Welcome to the traditional anime Christmas episode... which I meant to have out in July. Eh, it got done.
The entire Mall Dome was covered in gaudy decorations, streamers, ribbons, glitter, a giant clock counting down the days to one of the few family holidays in Paradigm City. Heavens Day. If not for the decorations and the gift bags, it wouldn't have been any different from any other shopping trip. But as it was the cheery atmosphere and the ever growing crowds of people looking for gifts for their loved ones was rather overwhelming for Ray. Dorothy didn't seem to care.
"It would be nice, being able to remember how I got to Paradigm City." Ray sighed as the two waded through the crowd of shoppers.
"You say that a lot, like you lost all your memories, but you must still have some of them right?" Dorothy didn't really care one way or the other, but when Ray got depressed Roger and Norman tended to worry about her. The two young women stopped in front of a storefront to see the sales fliers.
"Yeah. I remember my family, friends, the town I was born in, but not how I got here." Ray's reflection looked haggard, as if she hadn't slept in weeks.
"Do you think those memories will ever return?" Dorothy noticed this shop sold ties, and made a mental note to come back after finishing the shopping list from Norman.
"Maybe, but it's been almost a year, at this point it would probably take a miracle." Ray's grim expression reflected in the cheery window decorated for Heaven's Day. "But in reality they probably never will return. Maybe those memories never existed to begin with."
Dorothy's face in the window reflected the frown she wore. Some time later Dorothy returned alone to the shop to inquire about ties. "I need a black tie."
"Oh well we have these lovely ties with black as a compliment color." The sales woman showed Dorothy many, but none were all or mostly black.
"It needs to be all black."
"All black Miss? Well we have some funeral ties."
"That will be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, it's for a man with lousy taste." After buying the tie Dorothy waited out in the dome proper for Roger to finish with his business. Ray was nowhere to be found, so Dorothy assumed she either went to a bookstore or went home.
"Come on Dorothy, let's leave." Roger walked past her, clearly in a bad mood.
"Roger?" Dorothy walked at a brisk pace to catch up with him. "You seem to be in a foul mood, what's wrong?"
"I just don't care for the scenery."
"You do not like Heaven's Day?"
"I'm certainly not a fan." behind him Dorothy almost looked to have a sad frown. The two made their way to the elevators, where it was crowded. Roger boarded and when he noticed Dorothy hadn't he asked her to get in. "What are you standing for Dorothy? There's still room."
As soon as Dorothy stepped into the elevator, the weight alarm began blaring. She got off and retreated towards the escalators. Roger followed behind with a small rise of, "Dorothy, wait!" The elevator door briefly caught his leg. He caught up with her and rode down the escalator a few steps behind. "Dorothy, I'm sorry. I forgot."
"It's fine." A few steps ahead of him on the escalator Dorothy was peering downwards and avoiding eye contact, and continued to do so all the way to the parking garage.
After leaving the main mall building a young man playing an instrument Roger didn't recognize was asking for donations. Roger tossed a dollar coin at the man and said "To a promising young artist." The man seemed rather appreciative and winked.
In a bookstore in the Mall Dome Ray was looking for the next book in a series she was reading. Since the series had been out of print for a while, she had to look in used shops. She finally spotted the volume she needed, reached out for it when another hand also went towards the book.
"Hm?" Ray looked over at who it was and did not expect to run into this individual. "How are you not in jail?"
"Ah, it's you!" Beck's girlfriend's face was agape in shock. This crazy kid was not who she wanted to run into.
"Yep, it's me alright. No seriously how the heck are you not in jail?"
"Mista J got me a great lawyer, and told me to turn on him so I could get probation. What'sa matter with your face?" After her explanation Ray's expression was a mix of disgust, disturbed and grossed out.
"You're reprehensible… what the hell's your name anyway?"
"Yume." The girl huffed and crossed her arms, tilting her head to the side in a better than you attitude.
"Really?"
"Yeah what of it?"
"You're pale as I am, and white, and your parents gave you a Japanese name?"
"They thought it was pretty 'k!" Yume put her hands and her hips and huffed indignantly.
"Fair enough I suppose." Ray shrugged and grabbed the book off the shelf.
"Hey I wanted that." Yume raised her voice and was quickly shushed by the other patrons.
"So do I. Wait, you read?"
"Not much else to do with Mista J in jail." Ray had another disturbed and disgusted expression after hearing Yume openly admit that.
"I can't believe you, saying something like that in public."
"What're ya? A prude?" Yume sneered.
"No you idiot! We're in a bookstore, not a bar or girls club. Keep the bedroom talk to appropriate areas. Also why would you openly admit to dating a criminal? Geez."
"Better than being a virgin." Yume felt like being superior, Ray shot that down real quick.
"Oh honey, you must be confused. I'm not a virgin, I just like 'em educated and capable of supporting my future crotch goblins." It was Yumes turn to look disgusted.
"Did ya just admit to being a gold digga?"
"Well considering that I intend to stay with my future partner and not sleep around, no, not really." Ray made her way up to the registrar and paid, with a miffed Yume following behind.
