Cela Andromeda: ya it's going to be painful
Piasora: that's cool, well you're gonna love what i do with them soon
FFfangirlH: i never quit, i was just having trouble getting the insiration to write, ee almost done, one more chappie.......-falls over-
TrickyFrog: I would do a spell check if my microsoft word program was still one my comp, till then i'm just trying to keep an eye on my spelling.
I'm currently working on a group picture of Nyima, Crescent, inochi, shi, and Keteya. If you want give me an alternate e-mail address and once I'm done i'll send it to ya.
Ok, near the end of the chapter there's gonna be some time flux's, so some of it may not make sense since they happen at different times. I know it's a little long, but i want to get this finished.....sry! -cries-
Chapter 37: Part: 13
"Why are you URTV called by numbers? Don't you have a real name?" Sakura asked as she sat at the far end of the table. The party had moved down to the kitchen where 667 was only paying half attention as his interest was in the house and not the girl.
666 fumbled with the sleeve of his uniform, "Because we do not require personal names. We are only meant to battle U-DO which has come to infect Miltia. How come your father hasn't taken you and your mother away from this planet while you're still unaffected?"
The brunette thought a moment before shrugging, "I think it has something to do with his research he's conducting up on his ship orbiting the planet."
669 almost burst out, "That's no excuse! You could be up in space with him! Atleast there you have almost nill chance of U-DO taking you." again Sakura didn't have an answer. But her curiousity of the boys pushed her to further questions.
"What would happen - if it were possible - if U-DO managed to take one of your kind?"
For once the three were stumped. They doubted even Dr. Yuriev would know the answer to that. Something dangerous that was for sure. The thought sent shivers up and down 666's spine. 669 glanced out the window above the sink to spy a somewhat 'modernized' garden. Did something just move out there? The black haired boy reached out with his senses but didn't get anything, so he shrugged it off before turning back to the conversation.
"Miss Sakura? May you give us a tour of your garden outside while we talk?"
She looked up, not seeing why they were so interested in what she'd lived around all her life, "Yes. I think that would be fine." Sakura couldn't believe how trustful she was being to almost complete strangers.
Outside the gardens consisted of stone walls and smooth cobble stone walkways. The flowers bloomed richly in their homes, well cared for and weed free. The automated water sprays had just finished lightly padding dew on them, the drops slid down their stems straight into the soil. Glistening on their colorful pedals. Sakura stopped to pick a wilting flower; for once she was able to actually enjoy its fragrance.
667 suddenly snatched it out of her fingers, "How come this one isn't as nice as the others?"
She shrugged, "I don't know. Perhaps a flower disease caught it. I'll have to let our probes know." she glanced back at the three, "It's a bit odd calling you guys by numbers. Do you mind if I name you something else? It can be our little secret from your master."
Master isn't too far from the truth. 666 thought with distaste. He looked back at 669, then at 667. Both shrugged and nodded. 667 a little more enthusiastic as usual.
Sakura fiddled with the lacing of her dress a moment thinking. Then she pointed at 669, "You can be Nigredo, because of your black hair." she turned to 667, "Albedo, for albino or whitening. And 666, you are Rubedo, ruby or reddening. Are these names alright?"
"I like them. It suits us." the black haired URTV said with a smile.
"Albedo Albedo Albedo!" 667 clapped his hands together once and jumped up and down, "I love it!"
Sakura looked over at their red headed leader, "Rubedo?" He nodded, giving her a smile that was somewhat rare.
The brunette clapped her hands together, "Alright! Nigredo, Albedo, and Rubedo it is!" her smile felt odd since she'd never actually....truly smiled before.
Nigredo grinned, "Now we actually sound like people. Not machines. I never thought of that before."
"Yes, we were more wrapped up in seeing things that are forbidden to us rather than actually taking time for us." Rubedo mused.
"Doesn't your....master ever let you have freetime?" Sakura asked.
Albedo almost choked with laughter, " 'Freetime' ? If you call meal times free times that's about it. Other than our training sessions to keep us in shape. Nope, we are just tools of warfare."
"By those automatics you were carrying in my room I thought as much. But you three must be barely older than me. Why would this man send you into battle so soon?"
Rubedo raised a hand, "Oldest here by about ten minutes, Albedo youngest by three. It's just what we were made to do. Nothing more, nothing less. And we hate it. At first it was all we knew, then we began to be curious."
Sakura raised one thin brow, "What do you mean by minutes? Are you triplets?"
Albedo cackled, "Hardly and not even that! But - ." his sentence was interrupted by the high whine of an incoming ship. Sakura ran to the corner of the house to see who was coming. She turned her head back to them, "You have to hide! My parents are back!" Nigredo took off with the other two close on his heels.
"Rubedo! Wait! Please promise you guys will come back, ok?"
