Celestial Beings – Origins
Book One : Tieria Erde
A Mobile Suit Gundam 00 fanfiction by: Cielo, 2008
Author's Notes : Update again! (Sept 12, 2008) I forgot to mention that I borrow heavily from Episode 17's "80 years ago" flashback, and Episode 22 wherein Tieria had this catatonic moment when Veda was disconnected from the Gundams.
Disclaimer : Mobile Suit Gundam 00/Kidou Senshi Gundam 00 characters, names and related indicia © Sunrise, Bandai; fiction and its contents © Cielo Maaliw, 2008.
Celestial Beings – Origins is a personal take on the past of some of the members of Celestial Being, an attempt at an illustration on how our beloved Meisters and their support crew act the way they do, do the things they do, and feel they way the do.
Chapter three elaborates on the "physical" Tieria Erde.
CHAPTER 3
"Tieria Erde"
"Madame," Jameson welcomed Véronique as she entered the room for "Project Specimen 001-Y". She just came back from "Project Specimen 001-X", supervised by Adele, "today's the day."
"It is indeed," Véronique felt a huge weight release from her chest, as she looked at the counter on the control board's touchscreen -- it had been programmed to disallow any further activity as the project neared its completion. It read, "00 00 00 00:22:20" with the respective indicators underneath the two-digit numbers, "Year, Months, Days, Hours, Minutes, Seconds."
Adele finally entered, joining the gathering of her long-time colleague and the six shifting lab technicians. Two days ago, 001-Y had gone through his forty-eight-hour waking state. This day was different: the room still glowed red, but less dancing lights inside, though still moving as fast. Véronique looked her age -- forty-six years old -- with the crow feet by the corners of her eyes and smile wrinkles by her lips. But her eyes lit up as they did when they started the project.
"Mesdames et messieurs," she started, as the clock carried on with its countdown, "first of all, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. My right-hand woman, Adele, who stuck with me through thick and thin," she motioned to her blond colleague who acquiesced the mention with a light nod of her head, "Jameson, Duke, Saitou, Honsou, Lee and Velasco; my dear subordinates, my precious colleagues," she addressed to her team of lab technicians, "this project couldn't have seen the light of day, and we wouldn't be standing here today if it weren't for all the hard work we have put on this."
"We have done our work for Aeolia Schenberg, for Veda and for Celestial Being. For twenty years we stuck together to bring this part of the plan to light," Véronique paused, realizing how much of her life had gone into this project. She smiled, "and here we are -- after this day, some of us will take our early retirement and go back to Earth, and some, just like myself perhaps, will stay here and pursue Celestial Being's dream. Whatever path we take, you all have my most profound gratitude."
The ones present gave themselves a small round of applause, some have tears in their eyes, but all had wide smiles on their faces. Once the applause had died down, they turned to face the glass, as the final stage of the Specimen 001-Y took place: they day of his release, his "birth."
As the counter hit all zeros, a flat feminine voice prompt was heard.
- Release of Specimen 001-Y, start. -
All the wires, cables and tubes attached to the young man's body were carefully removed.
- Life support, disconnected. Extraction of internal amniotic fluid. -
A small compartment beside 001-Y opened and out came a tube with a face mask was placed over his nose and mouth, keeping a bit of the pink liquid intact.
- Draining of external amniotic fluid. -
The pink fluid surrounding the young man slowly went down until it was finally empty. The face mask discreetly suctioned the fluid from his mouth and lungs at the same time. Smaller suction cups covered his ears to make sure no fluids in them remained, his long violet strands clung to his slick skin
- Introduction of Oxygen, initiated. -
The sudden intake of air in his lungs must have been a shock as his eyes shot open, his mouth in a scream that nobody could hear. Véronique had a hand to her mouth, controlling her breathing -- she wanted to be there to hold him, to help him ease his pain, 'Tiens bon, mon enfant... courage...' she silently prayed in her mind, hoping her encouragements would reach his ears.
- Normalizing oxygen levels. -
His hands and arms shook as he slowly found the capacity of his senses. The capsule slowly opened, as he was released of his facial mask. His mouth still agape, catching his breath. The staff were amazed as they could make out that his eyes, instead of the expected burgundy, were glowing of a gold color. Véronique recalled in the plan that Veda would be "instructing" him on what to do, just like a person would control a video game character -- the only difference here is that Veda is the player, and 001-Y was the avatar; an avatar instructed how to breathe, how to move – practically how to live.