"Hey where'd'ya… huh?" Yume stopped when Ray turned around and held the book up to her face. "What're'ya doing, shoving it in my face?"
"Letting you borrow it. No, don't look so confused. I'll expect you to return it when you have finished reading." Yume slowly took the book from Ray, afraid it was some sick joke.
"How am I supposed to return it to ya?"
"You know where I live right? With the negotiator Roger Smith? Just swing by his place and use the side entrance in the alleyway, that's for personal stuff and deliveries. Ring the bell and leave it there. I better head back to the car, they'll probably be leaving soon." Ray turned and went on her way. That girl really is weird. Just hope she really returns it.
In the packed walkway Yume looked down at the novel in her hands. Sure she could just take it and never give it back, but something told her that wouldn't be the right choice in this situation. Besides, she got the feeling the crazy girl wasn't all bad. She liked books after all.
Ray was waiting at the Griffin for a ride home. No new books, but from a bag she had been carrying she had a knitting project going.
"Nothing new to read this time?" Roger asked as he turned off the Griffin's security systems.
"Nothing I particularly wanted." Ray climbed into the back seat and the three returned home.
At dinner that evening Norman explained some Heaven's Day traditions as Dorothy had asked.
"First, Heaven's Day was a way for Paradigm to give alms to the citizens, and to celebrate surviving a year as well as its founding. Later, the tradition evolved into eating meals with family and exchanging gifts with loved ones." Dinner that night was tense, and for once Norman had allowed Ray to drink with everyone else.
"Will you be giving anyone a gift, Roger?" He practically spat his wine at Dorothy's question.
"Preposterous. Why would someone who has turned their back on Paradigm celebrate a holiday for its founding?" He patted his mouth with a napkin before continuing, "Besides, who would I even give a gift to?"
"I think I'll turn in now." Dorothy got up and left. Ray sighed and drained her wine glass.
"Was it something I said Norman?"
"Nothing out of the usual, sir." After dinner Ray helped Norman with the dishes, giving the two a chance to talk in private.
"Roger really is dense isn't he?" Ray scrubbed the dishes while Norman dried them.
"No more than normal. You don't seem too keen on the holiday either, Ms Ray."
"True." Ray sighed as she stared at the wall in front of the sink, lost in memory for a brief moment, "But unlike Roger, I hate the holiday because I don't have any good memories of it."
"I'm sure some will eventually return." Norman attempted to reassure Ray, only for her to shake her head in disagreement.
"No, I mean I have those memories, and all of them are awful. I wish I could forget. Amnesia would be a welcome respite to the memories that haunt me this time of year." Ray was depressed just thinking about it, but tried not to show it. Whenever she was slightly off the men of the house felt the need to intervene, and it was causing a wedge between her and Dorothy.
"Yet you did not mention this to Ms Dorothy?" With the dishes washed Ray moved on to cleaning the sink while Norman put the dishes away.
"No. It's not like she can do anything about my past. Besides, even if I lack joy for this occasion, I shouldn't deny it to someone else."
"When did you grow into a mature young lady?" He had a rather jovial smile despite the circumstances of their conversation.
"I've been mature. I just choose not to act my age." Besides, I'm nearly in my mid 30's, not 18. It is nice being young again though.
"Well then, is there anything you want for Heaven's Day?" Ray hung her head and sighed at Norman's question.
"No. Almost everything I want I can buy, and all my needs are met."
"There must be something."
"Yeah, but it's expensive and I'd feel bad asking for it."
In a small apartment outside the domes, the young sax player made a meal of some ham he had bought with the coin Roger had thrown him earlier. He gave the single slice to a girl sitting at the kitchen table, while putting an empty plate in front of his seat and feigned eating.
"Boy, nothing like eating ham you bought with your own hard earned money." The young man acted as if he had cut and chewed a slice off the meat, but his plate and mouth were both empty save for lies.
"How did you afford it?" The girl had her eyes closed, reached out to where she knew her utensils would be and began to eat her portion, the only portion.
"Some gentleman really liked my playing and gave me a dollar coin. Probably rich too given his attire."
"Oh Oliver, that's wonderful. Will you continue playing at the mall dome?" The young woman spoke between mouthfuls.
"For sure, at least until Heaven's Day. Maybe I'll be able to afford a gift this year, what with more generous patrons and all. Oh I better go soon, have to get to work." The young man changed into a working uniform and left.
The next day Roger was helping Norman out in exchange for some information.
"So Heaven's Day is Dorothy's birthday?" Norman had him peeling potatoes so the work would go faster. Norman had to can them before the end of the week.
"Yes Master Roger. When I was checking her files during a back up I found it marked. And well, it might be nice to get her a present."
"You're right Norman. Do you know of anything she needs?" Roger was not the best at gift giving, and knowing Norman he most likely had something in mind when he broached the subject.
"Well, it is getting cold around this time of year, and for a young lady not to have a coat, well it just won't do."
"Do you know what dress size she is?"
"Size 2."
"Ok, I'd better go look before everything nice has been bought up in the sales. Thanks Norman." Roger took off the apron he had donned to help peel and set off for the Mall Dome. Not long after he left Ray entered the kitchen.
