Astral Machine

Chapter Two: Remade

They enter what Zelgadis assumes is a lab. As he searches the numerous pieces of equipment he recognizes the medical gear, but also finds robotic parts meant for the inner workings of a mecha, on a smaller scale. There is an operating table, a mechanical spine and cortex, optical sensors and other parts. It doesn't take long for him to figure it out. "Have you gone mad?" Zelgadis asks astounded at the implications.

"The Vanguard units require an instant response from the pilot that cannot be duplicated by simple joysticks or programs," Rezo explains patiently.

"Rezo, this is a neural implant that must be grafted into a human," Zelgadis's shock gives way to understanding as his grandfather's words repeat in his mind. An instant reaction time? This will be the most precise machine ever made. "Why not simply use the neural suits you developed for the SX-investigator units?"

"Those suits will work for the other units except Gamma," Rezo replies, pleased that his grandson is quickly catching on. "That unit controls not only the key sensors to locate the enemy life forms, but also communication between the units themselves. It may not be the most powerful unit, but it is the most multi faceted."

"If you lose that unit won't it put the others at serious risk?"

"They can still function perfectly fine, I'm confident in the pilots I've chosen," Rezo says firmly, but not unkindly. "The Gamma is simply the ace in the hole to give us the upper hand on the enemy. The ability to read their minds so to speak."

"By turning the pilot into something like the enemy," Zelgadis's gaze narrows.

Eventually Rezo answers, "Yes and no. You will still be human, with the adaptations of the Mazoku and Ryzoku that give them the abilities they do to phase seamlessly with their machines of war."

'You,' the word sticks out to Zelgadis like an upturned nail wedge in his boot. Rezo cannot ask anyone else to do this since they will consider him insane or sue him for using this controversial technology. Technology that is based on the very enemy they are fighting. If he says no, Rezo will have no one else to ask and the human's Ace team will be one short.

If this is Rezo's answer to saving those who live full lives in a short amount of time than he has to play his part.

"Will you pilot Gamma?" Rezo asks the only question left to say.

"I will," Zelgadis answers having known the answer since following his grandfather into the room.

The old man who doesn't look a day over forty lifts his hand to the side of Zelgadis's face and holds it gently. "Thank you Zelgadis, you don't know how much this means. Nothing will be the same after today."

Blushing easily, Zelgadis gently moves his head away. "I will be proud to serve you and protect what I believe in. What are a few small evils for the greater good," he tries to smile, but cannot when he sees the equipment surrounding them. Doubt isn't something he wants weighing him down, but a big decision like this doesn't come easy.

"Small evils should never be made at the risk of losing something far more precious than 'the greater good'," Rezo replies seriously. The time of wisdom passes quickly when the doctor turns to the computer and pages his assistant. "Eris, come to the lab, Zelgadis has made his decision."

"Yes Lord Rezo," Eris's voice cracks over the sound waves. Less than two minutes later, Eris is there to help Zelgadis prepare for the operation as Rezo does a final check over his equipment.

"Is he running out of time?" Zelgadis asks Eris in a near whisper. He doesn't like the woman especially, but she is smart and is a good companion for his grandfather. She will do anything and everything to support Rezo, including whoever his grandfather treasures. In this case it includes him.

"Yes," Eris answers just as softly. "He has been looking for another way, but as you know we are losing the line of defense rapidly. The government has put heavy pressure on him to create a solution that doesn't depend on Ryzoku resources . . . so he has."

"But at what cost," Zelgadis asks as Eris introduces the first round of sedatives into his system. The shot is quick but painful enough for his thin skin.

"He won't lose you," Eris is dead serious as she clamps the operating apparatus to Zelgadis's wrists and ankles. "If he does it's all over. But I'll make sure this works."

Zelgadis almost laughs but he is quickly becoming drowsy. 'After this I will never be the same, but even if I had more time to think about it, I wouldn't change my mind. This way I'll save myself a sleepless night of fear and worry.'

"When this is over your going to be in quite a bit of pain I imagine," Eris says straight to the point, but Zelgadis can hardly comprehend her. "You won't have long to recover, but we will do our best."

After that Zelgadis doesn't grasp much of anything Eris or Rezo might tell him in the next seven hours. All he can recall is his mind slipping in and out of reality, with shocks of pain every so often. Eris and Rezo do their best to keep Zelgadis comfortable considering what they are doing, but when it comes time to activate the neural implants there is no stopping the screams that erupted from the changed man.

Painfully, Rezo watches and works like mad over the equipment to keep Zelgadis stable. Standing with him, Eris does the same while keeping a careful eye on Rezo as well. She hopes the weak fool's stubbornness is enough to pull him through.

