Turn, Turn and Turn [A]gain! (Turn A Gundam Quest)

[X] Answer them honestly.
--[X] Why does this mobile suit scare you so much, anyway?


You swallow before you answer them. "Yes, I am Loran Cehack. My mother's name is Laura Cehack, and she works as a materials researcher at the White Crescent laboratory-"

"Outside of Ginganam." Arisa finishes for you. "Ugh, what a mess…"

Corin steps in while his companion rubs her forehead. "Right. We thought it might be you when the Royal Guard brought ya in because you look just like Laura, and then we overheard them talking about how they were suspecting that you were Turn X's pilot." His image on the holoscreen shows him throwing his arms wide. "And now you just confirmed it for us!"

Then his face falls. "Aw, crap."

What? "Er, what?"

It is Arisa that answers you. "Laura made us promise to never, under any circumstances, contact or interact with you in any way, no exceptions." She shrugs. "We were the only survivors from the battle with the Turn A, and she didn't take it well. Must not have wanted any reminders around."

Your mom did what? Why? Besides: "Why would you go to my mom at all?"

Arisa's face grows pained, assuming the expression of someone who knows that they have said too much. "We…kinda sorta knew your dad."

Oh.

"Please don't ask us to tell you about him." She pleads. "We've already broken one promise to her today, and that was to see if her kid was in danger. Your father…it's Laura's story to tell."


You need a minute to answer, chest tight with unvoiced questions, but you manage not to push her, not to angrily demand answers from someone so clearly torn up about having to betray your mother again to give them. Instead…

"Why does this Mobile Suit scare you so much anyway?" You eventually force out. "The White Doll is powerful even as damaged as it is, but it is still just one Mobile Suit."

The two of them stare at you from the holoscreens as if you have grown a second head.

"Wow." Arisa says breathily before she laughs the laughter of the condemned. "Heheheheheh…where do I even start?" She rubs the tears out her eyes before fixing them on yours. "If Turn X hadn't been sleepwalking you could have ended this conflict any time you wanted."

"Sleepwalking?"

"She means that Turn X has powered down into a low-performance non-combat mode." Corin pipes up. "It does that whenever it can't detect any threats to itself. Unless a registered pilot overrides its programming that is, but the only one with that kind of clearance has been dead for more than two thousand years."

Arisa cuts in as Corin trails off. "We would give you details, but that kinda depends on what you answer our next question."

Corin nods. "Yeah. We need to know if you'd be willin' to vouch for us should we defect."

Your hands tighten upon the White Doll's controls. "Defect? You want to join the Militia?"

"Us two, our Leos, and whatever spare parts and weapons we can sneak away with." Arisa confirms. "Bruno and Jacop are regular Dianna Counter grunts serving with us for a few months to pad out the penal force, so they probably won't come along even if we bothered to ask."

"Laura is going to be pissed," Corin shivers. "But that would be nothing compared to what she'd do to us if she found out that you were hurt or killed and we could have been there to stop it."

Arisa seems a bit more composed. "Give us a few days to get ready and we can meet up at any time. All we need is a promise from you to back us up when we show up on the Earth side of the border. You know, smooth things over with the locals, keep us armed and not too far from you, that stuff."


…


[] Accept.

[] Turn them down.

[X] Accept.


"I'll talk to Lord Guin." You promise them. "When can you be ready?"

"Give us a couple of days." Arisa smirks. "We'll get our stuff together, maybe sneak some of it off beforehand, and when you are ready to do your part just give us a signal."

You decide on a signal and part ways. Whatever happens, you will soon see them again.


*


"The White Doll knew them?" Lord Guin demands in utter disbelief. Dianna-as-Kihel is standing behind his desk, having just served the two of you tea. Her Pressure is surprised, confused, and a little bit angry and scared. Quite the change from when you entered the room and started talking, where her eyes went from you to Lord Guin before her Pressure lit up with realization.

"Yes sir." You answer. "When the pilots of new Dianna Counter Mechanical Dolls revealed their faces the White Doll marked their machines as friendly and displayed pictures of the pilots themselves. According to Mr. Nander and Miss Gunhale they fought beside it during the Dark History."

