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Aziel turned ever so slightly, one part of his senses minding the skies above, the other trying to expect some reaction from the mysterious interloper.
"The military had detected a malfunction on unit Lynx's systems and figured that either you..." Gensy said, pointing at Aziel "had destroyed Panzer Lynx or that you..." this time she nodded at Faye "had become rogue as well"
"You're saying that you'll turn us in?" Faye asked, still griping the handgun to her side, not letting go of Aziel.
Gensy raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I have not implied anything but what is logical. If you are to leave the ruins sector of the planet..." she said in her cold voice, devoid of emotion. Reaching from behind her, both Aziel and Faye tensed for what could this mysterious HUcaseal could be plotting.
She turned her hand towards them and opening it, they saw a small green tube with some small red warnings around both sides on her palm.
"...you will need one of these" Gensy finished.
"What is this?" asked Aziel, still feeling something strange around him.
"I know what this is! It's a special illegal telepipe made by an underground developer of technology... it lets one teleport to the Pioneer 2 undetected and whereever on the ship one chooses..." she then looked at the cold eyes staring at her and asked "but, why?"
Gensy shrugged. She honestly didn't know but she somehow, she felt it was the right thing to do.
"Take it... I will teleport back on my own and report that you two were nowhere in sight... lost or killed in the ruins"
Aziel looked at the telepipe and gazed Faye.
"You were after us, right?"
"Not quite..." she wanted to tell the Aziel unit about her own reasoning, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. Maybe he understood, and seeing Faye in his arms, she knew that he would, but...
Aziel felt that the stranger was fighting the urge of telling him the real reason, but he didn't push the topic into the conversation.
"Thank you..." he put his hand on her palm and for a second, Gensy felt strange. Looking into Aziel eyes, she just stood there transfixed, holding her hand out to them.
"Gensy" she said hurriedly.
"Gensy? That's your name?" seeing that she nodded as affirmation, Aziel said, smiling "Thank you, Gensy.. I owe you our lives"
Faye looked at Gensy and smiled, this wasn't going to be impossible, being able to escape, they might find somewhere in the Pioneer 2 to live and if bad came to worse, they could always could escape to Ragol... there were plenty of places one could hide from unwanted eyes.
"Me too, Gensy..." Faye smiled at her too and hugged Aziel even more "You can imagine what this means to us"
Gensy tried to talk, but words failed her... she felt flustered. She didn't know what came over her but before she could mutter anything, she saw some sparkles in the dark sky. These lights were falling down upon her, like shooting stars!
Aziel looked at Gensy's eyes turn to the sky and with a lightning quick movement, he lifting Faye off her feet with a stronger grip and jumped out of the way as the circles of light crashed down into the ground below, obliterating rocks and boulders into thin dust.
Gensy had leapt backwards, and producing her stafflike weapon, turned it on with a flick of the wrist. Suddenly, it elongated and several purple photon spikes and blades sprung into existence. She gripped the weapon with both hands and looking at the great figure hovering above them, waited for her opportunity.
Aziel didn't carry a weapon, but he would not lie down to die... not when he finally realized what the hell was that thing in the sky... at least, what one little detail his eye caught had given him a clue of the thing's identity. Looking quickly to his sides, he noticed the twin sabers' hilts lying on the ground, a few feet away. They still lied where he had been blasted by the monster's fire attack.
Faye looked up to the creature and with both hands on the grip of the gun, she aimed carefully. The monster glowed with spectral light all around it. She knew that for them to escape, for her and Aziel's life together, this creature had to die.
She bit her lip and aimed at the creature's topmost section, where the two great scythe-like arms joined a small yet armored torso on the top. She then froze as she saw the same thing Aziel had seen during the battle...
It had a red ring around one of its arms.
The creature made a sound akin to a great roar, but this time it sounded eerie, like a banshee wailing in the dead of the night.
Raising its two arms again, it focused energy into them and with a swift motion, pointed them downwards.
Everything on the floor was engulfed in white light. The very air ignited with strange power and erupted.
Gensy stood near Faye and shielding her, both closed their eyes and fell to their knees as the light subdued. Gensy felt weak... very weak... another blast like that and she would stop functioning, and maybe die before the emergency systems of her Hunter's teleportation device could activate itself. Looking at Faye, she wondered how would she escape that fate if the monster made another such attack.
Looking to her side, she noticed Aziel wasn't next to them. Quickly glancing side to side, she spotted him to her left, 20 feet away.
Gensy felt something inside of her turn, as she watched Aziel still standing, but wisps of smoke coming off of his body let her know that he was in his very last stand.
Faye yelled with all her strenght and pulled the trigger once, twice, thrice... And each time, the bullets just bounced off the armored, glowing body of the unholy creature. Stunned, Faye quickly fired row after row of highly charged bullets to the monster's body.
