sync their movements on the battlefield, and bonding over their similar taste in music -All the characters live on a military ship-city led by Commander Rolfe Choices: -Chao applying first aid to some superficial injury. Chao bring up the touch issue and asks if she can touch Milie and if yes, how. -Chao wanting to adjust Milie's hair, asking again if she can touch her, or more precisely her hair. Slightly different dialogue for accepting if Milie refused previous contact in the infirmary. -Milie and Chao sleeping together in bed, option to hug Chao or get closer to her **Player character: Milie-34** -Clone made for combat, admitted into the school presumably because of this rather than merits based on efforts. But the other cadets don't know the battles Milie has been through and affected by. She is very skilled from the beginning of her cadet apprenticeship, but it's because of her experience (Chao is able to tell though). -Trauma has made her touch-adverse (which Chao notices during training because Milie is always bracing for contact with people by breathing in at the start of only training/spars involving contact with someone), but Chao gives her the choice to accept her touch or not, and to what degree, potentially easing her into it again. -Quiet but actually angry inside? OR Chao encourages and teaches her to let her emotions flow. -Used to being treated as an object, and acting like one. -Doesn't like to be called by "she" pronouns as she was in her origin nation. Some other cadets call her such, thinking that what she would want. Eventually she tells Chao, who strongly inform the other cadets the next time it happens. -Unkept shoulder hair that Chao eventually decide to tie in a short ponytail for her - -Quiet domestic scene to highlight the character humanity and loneliness? -Congenital sickness affecting her eyes and her face? Requiring special goggles for her to maintain her sight (and/or form of colorblindness it corrects?). **Rival: Chao Zhang** -Proud, want people to acknowledge her as the best, but is more self-aware than people imagine and is a little self-conscious about her personality and what other think of her. -Disabled, uses custom exo-skeleton -Very agressive on the battlefield, Milie helps her temper her hotheaded impulses. -Solo poly. She is known for getting around. -She is a nerd and her room reflects that. -Cooks for Milie when she realizes she only eat simple or junk food -Milie tells her that they are jealous of her, which is she reacts very positively to. **Commander Rebecca Rolfe (OR android officer?)** - Plot: -Opens with Milie sensation of "falling" inside her mech as she launch in a duel exercize against Chao. -After the exercize, Milie is confronted by Chao, who is angry that Milie "didn't even tried" -After debriefing, the two are assigned to work as a team, to each their dismay. -Quiet domestic scene of Milie in her cabin after buying some groceries -First unsuccessful attempt. Milie gets hurt -Infirmary scene -Same day, HY shows engineering stuff to Milie -Cafeteria scene where HY correct people about Milie's pronouns? -Next day(?), the duo works on strategy together (music bonding) -That night, HY does somethin about Milie's hair -Third day, HY ask to have a spar with Milie in public (attempt by HY to have Milie make some contacts with others) -That night, Milie goes to HY's room to re-energize after socialiazing, because she feels safe with her, and lays next to her -Bonding over music -Trying the training again with music

An abrupt shock reverberates through the cockpit and my body, along with the sound of metal hitting metal.(link: " >>>")[ My mech isn't falling anymore.(link: " >>>")[ Instead it's slowly descending together with what caught it: another mech. (link: " >>>")[More precisely, //Huan-Yue's// mech, judging from the disapproving voice over the radio. (link: " >>>")[ "Get your engines running already!" She roars in my ear, bringing back a cold surge of guilt in my body.(link: " >>>")[ I can't.(link: " >>>")[ "I can't." (link: " >>>")[I add, trying to explain myself: "It's unresponsive."(link: " >>>")[ There's still anger in Huan-Yue's voice, maybe even more as she quickly but coldly instructs: "Cut the auxiliary systems and the assistance, and restart at 100% power right away." (link: " >>>")[ I obey and snap my fingers across the instrument panel, despite her instructions going against protocol. (link: " >>>")[Finally, I smash the accelerator, and I hear the engine rumble unsuccessfully for a few seconds before it roars and the mech abruptly shakes into movement, escaping Huan-Yue's hold and back into cutting through the sky.(link: " >>>")[ I should be glad I'm not dead, but I feel rather ashamed of needing to be helped. (link: " >>>")[The shame of not knowing how to do it myself.(link: " >>>")[ Because, (link: " >>>")[the worst thing about failing is not the failure itself, (link: " >>>")[but rather having to confront that failure in the eyes of others. [[>>>>>>->HY confrontation (13)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

I already see Huan-Yue walking at a brisk pace towards me the instant I'm out of my cockpit, if the loud, angry 'clang' of her feet against the metallic floor wasn't already enough of a tell, and my heart sink with anticipation of her clear anger.(link: " >>>")[ "I've had enough of your shit!"(link: " >>>")[ Her booming voice makes everybody turn their attention toward us in the hangar, technicians and fellow pilots-in-training. (link: " >>>")[Huan-Yue is always the center of attention. (link:" >>>")[As if to compensate for her small height, boyish short hair cut and juvenile round cheeks, her person is imposing in every other way.(link:" >>>")[ Her body is angular and built like a body-builder, all the while sporting an ample chest she is incomprehensibly proud of, and it's not rare to hear her loud voice from afar as she boasts about her numerous achievements.(link: " >>>")[ Even what must be some kind of spinal muscular atrophy disorder can't seem to stop her as her lower body is covered with a compact exo-skeleton. She is... (link: " >>>")[very bright.(link: " >>>")[ "Do you even care, Milie? About, like, anything?"(link: " >>>")[ What did I even do to get her //that// angry? I would give her a confused look if not for my protective glasses hiding my eyes behind a thick green visor. (link: " >>>")[Unsatisfied with me only tilting my head in response, she suddenly lifts a hand to grab my glasses, but thankfully stops midway when I recoil back a step. (link: " >>>")[She doesn't apologize, and instead stares silently for a few seconds, letting her arm fall back along her body, before asking: "can you remove that? Like, can we talk eye to eye?"(link: " >>>")[ "That... depends." I answer her honestly, though Huan-Yue still doesn't seem pleased with that answer. (link: " >>>")[Before either of us can say anything else, another voice booms across the room: "This isn't recreation, cadets!" (link: " >>>")[The group of fellow cadets that has formed around us to watch the altercation with unbridled curiosity immediately scampers away and go back to unloading their equipment.(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue and I aren't allowed such a convenient escape though, as Training Officer Miri directly walks to us at a brisk pace that produces an audible 'knock' every time her feet touch the ground. (link:" >>>")[The android officer mimicks perfectly the stern and authoritative attitude of the other Training Officers, along with a dose of annoyance and sarcasm, and no one is foolish enough to test her.(link: " >>>")[ "You two, Cadet Huan-Yue Liang, and Cadet Milie-34, with me to the debrief room." [[>>>>>>->Debrief 1 (15)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

There is a conflicted expression on Huan-Yue's face as we follow the officer.(link:" >>>")[ Training Officer and Analyst Miri has many responsabilities. So being called out by her like this could be just as bad as good.(link:" >>>")[ While androids can have a rank in the army and some of them like Miri are programmed with a distinct personality, they lack some of the creative thinking of humans. (link:" >>>")[I have only recently joined the City Ship and its army, but it has been long enough for me to acknowledge Miri's ability to process and provide relevant analysis and advices from raw training data. (link:" >>>")[She has already been a great mentor for us, even if the other human Training Officers have to take care of subtleties she can't manage. (link:" >>>")[And from what I've heard, she is also busy with other duties as an Analyst besides supervising our training.(link:" >>>")[ Strangely enough, a lot of cadets seem to like Miri. (link:" >>>")[She's a bit of an antiquity. A relic from a past that I think remind them fondly of their origins. (link:" >>>")[The nation that originally created the City Ship, the Federation of City States, has a complicated and intricate history with AIs and androids. (link:" >>>")[Twice the people of the City Ship (or their parents and grand-parents) have rebelled with androids at their side,(link:" >>>")[ first when as people of the Federation, they overthrew the all-controlling AIs that had taken control of the City States,(link:" >>>")[ and second when as people of the City Ship they declared independance from the Federation and repurposed this titanic ship made for war into its own nomad nation.(link: " >>>")[ I'm not from the Federation like everyone else, so for me, androids are reminiscent of different things. (link:" >>>")[They remind me of our 'classes' at the Imperial Cloning Facilities on how to battle and destroy military androids. (link:" >>>")[Of what it felt like to put these teachings in action on the field, the smell of their broken hardware. (link:" >>>")[I naturally keep these things to myself. Instead, I try to find kinship in the fact that, like everybody else here, I'm a 'traitor' to the nation that I hail from. (link:" >>>")[ I can share some of Huan-Yue's worry too, I wouldn't like to be scolded by Miri. (link: " >>>")[I hope for the best as we enter the debrief room in silence and Miri activates the holographic function of the table, making numerous graphs and metrics appear in the air. "I've got five minutes to spare," Miri announces with a sardonic smile, "so let's not wait any second." [[>>>>>>->Debrief 3 (8)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Miri shoots her first question at Huan-Yue and I breathe a sigh of relief in my head, hoping that most of those five minutes will be centered on her.(link: " >>>")[ "Liang, why did you disable Milie's engines with that maneuver?"(link:" >>>")[ I shoot a surprised look at Huan-Yue. I had no idea she had done that on purpose.(link:" >>>") [ Ignoring me, Huan-Yue's big black eyes are staring right back into Miri's cold grey ones. I can feel her determination as she answers: "I gave it my all to win the duel."(link:" >>>")[ Miri sits on the border of the table in a relaxed manner, unimpressed. "This is not a competition, Liang. And the point of training in a real environment is not to kill your fellow cadets."(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue opens her mouth, but abruptly stops, before starting over a second later: "Milie has been under-performing and I was hoping to give it a wake-up call."(link:" >>>")[ This elicits a soft chuckle from the android.(link:" >>>")[ "I know very well that you are serious and dedicated to the training, Liang, so I'm sure I will not need to tell you again that such... 'wake-up calls' are the privilege of the Training Officers,(link:" >>>")[ and that in any case they do not involve reckless maneuvers that put both yourself and your fellow soldiers into unnecessary danger.(link:" >>>")[Is that all clear, Cadet Liang?"(link:" >>>")[ "Yes, I understand, ma'am."(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue quickly answers with rare humility coming from her, while Miri now turns her attention to me.(link:" >>>")[ "Cadet Milie-34..." [[>>>>>>->Debrief 4 (12)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Despite calling my name, Miri first operates the table's holograms to bring up a particular screen closer.(link: " >>>")[ "... The information I'm seeing here show a complete lack of any input from you very shortly after your mech's engine went unresponsive. (link:" >>>")[Can you explain this to me?"(link: " >>>")[ Can I? (link: " >>>")[ Is it an acceptable answer to say that I gave up?(link: " >>>")[ Miri has no time for my hesitation. "I take it there was no physical impediment of any sort that prevented you from acting?"(link: " >>>")[ I nod in answer, which Miri thankfully seems to tolerate well enough to only mimick a sigh before continuing.(link: " >>>")[ "Milie-34, this is not the Empire, we do not get rid of soldiers at the first sign of dysfunction. (link: " >>>")[All I ask of you is to work with your fellow soldiers and officers. Cooperate with them, ask for their help, or even fight with them for all I care, but what I need you to realize is that you are not disposable. (link: " >>>")[Your actions affect everybody around you. You are a link in a chain now, you cannot allow yourself to break by yourself."(link: " >>>")[ Apparently not expecting an answer from me, she immediately moves on to her next point. (link: " >>>")[She gestures at both me, and Huan-Yue who has been standing stiff since she last talked, looking forward at nobody, as if to make a point about being unconcerned by my own reprimand. (link: " >>>")[She's surprised just like me by what Miri announces to us next: (link: " >>>")["From now on, the two of you will participate in every mech training exercise as a duo, effective immediately and until further notice." [[>>>>>>->Debrief 5 (9)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

