Prepare to Drop

So, let me just sum this up. I'm in the middle of no where, on a

[ Short pause ]

an ocean liner, on God only knows what planet, with a bunch of people from God only knows where?

Fantastic.

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Yeh catch on fast, yabber.

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I try.

[ That? That he actually has to dignify with typing ellipses. ]

... and I've been called a lot of things, but 'yabber' is a new one on me.

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It means yer yappin' too much, yeh boor'ead.

[How dare you call him on his ~~inexplicable~~ way of speaking.]

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Gee, everyone else complains about how little I talk.

[ What can he say? His squad's resident jackass must have infected him with his painful bluntness. ]

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And yet here yeh are, askin' about what I just told yeh and parrotin' it back at me. Whot are yeh, thick or somethin'?

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Nope. Just really lost, apparently.

[ This is so embarrassing. ]

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Get used to it, 'cause that ain't gonna change anytime soon.

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Fantastic. I guess I'll just get started on that sitting around and twiddling my thumbs thing.

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I'm from Japan.

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Really? Glad to hear there's at least one Earther here.

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There are quite a few of us. Americans, mostly.

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Good, good.

I don't guess you know more than my unhelpful friend? Like maybe a way to get home?

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If there's a way to get home, I don't know it.

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Damn. But I really can't stay here. I was in the middle of something.

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So was I. That was 10 months ago.

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Seriously? So I'm just stuck here, while God knows what happens to my squadmates?

[ Worst. Day. Ever. ]

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"Squadmates?"

[This is relevant to the Major's interests.]

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Yes, squadmates. We were in the middle of a combat zone.

[ Regardless of interest, that's probably all he has to say on the matter. ]

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I see.

I'm sorry.

[He's not in a position to appreciate how extraordinary getting sympathy from Kusanagi is, but maybe he'll look back in surprise one of these days.]

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Thanks. They're a tough bunch, though. Hope they can handle themselves without me.

[ After what happened at New Jerusalem, the Rookie got a little of the sympathy and the pity. But here? It's not quite so bad. ]

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Still. That's a bad time to get taken.

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Yeah. I definitely have to agree with you.

Everyone calls me Rookie, by the way.

[ Having an entire conversation without introducing himself. Geeze. ]

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[She laughs, not that he can hear it.]

Everyone calls me the Major.

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