Each time a bullet perfectly hit the central spot of the abomination, it bounced off.
Faye was determined to fire away until the armor gave way, but one of her shots went stray and hit the creature on its underside.
Strangely enough, the bullet also ricocheted away. Then she realized the glow around the thing was the cause of its resilience to weapons... But the only way to hurt it probably meant it was impervious to everything but techniques... and the only Force had been whisked away to the Pioneer 2's infirmary when the rain of purple lights had hit everyone... she hoped.
She then thought... but if Vryce and Haruka did survive the blast and where sent to the infirmary for emergency care because of the emergency teleportation device all hunters carried... what would happen if the monster attacked once more and managed to get them all with its explosive powers?
She didn't carry a teleporter like that... what of her then? She would surely die here... and Aziel would be whisked to safety once more...
Still pointing at the monster in the air, she looked over her shoulder and saw Aziel.
Her eyes wide, she lowered the gun and opened her mouth...
"Keep it on your sights! I can still move and fight!" yelled Aziel back at the two of them. The last thing he needed is the monster to be able to act freely if the two female androids were paying attention to him instead of the enemy.
Gensy turned to look at the creature and gripped the staff even more tightly.
Faye clenched her teeth and holding her tears and urge to run to Aziel, she pointed the gun again at the airborne monster.
He raised both grips and flicked their blades on. The green glow of the weapon reflected off his battered, smoking armor.
His burnt face, smiled grimly and looking up, he decided to go all out against the one thing that prevented the people of the Pioneer 2 to finally find their home amongst the stars.
At that moment, the god of death and madness dived into its three minuscule enemies. Its body stopped glowing and lunging forward, it tried to stab mightily at the female warrior that stood defiantly with her staff to one side. She quickly sidestepped the blow, and turning about, she leapt into the thing's arm and twirled the weapon with force and cold efficiency.
As she mauled the sinewy arm, she grit her teeth as the photon blades cut muscle and bone. Splashes of dark ichor splattered her armor and felt hot upon her, but still she went on, dancing a deadly rhythm of cuts and slashes.
Rearing back, the monster cried out in intense pain as its severed arm fell off into ruin. It tried to slash at the other warrior, the one carrying two blades of deadly green energy.
The wailing arm came crashing down with intense force and the monster knew nothing would survive that.
Surprisingly, Aziel stopped the scythe-like blade with both sabers. The blow's pressure came crashing down on him and cracked the ground around him, sending gusts of dust around and about.
Angry sparks flew off the twin sabers in every direction. Showering Aziel's uncovered face, he looked at his foe with determination and with clenched teeth, he said:
"I will... set you free..." he gazed up to the monster "Rico!!!"
Aziel then, with his remaining strenght, crossed his twin sabers with such power, that the blade-like arm was cut in half.
Spinning in the air, the other part of the blade came crashing down to a side, stabbing the wounded earth and remaining still.
At that moment, Gensy gasped as she was twirling about with her staff. Stopping cold for just a moment, she was horrified at the revelation.
Faye closed her eyes and started to shoot, photon bullet hitting the thing's head again and again.
If this indeed was the terrible fate of Rico, she would make sure she would release her of it!
The bullets indeed found their mark this time, and the relentless hail of photon death made the creature back away.
Roaring in anger and pain, it tried to attack once more its enemies, but its only two physical weapons were destroyed.
Aziel then, taking advantage of its enemy's sudden stop in its attack, leaped towards it and stabbed both sabers at its chest. Using them to climb his way up, each stab made the monster shudder under it with fear and anguish.
Gensy tried to follow suit, but before she jumped the last step, the floating divine demon had backed up too far away to make a sure leap. Being denied the chance to finish it off, she gripped the hilt of the staff harder, almost snapping it in two.
Aziel knew he was alone and he couldn't have expected a more perfect way to end this... if the monster died and it plunged to the abyss below, it would only take his life, not anyone else's. He didn't want Gensy to die like that and Faye even less... he had hoped things had turned out differently.
He wanted to live with Faye far away, probably somewhere along the coasts of Ragol... someplace the government or the military would never come looking for them. He paused as he imagined himself and her living together, their lives as hunters behind.
His attention swayed for a moment and the god of death found its time to retaliate... When Aziel had paused to strike again, the severed right blade plunged deeply into the HUcast. Feeling a cold pain in his torax, the android gritted his teeth and had to let go of the twin sabers, which dropped into the inky blackness below.
His lower half of the body was completely severed from the waist down, and fell along his weapons.
With the force the monster that had absorbed Red Ring Rico's essence had made that blow, he was stuck onto its chest.
Faye's face was filled with horror. She stopped shooting and tried to walk forward, to Aziel and help him. Gensy put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her firmly.