This is... not the type of punishement I expected. I glance at Huan-Yue, who's glancing back at me with an expression of disbelief and... (link:" >>>")[disgust? (link:" >>>")[She quickly looks away, back at the Commander to raise an objection. "Aren't-" "The five minutes are up, dismissed!" Miri cuts her with a smile and gets up on her feet, swiftly walking out of the room before anybody can say anything.(link:" >>>")[ "Good luck on your training!" She launches at us without even looking, nonchalantly waving away with her back turned to us as a goodbye. There's nothing we can do but respectfully salute as she leaves. (link: " >>>")[As both an Analyst and Training Officer, she must have many responsabilities and we're probably just one small problem among a whole list of them that she has decided to micro-manage today. (link:" >>>")[We have to swallow our pride.(link: " >>>")[ I wonder if I should talk to Huan-Yue about this,(link: " >>>")[ or rather,(link: " >>>")[ I know I //have to//. (link:" >>>")[ The real question is(link: " >>>")[ 'do I have the courage to start that conversation?'(link: " >>>")[ But before I can make my mind, Huan-Yue storms out of the room without saying anything, (link:" >>>")[and deep down,(link:" >>>")[I feel a sense of relief. (link: " >>>")[After a few seconds, I follow everybody else and get out of here too. [[>>>>>>->Going Home 1 (13)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

I make my way home, across elevators and decks to get to the cadets' dormitory.(link: " >>>")[ The City Ship was originally created by the Federation of City States as a military vessel capable of acting entirely without a chain of supply, or a need to go ever back to base, or even for soldiers to go back home, since home is right here. (link:" >>>")[The City Ship can produce every ressource it needs, and all the personnel's families live on board, along with all the other workers necessary for a coherent, auto-sufficient society of a few hundreds thousand people.(link:" >>>")[ All the facilities you would expect in a regular city can be found across the kilometers long decks, and the military personnel gets to see their families a lot more often than regular soldiers would, especially after some of the post-independance reforms.(link:" >>>")[ But I have nobody on board to go back to. (link:" >>>")[No home to return to other than the military quarters. (link:" >>>")[At the end of the day, I generally avoid the cafeteria and get something to eat at the nearby convenience store before shutting myself up in my room. (link:" >>>")[Sometimes, I just lay on the bed, not even hungry enough to bother 'preparing' the food. (link:" >>>")[At some point, my thoughts always wander to the siblings I left behind. (link:" >>>")[The nostalgic memories of the ones that looked and thought like me.(link:" >>>")[ The other Milies.(link:" >>>")[ I realize how unfortunate our existence was in the Empire,(link:" >>>")[ yet it was comforting in many ways.(link:" >>>")[ We shared everything.(link:" >>>")[ And what we didn't share made us wonder.(link:" >>>")[ Like how funny 52 looked when it broke a teeth during training, or how striking it was to see individuality on its face, just like when 17 got that scar on its forehead. (link:" >>>")[ That was before the congenital disease we shared revealed itself.(link:" >>>")[ For a short time of amazement where the black spots took over our faces, we all looked different from each other, (link:" >>>")[until (link:" >>>")[they all looked the same. [[>>>>>>->Going Home 2 (10)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Eventually, I always jolt back up and out of my torpor(link: " >>>")[, and go to inspect my face in the mirror of the bathroom. (link: " >>>")[As usual, the black spots cover the center of my face, from the upper part of my nose, to over my eyelids and the contours of my eyes, and finally extending over to my forehead and cheeks in small, round patterns.(link: " >>>")[Like a black, indistinct butterfly of ink from these old Rorschah tests.(link: " >>>")[ It contrasts with my skin, and my eyes. And our dark brown eyes that have been turned into a green-ish yellow by the infection. (link:" >>>")[It has harmed their ability to absorb light, requiring me to wear specifically-made protective glasses for most of the day and during any intensive exercise.(link:" >>>")[ The skin infection has stopped growing a while ago thanks to the medicaments, but I still look like a mess for other reasons. (link:" >>>")[My hair is starting to reach my shoulders. I should have it cut.(link:" >>>")[I don't know how to take care of it, they would keep it short for us at the Cloning Facilities. (link:" >>>")[I will gather the courage to contact one of the local hairdressers for an appointment... (link:" >>>")[at some point. (link:" >>>")[Or maybe I should just try to do something about it myself? (link:" >>>")[And hopefully not screw it up, that would be even worse because of the embarrassment.(link:" >>>")[ With aimless thoughts circling in my head about how to deal and cope with mundane concerns, I run away from thinking about the dreadful prospect of teaming up with Huan-Yue in the days to come,(link:" >>>")[ and eventually go to bed without having accomplished anything that evening. [[End of chapter 1->Title 2]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

The next day, I wake up, immediately remembering about the team-up and today's exercises that would involve it, and resign myself to do my best.(link:" >>>")[ At the first hour of morning, our group has to gather for a roundup to go over our schedule for that day and other related information. (link:" >>>")[There's suddenly a lot of whispering once the Training Officer's announces that Huan-Yue and I will do all mech exercises as a duo. (link:" >>>")[As the officer scolds everybody for our lack of silence, I look around for Huan-Yue, who's displaying an annoyed pout. (link:" >>>")[I still don't know what to expect at that moment, but the time for us to climb into our mechs for a mock battle come soon enough for me to discover.(link:" >>>")[ Once seated and belted, I breathe out, trying to find that quiet, cold-blooded focus that usually work well for me. (link:" >>>")[Unfortunately, Huan-Yue's voice on the comms startles me as she finally speaks to me in a manner that only make me worry. "Follow me in support position and cover me, okay? I'm going to take care of it." (link:" >>>")[Whatever 'it' is. Does she mean the factice enemy of the exercise - our fellow cadets - or this whole teaming up situation? (link:" >>>")[Either way, I'm not reassured at all,(link:" >>>")[ and now my mind is preocupied with not screwing up the instructions she has given me,(link:" >>>")[ the expections it sets. [[>>>>>>->First Training 2 (15)]]]]]]]]]]]]

(set: $pommade to 0)\ (set: $haircut to 1)\ =><= ###**Stormtouched** <== //A science-fiction mecha story about touch, social anxiety and non-gender.// -Each chapter has an estimated average reading time of about 20 minutes (10 for the epilogue). -Choices do not affect the direction of the plot, choose at your leisure. -You can progress the text with your keyboard instead of the mouse by pressing Tab, then Enter. (Press Tab twice at the beginning of a new page.) -Scroll down this page for content warnings. Start the story from: [[The beginning->Title 1]] [[Chapter 2->Title 2]] [[Chapter 3->Title 3]] [[Chapter 4->Title 4]] [[The epilogue->Title 5]] -Deshumanization (with a mention of it in a medical setting). -"It" used as a pronoun for people. -Implied depiction of survivor guilt.

The engines roar and my mech launches itself out of the hangar and into the sky. (link: " >>>")[The speed of the take-off easily presses my back against the chair of my cramped cockpit, yet I immediately notice Huan-Yue charging forward at even greater speed. (link:" >>>")[I have to push the acceleration further to be able to follow behind her as instructed, but it causes my mech to tremble more noticeably than usual. (link:" >>>")[It's a little worrying, but not making myself into an embarrassment is a bigger worry. (link:" >>>")[I quickly realize that this is not just a matter of speed, Huan-Yue's movements are hard to predict. She gets close to our factice enemies, a group of three, and then suddenly maneuvers out of their line of fire.(link:" >>>")[ She gets a few shoots in, and then escapes. Again and again.(link:" >>>")[ It takes all of my attention to keep up with Huan-Yue's tactics. She harasses our opponents from various angles, taking full advantage of fighting in a 3D space, and forces them to consistently reposition themselves in order to not leave openings in their defense against Huan-Yue or me. (link:" >>>")[While Huan-Yue is moving all around like an annoying fly, I'm keeping my distances and I try to either exploit the opportunities she create or I cover her when she has to evade the enemies' counterattacks.(link:" >>>")[ I don't even notice my anxiety vanishing, replaced by the tension of the battle. (link:" >>>")[I have to put all my focus into keeping up with Huan-Yue's devilish and brazen hit-and-run tactic. Before one can reposition after any retreat she makes, she will already be back into the offensive from another angle. (link:" >>>")[To my own surprise,(link:" >>>")[keeping up with her feels good, (link:" >>>")[and exhilarating.(link:" >>>")[ I never realized how swift the movements of the mechs could be before Huan-Yue forced me just now to push what I thought were the machine's limits. (link:" >>>")[I do make mistakes as I go, but for once, it feels right to forgive myself when I'm opening myself to new possibilities. (link:" >>>")[It looks like we're going to win the factice battle(link:" >>>")[, but a flashing red light suddenly light up on my instrument panel, and before I can react to it, sudden hot pain burns my right leg.(link:" >>>")[ I can't hold a scream of pain and the radio fills with panicked voices before I hear the alarm calling the end of the exercise. [[>>>>>>->Infirmary 1 (9)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

I try to breathe out to manage the pain as I keep my leg away from the still burning hot metallic part that hurt me. My engines have been cut off remotely to let it cool and the other mechs are bringing me back to the hangar.(link:" >>>")[ Once I extract myself from the cockpit, I immediately notices Huan-Yue who is already here to stare at me with her thick, furrowed eyebrows.(link:" >>>")[ For some reason, she offers me her shoulder. "Come on, I'm taking you to the infirmary". (link:" >>>")[Considering that Training Officer Miri is gesturing for me to do as Huan-Yue says, I have little choice. (link:" >>>")[I breathe in, trying to steel myself for both the pain lingering in my leg and the prospect of physical contact with someone I barely know, before passing my arm around Huan-Yue's neck. (link:" >>>")[Without any more words, she helps me limp my way to the infirmary, more patiently than I would normally expect from her.(link:" >>>")[ As we get there, it turns out that the one nurse present is already busy with someone else, so Huan-Yue guides me to a bed herself, where I sit and remove my glasses to try to relax. (link:" >>>")[ "I'm gonna..." Huan-Yue stops before starting again. "Can you lift up your pants? I'm gonna take a look at it." (link:" >>>")[ In too much pain to fight with her about whether or not it's a good idea for her to play nurse, I do as she says and she kneels in front of me to take a close look at the burn on my leg. (link:" >>>")[ "Looks like the thermal protection of the pilot suit did its job, it looks pretty superficial thankfully." (link:" >>>")[ She gets up, and without asking for any permission, grabs a small tube of something from one of the cabinet. (link:" >>>")[She seems to notice my questioning stare as she comes back to me.(link:" >>>")[ "It's an ointment for burns. It should do the trick.(link:" >>>")[You will need to have it applied every day at the infirmary, but it should only take a few days to fully heal."(link:" >>>")[ Strangely, Huan-Yue now seems to hesitate and stops in front of me, the tube still in her hand. [[>>>>>>->Infirmary 2 (10)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

