Xenosaga: Gottlicher Eingriff
Author's Note: As you students out there are aware, school is here. What that means is that I will try to update this as often as I can, but as I am in high school that may not always work out as often. Just be patient; I won't forget this story until it is done! On a side note, I was proud of myself. I managed to write more about some characters that haven't been around for five chapters or so.
Chapter Nine: Complications
"Durandal, please come in," MOMO called over the communications channel from her position as copilot of the E.S. Asher. "This is the E.S. Asher calling the bridge of the Durandal. Durandal, please come in…"
"Damn, what are they doing over there!" complained Jr., banging the wall in annoyance. "We can't dock until they open up the bay doors."
"Look!" MOMO shouted, pointing to one of the rear screens. Jr. glanced at it, and then did a double take. Is that what I think it is…? he wondered. He spun around the Asher, and sure enough, the screen hadn't been lying. The Dammerung, pride and joy of Vector, floated there, gleaming in the starlight. A small shuttle was coming along side of the mammoth ship, no doubt someone from the Durandal.
"I wonder what Vector is doing here? I know they like to research the Gnosis, but I thought they had more pressing matters, like protecting people with KOS-MOS."
"That's it!" MOMO said suddenly.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Jr. asked, confused. He couldn't remember discussing Vector or KOS-MOS with her recently.
"I sensed KOS-MOS inside of that Gnosis," MOMO explained. "They must be here to do…something…that involves her and the Gnosis."
"But what? She can really kick ass, but I don't think she can take on all of these by herself. Even with the Dammerung here, and with what the Durandal can do, we aren't prepared for an all-out battle with the Gnosis. It's a miracle they haven't attacked us further in the time we've been here. Besides, there's always the chance that KOS-MOS was supposed to battle the Gnosis, but was defeated."
"Then they must be planning something else. From what I know of CEO Wilhelm from Mom, he doesn't seem like he would rashly start something he couldn't finish," MOMO said. "If he sent KOS-MOS in there, then he knew what he was doing. It couldn't have been an accident; KOS-MOS it too expensive to throw away like that."
"Good point," Jr. said. "Ah well, let's keep trying to contact the Durandal. If we put more minds to this problem, maybe we'll finally get an answer."
"Hey, if the Durandal is here, do you think Shion and Allen are too?"
"They probably are. I bet we'll see them before too long; they're always mixed up in some sort of problem."
---
"Chief – I meant Shion, I really did – we have a serious problem."
"What do you mean, a problem?"
"As in, KOS-MOS' functions are rocketing off the scale."
"What?" Shion asked, dropping the pen she had been writing with, and turning to where Allen sat at a workstation set up specifically for monitoring KOS-MOS as she completed her mysterious mission. Sure enough, her vital signs were not good. It wasn't that she was taking a beating from an enemy; from the looks of it, her systems were failing completely, and for no reason whatsoever – almost as though someone had sent the emergency shutdown codes to her.
"I'm not sure what happened. KOS-MOS received some sort of signal from an unidentified sector of space, which knew the correct encryption codes, and then this happened without warning. She even seems to have been sent to another sector of space!"
"Repeat that last part again," Shion said slowly, frowning.
"You heard me right. KOS-MOS was charted in one area one moment, and then, as though she'd completed a U.M.N. gate within the span of a second – which, need I remind you is impossible – she appeared in a new sector of space!"
"What was the nature of the message?"
"Only KOS-MOS knows that, and she's not in any position to tell us right now."
Shion hurried over to the computer, and observed the screens carefully before she took any action. She didn't want to hurt KOS-MOS. "Allen, try to trace the message."
"I've been trying, but the computer keeps coming up with an error message."
"You fed the information correctly, didn't you?"
"Of course I did!" Allen said indignantly. "But you can try if you want."
"No, I trust you… But this is impossible!" Shion quickly typed in a set of commands for KOS-MOS, but it was no good. The KOS-MOS mainframe kept rejecting her authorization. She hissed in frustration – this was not good.