"Yes Sakura, we promise!" Rubedo called over his shoulder as the URTV's vanished into the trees.
"Dr. Mizrahi has been working on a special project lately upon his main project which I can't tell you about. One thing I know though, it requires a lot of data." Kevin explained to chaos as they made their way to the lower chambers of the ship.
"Oh by the way, chaos. When I reported your appearance, it seems that Helmer wants you back. You work for him don't you?"
"Well, everyone works for someone don't they?" was the silver haired male's reply. Working for several people at once didn't help his schedule though. Never did. They entered a room filled with special type lights, panels, and a single cylinder tube much like the one he'd been inside. The figure suspended in the very center was pale skinned, its developing blue veins potruding up from the rest of its slender body. Nano bots were continually being dispersed into the thick oil like subastance keeping the new realian safe from germs. The nano bots continued tirelessly on building the - girl, he decided - in tip top shape.
"Why is this realian seperated from the rest?" chaos asked. There was one other girl at the panel ahead of them, she had creamy brown skin, light grey, black and blue realian uniform. Her hair was down just past her hips, and she wore a strange white 'nurses' hat. She turned around after finishing her work, collecting her datapads and leaving with hardly a glance at the two that entered.
Kevin watched her a little sadly, "That one is #0027. A Kirshwasser, as Dr. Mizrahi calls them. They're the 98-Series Realian." chaos watched as the little Kirshwasser took her silver nailed fingers and punched in a code to the door before leaving, "He doesn't give them a real name?"
"Unfourtunately, no. The one you see developing here, as far as I know, is called Multiple Observative Mimetic Organicus, or MOMO." Kevin's lips twitched into a slight grin.
chaos smiled gently while looking up at the fragile being, "That's a sweet name. But it's kind of cruel if you ask me. The Kirshwassers will feel like they mean nothing to Dr. Mizrahi."
"I know, but it's not my choice. It's his." the engineer glanced down at the life moniters. Everything was steady and strong, yet fragile at the same time, "Mizrahi seems to be loosing his sense of reality in a way by immersing himself in his research."
"Well, to do research you need reality. Especially in his field from what I gather." chaos said.
Kevin nodded, "Makes sense. If you don't mind, I need to insert a special security system inside MOMO's nueral net." the engineer opened a small case containing several injection needles. Inside the glass tubes the silvery subsbstance constantly swirled, indicating the nano bots inside. Kevin inserted each of the three needles into hoses which began taking the contents. There were about three tubes implanted into the developing realians body, one was to allow easier passage for the interior nano bots.
"What's the system called?" chaos asked out of curiousity.
"K-PX, of course that's obviously just the abbreviated name." Kevin answered.
The silver haired adolescent looked over the realian again, this time taking in each and every detail, "Are you sure this is right?"
"What?"
"Why put such a heavy burden on a such a little being? As you most likely know, even realians have feelings of how they're treated."
Kevin sighed heavily before replying, "I'll admit you've got me there. Dr. Mizrahi said that we'd keep the information he's going to store inside seperate from her main memory banks. Hence this is one of the security systems to keep it closed. But, whether with the knowledge that it even exists inside herself, or without, it will eventually come knocking with some force." suddenly there was a beeping sound and the engineer pulled out a small communicater from his pocket.
"Hmm,"
"What is it?" chaos asked.
"It seems that your ride is here already. They're going to take you to a different station positioned on the far side of Miltia's orbit, the minor planet Atalya. Aparently that's where Helmer has been watching this planet deteriorate."
"Got it, I thank you for all the help you've given me." chaos gave a slight bow.
"Speaking of help, before you leave I'm going to have to teach you how to make that concoction. And give you the main ingrediant." Kevin said.
"That would definately help."
Brilliant light and quick pricks of music sounded through the open window of the Mizrahi household. Inside the living room, Juli sat next to her daughter at the grand piano coaching her in the piece she was playing. Sakura sighed before correcting the little mistake she'd just made.
"It's alright, no one can be perfect. Only really good." Juli encouraged. She seemed younger, more happy even than when Zigurat 8 had first seen her.
Sakura nodded, "Yes Mother, I just want to be the best, for you and Father." she felt so....frustrated. Why was it that when the URTV's were around she was able to feel the emotions she so longed to feel? Why not with her own parents?
Juli smiled and placed her fingers on the keys and played a short bar of the music, "But you don't have to, if there is one perfect little girl out there I think the parents have problems. Mistakes are apart of being human, whether good or bad." Juli consoled. Sakura nodded her head to the beat before placing her fingers down as well and joining the tune in perfect harmony.
Stealthily, Rubedo stalked up to the front porch of the house. Carefully he glanced up past the window sill to watch Sakura and Juli play the duel part. The music was so new to him, yet so beautiful. He wondered why anyone wouldn't like to play this instrament anymore. The red haired URTV sat there with his back against the wall, almost slipping into a hypnotic daze from the music.
