((Collab Post between [@Shadowsaint007] and [@Letter Bee].))

Saran sets down the hot food for the two, taking notice of the two. She had picked this table for… well, she’s not entirely sure, to be honest. Something told her to start there. She had originally been scheduled for a charity drive, but that had been canceled at the last second. As such, she took advantage of the food distribution to meet up with the refugees and asylum seekers. She had been meaning to see them, see how they were doing, but it seems they’re doing better at the moment, given they had a few days to relax and recover their strength.

“Hello, my name’s Saran, how are you doing?” she asks sweetly. “How has everything been here?”

Daniel waved hi and said, “I’m doing well! Kazuki is doing so too!”

He gestured over to the taller Mobile Suit Pilot, who was reading some books lent to him by one of the staff assigned to watch over the refugees. As the latter noticed Saran’s presence, he blinked, then walked over to Saran and said, “You must be Lady Saran. Your music… It’s good. For all my life, I’ve only heard patriotic anthems and elevator music, as well as snatches of songs by my elders and members of other… occupations.”

Then he introduced himself as “Kazuki Yamagata, at your service. I rescued Daniel.”

Saran gives a warm smile at Daniel’s cheerfulness. It’s good to see he’s in high spirits; she’s heard the rumors, and her father hadn’t told her much, she’s imagining the worst.

“It’s good to hear you’re doing alright,” she says sincerely.

Kazuki’s words are a pleasant surprise.

“Why thank you, it means a lot to me,” she says, slightly abashed. She can only guess what Kazuki meant by ‘other occupations’. “It’s good to see you’re doing alright…”

The bodyguards study the two boys impassively, occasionally looking around in case of any threats. There were none at the moment, but it’s their job to be vigilant regarding their charge’s safety.

“So where are you from?” she asks them. “Ganymede, Galileo, Io or Jupiter orbit?”

Daniel raised his hand first, then said, “Only Kazuki’s Jovian - I’m from Earth!”

He then began eating while Kazuki clarified, “Daniel was abducted by slavers, sold to Jupiter, and tested for Newtype potential. There was… pain involved. I’m glad he seems to be all right, though.”

There was an inflection of guilt in the Pilot’s voice, as though he felt it was his fault.

Saran is surprised by Daniel’s origin, and looks over sympathetically at the boy, studying his face, trying to see if he’s genuinely alright.

She looks at Kazuki for a bit.

“What was your job?” she asks. “What did you do before you defected?”

Kazuki said, “I was his prison guard. Also a mobile suit pilot, allegedly an elite one. I decided to help various rebels bust him out because, well, he’s a good kid; he told me about how beautiful things were outside of where I was raised.”

She listens to Kazuki intently, then gives him a warm, friendly smile.

“Then it wasn’t your fault,” she says encouragingly. “You didn’t go out hunting him, you weren’t the one who captured him. And you weren’t the one who put him in there. It’s not your fault; you didn’t know better. And when you did, you gave him his freedom. That’s something to be proud of.”

She turns to Daniel.

“Where’s your family? Are they alright?” she asks in concern.

Daniel responded with, “They evacuated in time. But to be honest, I don’t know where they are; we got separated. But my last name is Iskander-Tripp, if that helps. My Dad is named Deuel, and my Mom is named Maria!”

Saran nods in sympathy.

“Sadly, I don’t know if they’re here,” she replies sadly. “I’ll try and send a message that you’re here. My fa- I mean, I know some contacts who can help, I’m sure of it.

“Don’t worry, you’re safe here. We’ll try and get you home safe, I promise.

“So what will you do now? Where do you want to go?” she asks them.

“Back to Earth,” Daniel said matter-of-factly. “My family’s alive; I know it. But if that’s not possible yet, remember, most people from Earth who travel to Space are scholars; I can earn my keep…”

“Look, that won’t be necessary,” she says, trying to cheer him up. “By Mallet City Civil Rights accords, you’re classified as a refugee and asylum-seeker. It’s up to us to send you back home safely, and we’ll try to arrange that the best we can. Don’t lose hope.”

“What about you, Kazuki?” she asks the older boy. “Where will you go from here?”

Kazuki mused, “I want to come with him. Maybe find a job that does not involve killing people.”

Saran gives him a sympathetic look.

“Was… was there any dreams you had before? Any aspirations or desires before you came here?” she asks. “Anything at all?”

She shakes her head.

“Nevermind, she says, her cheerful tone returning. “The world’s a big place, I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll be good at, hopefully it’ll be something you enjoy.”

She was thinking of what else to say when one of her bodyguards tapped her on the shoulder.

“Sorry, Miss Lantheil, it’s time to leave,” he says. “We have to get you home.”

Saran nods, and turns to give the two boys an apologetic look.

“Sorry, I… I have to go now,” she explains. “But I’ll be back again, hopefully. Take care you two, alright?”

She gets up, and gets going, followed by her security detail.