story_orchid_2_1

Simulation concluded.

All units KIA.

Rating: <color=#ff0000>Failure</color>

Popukar... Spot can't cover you if you're too far forward.

And you were completely out of position, Catapult.

That cover was in a lousy spot.

How was I supposed to blast those slugs if I didn't have line-of-sight?

Besides, I wouldn't have gotten jumped if Spot wasn't holed up in the back.

Me? Holed up in the back?

Open your eyes, sister. That was simulated Originium artillery.

You and Midnight would've been dust if I didn't have my shield up there.

Not that things turned out much different, in the end.

While the result was less than elegant, my magnificent swordplay brought low at least three foes before I fell.

I think there was plenty of entertainment to be had.

I'm sorry... I didn't see the one behind...

I just wanted to cut through that bad guy for Miss Orchid...

It's not about how many enemies you took out.

It's about teamwork.

We are Reserve Op Team A6.

We are a—

A motley crew of misfits.

I heard that, Catapult.

Never mind. Let's call it a day. Dismissed.

Why the long face, Orchid?

Why do you think?

Spot, Catapult, Midnight. All good people, but why can't they get along when you put them together?

Beats me. They're hardly the weirdest, by Rhodes Island standards. People generally like them.

I know.

Maybe some people just don't mix well.

Weren't the reserve op teams supposed to be experimental anyway? You could always apply for a transfer to Logistics Department.

(Mutters) But I only volunteered for the front lines because I got tired of sitting in an office pushing papers.

What was that?

You're right. When I was named captain of A6, HR told me not to feel pressure about it.

Then why do you—

Still...

Rhodes Island must have put me in charge so I can help them figure out what a team is.

Individuality is all well and good, but it must be established on the basis of mutual respect. It's not ability they're missing; it's respect for each other.

Right now, A6 isn't a team; it's just a pile of strangers tossed into the same room.

Wait a second, Orchid. There are so many bright minds on Rhodes Island; surely you don't have to be the one who has to worry about it?

It's normal for me to worry, isn't it?

I just feel like they should get to know each other, because we talk about stuff like teamwork. Not as operators, but simply knowing each other as people.

If they can establish basic social relationships, sit down and talk to each other calmly...

You've always been soft-hearted.

Let me try again.

Are you sure? You might be disappointed again.

I'm not sure I can drink this hot cocoa in peace, if I don't at least try.

That's the last card, Catapult!

No peeking at Spot's cards!

It's called tactical recon!

You have the Joker in your hand, don't you, Spot?

I can tell, the way your face froze!

That's my poker face, you idiot. Besides... I win.

Straight.

Hey! You must've cheated! How did you get so lucky?

I guess fate isn't smiling on Catapult today either.

A magnificent play by Spot, though.

Even I got fooled.

Spot's so good!

Just lucky.

Next round?

No rush. I prepared some snacks.

Mm... you really do know how to make a cup of tea, Orchid. I don't think I've had a cup this good in months.

Thanks, Midnight. By the way, these magazines are for you. I think you'll find the styles you're looking for in them.

Oh, you're too kind.

Hey, these cookies aren't bad.

Better than the ones I buy, at any rate.

I'll get more next time. You should eat more, Spot. I don't see you outside often lately.

Tea parties are kind of a bother, but I don't mind free food and drink.

They're great! You're awesome, Orchid!

Glad to see you guys looking relaxed.

We really should be able to get along with one another, shouldn't we?

If we can enjoy afternoon tea together...

I'm sure we can learn to trust each other on the battlefield.

I think... we can try to get to know each other better.

Not as operators, but as friends.

Maybe we can talk about our interests, for example?

Captain, I'll be frank with you.

What is it?

I think you're a decent person. You bought us stuff, helped us write our reports, even put together a nice tea party.

But there's a one thing that's been bugging me—why do we have to look like a team?

We're a team only because Rhodes Island happened to put us together. Sometimes a bad fit is a bad fit.

You know I'm usually on your side, Orchid.

But I have to agree with Catapult, even if her words are a little blunt.

There's no need to force things. We could be cordial colleagues, friends even. But there's no need for us to act the part of family.

It's not necessary, for you and for us.

All I can say is don't be too hard on yourself, captain.

Why did everyone go away, Miss Orchid?

Was Popukar a bad girl?

No.

You're a good girl, Popukar.

It's a bunch of grown men and women who are bad...

We screwed up.

I like summer.

The summer outfits column was one of my favorite jobs when I was still a fashion editor.

I'm not an outdoorsy or social woman, but I loved the feeling of vitality that models wearing those outfits gave off.

It's proof that someone is living a life.

