A/N: Our very first Wild Arms fic! Yay!
***: Please go easy on us okay?
Empyrea: These are things we'd like clear now:
Words in italics: Narration
"…": Character's thoughts
*…*: Character's actions
[…]: The protagonist is mute for awhile, so, he talks, but, only his lips move
{…}: Author's note (don't worry, these will appear only once in a blue moon)
***: Well then, let's begin!
Disclaimer: I don't own Wild Arms.
Chapter 1: A Glimpse to a New World
They all call me number 30016029, but, they simply call me Prototype AI. I've always wondered what it means, though. The people around here are called "scientists". The scientist who is also my personal attendant is named Matilda. At times, she is never around. I always wanted to know where she runs her errands for the lab… That's right this place is called a "lab". The people here study what was called Relic machines or known as "ARMs". I was to turn people's genetic code to that which suits ARMs, and in return, they would provide me with food and a room. I have been staying here for not more than 16 years now, or so they told me. In my 16 years in the lab I began to meet tons of children, day after day one would come, but, when one enters, one leaves, so, I got curious and asked Matilda "Matilda, where are the other children? Did they go somewhere?" and, she replied to me "Yes… They all went to paradise.". I dreamt of going there myself. I want to be somewhere else just not here. Now, I don't see anyone anymore. No one was left but me. They all went to paradise. I'm sad, but, at least, Matilda is still here with me. I guess I'm just scared to be alone, because they all might leave me because my body is weak. They told me that I had a disease, but, also, that I would be fine for more than 40 years. Is that long? How long is 40 years? I'm not sure myself… Everyday doesn't make any difference to me… It's always surrounded by white like now…
Prototype AI: *lying on a stretcher and turns to a scientist on his left* Misha.
Misha: Yes?
Prototype AI: Is Matilda not back yet?
Misha: Not yet, but, she will return soon. Just be patient, AI.
Prototype AI: *looks forward* Okay… I'm sorry for being impatient.
Misha: It's all right. Allow me to take you back to your room.
Prototype AI: *nods* Okay.
Misha: *pushes the stretcher towards a quite distant room* Here we are. Rest here, like always.
Prototype AI: *sits down at a mechanically-made chair* …
Misha: Call me if you need anything. *leaves and closes the door*
Prototype AI: … "I wonder where Matilda is…" *closes his eyes* I feel tired…
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the lab…
Guard (M): *gasps and stands tall* Everyone, Madam Matilda has arrived.
Scientist (F): Madam! Welcome back!
Matilda: *looks around* Where is Misha?
Misha: *steps forward* I am here, Madam Matilda. *bows to Matilda*
Matilda: How is he?
Misha: Do you mean Prototype AI?
Matilda: Yes.
Misha: Let us not talk here, then.
Matilda: I see.
Matilda and Misha head for a private room…
Matilda: *walks inside the room and removes her coat* Tell me the truth, Misha. *wears her uniform*
Misha: *closes the door* You see, Madam… We don't think that he'll last for more than a year at this rate.
Matilda: *turns to Misha* That fast?!
Misha: *nods*
Matilda: How much longer will he last?
Misha: At this rate, he can no longer take the chemicals injected in him, and-
Matilda: That's not what I asked! How much more time?!
Misha: 8 months at most, if he's lucky, but if not, then, 5 months is the best he can reach.
Matilda: … *turns around* I'll go see him.
Misha: Madam…
Matilda: I do not feel sad. He will just be replaced like all the other children.
Misha: You are right…
Matilda: *leaves the room* I'll see you later.
Misha: Madam…
And so, Matilda enters the room of Prototype AI…
Matilda: *smiles* I'm here.
Prototype AI: …
Matilda: *moves closer to him* He's asleep… *turns around and is about to leave*
Prototype AI: Matilda? Is that you?
Matilda: You're awake? How are you feeling?
Prototype AI: He died…
Matilda: He?
Prototype AI: I failed again… He was…
Matilda: It's okay. It doesn't matter anymore. *hugs him*
Prototype AI: Really?
Matilda: Yes. Forget about them. *looks at him* Did you sleep well?
Prototype AI: *nods* I did, and you know what?
Matilda: What?
Prototype AI: I dreamt about a beautiful place. It was colorful and filled with things that moved and ran from corner to corner and the field seemed endless.
Matilda: …!!!
Prototype AI: What was that place, Matilda?
Matilda: It's…paradise.
Prototype AI: Then, that's where the others are right?
Matilda: *nods* Yes.
Prototype AI: *smiles* I get to see them? But… *looks down*
Matilda: What's wrong?
Prototype AI: They said I have to stay here for 40 more years. *looks up to Matilda* Is that a long time, Matilda?
Matilda: Maybe it is.
Prototype AI: Why do you not call me Prototype AI? Everyone here calls me that, so, why not?
Matilda: That's not your given name, right?
Prototype AI: So? What difference does that make?
Matilda: It makes a big difference…
Prototype AI: Okay…if you say so.
Matilda: *crouches in front of Prototype AI and holds his hands* The last experiment will be today.
Prototype AI: Last?
Matilda: Yes. It will be the last. You will…be free, then…
Prototype AI: Free?
Matilda: Yes, Are you ready?