"Shion, we need to shut KOS-MOS down," Allen said slowly. Shion turned to him, her green eyes burning in anger, and Allen quickly put up his hands in defense. "I know you don't want to, but otherwise KOS-MOS will be controlled by an unknown person. You don't want that, do you? Besides," he added when he saw her dejected face, "we can always start her up again right away. She'll have a slight memory loss, but the codes will be purged from her system. Okay?"
"I know you're right, Allen," Shion said bitterly. "But that doesn't mean I like it." She steeled herself, and reached into her pocket, withdrawing a cardkey. Allen withdrew one similar to hers. They inserted them into twin slots, and looked at each other.
"Oh three?" he asked. She nodded. "One… Two… Three!" They turned the cards, and held their breaths.
"The override you are using cannot be completed. Interference in the area of the subject you are trying to reach prevents all transmissions. Please try again later."
"WHAT!" Shion shouted. "This is an emergency! Get more power, or something!" Of course, the automatic voice didn't reply, as it was automated. It replied when a specific action was chosen. That was it.
"It's no good, Shion," Allen said as she collapsed on her chair, numb with shock. This couldn't happen; KOS-MOS couldn't be mysterious, and possibly dangerous, hands. It wasn't some damn reputation that she cared about, as she was for more concerned about KOS-MOS' safety. Who knew what could happen to her?
"We have to tell CEO Wilhelm," Shion said slowly. "Surely there's something he can do about this."
"I don't know if we should – "
"Allen, we have to do this. It's work related, so it's not like he can get mad at us – at least, not reasonably. Don't you care what happens to KOS-MOS?"
"Of course I do!" Allen sighed. "All right, let's go."
"Great! I'll call Miyuki. She can help us track him down." Shion pulled out her bunnie phone as they raced out the door, aware that KOS-MOS could be at death's very door this moment.
---
Darkness surrounded the factory. There were a few searchlights sweeping the grounds, and some Realian guards with infrared goggles, but they would be easy to miss. Jin and Canaan were crouched behind a truck, their eyes watching the guards as they made their rounds Fortunately, there was an easily noticed pattern, which they had picked up in their first two nights of observation. Now, they were ready to enter the factory itself.
They were still working on their assignment for Representative Helmer. They were on Keltia, looking for Margulis after his reported 'death'. So far, there had been a lot of tiny holes in the fabricated story. Not enough to notice from afar, but enough that once you saw it up close you wondered how you'd missed it before. And now their search had led them to a small factory that had been rumored to be under the U-TIC payroll before the Patriarch's death. It was the perfect place to hide if you were supposed to be dead, as most of the factory was automated, eliminating the need for more than a few employees.
Hacking into the mainframe of the city, they had pulled out sketchy blueprints before the officials had been alerted to their presence in the mainframe. There were still entire areas that there was no data on, and those were the areas to try first.
Canaan signaled to Jin – the coast was clear. Clutching his katana, he raced forward, keeping as low to the ground as his frame would allow. He fell into place beside Canaan, crouched behind a fuel tanker. The first layer of security had been avoided.
Canaan peeked around the tanker, and saw that the door was now unguarded, as the shifts were changing. They had a two minute window in which to run across the clear parking lot, avoiding all search lights and patrols, override the codes, and get inside. A daunting task in and of itself, but something they'd been confident they could handle. They nodded to each other, and started to sprint.
In reality the distance wasn't too far; to them, they felt as though they were crossing miles and miles of desert in broad daylight wearing reflective garments. All it took was one stupid guard moving off his path, one mistimed search light, and everything was blown to hell.
But they made it, and Canaan immediately began to search for the code. He came up short, through, when an unexpected problem presented itself.
Where there had been a place to punch in a code just yesterday, there was now a cardkey slot.
"What the…?" started Jin, peering over Canaan's shoulder, but that was as far as he got before Canaan reached out and pulled him down, smashing his face into the damp earth while pressing himself down at the same time. A guard was coming by, and he could see them. The only thing that was in their favor was the fact they wore dark clothes on dark earth near a brown building. If they had been near something light, he would be a little worried. All they had to do was avoid the guard.
