Chapter Nine: Termination

Afterwards, the 3-person group walked out of the exercise area room and outside where everyone seemed to stare at Shane along with her permiscuous outfit. Shion looked to the girl who looked calm (for now) as she rubbed her redded cheek. "...That hurt, Shane. I'll get you back when you least expect it." The pink-haired girl looked at her then grinned manically at her. "I'll be waiting for it."

"Oh, what would be the point then?" Shane snickered, covering her ears. "Shit...that announcer is really getting on my nerves.." They took the transporter to another area then got out at the stop, walking to where the Vector employees were.

"Shion?" a familiar voice called out. The group stopped as the brunette turned around to see Juli standing in the hallway with a somewhat tired look on her face. "SPLEE, ITS MY MOMMA!!" Shane yelled while startling everyone in hearing range. She immediately clung to the dark-haired woman who gasped lightly. "Ah...nice to see you again too, Shane...and I'm not your mom, remember?" Shion chuckled lightly, walking up to Juli. "It's good to see you again."

"Shane...I have to walk, okay?" The pink-haired girl pulled away with a mewling effect as they followed the woman to another room. "I don't think we've seen each other since the Gnosis terrorism. You look well." Once in the (break) room, Juli sat down at the table as she crossed her legs with a small smile. Shane sat down on a couch with a sigh, rubbing her shoulder lightly. "I didn't realize you were here, too," Shion said to the older woman. "Yes, the Subcommittee is involved in the project as well. Of course, all I'm actually doing is measuring values and babysitting. I heard from your brother what happened. You've had a tough time."

"...You've seen Jin?" The woman nodded. "Yes, he's been doing jobs for me frequently," she said. "You haven't seen him lately? I heard the Durandal is in port. Jin should be with them." The brunette looked to the side, scratching her cheek lightly. "Oh, uh it's just—since that incident, we've been having a hard time talking with each other..."

Juli nodded some. "I get it. I'm sure he's worried about you. You should at least say hello." Shion smiled some. "I'll try," she said only to get punched in her thigh by Shane. "Oww! Shane, wha--" She stood up as she pulled the brunette's reddened cheek again and making her squeak again in distress. "You better go say 'hi' to Jin-sempai, alright? He's getting grey hairs 'cause of you."

"Alright, alright, I will...whenever I see him.." The doors hissed open as everyone turned their head to see a boy no younger than 7 or 8 walk into the room. His light brown hair was held back in a ponytail while wearing a white suit similar to that of a hospital patient's gown--only with pants. He was also barefoot; his hazel eyes dim and somewhat blank. That boy... "Hmm? What is it, Abel?" Juli asked as he walked over to her. He glanced down at a blue marker on the table, the woman picking it up and holding it out to him. "Is this what you want? Here you go." The boy--now known as Abel--took the marker without saying anything then walked over to a nearby corner, kneeling down as he began to draw on the floor.

"A child?" Shion asked watching him. "Eee, he's so cute, Momma--I mean, Juli! When did you adopt?" The dark-haired woman sighed lightly, smaking the young woman on her arm (the latter hissing at the older woman). "No, I didn't adopt, Shane. His name is Abel. My primary job is to facilitate smooth communication with him," Juli explained. "I understand. But why with a child so young?" The two women watched Abel continue to draw on the floor.

"Because this young man is an invaluable member of the Zohar Project."

"He's involved with the Zohar Project?"

Shane looked at Allen with a confused face. "Did you know this?" she asked as he shook his head. The pink-haired girl stood up once the brown-haired boy finished his drawing, looking at the young woman. She walked over to him then kneeled down in front of him. "Hey, Abel. My name's Shane." He stared at her only to be hugged, squeaking lightly. Juli looked on with a small smile. He's letting someone hug him...that's a good start, I suppose. "You be careful now, you hear?" He nodded some almost nuzzling in her soft "pillows" and pulled away, walking out of the room. The brunette sighed lightly then looked over to the drawing, gasping softly.

"This is Nephilim. How does he know what she looks like?" she asked aloud as Shane looked at the drawing with a concerned look. "All phases of the performance program are now over," the female announcer said over the intercom. "Supervisors for each weapon are requested in the conference room." Juli stood up from the table as she sighed some.

