NECRO-Driver Dawn EP 23: A Haunting Mistake

*While the others begin loading the supplies onto the ship, Jin heads to his room, and lays down. He tries to rest, but his mind isn't at ease. He opens up the device, and Rin reveals even more staggering information, this time about Skia'. He continuously lies down, while connecting all the information together. After making sense of it all, he begins to repeat all of it back to himself.*

Jin: Roux… Skia'… Void perception… (Skia' is a being created from the darkness within Roux's heart- my heart. (Play Kingdom Hearts II Soundtrack - Roxas' Theme Half Hour Loop) When project VP was going on, the Sarlen didn't stop it. Like they didn't even care. The Sarlen have probably known about this for some time now, but have kept it from me. Skia' and Roux are both special entities. If Skia' exists as Roux's other… Then, what about Roux? Is she my other too? Rin said… Ja'Skaar is what connected the two of us to begin with. But why Ja'Skaar… and how am I involved in this? Sarlen… If they've been hiding things all this time about other people, what could they be hiding about me?)

*Jin gets out of his bed and goes to the bridge. He finds all four Sarlen standing around conversing. They look stunned when they see him.*

Baron Hampton: Yo Jin!

Jin: Hey, Baron…

Ayumi: What's wrong? You look like something is really bothering you.

Jin: … Did you all find Skia' yet?

C: You know things are never so simple Jin. Did you think it would be otherwise?

Jin: (Disappointed, and annoyed on the inside) I guess so… Have you all known… about Skia' this whole time?

Ayumi: Huh? Skia'?

Baron Hampton: Ayumi, not right now.

Ayumi: But big brother- (She notices a serious look on his face, a face she's never seen before. She goes quiet…)

Jin: I asked you a question. C? Ja'Skaar? Baron?

(They all stand there quietly, until someone finally speaks up)

Ja'Skaar: No, not the whole time.

Jin: Since when then?

Baron Hampton: Uhh…I may or may not remember when.

Jin: Convenient amnesia huh? *Deep sigh…* Sarlen, who exactly is Roux?

(They all look seriously at Jin…)

Jin: She's special like Skia', I know that. But the Principality wanted to have void perception all to themselves. Is that right?

C: That is correct.

Jin: I guess that's why they took her, and tried to invest in that power. And… I bet you all were happy once you realized she didn't remember what happened.

Ja'Skaar: …

Baron Hampton: You're wrong there Jin. Roux is, was, and will always be one of us.

Jin: (Visibly upset now…) One of us… Is that why you didn't try to stop project VP from happening? Stop lying Baron!

(They all gasp…)

Jin: Rin says that the two of them share the same heart as me. How is that even possible? Am I an other, like them?

Baron Hampton: You're different from them Jin…

Jin: Then why do-

C: It isn't in your best interest to know the truth.

Jin: What?!

Ja'Skaar: Finding out the truth doesn't automatically set your mind free.

Jin: Who gave you the right to decide? I have the right to know the truth! How come I never knew this? Why am I so special? When did they even become part of me? My heart isn't even my own. What is so wrong with wanting some answers?!

Ayumi: Jin…

Jin: I need to know Sarlen… Please, tell me the truth.

Ja'Skaar: You've just gotta believe in us, Jin.

Jin: (Looks very angry) I won't. I can't.

Baron Hampton: Jin, wait!

Jin: *Begins walking towards the exit to the room* They said I was crazy, to keep believing in you all. That if I'd just listen, I wouldn't be hurt. If only I knew… how right they were. *He exits and heads back to his room…* I wanted to believe, but I can't keep lying to myself. If they won't provide me with answers, I'll find someone who will. (Play Do as infinity - fukai mori lyric) Sonjo, Khan, Skia', I'm sorry. I never wanted things to end this way, but I have to know the truth. I hope one day we meet again. *While he's walking toward the exit of the ship, he sees Roux walking in the hallway, she seems to be having a pleasant conversation with Fadra. As he walks past, he thinks to himself.* (Roux, I'm sorry. I should've never given you such a burden. I promise… One day, I will correct my mistakes…)

*Jin makes his way out of the Blitzwing, and looks at the band wrapped around his wrist. He takes one long look at it, before charging up his mech. Just then, everyone hears what's going on outside, and see Jin flying off*

Sonjo: Jin? JIN!

Khan: What's going on?!

Capt. Maeko: Where is he going?! He can't just desert us like that! We're in the middle of a war.

Roux: It was the Sarlen…

*Everyone looks confused*

Capt. Maeko: What?

Roux: While we were away, we met someone in the city, who told us about their involvement in project VP. Not only that, but they revealed some very crucial information about Jin's life, which the Sarlen had kept secret from him.

Khan: But that's absurd!

Roux: Is it really? He just left, so clearly there's truth to what I'm saying.

Kira: I wonder what they could've said to make him feel like he needed to leave.

Zach: It must've been really bad, he's usually really cheerful.

Alex: Those damn Sarlen, always finding a way to cross the line!

Capt. Maeko: What did they say about him?

Roux: They revealed to Jin that because of Ja'Skaar, he now had to share his heart with someone else, in order to keep them alive. Otherwise, that person would've died.

Fadra…

Sonjo: And they've spent all this time being mad at me for hating them. I knew I was right!

Zach: Captain, if we hurry, we'll be able to keep track of him and ask him to come back.

Kira: What are your orders Capt. Makeo?

Capt. Maeko: (Very quiet, and stone faced…) Let's go.

Kira: Captain?

Capt. Maeko: Jin has made his decision, he'll come back whenever he sees fit. But we're still in a war, and we still have people that we need to protect. We cannot throw all of that away just because he left.

Khan:...

Sonjo:...

Capt. Maeko: Kira, Zach, use his watch to keep track of him. At the very least, we can use that to make sure he's okay.

Kira: Yes sir!

Capt. Maeko: Now, let's go take all of our frustration out on the Principality.

*They all board the Blitzwing and head off. The members of the Blitzwing boiling with rage, annoyance, and sadness all at once. The Sarlen cower in their rooms on board, knowing that their own selfishness has come back and hurt them. They have allowed one mistake to potentially cost them everything they've worked for. They've crossed too many lines too many times. In order for them to ever be in good graces again, they will have to create good graces for them to be in. If they ever hope to be trusted, they must go to the depths of the world and back to earn it.*

(Play episode ending songs G Gundam: Touhou wa Akaku Moeteiru and Sword Art Online Ending 1)

Narrator: And thus concludes episode 23. The Sarlen have dug themselves in a hole they cannot so easily escape. Despite all their efforts to have their faith restored, they have become the very thing they despise. The clock's ticking before their luck completely runs out, but they're already pushing the limits as is. Will they ever be able to redeem themselves? And how will the Blitzwing crew react to all of these events? All of those answers and more, are approaching fast…

(Created by Malcolm Holmes)