SWA: Diclonius End Game.
A Gunslinger Girl X Elfen Lied Crossover, by Elfen Magix.
Gunslinger Girl is © Yu Aida
Elfen Lied is © Lynn Okamotto
Elfen Magix is my online name since 1984 when the first BBSes and Hologate Email relays were online, long before the internet as you know it went online in 1992. It has no connection to Elfen Lied, and no, I did not lied!
Appologies to the numerous replacement of this chapter. It seems every time I edit it to fix some formatting error, another one crops up. So it has been rewritten via a text dump and cut and pasted into place. Hope this solves the formatting errors I have been experiencing.
Chapter 2: Elfen Lies
"Whether I am dead or alive does not matter right now. All I care is that you are alive and doing well. As you see, there are 15 other memory sticks with this one on subjects you will need to learn about. But most importantly is memory stick #03. It will reveal to you various things you need to know before going to Italy and finding the SWA. I hope your new found friends will help you in this task.
If you want to go straight to memory stick #03, you can pause this recording here and do go to #03."
The girls look at each other for a moment.
"You want to see memory stick #03?", Yuka asks.
Nana could only look at her, unsure how to answer.
"If it means that you are to get new arms and legs, if I were you, I would see what it has to say.", Mayu says.
Nana thinks for a while of having her arms and legs working again, not needing to use her vectors in controlling them. She wonders if they would be like Bondo's hand, mechanical in nature or would it be something more. She looks down at her arms, hands and legs before looking at anyone else in the room.
"Show… Me… Number 3…", Nana says.
Yuka end the program, removes the memory stick and replaces it with memory stick #03. Like before, it loads a media playing program and begins to play back the recording within.
"Hello my darling Nana,
I see you have decided to at least look into replacing those arms and legs of yours with something that actually works. Before I tell you how, I need to tell you many things…
First off, though you are a Diclonius Human Being, you are still human. You have shown that like any other human child, you live, love and learn. You do not kill or act violently because you were not taught those things…"
For the next hour or so, the video discuses about her and Lucy, about the SWA and its cyborg program, of the people she is to meet there, things she has to say, and what may happen to her if something were to go wrong. Though there is a risk of her being recaptured, this time by a different government and agency for Diclonius research, there is also a chance that she would become a killing machine for them. It is explained, that though Kurama had friends within the SWA Medical staff, some favors may not be fulfilled or returned. Yuka and Mayu take careful notes of this recording that names names and places, of where to go and who to see.
Kurama had also left other items to be picked up by Nana, for when she leaves Italy, or even decides to stay at home in Kamakura, Japan, but she would have to travel to Tokyo to get them. For the time being, this is not important, getting to convince the others, Kouta and Lucy/Nyu, is.
All persons who have been on a long term drug, especially on a high dosage of one, are to be weaned off it, taking lower doses until there is no more doses to take. Fernando's decision of cutting off his medication outright is going to be a decision he will greatly regret at least for the immediate short term. He rests with an arm over his eyes, the inside of the elbow upon his nose. If he is asleep, it is a very light one. It is not rest that he wants or needs, but peace. Peace of mind and body. For years he had to deal with chemical surges that created peaks and valleys in his sensory nervous system, the same surges that has also messed with his motor control and kept his superhuman strength at bay.
As the medication slowly wears off, even in his light sleep he can feel his body being infused with the energy he once controlled. His altered sense of reality he once knew slowly returns. The dimensional plane which he resided on begins to grow. Like a proto-star, his being ignites from within and begins to glow. Unfortunately, it does not go unnoticed. As Juanita sits at the cafeteria, she senses something has awakened within her. She drops her fork by its disturbance.
More than 30 years ago, two individuals would be born weeks apart to different parents. For years they would lead slightly more than normal lives. These two would be born with the reason why most twins can communicate with each without verbal or external stimulus- for they were born with the same brain frequencies and patterns. They would be connected to each without being aware of the other's presence until the faithful day they would meet.
Schizophrenia is the term used for minority of individuals who are out of control of the telepathic abilities they have. The 'voices inside their heads' are the thoughts of others they perceive as their own. Thus a telepath who is out of control of their ability is a dangerous individual, who the government tries to quell into silence, use drugs to nullify their abilities, and institute them into herds of the insane in mental hospitals. They do have a choice in what happens to them. But a telepath who has control of their abilities is not part of this circle, and few are ever realized by various agencies that would want to capture them for their talents. Juanita and Fernando are just two of a handful that managed to get away.
Their meeting would happen by chance in a high school so long ago and far away…
She walks into the room silently, walking to the back of the room where we were. Once besides Cathy, I put down my pen and look up at her as she looks down at me. She bends over slightly and takes my hand.
"Juanita/Fernando?", they say the other's name to each other.
"You too know each other?", Cathy asked as she turn to see her friend.
"We know of each other's presence.", they say together.
"Wait... stop that, its getting spooky.", Cathy said.
"So, you're the one.", they both say to each other. Cathy gets up and takes Juanita by the hand, taking her outside of the room.
"Juanita, what's wrong with you?", Cathy stares into her blank eyes.
"We're finally connected...", Juanita says.
"What are you talking about?!!", Cathy asks.
"He, I are finally connected as one.", Juanita says.
"Juanita... don't be going all freaky on me...!", Cathy tells her as she takes her further into the hall, and decides to take her as far as possible to one of her hiding spots, the staircase under the auditorium.
Once there, Juanita winces for a moment, and rubs her temple, trying to shake off what just happened. "Cathy?", she than asks, "Where are we?"
"We're under the auditorium, but never mind that. What happened in 1E17?", Cathy asks.
