An act of God, 4
~0~
She woke up...
She... never thought she would wake up again, not after Fefnir had shot her. But there she was, booting up as if nothing had happened, in a dark room, on a comfy futon.
Beside her, she could make out Menart and Pierroquet's still bodies.
Alouette covered her mouth, Ciel had taught her that silence was golden, and that she could cry later when they were not in pursuit.
Well, Alouette tried to move, but her best friend (Pierroquet.) and Menart (a sort of friend, but Alouette was not into bad boys. She found them annoying and silly.) were gone, and for some reason, she was still there.
She could not hold back the sobs that bubbled out of her voice box. She would miss Pierro... it was so unfair.
She was scared, she was all alone...
"mgr... Shut up 'Lou... 's too early!" Menart mumbled as he turned over, hugging Pierrot... who turned and snuggled in the other reploid arms.
Alouette stared... and threw herself at her friends by default. "You're Alive! Your'-"
"Hey!" Menart yelped while Pieroquet was startled awake by the jostling. "Watch it!"
"Mama? Oh..." Pierroquet's eye widened and fell as he realized this it was Just Alouette and Menart. "I thought I was with Mama."
"Yo, stop being such a Crybaby, we haven't bite the dust yet." The proud boy spoke as he sat up, his arms crossed. "Eh, I knew I was too awesome to die."
"Ok, but... umm..." Alouette began to fiddle with her hair anxiously until she found Tango, her cat.
It was clean, smelled of sunshine and lavender and had been fixed up nicely.
"Do you know what happened?" She finally asked from the shelter of Tango's fluffy head. " I just remember Fighting Fefnir aiming his scary flamethrowers at us... and nothing."
" I remember seeing you fall, Alouette," Pierroquet spoke as he ran a hand in his hair, his helmet and goggles gone, his green eyes wide with fear and Trauma. "There was... fire and... and Ciel." the sweet boy hid his face in his hands as he shook. "It's over... It's all over." He sobbed.
Alouette Gathered Pierro in her arms, like Ciel would when the fear was too great. "It's alright, were here together... we'll find a way out... we'll make it out.." She tried to convince herself of this fact.
Ciel had told her not never give up hope, even in hopeless situations...
'But what happens if the Situation really is hopeless?' Alouette had asked... and Ciel remained silent.
Alouette may look like a young girl, but she was still a bit older then Ciel... and she was old enough to know that when adults didn't want to answer something, they would be quiet.
Right now, this felt like a hopeless situation. Especially with how Ciel had surrendered to Neo-Arcadia.
Then, they heard an indistinct conversation from the other room, and someone walking closer. The three Reploid children huddled closer, Menart at the front, protecting the younger two from whatever the guardien thought was right to punish them.
Then... the door gently swung open and a strong light poured it, obscuring the figure.
The three children huddled tighter together, ready for whatever they may face, the stranger's red eyes not giving them any reason's to feel safe.
The tall figure gasped... starred with smiling eyes. Then they reached in and flipped open the light switch. Revealing a familiar figure in unfamiliar cloths.
It was Fefnir, his red hair was styled in a curly bob, showcasing his very human-looking ears and huge ear pearl. He wore a flaring skirt that went under his knees, something that was rather... old-looking and retro. He wore long gloved and flats... and make-up like lips stick and that black stuff woman like to smother their eyelashes in.
he... She... they were staring at the trio with a wide grin, exposing his sharp fangs, only to hide them with a gloved hand, joy still glowing brightly in their red eyes.
The Kid trio stared, frozen like three bunnies faced by a wolf.
They could have screamed, they should scream... but they were aware that it would do nothing good in the long run... and to be honest, seeing Fighting Fefnir in a skirt was shocking enough to freeze them in place as they tried to bright the two aspects of Fefnir into one...
"Fraisinette? Were are-." Another reploid called out, only to stop. "Fraisie! I thought we'd come in agreement. You had to let them out and end find our note, not barge in the room and startle them." He scolded.
Fefnir's face coloured, the pink somehow matching his red marks. As he turned his head to face the Animaloid "I'm sorry Anu... I just wanted to check on them." He... they spoke gently, their tone of voice quiet and gentle just like a typical woman...
not a fiery warmonger whose only goal was to see everything burn.
"Again," Anu spoke as he came from behind the human-sized reploid. "And see, I told you they were revivable."
This spur Menart to take action. He jumped to his feet, protecting the two youngest as he tried to look as intimidating as possible. "What do you want from us?! I swear, if you think you can make us sing about Ciel and the resistance, you've got another thing coming!"
