Disclaimer: I don't own Ace Combat.

"Well, someone's busy."

I look up from my book to see Big Brother standing in the doorway, looking at the scraps littered around my room.

"What are you doing there?" he asked. …What?

"Burning a house."

"I know you're reading a book, Kid."

"Why are you asking then?" he stopped to think for a moment and then laugh.

"Heh heh, touché." He sat beside me, leaning over to see what I was reading.

"That's a pretty heavy subject, Kid. Sure you know what you're reading there?"

"I won't bother if I don't."

"Heh, touché again."

Silence finally returned back to the room as I focused back to my book.

"Where did you get all of these?" he asked.

Or not.

"Uncle gave me."

"And what are you planning to do with them? Wait, are you building a time machine?!" …What?

"Why would I even bother myself with building something as useless as that?"

"Because you wanted to? I mean, I'm pretty sure a lot of people would disagree with what you imply just now."

"I don't think that's possible."

"Well, not yet. Maybe you'll be the first to do it."

"Sounds like a sure-fire way to gain attention," I said. He looked confused for a moment before realisation dawning on him.

"Oh, right, anonymity," he said.

Silence has once again graced us, maybe this time it will stick.

"So… what exactly are you planning to make then?"

Or not.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, a kid surrounded by these sort of things aren't exactly an everyday sight."

"Curiosity then."

"I guess. So, spill the beans. What are you going to do with them?" What was that even mean, I wonder? I have to ask later.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I don't know what I want to make."

"But you wanted to make something."

"Yes, I think." A realisation suddenly hit him once again.

"Ah, I see how it is," he said while nodding sagely. He turn to me.

"You know, you can just ask others for inspirations if you can't find one yourself."

"No."

"Why?"

"That would require interacting with people."

"Well, yes, but you don't really have to ask anyone you don't know. Just me or Uncle should suffice, even Vic could."

"Uncle's busy with his business, Victoria's busy with her chores, while you're busy with Big Sister."

"Well, I'm not busy now."

"I don't want your help."

"What? Why not?" he whined. I look at him.

"Come on. Don't tell me you still see us as strangers."

"No. I just don't like working with someone else."

"Because working with them almost always ended disastrously and ended up going nowhere?"

"How did…"

"Heh heh, you're not the only one with experience, Kid," he said smugly.

"See Kid, on most days I would've agree with you, but the thing is I've learned from the past that accepting help aren't always a bad thing. The reason why it always ended badly for you is because your helper are as inept or even less than you are. It's like a blind leading another blind," he continued.

"I see what you're trying to say, so you believe you'll be able to help?" I asked.

"Well, I taught you how a fighter jet works. That should put me a tad above the rest, right?"

He did taught me that, as well as many things. Still, there is still the other reason.

"I guess," I said. He beamed almost instantly.

"So, you'll let me help you?"

"No."

"Why not?" he whined again. Really, here I thought I was the kid one.

"I want it to be something I thought of myself. I don't want you influencing me."

"Aha, but that's where you're wrong. Just because I help you doesn't mean I'll help you creating the idea. I could just show you the means." Hmm, I guess that's fine.

"Okay."

"Yes!" he cheered.

"Then what's your plan?" he stood up.

"Well, first we clean the place up."

"That doesn't sound inspiring."

"No, but I don't want Miss Tidiness to come home and see this mess when we're busy doing something else. She might be fine with you but that's because I'll be the one that have to take the brunt of her wrath. I don't really feel like listening to one of her speech about being responsible right now," he said. Shame, watching Big Sister being angry at him is always hilarious.

"And then what?"

"And then… we'll do something," he said cheekily, "All right, let's get to work. I can feel her disapproving gaze already."

Heh, sorry Big Brother but watching you cower under her gaze is too funny not to watch.

"Hey, Trigger," Brownie called, as we make our way to our jets. I looked at her.

"Thanks. For yesterday." Yesterday?

"About what you said. I still can't really accept how things goes, but it makes me feel a bit better." Ah, I see. Hmm, maybe I should be a therapist. It would be interesting to see what I could do to people's head.

"No, you shouldn't be one. Being a therapist means giving people a peace of mind not messing with their heads like you're planning." How did she know that, I wonder?