"I don't know how to describe it...", Juanita started to explain, "Look, remember when I told you that I can read people's thoughts, and you said I was crazy?"
"I still think that you are.", Cathy tells her.
"But... seriously, Cathy. It's like me and Fernando are sharing some sort of connection. Once I touched him, and took his hand, that connection finally completed. It's like we are standing in space, holding hands, looking into each other's eyes and our thoughts and feelings intermingle around us.", Juanita explained.
"Are you telling me that you two are connected like twins are?", Cathy asked.
"Something like that but more so, Cathy. Much more so.", Juanita tries to explain.
Since that day so long ago, Juanita and Fernando have been literally in each other's mind, thoughts and dreams. That was until the youngest member of the group, Denise, was killed in an auto accident. She was 18 when the others were already in their mid 20's at the time of her demise. Since then, Fernando no longer wanted to hear the voices of other as mass depression fell upon the group. He no longer wanted to read the minds for they all said the same thing. He decided to end his abilities because he was not able to save some one that he cared for so much. Upon taking the first pill so long ago, he disconnected from Juanita in more ways than one could comprehend. Ten years later, the connection would reestablish itself as the effects of the drug in his system would fade away. It will take days for it to be completely flushed out of his system.
The group itself was tied together by a very power empathic being, despite her age, as both a receptive and projective empath. She knew the power she had on others, and she welded it like a weapon upon the heads of others. The only ones who were able put her in check was Fernando and Juanita, though connected to each other, they were receptive and projective telepaths in their own right. They had never intentionally used their projective abilities on anyone, but unless forced to do so by her. She had pushed them to their limits, including almost discovering their secret of their other ability: Telekinesis. Juanita has a very weak telekinetic ability, Fernando was a bit stronger, though neither have used this ability in force or fight. In fact, with Fernando, he used his ability to sense the world around him when his eyes could no longer can. In these early days, it was not sure if Fernando's blindness was going to be permanent. But when angered, this ability sometimes lashes out destructively, thus he tempers his anger to the best of his ability. People used to think Fernando was so cool that he was beyond anger, but Juanita knew otherwise. Then there was Fernando's Red Eyes persona; a monstrous fractured entity that only came out in extreme anger and emergency with the strength and speed of 10 times what Fernando was. Fernando worked long and hard to contain and control Red Eyes, but he does slip out, often causing destruction and mayhem. Fortunately for all, Red Eyes does not have telepathic or telekinetic abilities, nor had he ever attacked an innocent. He is incapable of speech. But for those unfortunate to have meet him head on, Red Eyes only gives 1 warning: during the 5 second transformation which brings him out, Fernando's eyes glow bright red from the pupils, and both the irises and sclera turn blood red. This can be noticed through the dark lenses of his glasses, but many had scoff at this dramatic transformation, often to their demise. Red Eyes had never killed, but he has put people on life support and permanently in wheelchairs, and has caused tens of thousands of dollars of damage as he would flip over automobiles and heavy machinery like a rampaging kindergartener through a city of blocks.
Juanita sits there in awe, staring blankly out straight ahead. It not goes unnoticed by the others as they stare back at her.
"Juanita?", Ferro asks. She calls to her again, reaching out to give her a shove on the shoulder, "Juanita?..."
Juanita remains unresponsive to Ferro's attempt of getting her attention. She goes through the countless of shared memories as fast as her mind could process.
The female response is something Fernando will never get used to. Like all the others, this was not a playful-type slap in the face- it was one of the violent given- violence needs to be returned slaps, for which Fernando must hold in his anger or else Red Eyes comes to visit. She states and shows that she loves him as Fernando does his best in returning it, and at the same time Fernando gets punished for it. Fernando does not get it.
Fernando keeps his eyes closed, holding back the tears that may summon Red Eyes. Fernando can hear her take a couple of steps, backing away from me.
"Then what are the right reasons?", Fernando says to himself.
"Love, friendship, trust, honesty...", she said softly while opening the stairway door. Fernando opens his eyes knowing that she is far enough away to make it fourth time. Somehow a tear manage to escape as it runs down the right side of his face.
"I thought we had all that...", Fernando stated to her.
"And you also have it with Cathy, and Juanita, and Denise, and some little sophomore girl Cathy is trying to hook you up with, and with almost every drowned girl in this school you have pulled out of the pool..." as she continues, almost complaining.
"But I will only have one wife- a mate for life, a friend forever, and I will make her the most happiest woman on this planet- no matter how rich or poor we may end up...", Fernando says as he leans against the wall, staring at his sneakers. Fernando did not notice her coming back slowly and quietly until she was almost up on him.
"That's the problem, Fernando ...", as she puts her arms around him and leans her head against his chest, "...you're too perfect."
"Perfect?", Fernando asked, almost tensing up- sensing that there would be another slap coming up, "I... I've been hurt, sick, drugged out, crippled, blinded, cooked and radiated- Omff!", Fernando didn't expect her to elbow him in the stomach.
"And you talk too much when you do talk...", continuing to lean against him as if nothing happened, "Just shut up and stay still for me..."
Fernando sighed as she leaned against him for what few minutes that seems to be hours. Beyond the sounds of the Mr. Fonder finishing up his work of class torturing through delanie-card redefinition, at the opposite end of the east side hall, Fernando can hear steps and voices heading towards their direction. Two of the voices Fernando recognize as Juanita and Denise.
"Evadney...?", Fernando softly speaks.
She's not pleased with the interruption, "What is it..."
"I think Denise and Juanita are coming- and they sound angry about something.", Fernando tell her.