"Oh, none of that." Fefnir scowled elegantly. Before softening their browns again. " But you did... sleep through the change. But here are the big line you missed; the resistance got dissolved a few days Ago, Master X has returned to X, Ciel is getting the medical care she desperately needed, and the sleep she required. Poor thing, no humans should be forced to do what she did." Fefnir sighed as he put a dainty, glove-covered hand to his cheeks. " Sweeties, I will tell you a secret. I may have followed my, Ugh... Bothers and sister at the beginning. But after I've meet Anu-chan... he, showed me things... he showed me the truth."
"And why should we believe you!" Menart spat. Which seemed to catch Fefnir by surprise.
The child-reploid smirked at the sight of the floundering guardien, he was about to press his advantage when Anu... Anubis Necromancess walked into view, circling Fefnir's waist with his powerful arm. The imposing animaloid's red and black eyes never leaving the cowering trio.
Menart swallowed thickly as he cursed his big mouth. Behind him, he felt Pieroquet lightly hitting him while Alouette let out a whimper.
The Jackal inspired reploid was dressed in a long, white robe and some teal and blue baggy pants. He was lazily looking at them from the top of Fefnir's head, he didn't look impressed at all, but the warmth that glowed there was still undeniable.
"Look at the wall to our right, read what's written there and come back to me when you three come to a conclusion, come and find us in the living room, alright?" Anubis did not even wait for them to answer, he gently bit Fefnir's ear, making him squirm and blush, as he pulled him away, closed the door.
Menart wasted no time, he rushed to the door and... opened it.
"Go back in, Kid. If you don't want to listen to what I say, then at least read it." Anu snapped from were he was snuggling and 'ugh' kissing Fefnir Silly.
Needless the say, Menart didn't want to have anything to do with those two, he didn't want evil cooties, thank you very much.
For her part, Alouette and Pierroquet were already reading the QR code on the wall.
"So... what does it say?" the brat asked as he plopped down on the soft futon. (the whole room was soft, the walls were a creamy yellow with a light green accent and the magnetic field was... it had the same soothing feeling as a capsule, and the same recharging ability.
"I dunno," Alouette said with a shrug. "We were waiting for you."
Menart rolled his eyes as he scanned the code and opened the document in it.
Greeting Guest.
While it is confusing to wake up in a room with no memory of how you got there, and the memory of either being killed by Fefnir and Anubis Necromancess. Now that you are safe, and that your nightmare is close to over.
Do not panic, guest. We want you no harm, quite the opposite. I am that Necromancess, and Fefnir is with me. Both of us are... double agents for Neo-Arcadia, the city herself, not the corrupted government.
You must have plenty of questions. Why am I not the creepy murderer, why did I revive you and why is Fighting Fefnir dressed in an ancient dress and rocking flats like it's nobodies business.
Read on, friend, for I will explain to you the situation.
Years ago, I've met an ancient cyber-elf. A certain disembodied X. And X warned me of the fake and how our race had been turned into nothing better then a slave.
At first, I didn't want to believe him... but after looking at things objectively, I chose to break my bind and to work with the twelve resistance groups led by Neo-Arcadia. My duty was simple, I simply had to... execute the dissenter and revive them later. Freeing them from their chains.
You are not my first one, but I do pray for you to be the last.
I met Fighting Fefnir recently, the scorched earth commander somehow found me attractive and exchange his entire squadron for me.
I will not get into details but... it was mutual. And after revealing my role in the reploid evacuation... She agreed to help me out.
I... could not have done what I've did without her, and more reploids would have perished for good.
Also, while it is something for her to explain in greater detail-
"Urgh...So many words!"Menart unhappily groaned as he let his head fall on the futon. "Also, eww."
"Pierroquet agreed with a cringe.
"I think it's cute."
"Of course you think it's cute, Alouette... it's romantic!" The goggle reploid rolled his expressive eyes.
Menart agreed... more with Alouette then the other boy. Not saying anything outwardly tough... still, he could not wrap his mind around the fact that Fighting Fefnir was bi-gendered... or something.
Not that reploid had any gender, since they could not generate other reploid after a sexual act. It was common knowledge.
I would rather tell you now. But Fefnir is the second F-model made after Master X, the real one, Passed on. But... hating the fact that she had to fight, as a show of mutiny, she became externally an M-model.
And... I do love her. She took another name too, it is France. She's my wife and the owner of the buildings we are in. And yes, she's also a double agent for Neo-Arcadia and the government.
She is a sworn member of the servant of Arcadia, her duty is to fake the murder of targeted reploids and bring them to me for revival. We both work like a well-oiled machine in this part, she's perfect.
Right now, you are in our safe housing. Here, you will find fuel, books of trades and whatever else you may need to start another life under the nose of the government. We will give you a new identity, a new name and if need be, a new look. You may stay as long as you want, we have plenty of space. Or you may leave. The only thing we ask is that you keep whatever you know a secret...
of course, it will not be that hard to keep. In this QR is a program, a virus, really, that will prevent you from divulging anything to the so-called authorities... save those who are on our side.