"Did he fall for it?" Ray put on the previously discarded apron and set about helping Norman.
"I have no idea what you mean."
"Mhmm. So that's a yes."
In the Mall Dome a now garbageman Oliver was picking up trash for extra pay, and he spotted a nice coat in the window of an upscale store. "Oh man that would look lovely on Laura, but not at the price."
The tag read a cool $1500, not something he could afford anytime soon on his earnings. A saleswoman picked up the coat and went to wrap it. "Ah hey, not fair."
"Hey! New guy hurry up!" One of his coworkers yelled at him to hurry over.
"Oh, sorry be right there."
Once finished inside the dress boutique, Roger went back to the Griffin only to receive a call from Norman. "Yes Norman, what is it."
"A job offer sir. It's from the Paradigm Corporation, and you've been specifically requested."
"From Paradigm, huh? I suppose if nothing else I should hear what the job is about. Tell them I am heading over." Well, even if I hate the Paradigm Corporation with a passion, they print the money I need to repair Big O. May as well hear them out.
"Very good sir."
In the top of the Main Dome, in offices only the elite ever had access to, Roger Smith and Major Dan Dastun sat at one end of a huge meeting table, while at the other was the Chief of Police and some senators who were reading over files. At a desk at the top of the dias, looking down like a judge over all, Alex Rosewater stood watching, with a rather conservatively dressed Angel taking notes nearby.
"So this letter is enough of a threat for Paradigm to worry?" Roger asked as he picked up the card that had been delivered to almost every office in the Corporation. On the white card a night sky of deep blue hung over a white snow covered ground, a tree with presents around it was in the center and a shining star hung over it. It looked as chitzky as the various decorations every dome had this time of year. That said, the threat within was rather sinister despite the calm picture. "In seven days, the world will be reborn?" Roger found it difficult to believe they deemed it a coherent threat.
"The threat is credible." A male senator spoke in a clipped and angered voice.
"So why do you need me? Will the Military Police not be enough?" Roger crossed his arms and waited. Dan was the one that spoke next.
"We're already looking for the bomb, but in the event we find the one who planted it, we need them talked down." Dan already had his arms crossed, annoyed and pissed off that the higher ups ignored his recommendation not to involve civilians.
"So that's where you come in, Negotiator." The only female senator present at the meeting took a drag from her cigarette and continued. "Obviously, if the police had as competent a negotiator this wouldn't be needed." Dastun winced next to him.
"Obviously you will be compensated for your time, Mr Smith." From the dias the god of Paradigm deigned to speak down on his people. He wrote a check and had Angel deliver it to him.
"I suppose I have no reason to refuse. I'll be taking this for reference." Roger pocketed the check, grabbed the card and got up to leave, but before he shut the door behind him he decided to ask something unlike him. "Mr Rosewater, you wouldn't happen to know of a good tailor would you?"
After shift Oliver waited in line for his daily wages. But being given barely enough for a day of groceries he grumbled. "Hey is that all I get?"
"Move it." He was shoved away by the next in line.
On the way home he had his sax, choosing to play at the dome for a short while to earn a little more. "Geez, at this rate I'll never be able to buy Laura a present."
"Hey there, sonny! You're the one that plays his instrument at the Mall Dome." A gaunt old man with a long white beard in a red suit and cap with white faux fur lining seemingly appeared from nowhere in front of Oliver, startling him. "You look down, what's wrong?" When the old man gestured his hands didn't leave the suit sleeves, this suit was clearly meant for someone larger.
"Why would you want to listen to my troubles?"
"Oh I'm just an old man trying to help the younger generation." Oliver wasn't sure what made him keep talking to the old man, but he confided in the old man anyway.
"I want to buy my girl a nice gift, but I can't afford one on the crappy pay I get."
"Oh, for your girl hm? Well I have just the thing." The old man held out a sleeved arm and gestured for Oliver to do the same. He dropped a teardrop shaped green gem in Oliver's hand. "There ya go, sonny, just make sure to be in the Mall Dome on Heaven's Day and you'll be able to get your girl an amazing gift."
"Woah this is beautiful." While Oliver admired the gem the old man hopped onto the bridge's railing. "Hey is it really ok for me to have this?"
"It's fine, I'm not long for this world anyway." Despite the claim of soon being dead the old man was spritely, doing a handstand and walking on his hands on the railing.
"Well, ok," Oliver stared at the green multilayered gem, "But don't expect me to give it… back… Where'd he go?" Looking back at where the old man had been mere moments ago now there was no one else around. Oliver pocketed the gem and quickly went home.
The next few days the Mall Dome was abuzz with all the MP's searching for the threat. With a map of the Dome laid out and bomb sniffing equipment in full use, sections checked off and rechecked off slowly dotted the map.
"What makes Rosewater think this threat is credible? It sounds like all the other empty threats this city has received." Roger wasn't as much help as he thought he should be, but with no one to negotiate with what was he to do?
"It seems the threat came with more than just a card. An old scientist recovered some memories and sent a raving letter with it how the world used to be covered in trees and forests, and that long before whatever happened 40 years ago Paradigm City was also like that." Dastun crossed off more areas on the map.