"And they want to defect to our side so that they can do so again…" He says, stroking his chin. His Pressure turns from disbelieving to considering, elated, and hungry (and for once this is not directed at you).

"Laura?"

Hm? "Sir?"

Lord Guin looks you in the eye. "Do you think we can trust them?"

You don't really know, not for sure. But you need to know what they know. "I think we can trust them, sir."

"If I may." Interrupts Dianna-as-Kihel. "Queen Dianna told me a little about this Corin Nander character the other day. He is an extremely violent criminal sentenced to centuries of something called life suspension before he was sent down here. Is it wise to place any faith in him?"

Lord Guin clicks his tongue. "Perhaps not, but I will interview him and this Gunhale woman when they arrive." He picks up a document on his desk and begins to lightly scan it. "Was that all, Laura?"


[] "Actually, sir, there is something else." (Confess to being of the Moonrace)
--[] Ask Dianna-as-Kihel to leave the room.
--[] Let Dianna-as-Kihel stay.

[] "That is all, sir."


*********


Queen Dianna is now aware that Loran Cehack and Laura Rola are the same person.

Week 7 (Week 7 of the Lunar-Inglessan Dispute)


[X] "Actually, sir, there is something else." (Confess to being of the Moonrace)
--[X] Let Dianna-as-Kihel stay.


It is best for everyone involved if you reveal yourself on your terms rather than trying to keep it secret indefinitely. If someone finds out and out you then... "Sir, there is something you should know about me."

"Yes?" Lord Guin's pressure gains a tinge of interest and a little bit of hunger.

No going back now. "I…I'm of the Moonrace."

There is no response; he just sits there in shocked silence. Out of a desperate need to fill said silence you keep the words flowing from your mouth. The knowledge that nobody is listening in makes it easier.

"I was sent down here as a scout two years ago to integrate into the local population and discern if the Earth was suitable for us to Return to." Your face falls. "I-I was told that a diplomatic solution would be pursued, there was never any mention of an invasion."

You continue until your explanation if finished, throwing the room again into silence.

"I see." Lord Guin finally answers. "It is a surprise, but I believe that it changes little and I thank you for telling me this." There is a touch of disappointment in his pressure, but it is by far drowned out by a renewed hunger. And a disturbing tinge of greed.

Even more disturbing is the disguised Queen Dianna's reaction. Outwardly she is calm, but your new senses tell a different story: At first she is shocked and saddened, but then those feelings give way to disappointment and suspicion. And then realization strikes her and her Pressure is filled with anger and worry.

"Laura." She whispers.

"Yes?" You say without thinking (thanks a lot, Lord Guin).

"Hm?" Dianna-as-Kihel blinks before collecting herself. "Nothing. But Loran, does anyone else know?" Lord Guin sharpens his ears at the question, silently commanding you to answer.

"Sochie knows, I told her after the invasion. Queen Dianna recognized me when I was being held at the landing zone." The second is technically a lie, but then again you never said the Kihel-as-Dianna recognized you as being of the Moonrace. "Other than them the only ones that know are you two and the other members of my descent team. Beyond that Lieutenant Harry and some of the Royal Guard and other Moonrace officials suspect the truth."

Lord Guin rest his head in his palm, the other hand busy playing with the document he picked up. "That so?"

"Yes, sir."

With that you are dismissed, Queen Dianna's eyes burning a hole in the back of your head as you leave.


*


The next morning finds you back in the White Doll. The passive self-repair systems are working just fine.


All Systems gain +1 Condition!


It is just a matter on how to set the Priority Repair System this week.


[] Make it go back to the Lightwave Maneuvering Thrusters (Flight Mode).

[] One of the White Doll's systems. (System gains 1d100 Condition)
--[] Write in System.


There are still a few days before Corin and Arisa are ready to defect. You can only hope that things will be quiet until then…


Choose 2

[] Practice with the White Doll.

[] See if you can find Sochie and Miashei anywhere.

[] Experiment with Pressure.

[] Check on Keith and Fran.

[] Visit the Heim mines to see what Sid and Joseph have found up there.

[] Go on some extra patrols.

[] Spend time with the disguised Queen Dianna.