AN I must start off by apologizing. I said chapter five would be the last, but then I realized just how pitiful an ending it was. On the one hand I was trying to build all this angst stuff, on the other having some pointless conversation it was not pretty. The worst part being that last scene I tried to wrap it all up but it didn't follow what I had said before. To put it simply, I hated it. So I decided to change it and add a chapter.
I tried to have this chapter return to the feeling of the first two chapters. Instead it's more WAFFy than I ever planned. Ah!! This fic is taking way too much time.
_____________________
Ghosts and Constructs
By Areku
Chapter six
Umarekawaru-Being Reborn
_____________________
Letting me forget with your voice and your touch
Breaking off the chains that bind my heart and feet
To be born again for your sake
As ember that just caught should not be put out or misplaced
My thoughts just born should not be dissipated or broken apart
In this cradle you guard over
To start again from scratch
To be born again
In your arms
*****
Jim had enough angst. He had mopped on the floor for several hours, hoping against hope that Gene would come back soon so he would have someone to vent on. Gene didn't come back soon, so Jim got up and started making plans.
Jim, of course, was still upset about Melfina, but I do not wish to tell you again just how distraught he was. Your memories of the last chapter should serve well enough. If it doesn't go read it again, cause I ain't goin' there.
Anyway, he was done with his emotional side. In fact, his emotional side got so bored of lying around, it got up and left. This left his practical side, and his practical side had the perfect plan. So as I said before, he sat down and worked.
In the midst of his brilliant scene Gene blundered in, at last. They faced off right inside the doors.
"Get your caster we're going out."
"What?"
"We're going after her."
"Who?" If you couldn't tell already Gene was extremely groggy. This would probably be due to the fact that he had spent the last five hours at a bar. How he ever got back shall remain a mystery, for now.
"Melfina, you idiot. Who else would I mean?"
"Are you nuts? We don't know where she is, and she's already with her construct buddy."
"Well we'll just have to go and FIND HER! What do you think we can do without Melfina? Do you think we can run the Outlaw Star without her? Hmm, Gene I'm waiting for an answer!"
"No, but I..."
Jim sniffed him, "Your drunk aren't you."
Gene glowered.
"I can smell it, you're drunk. How did you get back here? After all that I wouldn't think you could walk."
"I had some help. But anyway," he was anxious to leave that subject behind and move on, "how're we going to find her?"
"Well I thought the construct would have taken her back to where they were built." Lets just say that somewhere in the parts I haven't covered Gene told Jim all about his chat with Setsuna.
"But neither of us know how to find it."
A woman's head popped around the corner. Do I need to say who it was? "You know, that's not as hard as you think."
*****
Mel was, in fact, at the lab where the constructs were originally built. She had been placed in a test tube; you know the kind that are so big they hold an adult standing up. Wait, no, I don't want her standing up, it'd be better if she was lying down. So she's lying down in one of those tube things. The top is glass, and the sides are a non see through type of material. The tube is filled with a gel like liquid in which...
*
What am I doing? How dull is this? Okay, I'll skip the rest of the descriptions and move on to the juicy stuff.
*
Needless to say the other construct was there. (For the purpose of this fic we will call him the LMX6, because I'm getting awfully tired of saying 'the dog', or 'the construct'.) Since he was modeled after a dog, it is impossible to say 'how' he was operating all the complex machinery around Mel.
Oh, and about their chat in the last chapter. Lets say that LMX6 was speaking directly to Melfina's subconscious, or some other nifty term used to describe one's mind. He could do that because they were both constructs. Oh, you don't think so? Well then, how hard do you think it is to plug two androids' artificial brains together? Hmm?
With the close of their conversation, the LMX6 was so moved that he could do nothing but release Melfina. Something about "Your strength of heart has proven you worthy," I think. Well, not really, but something pretty darn close.
Anyway, the liquid drained out of the tank, the lid (if those things have lids) opened, and Mel opened her eyes. Slowly she realized she was now alive again.
Millions of questions buzzed through her head. 'Who are you?' 'Why did you come after me?' 'What is the true purpose for a constructs existence?' But the one she chose to open up with was "What can I call you
"I'm the LMX6."
"Is that your name?"
"No it's my model number, but it's as good as a name."
"Well I'm going to call you Lemx."
In the middle of LMX6 and Mel's lovely conversation the door was knocked down. It fell with a crash onto the warehouse floor. Light shown through the now open doorway and the outline of two people could be made out.
Gene had his caster pulled out and pointed into the room. Jim was peeking out from behind Gene. They both looked stunned.
Setsuna said in her cheerful way, "See now that wasn't so bad now was it? Well, I'll leave the rest to you." After patting Gene's shoulder and waving to Jim she walked away. She was trying very hard to mind her own business, and forget what was in that warehouse.
The two in the door just stared for a minute. LMX6 was acting like a dog, which he was quite good at by now.
Melfina spoke, "Guys, everything's okay. You can put the gun down Gene."
