The maintenance room at the Ark Express Terminal felt smaller with the weight of Diesel's confession hanging in the air. Arthur watched her, the usually vibrant Nikke with her dark hair and cheerful rail uniform now seeming diminished, like a spark dimmed by storm clouds. He had come here on a whim, drawn by the news broadcast and a sense of solidarity, but now it felt like fate had steered him into the heart of her unresolved grief.
"You're serious about coming to the memorial?" Diesel asked, her voice pulling him back. She stood up from the crate, brushing off her uniform as if to shake away the vulnerability.
Arthur nodded, his tactical coat shifting with the movement. "Absolutely. The Outpost can run without me for a day. Besides, I've got my own ghosts to honor." He thought of Marian, the corrupted Nikke whose fate twisted in his mind like a thorn.
Diesel's eyes lit up a fraction, the fatigue easing. "Well, if you're here now, might as well make the most of it. The terminal's buzzing today—lots of prep for tomorrow. Want to grab something from the vendors? I could use a distraction."
They stepped out into the terminal's lively chaos. Platforms hummed with arriving trains, passengers weaving through like threads in a loom. Vendors hawked snacks and trinkets, the air thick with the scent of synthetic street food.
As they wandered, Diesel's mood lifted, her cheerful demeanor resurfacing like sunlight breaking through clouds. They paused at a stall selling colorful confections, and she bought a handful of wrapped candies, popping one into her mouth with a grin. "Try one, Commander. They're supposed to taste like pre-war strawberries. Close enough to fool you."
Arthur accepted, the sweetness exploding on his tongue. "Not bad. Reminds me of Outer Rim markets—always something sweet to mask the grit."
Their path led them to a quieter plaza adjacent to the terminal, where a group of children played in an open space marked with chalk drawings of tracks and trains. The kids, no older than ten, were enacting some elaborate game, shouting commands and laughing. Diesel's face softened at the sight.
"Ark Rangers," she explained, a nostalgic smile playing on her lips. "It's a game kids play—pretending to be train guardians fighting off imaginary Raptures. I used to play it with... well, anyway, let's join them. It'll be fun!"
Before Arthur could protest, Diesel bounded over, her energy infectious. The three children—a boy with tousled hair and two girls with matching braids—looked up in surprise, then delight.
"Hey, can we play?" Diesel asked, crouching to their level. "I'm Strawberry Sis, the best ranger around!"
The boy grinned. "Sure! But we need more players. Who's he?" He pointed at Arthur, who stood awkwardly at the edge.
Diesel glanced back, mischief in her eyes. "That's Elevator Bro. He's the Ark's mightiest elevator—transports rangers up and down to fight the bad guys!"
The kids burst into giggles, and Arthur raised an eyebrow but played along, sensing the lightness it brought her. "Elevator at your service," he said, deepening his voice comically. "Ding! Going up?"
The game unfolded in joyful chaos. The children assigned roles: one girl was the engineer, the boy the captain, and the other girl the scout. Diesel dove in as their big sister figure, directing pretend battles against chalk-drawn monsters. Arthur, as the elevator, was mostly stationary, but the kids clambered around him, pretending to ride up to higher levels.
"Elevator Bro, take us to the top floor!" the boy shouted, tugging at Arthur's coat.
Arthur obliged, bending down to hoist the child onto his shoulders, careful with his prosthetic arms' strength. The boy whooped in delight, firing imaginary shots at invisible foes. The girls followed suit, and soon Arthur was lifting them one by one, spinning gently to simulate movement. Diesel watched, laughing, her earlier shadows forgotten in the moment.
"You're a natural," she called, as the kids piled on him. "But elevators don't talk, remember? Shh!"
Arthur mimed zipping his lips, earning more laughter. He noted how the children gravitated to Diesel, treating her like a beloved sibling, sharing secrets and high-fives. It was clear she had a gift for it, her warmth drawing them in effortlessly.
As the sun dipped lower—simulated in the Ark's artificial lighting—the kids' parents called them home. "Thanks, Strawberry Sis and Elevator Bro!" they chorused, waving goodbye.
One of the girls pressed a candy into Arthur's hand. "For being the best elevator ever!"
