Night fell, the crew did nothing but stay in the moon hut. They are all trying to accept the truth of Johnson's departure. Havoc just stared at the things he brought from the outside, and starts moving them around on the table with his fingers. Covie and Mysty sat by the sofa, while chatting with the survivor.
Just then, a door creak sound was heard. Havoc did not bother that much as he is already adapted to Rhea constantly walking in and out of her room. Except this time it wasn't Rhea or Covie nor Mysty. It was Albur, he is standing outside of his door.
The conversation pf Mysty and Covie slowly faded away. Havoc stopped playing with the stuffs. He was surprised to see Albur, his face have very obvious red marks and swollen eyes. Albur did not say anything, he just slowly walked to the dining table, and sat down.
Mysty and Covie met eyes and looked at Albur, worry filled their eyes. The survivor realized something and slowly walked back to his room. Albur placed his hands on the table, no sigh, no sound, just silence. Havoc scanned him, and slowly moved his chair nearer to Albur's.
"You don't look good. "
Albur didn't respond, he just kept staring at the table. Covie and Mysty stood up and slowly walked towards the table. Havoc stared at him for another quiet minute.
"It was 1 p.m. just then, now its already nine, 8 hours, you haven't eaten for so long, just because you can't accept the truth."
Albur lowered his head further, to the point it almost touch the table. Havoc sighed,
"Losing someone you deeply cared about is truly hurting ain't it?"
Albur looked up slowly, and sighed.
"He still have so much to live for....."
Everyone's eyes opened wide, Albur finally spoke. His voice trembles, and sounds very very dry.
"He just came out from a trauma, his trust issues, mental disorder.....still not yet fixed....."
Albur sniffed, Mysty slowly walked to him and patted his shoulder. Havoc dragged himself nearer to Albur, Covie flew near him.
"Its hard, I know, I understand that very well, but maybe not the same like you."
Covie slowly flew to Albur's room. She grabbed the 2 broken rifle pieces and joined them together and repaired them using the repair beam. She the flew next to Albur and let it sat it next to him.
"I know you're sad at John's death and mad at Rhea's decision. We are sad about Johnson too, we definitely understand you. I don't know when it will stop hurting for you, but it will eventually feel less painful."
Mysty and Havoc met eyes, and the 2 did the same with Covie.
"We'll leave you alone for a while, we know you need it. But we want you to know, if you need us, we're here. Just reach out, if you need any help."
"Remember, we are a team, and we will always be a team."
The surrounding returned to silence, the others met eyes and prepared to walk away and let Albur process first. But then,
"I'm thinking one thing..." Albur spoke, he breathed heavily.
"What if I'm the only one who went down there?"
The rest of the crew gasped lightly,
"Dude, you are not serious about this. You just know him for like 3 months! And the relationship between you 2 is already so deep?"
"Havoc, not now." Mysty stopped Havoc from talking more hurting words.
"What if I am the one who died? Surely the damage would be smaller...."
"Hey, don't say things like that, what do you mean now? Its like you're not important!"
"I am indeed not very important..."
The 3 gasped.
"Just...look. Mysty is an agile fighter that can keep dodging attacks and outrun enemies, she kept the crew together and stop fights between us. Covie heals everyone and gives great support, Rhea is a tank that is tanky and tough while she could also fire bombs, and make decisions we aren't smart enough to understand. Johnson...."
Albur suddenly stopped. And sighed.
"He would've killed 10 lifeforms when I just killed one."
"Now look at me, who am I? A blud that carries a rifle around and shoot enemies, attack, end. No high speed, no support, not tanky, not unpredictable, just deals damage. That's what everyone is doing, I'm no one special...."
Albur slammed the table.
"For the bigger things and all kinds of stuff, my departure is surely minimum damage....."
Havoc slammed the table.
"Hey. Why are you like blaming yourself for Johnson's death? Who knows there will be a monster down there?"
"Yeah! Albur! What are you saying? We are meant to be a team! No one has minimun usage in the group! We are all teammates, friends, we help each other, not judged by your usefulness!"
"That is the most painful thing...you're blaming yourself for something that is not true!"
"But that is the truth!"
Albur stood up.
"Even Rhea said! I am the one that is the most undertrained! I basically do nothing but carry a rifle and attack! I... I couldn't even use the Prismatic Blade correctly! I...."
Albur slowly looked back down at the table, and sobbed.
"I'm..."
Mysty stared at Albur, her fist clenched harder and harder, until,
'Whack!'
Mysty landed a punch straight at Albur's face, Covie and Havoc was shocked, flabbergasted. Albur couldn't stand still, he managed to regain balance by leaning on the wall. Mysty panted as she looked at Albur, tears started running down her face.
"Do you think we stayed with you because of your rifle? Of course not! Why are you saying like you're useless? You're not!"
Mysty's fist clenched harder and shook, everyone stared at her in silence.
"Who was the one that helped John out and recruited him back? Its you! The one who saved me from my greatest fears? You! And that confident idiot..... stood in front of an eldritch god....we never thought could be beaten....it was you...."
Mysty choked in tears and slowly backed away.
Albur's mouth opened, but nothing came out.
"Why are you turning into someone I don't know anymore? Where is Albur.....?"
Mysty sniffed and lowered her fist, and turned around. Covie slowly floated to her. Havoc stared in total shock while Albur slowly digested every word Mysty said.
"You're not the only one who is sad about his death, you're never the only one...."
Mysty's fist couldn't stop trembling, she grabbed the fist with her other hand, and slowly walked to her room. Covie looked at her and turned around and looked at Havoc and Albur. Then, she sighed and flew away. Leaving the 2 boys at the dining table.
Havoc slowly turned his head towards Albur, and sighed.
"Happy?"
Albur touched his face, the punch hurts, but it is obviously holding back. He just stared at the floor, not knowing what to do.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Back in the room, Albur sat on the bed, because, that's what he could do now. Havoc unplugged himself from the C.L.A.R.E bot and plugged himself onto the rifle. The rifle sat beside Albur, the room is silent, only the sound of the fan at the ceiling can be heard.
Then, there was a knock on the door. Albur lifted his head and stared at the door.
"Who's that.....?"
The door creak opened, it is Rhea, standing by the door. Albur almost could not recognize it was her due to the bandages on her face, but when he noticed it was her, he immediately turned away.
Rhea sighed, and cleared her throat.
"Its time for the trial." She said.
Albur didn't respond, he just turned his whole body away.
"Let him rest, plus, you owe us explanations tomorrow."
Rhea just stared at Albur, and clicked her tongue. She slowly closed the door.
"By the way,"
Havoc spoke, Rhea, stopped closing the door, she stared at him.
"Force performance, is never good. It may have effects, but it is never significant."
Rhea looked at the ground, and sighed.
"If I didn't force him to start a trial he won't improve."
Rhea slammed the door shut.