She left me to head for her own jet, while I head toward mine. I was greeted by the ground crews and then the Chief. Looks like they waiting for me to choose what special weapons I'll carry today. Hmm, the briefing seems to imply we'll be dealing with surface targets, which means the others would most likely be inclined to pack up some air-to-surface dedicated SP weapons.

If there is one thing that I've learned from yesterday is that intel is not always right and putting all of one faith in it will only get people killed. With that in mind, I decided to ask for 4AAM.

"All right. If you said that's what needed then it's what needed," he said. Funny how all it takes is to show them some basic tricks for them to change their tones, not that they're annoying before. Too bad they're still too afraid of the brass to allow me to mod this thing.

I look at my craft, it's good but could be better. Whoever come up with the regulations must've be some desk jockey or else there's no way they would forbid pilots from modifying their own craft. Too costly and wasteful for the force they said, well it would be if the air force actually pays for it. At least the ground crews did a good job in keeping to my standards, this will still be enough to get the job done. I was brought out of my thought when the Chief tap me on the shoulder.

"All set, Boss." I nodded and entered the cockpit.

Hat off, helmet on, chatterbox secured. Time to escalate the war.

Scofields Plateau, Southeast Usea

17 May 2019

Trigger

"Current target is on rails, but there's still military vehicles and anti-air weaponry. Destroy the target. But HQ has made it clear that no harm should come to civilians and no damage is to be done to public facilities," Sky Keeper said. A bit late for that, I'm afraid.

"But, any aircraft shot down could land in civilian territory," Brownie said. Still with that hesitation, I noted.

"No point arguing. That's how war is these days," Knocker said. I went ahead not feeling up to wait until the enemy are actually prepared to fight back.

"Wait. So you want us to take down the enemy without damaging any public facilities? That's gonna be a circus," Clown said. It does will be a bit annoying.

"Do you have visual on the anti-air radar vehicles? They should be close," the AWACS asked. Hmm, I just realised that I don't know anything about them. Are they as undermanned as the rest of us, I wonder?

"Yup," Clown said.

I looked at the ground below. Yep, there they are.

"Intercept! Fire the AA! Get the vehicles out of there!" I hear an enemy said over the chatterbox.

I fired at the target, and then the next, as well as any non-primary targets that I come across, all the while chatterbox continue to pick up the enemy's panicked voices and Sky Keeper notifying us for any radar vehicles we destroyed. Ahh, the sweet voice of people dying in the morning, how nice.

For a supposed advance force there's surprisingly a few of them, I noticed. I hear Clown sighing.

"Well, Trigger. Our first official involvement in the war. Let's make this quick," he said. Seems like he's more affected than I thought. Surprising.

"We're using the containers now!"

"Those weapons are meant for tactical flexibility!"

Hmm, what was that they're talking about, I wonder? That thought interrupted my focus, preventing me from gaining altitude to fly above the transmission tower in front of me. Well, guess I can fly through it.

Wait… Brownie's here.

A quick canopy roll and I flew under the cables instead. That was close, who know what she'll say if she saw me flew through it. I don't really feel like listening to a speech about flying safely from Miss Sensible.

"Mage 2! What do you think you're doing?! Pull up!"

Oh yeah, responsible Flight Commander. I forgot. Guess I have to clear up my schedule after all. Hope she won't take too long. I can feel her disapproving gaze boring through my skull already.

Deciding that doing as ordered might satisfy her, I pull up.

I continued to destroy whatever that my radar picked up. The others seem to content with me dealing with these guys and keep going straight for the base.

"Enemy interceptors inbound! Prepare to engage in 30 seconds." That was quick.

"Wilco. Here they come."

"Take them down."

Hmm, 6 Mig-21s. Could be a hassle. Guess I'll take them down first, two of them already heading my way anyway.

I head straight for them, ignoring the warning alarm. I know I'm in danger Heather, I'm in combat.

They doesn't seem to expect that their target would be so eager that they're closing in themselves. By the time they're within firing range, they didn't even try to dodge or maybe unable to. A quick barrage of bullets through the cockpit for each of them and they're history.

"We pushed the plan forward too fast. The base was too far from allied territory!" Some guy said over the chatterbox. What's their plan, I wonder?

"Golem 1! Enemy will crash in a residential area!" Brownie said.

"Just worry about staying alive for now," Knocker said.