Prototype AI: *smiles* Yes.
I was deep in thought while Matilda was taking me to the experimentation room on a stretcher, "What did she mean by free? Why is this last? Am I not good enough? Does she hate me? Why? Are they tired of taking care of me…because I always fail? Is that it? I'm sorry…" and so, we reached the heart of the laboratory, the thing they call ARMs district…
Prototype AI: *enters a canopy-like thing*
Misha: Stay still. *attaches needles to him*
Prototype AI: …
Misha: *steps out* We'll be rising the water now.
Prototype AI: *nods*
Misha: … *stares at him* "Did he really deserve this?"
Everything is set, the scientists are sitting in their positions and Prototype AI is ready while they are watching him through a huge screen…
Scientist (M): Is everything prepared?
Matilda: It'll be okay. Inject the stimulants now.
Scientist (F): Understood, Madam.
Prototype AI: …!!! *closes his eyes* "It hurts more than before…! Why? Isn't it the same like last time?"
Scientist (F): Madam, the stimulants are at maximum now.
Matilda: Is the test subject ready?
Scientist (M): Yes, Madam. He's nerves are already connected to Prototype AI.
Matilda: Very well. *presses a button on the console* Can you hear me?
Prototype AI:" Matilda? I-I can't hear anything…"
Matilda: Start now. Focus on the test subject.
Young man: *sitting at the mechanical chair in the lab in the next room* I-I'm ready!
Misha: You wish for power, right?
Young man: I do!
Misha: Good. We'll begin now. *places a helmet on the young man's head*
(A/N: The helmet is the one connecting the young man to Prototype AI's mind)
Meanwhile…
Prototype AI: *opens his eyes* "I can't see clearly, either… Is Matilda there? Huh? Is that a being? Standing there? Why is it here?
{He sees a fox standing in front of him…}
Meanwhile…
Young man: Huh?! Ahhh!!!! Help me!!!
Misha: What's wrong?! *shakes the young man* Hey!
Young man: Uwaaahhh!!!
Misha: …!!!
The young man is slowly morphing into a giant monster…
Misha: Oh my god…! *runs to the console in the room and presses a button to connect with the control room* Madam! The test subject has run wild again! I request assistance! It's quite differ-
The connection was suddenly cut and only static could then be heard in the control room…
Scientist (M): W-What happened?!
Matilda: *presses a button to connect to Misha* Come in, Misha! What happened?! Misha!
Guard (M) connects to the control room and can be seen through the huge screen…
Guard (M): Madam! Escape quickly! The army has invaded- Ughhh!
The guard was shot and he died…
Matilda: The army?! Why now! Dammit…
Scientist (M): Let's evacuate madam! Quickly!
Matilda: … You're right. Go!
Scientist (F): What about you, Madam?
Matilda: Go!
Scientist (F): Yes, Madam.
The scientists left as Matilda stayed to corrupt all the files in the console…
Matilda: *presses a button to connect to Prototype AI* Can you still hear me?
Prototype AI: …
Matilda: I'm sorry…I lied to you… This goodbye, huh… *leaves* "I'm really sorry…"
Prototype AI: "It's so quiet… Is it just me? Or, is everyone gone? Will I make it to paradise too?"
Suddenly the monster crashes the wall to the control room, sending piles of rocks flying across the room, one hits the walls of the canopy-like thing Prototype AI is in, shatters the glass and sets him free…
Prototype AI: …
Monster: *looks around and roars*
Prototype AI: "Huh? I'm outside? Why?"
The soldiers come in the control room…
Prototype AI: "Who?"
Leader of the army: Finally found the big guy and what we came for. Go on boys, clean the garbage, but, leave the boy to me.
Prototype AI: "Who is this man? I can't quite see his face… Maybe I should ask…"
The Leader of the army walks towards Prototype AI while his men were fighting the monster…
Leader of the army: Hey there, kid! Can you hear me?
Prototype AI: [Who are you?]
{Prototype AI utters this statement and yet no words come out from his mouth}
Prototype AI: "Nothing came out? Why?"
Leader of the army: Can't speak? Don't worry. We don't need your voice for the army, what we need is your ability.
They took me out and this was the first time I had ever stepped out and saw a bright light, which Matilda told me was the sun. I finally saw something new, something outside the laboratory, but, they still killed that man, I'm sure that was him… I'm the reason for that…
Leader of the army: Take him inside the car. Go!
Soldier (M): Yes, sir! *salutes*
Prototype AI: "Isn't that the thing from before?"
The fox stands before him, yet again …
Prototype AI: [Why are you here?]
Suddenly, a bright light engulfs the whole area…
Leader of the army: What the hell?!
Soldier: What happened, sir? *runs towards the captain*
Leader of the army: I-I have no idea.
Then Prototype AI suddenly appears in front of a girl sitting in an oasis…
Girl with braids: Huh?! A human? Here? *examines Prototype AI* Yo! Still among the living? Hey! *shakes him*
Prototype AI: …
END OF CHAPTER ONE
A/N: Well, that's all for now. Hope you guys liked it. We've got the concept of this fic from Digital Devil Saga. But, not all of it, okay.
***: Yeah, she still isn't over it. Please R&R and no flames. See you guys at the next chapter! Ciao!
