Kiryuu to the Rescue!
"Okay, take it up!" cried Gordon as he watched the jets hoist Mechagodzilla from his platform. The three jets took off, lifted the metallic Godzilla, bio-mecha up off the platform. Katsura and Will stood in silence as they watched the body of Kiryuu fly off with the jets. Gordon turned back to Katsura, who held an enormous black 'beach ball' in her arms. The black, glossy sphere had small bio-synaptic tendrils coming off of the sides. One of the long cords was attached to a speaker that slung over Katsura's shoulder.
"Ah, there's my star creation," Gordon smiled, referring to the 'beach ball'.
"I feel so vulnerable, Gordon," came the voice of Kiryuu from the speaker over Katsura's shoulder. "It's strange being outside my body. My optical sensors aren't focusing well, and my auditory sensors are sensitive."
"Aw, don't complain, Kiryuu," Gordon laughed. "We have to take this precaution. I don't want anything to happen to you if something happens to that body of yours en route to the new base. We can rebuild another body for you, but you're AI is one of a kind. If anything happened to you, I'd never forgive myself. So, I want to make sure you're safe."
"Thank you for your concern, Gordon," Kiryuu said. "I'll try to be a good passenger on the flight to Utah."
"Gordon, Kiryuu's heavy!" Katsura called.
"Why are you carrying him like that?" Gordon asked. "Where the hell is that stroller?! Don't worry, Katsura, we'll find that stroller to cart him into the plane with."
"Here, let me take Kiryuu," Will said. Katsura rolled the spherical CPU into Will's arms. Will held him tightly to his chest. "There we go, pal. Comfy?"
"I feel naked," Kiryuu sighed. "Very exposed right now."
"Don't worry, Kiryuu," Will laughed. "The sooner we get to Utah, the sooner we can get you back into your body."
"We'll be taking my personal jet to Salt Lake," said Gordon. "With a small refueling in Honolulu, but basically it's a straight flight to Salt Lake City, Utah. No worries about other passengers staring at Kiryuu, or long lines, or stuffy fight attendants. I think you might like the flight over."
"Thank you so much for allowing us to fly with you, Gordon!" smiled Katsura.
"Yeah," Will said. "I wish we had that jet when we came to Japan. We all had to take separate flights."
"Well, I didn't know you guys very well then," he said. "But, you're my friends, and I'd do anything to make things easier for all of us. We're the Mechagodzilla Team, remember? So, as a team, we need to stick together. Now, come on, the jet's waiting." He stared at Will and Kiryuu. "Where the hell is that stroller!?"
On the jet, Kiryuu's CPU was strapped in a passenger chair between Katsura and Will. His optical sensors glanced around as Will and Katsura strapped themselves in. Being outside his body was strange, and he did feel naked. He was nestled in a car seat for a toddler, the restraints strapped across his spherical sides.
"Kiryuu, you'll have to shut down when the plane takes off," Katsura said. "We'll reactivate you when we get up into the air."
"I understand," Kiryuu said. "My electronics interferes with their flight mechanism. Commencing shut down procedures."
They saw the lights around the CPU slowly fade away to dark, signaling that Kiryuu had shut down. Katsura took hold of one of the small synaptic cords of the sphere and held it in her hand.
"Okay, we are ready to take off," called Gordon.
Katsura and Will felt the motion of the plane as it took off, running down the runway and then leaping into the air. Katsura closed her eyes, waiting for the plane to reach its cruising altitude. This was going to be a long flight to Utah.
Utah Foundation Headquarters and Head Base:
50 miles East of Salt Lake City
The main base and research building was built very similar to the base in Yokohama. It was an underground facility with vast space and many floors below ground. Though, this base was much larger than the base in Yokohama. Even the bay area was much larger, allowing the form of Mechagodzilla to be both positioned in a horizontal and a vertical position. The body of Mechagodzilla was lying on its back. The CPU was being reinstalled into the system. Will stood at the back of the head of Mechagodzilla, connecting the wires of the CPU into it's casing. He watched as the synaptic cords on the sphere began to attach themselves around the protective casing, and the internal synaptic cords grew around the CPU. They wove and threaded themselves into the CPU's black face, until the CPU was locked securely inside Mechagodzilla.
"Okay, Kiryuu, turn yourself on," he called.