I turned toward the other jets, one of them got smart and quickly break off. Sadly, they're not fast enough. I turned the one in front of me into a fireball and quickly chase after the smart pilot. For some reason, they immediately turned toward the ground below when I'm on their six. Are they going to pull better to die than killed on me? Well, let me help you with that. Some bullets to the wings later he plummet into the base. You're welcome. Now for the last two.

I check my radar, they're flying away from the base for some reason. I look directly at them and sure enough there they are, just calmly flying at the outskirt of the base.

"Pull the enemy aircraft away from the base!" Ah, so that's why.

I looked at the others. None of them seem to be interested in chasing the stragglers down. Are they leaving them for me? Well, I won't refuse.

Quickly closing the distance between us, they're trying to gain altitude, probably to try to get me to overshoot. Not bad. I quickly raise my nose and fire at one, forcing them to involuntarily change direction to straight toward the ground. The other one seem to decide that 6-on-1 wasn't exactly a good tactical situation and tried to run away, sadly my craft is faster.

"All right, clean up that last radar vehicle. There's nothing in your way now," Knocker ordered.

I looked at the base. There's still some things that can be destroyed down there, but I guess I can deal with them later. I turned toward it and blow it up.

"That was the last radar vehicle! Great work!" Sky Keeper said.

"Oh to see the Eruseans's faces now," Clown said.

"Continue with the mission. Crush as many as you can," Sky Keeper ordered. All right then.

"Enemy transport are taxiing," Brownie said.

Hmm, from here I could take out the control tower and the transport if I'm willing to waste my special weapons. On one hand, I might need them later. On the other hand, the moose might be carrying something explosive.

…Why am I still questioning myself, I wonder?

I dive down toward the base, unleashing my special weapons on the transport, putting two on one of them, and a missile on the control tower. As hoped one of the transport exploded spectacularly, but not in the way that I was expecting.

Unlike a normal explosion would, the transport blow up in a blue flash of light. I don't know what caused it but I've seen enough odd explosions to know it's lethal. Heh, it's a good thing I decided to use my special weapons to take them out or I'll be in serious trouble.

"What the hell was that?!" Clown asked incredulously.

"Keep your mind focused!" Knocker said.

Keeping my mind focused I did, I closed in to destroy the rest of the transport. I fired a missile at the stationary one and use my gun on the other. Sadly there aren't any blue light this time.

"All transport have been destroyed! But what were they carrying?" Clown asked. I admit, I'm curious myself. Just imagine having those as a special weapon, it will make things way too easy, and dangerous for the ignorant, which is how I like it.

I turned toward the other targets, the AWACS said to crush as many as we can. Without anymore means to fight back, the base is vulnerable. When I took out the last blip on the radar, I hear the Eruseans below chatting amongst themselves.

"Launch preparations complete! Bolts are free! Whenever you're ready!"

"Stand clear 15 meters!" What are they talking about, I wonder?

"UAVs ready to launch! Away!"

I looked around. UAVs? Where are they launching those from? I finally have my answer when I see some container trucks parked near the base. The top of the containers are opened, revealing UAVs hidden inside. Huh, well that's new.

"Away!" The UAVs took off as ordered.

I watched them fly in formation and the break off, making a rose pattern in the process I noted. Did they practice that? It looked nice.

"Multiple bogeys on radar! They're close!" Sky Keeper warned us.

"Wait… they're being launched!" Clown said. Already in the sky actually.

"You're cleared to engage! They're probably hostile!" There's the green light.

"Judgin' by the way they look and move, they've gotta be drones!" No kidding, I thought they're flying trash can or something.

"Well-spotted, Clown. No doubt about it, we're dealing with UAVs. But that doesn't change a thing. Just think of them as somewhat clever decoys. Take them all down!" Knocker ordered.

Well, this is an interesting turn of event. This drones are fragile but they're fast. Hmm, are they smart enough to make use of the clouds, I wonder?

The UAVs are quickly upon us, firing their missiles on the way. If only I still have my missiles and special weapons with me. Eh, no regrets. I quickly turn on them, I've dealt with more of them just yesterday. They will fall just the same.

I get behind one of them, these guys for some reason took a few moment to centre themselves after a manoeuvre. All I have to do is to force them to dodge and then barrage of bullets. I did exactly that and lo, it falls into the ground below.

"HQ, this is Golem 1. Bandits confirmed as UAVs. Repeat. Bandits are drones" Knocker said. They're listening? Talk about micromanaging, but then again the IUN had probably lost more than I thought.

