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“Can’t we just say the captain’s off-duty?...Well, I guess not. Fine, bring it up.”
“Roger that. Good luck…”
“Captain Edge Maverick, sir. I was appointed by Commander Grafton of the exploration base.”
“I don’t remember asking your name. I was told you were a competent candidate, but it seems to me you’re still just a boy. Really…First, the missing captain of the Aquila, and now you. Am I to believe the SRF has no one better for the position?”
“…I may be young, sir, but I assure you I will fulfil my duties to the utmost.”
“You don’t get it, do you? What we’re after here is concrete results, boy. Successful space exploration. How we attain that success is of no consequence to me. I don’t care how arduous it is-if you don’t show me results, you show me nothing.”
“…Yes, sir. I am aware of that.”
“You are, are you? I’m astonished you can make such a claim after the string of failures you suffered on your very first mission.”
“Deputy Director, with all due respect…”
“Step down, First Officer Saionji. This is none of your concern.”
“My apologies, Captain.”
“Hmph. Your first officer’s a slip of a girl. What, do you think we’re playing house here?”
“We have no intention of playing anything at all, sir. The future rests on the success of this mission. And not just our own futures-we’re responsible for the futures of every single human being on Earth.”
“Well, you can talk the talk, I’ll give you that. Just don’t do anything to make me look bad, you understand?”
Shimada ends the transmission.
“Whew…Talking all formal like that makes me really tense.”
“Was that man your superior? He was quite, uh…”
“Nasty? It’s okay, you don’t have to mince words with us. Most people in the USTA think so, too.”
“I…see…”
“You really didn’t let him get to you, Edge. I'm amazed at how composed you were."
"Well, it's true-we haven't actually produced any results yet. What do you think would have happened if the Eldarians weren't there to save us?"
"I'm certain you would have done all you could."
"Sure. But it wouldn't have been enough. Shimada was right about that, at least. It's imperative that we succeed in our mission, for the sake of all those living such a miserable existence on Earth. Until we can say we've accomplished that, I'll take whatever Shimada wants to dish out."
"Edge..."
"Hey, it's no big deal. He wants results, right? Then let's give him results that'll make his head spin."
"Now that's my Edge."
"Indeed...Your positivity is truly admirable."
And thus ends the first scene. But there's more to be had. Just go wherever there is one to initiate.
"I was just telling Faize about Crowe."
"Crowe?"
"Yes, I find his story intriguing. I'm told you three grew up together, and that you think of him as an elder brother."
"Actually, in Edge's case, he's more like a best friend."
"Is that so?"
"He's not really a brother or a best friend. He's more of a...Well, he's like a rival I have to overcome."
"A rival, huh? I guess he always did beat you at fencing...and athletics...and marksmanship...heck, even rock-paper-scissors."
Edge is so bad he managed to fail at a game of relative chance.
"...Sure, just go ahead and count my failings."
"Well, he did pass the SRF selection exam at the absolute top of his class. And he's also the youngest captain ever to hold the position."
Although since Edge is a year younger, he basically just usurped Crowe. Albeit due to an emergency situation.
"Now, that is impressive."
"...Yeah, it really is. That's exactly why I have to best him."
"Well, well. So you admit he's hot stuff after all, huh?"
"...Put a sock in it, Reimi."
"A man of such skill even Edge acknowledges him...Your friend Crowe is sounding more intriguing with each passing minute. I should very much like to make his acquaintance."
"You'll meet him soon enough, I'm sure. We're all taking part in the same mission, after all."
"I'm looking forward to it."
And that's another done.
"When I'm just sitting here in the ship doing nothing, I, well...I start thinking about how far we've traveled, you know?"
"Well, yeah. We have left the solar system, after all."
"...When we were selected by the SRF and I first set foot on the moon, I thought about how far we'd come. But now, we're light years beyond that. Everything here is so completely foreign to us...We're really in unknown territory now, you know? For some reason...it frightens me."
"But that's our SRF mission. We're here to find a new world to take the place of Earth, right?"
"...That's just it. That's what I'm most scared of."
"...?"
"The future of everyone on Earth rests on the success of our mission. We can't afford to fail. Sometimes when I'm alone like this, I feel like the weight of that responsibility is going to crush me..."
