Author Notes:
Phew~! This OBOM chapter is a bit of a lore dump, I guess? However, if those of you who are familiar with RM and GSS, and the lesser known but once existed R.O.B that I tried to pen down and fail miserably, then congrats, you're old... Mentally speaking, of course. Old as you are though, you're one legit badass follower of mine to have understand the references that only my OGs will understand.
For that, I salute those that get it with all my heart and soul.
Now then, onto the usual stuff... Shoutout to Corporal balmung1989 who has rejoined the service once more. Additionally, a warm welcome to Private Zevi Asner, who is the newest to hop aboard the fun train!
Remember, you can enjoy Early Access benefits on my Patreon, and you can even hang out in Discord, if you're up for it, by visiting these links!
https://www.patreon.com/Heartbreak117
https://discord.gg/cVZxJ29ruh
Lastly, enjoy the pictures!
Umbra: https://postimg.cc/v17QZvWx
Aurea: https://postimg.cc/qtckvG8n
Reizen: https://postimg.cc/67V9phdn
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I wake up with a killer headache.
Yup, seems to me that this body of ours, being a complete blank slate in terms of alcohol tolerance, is now being ravaged by the menace that is hangover migraine. While it's fortunate that Aurea won't be able to feel the throbbing annoyance with me cutting that sensation out of our mental link, I alone will have to suffer through the consequences of my own doing.
Sitting up on the bed, I fight through the alcohol-induced dizziness as I massage my temple.
"Really shouldn't have opened that third bottle... Note to self, stay away from alcoholic temptation to the best of my ability."
[U-Umbra, maybe you should sleep for a bit more...] Aurea tentatively suggests, exuding her concern over our mental link in the hope that it will ease my headache.
[I'll live, Aurea. This is still better than catching an actual cold or something.] I give my Other Me a mental smile and a pat on her head.
It's at this point that I can feel the rustling of the clothes from behind me. A beat later, I can feel a pair of hands reaching over my shoulders to rub my forehead gently.
"Morning, Reizen..." I greet my bedmate, letting out a soft exhale of relief as her cool fingers work their magic. "Sorry that you have to do this, first thing in the morning.
"Good morning, Umbra. I presume that you weren't a drinker, considering your reaction just now." Reizen says, continuing her administration that is sure to do me wonder, allowing me to relax my tensed brows.
"Something like that... Before you came to, I was all alone on this island. Couldn't really risk being intoxicated when you have no idea what's out there..." I shrug slowly, being mindful not to make my hangover worse by moving too suddenly.
Reizen hums her acknowledgement before asking. "Where did you get those wine bottles anyway? I recognize the places that produced them, but it's hard to believe they somehow ventured to this planet, being out of place and time."
I smile wryly. "That's gonna be a long story, and it kinda pertains to my little secret."
"Ah, in that case, you don't have to divulge anything that will make you uncomfortable." Reizen nods easily enough, reining back her curiosity. "Girls like us need to have a secret or two... Or at least that's what my Mom tends to say."
Hearing the wistful tone in Reizen's voice when she mentions her mother, I reach out a hand to rest on her own in a comforting gesture. I then add.
"It's not like it's something you won't figure out in the future, if we are to stick together for long. Once I have recovered from this hangover and reorganized my thoughts, I will tell you all about who we are and why we're here."
"... We? Do you mean to include Alpha?" Reizen leans over my shoulder, raising an eyebrow as if asking for further clarification.
I giggle before saying.
"You'll understand soon enough. For now, let's see if I can make some breakfast for three. Thanks for the massage, Reizen."
"You're welcome, Umbra. Do you want me to help make breakfast? Since you basically are taking me in, it will be rude of me to let you do everything in the... Motorhome." Reizen offers in a willing and hopeful tone.
Clearly, she is a very polite, caring, and sincere girl, from what I have seen of her so far. The fact that she carried me to sleep last night and did nothing else, other than seeking cuddles for comfort, says a lot about her integrity. Call it a gut feeling, but Reizen can be trusted, as long as our moral compass aligns.
I nod slowly before standing up for a good morning stretch by the bedside.
"... Alright, you mind helping me prepare the fresh ingredients then? Got some filleted meat that needs to be washed first before I can use it to make some sandwiches. We can talk more about my past, our present, and your future over breakfast."
"I understand." Reizen nods before standing up to my height.
Now that I see her closer, Reizen sure has a killer body... Those thighs and bosom have been quite comforting as cushions, last night.
[Umbra... Bad.] Aurea gently admonishes my hidden appreciation of Reizen's exotic beauty.
[Tehe, I got caught red-handed by my Other Me. That said, you can't deny Reizen is the epitome of Snow White beauty. It's rare to see someone with Reizen's level of charm in our two lifetimes.]
[... That's true. I think only my benefactor can compare to Reizen.] Aurea nods repeatedly.
[Yeah... Perhaps they both can meet in the future and compare their beauty to one another. That would be a sight to behold.] I mentally giggle at the thought before filing the possibility away.
"Where do you keep your fresh ingredients, Umbra?" Reizen asks after she inspects the household appliances the Rover has.
I smile softly.
"Here, let me show you. Some of this stuff may be antiquated compared to what you have on the Voyager, but the stuff they do should be the same, and you should be able to familiarize yourself with it after a couple of times. Now this is the Rover's cold storage for food supplies. There are separate compartments for washed and unwashed stuff...
