Another chapter complete....
Here are two music you can listen to while reading this :
- Requiem from "Princess Mononoke"
and
- Yearning of the Sword from "Crouching Tiger ; Hidden Dragon"
or you can try
- Puppetmaster from "Ghost in the Shell"
***********************
A strange echo bounced against the empty walls of the laboratory. The lights had been shut down in the corridors, leaving them in almost complete darkness, if not for the red lights on the doors that showed they were all locked.
But this red darkness became lighter when approching a certain section of the empty building. There was but one room with the lights still on. A large room with metallic grey walls and grey doors and a very high ceiling. A room without windows. An empty room with the doors locked from the outside. This was were the echo came from.
In this room were only few objects. A regeneration capsule. A small, hospital-like, bed. One piece of furniture, with three drawers. A glass of water. One history book. A clock.
And on the far other side of this room, a basketball net and a rolling ball.
The ball rolled slowly until it bounced against something on its trajectory. The ball had been stopped by the body of a young man. The brown hair boy bent and picked up the basket-ball.
- 57...
The young man, looking around 16 or 17 years of age, had green eyes and a gentle face. He was dressed very simply, wearing white, ordinary, running-shoes and a blue hospital uniform with short sleeves.
He turned his back to the net and threw the basket ball over his head. The ball flew freelly on 30 metres and fell directly in the center of the target. Then it fell to the ground... and rolled back to the young man's heels. He turned around and picked the ball again.
- ... 58 ...
And threw it again.
Never did he pay any attention to the large mirror on the opposite wall. Behind that "mirror", in an other room, Hiko yawned so loudly he woke his partner up. Mary streched lazily and sat back in her chair. She watched X curiously.
- What's he doing?
- The subject appears to be bored, Hiko replied in a mocking/scientific tone.
- How long has he been like that?
- Ever since he finished that book Dr. Cain gave him before he left... four or five hours ago, that is. He just stands there, throws the ball and counts the shots. The only thing to write down on the report is that whenever he misses he starts over at zero.
- Well... maybe we should give him another book... or tell him to go to bed... the poor thing.
- Absolutely not!.. You know the doctor's orders. No contacts outside the presence of the security guards or Miss `38. Only the doctor is allowed of direct interactions with the reploid outside of those security mesures... yadayadayada. You know the drill...
- Well, I think Dr. Cain has been spending too much time around commander Sigma and the Hunters. He threats him like he's a Maverick.
- `Could be... That's the reason of the thight security. As long as Dr. Cain hasn't completely analyse X's programming and found no trace of "irregularity", X has to be considered potentially dangerous.
- Oh, come on Hiko... Does he really look like a murderous psychopath to you?.. I mean, here he is, in a completely new world, totally alone, obviously knowing nothing besides what a damage memory core can tell him. And the best thing we find to do is lock him in a cage like a lab rat and threat him like a criminal!
- Geez... you take it seriously. He's not even a week old. So what if he stays in for some time? Besides, it's only temporary.
- That doesn't mean he has to be isolated! He looks like a very nice person to me... Whatever. I'm going in there...
Mary stood up and walked out the door.
- Mary don't. Come on, don't do that. Dr. Cain will be mad.
Hiko pleaded, not even getting out of his chair.
- Oh well ... I tried.
**********************
X turned to face the door as it slid open. A young woman hesitantly stepped inside. She was about 169 centimetres tall, curly red hair cut to her shoulders. X remembered seeing her, Dr. Cain had said her name was... Mary.
The ball hit his heels again. He bent down and picked it again.
- ... 69 ...
And threw it again.
- hmmm... Hello, X. She started, on a childlike-tone.
- Hi... Mary.
X felt a little uncomfortable. He wasn't sure how to react. He had never spoke to anyone else than Dr. Cain and AC-38, and had only spoke to the other "reploid" once.
The ball came back again, so he picked it up. But didn't threw back.
- You remember my name. That's great.
X smiled timidly.
- You don't have to be shy, I'm not going to bite you.
- Oh... I know that... ... ... ... I thought Dr. Cain said no one would see me when he wasn't there?