Diesel waved until they were out of sight, then turned to Arthur, her expression soft. "That was fun. You're good with kids—didn't expect that from a tough Outer Rim commander."
He pocketed the candy, smiling. "Surprises all around. You were amazing with them. Like a big sister for real."
They found a bench nearby, the terminal's bustle fading into background noise. Diesel unwrapped another candy, staring at it thoughtfully. "I love kids. Always have. It comes from my little brother. He was everything to me—energetic, full of dreams. We'd play games just like that."
Arthur sat beside her, sensing the shift. "Was? The attack?"
She nodded, her voice steady but laced with old pain. "Yeah. We both died that day on the AFX train. Heavenly Ascension... they didn't care about civilians. Just wanted to make a statement. I was revived as a Nikke, but he... he's gone for good. The trauma feels distant now, like a faded scar. But sometimes it aches."
"I'm sorry," Arthur said quietly. "If you need to talk about it, I'm here. No judgment."
Diesel took a deep breath, meeting his gaze. "Actually, yeah. I do. That day, we had the whole afternoon planned. First stop: Choo Choo Splendamin from the Royal Road Station. It's this special treat—sweet, fizzy, only sold there. My brother had never tried it and was begging. Then, he wanted Deputy Chief Andersen's autograph. Kid idolized him, dreamed of being a commander someday."
Arthur chuckled softly. "Andersen? He's a legend, alright. Did you find him?"
"Ha, no. He's not exactly easy to track down. I remember asking my brother if he thought all commanders were like that—tall, heroic. You know, I used to wonder if you looked up to him too, back when you were little."
"Outer Rim kid here," Arthur reminded her. "We didn't hear much about Ark heroes. Survival was the game."
Diesel tilted her head, studying him. "True. But my brother... if he'd lived, he'd be about your age now. Twenty-eight, give or take. And handsome, too. Actually..." She leaned closer, eyes narrowing playfully. "You two look more alike than I realized. Same build, that determined jaw. Weird, huh?"
"Hey," she said suddenly, a teasing lilt in her voice. "Call me 'Big Sis.' Just once. For old times' sake."
He hesitated, the request catching him off guard. "Big Sis? I'm not sure..."
"Come on! Please? It'll help me feel like I'm back there, with him. No big deal."
Arthur sighed, indulging her with a wry smile. "Alright, Big Sis. Happy now?"
Diesel whipped around, her face a mask of surprise, cheeks flushing. She froze, then laughed awkwardly. "Whoa, okay, you don't have to do that anymore. That... that freaked me out a bit. Sounded too real."
He raised an eyebrow. "Too much?"
She shook her head, composing herself. "No, it's just... I get why Brid worries about me now. I'm not over it. Losing him, the attack—it's why I sleep through the memorials every year. Force myself to. Facing it head-on... it's terrifying. But tomorrow, with you there, maybe I can finally do it."
Arthur placed a hand on her shoulder, his prosthetic touch gentle yet firm. "You will. And I'll be right beside you. We're in this together."
As they walked back to the station, the air between them charged with newfound closeness. Diesel glanced at him sidelong, her usual cheer tempered with gratitude. "Thanks for today, Arthur. For listening, for playing along. Means more than you know."
Back at the terminal, Brid and Soline were wrapping up duties. Brid eyed them curiously. "Productive day?"
Diesel grinned. "The best. Commander's joining us tomorrow."
Soline smiled faintly. "Good. We could use the support."
As Arthur prepared to head back to the Outpost, Diesel pulled him aside. "See you at the plaza. And... thanks again, Elevator Bro."
He chuckled. "Anytime, Strawberry Sis."
At the Outpost, Rapi greeted him, her red eyes sharp with concern. "Commander, everything alright? Shifty mentioned the terminal visit."
"Fine," he assured her. "Just building bridges. Tomorrow's the memorial—Infinity Rail needs us."
She nodded, understanding. "Then we'll be there."
As night fell over the Outpost, Arthur lay in his quarters, the weight of leadership pressing. Diesel's story echoed in his mind, mirroring his own losses. The path ahead twisted with conspiracies, but with allies like her, hope flickered brighter.