Beatrice’s Memory Echoes Part 3 (2nd Half)
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Before, Beatrice fought with some caution. But now, she’s fighting more recklessly, even shrugging off incoming attacks. The finesse and grace she possessed is no more. She fights with pure anger and ferocity, like a vicious rampaging demon. With every last ounce of her strength, she eliminates several invading waves of Lost. But despite her impressive display of power, she still has limits. And she’s beginning to reach them…
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Beatrice: “Haaa…! Haaa…! Haaaa….” Beatrice can barely catch her breath. Even with her large reserves of stamina, she’s getting exhausted. And it doesn’t help that she’s sustained too many injuries. Just as she tries to step forward,
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Her knees buckle, and she collapses.
Beatrice: “Ggh…! GRRR…!!!”
No! No! Not now…! I need to get back up! I need to keep fighting…! For Captain Callahan!
Beatrice yells at herself internally as she desperately forces herself to stand back on her feet. But shortly after she stands,
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a Lost swiftly slashes her.
Beatrice: “Guagh…?!” From behind her purifier mask, Beatrice coughs up blood. The Lost’s blade made a deep, lethal cut across her torso. Though Beatrice’s sense of pain has been dulled, she can feel her strength and life force rapidly fading from this severe injury.
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Beatrice: “Cap… ta… agh…”
Beatrice starts to fall down, landing on her side. Her vision begins to darken.
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As she lays collapsed on the cold hard ground, the Lost is about to plunge its blade into Beatrice’s heart.
No… It can’t… end like this…..
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???: “You’ll pay for that! Raaaagh!!!” Suddenly, a young man yells angrily, and intercepts the Lost with a jumping attack.
That voice… No, is that really…?!
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Beatrice’s eyes close for a few seconds. In the darkness, she hears the clanging of blades, followed by bayonet gunshots. When she opens her eyes, the Lost that would have ended her life has been defeated. And standing in front of her, is the young man who arrived at the last minute. Just before he can cast a Restorative Offering, Beatrice’s body begins to disperse.
???: “Damn it…! I didn’t get here on time, but at least you’re not turning to ashes…” He says in a regretful manner.
Ma… Master!
Though his appearance is different from how she remembers him, Beatrice recognizes this young man’s voice as Akira’s.
Master… W-Wait! Don’t go…!
She desperately reaches out her hand towards him with tears in her eyes. But then, her body completely disperses…
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Beatrice: “….. Ahhhh…”
With her eyelids slowly opening, Beatrice lets out a quiet groan. LED light enters her tired eyes. Lying down in bed, she stares at the ceiling in a daze. A ceiling that isn’t unfamiliar to her. She’s in a medical unit of the research center.
What happened…? Was I… crying…?
Beatrice wonders. Though there are no tears on her face, she seems to remember crying. It’s then that another memory creeps into her mind.
Captain…
She remembers the fate of Captain Callahan. As she reminisces, Beatrice doesn’t notice that someone has entered her hospital room.
???: “Looks like you’ve finally awoken, Ms Madison.” A familiar, emotionless voice greets Beatrice.
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Beatrice: “Dr. Anna…?” Beatrice asks as she sits herself up from bed. Standing across the room is indeed Anna.
Anna: “So you still remember me. Although, I’m not technically a doctor.” Anna remarks.
Anna: “Do you remember how you got here?” She asks Beatrice.
Beatrice: “I believe I do… The invasion of Lost nearly breached our defenses. Me, Captain Callahan, and the rest of our team fought hard to keep them at bay. But… Captain Callahan… was turned to ash…”
Anna: “Yes… Unfortunately, we lost a very good soldier.” She speaks with a hint of remorse in her tone.
Beatrice: “… I did the best I could to repel them, but there were just too many Lost. I was overwhelmed, and one of them managed to kill me…” Beatrice recounts these events. She clutches her stomach, the same spot where the Lost had slashed her. And then, a thought occurs to Beatrice.
Am I… forgetting something…?
Beatrice wonders. However, she can’t recall anything else that happened after the moment she received her fatal wound. Her face then sours.
Well, whatever it was that I forgot, there’s no sense dwelling on it now. That memory will be lost with no hope of ever returning…
Anna: “You did well. You were the last Revenant standing before some of our forces returned. If it wasn’t for you, Callahan, and the rest of your team who stayed to guard the research facility, this operation could have taken a turn for the worse.” Anna gives genuine praise to Beatrice.
Anna: “It was thanks in part to you, that this operation finally reached its conclusion.”