"Well, it looks like T-elos's data feedback is done. Now I have to go entertain government officials. Honestly, I can't believe I'm spending time on something like that." Shion and Shane giggled lightly while the woman smiled some. "Oh, Shion. Why don't you go see your friends?"

"What? But that's—" The woman smiled at her. "The areas past section 7 are security level B, but you shouldn't have any problem. After all, you were a major contributor to the KOS-MOS project. I'll contact security." The brunette blinked a few times before smiling back. "Thank you."

"Use the transporter from the terminal up ahead. You should be able to get to Vector's research wing from there. Oh, and Shane?"

"Nn?" The pink-haired girl looked back at the woman with a somewhat tired look. Juli smiled at her then pulled her cheek making the younger girl whine lightly. "Oww...is this punishment for letting MOMO sing on stage with me last night?"

"Yes," the dark-haired woman replied plainly.

Afterwards, the 3-person group walked out of the break room and proceeded to the area past Section 7. There, they took the transporter that was available: No. 4 to the No. 2 area. "Everything's the fucking same, Allen," Shane muttered lightly as the brown-haired man nervously rubbed the back of his head. "Geez...give me some credit here." The group made their way through a large room; a bridge built over their heads. Ahead of them was a light blue mecha in front of a large door.

"Wait, this is a VX-7000!" Shion exclaimed, stopping to look at the mecha. "It's because of the Gnosis terrorism. Since we don't know when or where they'll attack, the top brass is leaving nothing to chance."

"I see. Vector's participating, too, so I guess it's only natural," Shane said with her arms folded. The brunette lowered her head some. "Does it bring back memories?" She looked up at Allen and nodded. "...Well, yeah." They began to walk again; the pink-haired girl looking at their backs as she held her head gently. She watched images of a girl with blue hair that went past her shoulders walk behind two others who faces were blurred out for some reason.

The hell? Shane thought shaking her head some. She continued to follow the two adults--even if she was one herself--to Vector's laboratory as an (annoying) voice echoed in her ears. "Chief!" The pink-haired girl backed up when Shion's friends approach her with smiles on their faces to see their "flower" return to see them. "Welcome back, Chief," a Vector researcher told her the brunette nodding with a smile.

"I'm glad everyone is looking well. Too bad about what happened down there." The black-haired man (Togashi) rubbed the back of his head with a small chuckle. "Well, considering what she was fighting, I think she did a pretty good job."

"Yes, you're right. By the way, could you stop calling me Chief?" she asked with a wave of her hand. "I don't work here anymore." Togashi shook his head at her. "No matter where you go or what you become, you're still our dear Chief." He looked to Allen with a small smirk. "Right, Chief Ridgeley?" The brown-haired man nearly jumped at the sound of his name, nodding slowly with a light blush on his cheeks. "Huh? Oh, uh, well, yeah." The pink-haired girl chuckled lightly then looked away when she was introduced to Allen's glare.

"Thanks, guys. Where's KOS-MOS?" Shion asked watching their faces turn into frowns or discomfort looks. "...She got beat up pretty badly, so she's undergoing maintenance." The brunette felt her heart come up into her throat as she looked to the maintenance bed with a saddened look. "KOS-MOS, you're still doing your best." She looked to the side. "But what am I doing? What would you think of me if you saw me now?"

"Chief…" The brown-haired man walked over to the woman who turned to him. "Hmm?"

"I guess you're concerned about KOS-MOS," he told her only to watch Shion shake her head. "Oh, it's not that, I—After seeing KOS-MOS and everyone, I just feel like you've all left me behind. That's all." He frowned at her. "...Chief.."

"I'm sorry. I think I'll be going. Thanks for everything today." Shane stepped to the side as the brunette began to walk to the door. "Chief! Um, tomorrow!" She stopped walking then looked back at a trembling Allen who had a dark blush on his face. "T-tomorrow, would you like to go out for a bite in the city? I found this great restaurant the other day and—"

"Sure, sounds good," Shion said with a smile. "Yeah, I figured you'd be busy. Then, maybe next time—" Shane growed lightly at his low self-esteem. "She said, sure, damnit! Get it together!"