Sakura felt a slip of emotion - joyfulness in the arts - slip into her. From this she knew that one of the URTV's were close by. This thought almost made her skip a beat when she realized that for the past few days their weapons were still stashed hastily in her closet. How idiotic of her not to return those things to them.
Rubedo opened his eyes when the music came to a silent halt. There was another exchange of conversation and the shuffle of feet. The URTV sighed heavily and stood up, making his way to the bench swing and sitting down as if he had back pains. His thoughts strayed to Juli, wondering what it would've been like if....
"Rubedo? Where are Nigredo and Albedo?" Sakura asked as she sat down next to him.
"Nigredo went to go look for Albedo. He told me to come back so as not to keep you waiting." he replied simply, his blue eyes averted from her.
"What's wrong?"
"What's it like?"
"Like what?"
"Having a mother, parents that are caring...that don't send their children to fight an evil being..." Rubedo asked slowly.
The fair skinned girl blinked, "It's wonderful, you almost always have someone to hug you when you're hurt. Someone to play a game with you....doesn't Rubedo have a mother? Your father is supposed to be Professor Yuriev, right?"
Rubedo scrunched his face up, "A very healthy egg without any defects - that's all we know...." he pulled one knee up to set his elbow on, "That damned Yuriev damned us all when he created us. You might call us his hell spawns."
"Don't say things like that!" Sakura placed her hand on his shoulder, "Rubedo is a very great guy."
"A great guy that kills those infected with U-DO and unable to do anything BUT do that. You hardly know me, how can you judge me as a 'great guy'?"
This took a moment for the girl to respond to, "Because, I can see the good heart in you." Rubedo started to laugh but instead stifled it so that her mother wouldn't hear. His gaze traveled up the hills to the orange sky where the sun was setting quietly as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. A gentle breeze carressed the two in their silence, as if trying to ease both of their pains.
"Good heart eh? Not likely," he sat up straight, "A killer like me? Ya right."
"Oh Rubedo shouldn't say things like that about himself! You only kill because you have to! Not because you want to!"
"Sakura? Who are you talking to?" Juli asked as she stepped outside. Sakura stuttered and turned to look at Rubedo - only to find him gone, "N-no one Mother. You must be hearing things." Juli arched one slim eyebrow in puzzlement before returning inside. Rubedo dropped from where he'd been clinging to the porch overhang roof, "I think I should go."
Sakura made a grab for his arm as he turned away, "No wait! You still havn't taken those automatics of yours!"
Rubedo swore under his breath, "I just knew we were forgetting something! Ok, can you throw them out your window and I'll catch them?" Sakura nodded and disapeared inside. Truly she'd wanted the URTV to stay longer, looks like that wasn't to be this day. The guns felt heavy and cold under her fragile fingers, she wondered how they could carry these destructive tools all day. Sakura opened up her window to see Rubedo standing close to the wall right under her. The Mizrahi took the first gun and dropped it, the URTV caught each of them easily. He waved a farewell to her before dashing off into the distance. Sakura watched him with a forlorned expression that quickly vanished with his presence.
Rubedo ran lightly across the neatly trimmed grass, practically gliding across the earth as he made his way to where Nigredo stated he was. Albedo had vanished so suddenly it wasn't funny, one minute he'd been acting sick, and the next gone. What was with that white haired lunatic? Well, ok lunatic was going a little too far. More like, overly hyper and intellagent being. Rubedo corrected himself.
"Come on Albedo! Get up!" Nigredo's highly annoyed tone told the red head where hidden among the trees they were.
"What's going on?" he asked in a firm tone as he shoved aside the brush.
"Nigredo let go!" Albedo whined in a high pitched voice, "I'm tired!"
"We have to get moving! I already feel them coming, and Yuriev isn't too happy with us!" Again the URTV pulled/dragged his friend up to his feet.
Albedo glanced over at the red head and gave him a freaky grin, "Hey Rubedo, guess what Sakura told me a few days ago?"
"What?"
The URTV grabbed Rubedo's wrist and pulled his fingers straight to reveal his number, "The number 666, is the devil's number."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"It's the unlucky number that brings the devil about you. So in a sense, you are cursed and are a devil." Albedo's mad grin sent shivers up and down Rubedo's spine. Was he cursed?
"Th-that's just an old wive's tale. People back then believed in bad and good karma. But that doesn't exist!"Rubedo objected with a little more force than he'd intended.
Albedo continued to grin, "I think a devil suits you. You're tempramental, red is your color - which tends to serve as an evil color - and you are made to be one!"
Rubedo glared, "Stop that! There is no such thing!"
Suddenly all three crouched down as the whine of a ship passed overhead dangerously close. Rubedo pressed his temples on either side of his head, feeling Yuriev's anger bearing down on them. A reluctant scream escaped his lips as blackness overtook his senses.