"Golem 1, that doesn't matter. Destroy all enemy fighters and get out." Heh, typical.

"It doesn't matter?"

"He's saying, 'The war can change in an instant. Get over it'," Clown said.

"Yeah, I just wish they'd give us a bit more warning. Well, fine. I'm buying dinner for anyone who takes down an enemy," Knocker said.

"There's a bar I want to try," Brownie said. A bar? Our base is in the middle of nowhere if I remember correctly. Is she going to drag me as well if she score a kill? Can't let that happen.

I turned toward the other one that was trying to get on my six, not even they would risk a head-on collision. As expected they move out of the way, allowing me to safely line up my nose and put some hole into them.

"Enemy UAV confirmed destroyed. Hell yeah!" Clown cheered for me.

"Golem Squadron, you're not going to let Mage get all the glory, are you?" Huh, Knocker encouraging his squadron instead of nagging them to be careful, guess we learned new things every day.

"Three enemies to go!" Brownie said.

"No it's not! I got bogey on my ass!" Footpad suddenly said.

"Golem Squadron, surround him," Knocker ordered.

I looked at them. It seems in the middle of the confusion some hero has decided to take us all on by themselves. How the AWACS missed them would be a mystery I won't bother to solve. MiG-29, the A variant I noted. Yellow body with a bit of black, an ace. Hmm, I think I've seen a jet like that before. Well, I'm sure the others can handle it.

I turned toward the drone closest to me. That one come dangerously close toward the clouds, better take it down now while it's still in the open.

Sadly, it wasn't meant to be. The moment I got I close, the drone decided to go into the clouds. Guess they're smart enough to make use of their environment after all. This will be a hassle.

I follow the drone through it. It flew all over the place, no doubt trying to get me off its tail. It might worked, if they actually try to get away from my line of sight. After a while, it finally enter its 'cool down' state, allowing me to score another kill.

I go out into the sky above, right behind another drone. This one move really slowly for some reason. Well, better not waste the opportunity.

I look at the others. The enemy pilot is heading for the clouds, with them following close behind. Huh, must've been a great pilot if they can last this long against 5 opponents.

"Crap. The aircraft is icing up. I'm getting a warning!" I hear Brownie said.

"Get out of the clouds. The ice will melt," Knocker reminded her. She must've been really determined to try that bar if she forgot how to deal with that.

"Shit, I got an enemy behind me!" Boggard said.

I head to where he was and sure enough there it was, the last drone. I took position behind them. The drone seems to be more interested in its prey rather than the predator behind it. I would've feel insulted if this doesn't make things easy.

"Thanks Trigger. I owe you."

"Mage 2 has taken down an enemy! How many is that now?" Brownie said. Is that an actual question? Because I can't answer that.

"Just this guy," Clown said.

"Get in there, Mage 2. Let's get through this without any casualties," Sky Keeper said. Man, no pressure or anything.

I waited until they made a turn and slipped in. They immediately goes crazy the second I did. Sharp turn here, a dive there, they even tried to pull a cobra on me. All in all, this guy got quite the fancy move that I almost don't want to shoot them down. Sadly, their plane colour is too cheery for my liking. They tried to use the clouds to throw me of their scent after they realised I won't leave them alone.

"Mage 2! You're icing up!" Sky Keeper and Heather warned. Really, I have eyes you know.

"Clouds are screwing up the accuracy," Clown complained.

I continue to stick to Yellow, they'll iced up too soon enough. As expected, they finally leave the cover of the clouds after a while, though sooner than I thought. The ace goes crazy again once they realised I was still right behind them. Well, this has been nice but my fuel won't last me forever. I waited until their one-man air show is done before I blow them up.

"Nice kill, Trigger! Enemy aircraft confirmed down!" Brownie cheered. Huh, that pilot must've struck quite the nerve to make her forget that I just killed someone. I don't know whether I should be glad or sad, to be honest.

"The skies are clear. Nice work, everyone. Mission complete. RTB," Sky Keeper said, sounded as happy as the rest of us. Being happy for us, good man I imagine.

"No casualties. We couldn't have done any better. Returning to base," Knocker said.

"I don't know. Maybe the bandits we took down cause civilian casualties," Brownie said. Ahh, there's that hesitation again. I almost wanted to erect a monument for that pilot for kicking it out of her. Shame.