Luckily for them, he seemed to be going into the building. He muttered blearily about coffee and sleep under his breath, fumbling to get his cardkey out. Finally, he managed to insert it into the slot, and heard a beep as the lock confirmed his authorization. Canaan and Jin didn't even have to look at each other; they knew this was their chance.
As the guard walked calmly in, the two slipped in as silently as they could. There was a tense moment while the door almost managed to shut on Jin's foot, but he moved it just in time. The guard moved away, and Canaan wanted to breathed a sigh of relief. But he knew they weren't out of immediate danger yet; they had to get into a hidden corner until the replacement guard went outside. Canaan motioned to Jin, spying a pile of crates further down the hall. It would do for temporary cover, as no one was looking for them.
"Canaan, I'm stuck," Jin hissed. Canaan turned around, and sure enough, the hem of his robe was caught in the doorway.
"Just pull it out and come on."
"It won't budge."
"Then cut it off."
"There's no way I'm going to purposefully deface this robe in anyway! It's too valuable and too beautiful!" snapped Jin, quietly at least. Canaan was about ready to punch him, as he heard the approaching footsteps of a guard. In desperation, he ran to the crates, and hid himself, withdrawing his gun and silencer. He only had one chance, and then someone would raise the alarm. He heard the footsteps come closer, like the steps of a grotesques demon advancing on helpless prey. He held the gun at the ready, forcing his breathing to calm. They couldn't afford to be caught now.
"Huh?" said a guard, no doubt seeing something indistinct and suspicious at the end of the hallway. He quickened his pace, and there was the sound of a phone being flipped open as he neared the crates. Canaan knew he needed to get him before the operated the phone.
He jumped out, training the gun on the guard and firing. It wasn't too bad, as the guard was close. He didn't even have time to do more than give off a whimper before his lifeforce ended. Canaan rushed forward and caught him before his metallic uniform hit the floor. The guard was searched for a cardkey, and then unceremoniously dumped into an open crate. Then he turned his attention to where Jin was still struggling with the door. He opened the door, Jin pulled out his clothes, and then they hurried over to a nearby ladder, which lead up to some maintenance catwalks.
"Why did you insist on that ridiculous costume?" hissed Canaan, trying not to be heard by the suspicious guards as they moved slowly through the docking bay below them. Jin looked down at his Japanese garb.
"This is my style," he said. "And it fit with my sword. I won't appear in anything else."
Canaan almost snorted, but he refrained. "It's your neck, Captain Uzuki," was all he said, and the two moved further into the enemy's lair.
---
In the bowels of the Dammerung, two cloaked men stood together, whispering urgently. The Red Testament looked toward the Black Testament, and if his face hadn't been obscured you would have seen worry and confusion reflected in his icy blue eyes.
"Voyager, are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Why Kevin, I never took you for a weakling."
"I'm not chickening out, I just… I don't know; this just seems so wrong."
"Look, they all trust me. We don't need to worry about power, all of that as been assured. All we need to do is use the power granted."
"He's right, you know," added a third voice, as a man in navy blue stepped forward from the shadows where he had been all along. "Everything is going perfectly; when the time comes, we will be able to act."
"Virgil is right," said Voyager. His pale face was never masked on the Dammerung, and he leaned in toward Kevin, his face twisted into what was supposed to be a smile, but seemed to be a horrid grimace of pain, the type only seen in nightmares. "Besides, don't you have a… how shall I phrase this… personal motivation?"
Kevin leaned back in revulsion. "Don't even start," he hissed, but Voyager had reached him, and he knew it. "Okay, okay… I won't say anything. But I need conclusive evidence."
"And you'll get it," he said. "Until then, you'd better behave." And he faded away without so much as a whisper. Virgil and Kevin looked at each other.
"I think the Zohar's have messed with his head," Kevin said slowly. "Is he really worth listening to, or are his brains addled too deeply?"
"Don't tell me you really plan to defy Voyager after what you said? He has more power than all of us."
"I say those things to his face, but surely even you have had your doubts about this. Sometimes, I think he has the right idea, but goes about it entirely the wrong way."
"Perhaps…" murmured Virgil, looking out into the starry sky. "But I don't like to take uncertain risks until I'm certain I have everything I need, or someone forces my hand. And right now, not all of the bets are in."
