Video (memory) | Open to both courts

[knightspirit]

[ OOC note: THERE ARE... a lot of people in this scene, so for easier reference, Tsurugi's lines are in purple. For the rest of the characters involved, a dash indicates a new speaker. ]

[ The feed begins in a massive stadium, where every single screen suddenly switches to a broadcast of a single man, and a large green hologram appears in the center of the field. ]

Attention, people of Falam Orbius. Falam Orbius has now been occupied by me, Bitway Ozrock. The central control centers of this planet are already under my control, including the seven million spaceships stored for emergency escape. All of Falam Orbius... is in my grasp! We announce here and now, the founding of a new nation, Ixal Fleet!

[ The broadcast occasionally switches focus; there's images of explosions and civilians running in panic, soldiers firing laser guns at each other, another of a massive purple planet surrounded by enemy battleships.

Tsurugi watches the feed in a private balcony with two other occupants: a young girl with long purple hair, and an older man wearing a magenta uniform.]

- What is this! Falam Orbius is being occupied!? [ the voice belongs to the girl ]

[ a voice some might recognize as beloning to Tsurugi comes out cold and hard, ] Ozrock...! So this is what he was really after... Everything was so he could conquer Falam Orbius and obtain the greatest power in the galaxy. It all went according to his plan. This tournament, and everything else...

[ the man speaks up this time: ]- Ixal Fleet.... So Ozrock must be a survivor of Ixal...

- Minel! You know of them?

- Yes... Ixal was a planet destroyed by Falam Orbius about two hundred years ago.

- What!? Falam Orbius destroyed it?

- It happened in the age of the kings preceding your father, King Acrous. Back then, Falam Orbius continued a vicious cycle of aggressive war. However, your father grieved over such circumstances and tried to change this planet.

- Is that so... Then, Ozrock wants revenge against us? How sad...

[ The room falls into uncomfortable silence, but the focus of vision begins to shift as Tsurugi strides from the room and down a corridor to a meeting room, where a group in purple and black uniforms continues to watch the broadcast.]

Listen carefully. If you lose, all of the transportation fleets put aside for escape have been programmed to automatically self-destruct. Just as you have done to the many planets you've destroyed in the past. But if you win in your match against the Earth, I will return your transportation fleets to you. Until then, have a good taste of the fear you've inflicted upon the people whose planets you destroyed.

[ The feed goes black, and the occupants of the room begin to talk among themselves. ]

- W-what the hell...

- So if we don't win the finals, we'll be destroyed!? No way...

[ from behind them, Tsurugi's voice rings out firm ] What's wrong? Don't tell me you've gotten scared just because of something like that. [ There's an arrogant lift to his voice as he says it; he's practically sneering at them. The others turn to face him in surprise. ]

So Falam's players are this weak, huh. And you call yourselves the strongest planet in the galaxy.

- What!?

Even the players of the other planets challenged their own destruction head-on. What you guys have to do now [ he lifts an arm to point directly at everyone, and his voice takes on a harsher tone, ] is to protect your birthplace with your very lives. That's all there is to it.

- Protect it with our lives... .... You do have a point.

- Our planet, our friends, our families... Our desire to protect them is the same as all the other planets.

- ... In that case, shouldn't we show our pride as Falam's warriors?

- Our warrior's pride...

That's right. Being able to participate in this fight is the highest honor we can get as soldiers. [ then with pure conviction, ] I will fight this battle until the end of this life burns out!

[ the whole room shouts in unison, ] Yeah!

[ the memory cuts out ]

----

[ sometime later, Tsurugi appears on the network again, but his face is visible this time and is sporting a deep frown. ]

I take it there's no way to delete this. [ figures. ] ... Sorry about the disturbance. I'd appreciate if everyone just ignored that.

[ he is ... kind of mortified tbh, although he's doing his best not to let it show. ]

Comments

[video]

[bird_brain]

You're still here. [So he's assuming you fought at least a little well.]

[video]

[knightspirit]

[ he's not sure so sure he wants to discuss this, not so much because he really cares that people know about it, but more because it's tough to swallow a whole memory being broadcast to everyone without word or consent. then again, he's not the only one it's happened to, and he can hardly prevent anyone from commenting. there's a long pause before he finally answers, ]

... Yeah. I still had things left to do.

Re: [video]

[bird_brain]

So do many. I understand that.

[knightspirit]

That's right. And everyone deserves the chance to try and finish them.

[bird_brain]

Most do, yes. Did it end well? This tournament?

[knightspirit]

[ he gives a slight chortle ]

Well, we did save the galaxy. I'd call that a success.

[bird_brain]

As would I. Good job.

[knightspirit]

[ honestly, he's a little taken a aback by that; it's not something he was ever expecting to ever hear. he turns his gaze away from the locket and takes on a stoic tone. ]

.... We just did what had to be done. It's not really worth complimenting.

[ he doesn't believe that at all he's just getting kind of embarrassed. ]

[bird_brain]

Isn't it? It's no small thing, saving lives.

[knightspirit]

That's— [ GETTING A LITTLE FLUSTERED but doing his damnedest to not let it show. ]

That may be true, but we didn't do it be thanked. ... In fact, history won't even remember it.

[bird_brain]

Why not?

[knightspirit]

The rest of the galaxy might remember, but where I'm from, the Earth, the existence of other planets with life on them isn't something that's known. Nobody ever knew what was happening, and even if they were told, they wouldn't believe it. It's something only the people involved will ever know.

[bird_brain]

That seems a shame.

[knightspirit]

I don't mind. ... Everyone's safe. That's what counts.

[bird_brain]

How long ago was this?

[knightspirit]

.... About four months. I was on the way home from all that when I ended up in this world.

[bird_brain]

Better than being taken before a resolution.

[knightspirit]

... True. I'm not sure that would have ended well.