And it helps me want to live mine.

How did it come to this? Maybe I should put in a transfer request with HR tomorrow.

Still...

I...

Oh, screw it.

I'm hurting all over, and the a/c's useless. How am I supposed to get any sleep like this?

Painkillers, painkillers...

Ugh, I'm out.

Guess I need to go to the clinic.

I hate summer.

I hate that heat that engulfs my body.

And I hate how I ache when a humid breeze blows past.

The pain is almost unbearable on those wet, humid nights.

I didn't have to pass by the deck on my way to the clinic.

But I came anyway.

I wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because my body knew it wasn't painkillers that I really wanted.

There's someone on the deck, holding a bottle in his hand.

He's not wearing his signature smile, only calmness with a hint of melancholy.

...Orchid?

He tries to hide the bottle, but there is nowhere on the deck to hide it. He ends up abashedly stashing it behind his back.

I-I was just catching some fresh air—

...Are you hurting?

Yes.

Then stay put.

I'm not here to scold you.

Pour me one.

Do you drink too?

I'm not proud of it, but I do.

I hate the feeling of being drunk.

Hah, I had customers like that.

No fans of the nightlife scene, but they were forced to come by their bosses or friends.

How did you deal with them?

Get them drunk so that they'd pay you?

People who are actually drunk didn't pay all that much.

The ones who actually loosened their purse strings were the types who kept themselves bottled up, until they decideed to pour out a little bit of their true selves to a stranger under the influence.

Are you saying I'm your favorite kind of customer?

They were my friends. Best friends.

Honeyed words.

Spot can testify. I showed him some photos of me with my friends.

Am I right, Spot?

Spot?!

Just so it's clear, I was here first, then Midnight showed up second. Now you make three.

Does Oripathy give everyone a desire for fresh air at night?

Reading comics in a place like this... you'll ruin your eyes.

My vision is excellent, thank you very much.

But frankly, I like you more right now than I usually like you, Captain.

That's a brand new compliment...

Do you get together here often?

Sometimes. Spot's not exactly my type.

Total coincidence, alright? Plenty of people show up here at night, but we happen to be the only ones today—

Oh.

Miss Orchid! You're really here!

Catapult! Popukar! What are you two—

I couldn't sleep because my eye was hurting. I was looking for you but I didn't know where you were.

So I asked Catapult, and she found you, just like that?

Catapult...

(Whisper) Uh, it's not like that, Captain.

(Whisper) I was gonna take her some place I was familiar with, give her some candy, and put her to bed.

(Whisper) I had no idea all of you were here.

(Whisper) Do people really come here so often? I was just making that up!

...Now this is more like it.

What's everyone doing here?

Does your eye still hurt, Popukar?

Yeah.

But I feel better now that you're all here!

What about the rest of you?

Come now, this is not a debriefing.

I can tell you, I'm hurting like hell.

I doubt Popukar could have woken me up if I wasn't hurting.

I wouldn't be reading comics if I wasn't hurting.

I already told you.

Did anyone bring painkillers?

I brought some when I left my room. There should be enough for all of us.

You got any more drinks up your sleeves, Midnight?

Spot was actually right when he said people like to get some fresh air on deck.

That's why I've got various drinks stowed up here, just in case.

'Just in case.' Is that a synonym for 'everything'?

Everything.

Let's have a drink, then.

Here? Now?

What? Did you think I was just going to dismiss you?

Or say something that would make me want to jump off this deck, like you did earlier today.

Too tired for that.

I think I like you better when you're tired.

Then you don't know me well enough. This is how I usually am.

I only do all that stuff because I'm your captain. Can you imagine how pissed I was when you didn't respond to it?

Well, I just didn't like it.

Alright, sorry.

What?

Nothing. Just that I guess we really didn't know each other well enough.

What would you like to drink, Popukar?

Apple juice! Mr. Midnight!

Here you go.

I want gin!

Sure.

Brandy! Mr. Midnight!

You've got hands, use them.

Jerk.

I once read in a magazine—

True friendship is not about knowing what your friends like. It's about knowing what they don't like.

I have a suggestion.

Why don't we talk about our disinterests?

I'll start. I hate anything that keeps people from smiling. Illness, war, hatred, lies, cheating...

Wait a minute, the list's getting weird.

Because that's how things are. There are just so many things that can keep someone from smiling.

That's true.

Thanks. What about you, Catapult?

Oh, there are plenty of things I hate. A boring life, bad food, tedious missions. Oh, and those knights carrying their swords and shields!

How did you live for so long with so much hate in your heart?

Because I live to spite the things I hate!