"You... don't really like to be touched, right?" Huan-Yue asks with rare hesitation. (link:" >>>")[ I'm not even sure what to answer, I'm too surprised at the fact that she even noticed.(link:" >>>")[ "How... how do you know?"(link:" >>>")[ She shoots me an annoying stare and a pout. "You think I couldn't notice you steeling yourself before any hand-to-hand sparing exercise?" Her tone is defiant, almost offended, as if I said I was doubting her abilities.(link:" >>>")[ Before I can think of what to say, her expression changes again, losing the pout and instead looking away and down in a surprisingly demure manner. "Though it's your reaction a moment ago when I offered my shoulder that reminded me... (link:" >>>")[Sorry for imposing that on you."(link:" >>>")[ Sorry? (link:" >>>")[I've never heard Huan-Yue say sorry before. (link:" >>>")[Has she been replaced by one of those rumored Doppelganger androids or what? (link:" >>>")[I'm still unable to say anything in response.(link:" >>>")[ Sometimes, speaking feels like the hardest thing to do in the world,(link:" >>>")[ or rather,(link:" >>>")[ it becomes impossible, like the words die before they can reach my throat.(link:" >>>")[ 'Selective Mutism' my therapist called it, among other problems.(link:" >>>")[ [[>>>>>>->Infirmary 3 (17)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

(set: $pommade to 0)\ I breathe in.(link:" >>>")[ I (link:" >>>")[can't help (link:" >>>")[but instinctively recoil when I touch someone. (link:" >>>")[I've learned to suppress it if I mentally prepare myself, but(link:" >>>")[ every time, (link:" >>>")[I still see them. (link:" >>>")[The faces of the cloners, the eyes and hands that treated us like objects. (link:" >>>")[The medical smell, somehow it irritates my nostrils each time like a ghost.(link:" >>>")[ I'm sorry.(link:" >>>")[ "Don't be." (link:" >>>")[ It's Huan-Yue suddenly saying this to me, kneeling in front of me, and her eyes, back to their firm and fiery appearence, staring at me with determination. (link:" >>>")[They are very different from those in my memories, not just from those of the cloners, but also from those of my siblings. It helps me take hold of the present.(link:" >>>")[ Breathing out(link:" >>>")[, I realize from what Huan-Yue said that I've been speaking out loud. (link:" >>>")[ "Don't be sorry." She says again, before I can react in any way to this situation. (link:" >>>")[Strangely, she doesn't say anything more about this, and instead shows me the tube of ointment, reminding me at the same time of the pain in my leg, which I had almost forgot about, somehow. (link:" >>>")[ "Do you wanna put it on yourself?" She asks quietly. [[I will put it on myself.->Pommade-Me (16)]] [[Huan-Yue can do it for me.->Pommade-HY (16)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

"Here you go." She says quietly as she passes me the small tube, holding it from one end in such manner than I can grab it without touching her. (link:" >>>")[Once I take it, she sits next to me with a relaxed attitude and silently observes me applying the ointment. (link:" >>>")[Honestly, it's a little unnerving.(link:" >>>")[ "Be generous." She does say at some point. "We don't wanna wait a week for you to fly again."(link:" >>>")[ Her attitude is a little unerving but, (link:" >>>")[I appreciate it. (link:" >>>")[I rarely talk about my aversion of touch, as if it's a shameful secret, so there something comforting about her casual acceptance of my boundaries. (link:" >>>")[I'm pretty surprised too, because I didn't think someone as hot-headed as Huan-Yue could also display this kind of tact.(link:" >>>")[ Maybe(link:" >>>")[, I can hope that cooperating will not be as dreadful as I was imagining.(link:" >>>")[ "T(link:" >>>")[hanks you," I stutter to her.(link:" >>>")[ Her thick eyebrows shoot up with surprise, and she tilts her head as she asks, "for what?" (link:" >>>")[ "Stuff."(link:" >>>")[ "That's not fair!" She shoots back with childish offense. "If I'm supposed to be proud of something, I wanna know what!"(link:" >>>")[ For the first time in a while, I laugh a little and stand up, walking away from her with the convenient excuse of having to return the ointment and wash my hands at the sink. (link:" >>>")[When I look back at her, there's a cute pout on her face. [[>>>>>>->Infirmary 4 (10)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

(set: $pommade to 1)\ "Just let me... prepare myself, okay?"(link:" >>>")[ Her big eyes open with uncontained surprise. "You're sure it's fine... if I touch you to apply it?"(link:" >>>")[ "Just give me a minute."(link:" >>>")[ She gives a quick, firm nod as I close my eyes. (link:" >>>")[I appreciate her patience, but I try to not make her wait too much. I breathe in, breathe out, and opens my eyes again. (link:" >>>")["I'm ready."(link:" >>>")[ She still gives me a nervous look, but complies. Her big hand delicately squeeze some ointment on her free hand and she slowly brings it to my leg, applying it carefully while her eyes dart between what she's doing and my face, checking if I'm alright.(link:" >>>")[ "I'm not made of crystal..." I complain with a bout of frustation that I find unusual myself.(link:" >>>")[ "Sorry." She says again, with this apologetic attitude that's so unusual for //her//. (link:" >>>")[It's almost like we have reversed roles in this moment. (link:" >>>")[It's quite strange.(link:" >>>")[ "I-I've never heard you say 'sorry' before... what's up with you?"(link:" >>>")[ She looks up, with an expression of surprise instead of worry this time. (link:" >>>")[ "Oh." (link:" >>>")[She recomposes herself with a playful smirk. "Aren't you quite observant yourself?"(link:" >>>")[ She stand up, having finished applying the ointment, and I only now realize that I paid no attention to her touch whatsoever. (link:" >>>")[She quickly washes her hand at a sink, and comes back toward me. "But you're right," she adds, flashing me a small but handsome smile, "rather than saying sorry, I should thank you for trusting me with this." [[>>>>>>->Infirmary 4 (10)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Once the ointment has dried off, we return to the Training Officer. (link:" >>>")[Most of the training is practical, so she isn't very happy with me having to sit on a bench for a few days, along with Huan-Yue for all the mech exercises since we are supposed to do them together. (link:" >>>")[ I wouldn't mind a vacation. (link:" >>>")[Unfortunately, Huan-Yue has an idea.(link:" >>>")[ "If we're going to be a duo, we have to get our stories straight. And I need to show a lot of stuff to Milie anyway, about the mechs."(link:" >>>")[She turns to me with an unimpressed expression. "I bet it doesn't even know why its mech overheated and burned its leg."(link:" >>>")[ It's my turn to be surprised at Huan-Yue, but well, I've been thinking about this, and... she's right.(link:" >>>")[ I don't really know what happened, and I have nothing to answer back at her. (link:" >>>")[The officer mimickes a thoughtful squint of the eyes for a second as she considers this proposition.(link:" >>>")[ "Sure, I know you're not the type to grab an opportunity to be lazy, Liang, and you're at the top of the group when it comes to engineering... and most other disciplines. Teaching could be a good experience for you too, I'll allow it. (link:" >>>")[But I expect a lot of you two once you're back to mech training.(link:" >>>")[ And Liang, you still have to show-up to all the training sessions that don't involve piloting practice. You are also allowed to use the simulators in your free time. (link:" >>>")[I'm counting on you to work hard, cadets. Dismissed."(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue turns to me, suddenly flashing me a big smile that I'm not used to see directed at me.(link:" >>>")[ "Let's go!"(link:" >>>")[ I was at least hoping for a quick break, but I guess that was wishful-thinking. [[End of chapter 2->Title 3]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

"The mechs we use are armed vehicules capable of tri-dimensional movement in the air."(link:" >>>")[ I explain the obvious just as Huan-Yue asked me as we make our way into the hangar. Technicians work here at pretty much all times, checking on the rows of mechs thrice the size of a person.(link:" >>>")[ "No!" Huan-Yue turns and practically shouts this, startling me.(link:" >>>")[ I'm pretty confused. I thought this was an obvious question.(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue abruptly stops in front of our two mechs, which have been shifted next to each other since yesterday, and points a finger at my face.(link:" >>>")[ "Forget what they said in the introduction lessons! You gotta think of your mech as an extension of your body, not as a vehicule or a weapon of its own."(link:" >>>")[ I stare at her with what must a dumbfounded expression. (link:" >>>")[Not discouraged in the least, Huan-Yue puffs her chest, hands on her sides, chin up. "Voice your thoughts, you can speak frankly."(link:" >>>")[ "H-how... is that philosophical s-stuff supposed to help?"(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue grins, and then points her thumb at my mech. (link:" >>>")["Get in."(link:" >>>")[ "I'm not supposed to ride until I recover!"(link:" >>>")[ "Hush," she handwaves my concern, "you're not gonna ride it, just sit in it for a minute. We're not breaking any orders." Without waiting, she climbs up the platform and opens the cockpit, before making an exaggerated bow in my direction to encourage me to climb up inside.(link:" >>>")[ Oh hell, I'll tell the truth and blame her if we do get in trouble.(link:" >>>")[I follow after her and climb in the cockpit while trying to not scratch my leg against anything. I can walk, and the ointment definitely helped, but it still hurt if I'm not careful. (link:" >>>")[It would definetely be hell on me if I actually tried to ride the mech in my current state.(link:" >>>")[ "Okay, don't close the cockpit," instructs Huan-Yue. "Turn on the engines."(link:" >>>")[ "I thought I wasn't going to ride it!?"(link:" >>>")[ "Chill out, I mean everything I say. You're just gonna let the engines turn for a minute." She gives me a smile. "Trust me, okay?"(link:" >>>")[ If this is an attempt to charm me, this isn't working. But I do as she says anyway.(link:" >>>")[ "Good," she says surprinsigly quietly. "Now close your eyes." [[>>>>>>->Hangar 2 (19)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

