Plan and Prepare

In the quiet of his chamber, Ashfield reclined upon his bed, engulfed in a sea of thoughts. His gaze fell upon a cherished relic: a picture capturing a moment of innocence, where he, merely a seven-year-old boy, stood beside his beloved mother, Anastasia, the Azure Queen. His hand reached out for the picture frame, fingers tracing the contours of a happier time.

"Mother, if only you were here," he murmured, the words heavy with longing. "You'd know what to do with Father." A sense of helplessness pervaded his voice. "I'm sorry for my weakness. I'm powerless... a failure," he lamented, a sudden cascade of tears betraying the weight of his emotions.

The image, once a cherished memory, now served as a haunting reminder of his inadequacy, evoking a flood of emotions that Ashfield struggled to contain.

In the midst of his emotional turmoil, Ashfield's tears ceased as the picture frame slipped from his grasp, plummeting to the floor. The impact shattered the glass covering, scattering shards across the chamber. Retrieving the fallen frame, he noticed something amiss—a small object lodged behind the picture within the frame. "What's this?" he muttered in surprise, examining the unexpected find.

Gently extracting the concealed item, he discovered a USB drive hidden at the back of the picture. Curiosity piqued, Ashfield swiftly connected it to his laptop. A video file, labeled with his mother's name, materialized before him. With a mixture of astonishment and anticipation, Ashfield clicked on the video.

At Silver Prism Motherbase

In the quiet confines of the Silver Prism Motherbase, Joseph found himself unable to find solace in sleep. Wrestling with thoughts that seemed to echo endlessly, he resolved to spend the night monitoring GENESIS. Lost in contemplation, Joseph was interrupted by Erina's gentle presence.

"Sleepless night, huh?" Erina approached with a sympathetic smile, sensing Joseph's restlessness.

Joseph nodded. "Yeah, decided to stick around and keep an eye on GENESIS."

Erina's keen eyes caught the worry etched on Joseph's face. "Sure about that? You've got that distant look. Something weighing heavy on your mind?"

Joseph let out a sigh and a faint chuckle. "It's surprising how easily you see through me."

Erina smiled softly. "Well, Joseph, we've been together since childhood. I've learned to read you like an open book."

Joseph continued, his tone filled with concern, "Erina, a lot has been happening. You saw the footage, how GENESIS against Tyrantula... I'm afraid that if I can't fully control it, I might end up causing harm to others."

Erina comforted him, holding his hand gently. "Joseph, remember why you were chosen as GENESIS' pilot? It trusts you. Maybe your father knows how to master it if you're worried about that."

Joseph nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, you're right, Erina. I'm not sure when we'll get to meet my father with everything going on. But my main goal is to reclaim the Surface..."

Erina smiled reassuringly. "That's what we call a journey, Joseph. It's about becoming stronger. Everything takes time, and all we can do is plan and prepare."

Joseph replied, "I see, if you say so, I'll take your words to heart. Thank you, Erina," he said, smiling warmly.

He continued, "When we finally reclaim the Surface, I want to experience the beauty of our real world with you, Erina."

Erina smile warmly after hearing a words from Joseph.

Eliza lingered behind a wall, contemplating their conversation. "Reclaim the Surface, hmm..." she murmured to herself, pondering the weight of Joseph's words.

Eliza made her way to Commander Alexander's office, finding him immersed in a haze of cigar smoke. "Ah, Eliza, it's been too long," he greeted, taking a drag from his cigar.

"Indeed, Commander. Here's the latest report," Eliza handed over the dossier.

Perusing the contents, Commander Alexander remarked, "Ah, looks like that lad Joseph is holding up well. Now, about Princess Scarlett's disappearance... it was orchestrated by Azure King himself?"

Eliza affirmed, "Yes, sir. We obtained proof from Prince Ashfield, here this a voice recording from one of ours briefings."

Listening to the recorded voice, Commander Alexander nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, this could work well, Eliza. With enough evidence, we might have grounds for an arrest."

Eliza added, "It seems a conflict between the Crimson Queen and Azure King might escalate into a war soon, Commander."

Commander Alexander sighed heavily, shaking his head. "War... those royals never seem to learn. Your priority is to prevent it, Eliza. Our objective is to rescue Princess Scarlett without causing harm to innocent civilians."

"Absolutely, Commander," Eliza responded with a crisp salute, brimming with determination.

"Your trust in us means everything. We won't let you down," she assured, meeting his gaze with unwavering resolve.

As Eliza left, Commander Alexander summoned his secretary, Lindsay. "Lindsay, I need a massage. Seems like my back's acting up again," he remarked with a grimace.

Lindsay chuckled softly in response, "Again? Sure thing, I'll take care of it." There was an air of familiarity in their interaction, hinting at a routine in the Commander's frequent requests for relief from his back pain.

Meanwhile, Luther summoned Asher and Felix, urging them to follow him. When they arrived, Luther unveiled his latest creation, a new mech designed specifically for the two.

Asher, taken aback but intrigued, exclaimed, "Whoa, Luther, this is amazing! But no plasma cannon?"

Luther explained, "I've upgraded it with a cutting-edge plasma blade, something that might even rival the EMERALD PHANTOM."

Felix, intrigued by the upgrade, remarked, "Interesting. I'm eager to give it a test run."

Luther continued, "It doesn't have a name yet. Why don't both of you decide its name?"

Asher and Felix put their heads together, brainstorming ideas. Asher proposed, "How about Raijin and Fujin?"

Luther nodded in approval, "Raijin and Fujin? Sounds fitting."

Luther elaborated, "Raijin and Fujin have been meticulously designed to perfectly complement your piloting skills. I'm counting on both of you to unlock their true potential and showcase their capabilities."

The Next day

"The stage is set," Eliza commenced, addressing the gathered assembly which included Crimson Queen and Lionel Lockhart. "Allow me to elucidate the situation at hand. The message received by the Crimson Queen from Azure King signals the onset of war today—a confrontation between the forces of Crimson Queen and Azure King. However, even in the midst of conflict, our main objective remains unchanged: the rescue of Princess Scarlett."

"With Azure King's unpredictability, my elite unit, the Crimson Knights, will stand by your side," Crimson Queen asserted, her tone resolute. "We cannot predict the extent of Azure King's forces or his tactics. Lionel and I will remain at my Empire, ensuring its protection alongside our people. We're prepared to defend our home with all we have."

"As we conclude this briefing, does anyone have any suggestions?" Eliza prompted, scanning the gathered individuals.

In the tense silence, Eliza took charge, her voice resonating with determination. "Our next operation is set: 'Rescue Princess Scarlett' begins now!"