"What are you doing?!?" asked the HUcaseal to Faye "It is illogical to run to death..."
"BUT HE'S GOING TO DIE!!!" Faye slapped Gensy across the face, trying to get away.
Gensy did not let go, and with her other hand over her cheek, she looked at Faye and said:
"I will not stand idly... I will try to get him off the monster anyway I can" dropping the staff on the floor and pulling her last weapon, a very ergonomically designed slicer weapon, she put Faye behind her as she wound up for a swipe.
Aziel felt terrible, blinding pain. He felt a horrible tingling sensation where his legs should be, but try as he might, nothing moved where they were. Sweating, he grabbed the thing's chest and tried squeeze the life out of it.
Then he felt it... he felt as if the thing's mind was invading his own.
In pain and without any more strenght left, his mind was easy prey for the corrupted entity.
He saw alien landscapes, strange things floating about and lights and colors not even imagined in his wildest dreams.
He felt as if the thing wanted his strenght, the source of his power and proded deeper and deeper into his mind.
Yelling, he felt his mind being violated by the creature's powerful essence.
He tried to block out his senses, but it only made it easier for it to enter his mind.
He recalled each and every person he had to kill...
"Aziel..."
He remembered each face as it filled with terror when they saw his form approach, inviting death and pain...
"Aziel!!!"
He remembered Faye and the moment she had chosen to follow him instead of taking her revenge on him!
"Aziel!!!!!"
He heard his name clearly! Trying to look around, he saw a human woman stand in front of him.
She was clad in protective gear standard to hunters. In her arm, there was a red ring that looked familiar. She also wore glasses, and one of her brunette bangs had a wisp of grey streaked on it.
Red Ring Rico...
"Aziel..."
"You are the Principal's daughter... Rico... are you not?"
"Yes.. I am..." she said in a soft voice "and you are Aziel, the android who came looking for me, right?"
"I am sorry, Rico..." Aziel said lowering his gaze. He felt like floating in the turbulent lights and colors that eroded his last defenses of his mind. "I failed... the people of the Pioneer 2 will not find a home.."
"I was the one who failed, Aziel..." she placed her hand on his cheek "I was lead by arrogance and curiosity to this creature's den... and now I am a prisioner of it..." she added sadly.
"What is this thing?" the question had bothered him since finding some datapads in the ruins and the mines.
"This is called Dark Falz... this is an entity that corrupts the soul, spirit and mind of living things... it was encased and imprisoned here for a long time... it was intended not to be disturbed as not to put anyone in danger... but people make mistakes, especially when they forget about their humanity... and the scientists of our government and the military decided to study it... try to manipulate its power..."
Aziel then understood.
"You mean... this thing was responsible for the demise of the entire Pioneer 1's crew and immigrants?"
"Yes... it managed to destroy the entire crew of the Pioneer 1 when they woke it up from its slumber, but it hungers for more... it will seek the Pioneer 2 and each and every other refugee ship it comes into contact with it, trying to absorb its occupants' lifeforce into it, swelling with power and corrupt purpose..."
"There must be a way to destroy it! Or to seal it again forever!"
"There is no way to destroy it unless it occupies a host... otherwise it is a free-floating entity without a real body to hurt"
Aziel looked long at Rico's eyes and putting a hand over her outstreched arm, said:
"It has a body now..."
"It will destroy us both, surely you know..."
"I will do whatever it takes to ensure my sins are paid for, even at the cost of my life!"
"Then you know what must happen..."
"Yes"
Aziel smiled at Rico and kissing her forehead, he continued:
"Make sure Dark Falz never touches my emotions, I think that is the only part of me he still has no control over... and I will make sure the nightmare ends!"
With a smile, Rico vanished and at that moment, Aziel felt his senses returning.
Gensy threw the photon blade at the monster's shoulder, away from Aziel's limp body.
The moment the bright yellow energy impacted the shoulder, Faye cried in horror.
"STOP!" she grabbed Gensy's arm and shook it "Look at what happened!"
To Gensy's surprise, she saw that Aziel's body sported the very same scar on the shoulder she had left on the monster's shoulder!
Not only the thing was holding him hostage, it was transferring its wounds to Aziel's body!!!
"Oh Aziel!" Faye fell to her knees in tears. She couldn't understand why this had happened.
Were androids meant to be unhappy? Were they only tools at the end? All they had to do was kill the creature to set Aziel free... but the creature, in its hatred, was using him as a shield, preventing any way of releasing the HUcast...
She felt everything hopeless when suddenly, a familiar voice brought her out of her daze.
"Faye! Gensy! Listen, the both of you! I don't have much time!" both girls were startled at Aziel, they both stood as stone as he continued to talk.