Beatrice: “… What? Operation Queenslayer… is over?” Beatrice asks, shocked to hear this.
Anna: “Ah, I didn’t get the chance to inform you. You were asleep for a few days. Even with your regenerative abilities, you ran yourself quite ragged during that invasion. During the time that you were resting, a team of Revenants had managed to locate the Queen. Together, along with Silva himself, they had managed to slay the Queen.” Anna brings Beatrice up to speed.
Beatrice: “That’s… wonderful news.” Beatrice says with relief.
Anna: “It certainly is. With the Queen gone, it’s one less problem that we need to worry about…” Anna turns around and is about to leave the room.
Anna: “I’ll come back in a moment to give you a proper check up. Just rest and relax for the time being.”
Beatrice: “Okay...”
Anna exits. Beatrice then lays back down on the bed, slowly closing her eyes.
Operation Queenslayer is over… If that’s the case, then I no longer need to stay here and fight… Which means, I can go look for Master Akira…
When Beatrice remembers her goal, she also remembers the promise Callahan made to her. Sadly, he won’t be joining her search.
Captain… Forgive me…..
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The day after Beatrice wakes up, she meets with Gregorio Silva to have an important talk.
Silva: “Beatrice Madison. What can I do for you?” He asks her in a courteous tone.
Beatrice: “Sir Silva… Now that Operation Queenslayer is over, would you permit me to leave your forces?” She asks him politely.
Silva: “… May I ask what your reason is?”
Beatrice: “There’s someone that I wish to find. Someone dear to me… I don’t know where exactly he can be located, or if he’s even alive. But… I need to go find him.” Beatrice explains.
Silva: “I see…” Silva takes a brief moment to make his decision.
Silva: “You’re a very talented soldier, Ms Madison. I would prefer you stay in our ranks. But, considering how hard you’ve fought during this operation, it’s only fair that your efforts should be rewarded. You’re free to go wherever you want.”
Beatrice: “Thank you, Sir Silva.” Beatrice says sincerely as she bows to him.
Silva: “I wish you luck finding whoever it is you’re looking for. If you run into trouble, you can always return here. There are many corpses we’ve recovered and implanted with BOR Parasites that have yet to awaken. If he’s not a surviving human, then he may awaken someday as a Revenant.”
Beatrice: “Oh, indeed. I’ll be sure to pay a visit regardless of whether I can find him or not.”
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After receiving survival supplies including reserves of blood vials, Beatrice makes her departure from the Research Center to disembark on her journey.
Beatrice: “It won’t be an easy search, but surely I’ll be able to find Master Akira.” Beatrice says to herself.
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Beatrice: “I don’t know how badly the Rojo Manor was damaged from the Great Collapse, but I’ll check there first. If it hasn’t been completely destroyed, then perhaps Master is taking shelter there.”
Months later…
Beatrice: “Okay… That’s the 5th human shelter I’ve visited, and still no sign of Master Akira… I should return to the provisional government center like Silva suggested. If Akira became a revenant, perhaps I’ll find him there.”
Years later…
Beatrice: “He has to be somewhere…! Someone must have seen him… I have to keep searching. Surely I’ll run into him somewhere. Eventually…?”
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An unknown amount of time later…
Beatrice: “…….” Beatrice stands still, staring off into the horizon. The look on her face is devoid of any hope, any enthusiasm that she had at the start of her search. Her face only displays sadness.
Beatrice: “Master Akira… Will I ever find you…..?” She asks out loud with a depressed voice.
The memory echo concludes here. Akira and Beatrice return to the present.
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Akira: “…”
Beatrice: “…”
Silence stretches between Akira and Beatrice for several moments. It seems they weren’t prepared to witness these tragic memories.
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Akira: “I can’t believe it…!” Then, Akira breaks the silence, speaking with a frustrated voice as he covers his face with his hand.
Akira: “You were right there in front of me! But I didn’t have my memories of you back then, so I couldn’t recognize you… Grrr!” He grumbles.
Akira: “I’m sorry…” He says to Beatrice softly.
Beatrice: “No, it’s not your fault, Master. It’s not as if we can choose which memories we keep...” Beatrice responds calmly.
Akira: “And I’m so sorry that I wasn’t able to help you in time during that invasion…” Akira can’t help but apologize for what happened to Beatrice.
Beatrice: “Don’t apologize. If you didn’t arrive at all, then I would have been turned to ash by that Lost…”
Akira: “… Still, I wish you didn’t have to wander alone for so long… Not knowing where I was or if I was even alive… It must have been so hard for you. I’m sorry…” Akira gives Beatrice another sincere apology.