"Denise can go to ...", Evadney whispers, but interrupted.
'Bam! ', the center section corridor doors swing open violently and crash against the walls, Denise standing in between them as if she were about to vaporize everything in her path. The spring loaded hinges refuse to close the doors, as if some force beyond heaven and earth was pinning them against their place on the walls. The few SOS'es that were there for their standing patrol, run like scattering mice away from the cat that just pounce into the room.
Fernando close his eyes and concentrate on to both their brain frequencies, though tired as Fernando was and finding it difficult to even find the concentration he needed. Even sharing the same frequencies with them, locking onto their thoughts was not going to be easy.
In Denise's mind, there is a turmoil of images and loud words- another fight between her, Juanita, Kevin, Raul and Todd. Other images of Cathy's demise float about her head. And yet, she thinks that Fernando will be the savior and solution to all of the world's problems.
"...Pompous little bitch- isn't she?" Evadney continues whispering.
"I heard that- 'Vadnee!", Denise yells from the middle of the hall.
"How could she...?", Evadney whispers.
"Telepathy....", Fernando whispers back.
"Telepathy- from me?... ooohh....!", Evadney increases the volume a bit between us with a tone of anger. She turns her head to face Denise.
"No, from me... most of the time I can block her out...", as Fernando whispers in her ear.
"...but if I can read his mind when he is tired- I can read her mind too!", from across the hall Denise exclaims as she closes the distance between them. Juanita walks behind her as quietly as she could, Denise is too focused on him to even notice Juanita's presence.
"How?", Evadney asked.
"Long story... Explain tomarrow... Now go...", Fernando whispers to her.
"Mmm..", in impatience and protest she complains.
"Go! Before she starts hitting on you too...", as Fernando gently push her through the stairway door.
"Fern...!", she squeals as Fernando push her out into the stairwell and close the door behind her. Denise gets behind him and pulls him away from the door by his arm. She tries to turn him around, but Fernando refuse to budge. When she couldn't turn him, she started to hitting on him- pounding with the side of her fists on his back. Juanita finally approaches to the side of him and grabbing his arm, pulls him away from Denise and stands between them.
"What do I have to do to get your god-damned attention- Fernando!", as Denise tries to reach around Juanita to grab on him again, Juanita tries her best to keep Denise at bay.
"What happened...?", Fernando whispers at Juanita.
"Your bitch of a girlfriend, that's what happened!", Denise yells while trying to get a hold of him around Juanita.
"Calm yourself- will you!", Juanita yells at Denise, but Denise tries to rush through Juanita to get at him. Juanita manages to slap Denise on the face. Denise steps back in shock and trips on her own feet landing on her butt on the floor.
"Remember your manners... and your elders, young'in!", Juanita points at Denise, with her rare southern accent that only comes out during when she's very angry. Juanita angry? All things are possible. Fernando just don't ever want her angry at him.
"So what happened?", Fernando asked.
"Todd is fighting Kevin and Raul again.", Juanita stated while keeping a pointed finger and a stern stare on Denise. Denise stays put on the floor- silent and unchallenging.
"So how is Cathy involved?", Fernando asked her again.
"Its a long story, but first... Get out and wait for us at 1E17...!", Juanita orders Denise to leave. Denise gets up from the floor and runs down the stairs in a blurred motion that defies humanity itself. Juanita turns around and hugs him- lack of strength tells him that she must be exhausted; very exhausted.
"Cathy was waiting....", she started to tell him of what happened, but Fernando covered her mouth to prevent her from continuing...
Somehow it made no sense to her as to how this could be happening. As far as she can remember, after Denise's funeral, Fernando was in a car wreck of his own- totaling his 1995 Dark Blue VW Corrado which he modified its engine to Porsche specifications. They would disconnect as he laid in a hospital bed in a coma that lasted less than a week. They would never reconnect again. Another shared memory races through her head… one she strangely treasures the most from when they first met.
Much of the classes were as they were if you can call them as 'normal.' Strangely, Fernando sat down with his lunch, expecting not to be disturbed, but is- not by Cathy, but by Juanita. Except for Cathy or Evadney checking up on him, Fernando usually eat alone, even the table he sit at is empty, despite how crowded the rest of the lunchroom seemed to be.
"How are you doing?", Juanita asks, as she sat across from him.
"Juanita?", Fernando asked as he poked his finger into certain areas of his food tray to see where everything was at. He can sense Juanita staring at him oddly as he did this. "It's to find out what is where, Juanita.", Fernando then tells her, before picking up the hamburger.
"Oh…", Juanita says to herself.
"What brings you here?", Fernando asks her.
"Nothing much, just you.", she replies.
"So, I'm nothing much?", Fernando asks.
"No! I did not mean it that way…", Juanita started to say in her defense.
"Then what are you trying to say?", Fernando then ask. Juanita sat there in silence staring back at him. With her not answering right then and there, Fernando starts eating his burger. After the 3rd bite, Fernando reaches for the milk without looking for it, where his hand collides with hers as they both had reached for it together. The small carton was about to fall onto its side, Fernando quickly alter his path and grab it before it falls. Perhaps a 1/2 second later, Juanita's hand grab at the backside of his hand.
"Juanita…", Fernando started to says to her.
"My, you are fast.", she says to herself.
"Why are you holding my hand?", Fernando asks her.
"Oh… I was trying to get the milk for you, but you got it before I did.", she tried to explain.
"And what about now?", Fernando asked.
"Well, we knocked it down, and I tried to get it before it fell, but you got to it first again.", she tries to answer.
"There is something more to it than just that, Juanita.", Fernando tells her.