"But they will be. KOS-MOS already left," pointed out Kevin.
"That is true. Either way, we will need to act soon, or loose the window of opportunity."
"Agreed. Perhaps we should talk later…?"
"Let's wait until the newest Testament gets back. I want to see what his motives are. He's a wild card, and like I said, I don't like uncertainties."
"Now's your chance," Kevin said slowly. "I sense that he's back already."
With those words, the two faded from sight, each questioning his own role in the already tangled web of the universe.
---
"Welcome, Director Kukai, to the Dammerung," said Wilhelm smoothly as Gaignun entered the room with Mary and Shelley in tow.
"Thank you, CEO Wilhelm," Gaignun said, with a small bow. "You have an impressive ship here."
"You flatter me, when you have the Durandal, and it was built with a private economy. Would you care for something to eat or drink? We have a very nice selection on board."
"No thank you. I would prefer to get straight to business."
"Then we shall indeed. As you are no doubt aware, Gnosis activity has decreased all over. And, until recently, they were believed to be gone. But then this Gnosis awakens. And it is the very same one that arrived after Proto Omega was destroyed a year ago."
"Yes…" Gaignun said slowly, unsure as to where this was going. Usually, he knew what was going on with people. Wilhelm, however, was one of the few he couldn't quite read.
"I'll be quite frank with you, as time is of the essence. I require your Zohars."
Gaignun's face betrayed nothing, but his mind was working in overdrive. No one should have known that they had the Zohars. Few even knew of their existence. The Kukai Foundation had concealed its activities by making it look as though there were pirates about when taking Zohars from those other than the U-TIC. Of course, U-TIC had amassed many of them before the Durandal had started on it's crusade, so they didn't feel quite so guilty about stealing. But Wilhelm shouldn't of known.
"May I ask what leads you to believe that we have these …Zohars, I believe you said… on board our ship, or within the Foundation's walls?"
Wilhelm smiled slightly, but the look was far from happy. It carried about it a predatory aura, and it made Gaignun distinctly uncomfortable. Mary and Shelley gave involuntary shivers behind him. "We're both men of intelligence, Director Kukai. Don't insult me; I know they are there." Gaignun started to protest again, but Wilhelm cut him off. "I've seen them. You have thirteen. They are lined up in rows in an Isolation Area on board your ship. Each one is in a special carrying case, no doubt designed by Joachim Mizrahi. Each one bears a name on it, the twelve apostles from the Lost Jerusalem Bible and the name Marienkind. Do you need any more proof?"
The news shocked Gaignun. He obviously knew about them. He hated to admit it, but Wilhelm either had more powerful assistants than he thought, KOS-MOS had given him the information or… there was a spy. Personally, Gaignun figured he'd gotten it from KOS-MOS, as he trusted the members of the Foundation with his life, and there was no one alive that could defeat the Durandal's security system. "What could you possibly want with them?"
"That is my affair," Wilhelm said. "I ask you for these in good faith, and you will receive a reward for your labors, you resources and your time. But if you refuse this offer, be aware that I will take them by force, and you will get nothing. I'm sure you've seen what KOS-MOS can do?"
"Well…" Gaignun hated to admit it, but he was trapped. If he refused, then Wilhelm could hold them captive, use KOS-MOS to storm the Durandal with the Damemrung providing support. But he couldn't agree to pass over the powerful Zohars to an unknown in the equation.
"I'm don't care who he's with! I'm going in there!" shouted an indistinct voice from the corridor.
"But you can't! He's with important dignitaries – "
"Miyuki, I don't give a damn if he's in there with the President of the Foundation! Yes, you heard me, I swore, and don't look so surprised. Now get out of my way NOW."
"But… but… but… but…"
"It's an emergency, and I'm not standing by!"
"Hey, what are you doing! Don't let her go in there! Let ME go!"
The doors stormed open, and a very angry Shion ran in. In the background, Allen was holding a struggling woman, presumably Miyuki, back from the door.
"What is the meaning of this?" Wilhelm demanded, his voice icy. "I don't want to be interrupted."
