Headcount

[turbedon]

[A far too cheerful sounding voice pipes up over the Network, the owner of it nowhere to be found in Liminal Space in a rather telling way.]

Ladies and gentlemen, this is your pilot speaking-

Everyone okay? Anyone gone missing after the last Jaunt?

... Any newcomers we need to get off the brainway asap? Because just arriving and then being run over would really not be astrous. At all.

Comments

[shiroganeheir]

That is my feeling as well.

... to both of the comments.

private

[leftbehindagain]

Don't start - well, knowing you, continue - beating yourself up over it. We did everything we could.

Private

[shiroganeheir]

I feel like I should have done more. I tried a Sift, but by the time I got to where it indicated, nothing was there. I should have tried different parameters, but I could not come up with anything.

private

[leftbehindagain]

Naoto, stop it. Subterfuge isn't your usual kind of detective work - that you got to where it had been at all is impressive. Besides, what were you going to do once you got there? I was the one with the leverage, as weird as that sounds, and I couldn't get the damn thing away from her.

We did everything we could. It wasn't enough, but we did everything we could. We didn't just sit back and let everything go down the toilet without trying.

Private

[shiroganeheir]

I have thought about that, yes. She would likely have not cared about the actual truth of the matter, and I had little to trade with, other than my own qualities, and I doubt I could have performed whatever was needed to relieve myself of them. Perhaps I could have used force, but that would likely not have ended well.

Still, I keep thinking that there must be some way that I could have done more. If I had brought more people together, or taken more time to think, perhaps.

private

[leftbehindagain]

How could you have done more? You already did a hell of a lot more than most other people I remember talking to, and that was with getting kidnapped. [...That's another thing, he's going to have to talk to Yua at some point.]

Incidentally, if you think you're going to need it... I think I might be able to make that sleep aid again, if I can get someone to make the ingredients for me. That one wasn't in my notebook, but I think I still remember it.

Private

[shiroganeheir]

I always feel as if I could have done more. At least this time, I certainly hope no one died. Or... ended up more dead than they were?

Thank you. I believe I still have one bottle in my bag, but I will let you know if I need another. I really appreciate it.

private

[leftbehindagain]

At least something useful came out of this, right?

I don't think the city got destroyed. I don't think. But that's the best I can say for it.

Private

[shiroganeheir]

I cannot say what did or did not happen. It did not feel as if things were destroyed. Coming back here this time felt quite different than waking up after the Grid, so I am somewhat certain I did not die at the end.

Thank you, Naoki-kun, for your kindness even when you did not know me.

private

[leftbehindagain]

Thank you for your help. You hardly had to go to so much trouble.