ghost

*cough*... hrgh—*cough*...

Are you alright there, Specter?

(Waves hand)

You're already... in terrible shape. Where are you going now?

Heheh... where am I headed... right. Before time's up, I still have to hand in that holiday assignment you arranged for me.

Me?

You had me receive those 'kindnesses' for the landwalkers' Christmas. Apart from a cut-and-bone-dry gift... don't tell me you weren't meaning for me to gain some other, extra sentiments?

I had no other motive... I just didn't want you to miss it.

Hah, the others don't know what you used to be like... but me and the Captain know who you really are.

You've changed too much, Skadi. Your heart... is much too soft—even a landwalker can warm it. That's why you tried to return the favor.

Then what about you? You were snatched away by the Church... and rescued by Rhodes Island, and now you've united with your colleagues once again. How do you look upon this dry land?

Me? Hm... Aside from revulsion, contempt and ridicule for those Church plankton worshipping the sea, I've never had much serious talk with the people of Rhodes Island.

You know, they have no idea how to take in what I say, and they'd never understand Ægir life. They wouldn't have the first clue about the simple tools we use every day.

Rhodes Island? In terms of living life... it's a pain, a pain in the ass!

I won't argue that.

But there are places where their hearts and ours might agree.

Yes... vast creation's master, in the darkness, spies on it all alike...

It seeks, it coaxes... it will herein once again descend... ugh...

Specter, can you... still walk?

(...I don't have much time.)

Forget it. Let's drop it, Skadi, we talked enough on the way back, and I've still got a few things I need to see through.

Also... those 'never met,' or those landwalkers I've only seen once. I guess I should meet them one last time, in the end.

If you need me to help, then.

Hah, don't bother. With two Abyssal Hunters walking side by side, how would those landbound asses not piss themselves in awe?

I'll leave the very last of my strength for the idiots of the land... however many I can meet... will be however many who can remember me. Ah, but what's the goddamned point?

In the end, it's like Dame Kal'tsit says. It's only 'cause I'm needed that I'm still here, alive.

Or maybe... hm.

Dame Kal'tsit mentioned it. How I had those 'new friends.'

Friends? The land people...? Hah.

In any case, if I don't meet them in person, greet them directly, then I'll never know peace.

Off I go.

Yes... Off you go.

You'll wake once again, Specter... I'll be there then.

Don't beat yourself up so much. Skadi, quit frowning, I've never blamed you, not even once.

I know... I really do know.

Smile! I've accepted how I'm powerless to wake up. It's about time you accept your own past and present.

If I really do awaken again, when you see me, let's chat about the more interesting things in life.

Yo, you guys are back early.

Why'd you only call me? I thought the info Captain Gladiia or Skadi brought back would be more important.

That's 'stuff for after' important. To Rhodes Island, getting you checked out and treated is more important at the moment. We deliberated on it, and that's the call.

Of course, Kal'tsit's warned us about it a million times too.

Don't you care about her...?

Kal'tsit? That was her own decision. Besides, how do you know if she told me things would turn out this way?

All these little schemes you landwalkers have really lose themselves in the details. Bo-ring.

Majorly glad to see you with the gift of gab, Specter. Misery told me how you three Abyssal Hunters helped a Rhodes Island field team out of a pinch.

Me and Skadi are registered, after all, and the other one'll be right on her way in to report.

So... how do you feel?

We need to run an evaluation on your combat strength.

If you can hold onto your clear mind and run some combat in order against a team, we'll be real happy to draw you up some mission arrangements again.

Hah. Your 'tests' really are far too simple, then. What makes that bunch of goons worth three Abyssal Hunters taking them on at once?

When we got there, Misery already saved the show, more or less.

Dull like nothing else. I'd even take that damned mutant bishop. Oh, shame it's already dead.

It was I who personally returned it to the darkness... such darkness, a darkness still behind me, pursuing me...

Hah... hahah... who could ever escape... the thirst to be one again with we many...

Specter? You still holding up there?

Ugh... not too well. But probably.

Your nervous system's getting attacked hard, and quicker than I expected. Let's get your examination on the road now...

No... I'll just be back on that bed in the end, either way. I want to make use of this time. I still have my own things I want to do.

Knew it... Kal'tsit told me, don't force you to stop... she was able to figure your current state and choices.

But still, Rhodes Island's got a few questions for you.

Hah, then you'll need to be quick.

How much longer will you be awake?

Couldn't say... my head's all hazy dazy. I might have about fifty percent consciousness?

Alright. I hope we can get everything out of you with these statements, and Rhodes Island will do all we can to respect your wishes.

Specter, when you first came to Rhodes Island, you did not make it in time to convey the message you wanted. Do you intend on conveying it now?

There's no need... Closure, is that what they call you? What I needed to convey, my colleagues have already come to learn.

As for the leftovers, though... I won't allow those strains that the church pawns planted in my will to flower, to spread those obscenities to places farther, wider still.

Alright. Next up, Rhodes Island took you in for treatment, and then with great caution sent you into field combat. Do you consider...

I know all that. It was my own choice to fight. Dame Kal'tsit figured out that much, and I still need to give her a little thanks for that.

The battlefield... is a peaceful place. At times, the silent ruins are much quieter than all that medical equipment, constantly whirring away.

If, and I mean if, Specter, regarding recovery of your awareness... if we find a way to maintain your waking state to a certain degree, do you have any plans made for your future?

Plans? I've long since had those ready.

I was thinking about them on the trip back, even.

Why not invite the Captain and Skadi to form a team of three with me, go outside just for a spot of slaughter, and bully your useless land-dwelling punk idiots a little.

Skadi says after so long walking on land, she can tell apart the 'good' and the 'bad' in your hearts. With the Captain leading, we three are a complete army.

For sure, if we consider what we know of the Abyssal Hunters' strength...

However, I haven't told them any of that.

Yes?

Dame Kal'tsit's warned me, and I've had inklings myself. This sanity is something that can't last for long.

A three-person team fails at the planning stage. My combat style is already totally unlike how it used to be. Rhodes Island, the tactics you currently choose for me seem to be the most optimal.

Before we can find a way to treat you...

Forget it. All this dry-land technology of yours could only ever give me occasional peace.

The faults in my body... only I myself can sort them out. Anyone else? Hopeless.

Hey, now, don't look like that, Closure. All I can do is remain at Rhodes Island. I count as one of you. When I want to hack someone apart, let me out to war, and it'll be a win for you too.

So, are you able to accept continued combat as a Rhodes Island Operator?

I told you, the battlefield is where I can find some peace and quiet inside my head. I can't work like I did as an Abyssal Hunter anymore, but aboard Rhodes Island, there are those who let me revel in the fighting front.

So you mean to say, our commander gives you effective instruction?

In fact, once I'm done with you, that is where I plan to go.

We've never talked while I was awake. I've got a few things I need to explain, quickly.

Rhodes Island's commander—the Doctor, is nothing like any of you.

You can tell.

When language can't reach, all the other senses become stronger as a result. If I want to continue fighting...

I must... bring the Doctor... to that place...

Specter...

...*hiss*. I can't stop now, or else the darkness will catch me up.

I need to go.

Specter runs... no, it more resembles a wandering onto dry land.

That mad chatter echoes, eating away at her nerves.

There's not a moment when the high-concentration liquid Originium poured into her spinal cord isn't repelling, invading her body, restored by Specter's own cells afterwards.

The flesh can still persist, but the spirit is not the same.