...and Trinia

You join Menrva in the sky and match your speed with hers. She speaks a bit softer now that the fight is over. "That was pretty clever. I'll have to be more careful next time."

"Next time," you ask. "You mean I'll have to fight you again?"

She laughs, something between a chuckle and a giggle. "I really hope not. I meant for the next time I go into battle. Though now that Lady Jehuty is on our side, hopefully Earth will just give up. Her reputation is pretty fearsome down there."

"You really like this Frame, don't you?"

"Don't call her 'this Frame'. Orbital Frame Jehuty is the pinnacle of technology and artificial intelligence. If you're going to be her runner, show her some respect." She actually sounds offended that she needed to tell you that.

"Sorry. Why such reverence for Jehuty? It seems like you like Jehuty more than your own Frame."

"Jehuty is...very special to me."

"Are you a previous runner?"

"Of course not. If I could have been Lady Jehuty's runner, I'd never have given her up! No, it's...it's complicated."

"If you can explain it in the time it'll take to get where we're going, I'm willing to listen, Menrva."

"Huh? You mean me?"

"Your name is Menrva, isn't it? Thats what your commander called you."

"Oh. No, Menrva is my Orbital Frame. My name is Trinia Pherse. Glad to meet you!"

"Same here." You give her your name, which makes her laugh again, this time more of a titter. Trinia repeats your name and adds 'I kinda like that'. "So now that I'm with the MLDF, what will I be doing?"

"The MLDF is dedicated to throwing off the shackles of Earth's oppression. We've lived in their shadow long enough, its time to gain our independence. As our comrade, you'll be helping us do just that. Sometimes we do things that seem a little...shady, but it's all for the greater good and we really try not to hurt people. Every once in a while, we might go help other revolutionaries. And sometimes, we do raids on Earth bases here on Mars. That's what we were doing when you found us." A pause. "By the way, did you really get a distress call?"

You almost answer when ADA displays text on your HUD. [Only I am aware of the nature of this existence. I do not recommend telling others that they are, by your standards, not real.] "I..saw about it on the news while searching for some Metatron ore. Gotta keep Jehuty in good condition, after all." Another pause, partly to let Trinia appreciate your upkeep of her favorite Frame. "Wait a minute, you guys were raiding a base? The news said you were defending the city."

Trinia laughs as though she knows a secret. "I think I'll let someone else explain that one."