- *giggles * Dr. Cain doesn't know I'm here... Say, you're very good at this. I can hardly make a good shot... and not on that distance... and certainly NOT with my back turned.
X looked at the ball distractly.
- Well, I am getting "the hang of it", like the doctor says. But it's just basic geometry. All I have to do is throw the ball like this...
The ball flew in the air and fell in the basket.
Mary whistled, visibly impressed.
- Wow... a practical use for geometry... cool!
- Are you cold?
- What?
- You said "cool", is something cold?
Mary laughed again.
- No, nothing is cold. When people say "cool", most of the times it's a manner of speach.
- Oh... I'll try to remember that... So many things I don't know.
- Don't worry, everyone goes through that.
- ... I guess.... .... ... Do you ?.... ... ...
X looked down and began dribbling with the ball. Obviously certain he shouldn't have asked.
- Well, said Mary, go ahead and ask. Is something wrong?
- No, nothing is wrong.
X turned around and threw the ball, facing the net this time... The ball flew... and missed by a long shot.
- Mary, do you know... ... ... Do you know what Dr. Cain plans to do with me?
So, that was it. For some reason, X was beginning to think Dr. Cain meant him harm in some way.
"I knew this would happen, caging him like a criminal or a dissection specimen! Doctor or no doctor, Cain is going to hear of this!"
- Well, not really... But he's not going to do something *to* you, if that's what worries you.
- Oh... that's good, right?
- Of course... Dr. Cain may seem a little strange, but he's just a little too enthusiastic to work on your schematics. Dr. Light is his idol in many things. But he won't do you any harm. He's a little grumpy and gets angry more and more easely in his old days, but he's a good and kind-hearted man.
- Do you think he'll keep me here very long?
- I don't think so. As soon as he'll be done studying your program, he'll let you move around more freely.
- ... just a little curious, Mary continued, why did you think Dr. Cain might hurt you?
X went over the bed and sat on it.
- I didn't think he would "hurt" me purposely. But I heard the conversation he had just after AC-38 left me. They had an argument about me.
- What did they talked about?
- Well... when Ac-38 came to see me after they put me in this room, she said a lot of things. That I shouldn't let Dr. Cain shut me down, not even to repair me. Not to do things I didn't wanted or answer questions they asked. Things like that... she's the one who thinks Dr. Cain wouldn't "take care of me like he should", like she said. I think he heard the last part of our conversation and he got really upset. They both accused each other of "using" me. Ac-38 talked about my rights and me not being a specimen and something called the A.R.F., I don't know what that is.
- The Association for Reploid Freedom, it's a political group Miss '38 is an active member of... they're on the edge of something we call "extremists".
- Well, whatever it is, Dr. Cain really got mad and told her he wouldn't allow her to see me again... Ever since, I ask Dr. Cain, but he always says "no" and gets a little angry every time I insist.
- You asked him to get out of this room and he doesn't want you to, right?
- I... Yes.
- You really want to get out, don't you?
- Yes. I really wish to get out of the laboratory. I know what the sky is, I'd really want to see it with my own eyes. I think I would do anything to go outside... anything... but I don't want to upset Dr. Cain. He's really nice to me and I know he wants what's best for me. Even if I don't understand all of his reasons.
Mary sat down next to him and hugged him a little.
- You're a very good person to thrust us like that. And very brave to endure all this from complete strangers. I'm sure Dr. Cain would be very touched if he heard it... Say what? How about I came to see you every time I could from now on?
X thought about it for a second... then smiled cheerfully, and hugged Mary back.
- Yes... Yes I would REALLY like that. Thank you.
They laughed and began speakin of other things... among them, Mary promised to get X a television if she couldn't convice Dr. Cain to let him out.
************************
On the other side of the mirror, Hiko's glasses masked his expression. The young asian took a CD out of the console in front of him.
- Planning to escape already?... I don't think so.
On the tape was a part of the conversation Mary and X just had... but it stopped a little too early:
"... I think I would do anything to go outside... anything..."
*********************
TBC.
