Chase wanted to feel better, but despite destroying the Giant Mech before any more damage could be dealt to the city, there still wasn’t much of a victory. Rowan had already received several complaints, especially from Mayor Swornyale and the City Council, which was for good reason since a line of destruction streaked through the city leading to Lion’s Grove. Maybe this could lead the city council to repair some of Lion’s Grove too, but he felt like that was wishful thinking. He could only imagine how much trouble Marcus was in as well.

For now though, Chase had just finished explaining to Rowan the events before with the Technician. In his office, Rowan was sitting with his hands folded against his face as he mulled over Chase’s recap. “...hmmm, well, that really isn’t good. Do you think Marcus’s counter will work?”

“We don’t have many other options, but it seems the Technician does have several similar weaknesses to other forms of technology, including discharged electricity and water.”

“So, are you just gonna be carrying around a water gun?”

“If I must, yes. Unfortunately, I don’t know how effective that really would be. Most likely it would just stun him, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

“Right, well, I’m sure we’ll take anything to take this bozo down.”

“I–er…of course,” Chase hesitated to say something and trailed off.

Rowan raised an eyebrow, “Is there anything else?”

“...no, I just wished that things went better.”

Rowan sighed, “Yeah. I think we all do. But you can’t always save everyone and everything. It’s important to focus on the positives and understand that the world’s gonna keep on rolling, so you should too, else you’ll drive yourself insane.”

“I know…and I understand that mistakes are common…but when some mistakes are much more serious than others then they can’t be excused.”

“You’re right, they can’t be excused. You just have to learn from them and make sure you do better in the future, because just dwelling on them and beating yourself over them isn’t any more useful than stabbing yourself with a rusty knife.”

“...I know, I know, but it’s hard.”

Rowan rubbed his beard and gave a reassuring grin, “It sure is. But stick with us, and you’ll make it through, I promise.”

Chase glanced at Rowan before walking out of the office. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

The rest of the branch was gloomy with the dark rainy atmosphere outside. Several officers were nursing their wounds, groaning, and recovering. Many less injured officers were allowed to go home and probably take a long rest, while others needed to stay to get medical treatment. A group of officers were also having a moment of silence to mourn their fallen comrade, Darrel, the officer that got burned in an instant while manning the cannon that was supposed to do something against the mech. Chase noticed Alice sitting by the window looking out with a blanket around her and an ice pack settled on her head.

“Hey,” Chase said, walking over to her.

“Hey,” Alice didn’t look up from her window, watching Chase through the reflection.

“How’re you holding up?”

She shrugged, “Could be worse.”

“Where’s your old optimism?”

She curled a slight smile, “A bit hard to stay cheery after seeing your people get attacked by a giant robot shooting lasers. Even for me.”

He grimaced, “You know I had to do what was necessary.”

“I know. You didn’t want to do it as much as I did. But it just…really adds onto how Altarians are treated. The Lion’s Grove is just some old dirty part of Horizon, where no long lasting harm is going to happen if it gets destroyed compared to other parts.”

“I haven’t forgotten my promise,” Chase said. “Once we’ve brought the Technician down, I’ll do what I can to help Lion’s Grove.”

“Will we…even be able to beat the Technician?”

“...We need to.”

“Yeah, of course, we have to defeat the Technician or else people are going to get hurt. I’m just wondering how, since it seems like nothing fazes this guy.”

“Marcus’s counter should be ready soon, we can visit him tomorrow and work from there.”

“Have you gotten word from him yet?”

“Not since after the mech was defeated. I think the blasts disabled communication systems.”

“Heh, well, I guess that means I can push back telling him that his car got trashed.”

“It was his fault for giving it to you in the first place.”

“Hey! I’m pretty responsible!” Alice protested but cheerfully, with a bright smile plastered back on her face.

Chase felt strange talking to Alice now. Before he found her mostly a nuisance, someone inexperienced in his work that would only get in his way or another form of his failings, but instead he just felt fine, maybe even better. He found himself forgetting the gripping fears in his stomach and feeling lighter in a sense. Her smile and laugh reminded him of someone. Someone who taught him that it was okay to feel happy and relax, someone honorable and courageous enough to save a small village on the coast of Eurona from a treacherous tsunami, someone that was supposed to have a good ending…

“Chase? Are you okay?” Alice cut into his thoughts.

He shook his head off those thoughts, “Sorry, I…was just reminiscing.”

“About what?”

“...An old friend.”

“Who are they?”

Chase hesitated. He hasn’t been able to even think about them ever since he got his new body. Too many painful memories. And yet, he could never just forget them. Looking at Alice’s warm and hopeful smile also made him realize that maybe it was time he faced those demons, or else they’ll keep tormenting him, although he wasn’t sure if it’ll work. “His name was Lysander, the leader of my old team at Highrise.”

“Leader?”

“Yes, that’s what I just said.”

“Sorry, I just figured you were the leader of your team.”

“Do I look like I could be a leader?”

“...Touche.” She snickered, “So, what’s so great about Lysander?”

“He…he was a good leader…and a good man.”

“You don’t seem very sure about that?”

Chase sighed, he wanted to believe his words were, in fact, he was sure. But things just never ended well. “What I remember, Lysander was the greatest leader I’ve ever known and I’m proud to have fought beside him…but…” He trailed off.

“If it’s too hard for you, then you don’t need to tell me. I can tell there’s some major baggage there.”

“Thank you. To just sum it up, something tragic happened that broke our team apart. I haven’t seen any of them since I got this new body, and that was years ago.”

“Did what happened have something to do with you getting your new body?”

“Not completely,” Chase looked down at his metal hands and flexed them. “The event that destroyed my body was separate.”

“You don’t have to tell me that either.”

“No, this one’s easier. And…” Chase glanced over at Alice, seeing her soft sympathetic face that listened to him intently, her eyes clearly showed some care for him. Despite his suspicions of her before, she’s shown promise and sincerity throughout this mission. He still wasn’t sure if he could trust her, and yet, a part of him wanted to. Maybe it was the sour feeling in his heart that cried for the companionship that he lost the day his team fell, or maybe it was the guilt of putting Alice, still a young girl, through the same horrors he has to face, despite the fact that she was the one that wanted it in the first place. “...you deserve to know at this point.”