Pain.
His head was pounding. The nueral nerves inside his brain pulsed with painful throbs. No thought could enter his mind, all he knew was the pain. Yuriev obviously wasn't happy with them. And this time they'd paid for it dearly. Rubedo didn't even remember what Yuriev's punishment had been. All he knew was that he'd been hurt.
Upon opening his eyes Rubedo found himself inside his casket like holder. Glancing to the left through the square window he saw Nigredo one casing down, Albedo was right next to him on the right. The 'normal' looking URTV seperating Nigredo from them had a familiar presence more so than the others to Rubedo. This was 668, a slightly rebellious URTV, but the thought of Yuriev's punushments held him back on most of the adventures the trio of trouble took.
You will not do that again. Yuriev's voice cut through Rubedo's brain like a hot blade. You do realize what a panic you caused the other URTV 666?! All of the other clones nearly went berserk when you and 669, and 667 vanished. Do you realize the importance of your being united with them!!
The entire batallion panicked? Then how come we didn't sense anything?
Ignorant idiot! The professor had sensed his thought. You closed yourself off to hide, they didn't feel you so they thought the main link was broken. Should you do that again it will most likely destroy them in fear and I will not have that happen! Rubedo jerked violently and screamed as a bolt of telepathic energy smashed against his mentality one more time. Exhausted, the red head slumped down to the cramped lower part of the enclosed cubical.
Rubedo, get up! It was Nigredo.
The URTV remained where he was a few minutes longer before mustering up the strength to drag himself up. He took in a deep breath to clear his thoughts. Albedo, Nigredo and 668 watched him.
"So much pain. Is it worth the adventures of freedom you steal?" 668 asked in a mild curiousity tone.
"Yes they are!" Rubedo snarled before he could think about what he was saying, "Yuriev will most likely just dispose of us when U-DO is destroyed. We are just soldiers to him! Mere objects of warfare...." the leader choked on his own words as thoughts of Sakura filled his mind. Why at this particular moment he would be thinking of her was beyond him.
"It might be for the best though 666...." this caught all attention, "What would the universe want with us? We malformed humans, they wouldn't know what to do with us. Eventually it would lead to violence. It's just like asking why one such as you, is our leader anyhow."
"Huh?"
" Why....are you our leader....666.....you are nothing but a mutant...a monster.... different than even us all." 668's tone was calm, placid, the usual emotionless voice, yet....
Rubedo looked down at the three red printed numbers on the palm of his hand. What Albedo had said - perhaps more than a day before - some ho made sense. It was like he was the leader, the devil prince of this band of demons. How else would the people look at them? No...he wanted to be free of this chain of slavery that Yuriev had clamped him to. Was breaking the link the only way....?
Alarm systems howled as the computer detected another burst of U-DO trying to break the surface of sleep a little more than a week later. Rubedo jumped a little disoriented out of his small cubical. The hiss of pressure release sounded in the Units room as the full betallion was awoken. Rubedo turned and ran right into Professor Yuriev. Startled, Rubedo kept his mind completely blank to keep the desicions battling within himself from being revealed.
"Number 666, this mission isn't just to drive U-DO back. You must form a Solid Telepathic Entity Circle to contain this part of U-DO."
Rubedo arched a brow, "An STEC? But why?!"
Yuriev pressed his glasses farther up his nose, "When you reach your destination you will see." and with that he turned away without so much as a probe in thought. The aircrafts carried the URTV's over a war torn Miltian city. Smoke curled up like dieing black ghosts, flames licked up to the sky in a vain attempt to reach it. The streets were oddly deserted, normally there would be atleast a wandering civilian or the U-TIC soldiers.
Rubedo watched the scene pass by in a blur, the automatic machine gun in his hand suddenly feeling heavier than usual. Did normal humans see him as a monster? A demon meant to be banished? He'd never taken into consideration those innocent people that had unknowingly been infected were thinking while he shot them down. Heck even U-TIC soldiers were merely following orders.....or atleast most of them anyway.
The hovercrafts lowered down into a particularly damaged part of the city he recognized from before. They were always coming here sending U-DO back. It was no wonder this was the point of most danger. Rubedo leaped out even before the craft set down and pointed the barrel of his rifle in the direction they were supposed to go. It was a little odd to see a mass of grim faced "kids" with automatics rushing down the street, swarming into the alley ways to the facility where the disturbance was being created.
Rubedo yelled out orders with his mind as the URTV's gathered around a giant man made pit. Down down below in its depths was a churning violet seeming to teem with evil energy. Twisted faces whipped gracefully out of the pit at their presence. The Units banished with with blasts of telekenetic energy. In perfect syncronization the Units spaced themselves out and held out their right hand. Each began to glow brightly, the light spread in a flawless circular line. The dimented "fingers" of U-DO arised only to instantly be drawn into the life force that was ment to destroy it.