"You seem to function quite well… despite the obvious handicap you have.", Juanita says trying to change the subject.
"Why are you here?", Fernando asks as he takes his hand from hers and start to open the milk carton.
"I'm here for you. Like the others do, helping you out in your daily needs in getting around this place.", she finally answers, though he can sense that she is not telling the truth.
"There is more to it than just that, Juanita…", Fernando tells her.
For a moment she does not answer. "Do you know what it is like to see the world from another person's eyes?", she then asks.
"Explain that one?", Fernando asked.
"You know, with that ability we both have- being able to read other people's minds, have you ever gone into their heads and look out from their eyes?", she asks.
"I would say no, but if you are any bit as gifted as I am, you know that it's not the truth. Have you?", Fernando asks.
"No, except for those times when I see into their minds to read it and I get a glimpse of what they are seeing…", Juanita answers.
"Same here.", Fernando tells her.
"Ever switched places with anyone?", she then asks.
"No. Uhm, what are you trying to get at?", Fernando asked.
"I'm just trying to understand why are we so connected, it's like you're a part of me.", Juanita tried to explain.
"I don't know why we are connected, maybe one day we will find out.", Fernando answered her.
"But have you ever switched places with anyone- you know, psychically?", Juanita asks.
"I don't trust anyone in doing that with.", Fernando answer her.
"What about me?", Juanita asks.
"Before I tell you 'NO!'- Why would you want to trade places with me?", Fernando asks.
"I just want to get to know you as best as I can…", she stated.
"You're in my mind, like I am in yours- how much more would you want to know of me?", Fernando asks her.
"Totally…", she answers.
"OK- not that I would agree to this- but what if in being switched, I do things in your place that you would not do?", Fernando asks her.
"The same would apply to me of you.", she answers.
"What if I take your body and sell it on 42nd street…", Fernando tells her.
"You would not do that…", Juanita says in an angered tone.
"Juanita, one of the few differences we have is that I'm sexually experienced and aware, while you're still a virgin. While being switched, what is to stop me from using your body from having to fulfill one of my sexual desires?", Fernando asks.
"I'll kill yours.", Juanita stated.
"I would like you to even try… and once you succeed, you will die in my body and I'm still in yours, still living on and doing as I please in your female form.", Fernando tells her.
"You would not be able to live my life, because you do not know what kind of life I lead.", Juanita says.
"No, but I would be leading it as I see fit.", Fernando tells her. "Now, do you think you want to switch places with me psychically? Do you even now trust me in that?"
For the moment, she sits there in awed silence, just enough for him to continue enjoying his lunch.
"We're too much alike, we almost think the same way, you and I- both share something that most twins have, so for me not to trust you, would be one twin not trusting the other.", Juanita stated.
"What in like some cases, one twin does not like the other?", Fernando asked.
"Would you accept that? Would you not try work it out with me so that we as (mental) twins can work things out?", Juanita asks.
"Right now, no.", Fernando tells her, but adding, "Maybe, someday in the future I will."
"Maybe there is some hope for you after all.", Juanita says, almost to herself.
"Look, girl, my world is nothing like yours. I have issues and problems to deal with, one of them being at this disadvantage of being blind for who knows how long, maybe for ever…", Fernando started to say.
"If you want me to be your eyes, I'll be them for you.", Juanita says.
"You and I know that you cant do that, so why even offer them to me?", Fernando tells her.
"I'm trying to do the proper Christian thing, you know- help out.", Juanita says.
"The proper Christian thing to do is to leave me alone, for I seek no one's help in my life.", Fernando tells her sternly. She can only sit there trying to think of the best response to answer.
"You really want to switch places?", Fernando asks as he puts his burger down and lean towards her. She only stares back, wanting to answer but doesn't. Fernando reaches over behind her head and pulls her towards him as he leans towards her until their foreheads touch. Behind his glasses, Fernando closes his eyes and concentrates hard. On the physic level where exists a plane of reality only known to a few, Fernando steps up to her and takes both of her hands, which she does so give reluctantly. Taking a step to the left, he pulls her to the right, starting a dizzying spin upon the point where they share existence together as one. Once they reach a high enough speed, Fernando lets her go, where she flies off to his side of the realm and he to hers.
They sit there very still, trying to accept that they had switch places with their bodies in silence. For now they communicate through their connection. Fernando finds it fun and perhaps fascinating to be in her place, she finds it very bit horrific to be in his.
"It's All White… You cant see at all…", she says through their connection.
"I have my ways in seeing things. You just do not understand them, yet.", Fernando tells her.
He can see that she is wearing a knee-high wrap-around grey skirt, being held together by 2 rather large safety pins, each almost 6 inches long; one at her waist, the other further down her right leg. Other than the usual blouse, bra, panties, pantyhose, ankle socks and slip-on shoes, the only thing Fernando finds interesting if the skirt. It is of a design of which he had never saw, only requiring the 2 large safety pins to hold it together; 'I'm too used too zippers, buttons and belted loops.', he thought. But this was simple- a material that reached down to the knees, wrapped 1 and a 1/4 times around with the pins holding it in place, with the top pin doing much of the work of keeping it up and the bottom pin making sure that it does not open too far when moving or sitting.
She also finds out that they now have access to the other's memories, and of course, physical abilities.
"I thought I would never see myself through another person's place. Well, other than Rachel's, I mean.", Fernando almost says to himself.
"Rachel… Your god-daughter. But you accepted her as your own, with no strings or favors attached… I would kill you if you did.", Juanita says in slightly above a whisper to him as she accesses those memories.
"I have to ask, why are you letting what happened this past summer haunt you?", Fernando asks her.
