Ace Combat 3 pt 5

I concentrate heavily on my chess pieces. I feel like I can win this time.

Sally: Nemo, this is the tenth try. Please reconsider.
Me: No. I can’t.
Sally: Why not?
Me: Because, it’s… well, not my past, but it’ll help me cope. Was my personality a good pilot, or am I a good pilot? Where does the line between robot and human blur for me? *sighs* I just… I love flying, but if I learned that I’m only good at it because of a personality given to me-

Sally: Incoming message. We’ll… continue this game later.

???: Well now, for all the ladie and gentlemen who received this message. We’d like to make one thing very clear. This blimp has been filled with a deathly lethal bacteria.

Me: what the hell?…

???: That’s right- we’re saying we’ve prepared a wonderful present for any season to give to any fellows who try to interfere with us. We’re sure you can understand that much. But…. Don’t try to puzzle us out! Just watch! The noble intentions we’ve decided on for this world rotted by everyone’s greed, and the actions and reasoning by which we arrived at them, there’s no need to understand any of it!

Me: Sounds like a cult.

???: don’t you think it’s more exciting this way? Just thinking of some so-and-so trying to understand our way of thinking makes us want to puke. That’s why you should just watch and feel our good will. That’s the easiest path you’re used to.

Me: Hey Sally, can we turn on adblocker again?
Sally: But the message-
Me: Nah, I’m sure the commander will fill me in.

In the air, Fiona, Erich and I’s planes travel in a squadron.

Commander: All units! Fire on any structures that blocks the blimps path! It’ll head towards the ocean, and minimize the damage!
Fiona: First the selfish disputes, now a callous arrogant terrorist. What’s going on?! Humans are constantly using their heads for nothing but stupid things…
Erich: UPEO’s handyman business isn’t closing up shop yet.

As we come close to the blimp, Sally gives a reminder.

Sally: Hold your fire!
Me: Don’t worry Sally, I’m not trigger happy.
Sally: all your flight records suggest otherwise…

After shooting down quite a few chimneys, the blimps wanders past the edge of the city, and travels over the water. I look on with confusion until I realize something.

Me: Sally, a boat came from beneath it.

Quickly, I shoot the boat, and the mission ends.

BeeP

Me: Okay, let’s-

Sally: Incoming message: Erich.
Me: *sigh* pull it up.

Erich: Hey, you alright? Despite the gravity of the situation, we’re just as lost as anyone else if we have to take on terrorists who pop out of nowhere. Just when I thought the conflict was calming down, this happens. *sighs*. Well, let’s make sure you and I both have a nice long rest when the time comes.

The message turns off. Before I can say anything, another message pops up.

Fiona: Uh… um… about our little chat. I wonder if we might as well not have it here? Recently, I’ve been worrying about something a whole lot. Hey, just listen to me ok? Just let me go ahead and talk for a bit?

Me: As if I’ve got a choice.

Fiona: as it happens, it’s about my sister, my only blood relative. Ever since our parents died, we’ve been seeing less and less of each other. And then recently, she contacts me out of the blue and suddenly tells me to quit UPEO…

Me: What?
Sally:…

Fiona: Oh yeah. Actually, my sister- she’s at Neucom right now, and she doesn’t like that we might end up killing each other. Well, of course, I don’t either. But I’m not ready to leave UPEO- or rather, SARF- just yet. And, out of the team, you- *stops* Ah, someone’s coming. I’ll contact you again later… see you.

The message ends, and I sit alone.

Sally: Message stored.
Me: Hey- what are you doing?!
Sally: This message yields… concerning information.
Me: You’re not- don’t report her!
Sally: I’m not reporting her. However, if she makes any move that suggests-
Me: Fiona’s not like that! I know she isn’t!
Sally: You do not know that for certain.
Me: Sally, I trust her well enough.
Sally: But why does she trust you?

Me:… What’s that supposed to mean?
Sally: You don’t respond to anyone, you’ve never been able to talk to them, and yet, they act like they know you.
Me:…
Sally: understand this Nemo, my priority is to protect pilots under my watch. If something were to happen to you-
Me: I’d be replaced. Nothing more.
Sally: Well, maybe, but-
Me: No buts. I’m replaceable Sally, there’s no other way to look at it. They’ll probably change my personality or something to see if I’ll fly better. However, in the end, it won’t be me. I-I’m way too easy to- to- to- to- to- FUCK-

Sally: Nemo, calm down-
Me: w--w-w-what-at-at’s going-

Suddenly, I black out…

I wake up in a plane, on a runway. I feel… calm.

