Yoru-the-Rogue

Chapter 4: Stake Your Name    “Will the witness please state your name for the record?”    “You already know my name and it is already on the record, but I’ll indulge you.  My name is Dr. Raizo Kasshu,” he said, crossing his arms and lifting his chin high.  “And before you ask, I’ll just cut to the chase myself: I am fifty-two, born and raised a citizen of Neo-Japan, husband to the late Dr. Mikino Kasshu, father of Kyoji Kasshu and Domon Kasshu...and yes, I created the machine you all came to know as the Dark Gundam alongside my wife and eldest son.”    Everyone in the room stared, stunned

Chapter 3: Ghost In The Machine    [ALL SYSTEMS FAILURE.  SUBROUTINE PROTOCOL SUSPENDED.  OPERATING SYSTEMS RECOVERY SHUTDOWN IN PROGRESS.]    What makes us human?    [...]    Is it the fear of death?    [...]    Is it our proclivity for camaraderie, and the power we draw from those bonds as they strengthen?    [CORE SYSTEMS RECONNECTED TO HOME MAINFRAME.  REBOOT ATTEMPT IN PROGRESS.]    Is it love?    [INITIAL ATTEMPT FAIL.  PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSTICS SCAN EXECUTE.]    Surely it is all of those things.  There is more, there is always, always more to it.  Naturally, for humans are all so unique and complex, from every fortune

Chapter 2: Asphyxiate    “Will the witness please come forward and take the stand?”    Rain lifted her head a fraction, lowering her hands as her heart pounded in her chest.  Why did she feel so anxious?  Maybe three days hadn’t been enough time to prepare.  Certainly it hadn’t been any time at all to work on processing the events that had occurred in the wake of the battle royale.  Everything was happening so fast...too fast.  As she approached the witness stand, the air seemed to slowly get sucked out of the courtroom and the walls steadily loomed closer and closer.    Run! her instincts screamed at her.  Get o

   Steam curled into the air as he poured a cup of fresh coffee, casting a glance over to his guest.    “You quit as a crew member?” he asked, sounding more surprised than he felt.  Truthfully, given how abrasive Domon had been the last several times they’d interacted, he was more amazed at the fact it had taken Rain this long to reach a breaking point than anything else.  He set the coffee pot aside and extended the mug to her reaching hands.    “Yes, I did,” Rain answered, her voice low and carrying a hint of regret.  “You see, no matter what the situation, I’ve always done the best I could.  Bu

"Actually... this is going to sound kind of weird but could we just kind of... sit down for a second?  I have a question I've been meaning to ask you." A flash of momentary alarm flickered behind those gray eyes, but then Schuyler adjusted his glasses and when Loren looked again, something else had replaced the alarm like a safeguard sliding into place. Loren's throat tied itself in knots as he dropped his gaze to the floor as fast as he could, instantly cursing himself for an idiot.  Of course that sounded bad.  Was there even any possible way to start this conversation without sounding like he was potentially heading toward break-up territ