"Mel, what happened?" Jim stepped in, "Where's the construct?" All he saw was some dog and his 'beloved'.
"Right here." she indicated the dog. "This is the LMX6. He..."
She didn't finish because Gene had rapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.
"Don't you ever leave me again." He muttered, still not releasing her.
Jim looked on, mildly amused, "If you remember correctly she's not the one who left."
Melfina pushed him back so she could see his face. The poor guy was going through shock. His face didn't reveal much, he never was the type to start crying at the big romantic scenes. "Gene, are you okay."
"I didn't think you'd come back."
Her eyes welled up with tears. They trailed down her face to drip onto the ground. Melfina fell into Gene's embrace again. Closer. Tighter. Until the two became one.
"Not this again." Jim groaned. As I think I said before, Jim didn't like the mushy stuff with Gene; it really did get old after awhile. He turned LMX6 who was sitting quietly watching them.
Gene stood up with Mel in his arms, with the intent of going back to the ship, and leaving before they had to pay the docking bill. "Come on Jim, lets go back."
"But Gene what about him?" Jim indicated the LMX6
The dog wagged his tail and looked innocently from face to face.
AN For this chapter I had to rely heavily on another song/poem, this time it was from the fourth volume of Clover. From that poem, I took the title and the poetry bit at the beginning.
PLEASE tell me what you think.
As usual the characters I made up are mine, and someone else owns Outlaw Star, and that someone else isn't me. Please don't sue me, I've spent all my money on manga and Streamloads (trying to download all the anime I can before the rights are picked up). If you do sue me I'll have to declare bankruptcy and then you won't get much money, so there.
This is the end for this story; it is complete. Now go read something else.
Epilogue
Another boring day at the space forces offices. The district manager had quite a deskfull of cases to be checked over. Then all modifications to the computers should be made. Needless to say, all the office staff were busy.
Lieutenant Setsuna had just finished going over the riots apparently created by recent immigrants to the station who believed that synthetic foods should not be sold in stores with real foods. The origin of these beliefs was unknown. Next came the people campaigning for no personal communications pieces (i.e. Gene's earring and other such instruments) to be used or even carried on people who were involved in manual labor. There were other cases, but they were extremely complicated, and therefore boring.
After an extended lunch-break she was back at her desk looking over some of the lesser cases.
Finally she ran into a break-and-entry in the old research district. There was also something about a warehouse and recent signs of use. Nothing was stolen the only thing injured was the door. She chuckled at the memory.
She skipped over to a display of a red spaceship leaving port. It seemed to have picked up an extra passenger somewhere along the way, but that wasn't her area of investigation.
END
I tried to have this chapter return to the feeling of the first two chapters. Instead it's more WAFFy than I ever planned. Ah!! This fic is taking way too much time.
_____________________
Ghosts and Constructs
By Areku
Chapter six
Umarekawaru-Being Reborn
_____________________
Letting me forget with your voice and your touch
Breaking off the chains that bind my heart and feet
To be born again for your sake
As ember that just caught should not be put out or misplaced
My thoughts just born should not be dissipated or broken apart
In this cradle you guard over
To start again from scratch
To be born again
In your arms
*****
Jim had enough angst. He had mopped on the floor for several hours, hoping against hope that Gene would come back soon so he would have someone to vent on. Gene didn't come back soon, so Jim got up and started making plans.
Jim, of course, was still upset about Melfina, but I do not wish to tell you again just how distraught he was. Your memories of the last chapter should serve well enough. If it doesn't go read it again, cause I ain't goin' there.
Anyway, he was done with his emotional side. In fact, his emotional side got so bored of lying around, it got up and left. This left his practical side, and his practical side had the perfect plan. So as I said before, he sat down and worked.
In the midst of his brilliant scene Gene blundered in, at last. They faced off right inside the doors.
"Get your caster we're going out."
"What?"
"We're going after her."
"Who?" If you couldn't tell already Gene was extremely groggy. This would probably be due to the fact that he had spent the last five hours at a bar. How he ever got back shall remain a mystery, for now.
"Melfina, you idiot. Who else would I mean?"
"Are you nuts? We don't know where she is, and she's already with her construct buddy."
"Well we'll just have to go and FIND HER! What do you think we can do without Melfina? Do you think we can run the Outlaw Star without her? Hmm, Gene I'm waiting for an answer!"
"No, but I..."
Jim sniffed him, "Your drunk aren't you."
Gene glowered.
"I can smell it, you're drunk. How did you get back here? After all that I wouldn't think you could walk."
"I had some help. But anyway," he was anxious to leave that subject behind and move on, "how're we going to find her?"
"Well I thought the construct would have taken her back to where they were built." Lets just say that somewhere in the parts I haven't covered Gene told Jim all about his chat with Setsuna.
"But neither of us know how to find it."
A woman's head popped around the corner. Do I need to say who it was? "You know, that's not as hard as you think."