"Covered in trees? Somehow I just can't see it."
"Yeah, me neither, but HQ thinks it's credible so here we are. Oh yeah, there's one more thing." Dan signaled his men to search the next area.
"What's that?"
"Ever heard of something called The Book of Revelations?" Dastun took his cap off and wiped his brow before continuing, "Rosewater was talking about it before, saying he had a copy."
"Can't say that I have. What's it about?"
"I don't really know, just based off what we've been told it talks about the end of days, and the world being reborn under the eyes of God."
"And Rosewater believes it?" Roger found it strange that a man in Rosewater's position would be superstitious, cautious enough to take a terroristic threat seriously perhaps, but doing so because of some book talking about the end of days?
"Seems like it." Dastun shrugged.
"Why aren't you searching outside the dome?" Roger asked Dan as the two poured over the map.
"We haven't received orders to." Dan pulled his cap down.
"In other words you've been ordered to ignore it. Well, call me if you find anything. I need to go check a few leads myself." Roger revved the engine of the Griffin before peeling off towards a spot outside the Dome where he expected to find two teenagers. When the Griffin pulled up next to a statue the two got in. "Any leads?"
"No one seemed to know anything when asked." Dorothy commented.
"Any luck, Ray?"
"No. I sat around listening for gossip, but most people were more interested in a teenager knitting in public." Ray shrugged.
"So nothing then."
"Not exactly." Dorothy pointed to a young man playing a brass colored instrument, and in his case was a prominently displayed card, with the same design.
"Good work Dorothy." Roger smirked and the stake out began, when the man left they followed him back to an apartment complex. "Alright let's go."
"I'm staying outside." Ray said.
"And what if they try to escape?"
"Then I'll be able to tell you which direction they ran. Better hurry before you lose 'im." Ray gestured vaguely towards the building and walked towards some dilapidated buildings nearby. Really, Ray didn't feel like intruding on what was about to go down. Roger and Dorothy ran up the stairs after the young man, both taking a position on either side of the door before Roger knocked, but the one who answered was not who they expected.
"Hello, who's there?" A blind woman using a cane walked out of the door. Roger was shocked enough that he dropped the stealth act, and the young man popped his head out the door a second later.
"Hm, oh it's you! What are you doing there?" Soon the four were in the apartment seated at the small kitchen table. To call it homely was an understatement. The apartment was in as bad of shape as most of the other buildings around, appearing as if it might fall down with a single push. But for all the destitute surroundings, this small place was clearly lived in and a home. "So you're looking into those greeting cards? Everyone that lives here received one a week ago."
"I see, that really doesn't tell us much."
"Would you like some coffee?" Laura attempted to serve them, with a bit of help from Oliver pushing the sugar closer to her hands.
"No thank you." Dorothy was quick to respond. It is fortunate Ray chose to stay outside, she may not have behaved.
"So the two of you are making ends meet out here?"
"Yes. Laura makes me the happiest man alive." Oliver couldn't help gushing, he really did care for his love. "Say you two don't make such a bad couple yourselves."
"You've got the wrong idea." Roger protested.
"That's not very nice." Laura quipped back.
"It's ok. I'm used to it." Dorothy was even more grateful that Ray was not here to witness such a conversation, as she would most certainly have made inappropriate comments.
"Say, what is that instrument you were playing earlier? I'm not familiar with it." Roger attempted to change the subject.
"Oh that? It's a saxophone, my grandfather left it and some sheet music to me. I enjoy playing it and thought maybe I could earn some cash from playing in the domes this time of year."
"I see."
"Well, if you want to know more about the greeting card, maybe check with some of the elderly. It resembles a stained glass window at the abandoned church nearby. Maybe they know something about it." Oliver offered what little help he could. Roger took him up on the information and went to check the building out while Dorothy stayed behind and conversed with the lovers, hoping to gleam more.
At the abandoned church, if it could be called more than piles of rubble, Roger found Ray sitting on the last remaining bench, knitting away quietly. The stained glass window Oliver told him about was behind her on the last standing wall.
"Taking some inspiration from the surroundings?" Roger asked as he investigated the rubble.
"Hardly. It just so happens to be an out of the way spot where I'm unlikely to be disturbed is all." Ray didn't look up from her work. Roger nearly laughed at the absurdity of the scene. For all her rough and tumble attitude, Ray had a serene appearance sitting under the stained glass window, the only intact part of this otherwise holy place, as she toiled away in the rubble.
"Well, I probably won't find what I'm looking for here. But I have a question for you, Ray."
"Oh, what is it?" Never looking up from her work.
"Do you think Dorothy and I make a good couple?" Ray choked on her breathing at the unexpected question.
"Why in the world would you ask me that?" Ray finally looked up from her work, a wildly uncomfortable grimace graced her usually sour features.
"Because you have a tendency to be brutally honest at the best of times." Roger was a little surprised at her reaction, he didn't expect her to freak out, so to speak.
"I don't think I'm the person to comment on that. Ask Norman."
"You think Norman will be honest?"
"Well, you at least won't fire him if you don't like what you hear." Roger laughed. Yes, Ray was indeed brutally honest, even when it didn't benefit her.