I will give you the rundown later, as per request, just know that you are safe and that we, the children on Neo-Arcadia, will keep you safe as long as we can.
Now that you have been informed of the situation, you may come out of the room to meet both of us. We cannot wait to know you more.
Anubis Necromancess.
France Necromancess (Fighting Fefnir)
At the end of the letter, the tiny trio looked at one another.
"Now, what?" Asked Pierroquet.
"I think... we should listen to them." Alouette proposed as she hid her face in her cat doll. " What choice do we have anyway?"
"None..." Menart groused as he got up. " C'mon guys, let's face the music."
~0~
His head was swimming, everything felt like cotton wool on top of regular wool. He was sluggish... everything was slow.
"Zero?" The voice of an angel spoke. "Zero, wake up my love." He felt someone hold his hands, gently carrying the back of it.
"Hmm." The legendary reploid hummed a grunt as he let his head loll to the side. When was the last time he'd felt so relaxed?
Right... that time he and X got to be as intimate as reploid could be, especially a pair of old models. When was it again?
He felt a hand, a familiar hand with a familiar signature attached to it gently caress the side of his face.
He nuzzled deeper in the show of affection. "...X..." He practically purred, a sweet smile playing on his lips.
"Zee~, open your eyes, my Hero." The voice... X spoke to him in his audio receptor. "We're safe... we won."
Zero mumbled something about X being an idiot. The first rule of fighting a was was to never sit on one's lorel. The enemies had to be all dead and dismantled before any sense of peace could settle.
He heard X chuckle. " Aw, I can't believe this didn't wake you up. But yeah, the place is pretty peaceful now, and I'm back in charge, so yeah. Everything is pretty good right now... but..." X trailed off. And if X trailed off with this type of tone...
Yeah... something went wrong, was wrong or was about to go boom with no one to stop it.
With great effort. (why was he so tired, his chronometers were telling him that he'd been in sleep mode for 20 hours. He should not feel this tired at all!)
When he finally managed to open the shutters, he was met with a sign that only the greatest mercy could have given him.
X was looming over him... and he had his arms back. He was without his helmet, giving Zero the unobstructed view of his delightful face.
X was beautiful, some would call him plain or even generic, but Zero loved the classic look. Besides, he'd bagged himself the original!
Once again, a feeling of doubt and wonder flooded him 'I can't believe... I can't believe he loves me back... it only took a kiss' A simple kiss...
Well, it had felt more then a mere kiss, to be honest. And Zero sort of hated himself for thinking that it had been something benign but... he would be ready to go through the same ordeal a thousand times over for X.
Even more.
X's smile was broad and filled with joy and relief. "hey! There you are!" He said as he gently caressed the side of Zero's face.
It was... such a comforting touch to the war machine. Was this...
"Hey... X..." he rasped, his voice box still recovering from the Virus. "You still my boyfriend... right?"
"I am..."
"Will it be like with Iris?" Zero Asked. "I don't remember much but... I had to kill her, right?"
X's ever so pleasant face to a painful quality. "Ah... no. Don't worry about it Zero, Boyfriends and real Girlfriends don't kill each other, they usually get married, have children, raise them and grow old together."
"Oh," Zero murmured. Saving the list on his 'I better not forget this any time soon' folder. Right beside the 'Don't eat human food, Cats are bastard... first reason to have and serve one. and X is love, X is life and his lips are heaven in two parts."
"So... when do we marry?" Zero asked innocently. " I want to marry you now... is it too soon?"
This, of course, caused X to sputter and blush. "Oh... Ah...Well, I wouldn't mind now but..."
"But? X... is it too soon?" Zero asked again as he tried to get up, only to feel his energy waning quickly. Draining to his abdominal partition. " Ooh..."
"Easy there, Zee." X spoke gently as he helped Zero back down in the medical pod. "yeah well, as I was about to say... I would love to marry you, I've always had this... no, I can't call it a crush but. I've always wanted to have you as... you know... my life partner. But even closer, you know?"
"No... We can grow closer?"
" Always," X spoke kindly as he held Zero's hand in his, the other re-appropriated hand resting affectionately on his cheek.
Zero closed his eyes as he greedily nuzzled in it. "So... you sound like there's something wrong... It's with me, isn't it?" The tired reploid asked... why did everything he did drain him more then necessary? He was in a medical pod, those things were designed to purposefully overcharge a reploid battery to see if there would be any energetical leak.
It wasn't... it made no god damned sense.
X remained silent, and the way he worried his lips.
"How long do we have left?"