"Don't review that memory…", Juanita says to him.
"Its reviewing itself, like you're allowing it to, on automatic play. Look- bad things happen to good people, and from what I see here, Cathy sacrificed herself to save you from being raped. She had already told you that you don't owe her a thing, so leave it be. Don't let it bother you, life goes on.", Fernando tells her.
"But I cant help it.", Juanita says.
"Look-", as Fernando points down to the corridors of his memories. "You think everyone of those doors can be opened? You would be a fool if you think you can.", Fernando tells her, "All you need to do is to lock this memory away, but good."
"But how?", Juanita asks.
"By just doing it.", Fernando tells her.
"How?", Juanita asks once more.
"Like this…", Fernando tells her, as he grabs onto the memory and drag it into the dark confines of her brain where its placement could be found wide open. Fernando throws it back into its place, securing it tightly against its moorings and then slams its access door onto it. "If you are going to go up against me, you are going to need to get yourself in order, you cant have memories like these haunt you.", Fernando tells her as he walks back to face her again.
"It's not easy.", Juanita says.
"It's easy to be scared. It's easy to let things get to you. It's easy to give up. It's not easy to be in control, and you have to be.", Fernando tells her. She sits there staring at him knowing that Fernando is right as he waits for an answer. Fernando gets none from her at the moment. "Now, is it bothering you anymore?", Fernando asked.
"Not at the moment…", Juanita started to say. "…but what about when I meet up with Cathy?"
"It wont bother you anymore unless you access that memory deliberately. Hopefully by then you would be more capable of handling it.", Fernando tells her. If anything, her response was letting out a very deep seated breathe, as if she was holding it back for years.
In the long moment of silence that passed, she as him reached out to take his hands as hers.
"It would be safe if we stayed together until we switch back." she said to him.
"We can switch back now if you like.", Fernando tells her.
"No… not now. There is… so much to learn… to get to understand you… you know what I mean?", she tries to say.
"We cant go to class then.", Fernando said to her.
"Where can we go?", she asks.
"We cant cut classes, we would be caught.", Fernando says.
"I know…", she replies.
"Then where too?", Fernando asked.
"There is no place to go…", Juanita started to say.
"The park across the street.", Fernando interrupted her.
"The Park… why?", Juanita asked.
"We could sit down by the tree and spend the rest of the afternoon there. Hopefully not to be disturbed by anyone.", Fernando explained.
"What about the other Shortfellows?", Juanita asked.
"What about them?", Fernando asked in turn.
"Well, don't you want to be left alone?", Juanita asked.
"Being left alone is not going to happen. How many kids go to this school, 18,000?, 19,000? It's a lot.", Fernando tried to explain.
"I don't know how many, but it's a lot.", Juanita started to answer.
"Then the park it is.", Fernando tell her.
"What about the other Shortfellows showing up there?", she asks.
"Not during the day. They will have classes to go to.", Fernando answered.
"What about the police or truant officers?", she asks.
"It's more than 1/2 the day is gone. They do not care after a certain time.", Fernando explained. "Besides, they would go after the burn outs, before they would go after us." Fernando again answered.
"Is there any question you don't have an answer too?", she asks.
"You're the one in my head. You tell me.", Fernando tells her.
"I'd swear- are you this arrogant all the time?", Juanita asks.
"Most of the time, not all of the time.", Fernando answers her.
"I see… all of the time then.", she says to herself. "You know, that's not a good way to get a girlfriend."
"Who says that I want a girl friend?", Fernando asked her.
"Every guy wants a girlfriend.", she says.
"I've been through more than enough with my former girlfriends. I don't think I want another one for at least a longtime.", Fernando tells her.
"What about…", she started to ask.
"Look, the only reason I would want a girl friend is for sex. Nothing more.", Fernando tells her. "All this about love and companionship is nothing more than the fancy wrapping on those basic needs. And right now, thanks to the bullcrap my last girlfriend put me through, you ladies are not worth the effort for a bit of physical enjoyment."
"So, you're…", Juanita started to ask.
"Not a virgin… my memories are your if you want to know. I already accessed yours, and I know that you still are.", Fernando tells her. She just looks at him almost sadly, more like betrayed. "You said that you wanted to know everything about me- I did of you by accessing your memories… even the dark ones and the private ones. There is nothing to hide from me. What I don't understand is how."
"How, what?", she asks.
"How can we be so connected and yet be so physically different.", Fernando explained.
"I do not know.", she answers. "Maybe God wanted us to be for some reason."
"Hmmm… God. You believe in that guff?", Fernando said to her.
"I see you that you do.", Juanita stated.
"Are we going to stay here or are we going out?", Fernando asked her.
"I…", she started to say.
"Enough of this.", Fernando said as he got up, took her hand and got her to get up and follow him. Fernando, in Juanita's body, picked up both their book bags and walked with Juanita in his body, taking his arm in hers, leading him to the teacher's elevator. There they waited momentarily for it to arrive. They both tried to walk in.
"Only he can come in here.", the elevator operator stated.
"But…", Fernando started to say, almost forgetting that they had switched bodies.
"I need some help getting to the general office, can she come help me, please?", Juanita stated.
"Hmm… I'll let is slide this time…", the elevator operator says, letting them in before closing the door and taking them down on the 1st floor express.
Together they get off, and looked around the hallway.
"The general office is that way.", the elevator operator says as she points to the doorway 1/2 way down the hall.
"Thank you.", Fernando tells her before pulling on Juanita to follow her. The elevator operator closes the door and heads to another floor.
"Aright. We'll walk out the doors and go to the park… right?", Fernando says to him.