"Now, listen."(link:" >>>")[ I expect more instructions, but nothing comes.(link:" >>>")[ I only hear the background noises of the technicians doing their work(link:" >>>")[, but also the quiet roaring of the mech's engines.(link:" >>>")[ "Now feel," Huan-Yue instructs finally,(link:" >>>")[ leaving me even more confused.(link:" >>>")[ All I can feel is the pain in my leg,(link:" >>>")[ as I realize it is mainly caused by a vibration coming from the metallic conduit next to it.(link:" >>>")[I let out a silent gasp when I realize that the vibration and the engines vibrate in synch.(link:" >>>")[ "Press the accelerator a bit."(link:" >>>")[ I obey and my suspicions are confirmed as all signs align:(link:" >>>")[my press, the sound, and the vibration.(link:" >>>")[ "When you exercizing your body, you listen to it, right? If you are too tired or in pain, you know to stop.(link:" >>>")[Well, the mech is the same, you gotta listen to it."(link:" >>>")[ I open my eyes, feeling a presence in front of me.(link:" >>>")[I find Huan-Yue standing close to me, finger extended in what looks like an intent to boop my nose. Except she stopped just before doing it.(link:" >>>")[ Instead, she points at me with a grin, as if that is what she meant to do all along. (link:" >>>")["And to listen to your body, it helps to know it, right?"(link:" >>>")[ She moves on to passionately explaining the circulation of heat between the engines and the cooling system, leaning inside the cockpit and pointing at different parts to follow the cycles of fuel and other liquids running through semi-hidden conduits. (link:" >>>")["And this...!" She taps the part of the cockpit next to my burned leg, "is where all the heat clogs up if you don't give the cooling system some time to do its job!"(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue has a big smile on her face as she explains all of this, like she is very happy to teach what she knows. (link:" >>>")[It's pretty endearing, and for the first time it feels nice to sit in this cockpit, simply to listen to Huan-Yue passionate explanations as she sits casually on the cockpit's entrance, still taking care to not touch me. (link:" >>>")[She still feel close, but in a way that feels unusually safe and pleasant.(link:" >>>")[ If you went back in time and told me just a few days ago that I would find Huan-Yue's attitude endearing, I wouldn't believed it for a second,(link:" >>>")[ and yet now I find myself losing track of time as I listen to her. [[>>>>>>->Hangar 3 (22)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

It's Huan-Yue who eventually points out that we should take a break,(link:" >>>")[ by which she meant sitting on the platform's guardrail and letting me walk to relax my legs.(link:" >>>")[ "So," said Huan-Yue, breaking the silence before it could install itself, "tell me something about yourself."(link:" >>>")[ I don't like personal questions.(link:" >>>")[ And I'm bad at coming up with things on the spot.(link:" >>>")[ But(link:" >>>")[ there is something that has been on my mind.(link:" >>>")[ "You... I-..."(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue waits patiently for me to find my words.(link:" >>>")[ "We used 'it' as a pronoun... 'we' the clones I mean. But..."(link:" >>>")[ I breathe in, trying to gather my thoughts in coherent words and sentences.(link:" >>>")["That's what 'they' called us... and we ran along with it. That's how it was... how we were."(link:" >>>")[ But(link:" >>>")[ "But I'm not... the same anymore as how we were. (link:" >>>")[Right now, I'm(link:" >>>")[ alone."(link:" >>>")[ I didn't start this with the intention of going there, yet that's what it naturally led me to. (link:" >>>")[I would normally be embarrassed to even think of saying this, but I can't stop at this point.(link:" >>>")[It's flowing out of my mouth by itself.(link:" >>>")[ "I'm not '34' here. (link:" >>>")[I'm 'Milie', so it feels weird to be called 'it', like I was with my siblings. (link:" >>>")[I think it would feel more right for me to move on to something else."(link:" >>>")[ "Do you have something in mind?" Huan-Yue asks, encouraging me to continue.(link:" >>>")[ "... I was thinking 'they'. At least for now."(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue smiles at me, "cool, I'll keep it in mind." [[>>>>>>->Hangar 4 (14)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

"If that's fine with you, it's my turn to say something about myself, I think," says Huan-Yue with confidence.(link:" >>>")[ "Is there something you wanna know?"(link:" >>>")[ To be honest, (link:" >>>")[not really.(link:" >>>")[ I try to think of something anyway, but nothing comes to mind. (link:" >>>")[This seems to be the first thing people ask about each other every time they see each other, but I honestly have a hard time caring about the personal lives of others.(link:" >>>")[ But, (link:" >>>")[thinking about it more,(link:" >>>")[it was quite endearing to listen to Huan-Yue talk about the inner workings of the mech.(link:" >>>")[ "W-where did you learn about all this stuff about the mechs?"(link:" >>>")[ We do have lessons on this as part of our training, but we're soldiers, not technicians or engineers, so they aren't as thorough as what Huan-Yue has demonstrated. (link:" >>>")[She seems to like the question considering how her usual childish grin reappears on her face as she gets up from the railguard, the parts of the exoskeleton around her feet clinging with the metallic floor.(link:" >>>")[ "I love many things, but engineering is probably on top of the list!" (link:" >>>")[She points her open hand at the mech, as if she was framing it in some way. "Machines are awesome! I've always been fascinated by anything and everything mechanical. (link:" >>>")[So of course I've been studying everything about the mechs. They're a fine piece of tech... Though, I bet I could make them even better with enough time!" (link:" >>>")[ She puffs her chest with conviction, but it's a little hard to believe. [[>>>>>>->Hangar 5 (11-15)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

"Really?" I ask innocently. (link:" >>>")[ This bring a big, excited smile to Huan-Yue's face and words start to flow out of her mouth.(link:" >>>")[ "Look, sure, everything about the mechs' tri-dimensional movements is pretty much top notch, []<chat| (set: $tick to 0)\ (live: 1.5s)[(set: $tick to it + 1)(if: $tick is 1)[(append: ?chat)[//but//, ]](if: $tick is 2)[(append: ?chat)[the problem is that it's actually //too// good. ]](if: $tick is 3)[(append: ?chat)[It takes the best pilots to exploit more than 70% of the mechs' potential! ]](if: $tick is 4)[(append: ?chat)[And even //they// don't get close to 90%. ]](if: $tick is 5)[(append: ?chat)[There is just too much going on. ]](if: $tick is 6)[(append: ?chat)[The mech needs a copilot, but there's no room for a second human. ]](if: $tick is 7)[(append: ?chat)[But, an AI co-pilot could work! ]](if: $tick is 8)[(append: ?chat)[An AI like Miri that is able to do even quicker analyses and reactions. ]](if: $tick is 9)[(append: ?chat)[With enough time, I could program something like that myself! ]](if: $tick is 10)[(append: ?chat)[Probably. ]](if: $tick is 11)[(append: ?chat)[But even if we paid a programmer to do it, it would be worth the cost, ]](if: $tick is 12)[(append: ?chat)[thanks to the great increase of efficiency for the pilots. ]](if: $tick is 13)[(append: ?chat)[But not just that! ]](if: $tick is 14)[(append: ?chat)[It would also create new opportunities, like an autopilot worth a damn. ]](if: $tick is 15)[(append: ?chat)[And that's not all- ]](if: $tick is 16)[(append: ?chat)[ "Okay, okay, slow down, please!"](stop:)(link:" >>>")[ I gesture for Huan-Yue to stop and she thankfully does.(link:" >>>")[ "Haha, my bad!" She scratches the back of her head, with a really red, embarrassed blush on her cheeks.(link:" >>>")[ "I get a little too excited about this stuff. But I don't wanna bore you with it." (link:" >>>")[ I mean (link:" >>>")[ "I-I mean, I don't mind listening. It actually sounds interesting, but you have to explain more slowly, okay?" (link:" >>>")[ "Really?"(link:" >>>")[ "Really really."(link:" >>>")[ I do like to listen to people more than talking myself most of the time. (link:" >>>")[And while I don't like small-talk, it's endearing to listen to someone talking about what they truly care about. [[>>>>>>->Hangar 6 (15)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

[]<chat| (set: $tick to 0)\ (live: 1s)[ (set: $tick to it + 1) (if: $tick is 1)[ (append: ?chat)[The first line of text] ] (else-if: $tick is 2)[ (append: ?chat)[ The second line of text] ] (else-if: $tick is 3)[ (append: ?chat)[ The third line of text] ] (else-if: $tick is 4)[ (append: ?chat)[ The forth line of text] ] (else-if: $tick is 5)[ (append: ?chat)[ The fifth line of text] (append: ?chat)[ [[Continue->Next Passage] (stop:) ] ]

In the end, we spend the rest of the day talking, or 'exchanging information and tactics' as Huan-Yue puts it. (link:" >>>")[I do feel like I've learned a lot today. About mechs and about Huan-Yue. (link:" >>>")[ "Actually," says Huan-Yue, "now that we've covered the basics, we //should// exchange on tactics and stuff. (link:" >>>")[But we can start after dinner I guess. You wanna hit the cafeteria?" (link:" >>>")[ To be honest, I... like Huan-Yue I guess, but this socialization has me mentally exhausted already. (link:" >>>")[I don't know for her, this has felt like a long day for me. I'm not ready to deal with everybody's chatter.(link:" >>>")[ Noticing my hesitation, Huan-Yue shots me an interrogative look. "You alright?"(link:" >>>")[ "... Can we call it a day? I'm... gonna eat at home... and sleep a lot."(link:" >>>")[ This causes Huan-Yue to giggle for a second. "So that where you were every evening, I was wondering." (link:" >>>")[ She was? (link:" >>>")[ "Fine, but tomorrow I'm taking you with me at the cafeteria," she says with a smile. "You gotta make some other friends, or at least get to know the others a little."(link:" >>>")[ She gets ready to leave, but then turns back toward me as something comes to her mind. "Actually, can I pass by your place after dinner? Just for one thing?"(link:" >>>")[ "Which would be?"(link:" >>>")[ "Your hair could use a trim..." She studies me, hand on her chin. "I bet you would look really good in a ponytail.(link:" >>>")[ Anyway, looking cute will help with socializing, believe me, I'm very cute myself. (link:" >>>")[So whaddya say? I can cut your hair if that's okay with you, or just give you a few tips if you're more comfortable with that?" [[Tips will do.->Tips]] [[You can cut my hair.->Cut]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

(set: $haircut to 0)\ I touch my hair, thinking about what they've been looking like lately. "I don't mind your input."(link:" >>>")[ "Cool!" She flashes a big smile at me. "I'll not be obnoxious, I swear."(link: " >>>")[ It's really a change of pace to se someone be so happy about respecting my boundaries.(link:" >>>")[ It feels nice.(link:" >>>")[ "I'll see you after dinner, don't take too long to eat!"(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue starts trotting away, before suddenly stopping and turning toward me again. "oh,(link:" >>>")[ by the way, you don't mind if I tell the others that your pronouns are 'they/them'?"(link:" >>>")[ "Sure." Spares me having to worry about that.(link:" >>>")[ "Cool!" She says happily again before waving me off energetically. "See you in a moment!"(link:" >>>")[ I sigh silently. It's a little exhausting to just watch her, but I don't mind it. (link:" >>>")[This was an actually pretty nice way to spend the day. (link:" >>>")[ And I've made (link:" >>>")[a friend. [[>>>>>>->Haircut 1]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