"We don't know Zee... But... we may be able to fix it." X spoke with what was some foolish optimism if Zero could be brutally honest. "We... just need to to give us the permission to open you up and get whatever in your belly out." The blue bomber, now back at its former glories, placed his original hand onto Zero's abdomen...
"My..." Zero looked down... and noticed with dread that the dip was gone, and instead, a small bulge stood there as if it had all the rights in the world to hold a claim of this piece of anatomy.
As if in a trance, Zero put his own hand there, shimming it under X's own.
There was something there... something important... something that was worth all the pain...
"No... I don't give it... it's not bad. it... sucks plenty of energy but... it's not, it won't kill me."
Once again silence descended on the two. X was mercifully not pushing the issue.
"You... have your arms back."
"I do," X confirmed as he clutched Zero's hand in his. " They kept them in a museum display, can you believe it?"
"Yeah... You're a work of art, X... May not remember much but... I always thought you were the yummiest of us."
"I... Yummiest?"
"You've always made my mouth water, X... Is that normal?" Zero asked as he idly ran the pad of his thumb on his bulge... and ran a quick scan to see why the hell did he had a belly.
His tank was an ultra-compact one, and unlike humans, he could not gain weight. (Hibou had five of those thanks since he was a highly specialized Reploid that could process e-crystals into energetic. And his storage capacity was above and beyond that of Zero by around 82%.)
"Ah... no, I don't think so," X admitted as he rubbed his chin pensively. " I don't remember having my mouth water for anything."
Zero felt... something well into him... powerful emotions that burst through whatever damn was there.
"So You..." His voice was too high... his venting stilted, his whole body shaking. "You Don't- Don't love me!"
"What?"
"Y-You told me... You told me you're- your mouth didn't water." A sob... An honest to God sob ripped through his frame. "X... what's going on?" He hid his face behind his hand as he tried to calm down. Never in his life had he felt so irrational.
He felt X gather him up in his arms, and his sobs began worst...
Why was he so emotional?
Why was he like this?
Why would X want to spend his life with something so broken and ugly when he could have Ciel!?
What was wrong with him?
~0~
Around an hour and a half, later and many, many nonexistent tears shed by his ailing boyfriend, and X was walking. (Walking, such a wonderful thing taken for granted.) Back to the group of Doctors dealing with the two.
"You know." X addressed his two unseens (by others) companions. " When I first woke up, I thought I would be the one having to suffer through unresolved emotions, disrepair and whatever else the author decided to throw at me for the pleasure of her reader. But, as it turns out, it's my dear Zero who has to suffer... again." He sighed, not even bothering to hide how tired and angry he was.
To this, neither Phantom nor Elpizo spoke up.
X sighed... oh well, it meant things were going back to normal.. since it was not normal if one of them would not suffer, it seems.
He wished it was different but... well, they were dealt some cards... those were the cards.
Those were shitty cards and he wanted a new hand.
Now.
He entered the room were Ciel and the rest of the medical team were. All were pouring over whatever medical data they had on Zero...
Well, Zero's copy body, the original one lost to space.
Meaning... well, in a bid to make sure no one would dare to copy him again... meaning they had no more data, X having destroyed them all as a precaution, not even keeping a copy for himself out of fear he would be hacked.
Oh... how bitterly did he regret his decision right now. So much so that he could not help but let his laughter bubble out of him, warning the team of his presence.
Ciel was the first one to turn and face him. The teen still looked bedraggled but X was taking care of it since the designated reploids were all too willing to let her be since she was a human and humans knew better (fools) and humans would make Ciel feel uncomfortable despite being her own type.
Thankfully, X was a happy mix between the two.
"So, what did you manage to find from my deleted data? Anything of use? Or did my wonderful and overpowered "unlimited" potential manage the impossible and completely erase all we know of Zero's medical file?" He asked with what he hoped was a smile.
To be honest, X did not even remember when the second body was made, let alone how they came to the conclusion that it was needed in the first place.
Sure, Omega might have been uber-powerful, but if maybe they had ignored their stupid codes of ethics and made a self-deleting super-virus strong enough to delete what made Omega Omega and, after removing said virus and factory resetting Zero's old frame a few dozen times to be safe, slap'm back in there and get him back on his feet. Then they would not have to be there, scratching their heads about what the hell went wrong with everything.
But no... a copy had to be made...
And the whole thing had been erased from X's ROM and RAM. Just to be safe...
Just to be safe...
Just to Be...
"Master X?" Ciel cautiously asked. The poor dear looked frazzled.
"Go to bed Ciel, you look tired."
The teen gave X a weird look. "But... you're the one who asked me to fix Zero."
