Chapter 9: Difficulties
After her conversation with MOMO at dinner, Kish realized that, although MOMO knew she was different, she hadn't seen what she really looked like, nor what she was really wearing. If she had, she would have said something. MOMO was more the type to speak her mind, before actually thinking of the consequences.
On returning to her room (Matthews had suggested she give the newcomers a tour…but she still got Shion to help) she was pleased to find her 100-Series uniform was clean and dry. Although she found her 99-Series clothes more comfortable and fitting; unlike the stolen uniform, those were made for her; she felt safer in a real uniform. Really, it didn't quite matter. Her 99-Series clothes could be changed with her appearance, as it was currently being used, and not even MOMO could tell the difference.
Once she finished changing, Shion and MOMO came in. Ever since Kish saw MOMO in that corridor, she became more reclusive than normal…something Shion picked up on. She kept trying to make conversation, even blatantly asking what was wrong, but Kish ultimately just told her it was nothing, and she was fine. After a few more minutes of debating, it was ended, almost ironically, by MOMO. Soon, all three found themselves with their own thoughts in their beds, just trying to get to sleep.
The next day, Kish spent most of her time looking for things to do, striking up half-hearted conversations with everyone. Even with MOMO and KOS-MOS, who she never really got on with. She even went as far as to ask chaos what he did all day long.
Something more exciting needs to happen she thought to herself as she was making sure, for the third time so far, that her pistol was still working. Just then, the ship shook violently and sirens started going off.
"Me and my big mouth" she muttered angrily while putting the gun away and rushing to the bridge.
She was one of the last to arrive on the bridge, and everyone was in a panic. There was plenty of yelling and confusion, but none of it was any help. Getting frustrated, Kish stood next to chaos and watched his terminal over his shoulder as he scrolled through the data to find the cause of this panic. Eventually, she spotted something and reached over to stop the data scroll.
On screen was a flashing red block, which chaos quickly looked over before calling out; "Damage to the Logic Drive Generator! We need to Gate Out now!"
His statement was met with curses from the rest of the crew. After managing the Gate Out, everyone began to relax. Well, almost everyone.
"Hey MOMO, do you sense…something?" Kish asked tentively.
"Yes" she replied. "It feels like…Gnosis!" it was at that point that Hammer let out a cry of surprise and horror.
"B-b-behind us!" he managed to get out; "Hundreds, no thousands of Gnosis!" he then put up the image from the rear camera on the monitor.
After a few seconds, Matthews came to his senses and yelled out; "Tony! Get us out of here!" and they were off. Hammer called out again; "No! They're following us!"
Meanwhile, Kish had realized that she was in fact not the last one to arrive on the bridge. "Hey, Shion? Where's KOS-MOS?" Apparently, Shion had just noticed too. "Where…?"
"Shion" KOS-MOS appeared on a side monitor. "KOS-MOS! Where are you? Were in a state of emergency here!" Shion all but demanded.
"I am presently in the AGWS hangar. What is the situation with the Gnosis?" came KOS-MOS' reply. She was taking this very calmly…but then again, when was she ever not calm?
On hearing where KOS-MOS was, Kish wondered if she might know what happened to the generator. Maybe she saw what happened, Kish thought. After all, she was the only…one…no!
"KOS-MOS?!" Kish called out, almost fearfully. Everyone caught her tone, and turned to look at her. "What happened to the main generator?" At this point, everyone began going through the same process she had.
"I sensed the object from the Woglinde and I made necessary arrangements so that we would encounter it." KOS-MOS replied, answering as if they had any hope of regaining the Emulator, let alone survive the Gnosis Armada behind them.
"Captain, they're gaining!" called Hammer, his voice rising ever higher in fear.
"Erg…hurry up and Gate In, Tony!" Matthews called out, trying to find some way out and desperate to escape. "No can do, Captain! Remember why we Gated Out in the first place?"
"Captain, large Gate Out directly behind us!" chaos called out, still at his terminal. "What is it, more Gnosis?" Matthews asked, almost fearing the answer. "No, it looks like…the Durandal!" chaos finished, and all the crew's faces relaxed. Everyone else, however, was not as reassured.
Their monitor was now showing the Gate Out. Currently all that could be seen was a large red point, growing larger by the second. "How big is it?" Kish asked in awe. "About 4000 meters, I think" chaos replied, looking almost happy with its arrival.