Never mind me. I think you might hate even more things than I do, Spot.

No way.

Unlike you, my hatred is directed towards very specific things. Cheerful people, arrogant people, smooth-talking people, people with too much energy...

You might as well say that you hate everyone. Besides, you're obviously talking about us!

Let me finish.

You guys are a lot like the people that I hate, but I guess you're the exception that proves the rule.

Whoa, we've got a weirdo here.

You're the last person I want to hear that from.

So Spot hates everyone, except us. Does that sound better?

I think I'm already having second thoughts.

What about you, Popukar?

I... I... I hate...

Getting sleepy? Come, you can rest on my lap.

No... I wanna... hang out...

Alright, alright.

I think that's enough for tonight.

You're not running away, are you, Captain?

Are you?

It would be most dastardly.

I...

I hate Oripathy. I hate not being able to sleep because of the pain.

I hate that I'm forced to accept all of this, when I never asked for it.

Is that why you wanted to deal with us in your own way, so that you could feel like everything's normal?

I don't know. But I assure you that I've given up on being a good captain.

I won't put what happened tonight in my reports.

I'll still give my orders in the next test, but I'll let you act as you see fit.

That's good news.

I think that's enough drinks for tonight. It's time to go to bed.

One last toast before we go?

Sure, sounds fun.

...Alright.

...You guys weren't like this earlier today.

It's a worthy night for a toast, isn't it?

To what, though?

To all of us hurting like hell right now.

Oh, come on, really?

But you know what? I like it.

Not bad.

It hurts like hell. But it feels better when you know there are people hurting together with you.

You know, Orchid... all those friends of mine who keep themselves bottled up, until they decide to pour out a little bit of their true selves to a stranger under the influence... they all had one thing in common.

They all thought their pain was unique, until they poured it out.

Did you really think I wouldn't get angry?

You wouldn't, because you know exactly what I'm talking about.

...It's hardly a positive thing to know that one's pain is not unique. And sharing one's pain is just that, nothing more. Bottling up isn't so bad.

Try something simpler the next time you're trying to comfort someone.

We just happened to gather here tonight because of a common reason. It doesn't mean anything.

But I wouldn't have had this drink, if not for this coincidence.

You have good taste in wine.

Thank you.

Armored units approaching.

High-energy Originium detected.

Heavies, 12 o'clock! Get on it, Spot!

I was already on my way!

Quit posing, Midnight! Are you trying to get me killed?

Patience, patience, I'm looking for an elegant angle.

You're blocking the light, Spot.

Midnight!

Enough talk! Cut inside from the left flank! Stop the two light units!

Aye-aye, Orchid-sama.

Catapult! There's a sniper behind the bunker!

Blow him to smithereens! Don't worry about the bunker!

Out of the way if you don't want to be well-done!

Catapult! You almost took out my hair with that grenade!

Well, your hair's still there, isn't it? Quit complaining!

That's more like it. Popukar! Help Spot push that big guy away!

Okay!

I won't let you hurt Mr. Spot!

(Together) Orchid!

I know! Don't rush me!

Tactical flag—

Got it!

Simulation concluded.

All units safe.

Rating: <color=#00ff00>C-</color>

Congratulations, Reserve Op Team A6. <color=#00ff00>You passed the test</color>.

I'm exhausted—!

C-? Hard work really doesn't pay, does it?

Look happier. At least you're alive.

The score was not very elegant, but I did strike the perfect pose with my last move, didn't I?

Everyone was so cool!

You guys...

Heh, I thought Spot was gonna phone it in for sure.

As for me, I always thought Orchid made a perfect captain. At least she helps me think up excuses for my reports.

Brown-noser. I thought YOU were going to phone it in.

Besides, I never said Orchid wasn't a good captain. She helped me look for a comic the other day.

As for me, I've always felt that Orchid was my goddess of victory.

Spot.

Yeah, on three. Three, two, one.

Disgusting slug!

Orchid!

You came too?

I was worried about you.

But it looks like A6 is in much better shape now. Did that method you were talking about work?

Not even a little bit. It's a long story.

I'll tell you about it next time. But today...

I know, I know. Go, your team is waiting.

Kill yourself, Midnight.

Today is the day I rid Rhodes Island of this pest.

You can kill me, but you will never kill my pure heart!

Miss Orchid! What do we do?

Oh, come on...

Put away your chainsaw, Popukar.

Hm? Oh, okay!

Alright, that's enough.

Yes, ma'am.

Let's go. We'll celebrate in the cafeteria.

Today...

...is NOT on me. Everyone pays for their own.

Miser!

Shut up.

I'm broke, I have to save up for fabric!