What then? Rubedo thought silently so as not to distract the others.
What will happen to us....monsters when we are no longer? Would they just release them into the worl, tip their hat and say "Cheerio chaps good luck."? What were they going to do when that dreadful moment of departure? The worlds of humans would most likely stereotype them and meet them with violence.
Albedo suddenly looked over at the red haired male with wide eyes, "Please no Rubedo! I don't want to see what's on the other side!" he begged.
Rubedo ignored him, his seemingly darkening blue eyes going over each of the clones. All almost exactly the same, the only different ones were him, Albedo and Nigredo. Just what was the point after their duties were done?
"Please! Don't do it!" Albedo was starting to wail in panik, tears streaking down his face, "No one knows what will happen! Not even Yuriev!"
Rubedo glared at nothing in sphysical sight. He clenched his fingers into a fist. The light around his hand began to intensify. Then hairline cracks began to form. The other Units suddenly wavered, feeling something was wrong amidst the rest of the chaos.
"Rubedo!" the call was almost drowned completely out by the roar of Unit 666's power. Rubedo gave a yell of anger, desperation and hope as he jerked his hand out of the circle, shattering the frail thread that wove the web-like link between all URTV's. At first, they all just stood there dumbstruck. Their hive like mind now broken into several pieces like a shattered mirror.
Without warning the streams of malformed faces came surging out of the pit. Albedo was instantly hit with one and fell to the steel cat walk they were standing on. Soon others were consumed by U-DO. Almost each and every one of them turning and running like a madman.
"Albedo!" the red headed URTV ran over to the unconcious Unit and shook him vigorously, "Wake up! Don't let U-DO consume you!" Rubedo was jerked away by many grabbing hands. They turned out to be the infected URTV! Why now you ignorant bastard! Why did you have to panic NOW Rubedo clutched his pouding head and threw it back, screaming at the top of his lungs in sheer desperation to get out....permanantly. Red waves of telepathy were sent in all directions, killing anything and everything it touched.
A planet zoomed into view. From space they could only just see small explosions happening on the surface. Then the image faded into a darkened hallway where the only lights were neon blue ones linding the edges of the carpeted floor. chaos sat on a cushioned seat near the turn point of the hallway. He wasn't wearing his old clothing. Now he was wearing a military type uniform, signifying his rank in the Federation. The young laughter he used to have was gone from his face. His eyes looked tired and drained. Even with the Teelaho to aid him, he was still fighting a loosing battle.
"The one in red with conflict, and the one in black with hunger, they live on, carrying great disaster in their tiny bodies." chaos mumbled to no one but himself after feeling the flutter across the universal strand of connection.
Looking a bit dazed, chaos glanced at the locked security door at the end of the hallway. Soon, he would meet the next pawn in their quest. Unfourtunately, that was the best word for them. Pawn. Or perhaps marionettes. Their liminality would soon be gone either down the drain, or helping them get home. All of this was based on one trade they would make to destroy Yavyn Mistra. Then they would fulfill their end of the bargain, and then things would go from there. chaos and his sisters were only a portion of the whole thing. Obviously the Fallen would not leave with them, they would stay until they found the three keys. And wipe out the aeons and the humans.
Suddenly the small red light on the side of the door turned green and it opened with a small hiss. A man with dark brown skin and a elaboratlely decorated robe stepped out. chaos recognized him to be Helmer, the head of the Federation. A noble man who was also a pawn, probably one of the few that was allowed to know about the phoenix's existence in their universe. But if Helmer did know, he never even let him know.
"Hello," Helmer greeted the 'youth', "I'm afraid that I havn't been able to look at your records yet due to my busy schedule."
The silvered haired young man stood up and extended a gloved hand, "chaos."
Helmer firmly shook his hand, "Pleased to meet you, chaos. Your partner is recieving his final tune-ups before he's ready for the mission. I'm sorry for the delay, but only the best can go."
"My partner is the latest module realian, is he not?" chaos wondered.
"Yes he is."
Realians, the best invention of the human race. They were the best, and the worst of things. Atleast though, they got rid of that infamous Life Recycling Act.
"Just to remind you representative, I'm only on this mission as an agent of my own mission. That's why I'm here." chaos informed gently yet firmly.
Helmer nodded without argument, "That's no problem. Just be sure to keep your progress from attracting unwanted attention. Would you like me to debrief you on the current situation?"
"That would be appreciated."
"The planet Miltia, is under seige by the force in abbreviated terms, U-DO. The good Doctor Dmitry Yuriev is stationed there with his 669 units of URTV. Although he claims the situation is under control, I need you and your partner to go into hostile territory and simply investigate."
chaos narrowed his eyes slightly, "Just a spying mission."