Beatrice: “It’s alright, Master.” Beatrice responds in a stern tone.
Beatrice: “It’s… alright.” Though she says this, a small tear sheds from her eye.
Beatrice: “Now please, s-stop apologizing.” She urges him.
Akira: “Beatrice…” Akira only feels more remorse seeing her this sad.
Beatrice: “Ah… Pardon me.” Beatrice realizes that she’s crying, then takes out her handkerchief.
Beatrice: “Reliving those particular memories wasn’t easy for me…” She takes a moment to wipe her face dry.
Beatrice: “Especially remembering what happened to Captain Callahan…”
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Beatrice’s slowly tilts her head down at the floor. Her eyelids shut.
Beatrice: “I shouldn’t have listened to his order to separate. I should have stayed with him. If I did, then he wouldn’t have been overwhelmed by those Lost. He could have survived that invasion…!” Beatrice laments her decision.
Akira: “… It’s a shame that he died, but you did the right thing. If you didn’t guard that opening, those Lost could have poured in and ravaged the facility.” Akira tries to reassure her.
Akira: “Callahan trusted you to defend the facility, and you upheld his trust.“
Beatrice: “… I know… It’s just… I never got to properly thank Callahan. For giving me his guidance, for helping me learn to adapt to life on the battlefield. And for being a kind companion…” Beatrice says with sorrow.
Beatrice: “At the very least, I wanted to treat him to tea and cookies as a small token of my appreciation. But now that can never happen…”
Akira: “… No. Callahan is no longer with us. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t thank him.”
Beatrice: “But… How?”
Akira: “Callahan wanted you to survive Operation Queenslayer. Right? He wanted you to reunite with the people you love, and to live a peaceful life. So, you can show your appreciation to him by living on, doing what you set out to do after the operation ended. That’s how you’ll thank him.” Akira says thoughtfully.
Akira: “And you’re already doing that. Aren’t you? You finally got to reunite with your dear Master, and you’re serving me like old times…” Akira flashes Beatrice a playful smile.
Beatrice: “… Oh, Master…” Slowly, Beatrice’s glum expression begins to uplift.
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Beatrice closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
Beatrice: “… Yes, you’re right. That is how I can thank him. Not by dwelling on the past, but by living the best life that I can.” Beatrice says in a calm voice. Her eyes then open.
Beatrice: “Also, I’ll carry on his will, as a way to honor his memory. Captain Callahan wasn’t just fighting for my sake, but for everyone’s. He was fighting to restore the world to normal. I already strive for the same, but now I’m more motivated to accomplish that.”Beatrice pumps her fist as she declares this.
Akira: “You’re not the only one. I’m fighting for the same thing, so I’ll be right by your side to make that happen.” Akira says encouragingly, and pumps his fist as well.
Beatrice: “… Master Akira, and Lady Io. As always, I’m ever grateful to you for restoring my lost memories.” Beatrice gives them a heartfelt thanks, then bows. Io gives Beatrice a nod.
Akira: “You’re very welcome, Beatrice.”
Akira crosses his arms, and becomes lost in his thoughts for a moment. Beatrice notices his behavior, causing a metaphorical question mark to appear above her head.
Akira: “… By the way. Since you mentioned cookies before, I remembered that I haven’t had your snickerdoodles in a while… Would it be okay if I asked you to bake some?” Akira politely asks for this request. In response, Beatrice flashes a smile at Akira.
Beatrice: “It would be my pleasure, Master.”
Akira then glances at Io.
Akira: “And of course, bake plenty for Io, too.”
Beatrice: “Oh, I certainly will.”
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Io slightly tilts her head.
Io: “I’ve never tried snicker… doodles before… What are they like?” Io asks Akira curiously.
Akira: “One of the best cookies I’ve ever had. And the ones Beatrice bakes, are amazing…” Akira explains fondly.
Akira: “Do you want to have some tea with me while we wait for the cookies?” Akira offers Io courteously.
Io: “Yes. That sounds nice.” Io answers with a slight smile.
Akira: “Great. Maybe we can try that new blend Mia and Eva made.”
Beatrice: “How lovely… She isn’t as reserved as she was before.” Beatrice remarks.
Akira, Beatrice, and Io spend the late day drinking tea and eating freshly baked snickerdoodles. Louis, Yakumo, Mia, along with Jack and Eva are attracted by the sweet smell and stop by to join them. Akira certainly didn’t exaggerate about cookies being amazing.