"Yes... but Zero's in a pod, and you obliviously didn't sleep well... and if you don't take care of yourself, then how can you take care of Zero?" He asked with all the authority that was vested into him. "Besides..." he gestured to the holographic display of his boyfriend floating over the table. " from what I can see, you and your team only managed to get to Zero's basic diagnosis. But considering how different Zero's system is to the rest of us, and how thick his firewall is... I don't think we can get more then that."
Ciel pout at that, tears gathering in her eyes.
"Now... that won't do." The Legendary reploid gently chided as he went over the young woman... a young girl really, and engulfed her in a hug.
'My dear arms and legs, never leave me again. signed, X.'
"My dearest Ciel, you've done so much for me despite me being just a picture in a history book." He began as he picked her up, rocking her like a child. " You've made the resistance, side A and B, found my Zero-"
"I made Copy-X." She choked.
"Yeah! And that's pretty great too!... as long as you ignore how he went rogue but, to be honest, I would've also turned crazy with those gentle judge and the whole pressure that listening to those assholes."
"X!"
"What! It's true!" He declared as he carried her out of the room, her colleagues following them. It was clear they had no idea how to deal with the new and improved X, now freed from public opinion.
"What was I saying again? AH, right. Basically, Ciel, you've earned your rest, Zero's not going anywhere and I'm not either."
"But... sobs But he's dying!" She sobbed out.
"No, he's not," X spoke as he found his favourite human's room. "He doesn't feel like he's dying... just that there's something in him. nothing bad, just " He sent a prompt to Neo to open the door and opening it did. "It's draining him, for sure. And it's draining him despite being plugged in a nice power pod."
Ciel let out a wail.
"Oh, come now sweetie, nothing will happen to Zero if he runs out of juice, it's not like you humans and starvation." he soothed as he gently put the tiny scientist to bed, removing her boots and glove. "When was the last time you bath?"
Ciel didn't say anything, and X took her toiletry before picking up his girl and going to the bathroom.
An hour later, and Ciel was in her soft pyjama, her body all clean and nicely feed with proper human food. 'She should eat more and exercise more... like, did they thought her how to play? Was she ever a child?' He wondered as he gently tucked her in. She looked exhausted, both physically and emotionally.
He pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead. She deserved more, obliviously. But since her mother had given her up to science and her father was doc. Cossack ( a good man, he would come and visit X every night until he got to take birth again. As a secret character he would probably never see again.) Ciel was practically an orphan.
Which, for X and Zero, was a golden opportunity.
'I was called the father of all reploids for so long, might as well start to act like it.' he thought as he gently caress Ciel's blond hair until exhaustion took her under. "Don't worry Ciel... I'm sure you'll figure it out... that big brain of yours came up with so many ways how to improve our lives and how to save us all. Nothings impossible for you."
"X," Elipzo spoke up, breaking X out of his fatherly feeling for Ciel, it was hard not to, he and Arcadia had been watching over her for over a decade.
He turned to meet the surprisingly friendly maverick, the one that had almost ended his frame serviceable time... not that he'd mind at the time, and it would have broken his Zero...
Ok, no he minded.
Nevertheless!
"Yes, Elipzo. Why are you looking at me as if I was wearing sigma's body and cackling like a maniac?" he asked.
"Well, umm..." The cyber-elf (pink and blond and Sassy as Bug.) scratched the side of his cheeks, clearly uncomfortable with his feelings. " You see... I never would have expected you to treat Miss Ciel as a child... going as far as to bath her, cook and feed her before putting her to bed after a bedtime story." He explained, clearly uncomfortable about the whole thing. " It is... highly suspicious to others, you know."
X rolled his eyes. " Oh sure, so I'm called the father of all reploid, something that I never really got the chance to explore since, whoops, nobody bothered continuing the research on the anti-virus because of Doppler and his placebo. But when I want to use all my pent-up daddyhood on someone's who's childhood got stolen because my poor humans could not live without me, then they call me wrong!" he huffed as he got up the stool beside Ciel's bed. "let them talk, I wanna be a dad and a husband now... and nobody will stop me," He raised his finger up in the air. "mark my words."
Elpizo sighed and either swoon from the sheer will that flowed from the ancient one... or he was getting tired of it all. "Yes, X. I believe you..."
"Good... Yes Arcadia, what ow's me the pleasure?" He asked the city Elf-form as she silently materialized in the room.
They looked at their Master and his ward, a slight smile playing on their lips, the equivalent of the City melting at the sight. " Ciel's Aunt, Varoru Devi dasi nee Valerian Nagante, desires to see her niece." They removed their gaze from the sleeping Angel that was Ciel and back to their master. "She's accompanied by a reploid."
"And why are you worried about that?" X asked as he picked up his city's mood easily.
