Phin anxiously paces around the deployment chamber. Damn... I'm so nervous. I've been training for over a month, but I still feel like a complete newbie. Out of the corner of his eye, he notices Eri, who is casually scrolling on her Terrasuit's holographic interface.
How can she be so carefree in a time like this...? Her whole demeanor seems so lighthearted, Phin observes. But yet again, she's a first-year recruit in Unit 00, so she must be among the Fortress's best - both in intellect and power!
Eri lifts her head, catching Phin staring. 'Sup? You still nervous?' she smiles.
'Eh... I've been working to suppress it.' Phin rubs the back of his neck. Huh. Now I'm really curious about her. 'I hope you don't judge me as overly nosy, but - how did you get here? You mentioned a bit of your old life.'
'Nah, it's fine. We'll be stuck here for at least a few more hours, so why not get acquainted?' she clears her throat, swinging one leg atop the other. 'My full name's Erinome Solthios. As you can tell by my surname's suffix, I come from a Regal family. And like most Regal parents, mine were strict as hell.'
Eri pauses for a second, briefly reminiscing about her childhood. 'So, yeah. They forced me into a bunch of horrible, mind-numbing activities simply because they were the norm among Regals. I ended up pissing 'em off so bad that they sent me off to a Botanist academy.'
She grins, folding her arms. 'And who coulda guessed? All along, Botany was my calling. This was probably the first time I truly felt motivated to pursue a goal. And as I stand - er, sit - here right now, my dream is coming true!'
'Wow...' Phin gasps. 'That's really amazing!' So she's a prodigy! From solely her appearance and mannerisms, I never could have told...
'Uhm.' Eri coughs lightly, raising an eyebrow. 'What's with the staring stuff?'
Huh? Oh - crap! Phin quickly diverts his gaze. 'Sorry about that - I just get lost in thought often!'
Eri giggles. 'Just joking. Everyone knows you, Phin - the Great Thinker. One could only wonder about what goes on in that noggin of yours!'
***
{Some time later}
With a loud click, the chamber's rear door slides open. The rest of Unit 00 enter, headed by Captain Willow Shirasagi.
'It's great to see you two! Thankfully, we suffered no losses in the skirmish, and everything can proceed as normal.' Willow takes a seat on the other side of the chamber, offering warm smiles to Phin and Eri.
Yep... Phin gulps. Dammit, having read the whole Flora Encyclopedia isn't helping - I'm just overthinking everything. Despite his resistance, images of the deadliest identified Florae fill his head, drowning him in worry.
He brushes his hand over his pockets. Phew. My seax is still there... not that I'll be using it much. He inspects the knife, flipping it over in his hands. It's truly a beauty - as are all Botanist-grade weapons.
Around him, the other members of Unit 00 are also tending to their gear, ranging from concealed daggers to full-blown mortars. Eri balances an intricate sniper rifle on her thighs, polishing it with a handkerchief. Drasil Dietrich, the Captain's trusty ace, slings an aberrant contraption over his shoulder. On one side, multiple barrels of various sizes protrude, whilst on the other, a massive blade juts into the air. That must be his custom Gunsword! Phin remembers. I wonder what makes it stronger than a regular bayonet...
Willow appears deep in thought. With her Kusarigama chains coiled tightly around each arm, she stares intently at the ground. Hm. Phin notices her almost-uncharacteristic behavior. Even as strong as herself, she's still the youngest captain ever - the pressure must be immense. He clenches his fist silently. I can't let her - or any of us - down!
'You look like you've just seen a ghost, Phin!' laughs a bearded blue-haired (and blue-bearded) man.
'Well, you can't tell me you aren't nervous at all either, Baukia.' Phin shoots a small smile back at his friend.
'Eh. I've done this countless times.' Baukia Benedict, a 12th-year veteran, is Unit 00's utility director. Using his experience, he is able to expertly mold the battlefield to his advantage using various tools. Having been a Botanist for so long, his vibrant hair gleams even more brightly than the others - a product of many years of Flora exposure.
The chamber's lights pulse twice silently, a cool, electric blue.
'Alright, it's time. Is everyone ready?' Willow rises from her seat.
'Yes, Captain,' the room immediately echoes.
'Great. We'll be dropped off about 200 meters from the Fortress, out of Scavenger range. The Florae within this range are weak, and we'll keep under Haze altitude.'
A metallic groan echoes through the chamber as the rear wall recedes into the floor, revealing a colossal hangar bathed in electroluminescence.
Phin's breath catches. The Regal Hangar... and this is only one of countless deployment cells!
'You all know the drill,' Willow calls, stepping briskly onto hangar grounds. Directly ahead, a sleek aircraft hums with power, a work of combined mechanical genius.
Phin momentarily freezes. The collected chatter fades as the futuristic thrum of engines fills his ears. This is it. He closes his eyes and breathes deep.
Let's do this.