[b][i]The Pier[/i][/b]

Pablo was at the very edge of the Pier, his Noble Arm held out. Two bodyguards were close by him, one of them Eliza and another an ordinary person. Their purpose: To indicate that was Pabo was going to do was both allowed and ordered. As the boy from Trinidad dipped his mystic weapon through the water, willing the forces of Primordial Truth to flow through him, he saw his own secrets, his own shames and guilt once again.

He saw how pride had infected him, how his belief that he was the main keystone to Operation Symbiosis' success was as much a hindrance to his growth as much as it was a motivation for working hard. He saw the needs and wants of the various people and groups on the expedition, and the need to factor them in. He saw the lies he told himself and the lies told by others, as well as trod the various futures of the expedition.

Lifting his sword and hand from the dirty saltwater, Pablo looked at Eliza and said, "There are people here, people who've suffered in ways no one should suffer." 

The lingering power of the sword told him not to think of them as broken objects to be 'fixed', but to see them as people. They had independent wills or the seeds of them, and those deserved respect. [i]Respect others, respect yourself,[/i] Pablo thought to himself, while at the same time knowing this: That once the sword's power faded, the seeds of arrogance would sprout inside his mind once more, and potentially bring pain to himself and other people. [i]Be on guard. You are not perfect or omnipotent and others can't cover for you if you just demand that of them[/i].

And with that, he walked towards Ein. Ein the broken, Ein the adorable, Ein, who caused feelings within him to stir. The power of Truth had made those feelings uncomfortable, because he knew this, that what he felt was not Love [i]yet[/i], and that even if it was, a possible future might have him break Ein's heart if he reached out to someone more shattered than the latter. [i]Abbadon - The pitiable enemy. He who can still be redeemed.[/i]

As Eliza greeted Andre, Pablo looked at Ein before trying to introduce himself. "Umm... My name is Pablo Legazpi and we'll be working together. My sword can reveal hidden truths as well as tap into primordial energies - Apparently, Truth and Primordial Energy share the same source."

A faint smile as Eliza finished her introductions. "I'm happy to meet you."

That was sincere.

[hr]

Eliza Lopez spoke to Andre, "Greetings, Andre Dias. I am Sargeant First Class Eliza Lopez, assigned to protect prime asset Pablo Legazpi as well as those associated with him. These now include you and your ward. Now, if you could follow me into the ship..."

As she received their responses, then led the way, she would begin some exposition, "I am an Arms Master as well, with a sword that can generate fire and with a moment's concentration, 'modulate' said fire not to inflict physical damage to people I do not wish to harm. I am also a licensed babysitter with experience in taking care of children and teenagers."

A chuckle, a signal she was trying to be humorous. "You've been brought here for your investigative skills, Mr. Dias, and those are going to be needed in the future. Operation: Symbiosis is a gordian knot of competing interests - Not all of them are interested in peace or even stability. And I'm not even including the people who want the expedition to fail."

As they walked on to the transport's residential quarters, Eliza continued, "You've heard rumors that the Operation is a front for a large social experiment on whether Arms Masters and normal people can actually live in harmony and that if it fails, thousands of wealthy and influential people will give up on the concept of peace." She paused, turned around, and looked at them. "Those rumors are true, as Pablo can attest."

They finally reached a set of rooms with numbers that matched keys they had been given beforehand. "And we're here; your quarters."

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