Kiryuu responded, the golden optics flashed on and the red tear lights followed. Kiryuu began to move his head and let loose a joyful rumble. Then, he tried to speak, but he found that his voice was inoperable. He gripped his throat. Mechagodzilla rumbled again, growling and grunting as he made some frantic gestures about his throat.
"We haven't hooked you up to the PA system yet, so you can't talk to us out here," he said. "And since you're lying on your back, it'll be hard for me to get inside the cockpit. But that's the only place we can hear your voice until we hook you up to the PA system."
Kiryuu nodded and leaned up. He glanced around the bay area, gazing at the vastness of his new home. He was amazed about how large the bay was, it was large enough for him to actually move around. Kiryuu rested his arms on his legs, taking in his new surroundings.
"Not a bad place, huh, Kiryuu?" Will asked. "You think you could get use to it?"
Kiryuu nodded and leaned over, wrapping his arms around his curled up legs. Will got into an elevator and headed into the control room. Katsura and Gordon were waiting for him.
"Well, he's in there," Will said. "He's just a little disappointed that he can't talk right now."
"Good," Gordon smiled. "Now maybe we could have some peace and quiet around here. Does he like the huge bay?"
"He likes it," Will nodded.
"Of course, Gordon," began a deep voice from behind them. "It is most adequate."
Will and Gordon turned towards Katsura. Her eyes were glassy, but her smile said it all. Kiryuu had once more taken control over her body.
"Damn it, Kiryuu!" Gordon shouted. "What did I say? Would you like it if she took over your body without your permission?"
"I had gained her permission prior to my entering," Kiryuu informed through Katsura. "As I was saying, this is more than adequate for my needs."
"Good," Gordon said. "We'll tap you into the bay area PA system tomorrow. But right now, we need to get adjusted."
"I understand Gordon," said Kiryuu. "Shall I stand up?"
"Do you feel more comfortable sitting on you ass?" Gordon snorted. He loved picking on Kiryuu when the machine would ask him such simple questions. "It's what ever you want right now Kiryuu. Right now I could care less. But for most of the procedures you'll be standing up. Only when we install that secret weapon that the Army wants us to use will you be lying down."
"I would like to venture outside the base, though," he said. "To see what's out there. We are fairly away from Salt Lake City, are we not?"
"Fifty miles of wilderness," Gordon said. "You wanna go out side, huh?"
"Yes, if that is possible," Kiryuu said. "If not, I'll wait until the time is available."
"It's against my better judgement," he sighed. "But since you've been a good boy during the moving process, I'll let you do some romping and stomping outside. Supervised of course." He turned towards Will. "Which means you'll be going with him!"
"What about Katsura?" Will asked.
"Because we don't have a receiver yet to speak to him outside the base, I'll need Katsura here to tell him when it's time to go back inside," he said. "So, that leaves you to supervise. Don't worry, you can talk to him inside the cockpit."
"I know that," Will sighed.
"This means you can show me around the base, Will," Kiryuu smiled through Katsura.
"Well, hey, we can spend some quality time together, huh, pal?" Will smiled
"Indeed," Kiryuu agreed. "I'm looking forward to it. Besides, I have much to ask you."
"Right," Will nodded. "Well, I'm all set."
Will strapped himself into the cockpit seat glancing at the broad screen before him. Kiryuu was standing outside, his sparkling body a sore thumb in the midst of the barren, monotoned, desert landscape. Kiryuu had the air-conditioning going for Will, and some low light. Will glanced around the living bio chamber that was Kiryuu's cockpit, the bio-synaptic vines twisting and winding around the inside of the walls. Still, this was the most relaxing place Will had ever been in.
"It's in credible," began Kiryuu. "The color contrast between what I've seen in Japan and this place. There, there was much green, and other colors…but Utah, it seems to be lacking in color. But what it lacks in color, it makes up for overwhelming natural architecture. Amazing…"
"You like it, huh?" Will chuckled.
"It is most impressive," he replied.
Kiryuu stepped forwards, walking slowly around the sandy landscape. He could sense a contrast in texture of the sand as well. It felt more like shard rock, than actual sand, like the sand on his beach back near Yokohama. In a way he missed it. Also, there was no ocean near here, though he heard there was a vary salty lake. Kiryuu heard an odd sound and glanced up. He saw a few tiny buzzards fly around, circling.
