Long time no see (Done) (Patreon)

But there was this one individual I remember the most; an RFC Lieutenant named Rolland Pierce, of perhaps 24 years, from Teesside. Pierce was tasked with teaching me to fly, how to bring the Hun down to the ground. We performed so well together that command paired us together throughout the war. But he treated me differently...

I remember one night after an exercise, he came to the barn I was housed in and asked if I wanted to play a game of chess with him. It was an odd request, but I obliged. We played four or five games before he had to turn in. I actually quite enjoyed myself. One day, he even asked if I would like to play football with him. Even though I was not as fast or limber as he, I still rather enjoyed myself. He even painted my face to make me seem 'more lifelike', as he says. He spoke to and treated me like he would another person. It made me feel... Good. Happy. 

One day, during what would be known as the Battle of Béthune, me and Pierce carried out an attack on a German supply line. The run was successful, but they saw us coming, and already had four Fokkers pursue us. Lest we lead them back to our base, Pierce and I turned to face them. We downed three, but I was shot down, and sent crashing into a forested area west of Béthune. I survived, but I was so badly damaged in the crash, I could not move. I remember, sitting there, thinking about Pierce, worried if he had made it or not. I sat there, day after day, waiting to be found... But no one came.

Years later, I'd wake up to this new world, restored, only to find that the war I had been built for had ended only six months after my crash... And that I had been there for 98 years. I cannot even begin to imagine how much has changed.

For the next two years, a group of human civilians helped repair me and reorient me with what happened in the world, and helped me track down Pierce and figure out what had happened to him... I find that he's interned at a Great War cemetary in Béthune. 

According to records, he was killed at some point during the Battle of the Lys, as they found his wreckage in the final days of the battle.

I didn't quite understand this feeling. But... It... Hurt. So very badly... I think Pierce mentioned it was called... Grief... Sadness... 

The worst part about all this being... I cannot visually express my feelings like newer... 'Aeros' can. Nor can I change my tone to that of a sad one. So people look at me for having a gleeful tone during a solemn occasion..."

Long time no see in more ways than one! For Mildred and her friend, and seeing Mildred again for the first time in a while too!

I meant to have this done and ready a bit sooner for Vet's/Remembrance Day, so folks in the UK could see it on the 11th rather than the 12th. But the day I'm on time for anything for the most part is the day a blue moon hovers over head. xP

Anyway, it's hard to believe that 100 years ago to this day, came an end to one of the worst and most destructive conflicts in human history, and the world was left forever radically changed, and set up for future conflicts.