*****
Mel was, in fact, at the lab where the constructs were originally built. She had been placed in a test tube; you know the kind that are so big they hold an adult standing up. Wait, no, I don't want her standing up, it'd be better if she was lying down. So she's lying down in one of those tube things. The top is glass, and the sides are a non see through type of material. The tube is filled with a gel like liquid in which...
*
What am I doing? How dull is this? Okay, I'll skip the rest of the descriptions and move on to the juicy stuff.
*
Needless to say the other construct was there. (For the purpose of this fic we will call him the LMX6, because I'm getting awfully tired of saying 'the dog', or 'the construct'.) Since he was modeled after a dog, it is impossible to say 'how' he was operating all the complex machinery around Mel.
Oh, and about their chat in the last chapter. Lets say that LMX6 was speaking directly to Melfina's subconscious, or some other nifty term used to describe one's mind. He could do that because they were both constructs. Oh, you don't think so? Well then, how hard do you think it is to plug two androids' artificial brains together? Hmm?
With the close of their conversation, the LMX6 was so moved that he could do nothing but release Melfina. Something about "Your strength of heart has proven you worthy," I think. Well, not really, but something pretty darn close.
Anyway, the liquid drained out of the tank, the lid (if those things have lids) opened, and Mel opened her eyes. Slowly she realized she was now alive again.
Millions of questions buzzed through her head. 'Who are you?' 'Why did you come after me?' 'What is the true purpose for a constructs existence?' But the one she chose to open up with was "What can I call you
"I'm the LMX6."
"Is that your name?"
"No it's my model number, but it's as good as a name."
"Well I'm going to call you Lemx."
In the middle of LMX6 and Mel's lovely conversation the door was knocked down. It fell with a crash onto the warehouse floor. Light shown through the now open doorway and the outline of two people could be made out.
Gene had his caster pulled out and pointed into the room. Jim was peeking out from behind Gene. They both looked stunned.
Setsuna said in her cheerful way, "See now that wasn't so bad now was it? Well, I'll leave the rest to you." After patting Gene's shoulder and waving to Jim she walked away. She was trying very hard to mind her own business, and forget what was in that warehouse.
The two in the door just stared for a minute. LMX6 was acting like a dog, which he was quite good at by now.
Melfina spoke, "Guys, everything's okay. You can put the gun down Gene."
"Mel, what happened?" Jim stepped in, "Where's the construct?" All he saw was some dog and his 'beloved'.
"Right here." she indicated the dog. "This is the LMX6. He..."
She didn't finish because Gene had rapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.
"Don't you ever leave me again." He muttered, still not releasing her.
Jim looked on, mildly amused, "If you remember correctly she's not the one who left."
Melfina pushed him back so she could see his face. The poor guy was going through shock. His face didn't reveal much, he never was the type to start crying at the big romantic scenes. "Gene, are you okay."
"I didn't think you'd come back."
Her eyes welled up with tears. They trailed down her face to drip onto the ground. Melfina fell into Gene's embrace again. Closer. Tighter. Until the two became one.
"Not this again." Jim groaned. As I think I said before, Jim didn't like the mushy stuff with Gene; it really did get old after awhile. He turned LMX6 who was sitting quietly watching them.
Gene stood up with Mel in his arms, with the intent of going back to the ship, and leaving before they had to pay the docking bill. "Come on Jim, lets go back."
"But Gene what about him?" Jim indicated the LMX6
The dog wagged his tail and looked innocently from face to face.
AN For this chapter I had to rely heavily on another song/poem, this time it was from the fourth volume of Clover. From that poem, I took the title and the poetry bit at the beginning.
PLEASE tell me what you think.
As usual the characters I made up are mine, and someone else owns Outlaw Star, and that someone else isn't me. Please don't sue me, I've spent all my money on manga and Streamloads (trying to download all the anime I can before the rights are picked up). If you do sue me I'll have to declare bankruptcy and then you won't get much money, so there.
This is the end for this story; it is complete. Now go read something else.
Epilogue
Another boring day at the space forces offices. The district manager had quite a deskfull of cases to be checked over. Then all modifications to the computers should be made. Needless to say, all the office staff were busy.
Lieutenant Setsuna had just finished going over the riots apparently created by recent immigrants to the station who believed that synthetic foods should not be sold in stores with real foods. The origin of these beliefs was unknown. Next came the people campaigning for no personal communications pieces (i.e. Gene's earring and other such instruments) to be used or even carried on people who were involved in manual labor. There were other cases, but they were extremely complicated, and therefore boring.
After an extended lunch-break she was back at her desk looking over some of the lesser cases.
Finally she ran into a break-and-entry in the old research district. There was also something about a warehouse and recent signs of use. Nothing was stolen the only thing injured was the door. She chuckled at the memory.
She skipped over to a display of a red spaceship leaving port. It seemed to have picked up an extra passenger somewhere along the way, but that wasn't her area of investigation.
END