(set: $haircut to 1)\ "Okay." I answer quietly, nodding my head to add some weight to my agreement.(link:" >>>")[ "You sure?" Huan-Yue seems slightly surprised and stares at me with big, inquisitive eyes. Was she expecting a negative answer?(link:" >>>")[ "Yeah, it's fine."(link:" >>>")[ "Nice! I'll see you after dinner, don't take too long to eat!"(link:" >>>")[ She starts walking away at a brisk pace, before suddenly turning toward me again. "oh,(link:" >>>")[ by the way, you don't mind if I tell the others that your pronouns are 'they/them'?"(link:" >>>")[ "Sure." Spares me having to worry about that.(link:" >>>")[ "Cool!" She says happily before waving me off energetically. "See you in a moment!"(link:" >>>")[ I sigh silently. It's a little exhausting to just watch her, but I don't mind it. (link:" >>>")[ This was an actually pretty nice way to spend the day. (link:" >>>")[ And I've made (link:" >>>")[a friend. [[>>>>>>->Haircut 1]]]]]]]]]]]]]

I make my own way out of the hangar and through the deck that houses the nearby convenience store.(link:" >>>")[ It's the usual routine, yet I feel different, more alive.(link:" >>>")[ Like I'm a part of this place.(link:" >>>")[ Like I'm going with purpose.(link:" >>>")[ As a cog of a system.(link:" >>>")[ It's a feeling...(link:" >>>")[ I thought I had forgotten.(link:" >>>")[ I hadn't realized it would possible to have that feeling again in a different place, away from my siblings.(link:" >>>")[ Without even thinking about it, I had dismissed the people here in my mind. Drawn a line between them and me.(link:" >>>")[ And would have I expected Huan-Yue of all people to cross that line?(link:" >>>")[ I'm grateful for her patience with me, though I also realize I can't dependent solely on her.(link:" >>>")[ Back in the days, if I had been depending on only one of my siblings, I would have been among the first ones who died. We had to stick together on everything.(link:" >>>")[ So I know she is right when she says I should make more friends, and for the first time, I feel like this is a legitimate possibility.(link:" >>>")[ That this is something within my abilities.(link:" >>>")[ I try to eat quickly and to clean up my room a bit afterwards. Hastily dusting the place and putting away the trash that piled up before because I didn't care enough to take care of it.(link:" >>>")[ It doesn't take that long to be finished though, and with nothing to do but wait for Huan-Yue, I get nervous in anticipation of her arrival.(link:" >>>")[ The ring of the doorbell finally jolts me away from my stressful stupor and I quickly open the door, revealing Huan-Yue's happy grin. [[>>>>>>->Haircut 2]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

(if: $haircut is 1)[I quietly breathe in and out, sitting on the desk's chair that Huan-Yue has moved in my bathroom.](else:)[Following Huan-Yue instructions, we move to the bathroom, with me sitting in front of the mirror.](link:" >>>")[ She has brought a number of things with her, including a towel now resting on my shoulders.(link:" >>>")[ (if: $haircut is 1)["Are you ready?" She asks me with a lot more tenderness than what I used to think her loud voice could produce.](else:)["You're ready to get started?" She asks me casually, and maybe, a little excited herself?](link:" >>>")[ I (if: $haircut is 1)[simply] give her the go ahead with a nod and a "hm". (link:" >>>")[(if: $haircut is 1)[I soon feel her hands brushing my hair gently.](else:)[Even without the mirror, I would be able to feel her stare on me, studying me intensely.] (link:" >>>")["You have beautiful hair..."(link:" >>>")[ Really?(link:" >>>")[ "Really?"(link:" >>>")[ "I //never// compliment in vain," she insists. (link:" >>>")["I was right, I think, they just need a little trim to give them a nice shape."(link:" >>>")[ (if: $haircut is 1)[She gets to work and only the snapping noises of her scissors fill the room for a moment.](else:)[She starts giving instructions and I follow them silently to the best of my ability.](link:" >>>")[(if: $haircut is 1)[ Huan-Yue is not one to let the silence settle in, though.](else:)[ Huan-Yue has more to say than just instructions though.] (link:" >>>")["That makes me think, is there anyone you wanna impress?" She asks cheekily.(link:" >>>")[ Impress?(link:" >>>")[ "I'm... more worried about getting passing marks," I answer honestly but Huan-Yue makes a dissatisfied noise.(link:" >>>")[ "I mean," she explains, "do you have a crush on anyone?"(link:" >>>")[ I know what that word means, but at the same time, I don't really.(link:" >>>")[ Romantic love is different from familial love in some way, or from friends. It's a form of feeling that lead to a bizarre dance of 'flirting' and ultimately sex.(link:" >>>")[ Or only sometimes it leads to sex? It's confusing, and I want no business with it anyway.(link:" >>>")[ Just thinking about being involved in something like that creates like a ball of stress in my stomach.(link:" >>>")[ "No(link:" >>>")[?"(link:" >>>")[ I answer to the best of my understanding.(link:" >>>")[ "Why the interrogative tone?" Huan-Yue sounds amused.(link:" >>>")[ "Because I don't really get it..." I answer frankly. "But I don't want to have sex anyway."(link:" >>>")[ This leaves Huan-Yue seemingly pensive for a few seconds, only responding with a prolonged "hmmm."(link:" >>>")[ Finally, she responds aloud with something that isn't particularly aimed at me. "They really didn't teach you anything in that... place."(link:" >>>")[ "Teach me, then."(link:" >>>")[ My own voice sounds more irritated than I intended.(link:" >>>")[ I realize after speaking up that there was something in Huan-Yue's voice, a kind of pity, that makes me feel strange.(link:" >>>")[ Not just irritated, I think, but also something else, harder to pinpoint.(link:" >>>")[ That pity reminds me...(link:" >>>")[ of the voices(link:" >>>")[ of the people(link:" >>>")[ who found me (link:" >>>")[ in that pile of corpses.(link:" >>>")[ All I remember is(link:" >>>")[ "poor thing, poor thing." [[>>>>>>->Haircut 3]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

"Milie, are you alright?"(link:" >>>")[ That name brings me back to reality.(link:" >>>")[ "S-sorry, I was spacing out... Did you say something?" I brush off the incident, and hopefully my feelings about it too.(link:" >>>")[ I look at Huan-Yue's frowned face, who is clearly not buying it, yet has the tact to not press on.(link:" >>>")[ "Well, I was about to say that I can't really teach you." She relaxes and shrugs with an exaggerated sigh(if: $haircut is 1)[, snapping the air with a scissor for emphasis].(link:" >>>")[ To be honest,(link:" >>>")[ "everybody says that,"(link:" >>>")[ it's irritating, "like you're(link:" >>>")[..." so much better for knowing.(link:" >>>")[ "Ah," Huan-Yue seems to get the gist of my unfinished sentence, her mouth staying slightly open with surprise.(link:" >>>")[ "I mean, I don't really get it either." She explains with an understanding smile.(link:" >>>")[ Not with pity, but as someone revealing something shared.(link:" >>>")[ "I don't know what it's like to be attracted to others romantically or sexually.(link:" >>>")[ That's called being aromantic and asexual respectively.(link:" >>>")[ It's a thing.(link:" >>>")[ Or two things, more exactly."(link:" >>>")[ I'm the one who must look dumbfounded right now. "I-I'm confused... I thought you...(link:" >>>")[ err...(link:" >>>")[ 'got around' a lot?"(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue is so(link:" >>>")[ different from myself.(link:" >>>")[ We're nothing alike.(link:" >>>")[ "Okay, look at it like this.(link:" >>>")[ Have you ever felt like you wanted to eat something even though you weren't hungry, just because it has a good taste? (link:" >>>")[It's kinda like that... (link:" >>>")[probably."(link:" >>>")[ "Yes," I can recall feeling like that, "this has happened to me before."(link:" >>>")[ Some of my siblings were really into tasty food.(link:" >>>")[ But we were only allowed military rations, so they were really happy whenever they got their hands on something different,(link:" >>>")[ and they would share it around, making it a special occasion for as many of us as possible.(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue lets out a small sigh with a reassured smile. "Thank God, I was wondering."(link:" >>>")[ "Hey." I call her out with an annoyed tone.(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue immediately switches to an apologetic smile and calming hand gesture.(link:" >>>")[ "Sorry, no condescending attitude, I get you, I get you.(link:" >>>")[ It's really annoying when someone acts like they know the world so much better than you,(link:" >>>")[ especially when it's for completely superficial reasons.(link:" >>>")[ I'm sorry for what I said a moment ago."(link:" >>>")[ Her understanding,(link:" >>>")[ and the ways she resembles me,(link:" >>>")[ continues to be unexpected(link:" >>>")[, but(link:" >>>")[ there is something about it...(link:" >>>")[ that warms my heart.(link:" >>>")[ "So," I ask after taking a moment to appreciate of this feeling. "Am I aromantic and asexual?"(link:" >>>")[ She shrugs. "I guess? Maybe? It sounds like it based on what you said, but(link:" >>>")[ only you can really determine who you are."(link:" >>>")[ She shows me her big, characteristic smile. (link:" >>>")[ "It's a little hard to determine things from the absence of something, but either way, you gotta trust in yourself."(link: " >>>")[ (if: $haircut is 1)[She finished trimming my hair a long time ago](else:)[I have finished trimming my hair a long time ago], but she has one more thing for me: a cute elastic.(link:" >>>")[ "Being confident starts with tricking others into thinking that you have your shit together!" She provides this wisedom with a happy smile while (if: $haircut is 1)[she ties my hair with the elastic.](else:)[I obediently tie my hair with the elastic she gives me.](link:" >>>")[ "Look at that confident individual!" Huan-Yue commands me, pointing at the mirror.(link:" >>>")[ The way she said that sounded almost like a joke, but something strikes me in my own reflexion.(link:" >>>")[ I like... the way I look. How the ponytail brings a sense of control to my appearence and demeanor.(link:" >>>")[ It makes me smile. [[End of chapter 3->Title 4]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

**In the hangar, ten minutes before exercise**(link:" >>>")[ "You look ready to take on the world!"(link:" >>>")[ After a week of spending time with her, I've become adjusted to Huan-Yue's compliments.(link:" >>>")[ "You too." I tell her back with a little smile.(link:" >>>")[ A lot has happened this last week, a lot of good things.(link:" >>>")[ I've gotten used to wearing the ponytail every day, just as I've gotten more confident.(link:" >>>")[ I don't want to keep having Huan-Yue handholding me through everything.(link:" >>>")[ I need to fly on my own two wings.(link:" >>>")[ **In the mech during exercise**(link:" >>>")[ I breathe in and out as the mech rises from the plaform.(link:" >>>")[ I used to think of sitting in the cockpit of my mech as a solitary activity.(link:" >>>")[ But now I'm a duo with Huan-Yue.(link:" >>>")[ When it happened a week ago, I thought of this arrangement as one more problem in my list of worries,(link:" >>>")[ but now that we have spent some time together,(link:" >>>")[ strategized together,(link:" >>>")[ and agreed to support each other,(link:" >>>")[ I feel ready.(link:" <<<")[ **Strategy meeting, 4 days ago**(link:" >>>")[ "Right, so you gotta manage the engines," explained Huan-Yue during one of our meetings a few days ago.(link:" >>>")[ "That's a big reason why I use the hit-and-run tactic, see? I want to make my opponents feel like I'm harassing them non-stop, all the while I'm actually managing my ressources very closely."(link:" >>>")[ **In the mech during exercise**(link:" >>>")[ I grip the controls firmly as the mech rises into the air, focusing on how my body movements affect the mech's.(link:" >>>")[ My senses catch on to many more things than before as I push the acceleration to cut through the air and get in formation with Huan-Yue.(link:" >>>")[ The roaring of the engines, (link:" >>>")[ the momentum of the mech, (link:" >>>")[ it all speak to me and translate into rough numbers in my head, just as Huan-Yue taught me. (link:" >>>")[The knowledge makes me feel in control.(link:" <<<")[ **Strategy meeting, 4 days ago**(link:" >>>")[ I couldn't just take lessons from Huan-Yue on how to pilot, we had to work together. (link:" >>>")[ And that meant not believing her blindly. (link:" >>>")[ "So... how is the hit-and-run tactic better than what the officers have been teaching us?"(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue grinned, not at all phased by my question.(link:" >>>")[ "Against the opponents of last time, it is!(link:" >>>")[ We can't let these three have their ways, gotta break their pace."(link:" >>>")[ These three... [[<<<<<<->Conclusion 2]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