"Huh? What? R-really?" The brunette nodded at him, a look of relief coming over his face abeit him still nervous. "Yeah. When would be a good time? I'm free all day." He rubbed the back of his head some. "Uh, um, okay, let's meet in the hotel lobby at 7PM. I'll come get you."

"Okay. I'll be waiting."

"Th-th-thank you! See you then! Good night!" Allen said nervously as Shion left. "Good night." Shane started to walk out of the room only to be stopped by a tap on her shoulder. "Um, excuse me?" She turned to a small group of Vector employees (male and female) with Chic magazines. "We didn't know that Chief Uzuki and Chief Ridgeley were friends with you, the Federation Songstress!" The pink-haired girl held up her hands, chuckling lightly.

"Goes to show what Allen doesn't say," she said as he looked over. "I did tell them! They didn't believe me!" She giggled lightly, signing the magazines with a marker she was handed. "Excuse me." Shane gasped then turned her head to see the blonde man from before...who kissed her hand waltz into the room as he looked around the place with a stuck-up look. Ah, hell... "Is this the KOS-MOS maintenance room? It's smaller-scale than I expected." He looked over to the pink-haired girl with a small smile.

"Special Adviser Roth Mantel?" Togashi asked in an somewhat angered voice walking over to the man. "Why are you here? Did you come to gloat to the losers?" Allen walked over, grabbing the black-haired man's shoulder. "Calm down, Togashi." He bowed his head to Roth slightly. "I apologize. What can we do for you?"

"Oh, that's quite all right. What he said isn't exactly wrong."

"...Excuse me?" Shane narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched a smug look come over the blonde man's face. "I mean, I came here to finish off the losers," he told the Vector employees. "I need you to gather your things together at once." Instant gasps and shocked replies echoed around the room; a surprised look coming over Togashi's face. "Wait a minute! What about KOS-MOS's repairs?"

"There's no need. KOS-MOS will never awaken again."

"What are you talking—" Allen flinched lightly when Roth handed him a file document. "This will explain it." The brown-haired man began to read over the document while Shane walked over, reading over his shoulder. "What? Decision to dispose of KOS-MOS…? What the hell is this?!" he exclaimed in an angered voice.

"It's exactly what it says. The Subcommittee voted on the decision a short while ago. There is no need for us to waste our resources. So, we're pouring it all into T-elos's development. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid she's going to be scrapped."

Allen gripped the papers tightly then looked back at KOS-MOS's maintenance bed. "...I can't believe it," he said in a shocked voice. "How can they scrap KOS-MOS?" The pink-haired girl narrowed her eyes as she looked to the brown-haired man. "...She'll awaken again, you guys. I'm sure of it."

"Oh? The Federation Songstress is sure of this fact?" Roth asked in an amused voice. But of course, Shane amused him with her antics. "Unlike you or the weak-ass Subcommittee--save Juli--KOS-MOS won't give in that easily." Shane turned to the Vector employees and bowed. "I wish you guys the best of luck with everything." She turned and walked out of the room as Roth followed after her.

"Miss Shane...you do realize you're putting yourself in a position to lose your military status, correct?" She stopped walking then glanced back at him with a dark look. "...What'd you say, blondie?" she asked coldly. "Ah, that murderous intent in your eyes. No wonder you're called the Black Angel. You took out an entire gnosis fleet all by yourself with the help of a Hilbert Effect amplifier installed on your machine--your first military battle. Even though your craft was damaged, you came out of with minor injures...with a haunted look on your face." She gripped her fists tightly, walking over to Roth and punching him across the face as his glasses fell to the floor along with blood.

"You, Roth Mantel, have no right in talking about past events. You better be glad I'm nice...otherwise I could've killed you." He knelt down and picked up his glasses, placing them back on his face. "I know you could have," he said looking at her with a small smile. He had a bruise on his face; a small cut under his eye. "You are Dimitri Yuriev's granddaughter, aren't you?"

"That's none of your business...now if you'll excuse me..." Shane turned and walked to the elevator as Roth smirked. "Now I know for sure...its the other maiden inside you...Shane Kukai-Lee..."

Chapter Nine: End

--

O.o Shane punched Roth Mantel? I guess that's what you get for delving into people's pasts/profile/information thingy. Anyway, R&R. You may get a lemon chapter next. ;3