"I don't know…", Juanita replies.
"I think God put you here to be my conscious…", Fernando said to herself.
"I heard that…", Juanita says.
"Then good, follow me.", Fernando tells him, as she started to go to the Center West exits. Juanita hesitantly follows.
The SOSes at the door look at us, standing their ground to prevent anyone from exiting.
"I'm beginning to hate these guys.", Fernando said silently to herself.
"Just walk to the door and simply say 'Excuse us.'", Juanita whispered back at her.
"Yeah, like that would work.", Fernando whispers back as they made it down the stair case.
"It does if you're a girl.", Juanita whispers back with a slight nudge to the ribs.
"Come on, we got to get you home.", Fernando says out loud, as they walk off the stairs and towards the doors. The SOSes stare back.
"Do you mind not rushing me?", Juanita almost argues back as they walked to the doors, stopping in front of the SOSes.
"You cant leave through these doors.", the tallest one says to them, as if he were the leader of the group.
"And why not?", Fernando asked.
"Juanita!", Juanita says to get her attention.
He quickly turns to her, "Oh sorry…", then turn back to him. "He has a doctor's appointment. Can we please go out through these doors?", Fernando asked in a more calmer tone. Juanita slowly traces the foot to the one closest to her by the door with the cane.
"Once you leave, you can not return.", the SOS states. "Even if you were allowed to walk out these doors, we forbid you from doing so."
"OH, That's it…", Fernando says out loud.
"Juanita!", Juanita says again to get her attention. "I can always miss my appointment, then I bring my parents here and have them deal with whoever these jerks are from stopping me from going to my doctor appointment."
"If you have to go, then go out the North East Exit.", the SOS says.
"And have him walk back down the block again?", Fernando blurted out.
The sound of walkie-talkies fill the area, as two security guards step out from the side stair case doorways.
"Well, what seems to be the problem?", one of them says, who Fernando recognize as Al.
"I…I mean he has a doctor's appointment.", Fernando started to say.
"Aright then. We can let him go, but what about you?", Al says as the security guards walked towards them.
Fernando gets a slight nudge to the ribs again, "I need help to get there, it's a different route from home and she was going to help me get there.", Juanita explained.
"I see.", Al stated.
"We usually don't get any trouble from you, Ms Strickland.", the other guard stated, who's voice Fernando recognized as Valerie's.
"I thought I could help take him there and then come back to make up the work of the day.", Fernando said.
"Hmmm…", they both looked at them..
'What are we going to do now?', Fernando send a mental message to Juanita.
'You should have played better as a girl, you dimwit…', Juanita mentally stated back.
"Considering that you're such a nice girl, we will let you go this time…", Al says to them. "But if we catch you two doing something you should not be doing, you will be in a lot of trouble, Miss."
"Thank you…", they both tell them, as the door is opened for them. They walked out slowly. Fernando tells Juanita about the step in front of them, but he almost falls off it anyways. Fernando manages to hold him and keeps him from falling. Together they take a couple of steps to the middle of the sidewalk.
"You should be play me a bit more better…", Fernando tells her.
"Oh hush up!", Juanita says as he grabs tightly arm to arm. "I don't know how you manage not being able to see."
"I manage by 'seeing' in other ways.", Fernando tells him as they start walking down towards DeKalb Avenue.
As they each the corner of the building, Fernando stops them and guides him to face her.
"Look, if we are going to continue, we cant in this way because you're going to get hurt as me. I'm used to this handicap, not you.", Fernando tells her.
"You telling me that you want to switch back?", Juanita asks.
"Yes, we must.", Fernando tells her.
"OK then…", Juanita says then lets out a sigh.
Together they concentrate on each other, reaching towards each other on the psychic world, taking each other's hands in the realm and hold on tightly before pulling on each other swiftly towards the other's directions. As like before, they switch, but to their rightful places this time, then they step away from each other in the realm of the mind. On the physical world, they remain holding each other, though Fernando tries to push away at first, finding her not wanting too.
"Juanita…", Fernando said to her.
For a moment, she does not answer. "How can you deal with all that?", she finally asks as she slowly separates herself from me.
"I don't have much of a choice…", Fernando tell her, before taking a step towards the park across the street.
"Wait…", Juanita says.
"What for?", Fernando asked.
"You're going to cross that street, just like that?", she asks.
"Yes, I do it all the time.", Fernando explained to her.
"Err…", she started to say as Fernando went to cross the street, pulling her by the arm. It is followed a hard pull against his arm which makes him step back to her. Several seconds later traffic zooms by on the avenue.
"Why did you do that for?", Fernando asked, almost angered.
"The cars were coming!", she tries to keep her tone down.
"ARGH! You Have A Lot To Learn About Me…", Fernando said to her loudly as he turned away and stepped off the curb.
"But the cars are still coming…", Juanita stated.
"Don't you think I know that?!!", Fernando almost yelled at her. Then Fernando puts his hand to his forehead and shake his head for a moment, before turning to her, "Look, Juanita. I can hear the cars. I can sense them as they approach and go by." Behind him, Fernando can hear the cars roll to a stop. "Come on…", Fernando then tells her, before going across the street in a semi-hurried paced. Only his cane hitting the curb on the other end, tells him that he have crossed the street.
He hops over the curb, stepping onto the sidewalk with Juanita behind him, taking a few more steps before lightly hitting upon the park's wall. Juanita steps to him as leaned against the wall.
"I told you I can do it.", Fernando tells her.