"I hear you...I wouldn't get so worried about it, though."
"Huh?"
"It's not like you're supposed to accomplish this mission all by yourself. I'm here. Crowe's out there somewhere, we've got all our friends in the SRF...And we've got new friends, too. Friends we've made out here, in space."
"Hmm..."
"This "unknown territory" is exactly where we met them, right? It's not such a big deal when you think about it that way."
"Edge..."
"Anytime you're alone and feeling down, just speak up, all right? I'm in this with you all the way."
"Thanks, Edge. I'll definitely keep that in mind."
And another scene down.
"Yeah. Wouldn't you be curious about the first contact between your home planet and alien life?"
"Oh yeah, I've kind of wondered about that, too."
"I wasn't involved in the event myself, and thus don't have a great deal of knowledge about it, but I hear that things were quite difficult. It reportedly took sometime to adjust our translators, and at first, mere communication was a trial in itself. Even afterwards, the proceedings were apparently quite complicated. I'm not entirely sure how to put this, but...It's said the people of Earth were somewhat suspicious and closed-minded, and they refused to listen to what we had to say in a straightforward manner."
If Faize is anything to go by, the Eldarians might have just asked really weird and tedious questions first rather than explaining themselves immediately. I'd be suspicious too.
"Of course, there were those open to rational discussion, but they proved to be in the minority...In any case, we now maintain healthy relations. We must be thankful to those who paved out paths, Earthling and Eldarian alike."
The optimal answer is to apologize.
"...I'm sorry that happened, Faize."
"Wh-why should you apologize, Edge? You're in no way at fault."
"Huh? Well, yeah, that's true, but...I don't know. I just felt like I had to apologize."
"Tee-hee...Where'd that come from?"
"...Quit giggling. I'm just sorry our fellow Earthlings had to put the Eldarians through that."
"...Your words mean much to me, Edge. You're a sincere man...almost too much so."
"That's, uh, not quite how I meant it..."
"Whatever transpired in the past, we stand here together today. Surely that's enough? Of course, I am grateful for your feelings."
"...I see. Well, let's forget about all that. What's important is that we stay friends, right?"
"Absolutely. And that we work towards even better Earth-Eldar relations in the future."
"Hear, hear!"
And there it ends. Just one more...
"No, we receive training based on our latent abilities. To make a long sotry short, I showed potential for the sword. Of course, many of my brethren use firearms, and there are even some unusual Eldarian folk who fight with scythes."
"I guess it's like how I was better with a bow than a gun."
"Something like that, yes. Incidentally, Edge, why do you prefer a blade?"
"Huh?"
"If you don't mind my asking, I should like to know. There may be aspects of swordplay I can learn from you."
"Hmm..."
Optimal answer is to open up about trauma.
"Well, there was a bit of trauma I went through..."
"Trauma...?"
"Yeah...something that happened with my late father."
"Uncle Arnold?"
"My father was a scientist, an adventurer...I lost my mother when I was still very young, but my father and I traveled the farthest reaches of Earth until I was about six."
"I see. It's fortunate that you were able to receive training at such a young age."
"...But we got attacked while we were traveling, by a biological weapon left over from the war."
"What...?"
"I was just a kid, after all. I couldn't land a single shot on that thing. When I ran out of bullets, I pulled out my knife, almost without thinking. Looking back, it was even stupider than trying to fight with a gun. But...I don't know. It was a miracle. Somehow I drove the monster off. So I guess that's my reasoning. That's why I rely on the sword instead of the gun. In the end I wasn't able to save my father, but the blade protected me...If I'm ever able to protect anything, it'll be with a blade. That's how I feel."
Now that's what I call an edgy backstory. Dude lived up to his name after all.
"Edge..."
"...Huh? What's with the long faces?"
"I never knew...I'm so sorry."
"No, Reimi, it's not your fault. I was the one who asked Edge about it."
"Don't worry. It doesn't bother me anymore."
"But..."
"I'm telling you, I'm fine. Really-I'm prepared now."
"Edge..."
"Edge..."
"I swaer by this blade I'll protect everything precious to me. I won't let my weakness hurt anyone ever again."
And all the scenes are done. Finally. At the time of typing this all out, my arms sure are sore...