- Activating audio signals. -
The speakers opened and the project team could hear 001-Y breathing normally. The "womb" kept up with its constant contact with its "child" as it bade him to use his arms to lift himself off the chrome slab. He gently turned to a sitting position, his wet violet locks clinging to his turned down face. The flashing lights in the red chamber gradually decreased in number, just as the glow in 001-Y's eyes decreased, inching closer to the shade of burgundy.
- Normalizing chamber temperature. -
Supporting himself with his arms on the slab he was sitting on, his lips moved. At first, nobody could figure what he was whispering, but 001-Y was simply repeating a name:
"Veda... Veda... Veda..."
Véronique quickly went through the sanitizing process in her white suit. With her, she carried a white robe. She slowly entered the chamber, the red light gradually giving way to the white overhead spotlights.
- Release of Specimen 001-Y, end. -
001-Y's head cocked upwards at the sound -- but his eyes beheld a knowing suspicion, not of curiosity nor loss. He then settled his gaze on the person who entered his chamber, nonplussed at his state of undress.
"Véronique Thierry."
The French woman paused in her tracks as she was taken aback at the way her name was pronounced. He had an almost deep, but silky baritone. He said her name without question, without doubt, as if it was the only universal truth and that nothing could deter him from that truth. The burgundy eyes that matched her own held her in place.
"I am Tieria Erde."
"T-Tieria Erde..." Véronique smiled, 'So he is Tieria Erde...' she mused, "It's good to finally meet you."
He looked her up and down, "Veda said it was ok for you not to be in that suit."
"I see. But let's get you into this robe first, ok?"
On the other side of the glass, Adele and their colleagues watched intently, and listened to the exchange going on between Véronique and Tieria. She smirked -- for a no-nonsense woman, Madame Thierry loses all the cold and strict demeanor when around someone whom she looks at as a child -- her child.
Véronique took off her headgear and gloves and shook hands with Tieria. Looking at them clearer, it was amazing how the two looked alike -- practically mother and daughter -- rather, mother and son. She ushered him out, "We'll be meeting my colleagues now." "Right."
Both walked out into the control room where they were welcomed with cheers and loud applause, and greetings of, "Welcome, Tieria!" The young man kept his nonplussed demeanor and merely nodded in response.
--
Amidst the ruckus as Véronique and Jameson assisted Tieria in cleaning up, and lead him to a welcome party in the recreation hall, Adele slipped into her wing to join her "Project Specimen 002-Y". Making sure that the doors were locked and sealed, she gave in to mad, pealing laughter.
"Hast du sehen, dass? Hast du sehen, DASS??" She adressed to 002-Y, "Oh my God, she treats him as if he were her son!" She leaned onto her chair, shaking in the hilarity of what she witnessed, "Véro is my best friend in the facility, but the woman's... not fine right here," Adele tapped at her temple with her forefinger. She took a deep breath, and slumped onto her leather swivel chair.
"And this Tieria is acting all high and mighty, thinking that he's better than everybody else -- he's quite like the one he was cloned from when she was his age," Adele snorted in not-so-fond memory, "but you see, you and him, and 001-X are all the same," she raised an elegant eyebrow, "you're not human. You're not like human babies who can actually understand what's going on around them when their growing inside their mothers. You just take what Veda prepares for you and you wake up, ready for action."
002-Y stayed still. His flowing light-colored hair stirring in the amniotic fluid, the "womb" flashing the bits and pieces of information.
"Tieria and 001-X are created and programmed like robots, walking, talking and breathing all for the sake of Aeolia Schenberg's 'plan'. But not you, boy. Not you."
Adele peered into the touchscreen, pressed a few commands revealing dancing lines as the whir in the red chamber went up a notch, the red background practically unnoticeable, lights zipping, so much that all were a blur.
"You are unlike this Tieria Erde, who knows nothing beyond what he can do with Veda. You, boy, will be a prime mover in this world, a deity," she raised her head with an air of triumph, the lights dancing against her blue eyes, "an Innovator."
Notes:
- Ok, I'll stop with the German now (I'm more of a French and Spanish speaker, to be honest... ;)
- Translations:
"Tiens bon, mon enfant..." (Fr.): lit., "Hold on my child..."
" Hast du sehen, dass?" (Ger.): lit,. "Did you see that?"
- And now we have Tieria, and our beloved Innovator. ;)
- Comments, suggestions, reactions, whatnot are all very welcome.
- See you next chapter!