"Heh, a little more than that. You need to help retrieve three of the main URTV back to the group, they're falling apart without their leader. The agent we already sent is having trouble and called for backup. He's not just looking for them though, he's looking for a way to retrieve a certain realian that contains what's called the Y-Data. This is very important. But with all the recent events I can't send a full army to retrieve it."
chaos kept his expression the same, "You make it sound as if a realian is a mere object."
Helmer shuffled his feet, "I apalogize if my protocal makes it sound as if realians aren't living beings. But the reason I say it is because the 100-series prototype isn't fully mature and able to leave her chamber."
Last I checked she's almost finished. He waved the apalogy aside, "Everyone has their own opinion. I assume that my partner has all the information we'll need."
"Correct. And be sure that they're returned alive."
"Will do, sir."
After a few more minutes of serious talk the door opened again and a man with red orange hair stepped out. He was a good head taller than chaos, his hair slightly falling across his eyes. He wore the same uniform as chaos, and had a thicker build than him.
Helmer glanced at the newcomer, "Here's is the specilist realian assigned to us from Vector industries. His name is Canaan."
You could only just see the information from his scanners run across his blue grey eyes, "Hello, you must be my partner chaos. Please to meet you." he greeted in a particularly monotone voice.
chaos nodded his head, "Same to you, Canaan."
Something beeped at Helmer's hip, "Well I'll leave you two to get acuainted. Your ship leaves in a few hours so I suggest you head over to the dock imediately. Good luck to both of you." the representative gave a slight nod and left, pulling a communicater from his pocket.
Canaan turned back to chaos, "It would be wise to start preparations on the new E.S. Asher unit equiped for our mission."
He nodded, "Yes we should." the two walked down the hall Helmer did and used one of the two elevators to the ground level. From there they made their way to the dock of the planet they were stationed on. The ship that was taking them was highly for stealth. Although it may look big for a stealth ship, it was the best. Meant for carrying giant machinary and equipment. They boarded and went straight to the hanger where the E.S. Asher was.
It was the one of the first of its kind. About the size of Albedo's E.S. Simeon, which they later found out that he'd created with special 'clients'. Technicions and mechanics were already there making adjustments on the giant battle machine.
Canaan stepped next to the railing, placing one hand on it while examining the E.S. with his eyes. You could only just see the analysis code he was doing run acoss his pupils.
"It has many flaws. I assume those will be fixed before we reach our destination?" Canaan turned around.
"Every rose has its thorns, Canaan. Even you realians, and especially in humans. But those thorns will be plucked to your satisfaction." was chaos' reply.
"I do not understand."
chaos smiled, "It will be fixed. Although machines are more easier to be fixed than humans." the young adolescent started back up the stairs.
Canaan followed him, "I know, human's have so much illogical thought. Like love and happiness. It disturbs their duties."
"That's not what I meant."
"I wish to understand."
chaos tilted his head thinking, "What's the best way to put this....humans flaws aren't their emotions, Canaan. It's quite the oposite. Humans only flaws are that they've become too reliant on machines that they're becomming them in a basic sense. And no emotions means their race can die."
"But without these machines, it would be impossible for them to go on living."
"No they wouldn't. Mankind lasted so long without them when they first originated." if only they could tap what they truly had. It's diminishing with their ignorance.
Canaan's social algarithms still could not analyze what chaos was saying, "If they were still as they were at the beginning of their reign, then when the time Earth became uninhabitable they would have died." he insisted.
"That's not what I meant either. Sorry, forget I said anything. I'm just confusing you." chaos quickly changed the subject, "That was your last tune ups right?"
"Yes they were."
"Well, we're going to depart soon. I'm going to go get some rest." chaos nodded Canaan goodbye and headed for the crew rooms. The advanced realian would stay in the maintanence lab where he could monitore his still new systems better.
chaos found his bunk next to the window to his delight. He leaped onto the top bed and scooted over next to it. He sat there staring at nothing for a long time. The ship rumbled as it took off.
The scenery rushed by in a blur. The colors bleeding into eachother until they broke through the atmosphere and he was faced with the never ending glittering black of space. His eyes reflected the many stars. The light seemed to easily pass through his eyes, making them seem like unique jewels. At first glance one would think his eyes were grey, then they'd think blue, then pale blue, then tourqouise. It didn't matter.
There was a pop and red, orange and yellow smeared across his view as they entered a column gate. It would take a few days to reach their destination. Of course he should rest, but no matter how much he slept he was never satisfied. It was like his body couldn't completely rejuvinate. chaos always felt tired and compelled to sleep, his soul felt hallow.
chaos laced his fingers behind his head and lay down on his back. Lately he'd been pleagued by things called nightmares. Never did he have a dream of something good. It was always a blurred, teasing image of the things he'd seen when it had first happened, or else the consciouse poison residing in his shoulder.
