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The hum of some machinery complimented the sickly skies around Azys Lla. Two Miqo'te were walking towards a pair of manacutters. The taller, red-haired one was turning over a shimmering lightning shard. The shorter, violet-haired one was carrying a large, slate-colored sphere in her arms. streaks of yellow lights faded in and out across its surface at a steady pace. The redhead looked over at his companion, concern writ on his face. "D'rena, must you really take this thing with us?"
D'rena's pale yellow eyes looked into his red ones. She was smiling wide. "Why wouldn't I? I can fix her right up, good as new."
"That's not-" he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Should you manage to repair the node, what would you do with it?"
"I'll find out when I get there," she looked back ahead; probably half of her view was obscured by the thing, "won't we, Allie?"
"Allie?" he knitted his brow.
"Yep, that's her name," D'rena said with confidence.
"You... named the thing-" he shook his head. "but you speak as if this project's already a success."
"It is, I'll just have to borrow some tools from the Crystarium, G'raha. I doubt they'd see much use otherwise." D'rena's tail remained high in the air as ever.
"So you have the tools accounted for, but what of the workshop? I'm doubtful Cid would let you take personal projects into the Ironworks."
"That's what the cellar is for."
"By the Twelve, she's thought of everything," G'raha muttered as his ears flattened. And then a flash of inspiration. "But what would Nero say?" He hardly remembered the man, but he has heard a few things of his involvement with D'rena.
She stopped. G'raha quietly celebrated his victory; but when she turned to look at him, her face was the brightest he's ever recalled seeing it. "He'll love it!" she practically screamed, almost causing G'raha to lose hold of the shard. "It'll be a couples' project!" She was bouncing on her feet before taking off in a sprint.
"Where are you going to fit that!?" he asked, with the answer already unfolding in front of his eyes. D'rena carelessly shoved the node into the manacutter before leaping onto the seat. She laid her feet on top of the node and started the engines. "Wait, we can come back for it later, that's not safe!" he yelled over the engines.
"You're right!" she yelled in reply. She reached into `a bag and produced a length of rope and expertly tied the node into place. She put her feet back where they were. "Thank you!" She waved and her small airship lifted off the ground and set off in the direction of the Habisphere Control where Alisaie was waiting for them. G'raha stood slack-jawed for a moment before starting his own manacutter. If there was one thing he had certainly forgotten about her in the intervening years, it was the madness bubbling up from the depths of her mind. He took some solace in the fact that Alisaie will soon suffer with him.