As soon as it was out, the Durandal turned and prepared to confront the Gnosis. Now it was Shion's turn to be surprised. "They're not seriously thinking on taking on an entire armada with only one ship? That group took out an entire Federation fleet!" At that statement, Kish looked down. It had been her fault that the fleet was destroyed.
chaos looked like he wanted to laugh now. "If any ship can, it's the Durandal!" Just then, Kish sensed a large amount of energy being charged. Hilbert she thought. And it kept charging…and charging. "That's gonna be one big Hilbert Effect. How many 100-Series are there on board that thing?" she mused aloud. Everyone turned to look at her again. I hate it when people stare at me… "What?"
That was when the energy was released. Just like Kish had stated, the area of effect was quite large…larger than the Woglinde's by a couple hundred meters. And Vector was supposed to have the highest level, of technology.
"Kish, how did you know that? How did you know the size of it before it took effect?" Shion asked slowly. At this, Kish was somewhat confused.
"I sensed the energy build up in their amplifier. Nothing special…" now, it was MOMO who was staring. "you can Sense that?" Kish blinked. "You can't?" Now she was even more confused. How can I do something MOMO can't? I'm the incomplete model, not her.
On screen, the Durandal was making quick work of the Gnosis, firing round after round of photon torpedoes into their midst.
"Now that is serious firepower." This time it was Ziggy who commented. "I guess…one ship can hold off an entire armada" was all Shion could say, eye's fixed on the screen.
Now, chaos actually laughed. "I told you; if any ship can, it's the Durandal."
Now Hammer had actually checked his monitor and found more troubling news. "Captain, more Gnosis are Gating Out behind the Durandal, and they're coming after us!" chaos turned his attention back to his own terminal, and found something else that was surprising.
"The hatch is open…" he mumbled. "What? chaos, speak up!" Matthews yelled to him. So he yelled back; "The hatch is open! Someone's activated the lift." The captain was not having a very good day. "Who the hell is still down there anyway?"
It was Shion who spoke up first; "KOS-MOS!" Hammer had already begun typing, and brought up an image of the lift. Sure enough, there stood KOS-MOS. "KOS-MOS, get back here! There are too many, you can't take them on by yourself!" she called, almost frantic.
"Shion" KOS-MOS began, her voice fading; "Will feeli…" and her voice was completely cut off. "What was that? I can't hear you KOS-MOS." Shion yelled, still not having calmed down yet. "It's no good. There's not enough air left for her voice to carry." Hammer explained.
That was when the lift finished its accent. KOS-MOS moved to the back of the Elsa. Then, Kish sensed intense and unfamiliar energy wave patterns. It was painful just to be this close, and yet it kept growing. Once it reached its peak, the pain became almost unbearable, and KOS-MOS released a burst of energy that absorbed all of the Gnosis in the vicinity.
"What was…that…" Shion muttered to herself, only focused on the screen.
"Kish!" MOMO called out, running over to her sister lying on the floor, holding her head and trying to hold in screams of pain until the energy backlash subsided.
"Are you alright?" MOMO asked worriedly. "Yeah, I'll be fine…once this subsides…." Kish told her. "Ow…that really hurt."
Now, Shion took notice as well. "Huh? What happened?" she asked. "KOS-MOS" came her only reply.
"Uh, Captain? Little Master's been buzzing us for quite some time." Hammer called back, simply relieved to still be alive. "Little Master? Sure, patch him through." Matthews called over, also very relieved.
A small boy's face appeared on screen. "You guys just can't stay out of trouble, can you?" he asked after a brief pause.
"Yeah, well we had some problems with the Elsa's Logic Drive" Matthews explained. "We were forced to Gate Out, we didn't really have much choice."
"Huh. Well, lets get you guys on board. We can do the repairs on the Durandal" the boy, presumably 'Little Master', said and cut the communication as his AGWS turned and started back. The Elsa docked with the large ship, and they picked up something else as well.
(chapter 9: end)
A/N: alright, time for apoligies and confessions. I really didn't want to post this, as I was thinking of going through the Cathedral Ship, but that wasn't going well and finally, I decided that I dont quite like how the writing of these turned out. At some point in time in the future, I may end up completely rewriting this story as I really want it to be, as the new re-written chapter nine was looking to be over 9 pgs long, to give you an idea. I offer both thanks and apoligies to Albedo's Will To Power; thanks for being the only one to review and state your opinion, and apoligies for not being able to finish this for quite some time, if at all. I will, however, put up the remaining three chapters for anyone to read who wants to. My writing style's just changed so much since I began this...I can't quite finish writing it as is. for what it's worth, sorry to any readers I disappoint.