B)
Here are two music you can listen to while reading this :
- Requiem from "Princess Mononoke"
and
- Yearning of the Sword from "Crouching Tiger ; Hidden Dragon"
or you can try
- Puppetmaster from "Ghost in the Shell"
***********************
A strange echo bounced against the empty walls of the laboratory. The lights had been shut down in the corridors, leaving them in almost complete darkness, if not for the red lights on the doors that showed they were all locked.
But this red darkness became lighter when approching a certain section of the empty building. There was but one room with the lights still on. A large room with metallic grey walls and grey doors and a very high ceiling. A room without windows. An empty room with the doors locked from the outside. This was were the echo came from.
In this room were only few objects. A regeneration capsule. A small, hospital-like, bed. One piece of furniture, with three drawers. A glass of water. One history book. A clock.
And on the far other side of this room, a basketball net and a rolling ball.
The ball rolled slowly until it bounced against something on its trajectory. The ball had been stopped by the body of a young man. The brown hair boy bent and picked up the basket-ball.
- 57...
The young man, looking around 16 or 17 years of age, had green eyes and a gentle face. He was dressed very simply, wearing white, ordinary, running-shoes and a blue hospital uniform with short sleeves.
He turned his back to the net and threw the basket ball over his head. The ball flew freelly on 30 metres and fell directly in the center of the target. Then it fell to the ground... and rolled back to the young man's heels. He turned around and picked the ball again.
- ... 58 ...
And threw it again.
Never did he pay any attention to the large mirror on the opposite wall. Behind that "mirror", in an other room, Hiko yawned so loudly he woke his partner up. Mary streched lazily and sat back in her chair. She watched X curiously.
- What's he doing?
- The subject appears to be bored, Hiko replied in a mocking/scientific tone.
- How long has he been like that?
- Ever since he finished that book Dr. Cain gave him before he left... four or five hours ago, that is. He just stands there, throws the ball and counts the shots. The only thing to write down on the report is that whenever he misses he starts over at zero.
- Well... maybe we should give him another book... or tell him to go to bed... the poor thing.
- Absolutely not!.. You know the doctor's orders. No contacts outside the presence of the security guards or Miss `38. Only the doctor is allowed of direct interactions with the reploid outside of those security mesures... yadayadayada. You know the drill...
- Well, I think Dr. Cain has been spending too much time around commander Sigma and the Hunters. He threats him like he's a Maverick.
- `Could be... That's the reason of the thight security. As long as Dr. Cain hasn't completely analyse X's programming and found no trace of "irregularity", X has to be considered potentially dangerous.
- Oh, come on Hiko... Does he really look like a murderous psychopath to you?.. I mean, here he is, in a completely new world, totally alone, obviously knowing nothing besides what a damage memory core can tell him. And the best thing we find to do is lock him in a cage like a lab rat and threat him like a criminal!
- Geez... you take it seriously. He's not even a week old. So what if he stays in for some time? Besides, it's only temporary.
- That doesn't mean he has to be isolated! He looks like a very nice person to me... Whatever. I'm going in there...
Mary stood up and walked out the door.
- Mary don't. Come on, don't do that. Dr. Cain will be mad.
Hiko pleaded, not even getting out of his chair.
- Oh well ... I tried.
**********************
X turned to face the door as it slid open. A young woman hesitantly stepped inside. She was about 169 centimetres tall, curly red hair cut to her shoulders. X remembered seeing her, Dr. Cain had said her name was... Mary.
The ball hit his heels again. He bent down and picked it again.
- ... 69 ...
And threw it again.
- hmmm... Hello, X. She started, on a childlike-tone.
- Hi... Mary.
X felt a little uncomfortable. He wasn't sure how to react. He had never spoke to anyone else than Dr. Cain and AC-38, and had only spoke to the other "reploid" once.
The ball came back again, so he picked it up. But didn't threw back.
- You remember my name. That's great.
X smiled timidly.
- You don't have to be shy, I'm not going to bite you.
- Oh... I know that... ... ... ... I thought Dr. Cain said no one would see me when he wasn't there?