"Come on.", she says, as she has his hand and pulls him to the park's entrance. They go, past the burnouts and the druggies, up the steps, up the hill and to the tree. Once there, Fernando reaches out to the tree, feeling it for a while to give him some direction on where he was to it. Once he finds his place, Fernando sits on its base, on one of the root bulges that sticks out of the ground that Fernando was familiar with. Juanita takes a seat next to him and leans against him.
"Fernando?", she calls to him.
"Yes?", Fernando asked in return.
"Why you?", she asks.
"What do you mean?", Fernando asked.
"Why the connection with you?", she asks.
Juanita snaps out of her trance, noticing that the others were staring back at her. She does not know how to respond but quickly makes up being sick as a perfect excuse to immediately leave the cafeteria.
"I… am… not feeling well…", she says as she drops her fork onto the table. She puts her hands on the table and pushes her self away from the table, needing to take more strength than she had anticipated. Her arms trembling as she pushed said more of her condition than she would have wanted too. She manages to get up, weak in the knees, walking unsteadily back to the dorm facility.
"What is wrong with her this time?", Ferro asks. The others did not seem to care to give an answer. Every step Juanita took to go back to the dorm, the stronger the connection grew. It was like in the beginning, when their thoughts and emotions clashed with one another, and one fought for control and privacy of their world from the other. Just as Juanita is sensing Fernando's reemergence into the psychic world, Fernando can sense her approaching, and of her concern and worry. He does not care. All he cared about was regaining his inhuman abilities that he once had. She picks up a another shared memory from him, one which cemented their relationship to what it is to this day.
Fernando wakes up around 4pm. There is a heavy weight as if somebody was on him.
"Hiya lover. About time you woke up.", Juanita says as she lays on him in a 1/2 fetal position on her side, facing me. She in her sweater, yellow blouse and wool wrap around skirt that goes to her knees; past that she has on purple leg-warmers and white sweat sox, though she probably wearing pantyhose under all that since she always does when wearing a skirt. Her snow covered boots were on the floor, besides the other chair, where her coat, scarf, hat and purse were on.
"How you got in here?", Fernando asks in a groggy tone.
"The door was unlock.", she said as she pointed at it, "Its locked now. Besides I have a key Cathy gave me in case you forgot."
"How long were you here?", Fernando asks further.
"Almost an hour and 1/2. I'm worried about you, Fernando...", she said.
"I'll be OK.", as he takes his hand to wipe the sweat off his brow and push it back on his hair.
"You're shaking, dear.", Juanita says with concern. She takes him by the hand and holds it tightly trying to stop it from trembling. But the vibrations could not be stopped unless from within, for It's from the very core of his being.
Fernando closes his eyes and concentrate. The trembling subsides into nothingness, he let out a sigh afterwards.
"I don't like it when you do that.", she comments.
"I do as I must- you know that.", Fernando explains.
"I also know that it cost you every time you do it. What will it be this time- a debilitating stroke? Or a coma inducing aneurysm?", she said with loud concern.
He reaches out with his arms and takes a hold of her in a loving embrace, "Why did you show up here anyway?"
"You're the one person who should know why, so don't ask.", she says looking into his eyes, studying them for their colour changes.
"Then in that case," he started to say, "what's for dinner?"
"Since you don't eat normal- I had to get you a large brisket of beef and some veggies for me.", she said
"Sounds good, and after that?", Fernando asks.
"You're going straight to bed.", she said in an over caring tone.
"And if I don't want too?", Fernando asked playfully, trying to hide the pain. She notices the scent of blood in his breathe, giving him an odd look.
"Fernando- you're beginning to hemorrhage, aren't you?", she asks.
"If I am, there's no better place to die than at home with the second person I so secretly loved...", Fernando comments.
"I'm serious, Fernando. You need to go see a doctor.", She said as she puts her hands on his shoulders to push herself off me.
"You'll know what they'll do to me when I get there.", Fernando protests quietly, grabbing on to one of her hands on his shoulder as to not let her go.
She looks into his eyes again to check for their colour. "Bright yellow/red?", she said to herself.
"Its the endorphins killing the pain, and making me high in the process.", Fernando says softly.
"How long have you been holding back on your anger?", she asked.
"Since Corin called this morning.", Fernando answers quietly.
"And its finally catching up with you. At this rate...", Juanita starts to say.
"I'm not going to die, not just yet....", as Fernando interrupts her, holding on to her tightly, as to shift his weight on the recliner and force it to reconfigure into its sitting upright position, Fernando then gets up off the chair, carrying Juanita in his arms and take her to the bedroom. Once at the bed, Fernando gently puts her on the bed, and then collapses to the floor. She crawls over to the edge and look down at him.
"You really need to go to a hospital, Fernando.", she complains.
"No, I need an understanding friend here with me, at least for the meantime.", as he clutches at the sides of the bed and drag himself up onto it.
Fernando lays on the bed as she goes over him, checking his ears, eyes, nose and month for the source of bleeding, and finds but only trace amounts of blood everywhere except for his eyes- which were heavily blood shot. She continues on with her nurse routine, checking his vital signs, and taking his clothes off, Fernando does not offer much resistance.
"Where are you hemorrhaging from?", she asks.
"All over, mainly deep inside the brain...", he says softly and slowly. "why you taking my clothes off?", he then ask.
"Its to get you into your bed to sleep, dear.", she said.
"I don't need sleep...", Fernando said, trying to fight her off on the last remaining shirt button. Since hand/eye coordination are at a lost, as well as other facets of coordinate mobility, he quickly loose this battle with her.
"You still sleep naked?", she asks.
"No, not really....", Fernando begin to answers her.
"Good, then.", as she takes off just his outer clothing and leaves his in his sox, t-shirt and briefs. Quickly, she then covers him in the blanket and comforts him with the pillows. Soon after, she lays down next to him.
