The aseptic smell filled Eliza's nose as the elevator ascended. Its pristine, smooth-mirrored interior only accommodated herself and Riharia. She took one glance at the massive map of the Phoenix's Fury on the elevator wall. Its 3D Holo-visual spun slowly, providing a massive feed of the twenty five-kilometre behemoth.
She clutched tightly on her docu-pads, pressing them against her chest with her arms wrapped around them. Glancing down at them, she saw the numerous notes of research for her undergraduate degree she'd been collating for a report, now the last piece of the puzzle was Kazuki. Riharia was tapping her boot to the beat of the mechanical elevator music.
"So," Eliza started, "Thanks for showing me the way… I'm guessing with everything that's going on, it's nice to have some respite."
"Eh, sure, I guess? Now that I think back on it, contractor work's boring… Back in Clandestine, most of us ran security operation contracts. I'll tell you all about it later, fuck disclosure." Glancing at Eliza, she pointed towards the datapads and said, still chewing, "So, what did you do before this?" Riharia wore her fatigues, with a jacket over them.
Eliza's head shot up at Riharia. She didn't know if it was okay to tell Riharia, feeling like she'd get envious of her… But the two were friends, right? Eliza feels somewhat comfortable indulging in her question. Eliza, on the other hand, looked rather professional, a handler hoodie beneath her jacket, with a pleated skirt and reinforced band thigh-highs, held up by garters, that made her feel like an office worker more than anything.
"Oh! I did some part-time work, but I'm a student for the most part… But uh… yeah?" Eliza wasn't too sure whether her 'internship' would be considered working.
"Huh?!" Riharia was surprised. She snatched one of the datapads from her arms and turned it on. Looking down at it, she caught a glimpse at dozens of research documents before Eliza snatched it back from her.
"Hey!" Eliza shouted. She took a step back from Riharia as she cradled the devices. "What was that for?"
"So you are underaged?" asked Riharia, confusing Eliza, "Like, aren't you supposed to be in school?"
"No! Student as in University. Studying cybernetics," explained Eliza, showing a recent report assignment she had to do. It had so much information that Riharia didn't understand, so she just nodded upon looking at it. "It's quite a complicated field of study, I'd find it hard for anyone underaged to actually understand any of it…"
"Oh." The epiphany hit Riharia harder than the shockwave of an explosion. "Then why aren't you at university?"
She didn't sound all too sure of herself there, it was clear she wasn't aware of its ins and outs. "I only go in for a few hours here and there. For the most part it's individual research and studying, at least for me it is… a lot of studying, actually."
"Like reading books 'n' stuff?" asked Riharia.
"Yeah! Books… journals, reports, stuff…" Eliza trailed off, her eyes gleaming. "Let me tell you, finding new journals on the subject is thrilling!"
Riharia's eyes glanced away before she laughed. "Ah… yeah?"
"No, no," Eliza continued, feeling her voice explode with her brain in her mouth. "Like, there's so much new tech and hardware coming out that it's insane! Like, the amount of reports and hypothetical cybernetics is rising so much that I need to get an extension to my bookshelves."
"You collect them?!" Riharia's face and voice held the tone and meaning that she'd call Eliza a massive nerd, though she knew that it was very much true.
"Yeah?" Eliza shrugged, before crossing her arms, feeling quite smug and proud of her neatness. "Well, I collect a lot of things. And I do mean: a lot, like… Kaz told me it's outdated, but I'm still proud of my brooch collection, and he hasn't even seen my—"
She started counting on her finger joints, using a duo-decimal system that Archius had taught her about back in uni; for all his seeming lack of care for intellect, he does come up with very useful conveniences.
"—report collection, journal collection, first-grade computer collection; my original collection of the Kaliban's Fury series; and academic awards collection."
Riharia seemed dumbfounded by the whole list, but nodded anyways. "I'm gonna pretend I understood any of that…" She laughed her confusion off, smacking Eliza across her back. "Then what 'bout now, is this like a part-time thing?"
"Hmm… well, yeah?" Eliza placed a finger to her chin. "Actually, I'm not so sure."
Riharia shook her head, her red hair shaking with it. "Yeah, but what do you do?" she asked, "It's not normal for Kaz to bring up new people, let alone civvies!"
"Oh! I'm a sort of aide? I mean, I do help around, but as I said: I'm studying cybernetics, so I guess I'm helping him repair his exospine."
"Oh…" Revelation hit Riharia like a brick, as Eliza watched her experience a second epiphany. "Well, good for him! Having that stick stuck to his back must be painfully aching! But… why you?"
Eliza paused for a moment, twisting her head around towards her, then towards the reflecting steel walls. She didn't want to come off as an arsehole, nor as an arrogant person, but her mind could only come up with one conclusion. "Trust?" Eliza suggested.