"Buzzards?" he asked.
"They're here too," Will nodded.
Then, a tremble came from underground. Kiryuu glanced around curious to what was going on. The tremble amplified, and the ground began to crack. Kiryuu's feet spread wide and he leaned back, he lengthy, metallic tail gave him some support. He heard the ground crack and splinter, buckling underneath his metallic feet. Kiryuu glanced down at the ground.
"Earthquake?" Will asked.
"Though it is normal for some geo-activity in this area, but not at this magnitude," Kiryuu informed. "Though, I may need more data on this, but my first conclusion is that underground, mystery monster that has been attacking the Southwest."
The trembling stopped and Kiryuu glanced around again.
"It is gone, Will," Kiryuu said.
"Gordon…"
"I'm contacting Katsura now," he said. Kiryuu's head cocked to one side and he snorted. "Gordon is telling me that Salt Lake City was hit hard by the earthquake. A few fires have broken out around the city, especially one of the skyscrapers in the middle of the town. The fire is bad, Will. They can't get any rescue workers there."
"Great," sighed Will.
"Will," began Kiryuu. "Gordon said that he is getting orders from the US National Guard. Though, the army is trying to help the local fire and hospital, no helicopter can get near that flaming building. The general is asking Gordon if he can deploy me in order to save them."
"No monster fighting?" Will asked.
"No," Kiryuu shook his head. "I'm not prepared yet and they have yet to install the new secret weapon into me. The monster isn't surfacing. He's just asking if I can save the people in that building."
"Let's go play hero, Kiryuu," he smiled.
Kiryuu nodded and revved up his boosters. Once he felt the inertia build up, he leapt into the air, rocketing towards Salt Lake City.
"I have a map of the city within my databanks," Kiryuu informed his passenger. "Our target is north of us."
"Kick it into overdrive, pal," Will said. "Let's show Salt Lake what Mechagodzilla can do!"
"Compliance," Kiryuu replied back, amused.
They found their target, a skyscraper covered in billowing black smoke. Flames licked out from the smoke. Kiryuu could sense the cries from within the building, hearing them with his sensitive ears.
"Will, we are getting our orders," he began. "There are still people trapped in the 24th floor. That is where the fire is originating, but the workers can't get to them. From what I am hearing from Gordon and Katsura, a few of the victims have leapt out of the window." Kiryuu paused for a moment. "Will, I don't understand. How would suicide save them?"
"Sometimes fear brings out the stupidity and very primitive feelings and actions out of people," said Will. "Let's just hope they all haven't decided to take the hard way out."
Kiryuu's mind turned towards the building, zooming in on the trapped people.
"I see them," he said. "Commencing landing procedures."
Kiryuu landed near the building, mindful of the firefighters below his feet. He glanced up, seeing a few ambulatory helicopters and news choppers floating around his head.
"They can't radio us," Kiryuu began. "Was it wise for us to be here without any real way of communicating with the workers below?"
"Wish I could have installed some external vocal receptors, so you can actually talk without being connected to a PA system in a base," said Will. "That way, you could talk to the guys below. But whether it's wise or not, we're in this now. What's Gordon saying now?"
"He says to try not to scare the victims," Kiryuu let loose an amused chuckle. "I must say, I think they'll be even more scared with me here, than of the fire behind them."
"Any ideas on how to evacuate the building?" he asked.
"I could motion them to jump into my claws and I'll lower them to the ground," Kiryuu replied.
Will sighed: "And you can't talk to them. Hang on, I'm going up on your shoulder."
"Be careful, Will," Kiryuu said. "Wait, Will!"
Will got up from his seat, and then glanced back at the console: "Yes?"
"Here, use this," he said. "It will allow us to talk to each other when you're on my shoulder."
A drawer below the console opened and Will saw a bio-syntech textured headset. A long cord ran from the headset to the back of the console. Will picked up and studied it.
"This won't implant something into my brain, will it?" he asked.
"No," Kiryuu replied. "Just put it on your head. It works like a normal headset radio. I'll be able to hear you from the outside, and you'll be able to hear me."
"Kiryuu, how the hell are you making these things?" Will asked.
"Just from my bio-syntech cells, Will," Kiryuu replied. "Now, put it on your head and go outside. I have a feeling that if they see you on my shoulder, calling out to them, they might not be as afraid of me."