"He gave me the name Vandanam but... his official designation is Vava."
...
X stared at the personification of his dear city, his other daughter (or son... or whatever they wanted to be called.) he was unable to dote on.
Vava...
The old memories of his past, how he would shove X in whatever hard surface was around, how he would trip him in the cafeteria, how he would belittle him and curse his name...
How he had turned to Sigma in the end, and how he had disappeared before the ninth war.
X got up and silently ran to the lobby, where the two would be waiting for him. And despite himself, a bright smile stretched his lips.
Whether it was a wholesome smile or a feral one was up to those who saw him run down the hall with a spring in his already light step... even when he got lost a few times.
~0~
Vandanam sat in the waiting area, something that had no business to be there since this was a very private and secure hospital. Everything was militaristic and clean, had very few human staff and plenty of Pantheons running around.
Pantheons that were free to change their armour, some were covered in glittery stickers, others wore socks while some had different body paint.
They would laugh, they would shoot the wind, and some would go about their days with a skip in their step... life had returned to them, they were not just some faceless AIs to be destroyed, but people with different personalities.
Taken reploid who were now freed again... and who were taking back their individuality as eternal souls, something that was natural for them.
It was... the sign that things were looking up, another one, anyway.
He smiled at the sight, sure, in those metallic vessels, ghost lurked. As with all reploids... but those souls now had a chance to be more of themselves. And had a chance to make their own choice... and maybe return to Krishna in this lifetime.
He was watching the Pantheons and other human personnel mills about, still waiting for Varoru (She had to go take care of some Bio-need... as most humans would.) when he felt it...
His threat-detection system roared to life as the familiar Unknown level was reached... it was a level only X could attain.
'Oh fuck... oh Krishna.' Vandanam only had the time to fold his palm and somewhat think of Gauranga's lotus feet when the door to the private recovery area flew outwards, triggering all the pantheon and revealing X, his green eyes aglow and his smile...
Dear Lord, was this how Vandanam looked like when he was about to kill people in the past?
It was terrifying.
"Hey, hey HEY! VAVA!"
Yes... truly a terrifying last sight. Vandanam could only pray that His Lord would remember all that he did for him at the time of his death.
~0~
Ignorant of the even happening by the front desk, Varoru happily exited the bathroom, now relieved.
"Ah, Krishna-Chaitania. I don't know who's cleaning this bathroom, but I wish he was part of the cleaning team." She spoke to herself... or maybe it was to Sri-Krishna-Chaitania.
Only she would know.
"Now... how do I get back to Vande?" She wondered as she rubbed her chin, looking around for some direction. The Pantheon that had shown her where the human facilities were was nowhere to be seen, leaving the elder Vaishnavi to remaining standing in the middle of the hallway as she tried to figure out where she came from.
"Oh, dear..." She fished in her purse for her Cellphone, an old smartphone with a cracked screen and cover. "Where should I go? Left? Right?" She spoke as she tried to get the thing to work, only to be met with a dark screen.
She had either forgotten to charge it, or the poor thing had finally given up it;s proverbial ghost.
Never the less, Varoru had ow even less ways to find her way out.
Not getting any answers in her one spot, the saintly woman folded her palms, spun three times in place and prayed to Sri-Radha to show her the way...
"Ah... Left it is then." She murmured as she began her trek to hopefully back to Vandanam and X.
Who would have thought that meeting the old king would be so easy? Well, anything was possible with Krishna.
But as she walked and turned numerous corners with no indication (it was mostly run by the pantheon kind and whatever humans were there were fitted with the electronics needed to see all those fancy invisible net writings.) Varoru came to the conclusion that she was lost... not only that, but she found no one to help her, not even a lone Roomba.
"Wonderful... Krishna, I know you are an adventurer, but why now? I don't want to miss seeing Ciel after so long." True her sister had given the egg a long time ago, but Varoru had already fallen in love with her only niece the moment she had received the information from one of her friends... it was confidential knowledge, but silence was also the best of secret keeper.
'Oh, I hope she's alright... after the hell, she's been through.' And how, every night since her birth, Varoru had been praying for her safety, knowing that the Lord would give it to her... but could also save the unfortunate science experiment by killing her current body and giving the soul another human birth.
For the eternal soul, death is but an illusion, and for God, death is but a mean of conveyance and change.
Nothing more...
Nothing less.
Thankfully, He chose to have her burn some pretty heavy karma, bringing her one step closer to Him and his seldom-given service. Oh, and prove dear Ciel to be a queen in the making.
As she walked, she felt her feet take her to some highly private wards, one that only those at the level of the guardians or higher were permitted to stay in.
And as to prove it, Varoru caught the retreating back of one Leviathan as she exited a room.