Finally the implants stabilize and Zelgadis passes out from the ordeal.

When Zelgadis wakes up, Gourry is the first person he sees through his altered eyes. At first he can only see a blond pinkish blur, but it soon comes into such clear focus that he can count every single pore on the large man's face. And he isn't even sitting that close.

"Oh hey you're finally awake!" Gourry says with a beaming grin.

As Zelgadis takes in Gourry, he observes several different things in less than a second. First off, Gourry sounds loud to him, even though the man is speaking in a normal tone. Zelgadis can also smell Gourry's breath and can discern that his most recent meal consisted of Barbecue and cheese. He can also see the remnants of a small piece of Barbecue chicken stuck in his canine tooth. Stiff blond hair falls over Gourry's shoulder, probably from resting his head on the bed and falling asleep. Accompanying the bed head there is the subtle residue of dried drool flaking off the side of his mouth.

After these observations and several others flood his mind, Zelgadis is next visited by an intense migraine and gnawing ache. "Ow," is how Zelgadis responds to Gourry's pleasant greeting.

"They said you might be in some pain," Gourry says empathetically. "Your surgery was a lot more intense than what they did with the rest of us."

"Rest of us?" Zelgadis asks wishing for nothing more than to fall into a calm black abyss again. The only thing that keeps him going is his stubborn curiosity and the fact he is in so much pain he cannot pass out.

"The other pilots," Gourry explains. "I already met them when they transferred us to the . . . uh . . . well I can't remember the name of this station, but it's our headquarters for now. Your granddad wanted to stay, but he's stalling the higher ups until you feel better. Apparently they want a demonstration." When he says this Gourry sighs and shakes his head. "They really should be more patient, it's not as if the front line is going to just up and vanish in a couple of days. The Dragons have been holding it for years."

"How much did he tell you?" Zelgadis manages to say, closing his eyes in an attempt to dull the pain in his head. He can even read the serial number on the vase in the far corner of the room. His eyesight is that sensitive. He hopes closing his eyes will help. Aside from the plant, closet, bed and mirror, the room is stark and very grey. The ceiling panels are clean, but appear stained due to years of use. Whatever station they are on must be an older one.

"Hmm, a lot," Gourry says trying his best to think of it all in one go and failing miserable. "But I can't remember it all."

Zelgadis smiles. "Did they tell you why I'm like this?"

"Yes they did," Gourry grows serious. "You gave up a lot."

"He told you," Zelgadis is surprised, but manages to keep his eyes shut.

"I made him tell me, told him I'd rat him out if he didn't," Gourry laughs. "I just wanted to be sure you were okay."

"Thanks Gourry." It is good to know he has at least one friend who understands. Even if it's a marginal understanding of what's happened.

"No problem," Gourry replies sheepishly. "Oh hey, are you hungry? I can get you some food. I bet you're starving."

"Actually, I'm all right," Zelgadis isn't sure he could keep a meal down with this pain. "Wait . . . how many days has it been since we found Rezo's lab?"

"Two days," Gourry replies. Placing his hands on his hips, it is apparent the man is quite proud of his ability to answer the question so easily.

"Only two days," Zelgadis's eyes briefly open but he quickly remedies this and closes them again. "No wonder I feel like hell. It's going to take awhile without sedatives till I want to move again."

"I don't think you have much time, Rezo at least wants you to meet our teammates."

"Are they any good?" Zelgadis asks, not really sure how to word the question.

"They're nice," Gourry replies easily. "All except one of them. He's a monster, but apparently he's on our side."

"Rezo picked a Mazoku," Zelgadis groans. "Of course he would, probably didn't have a choice. The Epsilon unit requires the unique skill set of a Mazoku. A long range unit built for accuracy, power, and extreme measure." Thinking about a monster on the team quickly sends a jolt of concern through him rather than pain as he remembers that his new construction is unconventional. Although with a monster on the team, his unconventional alterations may be less important now. "Do they know that I'm . . . not human."

"Your still human Zel," Gourry tells his friend, finding it more important to remind his friend of this fact before answering the question. "And no, they don't. But that Lina girl, she might figure it out. She's the alpha and she's pretty smart."

"Ah yes, the pilot who can read code faster than I can," Zelgadis says mostly to himself. Given the upgrades he has received, this might not be the case anymore. "Can you tell me what the other's are like?"

Although Gourry cannot always give a name, he is able to paint a fairly accurate picture for Zelgadis of what these people are like. Gourry has always been observant of a person's personality and characteristics, which Zelgadis takes full advantage of.

By the time Gourry is talking about the last member, a young teen with short black hair, Zelgadis is asleep.