Part 27: *Hyun-ae, Alternate endings
Start of day 3. You know what that means!
Wasting a shitload of time on this!
But you know what? I'm not in the mood!
That's a weird thing to say...
...and I don't really understand what that means...
...but somehow, in my heart, I feel like that's true, and I feel like it's a good enough answer.
I don't really understand, but I can't argue with those feelings. Very well... let's get back to work, then!
Bam. Circumvent successful.
Shortly into M3, *Hyun-ae prepares for a wave of crippling doubt!
I won't be helping.
Yeah... I didn't think you would...
I guess that's just how I'll always be.
...well, no point in dwelling on it, I suppose... Let's finish reading together. Since... that's the one thing that I can do.
After that, a whole lot of log reading.
And we're back here.
I don't know about her... she's vicious, and manipulative, and everything that's untrustworthy about the *Mute I knew... But I don't know. Even if you hate her, I don't think anyone deserves what happened to her... I feel bad for that, at least.Alternately:
It's troubling, isn't it?
Reading all this... I wish there was just a clear hero and villain I knew who to root for.
But I guess... I mean, don’t get me wrong, the actions of Emperor Ryu and Oh Eun-a were terrible! The worst! Horrifying!
But I guess they're just people, in the end. I don't get it... I wish there was some easy take-away. ...well, changing the subject to something less heavy...
Oh... ...well, that's honest, at least. ...well, maybe that's just how it is. Anyway... Please, don't be mad, because I'm so happy for everything you've done for me... ...but we've had so much trouble together on this voyage home... I just don't know if us being together can work.
Time for some endings!
Ah... well... Thank you for understanding. You've been good for me. I'll always remember you. I'm sorry it couldn't have worked out. I guess that's just how it is. But thank you. You're such a good person, and you always make the right decision when it counts. Well... anyways, I suppose it's now almost time to begin star system entry procedures.
Even from out here, I can see Earth on the visual sensors, and... it's gorgeous, isn't it? Wow... No matter what happens, no matter how bad I feel about what I've learned... no matter how much I need to learn about people, no matter how hard it is to be a proper adult... No matter what, I'm going to take all the things that shaped me, that shaped what kind of ship I grew up on, and I'm going to try to put them behind me. Even if there's still so much ahead of me, thank you so much for rescuing me. Thank you for being here for me. Thank you for saving me from that prison, and putting up with me.
Maybe I was a little too naive about things working out between us... but I don't blame you! Maybe that's just sometimes how it is. Maybe, sometimes, two people just aren't compatible. But you saved me from despair, gave me hope, and saved my life... no matter what, I promise that's what I'll always remember you by! From here on out, the possibilities of my future are terrifying and overwhelming... What an unbelievable feeling, being overwhelmed by freedom...!
Alternately.
...oh...
...well, if that's how it is... then I suppose thats just how it is. Believe me... I know, I have plenty of experience with that. I guess that's just how it is. Well... anyways, I suppose it's now almost time to begin star system entry procedures. Even from out here, I can see Earth on the visual sensors, and... it's gorgeous, isn't it? Wow... No matter what happens, no matter how bad I feel about what I've learned... no matter how much I need to learn about people, no matter how hard it is to be a proper adult... No matter what, I'm going to take all the things that shaped me, that shaped what kind of ship I grew up on, and I'm going to try to put them behind me. Even if there's still so much ahead of me, thank you so much for rescuing me. Thank you for being here for me. Thank you for saving me from that prison, and putting up with me. Maybe this future too isn't everything I dreamed it would be... ...maybe, in the end, I've just traded one inner chamber for another... But at least I'm alive. I'm alive, and I'm not alone!
Well.
Let's wash the taste of that one out of our system by jumping back to the previous timeline.
Ah, thank you for understanding!
I mean, I know. What happened to the Mugunghwa was super important, and I guess I'm a part of that.
But some sort of inquisition... I can't deal with that at all!
So... thank you for understanding.
Well... anyway, I suppose it's now almost time to begin star system entry procedures.
Even from out here, I can see Earth on the visual sensors, and... it's gorgeous, isn't it? Wow... No matter what happens, no matter how bad I feel about what I've learned... ...no matter how much I need to learn about people, no matter how hard it is to be a proper adult...
No matter what, I'm going to take all the things that shaped me, that shaped what kind of ship I grew up on, and I'm going to try to put them behind me.
Even if there's still so much ahead of me, thank you so much for rescuing me. Thank you for being here for me. Thank you for saving me from that prison, and putting up with me.
I know it seemed really sudden when I confessed, but the fact that you're that kind of person... I still love you for that!
From now on, I'm going to look forwards towards the future, towards that gorgeous blue planet... I'm sure I won't be able to look back, with you by my side!
And so we close the book on *Hyun-ae's story. But there's more to come!
And that means it's voting time once more! On Friday, *Mute's story begins.
Because you've already seen most of the logs at this point, I'm going to aim for doubling the size of entries to keep things moving along. In the meantime, let's figure out some starting parameters:
1. Was *Mute rescued by a Man or a Woman?
2. Was *Mute Flirty, Friendly, or Resentful?
3. What order should I read the logs in? Just suggest shit and I'll pick one I like. Be aware that order is more significant this time than it was for *Hyun-ae.