=><= ###Chapter 4 ###[[Rise to the sky, HAM!->Conclusion 1]]

=><= ###Chapter 1 ###[[Let me give up->Falling 1 (19)]]

=><= ###Chapter 2 ###[[Burned Soul->First training 1 (10)]]

=><= ###Chapter 3 ###[[One with the machine->Hangar 1 (18)]]

**At the cafeteria, 6 days ago**(link:" >>>")[ The next day after Huan-Yue (if: $haircut is 0)[helped me ]cut my hair, I agreed to join her for lunch at the cafeteria.(link:" >>>")[ Turns out, the news of my team-up with Huan-Yue had already done the rounds and many of the cadets of our group immediately gathered around us to ask me questions.(link:" >>>")[ It seems they had already grilled Huan-Yue over this yesterday evening and it was now my turn.(link:" >>>")[ Of course, Huan-Yue was amused by this, and I had promised to make an effort, so I had no recourse but to do my best to socialize.(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue did intervene a little, asking them to let me breathe and electing three persons she allowed to sit with us to discuss as we ate.(link:" >>>")[ It's only as we talked that I realized that these three weren't just anybody,(link:" >>>")[ there were our opponents from the last mech exercice that had resulted in my injury.(link:" >>>")[ And not just any trio in our group as I learned, but the best cadet team in the entire piloting school of the City Ship.(link:" >>>")[ People call them the "HAM team."(link:" >>>")[ Momoka the self-declared, tomboy 'idol'.(link:" >>>")[ Henry the stoic boy with eyes shining with interest.(link:" >>>")[ And Alex 'See-Red' 'the Berserker.'(link:" >>>")[ **In the mech during exercise**(link:" >>>")[ Just after getting in formation with Huan-Yue, I noticed the three silhouettes of our opponents in the distance. (link:" >>>")[ As Huan-Yue had predicted, our first exercise after my recovery is going to be a sparing rematch against the same trio as last time.(link:" <<<")[ **Strategy meeting, 4 days ago**(link:" >>>")[ "Miri will wanna check if agreeing to my proposition was fruitful, I guarantee it," Huan-Yue assured me,(link:" >>>")[ "and the best way to do that is to directly recreate the same variables as last time to get that sweet, sweet raw data."(link:" >>>")[ **In the mech during exercise**(link:" >>>")[ "What did I tell you," Huan-Yue gloats through the mechs' radio.(link:" <<<")[ **At the cafeteria, 6 days ago**(link:" >>>")[ "Isn't it annoying how much she likes to show-off?" Was the first question Alex aimed at me during that lunch.(link:" >>>")[ "Hey!" Huan-Yue immediately interjected, (link:" >>>")[but she was outnumbered.(link:" >>>")[ "Shut it, you, we aren't asking you." Momoka said to shove her complaint aside.(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue is the one who asked me to socialize, so I ignored her pouty expression and focused on the other three cadets sitting with us. [[>>>>>>->Conclusion 3]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

While bonding with Huan-Yue helped me realize what it meant to connect with others, spending time with the other cadets that day at the cafeteria made me realize that how interesting the young people from the Federation could be.(link:" >>>")[ Under AI rule, the Federation abruptly abolished gender assignement to newborns a few generations ago, causing a gradual, societal shift as time went on.(link:" >>>")[ Nowadays, the major part of the population originating from the Federation is agender, especially younger generations, and Huan-Yue, Momoka and Alex all identified themselves as such, leaving Henry as the only boy at the table.(link:" >>>")[ In a strange and unexpected way, it made me feel a little welcome. (link:" >>>")[It was the first time I realized I shared things with these people, despite coming from the Empire.(link:" >>>")[ It reminded me of how my siblings and I felt like.(link:" >>>")[ We were used to not thinking of each other as gendered, and it was even weird when some of the people in charge would call us 'she' instead of 'it' like the rest.(link:" >>>")[ I never met anyone who used 'it' and wasn't an imperial clone, so I guess that's what would look weird to others.(link:" >>>")[ But to us, 'it' had a form of comfort, because it didn't carry the frightening expections implied by 'he' or 'she'.(link:" >>>")[ In a way, I understand the Federation people's attachement for androids too. (link:" >>>")[There's somehow(link:" >>>")[ a freedom in what they lack.(link:" >>>")[ They fill functions similar to human beings, without having to carry out certain expectations.(link:" >>>")[ **Strategy meeting, 4 days ago**(link:" >>>")[ "I don't know if you've noticed the other day," said Huan-Yue, casually interrupting my train of thought while munching on a snack,(link:" >>>")[ "but Momoka has a crush on you".(link:" >>>")[ Huh? [[>>>>>>->Conclusion 4]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

She... what?(link:" >>>")[ I stared blankly at Huan-Yue, having no idea how to react to such a reveal.(link:" >>>")[ I didn't even know how to deal with it, what to feel about it.(link:" >>>")[ So naturally what it made me is anxious.(link:" >>>")[ "Hey, chill out," Huan-Yue looked a little more concerned, "I'm not saying you should date her. I don't think she's your type of datemate anyway."(link:" >>>")[ She snickers, "what I'm getting at, is that she goes soft on you whenever you two are sparing together. Did you never noticed that either?"(link:" >>>")[ Taking my thoughts away from the purely romantic matters, I tried to think about this, searching my memories. (link:" >>>")[ It's not just the mechs' exercises, we also have hand-to-hand combat training, and firearms training that sometimes involve simulations against each other with factice weapons.(link:" >>>")[ "I'm not sure, but... (link:" >>>")[it's true I've never felt like she was a particularly difficult opponent to tackle by herself, especially in the hand-to-hand training."(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue's expression changed to a pout unexpectedly and she made a dismissive hand gesture. "I mean, yeah, you're the best of the group in that discipline. Can't beat personal experience with training I guess."(link:" >>>")[ Is that...(link:" >>>")[ jealousy?(link:" >>>")[ I thought //I// was the one jealous of her.(link:" >>>")[ In my contemplation of this discovery, I forget to answer, but Huan-Yue was used to it at this point, and talked over the silence herself:(link:" >>>")[ "Anyway, against us, the weakness of that trio is Momoka.(link:" >>>")[ She will be our first target."(link:" >>>")[ **In the mech during exercise**(link:" >>>")[ "Let's do this, Milie." [[>>>>>>->Conclusion 5]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Huan-Yue's mech propels itself forward, aiming to flank the enemy trio by going around them.(link:" >>>")[ That makes it my job to cover her as she positions herself,(link:" >>>")[ and I have my job cut out for me since our opponents seem eager to shut her down as quickly as possible this time.(link:" >>>")[ Following our agreed-upon plan, I aim at Momoka's back as she tries to pursue Huan-Yue.(link:" >>>")[ I'm still a distance away and this would normally be a difficult shot to land, but Huan-Yue is purposefully guiding Momoka in a predictable trajectory.(link:" >>>")[ The recoil of the long-distance cannon shakes my entire mech and reverberates through my own body as if they were one. (link:" >>>")[My instinct tells me the shot is going to land before I get visual confirmation. Already, I'm pushing the accelerator, soaring through the sky after Momoka to finish her off.(link:" <<<")[ **At the cafeteria, 6 days ago**(link:" >>>")[ "I like your new style." Said Momoka with a charming smile,(link:" >>>")[ "it's great to see you without your glasses for once too, you're really cute."(link:" >>>")[ She glanced at Henry next to her, who didn't say anything, but was wearing a pair of glasses in a more conventional style.(link: " >>>")[ "I mean," Momoka corrected herself, "glasses like Henry's //are// cute too, and even more, yours Milie are, like, cool-looking. Heck, it works really well with the ponytail, gives that professional look and all.(link:" >>>")[ But at the same time, that style of glasses covers so much of your face, it's a real shame.(link:" >>>")[ Because your face is really cute."(link:" >>>")[ As usual, I had removed my protective glasses for the meal, but I had been a little hesitant at first,(link:" >>>")[ since they did cover a good portion of the black spots on the upper part of my face. (link:" >>>")[Before Huan-Yue revealed Momoka's feelings to me, I was unsure what to think of her compliments and her sincerity, (link:" >>>")[though,(link:" >>>")[ they did make me feel a little happy.(link:" >>>")[ "The hair was my idea," Huan-Yue pointed out with a flat tone, her round cheek sinking into her hand.(link:" >>>")[ "Shut it, I said." Momoka made an annoyed face back at her. "I'm praising //them//."(link:" >>>")[ "Thank you," I mustered with an embarrassed smile. (link:" >>>")[ I was not used to saying that. (link:" >>>")[It never felt necessary with my siblings,(link:" >>>")[ in a way, it would have been like thanking yourself,(link:" >>>")[ and that is not something one would ever do.(link:" >>>")[ But I have been working on learning to say 'thank you' for a good reason,(link:" >>>")[ because,(link:" >>>")[ Momoka's kindness,(link:" >>>")[ and her attention at using my pronoun,(link:" >>>")[ truly made me feel warm inside.(link:" >>>")[ **In the mech during exercise**(link:" >>>")[ Not yet taken out, Momoka's mech turned around to face me.(link:" >>>")[ There is...(link:" >>>")[ We aim at each other.(link:" >>>")[ Something else I'm learning to say,(link:" >>>")[ I grip the trigger.(link:" >>>")[ "I'm sorry, Momoka."(link:" >>>")[ A deluge of sparkles rises against the metal as the factice projectile hit her mech. (link:" >>>")[A buzzer on our radios announces that Momoka is officially out of the exercise, but I have no time to celebrate.(link:" >>>")[ Despite Huan-Yue attempts to keep Alex and Henry away from me as I dealt with Momoka, the young man is already flying past her and straight at me, committed to a manoeuver that was meant to come to Momoka's help.(link:" >>>")[ I try to quickly fly away to make some distance between us, but Henry, having nothing to lose at this point, unleashes a slew of missiles in my direction. **[[<<<<<<->Conclusion 6]]**]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

