>>23320620

Still maintaining eye contact with one another, Elpeo begins to feel goosebumps rising on her skin as Asherah starts to lift her dirtied shirt away.

>Elpeo: H-hey! I didn't invite you to take a bath with me! Its already cold, so you can have that if you-
>Asherah: I am not a parasite. When I would feel really lonely, I just wanted to listen to the most pleasant sound in the whole universe...a heartbeat.

Unlike the others aboard the ship, Elpeo feels a great uneasiness by being around Asherah.

>Asherah: Its all going to be ok.
>Elpeo: Your creeping me out! W-why don't you just crawl back where ever you were hiding and-
>Asherah: T-take as much as you want.

Without any hesitation, Asherah tries move her arm behind Elpeo's head into a cradling motion. Unable to understand what is happening, Elpeo starts to flap her hands to free herself, only to be gently tripped over as Asherah pulls her head back to lay on her lap.

>Elpeo: J-Judau?! Someone?! Emma?! A-aaah!

Meanwhile outside the Argama, Rommel's crippled Dwadge Custom slumps over from the damage done to it.

>Rommel: In the end...I died serving loyally...
>Judau: You moron! Why throw your lives away like this?! If you haven't of come, you would still be-

Before Judau can finish, Rommel's machine detonates.

[Desert Rommel and Karahan have died. All pilots aboard the Argama have gained +50 EXP]

>Elle: Judau, you alright?
>Judau:...Something feel wrong to you? Almost like-
>Emma: Good work out there. We are not detecting any further signals.
>Judau: Emma, can you check on that Mineva girl for me? Just, uh...take it easy on her.
>Emma: Did she do something again? That child is testing everyone's patience.

Entering into Elpeo's temporary room, Emma prepares to scold the girl at the sight of the makeshift bath, just to gasp at the sight of Elpeo sitting naked on the floor, a small trickle of blood dried on her lip.

>Emma: Did you hurt yourself? Show me where you-
>Elpeo: I'm sorry...!