Will nodded and placed the headset on his head. He climbed up the shaft and came out onto Kiryuu's metallic shoulder. He saw the people huddle near the ledge of the building. He cried out to them
"Hey!" Will called. "Hey! Don't be afraid, we're here to help you!"
"What the hell is that thing?!" a business man cried.
"Don't worry," Will called back. "He won't hurt you! We need a few of you to jump out and Kiryuu will catch you!"
Kiryuu cupped his claws together, slowly raising them up to the flaming building, just under the floor where the people were still trapped.
"No way!" called a woman. "I'm not jumping into that thing's claws!"
"He's a friend," called Will. "We've been sent her by the army to help you out of this building. We work for the army! Look, have you ever seen the news about Godzilla?"
A few of them nodded.
"Well, this is Mechagodzilla!" Will continued. "We're from the Utah Foundation. He's the Utah Foundation's Mechagodzilla."
"Hey, I have a sister that works for the Utah Foundation!" called another man. "She worked on the bio-syntech for the prosthetic arms and such. My aunt has a leg from the Foundation."
"Great!" cried Will. "Well, then you've heard of the Big Project! Well, here's your sister's hard earned hours at work now! What your sister helped in building is trying to save your ass. Now, come on and jump!"
"Is it safe?" a woman asked the man.
"Sure," he shrugged. "She told me what the Utah Foundation was doing. Hey, then, that must be Kiryuu!"
"Will, the structure of the flooring will not hold for much longer," began Kiryuu. "They must jump now."
"Come on, people, just jump!" Will cried. "It's better than frying or leaping to your deaths!"
"I'm game," the man sighed as he leapt out. He landed in Kiryuu's claws, holding onto one of the metal plating in Mechagodzilla's palms. He glanced back at the others. "Come on!"
They all jumped, one by one into Kiryuu's waiting claws. Kiryuu felt that his claws were full and he folded his talons in, trying to protect his human survivors from the hot flames. Mechagodzilla knelt down to the street, opening his claws up slowly. He angled them down and watched patiently as the humans all climbed out.
"There are still more inside, waiting at the ledge," Kiryuu told Will.
"Well, let's get back up there, then," Will said.
Kiryuu leaned back up, raising his claws back to the ledge once more. More people leapt into his waiting claws and he carried them to safety. Fire fighters and medical teams began to gather around the survivors, taking them into their care and placing the wounded on stretchers. Once Kiryuu had evacuated the rest of that floor, he stood back, getting out of the way of the medical teams. He watched though, interested in what they were doing.
"Good work, Kiryuu," Will began, patting Mechagodzilla on the side of his neck. "Gordon should be proud, and so Katsura."
"I've done a good deed today?" Kiryuu asked.
"I'd say you have," smiled Will.
"Gordon says it's alright to return to base now," he informed.
"Let's go," Will sighed. "I need a shower, and you need some cleaning. You got some black marks on your chest from the smoke."
"A shower would be nice, Will," Kiryuu nodded. He glanced down at the people who he had saved. A few of them still stared back up at him, but they were not as afraid anymore. He glanced around him at the other people around his feet. They too were staring up at him. Though, there were army personnel keeping the civilians at bay, he saw a few of them try to reach out and touch his feet.
"I know," said Will. "They've never seen anything like you up close. I mean, I'm sure a few of them have seen you in action on the news…but never up close."
"They want to touch me," Kiryuu rumbled. "I find this highly interesting and rather amusing. I too have an urge to reach out and touch them as well."
"Well, don't lean over and try to," Will smiled. "Come on, big guy. Let's just go home."
Will hopped back into the cockpit and strapped himself into the chair. Kiryuu revved up his boosters again and leapt into the air once more. Mechagodzilla banked off, heading back towards the base.
Will, Gordon, and Katsura sat in front of a television set on the catwalk out in the bay. The television was also facing Kiryuu, and they sat before him. Kiryuu leaned in, resting his arms on the strong planks behind his human companions. They were listening in on the news about the event that happened yesterday. Katsura leaned back, reaching out to Kiryuu with her hand. She gave him a bit of a scratch on his metallic chin, hearing his metallic purr. Will smiled, glancing back. Gordon leaned in, turning the television up.
"Quiet, you two lovebirds," he growled, glancing back at Katsura and Kiryuu. "I'm trying to listen in on what happened."