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After some time, with Reizen's help, we manage to set up an open-air breakfast. The two of us human girls each have a hearty plate of meat and veggie sandwiches, while Alpha has a veritable bowl for itself. During breakfast, we eat, drink, and chat, much like yesterday's lunch-turn-evening-drinking-party. This time around, however, I do most of the explaining while Reizen fills me with questions wherever she requires some clarification.
Eventually, I regale Reizen with the tale of Aurea and me, and how we were unfortunate with being blessed with a System by the Bartender that put me into Aurea's body. Reizen has this to say.
"You said the Bartender's name is Viola?"
"That's what you're focusing on first?" I ask with an amused raising of my eyebrow as I nurse my mug of water.
Reizen nods, appearing quite serious when she leans over the table and closer to me with her hands in the opening.
"Although this information is not well-known in the Eternal Reich, the archive of the Eternal Reich's Yggdrasil Pantheon indicates that the only Divine that fits your unfathomable description and bears the same name is the Primordial Void Goddess. The Primordial Void Goddess is also the singular most supreme Divine in our religion. In fact, she's the starting point of everything as we know it: stellar body, other Gods and Goddesses, and even the Omniverse as a whole. So to say that you, Umbra, and the other you, Aurea, have been lucky... That's a gross understatement of the century."
Both Aurea and I gulp upon hearing Reizen's brief description. Although it's not something we haven't figured out, Reizen's explanation really hit the facts home.
"Hah... That does explain why the System tends to reward Aurea and me with stuff related to the Eternal Reich. Viola is literally the patron Goddess of your space-faring civilization." I say with a wry smile before downing my mug of water to sate my parched throat.
Reizen nods at my conjecture. "Now that this matter has come to light, it only reinforces my resolve to stay with you for the future to come. It's both my duty as a citizen and a soldier of the Eternal Reich to protect someone blessed by our Patron Goddess."
Reizen stops to think with her eyes closed before adding.
"Were it possible, the entire Voyager crew, under my Mother's command, would have been your escorts. But as the matter stands..."
Reizen stands up before moving to my side. She then kneels on one knee, with her right hand forming a fist over her heart, head bowed, and eyes closed.
"I, Reizen Garrett, a cadet of the RAVEN Program, pledge my allegiance to Aurea and Umbra, the Primordial Void Goddess' blessed individuals. Come Hell or high water, through thick and thin, I will protect and serve Aurea and Umbra on behalf of the Eternal Reich and the Yggdrasil Pantheon. May the Primordial Void Goddess witness my vow, and may it remain forever true."
Under Aurea's and my shocked gazes, Reizen looks up at me with her pale blue eyes shining a determined light. "Aurea, and Umbra, will you accept my pledge of allegiance?"
In response, Aurea can only chuckle nervously inside my head, whereas I smile wryly. Still, being confronted with such a deep oath... Pragmatically speaking, both Aurea and I have no business denying Reizen's conviction. Emotionally, though, neither of us can find it in our hearts to decline Reizen.
For all her calmness, Reizen is traumatized just like Aurea. Both Aurea and I know well that, more than anything, Reizen is latching onto this opportunity as her new reason to exist. Without the solid link that is this vow she made, Reizen herself may one day drift aimlessly before fading into obscurity, being totally disconnected from the life she used to know.
So, with Aurea's encouragement, I move from my seat to help Reizen back on her feet. I nod slowly while patting away the dirt that clings to Reizen's bodysuit.
"Aurea and I have felt your sincerity, and we accept your pledge. But Reizen, remember this well..." For some reason, I find myself leaning into hug Reizen. I do so on behalf of Aurea as well. "You are our friend, our important friend. So please, do not alienate yourself into the role of a servant or a bodyguard. It will make us all sad and lonely..."
Reizen tenses for a bit at the suddenness of the hug. She doesn't really know how to react until I remind her that she should hug me back by squeezing her huggable form a couple of times. With a minor blush on her pale cheeks, Reizen nods, replying.
"I understand your wish... Don't worry, I won't distance myself just because I make a pledge like that. If possible, I want to become your trusted friend and partner, not unlike your rapport with Alpha over there."
"That can be arranged." I pull back, smiling. "Still, I can't quite believe this is what this breakfast amounts to right after my hangover. Life sure works in mysterious ways."
Reizen giggles wryly, pulling on her wealth of experience as a person of the magical Eternal Reich.
"You have no idea, Umbra. You have no idea... That said, you can chalk it up to the simpler reason that I am used to taking the initiative whenever I am set on something. After all, I am a trained Cadet. I'm military, so I have to be decisive on matters like this."
I hum, accepting her explanation before tilting my head. "Wait, you trust my words that easily?"
Reizen answers with a calm smile.
"First, you have no reason to lie to someone like me for something like this. Second, of all the things you could have said, you said something that only someone from the Eternal Reich, namely me, could understand. I highly doubt any of the databanks in the Voyager could provide you with such vivid details for some of the stuff you told me."
I chuckle, acknowledging her words. "Fair enough. Anyway, should we stop with the hug? I know for a fact that Alpha is eyeing us as if there's something wrong with our heads."
Reizen tilts her head before she actually winks at me. "I don't know, Umbra... I have realized since yesterday that holding you can be quite soothing."
I roll my eyes.
"Come on, Reizen. You do realize we can do this later, as there's only a single bed in the Rover. We still have much to do for the next few days, what's with scavenging and depositing the entirety of the Voyager's wreckage inside the System's Inventory..."
Reizen giggles softly before slowly pulling away from our hug. "Ok, tonight it is then..."
"Now, what do you need my help with? If anything, I am positively confident in both my intellect and prowess."