Almost as if in response to chaos' thought, his shoulder began to throb. The silvered haired boy ignored it. It was becoming harder and harder to resist the desease like poison. Due to the fact he was fighting it on his own was a big reason. chaos was afraid of it winning the fight, because he knew it wasn't a sickness to kill in body. Or else he would've been dead a very long time ago. Thanks to Kevin's Teelaho however, the dreaded fate that beheld him was delayed.
The thought of death sent a shiver through him and made his heart flutter with fear. chaos scrunched his eyes tightly closed, sweat beading his brow as the pain increased to unbearable. He swallowed with difficulty, keeping his tears at bay. The phoenix had never cried in years. Holding all the emotional and physical pain back. It was a bad desicion since it would all backfire on him big time eventually. chaos knew this full and well, but he couldn't help to do it anyway.
"Estimated destination is approximately three minutes from current position. All hands, please report to your designated areas imediately. Once again..." the automatic female voice repeated the orders through the main intercom. chaos adjusted his gloves over his sleeves as he entered the door to the maintanence lab. There he found Canaan finishing his final tune-ups before the mission. He sat on a chair a little like Ziggy's, only leaned back into a laying down position. The technicion pressed something on his screen and screens began blinking closed one by one.
"Mission agents please head to the hanger bay imediately. Take off window is in fifteen minutes."
Canaan opened his eyes. He didn't get up immediately; his systems took a few more seconds to boot up. Finaly the realian stood and followed chaos out without a word.
In the hanger they both boarded the E.S. Asher, Canaan in the lower seat while chaos took the seat above him. The screens began to light up and a low whine began to sound as the giant machine warmed up.
chaos looked down passed his foot through the small openening, "You ready Canaan?"
"Affirmative."
"Weapons Systems are go."
"Boost and thrusters are online. Scanners are set properly."
"Logic Drive secure."
"Shield and off hand weapons are good." the boot up continued until Canaan finished the last check.
chaos nodded, "Mission Control, this is the E.S. Asher. We are in the green."
"Roger E.S. Asher. You have approximately two minutes, and twenty-four seconds to departure. Good luck."
Orange light flooded the room as the hanger doors below them slowly opened up. Cold wind snapped the air, clouds painted pinkish red from the setting sun could be seen in fluffy lumps below.
"Ten seconds to lock release." the computer began countdown. Canaan and chaos both tightened their grip on the controls, "Three, two, one. Launch initiation in progress." there was a heavy click and the giant robot was sent flying forward. Once the E.S. Asher reached the end of the long hall way the clasps holding the shoulders of it opened and released it into the air. Instantly the thrusters activated and the battle E.S. flew straight into the clouds.
As they dropped in altitude, the clouds darkened and thinned. Revealing the spectacular sight of a giant city. The lights were blazing like embers of a magic fire carpeting a blanket of blackness.
"It doesn't look like the city's been evacuated yet."
"Helmer wants to be sure that U-DO doesn't spread." Canaan replied while pressing a few buttons on his screen, "It doesn't look like that force is the only thing here. Someone's set out auto-tech droids on guard. Do you see them?"
"Yes, not many people use auto-techs. I'm guessing that it's the orginization, the U-TIC." ahead of them, they could see several droids in what looked like a dancing formation. But actually they were patrolling and seemed to have sensed them. They broke formation and shot into their direction in perfect syncronization.
"Battle systems ready."
Asher sent several missiles and hit over six targets, heavily damaging or destroying the aut-techs. The giant robot turned and smacked away another trying to hit it from behind. chaos and Canaan worked the stiff controls like a one minded being. Very soon more than half of the auto-techs had been sent to oblivion. Asher spun in circles then smashed another.
"Down there." chaos watched a lower formation of auto-techs start circling in perfect formation. The ES shot downwards straight into the middle of the fray, instantly being bombarded. The giant mech spun and fired a beam of bluish light destroying its target. The auto-techs and ES wrestled in the air like birds of prey fighting over a kill. The remaining machines suddenly dispersed out of sight and off the scanners.
"They are using cloaking devices. Their engines are of a sub-material, heat signitures won't do anything." Canaan reported.
chaos positioned the ES and closed his eyes. Silence reigned except for the occasional beep of the moniters. Canaan looked up through the seats at what his companion was doing. chaos suddenly opened his eyes and jerked the mech around, firing a solid beam perfectly through the lined up auto-techs. Asher turned again and thrust its off hand weapon into the gut area of another one. There were several clicks as the weapon dislodged itself from the arm. After a half a minute passed the weapon went into selfdestruct, taking the mech with it.
"Recharging." particles of energy surrounded both Asher's hands and formed into the weapons it'd just dispersed.
"The U-TIC are everywhere," Canaan said, then looked from his screen down below, "Look, those are the URTV's. Looks like the situation has changed since Helmer recieved a transmission."