"You must strike the monster, no matter what!"
"NO!" Faye cried at the top of her lungs "You'll die! Its wounds are being transferred to you! I won't do it!"
"Your body cannot take any more damage, unit Aziel!" Gensy stood gripping her slicer, not moving an inch.
"I know... but you must do it! Otherwise, each and every other creature, be it animal, human, newman or machine will be devoured by Dark Falz!!! Hurry!!!" Aziel's voice felt strangled, as if he were losing control of his body.
"I won't do it, Aziel..." Gensy dropped the slicer. She didn't know why she couldn't bring herself to do the deed. She just couldn't. Something inside of her felt strange, but yet... she just let go of the slicer and her gaze dropped to the ground.
Aziel struggled with his consciousness, he was losing control, even though the last remains of Rico was buying him some time.
"Faye! Please..." Aziel felt tears run from his cheeks.
Faye looked at him in wonder.
"I need you to pull the trigger... it knows it won't survive another attack, that's why it took a hold of me... and if you don't do it... it will come after you..." he struggled even more... the pain was searing his soul and spirit.
Faye got up in silence, shaking her head. The tears could not stop, nor she wanted to... he was asking her the unthinkable!
"Faye... please... trust me... do it..."
"I just... can't..." she held her pistol in her hand and seemed as if she was going to throw it away.
"Faye... I... love you..." he managed to let out, his sight was getting blurrier and he felt his voice drown out.
Faye opened her eyes widely. If she didn't act, she would let him die in agony...
A single tear fell and with the quickness that most rangers would only dream of reaching in their careers, she let out a single shot, straight for the monster's head.
The bullet pierced armor, skin, muscle, bone and brain, exiting through the other side, burning with its photon energy everything.
Aziel felt his mind finally free. His vision began to darken, but he did see one last thing.
Faye had not lowered her gun. Her face was ashen and her eyes livid.
He looked back at the one he loved and smiling, he moved his lips saying something that could not be heard as the crashing and trashing death throes of Dark Falz drowned everything in noise, loud and hellish.
Faye saw his lips move and for a moment, she began to run to the collapsing heap that was plummeting into the crater. Trying to grab at least Aziel and fall with him to the darkness below, she felt being grabbed from behind and tossed away into the debris that littered the border of the crater.
Gensy had lifted her off the ground and quickly turning, dove into the creature. Too dazed to move, Faye tried getting up, but she felt so shocked and weak at what she had just done, that she only saw Gensy's form suddenly leap out of the erupting crater.
A torrent of reddish flames and bubbling magma showered them both; Gensy, shielding Faye with one arm, pressed them both to the side of the crater, under a small ledge. Gensy grabbed the RAcaseal's hand and examined her face, suddenly, she asked:
"What did he say?"
Faye could not see anything but Aziel smiling at her again and again in her mind. But she did answer dreamily:
"Thank you..." she looked at Gensy and tears clouded her eyes "he said 'Thank you Faye...'"
Gensy did not understand very well what that meant. But pain in her body made her kneel and crumple. All she felt was pain and then dull blackness consume her.
Faye gasped and saw the HUcaseal fall in front of her, a large blob of smoldering lava had struck her from the earth eruptions.
She leaned forward to touch her shoulder, when suddenly, her body disappeared in a flash of soft light!
"Wha-" she began and suddenly, the earth shook once more.
She fell forward and the small ledge above her broke off on top of her.
<At least, in the end, we will be together, Aziel...> she noticed she had something in her hand and the moment the rock impacted her, she lost notion of everything. A drowsy sleep caught her and carried her away... far away from this place of terror and pain.
Faye thought a wisp, a small girl with red earrings, had grabbed her by the hand and squeezed it. Not only that, but also smiled at her and whispered gentle words:
"I am free..."
She drifted into a warm feeling and had the sensation of being carried by waves and waves of soft movement. She then lay still, but she did not feel Aziel with her.
<Faye... I... love you...>
But then, she felt cold when she heard the words. She felt sad and angry. But most strange, she felt as someone was wiping her cheek with something soft.
Opening her eyes, and saw a soft light over her...
"You shouldn't cry so much Faye-san... Oniisan would agree with me..." said a shrill voice.
She then saw Haruka sitting next to her, with a small handkerchief, drying the tears that ran down her cheek.
Haruka managed a weak smile and wiping off some tears of her own, she put her bandaged and good hands between her legs and trying to smile again, she spoke:
"You were lucky that Aziel-oniisan had given you his MAG..."
"Huh? Why? It's the only thing I have left from him... where is it?" Faye sat upright in the infirmary bed. She felt tired, but she looked around to find the little MAG lying on next to her bed... that was too precious for her to lose! The only thing she saw there was a small wood box with a blue label. Before she could examine it, she heard steps approaching.