- *giggles * Dr. Cain doesn't know I'm here... Say, you're very good at this. I can hardly make a good shot... and not on that distance... and certainly NOT with my back turned.
X looked at the ball distractly.
- Well, I am getting "the hang of it", like the doctor says. But it's just basic geometry. All I have to do is throw the ball like this...
The ball flew in the air and fell in the basket.
Mary whistled, visibly impressed.
- Wow... a practical use for geometry... cool!
- Are you cold?
- What?
- You said "cool", is something cold?
Mary laughed again.
- No, nothing is cold. When people say "cool", most of the times it's a manner of speach.
- Oh... I'll try to remember that... So many things I don't know.
- Don't worry, everyone goes through that.
- ... I guess.... .... ... Do you ?.... ... ...
X looked down and began dribbling with the ball. Obviously certain he shouldn't have asked.
- Well, said Mary, go ahead and ask. Is something wrong?
- No, nothing is wrong.
X turned around and threw the ball, facing the net this time... The ball flew... and missed by a long shot.
- Mary, do you know... ... ... Do you know what Dr. Cain plans to do with me?
So, that was it. For some reason, X was beginning to think Dr. Cain meant him harm in some way.
"I knew this would happen, caging him like a criminal or a dissection specimen! Doctor or no doctor, Cain is going to hear of this!"
- Well, not really... But he's not going to do something *to* you, if that's what worries you.
- Oh... that's good, right?
- Of course... Dr. Cain may seem a little strange, but he's just a little too enthusiastic to work on your schematics. Dr. Light is his idol in many things. But he won't do you any harm. He's a little grumpy and gets angry more and more easely in his old days, but he's a good and kind-hearted man.
- Do you think he'll keep me here very long?
- I don't think so. As soon as he'll be done studying your program, he'll let you move around more freely.
- ... just a little curious, Mary continued, why did you think Dr. Cain might hurt you?
X went over the bed and sat on it.
- I didn't think he would "hurt" me purposely. But I heard the conversation he had just after AC-38 left me. They had an argument about me.
- What did they talked about?
- Well... when Ac-38 came to see me after they put me in this room, she said a lot of things. That I shouldn't let Dr. Cain shut me down, not even to repair me. Not to do things I didn't wanted or answer questions they asked. Things like that... she's the one who thinks Dr. Cain wouldn't "take care of me like he should", like she said. I think he heard the last part of our conversation and he got really upset. They both accused each other of "using" me. Ac-38 talked about my rights and me not being a specimen and something called the A.R.F., I don't know what that is.
- The Association for Reploid Freedom, it's a political group Miss '38 is an active member of... they're on the edge of something we call "extremists".
- Well, whatever it is, Dr. Cain really got mad and told her he wouldn't allow her to see me again... Ever since, I ask Dr. Cain, but he always says "no" and gets a little angry every time I insist.
- You asked him to get out of this room and he doesn't want you to, right?
- I... Yes.
- You really want to get out, don't you?
- Yes. I really wish to get out of the laboratory. I know what the sky is, I'd really want to see it with my own eyes. I think I would do anything to go outside... anything... but I don't want to upset Dr. Cain. He's really nice to me and I know he wants what's best for me. Even if I don't understand all of his reasons.
Mary sat down next to him and hugged him a little.
- You're a very good person to thrust us like that. And very brave to endure all this from complete strangers. I'm sure Dr. Cain would be very touched if he heard it... Say what? How about I came to see you every time I could from now on?
X thought about it for a second... then smiled cheerfully, and hugged Mary back.
- Yes... Yes I would REALLY like that. Thank you.
They laughed and began speakin of other things... among them, Mary promised to get X a television if she couldn't convice Dr. Cain to let him out.
************************
On the other side of the mirror, Hiko's glasses masked his expression. The young asian took a CD out of the console in front of him.
- Planning to escape already?... I don't think so.
On the tape was a part of the conversation Mary and X just had... but it stopped a little too early:
"... I think I would do anything to go outside... anything..."
*********************
TBC.
B)