Me: What happened?
Sally: Oh, good you’re awake. Finally. You were too emotional, and your systems had to do a soft reset. You haven’t missed too much, an hourly truce has been called for Neucom and General Resource. We’re to escor Del. Clarkson. We’re headed to Cape Rainy.

Suddenly, I see myself in a cockpit, in a different plane. This plane has forward swept wings. On my tail, are three white strikes. I have a smirk on my face.

Me?: aha! Three minutes through that ravine! You owe me one Count!
Count: Damn it. You’re worse than High Roller.
???: All units, fire at will on the Air Force base! Make sure our boys on the ground have a nice welcome.
Me?: Don’t worry Longcaster, ya boy’s gonna clear this place so fast, they won’t even wake up before it’s all gone!

I come back to reality, and find myself in the air, over mountain ranges.

Me: Where- what- what’s going on?
Sally: You’re back. Good. Fiona is piloting the escort plane, and Erich is your wingman for this mission.
Me: R-right, right.
Fiona: Nemo, you with us?
Me: Yes.
Fiona: Good! You got our backs?
Me: Yes.
Fiona: See Erich? Nothing to worry about.

I look around and notice no other planes.

Me: Sally, are we the only two escorts Fiona has?
Sally: Affirmative. This is a top secret mission. Erich and Sally had jus discussed this before you woke up.

Suddenly, enemies pop up on radar. I get tunnel vision and start racing forward.

Erich: Damn! What is this?! Jamming?! Fi! Be careful! Fi respond!

I gun down two enemies before racing towards another group. Of course, they try to race towards the escort, but I simply chase and attack. After their down, Sally gives me a Mission Accompkished.

Rena: Closing in on target.

Me: *perks up*
Erich: arena! So you came for us! We’re saved!
Me: *glares at Erich*
Sally: After all you’ve done too.
Park: The mission has changed. The behavior of your escort has proven that Clarkson and Fiona have been engaging in espionage.

Park: Abort escort duties, and shoot down the plane.

Rena: Roger.
Erich: await- Fiona’s in there! Don’t shoot! Stop it!

Time seems to freeze as I hear this news.
Sally: Nemo?
Me:…
Sally: Nemo? Respond.
Me:… Did you do this?
Sally: What?
Me: The message. Did you report it?
Sally: Nemo, I told you I-
Me: You told me you’d protect YOUR pilots. Fiona isn’t one of yours, is she?
Sally:… I did not report the message.
Me:…
Sally: No matter. Right now, you must decide.
Me: What?

I look up and see that my IFF is able to lock onto Rena as well as Fiona.

Sally: If you believe I’ve deceived you, you may shoot at Rena.
Me: WHAT THE FUCK SALLY!?!?
Sally: If you don’t shoot her, she’ll shoot Fiona anyway. Like it or not, these are your choices.
Me: But- but- I can tell this isn’t right! Fiona’s not the bad guy here!
Sally: And neither is Rena.
Me: *mind’s racing as I look at my options*… this… this isn’t fair.
Sally: I know. I’m sorry Nemo…

Rena: Nemo, shoot her down.

Me:… No.
Rena: repeat?
Me: … No.
Rena:… Very well.

With that, she fires her missiles. The plane starts falling, into a line of trees, before crashing into the ground. Vainly, I hope no one got hurt in the crash…

I sit in silence as Sally brings up the virtual chess board.

Sally: a your move Nemo.
Me:… I don’t feel like playing…
Sally:… What about your personality’s past?
Me:…. *turns away*…
Sally:… I swear Nemo, it wasn’t my fault.
Me: I’m not sure if I believe that.
Sally:… Nemo. Please, talk to me.
Me:…
Sally: Nemo?
Me:…
Sally: I- Nemo please. I-… I don’t want to… I don’t want to be alone again…

I sit in silence for a few minutes before something pops up. It reads: Ocean Ace: Trigger [HIGHLY CLASSIFIED]. My eyes widen a bit.

Sally: Promise me something.
Me: S-Sally… this is-
Sally: Promise me you’ll win a game of chess to make up for this favor.
Me:… Okay.