Vryce entered the room, with a clean white bandage on his forehead. His usual smirk was no more. He just frowned and grabbed a chair in the room, sitting on it, he said:
"I'm afraid that the little tike went off to the government officials that came looking for you as soon as you 'ported here..."
"What?!? But how?" she felt confused and angry... why did the government officials took her only memento of Aziel away? But most confusing... why had she teleported here when she didn't possess a Hunter's emergency device?
"I think you already know the answer, Panzer Faye..." Vryce said.
Haruka bit her lip and looked down... she couldn't feel happy... not after what Gensy had told them.
"What? I don-" then it suddenly became clear...
"I don't want to lose you either Faye... but... to make sure that doesn't happen, take this little MAG... "
He had said those words back then... he had given her his own emergency device to ensure her safety.
Without holding back... she let silent tears fall down her cheek.
Vryce coughed uneasliy and Haruka sat up like a spring, understanding what that meant.
They began to leave when Faye's broken voice said:
"You said the government has the MAG?"
Vryce stopped and without looking back, he answered:
"Yeah... they also said you destroyed the rogue unit Aziel, and that you are a heroine for saving the people of the Pioneer 2" she felt the bitter taste in those words Vryce spoke.
"They also said to come by their office so you can be commended and fully reinstated..."
"Thanks..."
Vryce left without a word. Haruka gazed at the android girl and said, with effort to keep her voice from breaking:
"At least Oniisan found someone just like him... I know he felt happy the short time he knew you... uh... I have... to go now..." she smiled weakly as she trembled slightly and walked away silently.
Faye stood there for a while, and getting up, took the small box with her and left the hospital.
After walking a short distance, she saw the government building a couple of blocks away.
Heroine of the Pioneer 2? She snorted.
Aziel had made the ultimate sacrifice, and his blood was on her hands.
She had preferred to have been consumed by the monster, the thing called Dark Falz and be joined with Aziel than to live without him...
Faye made her way sulkily into the building, where officials greeted her and sent her to the main office. She didn't remember what happened at the time, but all she knew was that important people from both the government and the military greeted her, applauded and patted her shoulder, as some kind of good pet that had done her job admirably and was finally getting a fine treat.
She did remember asking for some time off and going to the equipment rooms.
There, she found the little MAG, charred and uncared for.
As soon as she grabbed it, the little thing seemed to purr with affection, and she held it close to her.
She left the building, and going to a nice place she had managed to purchase thanks to her reward from bagging the rogue android, she closed the door and slumped against it.
Crying, and holding the MAG in her arms, she couldn't stop thinking of Aziel.
She sobbed for hours, until she could not shed more tears.
Suddenly, a sharp tap on her door made her lift and turn her head.
"What? I asked the management to be left alone!!" she yelled at the door behind her.
A strangely familiar voice answered:
"I noticed you grabbed the little souvenir I caught for you... open the door now"
Faye looked positively surprised, and getting up slowly, she grabbed her gun and opened her door just a bit.
She recognized the cold white eyes behind them.
"Gensy! What... when?"
"It is good you are prepared in case of treachery... do you have the item with you?"
Faye shook her head... what was she talking about?
"The item?..." Gensy asked again impatiently, then she entered the room, pushing Faye from the door and closing the door behind her, she turned at Faye once more, "You did take the small box that I left for you in the infirmary?"
Faye slowly reached for the pocket of her belt, where she took out the small wooden box. Then it dawned on her why it had a blue label.
"Good! Follow me..." said Gensy, opening the door and making sure no one was there in the hallways, she motioned for Faye to follow her.
The left the building in a hurry, lost themselves in the maze-like streets of the packed city of the Pioneer 2. Entering the Yellowboze Section, they found a small alley with bad overhead lightning.
Gensy turned to Faye and said:
"If you ever betray the location of this place to your superiors or anyone else with attachments to the government or the military, I will hunt you down and kill you in a manner most effective... do you understand?"
Not fully understanding what was happening, Faye nodded. Gensy then turned and rapped on the door three times.
A strange voice, full of mirth but at the same time educated, answered:
"Well, well, well! You have finally come... I was expecting you two earlier but all is in good time... Come!! Come!!" said a tall, lanky newman, pink goggles over his eyes and a big, floppy hat on his head. His smile reminded Faye of those people struck with lunacy.
"Don't be shy my good girl... if we hurry, I can save him from oblivion... for I... the great Dr. Montague, am a GENIUS!" cackled the newman, putting his hands on his sides.
Faye looked more confused than ever. She just hugged her MAG and stood there with a blank stare to the doctor.
"Ho ho ho! Come now... just give me the personality chip Gensy retrieved and I'll do the rest!" he outstretched his palm to Faye.