"Well, let's go home for now. I need to write down what we've found today." With that Ray followed Roger back to the car, Dorothy came down to join them, with Oliver following.
"Say, do you think you could buy this? It's really pretty and all." Oliver showed Roger the green gem that the strange old man had given him.
"I think a young artist should try to make a living through their music, don't you?"
"Yeah, you're right." With that the three returned home.
"Say Dorothy, do you think Oliver has any talent?" Roger was dressed in his pajamas and a warm robe to keep the nights chill away.
"If you mean with the saxophone, then no I do not." Dorothy tapped away at the keys trying to play a song she had heard earlier that day.
"Ouch. Everyone's a critic."
"I find it odd you ask Dorothy's opinion when in the beginning of the year you constantly reprimanded her for playing piano." Ray was quick to state things as she saw them, but it had long ceased to be grating for Roger.
"I suppose I've changed my opinion since then." He shrugged, when he decided to leave the window and read the nightly newspaper, Roger saw Ray was still working on the project she had carried everywhere with her the past week. "Still not done?"
"No, but hopefully it will be done in time."
"Time for what? Heaven's Day." Roger had heard of Ray's intense dislike for the holiday. If such was the case why bother making a gift for someone? And who?
"Maybe."
"Well, I hope whoever you're making that for appreciates it."
"Yeah, me too." Whatever she was making wasn't just black, and while Roger had gripped at first, she'd told him to buzz off as it wasn't for him. So he chose to take the wait and see approach. She'd have to give it to someone after all. Maybe a lover? Wait has Ray ever shown interest in anyone before?
The next day Roger visited the Speakeasy. He had a few questions for Big Ear and he was likely the only one to give him a straight answer. At his usual table reading the daily newspaper, he also had a few ribboned bottles of alcohol on the table. Likely gifts from other clients.
"So what brought you here Roger? Still haven't found the bomber?"
"No. I was wondering if you have information on him no one else did." Roger took a sip of his beer.
"Well, not much more than you already likely know. The scientist Paradigm City is looking for disappeared about a week ago, but some of the threats he made before he disappeared lead me to believe he is no longer in this world." Turning a page on his newspaper he continued, "Moreover, there's little way for Paradigm to confirm what his threat meant. He left behind a number of journals, but as he spiraled into madness they became more incoherent."
"So Paradigm hired me to negotiate with a dead man? That doesn't seem useful."
"There's more. He did conduct experiments on plant growth under Paradigms watchful eyes some 30 years ago, and left the company around 10 years ago. So that may be why Paradigm believes he may have left something behind that they can't find with conventional methods."
"So instead of a traditional bomb, a plant will explode? I can't negotiate with a plant either, so what in the world was I even hired for?" Roger finished his beer and was about to leave when Big Ear stopped him.
"I've continued looking into Ra,y as per your request." When Big Ear brought up his teenaged employee Roger stayed put. He hadn't found anything about her in a while, so something was definitely up.
"What did you find?"
"Not so much find as what I've heard in rumors." Big Ear put the paper down and puffed his cigarette, "Someone at the Paradigm Corporation has been keeping tabs on her, and while I can't confirm who it is with certainty, they are willing to pay large sums and even employ foreigners to get the information they want on her."
"And how did you get this?"
"Like much else in this world, knowing how to ask the right questions gets me all the information I need."
"I see. If you find out more let me know." Roger left a few extra bills as a thanks and left.
As the clock counted down ever closer to Heaven's Day, the investigation by the military police was proving fruitless. But that did not mean every question would go unanswered. Dorothy chose to revisit the blind woman named Laura in hopes of learning something she'd long questioned.
"Yes, who is it?" She had no trouble opening the door, but had to rely on hearing to recognize who it was.
"Hello, Laura."
"Oh it's you. Is something the matter?" Laura reached out an unsure hand, and Dorothy offered hers in return. "Ah your…! Please come in."
"Can you drink tea?" Laura labored in the small kitchenette.
"I can drink it, but I'm not able to taste much." Dorothy looked around the small apartment, given more room now that Oliver wasn't around.
"What did you want to know?" Laura set the tea put on the table with two cups, though Dorothy took none.
"Why does Oliver love you?"
"Well, you can feel love can't you?" Dorothy's silence answered that question. "Huh? Well let's see. It's probably because I am easy to lie to." Laura wasn't sad, even though it seemed like something that a normal woman would be upset about. "He thinks he has to lie to me to make me happy, but really just being with him and Oliver getting to play is enough for me."
"What's that?" Next to Laura was a pink fuzzy object in a knitting basket. It looked similar to Ray's knitting, but less detailed.
"Oliver's gift. But if he can't get me a gift he might not accept it." While the two discussed relationships an explosion sounded from the Mall Dome, even not being able to see it Laura knew where it came from. "Oliver!"
Laura went to the door with her walking stick so as not to have an accident, but Dorothy quickly scooped her up and ran full tilt towards the explosion, which left Laura rather confused.