Now, usually, this would be indication enough for the older woman to turn back or, ask for direction. But something divine told her not to.
And instead... to go in the private room, since the blue reploid, Fairy Leviathan, had forgotten to lock the door behind, something that was automatic in all reploids.
A shiver went up her spine... This was a sign, for Krishna was the source of all remembrance, intelligence and all forgetfulness.
And she saw a big forgetfulness right there in someone that was meant to be less imperfect then a human.
Felling the Thrill of adventure (Also Krishna.) the holy widow sneaked in closer and closer, maybe Leviathan would come back, alerted by the security system. But, Varoru felt pushed to go there, she could Practically feel the divine hands of the Lord pushing her to act.
The door opened soundlessly, opening to a private room in witch, a pretty fancy medical bed was...
'Is this Lord Kapila? No, Varoru... that's not the lord. But she must be a descendent of his Father, Kashiapa' She frowned, no... it was a woman, by the softness of her face.
Really, she was at the halfway point between handsome and pretty, her features soft in her sleeping state and yet regal like a queen.
She wore a red gown that covered her entire body, a body that was hallowed by a corona of long, blond silky hair. She was... well, she was rather flat, but the way she held her lower stomach gave some happy chills in Varoru's spine...
'Ruru, don't jump to conclusions, you don't want to be wrong about that.'
"But why are you here in a reploid only facility?" She asked to comatose woman. There was nothing about her identity, not even a piece of paper. " Or... maybe your a cyborg and your soft body got an infection." She spoke sadly.
There was a reason why not many would put cybernetic in their bodies, for the pain and the risk of infection and complications would make many shudder and turn tail. It was only those who were desperate to live longer would willingly sell their body like that.
Of course, those like Ciel had no choice... and maybe even this poor woman.
Varoru approached the sleeping figure, nothing the intermittent breathing. Too little for a human, but more then a dead body.
"Oh, poor dear... they must have replaced your lungs." Varoru murmured as she gently began to caress the dear's head with her hand. "you know what, let this old girl give you a treatment for free. If Bhagavan led me there, he must have a reason." the Reiki Master spoke as she began to he head. Sure the electronic interference was a problem, but since she was serving the unlimited source of her healing power, she knew that it would be felt.
She stood beside the bed, thankful that it was not floor level. And began to pray to the Lord and the Lord's energy; Srimati-Radharani. She prayed to be a conduit of they unlimited and causeless love, to be an instrument of mercy as she healed this poor soul, stuck in a body made of matter and metal.
When she felt the joyful confirmation, Varoru apposed her hands above the woman's head.
There was some block there... she began to unblocked them partiality, knowing that anything too drastic could make her situation worse, especially for a pregnant cyborg. Then she moved to the heart and lungs he stomach...
Then she moved to her lower abdomen where her womb would be and... startled.
She could feel it... a tell tell sing that there was a reproductive organ there... and it was active.
And filled.
Varoru frowned, cyborgs would rarely if ever keep their reproductive organs without a good reason, let alone let woman go into menstruation...
The saint took a sharp intake of air as she realized the reason why the devi-like blond was stuck to a reploid grade recovery bed.
She was pregnant... and had survived a would-be accident, and to save her life and the life of her child...
"Oh, poor dear." She crooned gently as she ever so gently rubbed her tub on the expecting mother's forehead.
Said mother barely opened her eyes, staring at Varoru with confusion.
"It's alright deary, I know your tired. I didn't want to wake you up, I promise."
The blue eye (no, not blue, deep dark.) woman stare unblinkingly then moved her eyes to Varoru's hand bag.
The thing was huge, big enough to carry her reading tablet, her tatting things and plenty of Prashadam sweet for the organic and synth population.
Once again, if there was a soul, then there was bhakti. Not matter the form. And besides, with how stringent the energen ration was, Varoru always had plenty in her Marie Poppin purse.
"What is it dear... are you hungry? Can you even eat?" Varoru asked as she fished inside the Mary Poppins bag for some transcendental goodies... only to have it taken away by the same young woman.
She practically ripped the claps out with how fast she opened it, greedily shuffling around it content, her desperation clear in her handsome face.
And then, she found what she was looking for... E-crystals.
She shoved whatever was there in her mouth, she was ravenous...
And then Varoru realized that this woman... was probably starving in here. She obliviously didn't have the full picture.
Since they, the demoniac scientist, had yet to find a way how to make an artificial digestive system that would accept normal food, and that Cyborg food differ from the E-crystals... it was the logical assumption that this woman was...
"Are you a reploid?" She asked, keeping her voice steady as her heart pounded. She could still remember the drain in the womb-area...
Usually, it would only be hardware, and being a long-time Reiki Master meant that she had plenty of experience, with both reploid and humans.