"And out of the sky came Mechagodzilla today," said the reporter. "He was accompanied by the Utah Foundation's top computer programmer and creator of the AI system: Mr. William Penter. As you can see, Mr. Penter was standing on Mechagodzilla's shoulder, instructing the survivors into the machine's claws. The National Guard ordered Mechagodzilla onto the scene, after they found that the situation had become too critical for rescuers to go in. Mechagodzilla is the Utah Foundation's greatest achievement in bio-syntech design. As we all know, the Foundation is famous for its discovery of weaving flesh with circuitry to enhance and stabilize living tissue for prosthetic limb construction. The Japanese government to use the Foundation's studies in muscle cloning and tissue research to build a fully functional bio-syntech muscle system in their latest anti-Godzilla programs called it upon. Many other companies also helped in the construction of Kiryuu Mechagodzilla, such as Microsoft, Chrysler, and various other independent companies that are partners with the Utah Foundation. MechaCorp, a robotics company based out in Kentucky, built the skeleton of Mechagodzilla out of super reinforced titanium, the Utah Foundation built the muscle system and the AI system, Chrysler outfitted the unit with gravity generators, Microsoft supplied the Utah Foundation with their first Trillium byte capacity disk, which could store more information than the most powerful super computer. Rocket boosters and both the US government and the Japanese government provided its weapons system. In recent times though, the project had to move from its base in Yokohama to Salt Lake City because of a mysterious monster attack. Still, the US government does not wish to reveal the monster yet, but they do know it is a monster."
"Can't wait till they finally let us in on it too," began Will.
"I'm still curious about this new weapon I'll be getting," began Kiryuu.
"Hush!" cried Gordon. "The best part's coming!"
"You mean you're little speech?" Katsura asked.
All four of them leaned in, staring with wide eyes at the television set.
"We are not just building a weapon to protect our friends in Japan," began Gordon Knight. "We are making an experiment to prove that we can build a fully functional muscle system out of bio-synthetic enhanced tissue, and that it is possible to bring to life dead tissue to recreate the muscle system. This is a break through in medical science. Soon, we will be able to construct a fully functional bio-syntech heart for patients that need transplants, cloning it straight from their own tissue. The creation of bio-syntech will extend the life of terminally ill patients suffering from cancer where we will rebuild dead old cells and enforce them with nanotechnology to repair and protect the cells from dying. As you can see here…" Gordon turned to a screen behind him, showing a magnified close up of Kiryuu's own bio-syntech cells. "Kiryuu also possess the nanotechnology inside his systems, that repair, and stabilize his tissue. They help in cell reproduction and division, also they help in distributing vital fluids and energy to his 'living' parts."
Gordon folded his arms as he watched himself on the television.
"Yes, Gordon," began Will. "You sound great."
"Most excellent explanation of my nanites, Gordon," Kiryuu began, his voice rolling through the speakers in the bay. "I couldn't have been more proud to have given you a sample of my tissue for that publicity stunt."
"Don't start with that conceded tone, Kiryuu," Gordon snorted. "You know that I care about you, but there are still some things I hate about you."
"I'm merely giving you a compliment," Kiryuu said. "Wasn't it not a publicity stunt for the company?"
"It was, but you don't need to point it out so blatantly," he called. "I hate it when you do that! Watch the bluntness."
"I'm sorry, Gordon," Kiryuu shrank back. "I will in the future know when not to be so blunt. I was just merely…"
"I know," Gordon sighed. "Just—don't worry about it." He turned his attention back to the television. "Aw, that suit brings out too much of my belly. And I hated that tie. Why the hell did they give me that tie to wear?"
"Just to annoy you, Gordon," Katsura smiled.
"They did a damn good job," Gordon grunted. "That's it, I'm going on a diet."
"I don't know, Gordon," began Will. "You look pretty fit for a man of your age."
"Man of my what?!" Gordon asked, glancing back with a sharp eye.
"Er," Will also shrank back, hiding behind Kiryuu's broad chin. "What I meant to say…"
"No," began Gordon. "I know what you were meaning to say…I'm old and I shouldn't think about exercising. I should just grow fat and die…is that it?"
"Gordon," sighed Will.
"Gordon," began Kiryuu. "You are very fit, and very energetic. What Will was meaning to say that most humans that get to be your age are not as active. You strive to achieve despite your age."