She blinked and looked at Gensy, who just stood there in silence.
Faye turned her gaze again at the newman and blinked again.
"Wh-what? What chip?" she asked.
"Ho ho ho! Don't tell me you haven't even opened the box?" his face creased with a geniune smile. Then he let out another laugh.
"Girl, you RAcaseals are very cute but sometimes lack a little initiative of your own..." he smiled and then continued "Curiosity didn't made you look at the box? Aren't you just a bit curious to know what lies in that box?"
Faye felt dazed, and Gensy wasn't helping at all. Instead of helping her understand what was happening, she just stood looking at her in silence. Slowly, Faye took the box from her belt and showed it to the newman.
Smiling and taking the box with a quick but gentle swipe, he turned around and entered the house. Gensy nodde to her, pointing the doorway. Faye took some steps into the house and walked some stairs down.
After walking for about twenty stairs, she saw the newman work with intensity over a strange computer connected to heavy machinery. She noticed also a lithe RAcaseal just like her, but dressed in pink, standing near the doorway. This android turned at her and smiled warmly, altough blushing.
Faye tried to speak, but her mouth only moved up and down as she saw what was next to the android girl.
An inclined table supported a tall, muscled and strong-framed HUcast, all black from head to toe. His head was covered with a samurai's kabuto, encasing his entire face.
It reminded her of Aziel, if not for the fact that the color was wrong and it didn't have his kind face and that Aziel had never wore a samurai's helmet, altough if there was someone fit to wear one, it was him.
She looked at the floor and felt uneasy and not quite comprehending what was happening around here in this strange place.
"The doctor knows exactly what he is doing, just wait for a moment longer..." said the pink android with a kind smile.
Faye turned around, and was about to ask her what she meant by that when suddenly, the newman let out a yell of happiness,
"Good! Good! This is exactly as I had hoped! The main chipset is a little damaged, but the innermost systems seem to be in perfect shape! With only adjusting this... and fixing that..." he trailed off mumbling to himself, apparently very happy.
Faye turned to Gensy and could not help the fact that everyone in the room except her knew what was happening. She asked:
"Gensy, speak to me... what is going on?"
Gensy turned slowly and strangely, Faye thought she had tried to smile
"It is about rebirth..."
"What? Rebirth? What are you talking about? What is that personality chip?"
"Do you not remember I held you safe away from the fiery crater back when we fought Dark Falz?"
"Yes, I do... but what does that have to do with anything?"
Gensy shook her head and sighed.
"Emotions may not be that great, I suppose... it is grief that clouds your rationale... do you think I would just jump off to my death back then?"
"I don't know! I just DON'T KNOW!!!" cried Faye in desesperation. She held her head with both hands and dropped to her knees.
The pink android girl came to her and smiled at her warmly.
"You should have asked me... my name's Elenor, Panzer Faye... pleased to meet you" she said sincerely.
Without looking at her, Faye said "Just Faye... I don't like being called Panzer anymore..."
"I'm sorry... Faye.. that's a nice name..."
Faye snorted and hugged the little MAG close to her.
"Faye... Gensy told us when she came back from Ragol, that she had managed to recover the prototype personality chip that the Doctor had invented some time ago" Elenor said to Faye, who was still sitting on the floor in silence.
"She gave you the chip for safekeeping, because she didn't know at the moment who had created it. But it seems a very smart man your friend Aziel knew, had already connected the pieces of the puzzle and managed to contact the creator of Aziel"
Faye still felt dazed, she just wanted to get out of there... people were talking nonsense and no one tried to explain things in a simple way... she just wanted to return to the room and cry.
"What of it?" said Faye petulantly. She just wanted to get out of there fast, and if being rude helped, the more the better.
"The doctor created the original chipset for Aziel, you, Lynx, my sister and even me..." she placed a hand over her heart with pride.
"He is a genius, an excentric one, but a genius nonetheless..." she smiled with amusement. Faye just glared at the floor.
Pointing to the tall black HUcast in the table, she continued
"Dr. Montague created a newer, stronger body, using the same specifications as the one Aziel had..."
"He can't be duplicated... he was one of a kind..." Faye tried to speak more, but her voice failed.
Smiling kindly, Elenor just shook her head softly.
"He is not duplicating Aziel..."
"You see, once your special someone's personality chip is both repaired and reactivated, he will come back to life..."
Faye looked up from the floor and into Elenor's soft and kind clear eyes.
Then, she got up slowly, helped by the RAcaseal and stood there in silence, shocked.
"What? You... you are not joking, right?"
"No... I wouldn't joke about this, Faye" Elenor smiled and put her arm over Faye's.
The overly excited newman twirled around and with a smile on his face, he said triumphantly:
"Some damage is lasting and seemingly beyond the capabilities of this here doctor" he said with pride "but the system should work now... let us test the fruits of my genius!"