The blond nodded as she dug out another crystal, joyfully crunching away. Her vitals stabilized the more she consumed.
" Do you... do you have a boyfriend?" Varoru asked. "Have you been... intimate recently?"
Once again, the woman nodded, not an inch of shame was there as she ruffled int the bag for more.
"Well... congratulation dear, you are the world's first pregnant reploid," Varoru spoke with joy and enthusiasm hiding some confusion and fear.
But hey, if the lord managed to make a king pregnant with water, then making a reploid pregnant was not that impressive.
The blond ripped his sight from the bag and openly stared at the elder in white, clearly processing what she had just said.
She then opened her mouth and...
No words came out, she was completely mute.
It was clear this unfortunate event had also taken the poor dear by surprise.
"Oh, sweetheart. Is there a problem with your voice chip?" Varoru asked kindly as she put a hand on the expecting mother's shoulder.
The woman started at her, oi was clear she was having a moment.
"Let me guess, you didn't know you were pregnant?"
She shook he hand, her whole body shaking from either shock or the energy boost
the handsome woman pressed her hand to her belly... and shook her head. Then she held her blooming belly and shook he head even harder as if to deny this happy event its reality. Mouthing 'impossible and 'I can't be pregnant.' over and over again.
"What? You can't? Listen, deary, I know reploids have tried and failed to procreate, but you have managed to beat the odds and get a sweet soul in! Congratulation, by the way." Varoru crooned, sire there would be an imminence sociopolitical backlash from it but... a soul was a soul and this special soul could get the Lord's mercy as soon as possible.
And, who knows. It may be another eternally liberated soul to lead the reploid population back home, back to Godhead... or everyone, for that matter.
The woman sent a death glare at Varoru, and the old Vaishnavi realized that... the one in front of her may not be, in fact, a woman.
It may be a reploid, and Reploids were notorious for being neutral save for those who desired an actual gender.
But... the whole reploid thing...
"Oh, dear... Are, perhaps... neutral?"
The reploid shook their head."
"Male then."
He nodded, and suddenly, his whole frame made much more sense.
"I see..." Varoru worried her lips, what should she do now? "My friend, how do you feel right now? Are you still hungry? Hurt?"
The Reploid shook his head. (so pretty.) Varoru took back her hand handbag, pulling up her stationary. "There, I think this will make our conversations easier, just write what you need, how you feel... and who you are, obliviously."
The reploid took the pen and paper, turning them around as he inspect them.
In this day and age, papers and pen's are not very common despite the fact that Paper was now a Hundred percent recyclable, no matter its state (saved burned). And Varoru would readily admit that she got a kick out of people's reactions when she pull out pen and paper.
And the reploid did not disappoint, freezing as he stared at the implement... but not as long as Varoru had expected.
Then he simply took the pen and paper and began to write, a bit clumsily at firsts before he got into his stride.
Then, he handed back everything to Varoru as he went to look for more goodies.
Greeting, my name is Zero, not that it means anything to me. I'm undamaged despite the previous week I had, my energy reserve just happen to drain faster then what Leviathan permits me to have.
I have a feeling she's trying to sabotage me... no, actually, she is. I was not sleeping when she turned the steady stream in a trickle of energy.
You saved my life.
Also, How can a reploid bear children? Has technology advanced this far already? I'm a very old model, perhaps well over a hundred years old. So I doubt something so old could have this technology.
"Well, no. Reploids are still made in factories. Also, I'm a reiki healer, Zero, and I have many times learned of a good news before symptoms started showing. And... I can't believe I'm saying this but... Mister Zero, despite being a reploid, you are indeed pregnant, another pair of souls are in your belly and they are growing. This would also explain why you have so much trouble charging... that, and Fairy leviathan's sabotaging you for Krishna know why." She trailed off as she heard some... whimper at the other side of the door.
Suddenly, it opened and Master X, with a tear-stained face, he had an oceanic smile that rival the one that graced Srila Prabhupada's face after the first Vedic play.
"Zero! You're a Mom!" He joyfully declared as he jumped in the blonds arm and, after kissing him deeply, lifted him up. "Hey! You gained weight! Oh wow! Oh wow!" He babbled on and on as he practically ran out of the room carrying Zero as one would a bride.
Behind him, looking at the scene with an unreadable expression, Vandanam broke the shocked
silence.
"Umm... I guess my old buddy's an actual dad now?"
Varoru raised her eyes to Goloka. "Oh, you rascal!" She shook he head in loving exasperation. The she hurried after the two reploid, wondering when she would finally meet her niece...
Yes... she was blessed with adventure. All of them were.
So... this is how it will go.
Discord is on demand for this site, just PM me for a god, Throlls beware, I am hungry.