"No point arguin'. That's how war is these days," Clown said.

"You shoot, someone gets killed. The guys in charge take care of the rest." Knocker supplied.

Heh, that's what I said.

Fort Grays Air Base, Southeast Usea

17 May 2019

Trigger

"Are you sure you're okay?" Brownie asked me, again.

"No."

"But you just said you are!"

"I used to, but you keep asking."

"Well excuse me for being worried!"

"You are excused."

"Ugh!" she… growled, I think, as she left me behind. She looked angry, that's for sure.

After we land, she has been pestering me non-stop about my health. Apparently, Clown claimed that I've been doing some 'excessively crazy' manoeuvre while I was up there and she's now worried that the force from all of it might do something to me. Even despite I've been walking with no apparent discomfort and the doctor clearly saying I'm as right as rain, she's still convinced that I was damaged, somehow. On the other hand, at least she's too busy fussing over my imaginary injuries to be angry over me flying under the transmission tower's cables.

I head toward the hangar, I haven't got the chance to check on the crews and my jet before Brownie dragged me to meet the doctor. Even I know what I did, while not enough to harm me, might be a bit much for my craft, no matter how well the ground crews maintain it. This time it might be not as worst as yesterday, but it will still be a hassle regardless. Though for some reason, they're quite happy about it yesterday.

To my surprise, they didn't complained about it. In fact, they're very happy about it. Too happy, just like yesterday. Well, if they're happy to get more work then who am I to take it away from them. Deciding that this time I'll let them have the work for themselves, I head toward my room. There's things that I wanted to think about.

But of course, something has to happen.

"Hey, Trigger!" I hear Clown called.

I turned toward where the voice came from. He's standing near the control tower with Golem Squadron including Brownie. He waved a hand to me, motioning me to come to them. I can tell what this is all about already. I turned around and was about to walk away, but once again I felt certain angry woman's disapproving gaze boring my skull. I swear one of these days, it will make a hole through my head for real. I turned back around and against my better judgment, get closer.

"Hey, are you trying to walk away just now?" he asked.

"Of course he won't, he's not that rude. Right, Trigger?" Brownie said on my behalf while giving me a stern look.

I didn't say a word. I've stupidly trapped myself in the spider's web and the spider is right in front of my face. It's all over for me.

"Anyway, Knocker here said he's going to buy dinner for anyone who take down an enemy," he said. I knew it.

"But since you didn't give anyone a chance in the first place, I decided to buy everyone. Still, you work hard. That deserve a reward. So, you get to decide what and where are we going to eat," Knocker said. Well, this is annoying.

I was tempted to just say I want nothing and be done with this, the food here is good enough as it is. But, I made the mistake of looking at Brownie. She was looking rather odd. She looked… angry? Sad? I'm not sure. What I'm sure about is she wanted to get out of this place and let off some steam, and she wished I would be kind enough to let her.

…I could use some more sweets anyway.

"Something spicy," I said. Might as well be my favourite.

"All right then. Think I know just the place," Knocker said with a smile. "All right fellas, meet up here at 1700. See you guys," he said to the others.

The crowd dispersed after that, Clown giving me a pat on the shoulder as he walked past.

"Hey, don't forget I still owe you Trigger. You want something in town just say the word," Boggard said. I nodded at him. He and Footpad each gave me a friendly bump before they left, leaving me with Brownie.

"For a second there, I thought you'll be an ass and brush us off."

I kept quiet. She knows exactly what she did. She gave me a cheeky smile.

"Shame you don't want to try that bar."

"You're not of age."

"What? I'm in my twenties! I even two years older than you are!"

"Could've fooled me."

"Why you—"

"Doesn't matter. I hate alcohol." She calmed down.

"Right, I forgot about that. So, we got a few hours before we go. What should we do?" she asked. We?

I turned around and head toward the dormitory. I've been disturbed enough today.

"Come on, don't be like that. We've only been reunited three days ago and even then we barely have much time with each other."

"You pester me every step of the way."

"Can you really blame me for wanting to be with my friend?"

"Yes."

"Come on. Don't make me beg here." Persistent.

"Pleease? I promise I won't disturb you," she said, with a hand over her chest for good measure.

I scoffed. Highly unlikely.

