>>5533625“She’s much better, almost back to her old self.” You reply, your smile fading as quickly as it came, “...It was a really close call though. Thank you for visiting her while we were all away, Hamon. I know the letters didn’t get through to her, but it means a lot that you tried, it… it probably saved her.”
“She’s like a sister to me, Felix, I’d do anything for her.” Hamon says somberly, “...I didn’t think she was going to make it for a while there, but if she’s back to her old self already…”
Ramba chuckles, “We should sneak her out to see the old bar, that’s the real test.”
“If only. Maybe she still has a few songs left in her too…” Hamon sighs, “How are your brother and sister?”
“They’re both as well as they can be, considering the circumstances. Having mom back has been good for all of us, especially Artiesa. We’ll be starting at the academy soon, if you hadn’t heard already.”
“All three of you at once?” Ramba questions, taking an exit and merging into the faster traffic of Von Braun proper, neon billboards and corporate advertisements playing along the towering buildings which surround the underground highway, the central pillar of the city ahead in the distance, “Isn’t Artesia too young for it still?”
“She’s got a lot of fight in her, and it’s that or stay around Kycilia.” You answer with a shrug, though it’s a concern that nags at you as well.
“With motivation like that I’m sure she’ll be top of the class…” Hamon laughs, though as she looks back to you she catches the worried look in your eye, “Don’t worry, the car’s squeaky clean, we traded out that awful bugged one earlier.”
“Traded it out? You can just… do that?” You ask, the simplicity of the solution a bit baffling.
“The other one had a tragic accident at the car wash a few hours ago, it’s a real mystery how water got that far into the electronics… Such a tragedy.” Ramba explains with a chuckle, “This one’s from the officer’s club, Dozle keeps a few in reserve for occasions like this.”
>”So how have you both been? Dozle mentioned that he took you in after… after everything that happened. Mobile suit testing, right?”>”Then I take it that you’re my ‘guards’, right? Well, this is a lot better than what I expected.”>”...Ramba… About your father…”>Write-in. 