After a while, Fernando asks, "What about dinner?"
"Its microwavable take out.", she answers.
"OK, then.", Fernando say.
She climbs 1/2 way on top of him to continue looking into his eyes. "They're still bright yellow. If I did not know any better, you're enjoying it.", she said.
He takes an arm out from under the blanket and holds her. "If you knew the pain I'm going through..."
She takes her finger and places it on his lips, "Ssshhh.., I know..."
He blinks his eyes, for longer than necessary, before looking back into hers, "I forget that we share that connection."
"That's why I worry about you...", she said. She continues to look into his eyes.
"Too bad we did not get married.", Fernando slowly and softly said.
"Then what? Get overloaded on Love from an empathic and telepathic endless loop? I don't think I would survive the honeymoon with you...", she says with a smile, "...besides, you and Cathy belong together, as I am here to protect you both."
"I don't need protection...", Fernando start to say slowly, though the pain was subsiding, he was catching up with his depleted strength from holding back for so long.
"Yes you do- from yourself...", she begins to say, interrupting him.
"Let me finish girl,", Fernando continues, "I don't need protection, but Cathy does."
"She does, but she's survived thus far. Its you that I worry about.", she said.
"Why is that?", Fernando asks, despite his need to pass out and heal for a while.
"You fight back, Fernando.", she says.
"And what is wrong with fighting back?'', Fernando asks again.
She continues to look into his eyes, "Because, love- you have not lost a fight against all the odds you had since High School. But the fight you are having right now, you can lose. And if you lose that fight, I lose a very important friend."
He lays there and slowly closes his eyes, "You're not going to lose me."
"I know that right now you're so tired that you can pass out any moment now, but you continue to fight on to stay awake.", she said.
"You should stop being in my head so much.", Fernando said slowly.
"Something's can't be helped- you know that. From high school- you know that.", she says.
"Then you know that I'm worried right now....", Fernando says.
"...and that if you weren't so tired and in pain, you'd hunt down Randal and force him to bring back Cathy home.", as she finishes his words for him.
"I would if I was still mad...", Fernando says.
"..and blowing head gaskets. Fernando- I understand what you're going through. I'm scared that this will not end nicely. And that you will go out to get even.", she said, "Look Fernando- At least for now, I just want you to stay calm and cool until this gets a chance to resolve itself, it least- to heal yourself.", she says.
"And if this resolves itself in the worse possible of way?", Fernando asks.
"Then you have my blessings to go after all those responsible.", she said...
She finally makes it to the dorm facility, feeling as if the inside of her head had erupted into flames like a drought ridden California forest fire. She walks to his dorm room, opening the door. He remains silent laying on the bed. He would have been staring at the ceiling if he were not covering his eyes with the inside of the elbow of his arm.
He knows that she is there, but does not move to acknowledge her presence. She continues to enter the room, closing the door behind her before making her way to the bed and sits on it. She leans over him, flicking the hair away from his forehead as she once did to him once on several occasions so long ago.
"Fernando?" she calls to him.
He does not answer for he does not want too at the moment.
"What happened?", Juanita started to say. "Fernando… tell me, what happened so that you came back?"
Fernando slowly takes his arm off his eyes and stares at the ceiling.
"Fernando?", Juanita continues.
"What is it?", he finally answers.
"You're back… why?", Juanita says and asks.
"Back… where?", Fernando asks.
"The connection… we once had. Its restored.", Juanita explains.
"Oh.", Fernando says.
"Why?", Juanita asks.
"Don't know. Don't care. Don't want to be connected.", Fernando says.
"Fernando! What is it that you are saying?", Juanita asks.
"I've always had my telepathic abilities, I never lost them as you may think I have.", he started to explain. "…had them chemically dulled to what was simple in the past required more concentration and focus. I'm tired Juanita. Tired of reading empty minds, seeing false feelings, and sensing lack of respect. Tired of being connected, in having my thoughts and emotions read like some book, and be judged upon by the likes of you every time my dick got hard. I wanted an end to all that and I had it made."
"But…", Juanita tries to hold back the tears. "…but.. why… why get it back… now?"
"I want what I had before. No, not the connection or the sharing, not with you. I wanted the power and ability back. Call me selfish, but no more.", Fernando explains. "As the days are to pass, I will get to my normal level once again. And I want to be left alone. I can sense you standing there before me in that realm we share. I want you to walk away from me when we are there."
"No!", Juanita says.
"Then have it your way.", Fernando tells her. "May you enjoy this slice of hell."
Fernando concentrates hard, placing his hands against Juanita's temples. She grabs him by the wrists and tries to remove them from her head. In the realm, a bright light flashes.
Fernando passes out and flops on the bed. Juanita sits up and fixes herself up before she heads out to the door. She stops at the door and turns to the bed, looking back at Fernando.
"Since you like being in my head so much- you can stay in it for a while… While I recover some peace and quite.", Juanita says to herself. She steps over to Fernando's desk, and takes his Porsche car keys and his American Arms .45ACP. She removes her 1911 .38Super from her small carry bag and leaves it on the desk before walking out the room.
She walks out onto the hall, and travels its long length. Soon she was in the parking lot, getting into Fernando's Porsche 928. After a few adjustments, she turns on the engine, then the iPod Blaupunt Stereo. She puts the 928 into gear and drives away.
- - - -
Notes:
SOS = Student Organized Security, or the individual members there of.
SOSes or SOS'es = a group of members from the Student Organized Security. They tend to patrol the halls of the school in packs of 4 minimum and 12 maximum.