[center][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5506853][img]https://i.imgur.com/qH7fFFY.png[/img][/url][/center]
[center][h3]--Desert - Camp--[/h3][/center]
Reunited with their transport and supplies plus considering how spent most of the party were, the decision to make camp was pretty much unanimously supported.

As usual since the beginning of their foray into the harsh dunes, Eve pretty much relegated herself to provide overwatch for the party, being one of the few squadmates still relatively fresh and also the only one not needing regular intakes of food, water, nor sleep, it was the most pragmatically sound decision. All she needed was a potion of liquefied ether in one hand and she was good to go at it until whenever they were ready to depart.

Still, she could lend an earhole when Izayoi deemed it appropriate to finally share her history with the man whose body became the Revenant.

[color=d3d3d3][b]"..."[/b][/color] The Pseudolon listened to the recollection from start to finish, her first immediate reaction was having the urge to call the Master as foolish for throwing his life away like that, but then... Eve realized that for years now, she had sought to end her own twisted existence, preferably in battle, just like... him. [color=d3d3d3][b]"..."[/b][/color] It was only recently, after her comrades and Cid, that she began to reconsider, that there was more to life than just being a weapon. 

After all, wasn't this why her mother sacrificed herself...?

[color=d3d3d3][i]I'm sorry, mama...[/i][/color]

[center][h3]--Kugane - Safehouse--[/h3][/center]
Back at Osprey's capital, Eve attended the meeting along with everyone else. It seemed more like a debriefing than anything else, Hien even already knew what'd be their next move. For now, the team deserved some rest after the voyage, might as well considering he'd take a day or two to make his correspondence.

Fair enough, rest they would.

[center][h3]Meanwhile...[/h3][/center]
[b]"DAMN THAT ROTTING, WALKING [i]CORPSE[/i]!"[/b] One Director Hojo screamed into a holographic display as he pounded his fist onto the poor armrest of his seat, [b]"That was close, [i]too[/i] close, you big, mindless oaf! I knew that project was a mistake, toying with cadavers, pfah!"[/b]

Beside him, another - lower-ranking - scientist couldn't help but get curious. The display was showing an airship recording of what appeared to be Project Revenant engaged with Team Kirin, the people responsible for Hien's escape and Proudclad's destruction, the one with the rogue Project Grayscale. [b]"Uh, Director, if I may speak frankly... why do you seem upset that [i]our[/i] side holds the advantage?"[/b]

Hojo abruptly turned his wrinkled visage at the younger researcher, incredulity palpable in his gaze, [b]"No, no, no, you don't understand, you don't understand at all! The point is to let Grayscale grow, blossom into the Dragon Queen she's destined to be!"[/b] He ranted, [b]"That so-called 'Project Revenant' is an evolutionary dead end, it's nothing but recycled pieces of crap; it can not grow, it can not evolve, it's stuck as it is, worse, it'll eventually decay! Such is the pointlessness of dabbling with undeath!"[/b]

The Valheimr youth gulped, both awed and intimidated by the senior scientist's... passion, [b]"W-well, be that as it may, Director... Grayscale has proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that she's our enemy now, look at what she did to Proudcla-"[/b] 

[b]"Foolish boy!"[/b] Only for Hojo to firmly interrupt him, [b]"Sacrifices are necessary for progress, and can't you see? Precious... precious Grayscale is mine, she has always been mine, she has never [i]not[/i] be mine!"[/b] He chuckled, narrowing his eyes in such an unnerving manner, it sent chills down the assistant's spine.

[b]"She just doesn't know it yet..."[/b]