"Hey, I promised! You can do whatever you like to do in your room, while I'll just going to have a nap probably. It would be like I'm not even there!" This is getting annoying.

"Fine."

"Yes!" she cheered. Why she would be so happy about this, I don't know and I'm not going to bother to find out.

We make our way to my castle, or room for the unimaginative. While I planned to start thinking later in a more comfortable environment, I decided to start now just in case Brownie goes back on her words.

Smuggling drones inside containers, I have to admit I don't expect that. For once the news is right. Just put them near a strategic position and then deploy, and then let their programming take care of the rest. It wasn't necessarily a masterful plan and the UAVs are somewhat faulty in my opinion, with their rather easy to read and repetitive movement patterns, but most weren't perceptive enough to be able to get a good read of it and wasn't fast or skilled enough to exploit it anyway, if the battle yesterday is anything to go by.

Shame Osea wouldn't employ them themselves for some reason. But then again, it might be for the best. Giving idiots that sort of power can only lead to disaster as the Eruseans proved.

But what I truly interested about was that explosion. What was that? Some secret weapons? How lethal it actually was? When it blow up, the transport beside it doesn't seem to be that bothered. Is that all what the thing can do or is it because it was only a small dose?

Why nobody seem to care that Erusea apparently has and seems to be planning to use what could possibly be a WMD? Even in the debriefing, no one commented on it, not even the rest of Golem and Clown, even though the latter clearly saw it as well. It was as if everyone suddenly suffer from a case of amnesia. Is that what the weapon true capabilities? To give people amnesia?

I quickened my pace, the longer I stay outside the more likely someone to disturb me.

When we reached my room, Brownie quickly occupy my bed.

"Ahh, comfy," she said.

I sat on the ground under the window. I pulled my journal out and consume some sweets, need to update the MQ-99 entry. Hmm, what should I dubbed that blue explosion?

"Hey, Trigger."

Blue light? That sound cliché.

"Trigger?"

It supposed to cause people to forget about them, as far as I know. Need to put that into the name for quick identification.

"Axel!"

It's a bang and supposedly cause amnesia. …Amnesiabang?

"Axel Pégoud!"

I turned toward Brownie. She's angrily looking at me. Amnesiabang… it'll do for now.

"You disturbed me."

"It's rude to ignore someone," she said. Hypocrisy alert.

"Pot, you're black."

"Anyway, can I ask you something?"

"No. Out."

"Please? I can't get it out of my head," she pleaded, again.

"Out."

"Pleeeease?"

"Fine."

"Thanks."

She turned toward the ceiling, looking rather sombre.

"How long do you think this war will last?" What?

"You disturbed me just for that?"

"I know. It might sound stupid for you, but… I can't help it."

"This war barely started."

"That is why I wanted to know. It's only been a day since the declaration of war and already so many people died. How long until people realized that this whole mess only cause nothing but suffering?"

"Don't be naïve."

"It's true, though."

"Wrong." She looked at me, seems like she wanted me to elaborate. Well, want harder. I turned back toward my journal.

"You're not going to tell me what do you mean by that, are you?" I shake my head.

"Can you answer my first question at least?" I look up, again with the heavy-handed question.

How long? That depends. Today we manage to hold off Erusean forces advance, but I imagine this didn't do much in derailing their plan. They'll most likely try again soon. Who knows, maybe they'll succeed next time. If they really only wanted to kick anything Osea related out, then the war is pretty much over then.

If they failed however, things will get messy. They could either try again until they succeed or they could be pushed back, though whether Osea can use the opportunity to turn the tide is another matter. Doesn't matter really, it will be a hassle either way.

"A while," I said.

"I see."

"You worried too much."

"Can you blame me? I'm not you. I can't turn a blind eye toward the people around me."

"The civilians aren't around you."

"Our actions still affected them, though. Also, the civilians aren't my only concern here." I turned toward her.

"Our survival. Even I know the longer this war drags on the more likely it is for something bad to happen. I don't know about you but I don't want to see my friends got hurt because of this bullshit."

"Killed, you mean."

"I purposely avoid saying that because I don't even want to think about it. Thanks."

The room goes silent again. I found myself thinking back about the situation of the world, for some reason.

If only Osea still got nukes at their disposal, this mess might won't happen, at least not as messy as this is it still happen. The only reason why Erusea dare to fight back is because they knew Osea wouldn't be able to blow them up to extinction like they could've done before the silly treaties. Sure, weapons are bad, nukes are bad, but so are most people, did anyone ever call for a mass purge of them? No, is the answer.

