Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam 00 or it's characters in any form.
Tieria has spent five years within Veda, but to he and Regene it has been the equivalence of many lifetimes. To communicate with the Ptolemy crew takes great patience because of the difference in perceived time, even with those who are now Innovators, but he does so often. He found that if he spends too long without human interaction, he becomes aloof from the people he is using Veda to protect. He has also made new connections with acquaintances that have the strongest link with Veda, and they share information when they notice each others presence.
But he spends the majority of his time searching. He has access to everything that Veda knows, and Veda knows every keystroke that is typed, every video or audio link communicated, every piece of data collected that is shared amongst peers by either the internet or direct link to true Innovators. He and his brother have learned how to sift through what has been tagged as the most significant pieces of information, and they share with each other what has been found.
There has not been a war in these five long years, and there has been no sign of those that Aolia believed will come. According to Ribbons' recovered files, it should take another generation, and he has seen no change in variable that would make him think differently. Still, he stays vigilant.
*
While reviewing space probe data from one of Earths many satellites logs, Tieria received a direct communication from Setsuna. Their rapport is strong due to a combination of the large number of communications they have had, and the camaraderie they have shared.
"Your new bodies will be ready in two weeks. Will you want to transfer then?"
Regene heard the message as well and said, "That is much sooner than they last reported."
"That is more than adequate time to prepare. All has been quiet, relatively speaking. There is no reason why we both cannot go, since we can return to Veda whenever we wish."
"Yes, and we can retain our link to Veda while we're out there. I wonder how foreign it will seem to have physical form again."
"That…is one of the questions that neither of us knows the answer too. We will simply have to find out when it's time." The interval of time that the Innovades spoke was imperceptible to Setsuna, but Setsuna heard Tiera reply, "We will both be ready at that time, but I will go first. I look forward to seeing you all again." Setsuna said nothing further, but Tieria knew that his words were heard.
The Innovades then put full attention to their work, knowing it would be their last opportunity for an unknown interval of time. But one day before his transfer, when Tieria noticed that Lockon was using his computer terminal, he took the opportunity to do something of a different nature for the last time in the immediate future. He blanked out Lockon's monitor screen, and made his message appear, "Don't you have something better to do?" referring to the pornographic site that was on the screen until a moment ago.
Turing on his audio feed but keeping the video off, Lockon replies, "Asshole! I could say the same to you. Unimaginable volumes of information at your non-fingertips, and you decide to see how I'm doing now? "
"The site was open for 48 seconds" came the response on the screen. Tieria highly doubted that enough time had passed to truly disturb him. It was just enough of a duration for Lockon to get pissed, but not angry enough to stop talking to him. Though he values all of his communications, Tieria owes his talks with Lockon, more than with anyone else, to keeping his humanity intact while not in a physical body. It's all too easy in his current state to disregard his emotions. And right now, as he had hoped, he is feeling amused.
"Even so! Don't expect that you can do that when you're back here with us."
"Of course not", came the response. Tieria knew that he did not need to defend himself. Over the last five years, he has maintained many friendships. And in this friendship, this type of banter is not out of bounds.
Lockon changed topics to the most obvious, "I would ask if you're prepared for the transfer, but I know you must have the standard operating procedure all sorted out."
It was then that Tieria realized the real reason he was talking to Lockon. Strictly speaking, he was prepared for the transfer. But a part of him didn't want to only be able to retain a small amount of knowledge compared to what he knows now, and to have to re-accustom himself to the full range and depth of human emotion. He has spoken with Regene about their doubts on a number of occasions. However, communicating with someone in the world he was about to reenter gave him the necessary resolve. In the end, Tieria simply responded, "I am as prepared as I can be, but the doctors think it will take some time to adjust."
"That's an understatement", Lockon says with a chuckle.
*
Tieria woke up, which was an odd feeling because he knew he had not slept in years. He spent long moments, unmoving, staring at a white ceiling. He did not know where he was, but did not feel unsafe. After many more moments he worked out where he had been, and where he currently was, and he felt a slow smile grow on his face. It was then that a doctor's serious face hovered over him and asked him how he was feeling. That seemed to him like a loaded question but knew what she expected to hear, and said "fine".
The doctor introduced herself, and then proceeded to give him a physical examination whilst asking him questions that were meant to test his memory. Once she seemed satisfied she left the room. A familiar face came through the door moments later with a curious expression.
"How are you?" asked Lockon.
"Disoriented", Tieria answered truthfully. "I remember my life before attaching to Veda, but only in generalities. And I feel like my mind is empty without Veda. Even if I link to it, it's really not the same."
"Well I guess that's close enough to what was expected, because the doc said you can go. I'm here to escort you to your quarters."
As Tiera began to, slightly unsteadily, walk down the corridor with Lockon, he couldn't help but think that traveling from one destination to another is a large waste of time. But looking around himself, he knew he made the right decision. The doctor had told him that time was the only remedy he needed. Regene would not follow along until he settled in for a few days.
As they entered what he assumed to be his quarters, Lockon announced, "Your uniform's on the bed. I'll be right outside if you need anything."
Tieria responded, "Yes, thank you." and after a brief pause Lockon left the room. He could not help but think that the way he looked to others was as strange as he felt. He sluggishly took off his robe, feeling every muscle as it worked. Feeling very alone he almost opened his link to Veda, which would allow him to communicate with Regene, whom he missed already. No. He said to himself. I must follow the procedure, which I know is the best course of action, and allow myself to adjust to this body without the help of Veda."