"Trust?" Riharia repeated what Eliza said. "I mean, most of us have never ever seen you."
"Well, Kaz and I went to uni together, before he dropped out."
"KAZ WENT TO UNIVERSITY?" Riharia asked, her face contorting to even brighter shades of confusion. "So that's why he's always late to our briefings!"
Eliza paused at what she said. It wasn't exactly the most far-fetched idea, but it still hit her like a ram: Kazuki was always in this business, wasn't he? She asked herself, that's why he's so distant, cynical and sarcastic… never wanting to get involved with other people… Because each day might be his last. Eliza's eyes slowly faded in colour, a revelation that she should have made long ago coming back to haunt her: each day that she, him and everyone else hung out, or partied, or ate out might have been his last…
"Yeah… Kazuki skipped university a lot. To be honest, if it wasn't for the fact that he's both the aristocracy and Kallender Group, he'd probably gotten kicked out before he dropped uni," Eliza asserted, remembering back to when they joined that socialite group of the galaxy's brightest.
She nodded, glancing away. "Oh, aristocracy… Must be nice, then? Uni."
"Well, the work's hard but it feels gratifying," said Eliza, unknowing to Riharia's change of undertone.
But to be completely honest, the work was far from gratifying. Tens of hours poured into studying just to be on schedule… it wasn't as bad as the National Standards, but she guessed that those were made to prepare people for the hell that was uni.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
"Hah." started Riharia, her eyes glancing back at Eliza. "Upstart, was it?"
"Yeah." said Eliza.
She stayed silent after that. Eliza was quickly reminded of just how volatile the culture back in school was, success was everything - end all and be all. She never had Kazuki's memory, nor her sister's natural intelligence.
"What do you think we're going to be doing now? The last mission didn't seem all too successful, but I'm sure our next will be much better."
Riharia glanced at her. Eliza realised that she was envying her… Eliza had everything she wanted. A comfy life, a comfy job and moderate wealth. Riharia's eyes were poised onto her brooch, a purple-pink flower brooch, with a gem swirling with the prestige and pride of a dead god's essence. An aristocratic brooch, a sigil of prestige and wealth long forgotten.
Disdain for the aristocracy was to be expected. After all, people die whilst they polish their golden brooches. A moment of silence filled the elevator, Eliza couldn't handle the awkwardness. "Riharia… I—"
"Look," Riharia interjected, "You're cool and all, but you really need to read the uplink. I'm just saying, if Kazuki wasn't there, Lilly probably would have shut you off the channels."
"I know, I'll try to compose myself, but…" Eliza trailed off, "Things aren't great on our side either."
"Huh?" Riharia leaned against the wall as the elevator continued to ascend. "Liz, people would kill to be in your position."
She repeated herself, "I know, but…"
Eliza felt something burn inside her. She knew that everything that she's ever built up for herself was hers alone. Through sheer determination, she clambered to the top of the academic food-chain. But all that was up there were more and more expectations for success. Her understanding for Riharia clashed with wanting to tell her everything…
"It's awful. This." said Eliza, "My mum and dad came from nothing. They had to fight tooth and nail to get where they are now… but even so the atmosphere is far from tame. And to be honest, we're not even upper class… but… even so, I feel forced to be thankful, for all the troubles… And if you try to avoid politics, it'll come after you instead."
"You… confuse me." Riharia scratched her head. "Guess shit's not sunshine and rainbows."
Eliza nodded, turning to Riharia. "I might not be able to speak for everyone in the lower echelons, but it's tough. Those established already would do anything to get rid of us, whilst those that wish to secure a Solar Brooch pry at us from below. The pressure for success is… sometimes too great; even for me."
"Alright." Riharia glanced away, avoiding her eyes. She probably felt bad now, scolding Eliza without knowing her story. Eliza saw her looking away, she wanted to connect with her. And this was the complete opposite. Instead, she stepped closer to her.
But Eliza thought she was probably thinking about how annoying she was. She understood that she was lucky to be born as Eliza, but would anyone take it, after seeing what a mess she's become?
"I just wanted you to know that it's not just sharp shooting." said Eliza, continuing onwards, "We're told to succeed, pass, excel, we're told that we're the future and that we have to do well to even meet the bare minimum. By the end of the nationals… many classmates weren't with us to graduate…"
"Well, sometimes it's hard to find a reason to continue… Seems like there's sometimes that you students and vets can both understand."
"Indeed. Just look at me…" said Eliza, her voice crumbling. She could tell that she looked horrendous. She wore a strained expression, with bags under her eyelids. "Might I ask of something?"
"Sure, go ahead," said Riharia, in a nonchalant attitude. She looked back at Eliza.