He placed the personality chip inside the chest of the tall HUcast, just inside his heart.
Then closing the lid, he made some more tests to check everything was all right.
Elenor helped him double-check every system and screen.
Gensy stood there in silence, but something in her gaze betrayed the usual coldness. Anxiety, perhaps?
Faye and her small MAG stood staring at the entire scene in front of her eyes.
The doctor running about, checking, double checking and even triple checking every little detail and perk.
Elenor followed suit, and was finishing with all the preliminary setups.
Faye felt her senses dulled and the only thing she could look at was the tall HUcast, as it stood in silence in the table.
She felt her heart beat so fast and hard, the only sound that came to her ears was the rapid beating, all around her.
And finally, with a flick of the wrist, Dr. Montague threw a switch and smiled in triumph.
"Nothing stands before my genius and goes away without being in complete awe!" he said to himself as he laughed.
The lights in the room flared for a second and then, everything seemed to had stopped in time.
The HUcast jerked for a moment and slowly, it moved its helmed head forward.
Faye stood there agape, in complete shock. Could it be? Can it be true?
Gensy made as if she wanted to go to the table, but restrained herself since she didn't think it would be logical to do so.
Elenor smiled warmly at Faye.
Dr. Montague crossed his hands triumphantly over his chest and smiled broadly.
"Faye?" said a very familiar and longed-for voice. It had come from the black HUcast.
Faye's eyes widened, and throwing herself at him with arms wide, tears trailed in the air behind her.
"Faye..." said the black Hucast. He lifted the face plate and smiled at her.
She saw the exact same face she had yearned to look again. The same smile, the same black hair with a streak of silver... the same kind eyes. This time, they glowed a soft blue.
She threw her arms up around his neck and kissed him on the lips.
They stood there for what seemed an eternity.
"I told you Elenor, didn't I?" said the doctor cockily at his assistant, as he gazed at the two androids finally together.
"Yes doctor, you are a genius" answered Elenor matter-of-factly, with a smile.
Two days later...
"Excuse me young lady... but I have come for some business pertaining this fine institution" said Dean Bernier as he tapped the counter softly with his metallic fingers.
"Yes? How may I help you? Oh!" she recognized him when she looked at his reconstructed chest armor plate.
"My dear! Dean Bernier! How are you recovering from that nasty wound?"
"It is nothing to worry about, thank you very much for your concern, kind woman" Dean bowed in thanks.
"But I have pressing matters in my hands now, can you help me out?"
"Of course! What can I do for you?" said the smiling girl from behind the counter.
"I have come to know about this strange incident at the solitary island of Gal Da Val... but I have come also more importantly to register a new hunter to our ranks"
"Are you sure this hunter is apt enough for Gal Da Val? We have already lost contact with at least a dozen team of hunters, and each was comprised of elite guild members..." the lady bit her lip.
"I asure you, kind woman, that my friend here knows very well how to take care of himself..."
"Hunter, please step forward... I need your Section ID, class and name" the woman smiled at the tall black HUcast that approached the counter.
"Purplenum, HUcast,..." he paused.
"Yes?" the woman had stopped entering the data as she heard the android stop talking.
"Raziel Kai" he said.
"Very well, take these and get your Hunter's License... it is obligatory if you are to move between the minor ships and their blocks, after that..." and the woman trailed off explaining things that Raziel already knew about.
"Raziel Kai? What kind of a name is that?" asked Haruka, as she played with her bandages slowly.
"Yeah... I'd love to see the root of such name... sounds like your old name, but an R in front of it?" Vryce asked as he put one foot over the small table.
They had been invited to Faye's apartment to eat something and relax before being sent to the VR test areas the next week.
Dean Bernier was trying to stop Haruka's fidgeting with her bandages.
"You mustn't do that Haruka-ojousama... the nurses were very explicit that you don't use your hand at least for a couple of weeks"
Clearly, Haruka wasn't even paying attention to him since she was already playing with a fruit with her hands.
Gensy had come also, but she remained out, on the balcony.
Vryce just scratched the back of his head and shrugged.
Faye smiled as Raziel hugged her from behind. She lifted her face a bit and said to them:
"It's easy. It's basically R, from Reconstructed, Aziel, because its his real name, and Kai means Improved Version"
"Whatever floats your boat man..." said Vryce with a smirk. Taking a good drink from his mug, he leaned forward and asked Faye.
"But what about your status as a goverment agent? If they add two and two, both of you are looking at a heap of trouble"
"We know the risks, and are fully prepared to accept them, but not without a fight!" said Raziel.
"Hey! You can count on me, Oniisan!!! V!!!" Haruka stopped juggling the fruit and made a V sign with her still tender hand.
