ATE: I have finally posted the next story, Xenosaga II The Middle. I know not very original, but it was all I could come up with at the last second. Enjoy everyone, I know my self-appointed editoress would :) I would like to thank Dualist of Dawn for review my story as well, I know that you'll like it.

Declaimer: I don't own Xenosaga. I only own any characters that are new to the whole story/series.

Xenosaga II

The Middle

Chapter 1

The Elsa had managed to make it safely to Second Miltia after what happened on Proto Merkabah. Despite the landing, everyone was alive and okay as the ship flew over the ocean.

R&D report. File 026643. The anti-Gnosis battle android KOS-MOS, while undergoing start-up in field testing, onboard the Federation cruiser Woglinde, awoke during the Gnosis attack on the fleet. She initiated autonomous mode even though that mode was still sealed and has been fully operational ever since. KOS-MOS is acting under her own volition. However, there are many unstable elements in her emotional program and further improvements will be required. After the escape from the Woglinde, we were rescued by the Elsa, a Kukai Foundation cargo ship. We were presently descending into Second Miltia in order to turn KOS-MOS into Vector's Second R&D Division.

Furthermore, while en route to Miltia, we took the 100-Series Observational Realian Prototype, MOMO into custody. During this time, we were pursued by the U-TIC Organization and an individual called Albedo. Albedo's tenacious attack brought about the appearance of the Song of Nephilim and Proto Merkabah.

KOS-MOS' actions allowed us to overcome these crises. I believe this series of actions by KOS-MOS has been greatly influenced by her black box components left behind by the late Kevin Winnicot. This will likely become a major focus on our future research.

- Report author, Shion Uzuki, chief engineer. KOS-MOS development project general authorization's Vector Industries First R&D Division.

Tony told Hammer something and because of his excitement Captain Matthews kicked him in the back of his head. While everyone was talking, Jr. accidentally shoved Allen into Shion, causing the woman to drop her glasses and Allen accidentally stepped on them and broke them. Shion got mad at Allen, but then later didn't regret not having them and turned to KOS-MOS.

After that the Elsa flew towards Second Miltia City landing in the Space Port landing zone.

--------------------------------------------

(Jr.'s POV)

It was after we landed that everyone else started to clear out of the Bridge on the Elsa. I suddenly realized that Ayame wasn't among us and I immediately turned to Matthews.

"Hey, Matthews?" I asked. "Do you know where Ayame is?"

Matthews turned to look at me.

"No I don't, Little Master." The captain answered.

"I know where she is." Allen suddenly said.

"Well, then where is she?" I asked again.

"The last I saw her, she told me that she was going to the cabin to rest." He told me. I knew by cabin he meant the woman's cabin.

"Thanks."

I left the Bridge and made my way to the woman's cabin to get Ayame. I didn't want to leave her behind. Besides, she would miss the chance of seeing Second Miltia. I soon came to the door to the cabin and went inside, only to have my eyes widen at what I saw!

Lying on the floor (on her right side) was Ayame, sprawled and unconscious as her long white blonde hair spread out around her with some strands falling into her face. I immediately ran over to her right side (the direction her back faced), turning her onto her back as I held the upper half of her body in my arms.

"What happened to her?!" I thought worriedly.

"Ayame!" I cried as I tried shaking her awake. "Ayame, wake up!"

As I did this Ayame started to stir, her blue eyes cracking open and then began opening slowly until they were completely open. She started to look around the room when her eyes set their gaze on me, confusion evident in them.

--------------------------------------------

(Ayame's POV)

Everything was dark and I didn't know where I was. The darkness seemed to stretch endlessly and I felt scared.

"Where am I…?" I asked myself, my voice echoing around me until it faded. I let my head hanged.

"Ayame!"

My head shot up upon hearing the familiar voice. That was Jr.! My eyes widened as I looked around wildly hoping to find Jr., but I couldn't find him anywhere.

"Jr.? Is that you?" I called out.

"Ayame, wake up!" He said, sounding as if he didn't heard me.

"Wake up…?" I thought.

I felt as if someone was shaking me. I tried to open my eyes but had difficulty in doing so. I eventually managed to crack my eyes open and found that it became easier to open them as I slowly opened them. When I finally managed to open them I started looking around the room and remembered that I was inside the woman's cabin on the Elsa. I noticed that someone was holding me and looked up to find Jr. looking down at me with concern in his blue eyes and I immediately felt confused.

"Jr.…?" I asked confused.

"Are you okay, Ayame?" He asked, holding me a little tighter. "What happened?"

I remembered the Elsa had been shaking and then the pain in my chest, causing me to clutch it and fell to my knees to the ground. I could vividly remember my breathing being heavy and how my lungs felt like they weren't getting enough oxygen. And then there was the pain that had suddenly came out of nowhere before it intensified to the point that it was white-hot, crying out in pain, and falling unconscious. And now here I am being held by Jr. as he looked at me with such worry in his eyes.

"Should I tell him?" I thought. "No. I can't tell him. It would only cause him to worry more about me."

"I had woken up when I felt the Elsa shaking and one of them must have been strong enough to cause to fall to the ground. The impact must've made me fall unconscious." I lied.

I wasn't sure what Jr. was thinking, but the worry in his eyes seem to disappear to give way to relieve, a small smile graced his lips.

"Good. I was worried that you might've gotten hurt or something." He said.

We stared at each other for a while in silence. Jr. must've noticed how close we were and the fact that he was holding me when he started blushing (I felt my face heat up as well) and looked away as his grip on my loosened. I took this chance to be able to sit up and his arms retreated to his side as he stood up. When he stood up he held his hand out to me, offering to help me up from the floor I sat on.

When I took hold of his hand my stomach seemed to do what felt like a flip again and I immediately wondered why I felt that way. With Jr.'s help I was able to get to my feet and stood in front of him. It seemed like he was a little reluctant to let go of my hand, but he eventually he let go if not slowly, a blush on his face as his eyes seemed to look at our hands and I wondered why he was blushing in the first place.

"Thank you." I said.

This caused Jr. to look up at me, his face back to its normal shade and a smile on his face.

"No problem." He said. "Are you ready to go?"

"Go? To where?"

He sighed as he shook his head.

"With us. We've finally reached Second Miltia safely. I want you to come with us, since this might give you an opportunity to see a new place, and I definitely don't want to leave you behind."

"Oh!" I realized. "Of course I'll come!"

It was with that that we left the cabin along with leaving the Elsa.

ATE: Finally finished! I hope everyone liked it. Please Review :)