"Is it normal to want to run away from everything…"
"Hey," said Riharia, "Sometimes, it's overbearing, but you gotta remember: you're stronger than that."
Eliza slowly nodded, not even realising that her rant had reopened all those mental wounds she painted over years ago. She was reminded of her old self… She saw it stare at her. The cold, unforgiving logic that embodied her all those years ago. It pains her, comparing herself to her…
Thoughts came crashing down as she teared up, remembering it all. Reopening the wound caused her head to ache violently. Her mind twisted and spun as all her worries and responsibilities collided. Glancing at the steel walls, she saw the reflection of her past self. The cold, crimson eyes, smileless expression met her flurry of emotions. Remembering was the last thing she wanted to do, yet she had no other choice. She had to—
Slicing through her thoughts, Riharia placed a hand on Eliza, shaking her slightly. "Hey! Liz, are you still there?"
Eliza slowly nodded. And as she did, the elevator slowed.
"Look…" Riharia trailed off, taking her hand off Eliza, "I might be wrong, life's a bitch and we all know. It's good to live once a while, but never run away. Hell… what am I talking about…"
She let off a small chuckle to cover up her rambling. Eliza could see the small pack of hover-cards strapped onto one of the storage compartments on her armoured vest. If she'd ever get the chance, she'd like to get into playing Dullahan's Calling… Maybe that'd be a good hobby… something outside of work or academics. Her brooch collection's been getting dusty, maybe it's time to find more things to do.
"You're right… And let's not talk about statuses. I want to know you as Riharia, and you to know me as Eliza. Does it matter if we don't come from the same background?" Eliza asked.
Riharia smiled. "No, Lizzie."
"I should take a rest once in a while…"
"Yeah, yeah, just make sure it's like eight hours or something - I dunno ask Claire or Martinez."
"Seems a bit much," Eliza pondered, "Two hours of sleep seems good enough."
Riharia broke out into a bout of laughter. "Really? Two hours? Hell, I think even Kazuki gets more sleep than that!"
"Oh, come on! Three?" asked Eliza, playfully indulging Riharia as if bartering. She smiled as she remembered the key in all this mess, Kazuki. "Anyways, please, enough about me. How about you? I know you're doing this and all, but if you had the choice, what'd you do for a living?"
"Huh, umm," Riharia paused, "I haven't thought about that. I mean, I don't think I'd qualify but I'd like to be a games developer."
Eliza patted her on the back, her eyes lit up. "Chase your dreams! We only live for so long, pursue what you want to do. And if you fail, don't worry, I'll be here to support you."
Riharia grinned widely, feeling empowered to do so by her willpower alone. "Well… thanks, I told Lilly once, she wasn't exactly the most supportive. But I know she's just worried about me. Guess the holo-card addiction's hitting me hard then, eh?"
If there's something more prevalent than death, it'd have to be holo-cards.
"Heh, quite." said Eliza. But something stuck out, how does she know enough to guess how much Kazuki sleeps? It was quite close, as well, curiosity got the better of her as she asked more. "How do you know that Kazuki doesn't sleep?"
"Wait?! He doesn't!? I thought that was just a cathing rumour… Shit…" Riharia was surprised, trailing off. "I mean, we don't really ask him directly… feels kinda rude, you know?"
"You don't mind me asking, but what do you all see in him?" asked Eliza, "Sorry, I'm just… I want to know how he seems to you guys, I've known him for a while, but he only revealed to me everything over a year ago."
"Liz, jeez, relax! Sure, he's our boss, but we've all fought alongside him at some point, even the later defectors respected him, if not anything else. Like, most of us shat ourselves when we heard we're working alongside him, back in Clandestine. Let me tell ya, the rumours are over-hyped!"
Eliza understood that sentiment, Kazuki had far too many rumours surrounding him. Son of high-born aristocracy in a Republic, born to the High Admiral… and apparently a soulless man. False, but the whole Contract-Breaker title didn't make things better for him.
As she mulled it over, the elevator stopped, the doors came open and a tall individual stood in their way. They held onto a Vesarian-Greatsword, adorned with a barrel down the spine, able to both slash and fire. She hasn't seen the weapon of an Imperial Knight up close and personal before, its tip touching the steel floor below as he glared at the two of them. It had Kazuki's name inscribed onto the hilt. Behind him was a black hallway, vantablack in its entirety. Riharia took a step back, readying herself as if she was at an inspection.
Eliza glanced at her, then at the man.
"Eliza, you are expected."
With that, he turned, taking hold of his weapon, and walked off. Eliza followed, giving Riharia one last look. She saluted with one hand and waved goodbye with the other as the doors closed. With that, she was alone, escorted by a giant wearing heavy plate armour, armed with a Vesarian rifle-sword.