Instead, he caught sight of his body in the full length mirror on the far wall. It looked familiar. Right. Exactly the way he looked five years ago, but without any of the scars. It almost felt like his, but it would take time before he could consider it as anything but a vessel. Perhaps if he touched this body. He started at the face, touching his fingertips from the top of his forehead, lightly over his eyes, then his nose, next his pliant mouth, ending at the bottom of his chin. He felt happiness then, and more intensely than he was used to feeling. He realized more strongly than he had until now that he was glad to be here. With substance. With the people that he cared about.
He let his fingers continue with intense focus, excited by this revelation. Down his neck, chest, abdomen, and down the length of his penis. The skimming of the last caused him to shudder and the feeling washed over him. Before he could consider much further, there was a knock at his door.
"You doing alright in there?" came Lockon's voice through the door with slight impatience. Tieria's focus shifted to the man beyond the door.
"Yes. I'll need more time." he responded in the dazed way that he hadn't yet been able to shake off since returning. Hearing Lockon's voice after having just explored the body he hasn't had in so long made him instantly, intensely hard. This is something he had not anticipated, having lived a plutonic existence for so long. It was Lockon who did this to him, and Tieria knew he would not be able to recover quickly. "Come back later" he said.
Lockon must have thought that his voice was even more off than it had been before because he said, "I'm coming in" right before he went through the door. Tieria's first reaction was a mixture of fear, anger, and embarrassment, and he stood frozen with all of those emotions written on his face.
Within a split second of Lockon entering the room, he turned around to face a corner, and stood there, saying "Whoa! Having a malfunction there?"
Teria, not liking being compared to a machine didn't respond. The silence grew longer, and the longer it grew the pinker Lockon's cheeks became.
Tieria circled slowly towards the bed where he left his robe, never taking his eyes off of the side of Lockons face. And what he saw there was unease. While pulling up his robe, he recalled some of the videos of ordinary human interaction that he watched over the years. He could tell it was not the unease of straight men faced with the bodies of other men. It was the unease of attempting to hide desire from ones face.
Still being led by his emotions, he decided that he wanted to act on this realization. He didn't think he had ever been so full of lust. With dilated eyes and slightly parted mouth, he slowly walked a straight line, approaching Lockon from the side. When he arrived, he could see that Lockon was breathing harshly. Lockon slowly turned his head from the corner of the room to Tieias face. He must have been surprised at the expression he found there. Lockon turned his body to face Tieria squarely. They stood there for a moment, both breathing fast.
Tieria took that time to examine Lockon's face. The years have added to his looks. Seeing him through the digital camera during their chats did not show him the subtleties that he sees now. When Tieria focused on his lips, he knew he could not wait any longer. In one quick motion, he placed his hand behind Lockon's head and kissed him with the full force of his overwhelmed brain. Tieria kissed him greedily, hungrily. As if he was starved for physical attentions, which he may well have been. He could think of nothing but the present, and he relished in the feel of it. It wasn't long before Tieria deepened the kiss, reaching out his tongue to Lockon's and using both hands to bring their bodies closer together. And Lockon responded in kind, opening up his mouth to allow their tongues to duel fiercely. It was sloppy, and urgent, and brilliant.
They kept kissing for long moments, and then Lockon began kissing and sucking down Tieria's neck. Tieria knew he wanted that trail to continue, so he moved his shoulders in such a way that his robe slipped down and pooled at the floor. Lockon gave a small gasp, and began to kiss him deeply once again. But this time his hands began to rove over Tieria's body. Head, neck, shoulders, back, and chest. Teira let the sensations wash over him, and he wanted to feel Lockon's body the way Lockon was feeling his. He began to touch in abandon, and was soon frustrated by the clothing that Lockon still wore. His wandering hands went under the uniform jacket at the shoulders, and Tieria pushed down until the jacket hit the floor. He roughly rubbed the now uncovered skin of Lockon's arms but it did not take long before he also wanted to remove the shirt. Tieria was spurred on by the strong hand kneading his ass.
Tieria roughly pulled the hem of his shirts upward and their mouths parted only long enough for the clothing to go over Lockon's head. He let the shirts fall and his hands made contact with the warm, uncovered skin. They relished in the delicious mutual contact for some time, until Tieria felt a firm grip on his cock. A new rush of intensity filled him, and he felt his last semblance of logic slip away. He spun Lockon around so that his back was facing the bed, and pushed him over to the bed until they both fell on top of it, with Tieria above Lockon. Lockon gave a breathless laugh, spit on his hand, and continued with what we was doing before he was pushed. Tieria was temporarily paralyzed by the pleasure of it. There was a constant pressure rubbing up and down his length, with occasional special attention to his head.
While continuing to kiss, and feeling the hand on his erection, he lifted his body weight slightly and clumsily opened Lockon's belt buckle. He could feel the hard-on under Lockon's pants and took the opportunity to rub. He then managed to unbutton and unzipper his pants, and pull out Lockon's cock. Tieria licked his hand, and then kissed him harder as they brought each other closer to mutual satisfaction. The build-up was all consuming, and Tieria was eventually panting so hard that it was difficult to kiss any longer. After wetting their hands once again, they looked each other in the eye and increased the intensity of their movements. When he couldn't hold back any longer, Tieria scrunched his eyes shut, but still saw teal as he came. Guttural sounds tore from his throat with each wave of his orgasm. As he felt his own release, he could feel Lockon stiffen and stretch his body beneath him signifying his own orgasm.
Still catching his breath, Tieria rolled off of Lockon and onto his back. After a few moments they looked at each other, but didn't say anything.