We just let her go, I just let her go. Since when did letting kids do stuff that dangerous turn acceptable? Could have gotten herself killed, and everyone just let her because it was what she wanted to do. That shouldn't be how this works, we should have gone after her somehow. Something's up. Something happened, even if she won't say it.

She's just a kid. She thinks she's a fighter, and that's going to get her in trouble some day. Hell, maybe it already has done. Why do kids always think they're up to so much more than they are? You'd think it was a crime to need help with anything, they try and be so self-sufficient.

[It had been about a month since Lockon had first woken up, and he figured it was finally time to visit the last of his three comrades. It had surely been enough time for Tieria to stabilise - he'd been warned away from shocking him a while ago, after all - and he couldn't in good conscience leave him in the dark any more.

Hence why he was standing in the reception of Mikaela's school, asking if they could send for Ila van der Aart (Who'd come up with that name, anyway?) as soon as possible. He wasn't worried about interrupting her education, as the receptionist had frowned at him, and he gave her a sheepish grin and told her some things were important.

Then she'd asked for his name, so she'd know who was pulling her out, and he'd only hesitated for a moment. As he said "Lockon Stratos", he'd hoped that it wouldn't shock Tieria too badly before he'd even had a chance to see him, but it was all-too clear that 'a friend' wouldn't pass muster with the receptionist. She'd nodded at an office runner to go fetch Ila, while Lockon waited.

Said runner knocked on the classroom door once, then opened it.]

Sorry to interrupt, Mr Pemberly, but I've got a message for Ila. There's a visitor in reception for her, someone called Lockon Stratos, and she's to come see him as soon as possible. It's apparently important.

[Lockon was lying in the hospital bed, like he has been for the past month. However, over the last few days, the EEG machine had been registering more and more brain activity, and the pain reaction tests had begun to get slight reactions. He'd even just about surfaced into conciousness a couple of times, although only ever momentarily, and not long enough for the experiences to be remembered as anything other than a part of the surreal dreams flitting through his unconcious mind. The times spent in the deep, unresponsive state had been getting smaller and smaller, though, and this time, when he opened his eyes with a deep breath, they stayed open.

His thoughts were muzzy and sluggish, and he attempted to collect them. Space, that was the last thing he remembered, being in space...and Haro, he remembered Haro saying something, and he remembered...pain, that was a pretty strong memory... and then it clicked, somewhat. He'd been leaving Haro in Dynames and going to face Ali Al-Saachez, he remembered with a jolt. He'd been taking a stance on the half-destroyed GN Arms, and....

and...

...he couldn't remember anything else, after that, just the odd unconnected image with no apparent link between them. What had happened out there, and where was he now?

He tried to sit up to get a better look, only to fall back down with a groan. His body had grown unused to supporting his weight, and it complained about the sudden movement.

Allelujah already mentioned what happened, so I won't go into it again. Suffice to say when computers go wrong, things explode, and when things explode...well, you have to be really lucky to get out without any damage at all. I was out for a while there, but Dr Moreno's good at his job and I don't go down that easily. It's mostly only scratches, just superficial wounds from computer shrapnel and the like. The only real damage was from the debris that got me in the eye.

And...well, it's not too bad. I can still do my job, even if it'll be a little more difficult. Getting used to the lack of depth perception's a challenge, but I'll live. No rest for the wicked, right?

Hey, Tieria, why didn't you mention it was your birthday before we left? I can't get you a present up here.

Lockon drifted along the corridors of the Ptolemaios, heading towards the bridge. With the upcoming trip back to the island base, he was going to need Haro back from Feldt, as little as he liked to seperate them. He found it sweet how close she was with the little robot, and he knew if he could trust anyone to take care of Haro it would be her. Still, he might be needed to undertake a mission back on Earth, and for that he'd need his partner with him.

He had it on good authority that Feldt was on the bridge right now, and it wasn't too big a stretch of the imagination to assume Haro would be with her. He reached the door and steadied himself on the wall while it slid open.