**At the cafeteria, 6 days ago**(link:" >>>")[ "Beware Henry's pervy eyes," Huan-Yue warned me with a whisper that everybody could hear, "they never miss anything."(link:" >>>")[ "Hey!" Momoka is the one to immediately take outrage for him. "Don't insult my boy! He is not the one who hits on anything that moves."(link:" >>>")[ "Pff, who's being insulting now. My high standards are a credit to the company I keep."(link:" >>>")[ Meanwhile, Henry stayed basically as silent as me, letting Huan-Yue and Momoka battle it out with each other.(link:" >>>")[ It was actually a little awkward to meet someone as taciturn as me.(link:" >>>")[ Our eyes met, but I don't think that we communicated anything to each other.(link:" >>>")[ But, (link:" >>>")[they did look(link:" >>>")[ like they were studying me.(link:" >>>")[ **In the mech during exercise**(link:" >>>")[ I am the prey now and my entire body tenses up as my eyes try unsuccesful to track all the missiles at once.(link:" >>>")[ They are already too close to drop lures or attempt proper evasive maneuvers.(link:" >>>")[ And even if I were to somehow evade the attack, my engines would overheat again in the process, on top of the fact that Henry himself is rushing near my position, ready to ambush me if necessary. (link:" >>>")[But,(link:" >>>")[ even his eyes cannot see everything coming.(link:" >>>")[ Instead of running away, I dash my mech forward, straight into the eye of the cyclone of missiles who dance around to follow me as I quickly reduce the distance between me and a now panicking Henry.(link:" >>>")[ It's his turn to abruptly change direction and attempt to maneuver away from his own heatseeking missiles.(link:" >>>")[ It's too late though as I shove my blade for close-range combat into the armor of his mech's foot and pull on it.(link:" >>>")[ While mech piloting is relatively new to me, close combat isn't, and the machines are sufficiently humanoid to apply some common principles.(link:" >>>")[ Spinning both of our mechs on a vertical curve, I move him upside-down and in front of the incoming missiles. (link:" >>>")[ Metal hit metal and fake explosions roar around me as several alerts pop on my instrument panel. (link:" >>>")[ My heart skips a beat as the elimination buzzer rings,(link:" >>>")[ but despite the damage, my instruments indicates that I'm still running. (link:" >>>")[I let go of Henry's mech, who flies away back toward the hangar, and try to quickly reassess the situation.(link:" >>>")[ "Good job," says Huan-Yue over the radio, trying to act relaxed, "now let's take care of Alex and win!"(link:" >>>")[ Another person would have said 'help me with Alex', but Huan-Yue is a person who likes to stay positive.(link:" >>>")[ [[>>>>>>->Conclusion 7]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

I have conflicted feelings about the present situation.(link:" >>>")[ One part of me wants to be proud for taking out Momoka and Henry more or less by myself, (link:" >>>")[ but the other is worried because Henry's intervention wasn't part of the plan and there is a reason why Alex was supposed to be our second target.(link:" <<<")[ **Strategy meeting, 4 days ago**(link:" >>>")[ "These three are good at working with each other, but this isn't actually their main strength as a group." Huan-Yue explained to me very seriously.(link:" >>>")[ "What makes them so hard to beat is their relationships."(link:" >>>")[ Huh? What does that mean?(link:" >>>")[ "Huh?" I ask her.(link:" >>>")[ She continues. "If we had to fight them in a series of duels, I'm sure we would do alright, but these three...(link:" >>>")[ really like each other.(link:" >>>")[ They are constantly encouraging and supporting each other, and that's an actual strength for them.(link:" >>>")[ They have the best teamwork, and the best progression rate of the school.(link:" >>>")[ But not just that,(link:" >>>")[ the person we really have to pay attention to in their team is Alex. **At the cafeteria, 6 days ago**(link:" >>>")[ I used to live with people that all looked the same. (link:" >>>")[My siblings and I literally did, and variations among ourselves were strange, small wonders.(link:" >>>")[ If we had been citizens of the Empire, they would have called us 'women' and probably wouldn't have regurlarly cut our hair short for us. (link:" >>>")[ Even the citizens, the ones deserving of being called 'human beings', would often look the same to us.(link:" >>>")[ We had trouble differentiating 'human beings' sometimes. (link:" >>>")[ It was mostly 'us, Milies,' and 'them, human beings' in our minds. (link:" >>>")[ We had few interactions with other clone regiments and didn't think much of them.(link:" >>>")[ They weren't Milies. And they also looked the same to our untrained eye.(link:" >>>")[ But living on the City Ship has opened my eyes to a world of differences that I'm still getting adjusted to.(link:" >>>")[ I can't make the same assumptions as I used to in the Empire and categorize everybody in one of two boxes.(link:" >>>")[ Henry is a taciturn boy with black hair and soft, pudgy curves that Imperials would deem an 'imperfection'.(link:" >>>")[ Momoka smells nice and makes use of 'womanly charms' all the while sporting fiery, red short hair.(link:" >>>")[ And Alex is tall and handsome, with long arms, and hair that reach the end of their back.(link:" >>>")[ But most of all, they act like an older sibling with the other two.(link:" >>>")[ **Strategy meeting, 4 days ago**(link:" >>>")[ "That's why we gotta keep an eye on Alex, or an ear rather." Said Huan-Yue.(link:" >>>")[ "Don't take them lightly because of their casual attitude. They are super dangerous when properly 'motivated'.(link:" >>>")[ So when you will be taking care of Momoka and I'm distracting the other two, I'm gonna try to stick a listening bug on Alex' mech so we can listen on them through their radio.(link:" >>>")[ That way we can monitor them."(link:" >>>")[ I pondered what she told me, not sure I understood it all.(link:" >>>")[ "What do you mean by motivated?"(link:" >>>")[ She shot me an annoyed look, though it wasn't really aimed at me.(link:" >>>")["This enby takes everything very seriously.(link:" >>>")[ If a training exercise is meant to mimic a life and death situation, they will treat it as such.(link:" >>>")[ And you don't wanna piss off the Berserker..." [[>>>>>>->Conclusion 8]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

**In the mech during exercise)**(link:" >>>")[ There's a whisper on the radio,(link:" >>>")[ a raspy breath,(link:" >>>")[ slowly gaining volume.(link:" >>>")[ "That's not good," Huan-Yue says over it, with a flat, sarcastic tone that sounds like she is trying to hide her worry. (link:" >>>")[She adds with a much more determined voice: "Get ready, we'll take them together."(link:" >>>")[ "I failed..."(link:" >>>")[ The voice takes over the radio once again, growing in volume. "You took them..."(link:" >>>")[ Alex's mech is hovering a distance away from us, unmoving.(link:" >>>")[ Not waiting on the Berserker, I quickly aim at them and open fire.(link:" >>>")[ But the instant I hit the trigger, the enemy suddenly moves out of my crosshair and I recoil back on my chair, trying to find them again in my sight.(link:" >>>")[ "Under you!"(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue moves faster than her warning and collides with Alex who was moving right at me at a speed I didn't expect.(link:" >>>")[ I try to reposition to get them in my crosshair again, but already the other two are involved in a wild, mechanical dance, punctuated by quick evasive steps and the sound of blades hitting each other.(link:" >>>")[ This is an impossible shot to make, and Alex's screeching screams of rage of that echo through the radio do not help.(link:" >>>")[ Most soldiers who go irrational on the battlefied will die within minutes, but Alex's movements have instead become unpredictable and restless.(link:" >>>")[ Their attention has shifted to Huan-Yue after the initial attack on me, but I don't think she will hold much longer.(link:" >>>")[ Her opponent's blades keep lodging themselves into the weaknesses of her mech"s armor, hitting at the articulations and other fragile parts.(link:" >>>")[ I have to help her(link:" >>>")[, even if I can't make the shot. (link:" >>>")[ I have to go in with what I have. [[>>>>>>->Conclusion 9]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

I ready my own blade, and get close, looking for an opportunity to jump in.(link:" >>>")[ I close my mind away from the noise over the radio,(link:" >>>")[ listening only to my mech, (link:" >>>")[ eyes focused on each movement of Alex and Huan-Yue's breathless dance.(link:" >>>")[ I hit the acceleration just as my instinct tell me to and intercept Alex's next maneuver. (link:" >>>")[But somehow, they are quick enough to react and block my blade with their own, making them clash violently before evading to my left.(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue is right behind them though and gives chase.(link:" >>>")[ "Corner them!"(link:" >>>")[ I do as Huan-Yue says and try to restrict Alex movements by intercepting more and attacking from the other side, but they are slippery.(link:" >>>")[ Like a more violent version of Huan-Yue's hit-and-run, Alex constantly repositions and attacks again and again, setting their own pace.(link:" >>>")[ I quickly realize that we need a change of plan.(link:" >>>")[ "Huan-Yue, let's retreat." (link:" >>>")[ "What? No way!" She responds with a clear offended tone at the very notion of running away.(link:" >>>")[ "Temporarily. Trust me, okay?"(link:" >>>")[ We fly away from Alex at full speed, apparently taking them by surprise.(link:" >>>")[ They do pursue us, but we get enough time to reconsider the situation.(link:" >>>")[ "Alex is entirely on the offensive." I explain to Huan-Yue for once.(link:" >>>")[ "We can't fight fire with fire here, both our mechs are already more damaged than their's. We need to wear them down by keeping our defenses up."(link:" >>>")[ "Fine, let's outsmart the wild devil!"(link:" >>>")[ She barely has time to finish her sentence before Alex comes onto us at full speed.(link:" >>>")[ Thankfully their charge is predictable, leaving an opening for a counter-attack.(link:" >>>")[ I try to stab at them again, but this time, the goal isn't to actually damage their mech.(link:" >>>")[ Instead, I focus on forcing them to stay on the move.(link:" >>>")[ Exploiting their wild movements against themself, I force them to push their mech to the limit.(link:" >>>")[ A limit Alex ends up reaching before us thanks to our combined efforts.(link:" >>>")[ They suddenly slow down, probably to avoid overheating.(link:" >>>")[ "We got them!" Huan-Yue jumps on the opportunity, blade first.(link:" >>>")[ "No!"(link:" >>>")[ But it's too late, and Alex suddenly springs into a rapid dodge, revealing their bluff.(link:" >>>")[ Counter-attacking in turn, Alex's blade sinks into an articulation of Huan-Yue's mech, slashing at vital components that can be reached underneath the armor.(link:" >>>")[ "I got youuuu," Alex enjoys their domination with a guttural exclamation.(link:" >>>")[ "Nah..."(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue isn't worried.(link:" >>>")[ "//You//'re fucked!"(link:" >>>")[ Abandoning her weapons, she suddenly grabs on to Alex's blade with her mech's empty hands, keeping them in place.(link:" >>>>")[ "Pff." Alex sounds unimpress with the maneuver and turn their attention to me, apparently expecting me to charge at them.(link:" >>>")[ But doing so is way too risky against Alex who has proven to have the superior skill in close-range mech combat.(link:" >>>")[ So instead I load my long-range cannon for a shot it is not intended to make.(link:" >>>")[ Catching on to my choice of weapon, Alex has almost time to attempt something to evade, but profiting for their lack of attention to her, Huan-Yue gets even closer and lock their mech's arms around Alex's in a struggle to stop them for good.(link:" >>>")[ "Do it!" Huan-Yue orders me, pointlessly as I'm already aiming at Alex. I squeeze the trigger without any hesitation.(link:" >>>")[ I only hear the deafening sound of the shot after this(link:" >>>")[, until the buzzer sounds again. [[>>>>>>->Conclusion 10(hangar)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

