Reploids can not dream, and that's what she kept telling herself.
Not even a week old yet and Fairy Leviathan was experiencing visions while asleep. Humans called them dreams, but dreams have no place in a Reploid. Dreams required an imagination. Dreams required memories. Dreams required five senses- possibly six, considering the many different meanings of human's dreams. Leviathan had memories, however few they were, but everything else?
Last time she checked, just because a Reploid had human-like emotions and the ability to see in technicolor, didn't mean that everything was the same.
What do you do when you're a Reploid that's just been activated, and waiting for your designated weapon to be completed, so you could begin patrolling the city you were destined to protect?
Maybe… a walk around said city could suffice?
The city, she quickly found, was incredibly boring. Hardly any humans could be found on the streets -even in city square- instead using Mechaniloid servants to do errands for them. Upon finding herself getting worn easily, Fairy Leviathan took a seat at the square's fountain and dipped her fingers into the water. The cool water allowed the Guardian to take a deep, relaxed sigh as her fingers moved with the waves and created new ones.
"You seem a bit out of your element sweetie." the voice of an old woman said to Leviathan, shocking the Guardian out of her trance. Leviathan turned to look at the human woman and found that she didn't recognize her. Each of the Guardians had facial recognitions of the citizens residing in and out of Neo Arcadia- but this woman? No information whatsoever. She seemed old enough to be someone's grandmother (maybe even great-grandmother) but that wasn't enough to pin down her identity.
"Aren't you a pretty little girl." the old woman smiled. "Why don't you come with me to my home for a little bit, I could tell you so much about my granddaughter. You may find that you two have a lot in common."
"Oh no, please Grandmother," Leviathan smiled weakly, starting to get up before the less-than-likely ample crone could jack her. "I'm a Reploid designed to be in the water. I couldn't possibly…!"
"Nonsense my dear," the old woman smiled warmly back at her, taking the Reploid by the arm with a surprise amount of strength, "I'll make you a nice spot of rooibos tea. It's my granddaughter's favorite."
"Well… I..." Leviathan started to say, but soon found she was at a loss for words. Finally, the poor Guardian gave in. What was the worse that could happen? The old bat knew how to reprogram Reploids or something? "Yes Grandmother, I would like that."
The old woman smiled even brighter at this, and led the siren away.
Apparently, Grandmother was one of Neo Arcadia's elite.
"My granddaughter eloped with a rather handsome Reploid," Grandmother told Leviathan as she set about preparing the tea, "And this Reploid? You should know him quite well, I'd imagine!"
"I'm barely a week old Grandmother- I don't know many Reploids yet." Leviathan gently stated, not that Grandmother seemed to notice. In fact, Grandmother seemed to be completely ignoring Leviathan now, so with very little else to do, the Guardian walked to Grandmother's living room to sit on a couch in the living room.
There was absolutely no indication on whether Grandmother had family or not. No pictures, no letters, no… anything. The old woman owned several top of the line products, but by the dust that collected, it seemed that she didn't use any of it. Where all homes in Neo Arcadia like this (filled with all the current advances but no indication of family), or was it just typical to this very eccentric woman?
"There we are." Grandmother then announced when the tea was ready, quickly and rather skillfully bringing the tray out. The old woman placed the tray on the coffee table and generously poured Leviathan and herself a cup.
"Now then dear," Grandmother then said, taking her cup while Leviathan took hers, "A sweet Reploid like you must have something going on in her mind. I know you said that you were only a week old, but surely something must have come up for you to roam so far from where you belong."
Uneasily, Leviathan's finger etched the side of the tea cup, but she said nothing. She happened to look up as Grandmother gave a gentle blow at the top of her tea- the simple act reminded the Guardian of someone, fleetingly, which caused the Guardian to set the teacup back on the tray. What was wrong with her today?
"I've been having… dreams, recently." the Guardian slowly started to admit. A part of her was appalled that she even said it out loud, but then again, who would believe her?
"Silly child, Reploids can't have dreams." Grandmother laughed, giving the Guardian a pat on the knee.
"I know but…" the siren mumbled, "But they're so real, and they seem to be pointing to something. I just can't figure it out..."
"Lucid dreams then? Well that is pretty serious." Grandmother then decided, putting her teacup back on the tray as well. "Tell me then, tell me about your dreams."
"I can't..." the siren then mumbled, her face flushing slightly. "I wouldn't know where to begin..."
Grandmother raised an eyebrow. "You know," she thoughtfully said to the Guardian, "Humans have dreams that they can not always decipher either. It is an interesting phenomenon, but research for those studies now go to Reploids who can do the same, instead of studying them in tandem. I am one of the few that believe that there is a definite connection between human and Reploids, but we tend to focus on one without the other. But our connections are closer than that, symbiotic even. Our world is growing blind to our needed connections, and soon, it will lead us without homes… and possibly even another war."
"You're very wise Grandmother." Leviathan said, sounding genuinely surprised.
"I've lived a long life sweetie," the crone told her with a hand wave. "In this long life, I even got to meet my great-grandchildren! Four of which, I'm very proud of. The other two? Well, we'll just have to see, don't we?"
"You sure have had a fulfilling life too, then." the siren smiled.
"Do not be fooled child," Grandmother sternly addressed, "Living for a long time might seem like fun; but then you watch your family die before your eyes. All of your friends gone with a blink. I have learned so much from living for so long, but what use is that knowledge when the ones I share it with leave me?"
Leviathan went silent, unsure of how to answer.
"I believe it was once said that, to die would be an awfully great adventure." Grandmother then rambled. "And I believe that it is completely true. Because, once you die, who will greet you at heaven's door? All the ones we've lost, and all the ones we've missed. That is what I look forward to some day- what about you dear siren?"
The Guardian looked up at Grandmother, more than a little shocked. Only one other person knew that she was called siren, and in the tone Grandmother had used, it almost seemed like… for a moment…
"Grandmother, what do you know of the Mother Elf?" Leviathan then inquired. The old woman retaliated with a rather devious smile.
"You mean you haven't figured it out already?" Grandmother asked in return. Admittedly, the siren was even more confused now. Seeing her confusion made the old woman laugh. "Are you telling me," Grandmother then chuckled, "That one of them deleted the recognition data of Rosalinda Sephira from you electronic brain?!"
Suddenly, everything made perfect sense.
"What do you know Grandmother?" Leviathan then questioned, new curiosity and excitement starting to bubble inside her. So this woman, as far as terminology went, was in actuality her great-grandmother after all...
"I know that there is a copy X up in Neo Arcadia's rule," the old woman started. "Because the original asked for my opinions on several things; including the chaining of the Mother Elf. She was a very dear woman for the both of us, but X knew that kinship is thicker than water, so he sought my wisdom for her fate. Such a sweet android; if only other Reploids could be like him. Like you, and the other Guardians. I'm so proud of you four that you'll never understand it."
"Grandmother..." the siren started to mumble quietly, "How did you know? What made you believe that I was the one you sought?"
"I already told you that X asked for my opinions, correct?" Grandmother then said to her, "Copy X tried to do the same. It didn't work out as well. But -and you may have been aware of this- when time came to choose your personal appearances, there was a contest throughout Neo Arcadia to decide. Copy X and I were the judges. A young girl who was orphaned at the Elf Wars designed your face, it looked so much like my dear Aero's that I knew that she would be the winner. I knew you before, I choose you. I could recognize any of you Guardians with or without armor."
"Grandmother," Leviathan then uttered, taking her hands in the old woman's. "Thank you."
"No my dear," Grandmother smiled, leaning forward to give the siren a small peck on the forehead, "Thank you."