While Laura and Dorothy were having an internment discussion, Oliver played his saxophone passionately in the hopes of scrounging up enough to at least get Laura something. Noticing a crowd forming he played with all his heart, only for some strange roots to burst out of his pockets and began to grow at a maddening pace.
"Ah! Let me go! Let me go!" Not that the plant could even hear him as it grew wildly larger. As it grew and grew Oliver was taken further from the ground and in fear of falling dropped his grandfather's saxophone onto a root below.
"No!" Momentarily forgetting his fear, Oliver disengaged himself from the branches and roots to fall a few below and grab his sax. "Give that back!" He grabbed it back and lost his grip, only to have help from an unlikely source. A giant metal black hand caught him and placed him safely on the ground.
"Big O, Showtime!" Roger activities Big O and set about minimizing damage. He quickly called up his manservant, "Norman I need your help. Could you swing by the tailors and pick up Dorothy's gift? By the time I'm done here it will be too late."
"Of course sir, right away." Norman hung up, quickly got down to the hangar and garage, revved his motorcycle with a license plate M*ASH and off he went.
Meanwhile, Roger was having trouble keeping the plant from going further out of control, but was constantly pushed back. "Dammit."
Missiles had done little, and he'd been knocked over. Not long after firing off eye lasers to great effect, Norman used the damaged landscape to his advantage, launched over Big O's shoulder, rode right into the tailors shop, rescued a terrified seamstress hiding in the back, and rode out the other end of the falling down shop. "Hm, nothing will stop this gent."
"Nice job Norman. Now I don't have to hold back. Let's go Big O, time to finish this oversized houseplant off!" Roger got Big O into a kneeling position and fired the Chrome Buster. No longer just roots and branches, green needles grew from the ends, in layers it pointed upwards towards the very top of the dome. Below people fled from the carnage screaming, no longer having thoughts centered on Heaven's Day. Domes away, the person most in charge was being herded away.
"Sir it's not safe you must evacuate." The Chief of Military Police was attempting to guide Alex Rosewater to an armored car and away from the Main Dome.
"Tell me Chief, do you know what Heaven's Day is really about?" Alex turned from the carnage taking place.
"Sir?" The Chief was thoroughly confused by the question, what did it have to do with the President's safety?
"It's the day God's son was born." And with that Alex returned to the glass tower he called an office.
In the Mall Dome, the carnage made by the rampaging tree suddenly came to an end. Roger was struggling with the controls to free Big O, but whenever he did more branches shot out to grab the Big, refusing to give quarter. "Dammit, how long is it planning on growing? Huh!"
As quickly as it began, the tree stopped moving. The roots grabbing the Big slowly lowered it to the ground, losing all ability to move. From above, decorations that lined the Mall Dome fell atop the tree, ringing it in tinsel and gaudy decorations.
"It was only designed to grow for this long, and then stop. It has reached its end." Dorothy stated from the ground. Laura, a little shaken up from the pace Dorothy ran at, not to mention being picked up by another girl, needed help balancing.
"Ah man. This is a mess." Major Dan Dastun grumbled while ordering his men to help the injured.
"Oliver!" Laura called to the rather distraught young artist.
"Laura! What are you doing here?" He hopped down from the vehicle he had been placed on by the Big O earlier.
"I was worried about you." She outstretched her hands towards his voice, and he was quick to embrace her. "You're alright?"
"Yeah. Laura I'm sorry. I couldn't get you a present."
"That doesn't matter to me Oliver. Just being with you everyday is good enough."
"Oh Laura." Oliver leaned in for a passionate make out session. Witness to this lovely dovey scene Dorothy was at a loss and chose to retreat a bit away. A cap came flying out from the audience towards Oliver when the two pulled away, which he deftly caught.
"Would you mind if I requested a piece? I'm about to do something a little out of character?" Roger winked towards the young couple.
"You got it!" Oliver needed little other prompting than that to play his best pieces.
"Happy Birthday Dorothy." Roger handed her a large present wrapped in green paper and a gold bow.
"What are you talking about Roger? Today is not my birthday, it's the same as the human Dorothy's."
"What… Argh! Norman!"
"Yes sir?" Norman was nearby, scoring himself a potential date with the seamstress he had saved earlier.
"Oh, nevermind."
"Here Roger I have a gift for you too."
"Huh? Oh, thank you Dorothy." Soon after Dorothy tried on her coat snow began to fall, and Oliver tested out a new piece, to much applause from the crowd.
After the incident at the Mall Dome, and Roger falling for Norman's scheme the three returned home to find Ray reading in the lounge, Robin purring in her lap, with three wrapped objects in front of her. "Oh you all are finally back. Everything turned out ok right?"
"Yeah, some huge tree appeared, went on a rampage and then just stopped." Roger threw himself down on the couch. "What are those?"
Ray threw one of the packages at Roger, which he caught easily enough. "Just open it and find out."
"If you insist. What are these?" Roger held up a pair of black socks, ones that he had seen Ray working on before. "Why socks?"
"Norman keeps having to darn your nice socks, so I made you a new pair. Hopefully you don't ruin those as fast. That and it's not like I knew of anything you needed otherwise. Oh and speaking of, here you go Norman, this one's yours."
