That evening...

...Orakio.

I figured my visit wouldn't exactly be a surprise.

Not at all... I just can't believe the coincidence. I sure didn't expect to meet you again in such a place. I thought for sure you died when Palma was destroyed...

Heh. It takes more than the destruction of a planet to get rid of me.

*chuckles* I knew you'd say that.

So, it's really you, huh?

Yup, it's me. I thought you looked familiar before, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it... now I know why.

If only you didn't wear that mask all the time, maybe I would have recognised you.

That's exactly what I was trying to avoid. I used to loathe my human side. I wanted nothing to do with what I used to be, so I didn't want anyone to recognise me and remind me of my past.

I see... What are you going to do now?

I don't know... things are so much more complicated all of a sudden. But you know I can't leave Nei in Joutei's hands.

Of course, I understand. After you met her, she was pretty much all you ever talked about.

Yeah... ...I was going to go alone, but you're not going to let me, are you?

Right again. It sure didn't look like we stood much of a chance last time, but hey... we've both made it through a fair share of 'impossible' battles already, haven't we?

So we have, so we have... thanks, Orakio.

Don't mention it... Rolf.

Heh... please, call me Macc. I'm not exactly the man I used to be, after all.

Gotcha, Macc. So when do we leave?

Tomorrow, at dawn. Meet me in front of the HQ.

I'll be there. *turns and walks away*

*watches Orakio leave* ...sorry, Orakio. But this is personal. I'm not dragging anyone else into this... *disappears*

TO BE CONTINUED...

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