"Sir, I realize that, but it's an emergency." She looked over at them, and looked again. "Gaignun! Mary! Shelley! I'm so sorry, but it's an emergency."
"Please, Shion, proceed," Gaignun said. Perhaps, in the confusion, they could regroup. Suddenly, Wilhelm looked alarmed.
"We should carry on this discussion outside…" he began, but Shion but him off.
"No. It's about KOS-MOS, and I want to talk – "
"This isn't the time, nor is it the place."
"No, go on Shion," Gaignun said, smiling. He had a feeling that Wilhelm had just lost his ace in the hole.
"KOS-MOS went missing on her mission! We tracked her to her destination, then she received an unknown transmission, and her systems began to fail. On top of that, she was transported to an unknown sector of space! She could be anywhere, and we need to find her!"
Wilhelm closed his eyes as Gaignun and the Godwin sisters stood up. "I'm so sorry, CEO Wilhelm, but the answer is no." And he walked out of the room, flanked by his aides, leaving a confused Shion and an angry Wilhelm behind.
---
KOS-MOS was unsure as to where, exactly, she was. One moment, she had been waiting within the Gnosis for further orders. The next, she was on a foreign planet which didn't appear in her database. She tried an experimental step, and her foot connected with a solid plane. Her sensors seemed to be off-line, and for the first time she felt what he humans called 'agitation'. She didn't like being in foreign places, blind to possible threats.
There was a church in front of her, a small one that was much like the church from the Encephalon dive years earlier. She entered it slowly, her crimson eyes never staying still, accessing the situation. If she couldn't have sensors, or equipment, she would rely on vision. Obviously, whoever had sent her here wanted to try and take her unaware; that or her sensors didn't matter.
The door moaned as she pushed it open, but she ignored it. So far, there had been so signs of life. But KOS-MOS wouldn't let her guard down; that wasn't what she was programmed to do.
Heh heh heh…a battle android… said a voice. She couldn't pinpoint it; it seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. But it was definitely female.
Don't be alarmed. I haven't brought you here to harm you, said the voice, in a calming manner, as though she were talking to a child.
"I do not require coddling like a child, nor do I do anything for an employer other than Vector Industries," said KOS-MOS.
Oh really? Too bad your 'Vector' doesn't mean anything to me.
"It is not 'my' Vector. It belongs to CEO Wilhelm."
Vector belongs to him, does it? Of course, I should have seen. Ah, the irony is delicious, and there has been little to amuse me these past four thousand years. But how could you understand? You barely know two.
"I request that you return me to the Gnosis. My job there is not yet complete."
These jobs are the same. But I don't expect you to understand yet. No, I will bide my time. But first, you need to see this. Come closer to the altar. KOS-MOS deducted that by appeasing the unknown woman, by seeing whatever it was this voice wanted her to see, KOS-MOS could proceed along her mission much faster. She stepped forward, and for once even the android was surprised at the sight that greeted her on the other side of the altar.
A woman knelt there, her hands palm down on the floor. Brown tresses hung in her face, but KOS-MOS could see the unnatural silver eyes that looked up at her. To either side gray wings where expanded; but they were partially burnt, ruining any look of angelic peace the woman may of once held. On closer inspection, KOS-MOS could see that she was kneeling in a pool of crimson, which looked suspiciously like blood. The hole in the woman's stomach supported this theory, as did the bloodstained dagger that lay beside her, the blade covered in blood.
"You should seek medical attention soon," advised KOS-MOS. "You cannot hope to survive further blood loss."
I'm not truly alive, said the voice. That is how I am trapped, frozen in time until we all can be released. Too many of us needed to guard the gates, too many of us gave up our lives willingly to keep the Gnosis at bay. KOS-MOS…release me…release us all. Follow the instructions I've placed in your head, they will guide you.
A ghostly hand reached out, and touched her head lightly. A blue light flared up for a moment, and then faded. The voice faded with it, as though the effort of speech was slowly draining her power. Go back…to where the first lock was released…where the first guardians…died… KOS-MOS' vision went hazy, and she felt herself slipping. One final call came to her, before her systems failed. All creatures are equal…with free will, and so…I release you from… your masters.