Those pacifists, heroes, patriots, they're as much of an indecisive selfish bastards as the warmongers are, worse even because most of them tend to enforce their belief just because they believe what they're doing is right and for the good of everyone like the self-righteous annoyance that they are. At least the majority of them war-lovers admit that they love war just because and doesn't bother trying to justify their actions.

"Hey, Trigger." I look at Brownie again. More heavy-handed question incoming, I imagine.

"Are we the bad guys?" What?

"I mean, we killed innocents while according to the news Erusea at least try to minimize civilian casualties in their attacks. Even Bossman and Clown doesn't seem to care all that much if we caused them," she said.

"You didn't."

"Well, no. But plenty did," she said. She trying to avoid something.

"Me, you mean," I said. She bit her lips.

"You've been asking these heavy-handed questions a lot."

"Sorry."

"Why?"

"I… don't know."

"You do."

"N-no," she said.

"You're scared that you'll be just like me."

"No! I-I mean, you're an amazing pilot, but…." I shook my head.

"Lies."

"I…."

I returned my focus back to my journal, I can already tell that this conversation is going nowhere. She knew I was right, she's scared that she will be like me. She's scared that it will allow her to be something even worse, fully believing that killing will always leads to bad things, like so many others. Can't blame her, with the many 'bad deeds' I've committed, I would've be sent to the guillotine if not for the fact that what I do is within the range of interests and agendas of the good folks of Osea, the supposed 'good guys'.

"Do you remember what Uncle once said?" I asked, not taking my gaze off my journal. She turned to me.

"Uncle said a lot of things, Axe. You need to be more specific."

"The one about our actions."

"Which one?"

"You tell me." She turned toward the ceiling, face looked like she's in deep thought.

"Is it the one about what makes an act good or evil?" she asked after a few minutes. I nodded.

"I do," she said.

"Then why are you still doubting yourself?" I asked.

She turned away from me, either she's disappointed with what I said or what I said gave her too much to think about. Either way, looks like I have successfully get myself out of this situation. About time too, there's only so much brooding I can tolerate, even for a friend. I was about to metaphorically pat myself on the back for it when I hear her laugh. I turned toward her to find her sitting at the edge of the bed, looking straight at me with a smile on her face and clarity in her eyes.

"You're right, I shouldn't be so pessimistic. Ahh, what will I do without you?" …Is that an actual question?

"That was a rhetorical question, you idiot," she said before I can answer her.

She stood up and then crouched down next to me.

"Thanks," she said. She then kissed me on the cheek and then suddenly bolted out of the room, leaving the door opened.

What was that all about? She never do that before. The only kiss she ever done is with her fists, as far as I remember, as in she uses her fists to kiss others. Doesn't matter, what matter is that she let the door open on her way out.

I got up to close it, poking my head out before I did. I scanned left and right to see if she's still around. Against expectations, she did, hidden around the corner. I can't see her physically from here but I spot her shadow. Most might say it could be someone else, but I'm not most. Unlike them, I know my friends. Well, if she wants to come back she could knock. I closed the door and lock it. There's still some time before I have to resign to my fate, I want to make use of my time alone while I can.

I lie down on the bed. Hmm, maybe if I sleep now I could avoid having to go. No one can say I do it deliberately, today's sortie might took more out of me than they thought as far as they concerned. Yes, a good plan. It's not perfect but it'll do.

With that in mind, I close my eyes.

Little did I know, that Brownie is not the only one desperate to get out of this dump, and combined they're as persistent as she is.

Author Notes:

For you guys that took the time to read this AN (and everyone that have read the story), first many thanks for you guys. I assume you've read at least this chapter, I don't know whether you like the story or not but thank you for spending your time anyway. Now, as you might have known, there's quite the gap between the second mission and the third (13 days). So I need your help in deciding what the next chapter will be about. I would be grateful if you guys would help.

Should the next chapter be about:

1. The third mission?

2. Something to fill in the gap?

3. Chapter revolving other characters? (If this is the choice, who?)

These three are the ones at the ready (though the last one only about Avril at the moment, if you guys got other characters then please, share it). If anyone have more ideas, feel free to share it. Anyway thanks guys and remember, borders is the root of all problems.