"Welcome Home."

“You didn’t actually… kill the Dragovitians did you? My mother spoke about you like you were a decent person.” “How nice of your mother.” Atlas smiles. “To your question, I was the one who ended the !@#$ against them. I even gave the order for them to have their own Kingdom in their homeland. I didn’t order any genocides against any people.” Izuma sags a little in relief, “So Akimoto was misinformed then?” “So it seems.” Izuma sits next to Atlas in a chair, “Did you ever speak to or know my mom?” “Who would your mother be?” “Keni Oka” Izuma looks happy but also embarrassed at the same time. “Ah, the young spawn of Madam Oka. I never did have the pleasure of meeting her, I believe. Iwai was Prime Minister during my visits to Japan.” Izuma giggles a little, “I bet she’ll want to write your biography, she retired from being a reporter.” “With what happened to her Husband, I cannot blame her…” Atlas looks slightly ashamed. Izuma winces, looking sad, “Dad… was a bad person, I can definitely see that, but I don’t think he… deserved to die how he did.” “Did your mother ever tell you what happened?” “She said some of it, and I have slight flashes of memory of when the ElconAC took him from our house.” “So she didn’t tell you… Well, I believe you deserve to know what truly happened that night.” “I- I’m not sure if I do want to know. I know he was shot multiple times by a SpecOps force. Some of the rumors say it was Ajakon SpecOps-” “Well, I can’t force you to learn anything.” “Was it your nation that killed him?” Izuma doesn’t look upset, just thoughtful. “We thought him too dangerous to keep around. And between you and me, I felt horrible that that man was married to your mother, a man who never respected women in the slightest.” Izuma coughs a little, “If my mom sets her eyes on something, she doesn’t stop until she gets it, even if it’s unhealthy for her.” “That sounds like the Keni Oka I saw on the news.” Izuma nods, “She’s kind of cracked at chess.” “I never could play it. Sounds weird for a General but such are the times.” Izuma shrugs, “I usually don’t play chess because mom beats me too much.” “I’d say that that is simply mean but I’m in no position to grant parental advice.” Izuma laughs, “Are we going back to Niigata?” “Presumably so.” Izuma perks up, “Then you can be treated for cancer!!!” Atlas shrugs. “Shame. I’ve already grown attached to it.” “More like it got attached to you.” “I like you kiddo. I wish my government would have been filled with more people like you.” She shrugs, “People say that I’m a lot like my mom but I don’t like politics.” She pouts a little. “I most certainly cannot blame you.” Atlas laughs. “Just look at what they’ve done to me! They made me old!” Izuma perks up as she hears an active radar ping hit the sub again, “Is that still the Ajakon Naval **sholes up there?” “Presumably, yes.” She sighs, “The Iwate stayed quiet the entire time; I wonder why.” “Well, dear people of my crew? Would you please get moving so we don’t rot away out here on the sea?” Everyone starts working faster. The helmswoman from earlier speaks up, “Hey, I know I’m sick with that bug, but can I at least observe the navigation officer?” “Not like I can keep you here.” She gets up and walks to the bridge, and Izuma speaks up, “Did the sub only surface because you had a heart attack?” “I wouldn’t have surfaced it despite that.” “Why? The nation… Ajako… is a decent replacement of the Isles.” “Allow me to ask you a question in response.” Atlas tries to sit up a bit. “Imagine this. You’re in a long house with a few rooms and about 30 other people. Now, you are obligated to protect those people by all means necessary. And imagine that your neighbours, who don’t know you live there yet, all desperately want to either kill or capture you. Would you trust a knock on the front door?” Izuma shakes her head, “Not at all.” “And now you know why I didn’t wish to surface the ship.” Kinoshita sighs, “Miss Oka, Atlas.” She rubs her face, “From my point of view… you, were starting to go crazy, Atlas, you were yelling.” “I’m an emotional man, Kinoshita.” Atlas laughs nervously. “I got caught up in the moment.” Izuma sighs suddenly, “My phone just got pinged by the news, a reporter was able to get a snippet of what’s going on here.” Atlas laughs. “I’m not sure if I’m ready to be a media personality again.” Kinoshita shudders, “No thanks.” “I’d much rather live out my life here.” Atlas interjects. “Politics are a hassle I dealt with once. I don’t feel the need to do so again.” The sub pulls into port, escorted by a few Kodamas. “Atlas, they want to get you to the hospital as soon as possible.” Akimoto’s therapist spoke up, “They want to get you under a couple of surgeries and a lot of other stuff.” Atlas looks unhappy. “I’m not about to spend another year in a Japanese Hospital.” The therapist laughs, “Think 2-3 months, most of them recovery from the surgeries.” “Bah! I’ve been in a metal tube in the ocean for 7 years! Why would I want to wait 3 months in a hospital!? “ The therapist clucks her tongue, “Doctor’s orders, Atlas. Rest up.” “I’m sitting in a wheelchair usually, doc. I dare to believe I can move after the procedure with someone else’s help.” She sighs and nods as they prepare to meet the public.