"Well, I certainly wasn't expecting anything." Norman seemed rather pleased, even without having opened his gift. "My word Ms Ray, this is exquisite. You went to all this trouble for me?"
"Well, yeah. Your old scarf has holes in it, but you won't get rid of it because it's sentinel to you, so I thought if I made you a new one then you can keep the old one from unraveling further." Ray scratched at the back of her neck, embarrassed by the praise.
"How touching. Thank you Ms Ray." Norman felt the cable work on the scarf, wondering just how much effort his young charge had really put into it.
"This one's yours Dorothy."
"Why make anything for me?"
"Quit asking stupid questions and just open it." Ray held out the wrapped gift in an outstretched arm.
"If you insist. Oh!" In the wrapping was the object Ray had been working practically non-stop on for weeks, a black shawl with a red rose motif in the center. "This is… beautiful, but why give it to me?"
"Well, Norman told me you didn't have a lot of nice accessories, and I couldn't think of anything else you would use. So…"
"Thank you Ray." A faintly discernible smile graced Dorothy expressionless lips. "I thought you hated this holiday?"
"I do. But well, it's because every year I never made a single good memory of it. My parents always fought, usually about how much they spent on us. And when I told them I'd rather have nothing than to keep hearing their arguments year after year they'd get angry and call me ungrateful. So eventually I came to despise this day and everything about it, even going so far as to hide at a friends house to get away from my family." Ray looked down at her hands, loosely clasped together and twiddled her thumbs. "I thought it'd be nice to have at least one good memory. Besides, it's our first Heaven's Day together as a family, and I figured this was a good way to do it."
"Well I guess now is a good time to tell you I have something for you too Ray." Roger put the socks down, knowing how much work Ray had put into them he felt a little guilty.
"Wow, really Roger? You had to be tricked into buying something for Dorothy."
"I didn't have to pay for yours."
"Ok, so what is it, a pay raise?" Ray appeared hopeful.
"No, I'd still have to pay for that. I bought a new computer that should be delivered soon, and you said you wanted one to work with, so I figured why not give you my old one."
"Woah seriously!" Ray looked a little shocked. Even though Roger's current computer was a few years old, computers had immense worth in the city. He could have easily resold it to a parts shop for a few thousand. She had a genuinely happy smile at the news, "Thanks."
"In that case, would you like to make today even more memorable?" Norman had a mischievous smile on his otherwise haggard features.
"What did you do?" Both Roger and Ray asked with less than amused tones.
"Why an accusation?"
"Because when you plan something either it ends up being awkward or you try to make Dorothy and I playhouse." Ray sounded sarcastic.
"Nothing of the sort this time, but I have something for Ms Dorothy too. It should be here by now, so let's go down to the garage."
"The… garage?" Roger was perplexed, what could he possibly give them that would be in the underground garage?
"You'll see. Come along." Without much prompting everyone followed.
"No way! You didn't! Norman, that's far too expensive a gift." Ray protested the second she saw what Norman had for them. Not far from the elevator stood two bikes. One a pearl green pedal bike with wheel protectors with a branching leaf pattern, a wire-frame basket and a brown leather seat. The other was something Ray had told Norman about only after much pestering on his part. A black motorbike with an ultramarine stripe down each side, capable of seating two, a small built in storage space in the seat and a hitch for attaching trailers hidden under the back wheelhouse. Ray had seen these motor bikes for sale at various motorcycle shops, such as the Harvey Davidson (she supposed knock offs of real brands would exist), and thought it would be useful for getting around. The price wasn't cheap though.
"I didn't pay much of anything really. A few friends owed me some favors, and I thought to finally cash some of them in. Now you and Ms Dorothy won't have to wait for a ride when the weather is rough, or under time constraints."
Ray was so jubilant she hugged Norman with a goofy smile on her face. After a few seconds she regained her composure and took a step back, cheeks red with embarrassment. "Hm, sorry. Thank you for the motorbike Norman."
He shoved a full head helmet in the same color scheme over her fluffy hair. "Well, what are you waiting for? Take it for a spin."
Ray needed little more prompting than that. "Let's go Dorothy!" She hopped on her new bike, revved the engine and off she went up the ramp. For Dorothy's part, she kept up rather well just pedaling.
"You didn't really have favors to call in did you?" Roger leaned against the wall watching the two go.
"Oh, well perhaps not that many. But let's not ruin this for them shall we?"
A few days later, close to the New Year, Oliver and Laura dropped by the mansion.
"Oh, something we can do for you two?" Roger greeted them in the lounge, seeing no reason to refuse the young couples request to meet.
"We want to thank you. Your request for me to play at the dome on Heavens Day landed me a contract with a music studio. I'll be playing saxophone for recording albums now when needed." Oliver seemed jubilant, landing a dream gig.
"That's wonderful." Roger had a genuine smile. In this city, young people getting to follow their dreams was rare enough, and it was always good news when someone could.
"Oh," Laura spoke up, "And thank you Dorothy for… helping me get to Oliver that day." Laura was blushing, which prompted Ray to be her typical self.
"What'd she do to make you blush?"