**In the hanger, after the exercise**(link:" >>>")[ "That was really messy all around," Training Officer Miri finishes the debriefing by scolding us, "and the point of mock battles is //not// to give a ton more work to the technicians.(link:" >>>")[But fine, this was a decent enough performance for now. That's all for today. Dismissed."(link:" >>>")[ All five of us breathe a sigh of relief as Miri takes her leave. The mock battle was really extenuating, so everybody is probably just as glad as me that we can take a rest.(link:" >>>")[ "Pff," Huan-Yue sighs dismissively and make a gesture to grab my attention. "I bet Miri is actually super happy that her idea to pair us actually worked out super well."(link:" >>>")[ "Don't let it get to your head!" Momoka berates her, giving her an annoyed side look and straigthening her back in a proud manner to look down on her. "You two got lucky! We will win next time!"(link:" >>>")[ Unimpressed, Huan-Yue just laughs before mocking her.(link:" >>>")[ "Hey, don't be a sore loser! It's fine to put your pride aside and acknowledge your betters, haha!"(link:" >>>")[ Leaving them to their banter, Alex approaches me with an embarrassed smile, shadowed by an unreadable Henry.(link:" >>>")[ "Sorry about getting angry and all, haha, I really get into it once I'm focused on something..."(link:" >>>")[ "I-it's fine, it's fine." I assure them.(link:" >>>")[ In retrospect, now that the adrenaline has worn off, it was actually pretty scary...(link:" >>>")[ But I keep that to myself. Not hearing my thoughts, Alex's smile becomes a little brighter. "Let's hang out again, okay?"(link:" >>>")[ Henry gives a silent nod at this, adding his interest in participating.(link:" >>>")[ "Me too! I wanna hang-out!" Momoka shouts above her now physical scuffle with Huan-Yue.(link:" >>>")[ It seems I've suddenly made a lot of friends. [[End of Chapter 4->Title 5]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

(set: $hug to 0)\ After a physically and mentally tiring day like this, I want nothing more than to lay down at home, but Huan-Yue has a better idea.(link:" >>>")[ "I've seen your hole, it's too bare and ascetic, come crash in //my// dorm room. I swear you'll be more comfortable."(link:" >>>")[ No having the strength to even disagree, I follow her to her place, and come inside as she opens the door and invites me with an extravagant bow.(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue's room is... (link:" >>>")[definitely more cluttered than mine.(link:" >>>")[ There is a workbench where she has been working on something, with parts and tools scattered everywhere.(link:" >>>")[ I also notice a wheelchair crammed in one corner, though its design is more compact and modern-looking than the ones I've seen before.(link:" >>>")[ Finally, a lot of the space is further taken by the bed. The small, standard one has been replaced with a big bed for two persons with colorful pillows and covers.(link:" >>>")[ Without further ado, Huan-Yue quickly walk to the bed before hitting a few buttons on her exo-skeleton, seemingly turning it off. (link:" >>>")[Relying mostly on her arms strength and agility, she expertly slips out of the machine, and let herself fall on one side of the big bed, arms open in a T pose and a comfortable sigh of relief coming out of her mouth.(link:" >>>")[ "Come on, lay down with me," she says toward me. "It's way cozier than the one you must be used to." (link-goto: "Lay down next to her without touching her", "Epilogue 2")(set: $hug to 0) (link-goto: "Lay down with my head on her arm", "Epilogue 2")(set: $hug to 1)]]]]]]]]]]

I slowly crawl my way up on the bed and lay down on the available portion of the bed(if: $hug is 1)[, but also putting my head on Huan-Yue's large arm, near her shoulder and facing toward her.](else:)[, facing toward Huan-Yue, framed by the angle of her body and arm.] (link:" >>>")[She is right, the bed is really soft and cozy, a lot more than what I'm used to, but (if: $hug is 1)[the skin of her arm, and the feel of her tough muscles underneath, are pleasant too.](else:)[even more, being near her like this, just at the right distance to feel close to her without overstepping my boundaries, makes me feel safe with her.](link:" >>>")[ It really is(link:" >>>")[ the perfect place to rest.(link:" >>>")[ We stay like that for a while, enjoying this tender lull together.(link:" >>>")[ For once, I'm the one who ends speaking up first.(link:" >>>")[ It's difficult to take that first step, but,(link:" >>>")[ every word exchanged is important to me,(link:" >>>")[ and even more,(link:" >>>")[ there is something I really want to say to Huan-Yue.(link:" >>>")[ "Socializing is exhausting..."(link:" >>>")[ This makes Huan-Yue smiles, more than she already was. "But...?"(link:" >>>")[ "... But it's a lot of fun. (link:" >>>")[I never thought it was this exhilirating to talk(link:" >>>")[ and fight with people.(link:" >>>")[ It makes me feel(link:" >>>")[ alive(link:" >>>")[, and...(link:" >>>")[ happy."(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue listens silently, encouraging me with her quiet attention.(link:" >>>")[ "I never could have imagined a life like this without my siblings.(link:" >>>")[ I felt like a stranger,(link:" >>>")[ a thing,(link:" >>>")[ a cog left alone.(link:" >>>")[ I thought I couldn't be like anyone else here.(link:" >>>")[ That I couldn't connect.(link:" >>>")[ And that they wouldn't want to anyway.(link:" >>>")[ But maybe I was naïve?(link:" >>>")[ I feel like... I've underestimated both myself and others."(link:" >>>")[ We spend more time talking after this, about everything and anything.(link:" >>>")[ Words pour out of my mouth to answer Huan-Yue questions as we exchange about how the battle felt, about where and when to hang-out with the others, about where I stand with Momoka.(link:" >>>")[ All kinds of things.(link:" >>>")[ Things that I thought were inaccessible to me. Rightly so, even.(link:" >>>")[ So I'm glad the people here gave me a chance.(link:" >>>")[ That reminds me(link:" >>>")[ there is something I've been trying to say more.(link:" >>>")[ And I might as well say it before my lulled mind happens to fall asleep.(link:" >>>")[ "Thank you." [[>>>>>>->Epilogue 3]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

=><= ###[[Epilogue->Epilogue 1]]

**Thank you for playing Stormtouched!**(link:" >>>")[ This game was made for Ace Jam 2018(link: " (link)")[(open-url: "https://itch.io/jam/ace-jam")], and, phew!, I was really afraid I wasn't going to finish before the deadline. It's not the end of the world for a jam that allow demos or unfinished games, of course, but it's the spirit of things! But also, Stormtouched is the most ambitious Twine game I've made so far, and I wanted to present it in its complete form from the get-go.(link:" >>>")[ This game was also a great occasion for me to flesh out the foundations of its fictional world, which has been on my mind for a while. I plan to do more with it, and in fact, one who has read another of my Twine game might have noticed the connection (and yeah, I still need to finish that game, which I'll probably do as my project for the next Yuri Jam). I'll also be writing more stories taking place in this world in the future, and heck, I would love one day to write a novel or a bigger game with Huan-Yue as the protagonist as she goes on adventures outside of the confines of the City Ship. But in the meantime, I'll probably be writing more Twine games! [[Click here if you want to go back to the title screen.->Title]]]]]

There is a big, lazy smile on Huan-Yue's face.(link:" >>>")[ "I should say thank you too..." She muses.(link:" >>>")[ "For what?"(link:" >>>")[ "Stuff."(link:" >>>")[ "Come onnn..."(link:" >>>")[ For once, it's Huan-Yue who seems to search for her words a bit.(link:" >>>")[ "I... am grateful we became friends...(link:" >>>")[ You know I used to think of you as a rival?"(link:" >>>")[ What? Really?(link:" >>>")[ "What? Why...?"(link:" >>>")[ Huan-Yue pouts, though it's even harder than usual to take her seriously with her wet, sleepy eyes.(link:" >>>")[ "You're the best of the group at hand-to-hand combat." She explains.(link:" >>>")[ ...(link:" >>>")[ "That's it?"(link:" >>>")[ I don't really follow.(link:" >>>")[ "I'm the best," Huan-Yue boasts softly, "and I gotta prove it to the world."(link:" >>>")[ "Oookay..."(link:" >>>")[ "And so, there I was beating everybody at everything, except...(link:" >>>")[ hand-to-hand combat.(link:" >>>")[ Because there you were.(link:" >>>")[ Always silent, always by yourself.(link:" >>>")[ Clearly not enjoying being there.(link:" >>>")[ And yet nobody could take you in a fist fight.(link:" >>>")[ I thought... for sure, I should be able to beat them.(link:" >>>")[ I'll prove to everybody that I'm the best, that way, it will be great.(link:" >>>")[ But then, you kicked my butt, hard.(link:" >>>")[ And that wasn't even the worst thing about it.(link:" >>>")[ The worst thing is that you didn't even seem to care.(link:" >>>")[ I felt so dang insulted... that you weren't even happy that you beat me.(link:" >>>")[ So I really wanted to get my 'revenge', kinda.(link:" >>>")[ And I went a little overboard during that mech exercise."(link:" >>>")[ Well, I had no idea.(link:" >>>")[ "But..." Huan-Yue continues, more softly.(link:" >>>")[ "I'm glad I ended up teaming up with you instead.(link:" >>>")[ I'm not the kind of person to hold any regret, but...(link:" >>>")[ teaming up with you has made me realize how I had alienated myself, in a way.(link:" >>>")[ Sure, I got friends, and people I like to 'cuddle' with,(link:" >>>")[ but I've always been carrying my ambitions alone.(link:" >>>")[ And I didn't realize what I was missing without someone to support and be supported by.(link:" >>>")[ A teammate.(link:" >>>")[ Sure, I've worked with other people before, of course.(link:" >>>")[ But spending that week with you, getting to know you, and show you some of my world.(link:" >>>")[ It really made me feel happy."(link:" >>>")[ Even half-asleep, her expressive face is blushing a little.(link:" >>>")[ "So that's why,(link:" >>>")[ thank you, Milie."(link:" >>>")[ "Thank you too, Huan-Yue." I tell her back.(link:" >>>")[ "You can't say 'thank you' again, you already said it."(link:" >>>")[ "You already said it too before..."(link:" >>>")[ "Whatevs'...(link:" >>>")[ What matters is...(link:" >>>")[ Do you wanna stay a team?"(link:" >>>")[ I thought this didn't needed to be asked.(link:" >>>")[ "Of course." **[[The End]]**]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]