The Villainess Takes the Cockpit

Morning in relay station Cranea arrived as artificial sunlight filtered in through gaps in the outer hull.

The bed in Milea's finest hotel had been exactly as advertised. Letaria, traveler from another world, had slept deeply and woken restored.

She checked out, stepped into the lobby as the familiar noise of the station was returning--and raised her bracelet to call up navigation, then stopped.

"...Now then. How does one get home?"

Coming here, she had tagged along on the escort mission. Going back, she was on her own. She knew where Arden was hangared. But the return route through open space to Seldia--that was less clear.

As if the thought had been transmitted directly, the bracelet chimed.

"Good morning, Letaria. Did you sleep well?"

Milea on the monitor--and, possibly an effect of last night's lecture, she looked marginally more rested than usual.

"Milea. Yes, I slept splendidly, thank you. ...And you--you kept your promise and rested properly, I trust?"

"Yes, I slept. I did sleep. Four and a half hours, even. ...Anyway--you're coming back today, aren't you? Do you know how?"

"Ohohohoho! You needn't ask me something so simple! I board Arden, fly the shortest route, and return to Seldia. That is all."

"...I had a feeling you'd say that."

Milea pressed a hand to her forehead.

"Listen, Letaria. Makinas aren't transportation. Flying back to Seldia in a Makina--uninterrupted, for several hours--would exhaust a veteran pilot. Normally, you take a civilian transport ship. On the way here, your Makina was hauled on the escort vessel for most of the trip--do you remember?"

The reminder landed. Now that she thought about it, she hadn't been flying the entire time.

"A civilian ship... you mean one of those large box-shaped vessels?"

"That's right. And you're in luck--when you registered as a freelancer, you were issued a bounty hunter's license. Sign on as an escort for a departing ship and you can offset the fare, and it counts as professional experience. I've already arranged it--report to the designated dock."

".... ...Very well. That proposal--I accept."

◆◆◆

Scene: the hangar of the large civilian transport vessel Serpent, Seldia-bound.

The ship carried several hundred passengers and a considerable load of cargo--a space bus in every practical sense. Letaria had boarded as escort-passenger, and had been told that waiting near one's machine in case of emergency was standard practice among hunters. She was therefore seated on a simple bench at Arden's feet.

"...Hmm. This is rather dull."

She had changed back into the Noble Lotus and was sitting with nothing in particular to do when--

"--Hey there, miss. Fancy running into you here."

A familiar voice. That easy, unreadable quality.

She looked up. Blue hair, loosely tied. Zein. And beside him, Fal--looking faintly guilty about something.

"Oh--Zein, Fal! I thought you had work in Cranea?"

"Wrapped up faster than expected. Thought we'd head over to Seldia next and see what's there. Started looking for a ride back, and there was an escort slot open on this ship."

Zein grinned and nudged Fal with his elbow.

"Hey, Fal. You were looking pretty pleased when I mentioned she'd be on this one, weren't you."

"What--no--boss, don't say weird things!"

Fal went scarlet. But when she caught sight of Letaria, the stubborn set of her expression couldn't fully suppress what was showing in her eyes.

"...I'm not here because of you, just so we're clear. But--if you're around, at least it won't be boring."

Said in a near-whisper, aimed somewhere at the floor.

Letaria answered with a full laugh.

"Ohohohoho! Very well! If you missed my radiance, you may simply say so!"

"Ugh--! You are so insufferable!"

The three of them fell into familiar banter without any particular effort--which was remarkable, given they had met yesterday.

Zein looked up at Arden with open curiosity.

"Still--looking at it up close, this really does look like one of Escado's Crafid models. Is the interior the same?"

"I have no idea! This is Arden--my armor and my knight. That is all I need to know."

Fal stared at her. Zein, for once, looked slightly lost for words.

Time passed, in its comfortable way.

◆◆◆

Then it ended.

A piercing siren filled the hangar. Red warning lights began to spin.

"--Attention all escort pilots! This is the Captain of the Serpent!"

The voice from the overhead speakers was tight.

"Three unidentified high-speed craft on rapid approach! No identification signal! Raider probability extremely high! Move to intercept immediately! I repeat--launch immediately!"

Zein gave a long-suffering shrug.

"Sector's getting rougher. Alright--miss, Fal! Ready?"

"Obviously, boss! Whenever you are!"

Fal broke into a run toward her machine. Letaria looked up at Arden's cockpit, and let the corner of her mouth rise.

"...Honestly. Anyone who thinks they can interrupt my homecoming is in serious need of a lesson in manners."

She vaulted up to the hatch in a single fluid movement and settled into the seat. The bracelet synced with Arden's OS, and the dark purple machine awoke with a deep, resonant sound.

"Letaria--raiders, it seems. Don't do anything reckless."

Milea's emergency comm cut onto the monitor.

"Yes, Milea. I know. ...A few common bandits will learn very quickly that they are no match for me and Arden."

"...You're entirely too composed. ...Come back in one piece. Understood?"

"Of course! Now then--Arden, let us deliver swift justice to the impertinent!"

The Serpent's catapult extended.

One by one, three Makinas were launched into the black.