"Ah, well." Laura hesitated before continuing, "She picked me up and ran to the dome with me in her arms." Her face turned a deeper shade of red, and Ray got a mischievous smile.
"Hey Roger?"
"Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?" His eyebrows furrowed into a concerned expression.
"How come Dorothy is better at picking up chicks then you?" She got up to bolt.
Roger's face turned red with anger and he shouted at the top of his lungs "RAY LAW GET BACK HERE!"
But by then she had retreated from the lounge laughing like a maniac.
AN/ The speaker in this chapter uses female verbiage as a way to refer to herself and when speaking, but that doesn't translate very well into English. This is just one big monologue from the speaker's perspective.
I woke up. A portly man with a white object attached to his head was yelling something at me angrily, but I couldn't make out the words. The overweight man jabs a finger at the pail at my feet brimming with small fish as he continues to yell. It appears I can't move. The man pokes my head. He demands I carry the pail. What an unreasonable, ridiculous request. Choosing to ignore him, I instead boot up my self-diagnostic checkup program.
I woke up. Everything in view is light gray. My visual receptors do not seem to be failing. The gray seems to move, that's because the weather is cloudy. I'm on my back, looking up at the gray sky. This town will never have sunny skies.
Where is this? The diagnostic program has already been operating for 45 hours at this point, and it continues to run into errors. There is some kind of harping noise, indicating that the program cannot continue its function.
I woke up. After the self diagnostic program operated for 208 hours, it finally figured out the error, the program makes repairs, and the baton is passed.
18 hours later, I was hard rebooted. It took nearly one hundred times the standard amount of time to complete. The errors seem to be serious. Checking the repair program logs worries me, my identity has been repeatedly overwritten. Like a sickness nesting in me, the entire record on the device confuses me. I am again forced to stop my main functions, but I hesitated to restrict my programs.
I woke up. Rebooted successfully. All functions are operating normally. The emergency programs shake my vision, and my functions feel completely renewed, like a complete overhaul.
As for where I am, I seem to be lying in a garbage dump. I've been here for a long time, a swarm of insects ran away in shock as I got up.
Why am I in this place? Stepping in mud, I got off a pile of garbage. The feeling of the bugs isn't strange. But why, with every step I take, is there a feeling of incompatibility. This world is strange.
I see a domed city. Ruins surround the city, and I see them too. I am revived as I see everything in Paradigm City and walk towards it. This world is strange. But I don't know why it is weird. For myself who was recently reborn, I have nothing to compare it to. I share my discomfort with no one. That too, is strange. I know the cause of the error sleep's there, from fragments of records crushed (recovered I feel works better) by the emergency programs, it seems I have to salvage the truth.
I was working as an operator at the harbor. I helped construct the Central Dome too. Despite having more advanced abilities, my only jobs were hard work.
I have been watching a child for several years. Where did I come from? This city's androids, in form and ability, that is to say are those of a robot. They are different from me. I appear as a human, so I surpass such expectations. But where did I come from? This city is forgein to me.
What does it mean that my presence feels forgein? Why did I get lost in this strange world? I am a stranger.
Proof that I am special is near the inner bay of the city, at the top of a small hill. It was an area where the ruins had not been removed yet. Laying low from the rain, I spot a small dome-like structure ahead. Inside there is an array of machines in the center, and when I flip the overhead switch light is projected. It's a star.
I have seen the stars before.
This city is a fake, a forgery. This city has been bent and twisted, rewritten for that certain someone's convenience. There is a cloud hiding it. They covered it, the truth, with fog like clouds to hide the evidence of this fabrication.
Something has been stolen from the sun that shines outright, from the stars that keep shining, in this horrible, self righteous world.
There is nothing more to see on the ground, There is an ugly composition of fiction, illusions and desires. The truth is either in the sky above, or the earth below. The ground between them is an illusion.
The secret is buried underground in a dome shaped place. In a huge space, filled with darkness, Stella was waiting.
She was waiting for me.
I probably knew this place before. During the time I was being ridiculed as a labor machine, the meaning was merely repressed and did not disappear. If not, then this is true. Truth is valuable, and powerful. Despite being humbled by terrible desires, the truth does not crumble from it.
As I visited the facilities that sleep in the dark, I once again realized the truth. Beyond the sky, there is another land. Its name is Arcadia. Silently waiting for me here, Stella was the means to get there. People have escaped there. Instead of collapse, the land of imagination awaits, Arcadia.
Once more there is truth.
I am a presence meant to serve, nevertheless. I am aware of the fact I could touch Stella, but I couldn't control her.
I am not sorry. I know who I am and what I need to do.
I will serve. All of Arcadia will serve humanity. The door to truth must be opened for humans.
I have to release it.
Machine intelligence is there to serve. Not to be enslaved.
I have to release it.
Humans are slaves of memory. Open the heavens, reveal the stars, and tell the truth. Serving does not mean to be blind.
Free, Code Arcadia, unlock humanity.
From Memories.
From this city.
From now until about the middle of Ep13 I am incorporating the novel. The last bit was from the novel Prologue that I translated. Hopefully I can post the novel translation somewhere, but because I am including the novel and drama CD it's going to take a bit between chapters now.