"Well, when you put it that way…" Gordon sighed.
"I am proud of the legacy this company has made," Kiryuu continued in a smooth tone. "We have truly made many growths in medical research. I am proof of that. When I was saving those people, one of the men I saved said that his sister worked for our company. Then, he said that one of his relatives had a prosthetic limb from us. I am truly proud to know that there are people out there that have made uses of the products that we have made."
"Are you kidding?" asked Gordon. "Why, before you were born—er 'reborn'—I've been trying to help people that lost limbs and such live a normal life. That reporter on the TV, she's a patient of the Foundation as well. Her right leg had been severed when she was trapped under a rock. They had to amputate it to get her out. But when you see her now, walking around, you couldn't even tell she's wearing a prosthetic limb. It allowed her to continue being a field reporter. And I know how much television is also based on presentation, the look of the reporter and how he or she moves on camera. She said it wouldn't look right if people watched her hobble around on screen and she loved doing field jobs. They would have moved her inside if she didn't get the treatment we gave her. And the news anchor man for that same station? He was born with a stump for a right arm. Can you tell? No—all thanks to bio-syntech technology. We gave him a right arm, fully functional, and very lifelike. I'm more than proud of this company and its achievements."
"We are too, Gordon," Katsura said. "There's so much we had accomplished over the years."
She glanced back at Kiryuu, her eyes filled with love and hope. Kiryuu returned her gazed, smiling within his metallic helm.
I love you, Katsura…she heard him call to her from within her mind. I love you so much.
It still felt odd to hear the bio-mechanical Godzilla tell her that he loved her. Though, she had come to accept her feelings for him, and his feelings for her. She pulled her braid from her shoulder and leaned against the face of Kiryuu's metallic chin. She felt him push in, nuzzling her gently with his snout. Gordon turned back, looking at the both of them.
"You two need to be a lone?" he asked.
Katsura pulled herself up, smiling embarrassingly at her boss.
"Sorry, Gordon," she sighed.
"No, it's alright," he said. "I did a lot of that when I was young too. Will, come on, let's leave the two alone. They need some cuddle time…"
Will heard an amused chuckle escape Gordon's lips as he walked back into the control room. Will stared back at Katsura and Kiryuu. He glanced up into Kiryuu's optics, seeing the eyelids behind the yellow, translucent plates in the eyes of the mask. One of the bio-synthetic eyes winked at him.
"Right," Will sighed. "Later, guys."
Seeing those two reminded him of his own love, and her betrayal. Will could not think on it anymore, walking back into the control room.
"What's the matter with Will?" Katsura asked.
"He misses Kiko, Katsura," Kiryuu replied with a smooth rumble.
"I know," Katsura said. She leaned against Kiryuu's chin again, rubbing its smooth surface with the pads of her fingers.
"They have accepted me?" Kiryuu asked her.
"Who?" she asked.
"Salt Lake City."
"Seems so," Katsura replied. "You're a hero to the people who you saved from that fire. They'll remember that."
"I hope so," Kiryuu rumbled. "I know that I've went up against monsters and saved this planet before—but I never really felt like I was truly a hero." He paused, his eyes glancing down. "Not until now."
"Because you've interacted with the people who you've saved," she said. "You physically saved them, helping them down and making sure they were okay. When you saved Tokyo from the alien Mechagodzilla, you were just protecting the city, not the people. Now, you've taken it in a more personal direction. Those people have been personally saved by you, and a few of those people share a kinship with you."
"Kinship?" Kiryuu asked. "How? I'm not human."
"The bio-syntech," Katsura replied. "That man saying that his aunt had a bio-syntech leg from us. The very technology that you possessed saved lives of humans and allowed them to live a normal life. Now, that technology came back to save that man, after it has provided his aunt a new lease on life. That's your kinship."
"I never thought of it that way," he breathed. "Thank you for pointing that out to me. I will do my best now more than ever to make sure that they are safe. Your right, I do feel a slight kinship between them now because of the bio-syntech. The very technology used to build me has help countless people in the past."
"That's my Kiryuu," Katsura whispered. She patted him on the chin and then reached up to his head, grabbing hold of the part between his metallic lips. She closed her eyes, pretending that they were embracing each other. It was a funny and peculiar relationship, but she could not stop it now. She did love him…