"Yes, it would seem that way." chaos said grimly, "Let's set Asher down over there. We'll clear out the auto-techs then if we havn't found him by then we'll search on foot."
"Affirmative."
Nigredo gasped and sat bolt upright looking about in wild panic. Where was he? What had happened? The last thing he remembered was being struck by Rubedo's blast of panic....literally. In the distance he heard persistant gunfire, screams, explosions.
The URTV coughed dust from his lungs and shoved the debri that had fallen on his legs. In doing so he uncovered the staring face of one of his comrades. Nigredo almost fell back in shock, then recovered quickly. He stumbled to his feet and rushed out of the chamber with the now quiet pit.
"I was lucky." Nigredo mumbled to himself. None of U-DO had contaminated him. Nigredo skidded to a halt at the horrific image portrayed before him. The other Units were killing everything in sight, noninfected and infected. Why wasn't Yuriev stopping them? The professor had the power, why not do so?
Then it occured to him it was because the main link had been broken.
"Damn it! Rubedo! Albedo! Where are you guys!" the black haired boy leaped onto the hood of a downed civilian hovercraft. He aimed his automatic and began killing the Units one by one till the street was empty of living beings other than him and fleeing U-TIC soldiers, "Rubedo! Where are you! Rubedo!" he called again in his high pitched voice. He jumped down lightly and ran across the wide freeway, reaching out with his mind as to where his friends were. If U-DO was becoming this out of hand....then what of Sakura and her family? Nigredo picked up his pace to a dead run, shooting any URTV or U-TIC that tried to get in his way.
After what seemed like hours the URTV had to stop and rest. Neither Albedo nor Rubedo were in his range of mental reach in his drained condition. Nigredo saw a charred sign indicating the park was nearby. The park might be the best place to rest at the moment, most military didn't care about such an obsolete place. Indeed, it was hardly touched, quiet, almost serene. Nigredo sighed heavily, trying to wipe the smoke from his face, only succeding in smearing it more. He sniffed, and slumped down onto the nearest bench.
It must've been a few hours later, because the next thing he knew someone had touched his face, then he snapped awake. Clawing at air.
"What the - ? I could've sworn..." no one was within sight. Nigredo stood, his muscles yelling in protest. He readied his rifle as he slowly approached the center of the park where an elegant stone structure had been built for looks. Someone was there....although....they must've been very good at keeping their mind clear and mute.
Nigredo whipped around and pointed his rifle only to have it ripped out of his hands by an unseen force. Shocked, the URTV looked up at the figure leaning against the center stone structure. She was leaning with her back against the stone, one foot propped up flat against it. Her uniform was strangely almost exactly the same as his. Although, she was a good foot and three quaters taller than him. Her short orange hair was pulled back by a headband, her blue eyes emotionless yet gentle as she turned her head.
"You are the same as we are."
"The same?"
The young lady stood up and walked a few steps towards him, "Code Name: Red Dragon. Beneficial, but extremely prone to go berserk."
Nigredo arched a brow in confusion, "Red Dragon? What, what are you talking about?" an explosion shook the ground causing him to look where it came from, then looked back to see she was gone.
What?!
Sakura helped Rubedo as he dragged himself up the hill. He didn't seem to be physically injured, but he was almost as limp as a rag doll.
"What's wrong Rubedo? Where are your friends? Why have they not come as well?"
"I can't hear it..." Rubedo fell to one knee, dragging the girl with him, "I can no longer feel the other beating in my right chest..."
"Is that why you are crying?"
"I killed them..." Rubedo's grip on her shoulder tightened painfully making her flinch but he didn't notice, "I killed them all! And for what? Just a little fear that should've been dealt with at the appropriate time!" he was yelling at himself now, "I made a selfish mistake, and now everyone else is paying for it!"
Sakura gritted her teeth tightly, "Rubedo," she said his name with great gentleness, "You made the desicion out of haste, out of a burst of fear, it is human to make mistakes..." she wasn't sure she would be of much help considering she hardly knew anything of emotions other than what she'd read and felt around the three URTV's.
"A mistake that costs more than what should be safe! I just killed Milita, you and your family need to get out of here before U-DO comes to your home!" Rubedo angrily wiped the tears away, hating the fact he was showing weakness.
The little Mizrahi girl's expression became forlorned, "Please Rubedo, I will not be happy ever again if you continue to blame yourself."
"What I feel is not important right now! You need to get off Miltia before - !"
"ALBEDO NOOO!!!" Nigredo's scream echoed across the trees and field.
0.0 Oh this chapter's getting a little too long. Looks like one more chapter (which will definately be shorter than this one) and we'll be on the final chapter in the present future in my fic. -falls over- i garantee! Absolutely swear i will get this done within the next week and a half! -falls over exhausted.