Dawnstar - Mirror World

She was just in her little dream world.

Tamilia could almost imagine it. It'd probably be in a dimly lit part of a thick forest with mostly trees and very little leaves. Dark earth pressed down to be smooth and dry. Just laying curled up in a nook between two roots, sleeping peacefully.

But that apparently wouldn't be the case.

There were voices. Most of them sounded female, and some droned and echoed that it was clear they were unnatural. But they were all asking one thing in general consensus; for her to wake up.
It was hard to ignore them. She was too weak to resist their calling; although Tamilia did note that they didn't sound too menacing or haunting.

So her eyes popped open.

Her vision was flooded with white light, forms looming all around her. As her vision began to clear, she could start to feel her body once again. The scent of grass mixed with something unpleasant and unnatural like tar wafted her nostrils. There were birds singing in the distance, loud metallic humming and groans ever present.

She was surrounded by people. One man that seemed just out of his teenage years, four women, two girls and...two things that defied what she knew that could exist. Something wanted to say familiarity, but fear and uncertainy dismissed the thought.

The people were all on their knees, crowded and bent over her; the things standing behind and watching. They seemed relieved that she awoke, some sighing in relief. An awkward moment of silence seemed to follow as her eyes darted to each of them, looking for some sort of answer.

It was when she was doing this two things jumped out of her. The man looked like someone she had seen somewhere before. And one of the women, too. Bits of her memories came together for one second. Two people she knew traveled together. They visited her. And they resembled the people in front of her. The man was a bit different, but the woman looked almost identical.

"Sophia...?"
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Everyone looked at Sophia straightaway.

"She knows your name?" Raju asked, clearly surprised.

Sophia was beyond words. "I...I don't know what this means..." She stammered. "I've never met this girl in my entire life."

The girl seemed to have tears welling up in her eyes as she bolted up straight, grabbing Sophia's shoulders.

"You promised that you'd come back...why didn't you come back?!" She started to sob, her face sinking into Sophia's shoulder.

"What are you talking about?" Sophia didn't move for a moment before one hand glided to comfort the girl by gently stroking her back. Her voice was gentle and soothing, but hinted confusion and surprise.

"Analysis clear. Subject believes you have met in the past." Buster droned. The hulking form of the siege driod remained immobile except the head, which turned towards Sophia. The three red circles on the head focused on the two.

The girl's crying started to quiet as she carefully looked up at Sophia, hurt in her eyes. "You promised...you and him." Her eyes looked to the ground, turning her face out of Sophia's body. "I can't remember everything. But...the two of you...were fighting something. He told me to stay put. You told me you would be back. You never came..."Tears ran down her cheeks again.
"Shush...it's all right." Sophia's strokes moved to the girl's head, her fingers running down the raven black hair.

"No, it's not all right! They're gone and I'm in a place with you and you don't even remember anything!" The girl cried. Her hands balled into fists, grasping at the sleeve's of Sophia's blouse.

"It's not all right. It's...not..." She broke down and started to cry again.

"Why not just leave them for the time being?" Yorina suggested. "I'm getting tired of this. We have things we need to do anyway."

"Really?" Shinako raised an eyebrow. "Got bored that fast?"

Yorina shrugged. "I can have enough drama in a soap opera. I don't need it in real life. Makes you grow old." She got up to her feet and started to saunter off. "I'll be back in the server room fixing things."

"I don't think that's right to call this drama. Well...not stressful unpleasant drama to us, at least." Haley's hand slid to her knees as she scooted over next to Sophia, observing the girl.

Haley had still been adjusting to things since she had been reunited with Raju and Shinako and becoming acquainted with his new companions. Dawnstar's controls hadn't made it that difficult to fly, and she welcomed the challenge. It certainly beat carrying pails of water and other various farm work for three months.

She was slender and somewhat well-endowed, with long light brown hair and hazel eyes. She had a snug black pants with gray boots, a white vest and an orange jacket with black trim.

"It's all right, you don't have to cry." Haley tried to offer her consolation, touching the girl's arm. "What's your name?"

The girl looked at her, truly perplexed. "I'm...Tamilia..."