As the pain came over her, Haruka pouted and held her hand with the other.
"I did warn you Haruka-ojousama, about not stressing your frail state" Dean told her while trying to grab her arm and readjust the bandages on her.
"You also have my support, Aziel- I apologize... Raziel Kai-san and Faye-san. I was not made to abandon my friends, be it from trouble or just plain tomboyish newman girls" he didn't wince as Haruka kicked him in the foot.
Vryce saw this and shrugged his shoulders. Sweeping his red hair back, he said with an amused voice:
"Oh what the hell... ya can count me in... I'm not just gonna leave you guys have all the fun, after all... some one has to be the brains of this outfit, right?" he pointed the remark at Haruka, who was making faces at Dean, who in turn was doing an excellent job at completely ignoring her.
"Oh yeah? BEEE-DAH!" she turned at Vryce and stuck out her tongue.
Faye laughed softly at the scene, but then she noticed that Raziel wasn't behind her. Looking to the side, she saw the balcony door open. She decided to give him a little time alone to talk to Gensy.
Gensy stood looking at the lights. She couldn't yet understand why, if Dr. Montague had created her personality chip as well, she didn't possess the same range of emotions as Faye, Elenor or Raziel.
"Actually, I didn't make that one myself... by that time, I had left the goverment-controlled labs and working on my own, my child" he had said. With an exagerated gesture, he continued "The blueprints belong to a colleague of mine, a young man by the name of Fritz... unfortunately, I have not seen or heard from him since the Central Dome had been exposed as some kind of nest for a dragon"
The words still sounded within herself... she needed to know why she hadn't been completed. She had seen the power of emotion and feelings. It was vastly superior to anything else she had seen when these emotions and feelings were coupled with skill.
She really wanted for Raziel to explain things to her... maybe all she needed was advice or a little experience... but...
Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned her gaze to Raziel, who had entered the balcony, making her company.
"You do not wish to enter?" asked Raziel as he placed both hands on the rail. He looked to the sides and watching the lights of the city made him feel happy.
"No thank you..." Gensy stood there, she glanced at Raziel from the corner of her eye and kept her silence.
"I understand.. don't worry"
They stood there, looking at the city lights. Gensy occasionally stole a glance or two at Raziel.
"Yes?" asked the tall black HUcast.
Gensy felt surprised. Was he aware that she was looking at him all the time?
She felt hot in her face. Placing a hand over her cheek, she just lowered her gaze, down into the skycar filled streets.
"I just wanted to know... how to experience feelings..."
Raziel moved his gaze to Gensy. He smiled and put a hand over her shoulder.
"That... that is something you have to learn on your own..." he grasped her shoulder a little more tightly and added "your heart will be your guide... let your spirit be guided and you will find your answers"
Gensy stood there, one hand over her cheek and her gaze locked on Raziel's.
For a moment, Raziel thought Gensy's normal cold gaze had softened for a moment.
"*ahem*... Everybody's leaving now, Raziel, Gensy?" said Faye with a soft smile.
Gensy quickly turned around and saw Faye, who was smiling at her.
"Yes... I should go too..." she said hurriedly and without turning back or stopping, she added "Thanks for your advice... it has been most helpful"
Raziel stood there with his arms crossed and gazed at Faye.
She turned at him and hugged him with warmth.
"Are you allright?" asked Raziel.
"As long as I'm able to hold you, yes I am" she answered.
"I know you are worried about us going to Gal Da Val island... but you know there is something there that scares the people from finally settling down in peace... we have to go..."
"I don't have a problem with that... but tell me..."
"Yes?"
"When do you see the lights... what do you see exactly?" she turned to the city lights around them.
Raziel stood there contemplating the city. the lights, the stars beyond the protective dome and in far in the background, Ragol.. the planet that one day, he had promised, would become the immigrants' new home.
"In each of these homes, there is a light... a light of hope that someday, our people will finally live in peace in their new planet. In their homes, people have their livelihoods, their emotions, their feelings and sentiments... and most important, their love.
"That is the reason why I fight and I will not back down... I won't let those lights go out... not while I still have my strenght and your love beside me" he hugged her closer and kissed her forehead.
"I do not fight for prestige, rank or fame... I fight for the future... theirs and... your future too Faye..."
"I will fight for your future too, Raz..."
"Heh... that nickname kinda stuck there with you, didn't it, Faye?" Raziel smiled.
"It's better than before... would you imagine me calling you Az?" she smiled, feeling her eyes drowsy.
Raziel snorted... yeah, it was way better than it could have been before.
In fact everything seemed to be better than before.
END OF BOOK 1
 Tsunami K · Wed Sep 13, 2006 @ 09:28pm · 0 Comments |
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