Title: A Human Heart
Author: Ryoko 03
Started: May 2001
Status: Part 6/?
Disclaimers and warnings posted in Part Prologue.
+blah+ = recorded voices and/or sounds
~*~blah~*~ = dreams/memories
~blah~ = dream flashbacks
=blah= = Harry and/or Melfina 'speaking' (interface)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A Human Heart
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"NO!"
=Na... Gene? Daijoubu desu ka?=
Gene took several gasping breaths, trying to figure out where the hell he was
and just who was talking before realizing that, once again, he'd become
entangled in a dream. And, for what seemed like the millionth time, it had been
about the construct/computer that had asked if he was alright.
He ran a shaky hand through his hair, grateful both for the fact that Harry was
unable to see him and had merely heard the outburst, and that the young man was
finally speaking to someone other than Melfina.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a nightmare."
=i remember those.=
The words were softly spoken, almost a whisper, as if he was nervous to be
speaking to another living being other than his self-appointed sister. Gene
quickly sought to reassure him; there was something in him that loved the sound
of Harry's voice and wanted to hear it speak again.
However, before he could say another word, Harry spoke up once more.
=Oh, I almost forgot. We arrived planet-side about two minutes ago. I, um...
thought you might want to know... or... something... gomen.=
The redhead had to smile. The way the artificial boy had stumbled over the last
part was just too cute for words.
"Don't apologize," he said, rising from the bed and reaching for his shirt. "I
have a few matters to attend to here, and the sooner I get started the better.
Domo for waking me."
=I didn't--=
=He's giving you a compliment, idiot. Now shut up and be grateful.=
=Get bent, Gilliam.= To Gene, he replied, =Do itashimashite.=
~*~*~
"So, what is it you want to know?" the young woman asked, quickly pocketing the
thirty wong Gene had handed her. Although fairly young and attractive, she had
a reputation for being the biggest brain this side of the Milky Way. She knew
damned near everything a man could ever want to know. And, her information
always came at a price.
"I wanna know the location of the Galactic Leyline."
The brunette ceased stirring her drink with the straw and blinked huge hazel
eyes at the man as if he'd lost his mind. Then she smirked and returned her
attention to the rum and coke before her. "That," she said coyly, "will cost
you another fifteen wong."
She was a bit surprised when Gene threw the requested amount onto the table.
"Now, where is the Leyline now?"
Sierra Evangeline's [1] pretty eyes narrowed. A year or two older than
Starwind, she was well aware of his reputation. She also knew the rumor that he
and his crew had gone into the Galactic Leyline and had come out intact.
"Any special reason *why* you need to return to the Leyline, Mr. Starwind?"
"If you must know, Ms. Evangeline," the young man replied, "I've been having
dreams about it. Dreams that seem to tell me that someone was left behind who
appeared dead but is in reality alive. I want to go back and get him the hell
out of there."
"Oh, you mean the younger MacDougall, don't you?" Sierra asked, tucking a strand
of her long dark hair behind her ear.
Green eyes widened marginally before he regained his composure. "How did you--"
The woman smiled. "Everyone knows that none of the Kei pirates who entered the
Leyline escaped. They also know that only one MacDougall brother escaped
unscathed. And, since I'm sure that you as well as half the population of this
sector would much rather leave the pirates to rot, that leaves only Harry
MacDougall. Although," she added thoughtfully, "you don't strike me as the type
of guy who would offer aid and comfort to an enemy."
"Where is it?" Gene repeated, growing annoyed. He was not here to play Twenty
Questions, damn it, he was here for information!
Sierra once more focused on her drink. "The only one who knows *that* answer is
you."
"Look, if you didn't know--"
Hazel eyes snapped up, flashing with both anger and amusement. "You are the
only one who holds the key to that secret," she said, voice calm despite the
fury in her gaze. "The Leyline itself is touching your mind, drawing you ever
closer. Tell me, did you intend to come to Heyfong? Or did some instinct urge
you to return?"
"I..." the rogue said, the word trailing off. The truth was, he *hadn't*
intended to go to Heyfong. Something in one of the dreams had convinced him
that his answers lie there, but he never truly made a conscious decision to go
back.
The woman continued: "Do you actually see MacDougall in your dreams? Or do you
just hear his voice? Is he alone, or are there other people around? Has he
ever appeared in more than one form, and if so, did those parts ever make a
whole? Only you know those answers, just as only you know how to find the
Leyline again."
She settled back in her chair once more, a slight smile on her lips. "Now
then," she said in a calm tone, "if there was nothing else you needed from me,
might I suggest you leave now? You appear to have grown a tail."
//Nani?!// Gene turned slightly in the chair, muttering a curse under his
breath as he spotted the last person he'd ever expect to see in the Heyfong
sector at this point in time.
Ron MacDougall.
~*~*~
=Careful. I don't have very much power left.=
=Duh. Why else would I be gradually increasing your power supply?=
=Why are you doing it in the first place?=
Harry was uncertain of just how to answer that one. He was bored, and for that
reason alone he had begun to increase the flow of power from the central core to
Gilliam's energy reserves. Plus, he had the strangest feeling that there needed
to be some form of backup system just in case he went off-line for a long period
of time without warning.
=Better safe than sorry,= he finally replied, increasing the flow of power
slightly. =In case something happens that takes me out of commission--=
=Understood.=
Grateful that Gilliam wasn't going to press the issue, Harry fell silent and
concentrated on the power transference, his own cryptic words echoing in his
mind:
'Better safe than sorry.' [2]
o.w.a.r.i.p.a.r.t.s.i.x.
[1] Sierra Evangeline's appearance is based upon my RL imouto-chan's. Sierra is
one of her older screen names.
[2] Yep, another spoiler warning! Very mild, but Kara has an evil streak a mile
wide and is eagerly awaiting the chance to cause more trouble!
(8:47 PM 6/22/01)
Author: Ryoko 03
Started: May 2001
Status: Part 6/?
Disclaimers and warnings posted in Part Prologue.
+blah+ = recorded voices and/or sounds
~*~blah~*~ = dreams/memories
~blah~ = dream flashbacks
=blah= = Harry and/or Melfina 'speaking' (interface)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A Human Heart
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"NO!"
=Na... Gene? Daijoubu desu ka?=
Gene took several gasping breaths, trying to figure out where the hell he was
and just who was talking before realizing that, once again, he'd become
entangled in a dream. And, for what seemed like the millionth time, it had been
about the construct/computer that had asked if he was alright.
He ran a shaky hand through his hair, grateful both for the fact that Harry was
unable to see him and had merely heard the outburst, and that the young man was
finally speaking to someone other than Melfina.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a nightmare."
=i remember those.=
The words were softly spoken, almost a whisper, as if he was nervous to be
speaking to another living being other than his self-appointed sister. Gene
quickly sought to reassure him; there was something in him that loved the sound
of Harry's voice and wanted to hear it speak again.
However, before he could say another word, Harry spoke up once more.
=Oh, I almost forgot. We arrived planet-side about two minutes ago. I, um...
thought you might want to know... or... something... gomen.=
The redhead had to smile. The way the artificial boy had stumbled over the last
part was just too cute for words.
"Don't apologize," he said, rising from the bed and reaching for his shirt. "I
have a few matters to attend to here, and the sooner I get started the better.
Domo for waking me."
=I didn't--=
=He's giving you a compliment, idiot. Now shut up and be grateful.=
=Get bent, Gilliam.= To Gene, he replied, =Do itashimashite.=
~*~*~
"So, what is it you want to know?" the young woman asked, quickly pocketing the
thirty wong Gene had handed her. Although fairly young and attractive, she had
a reputation for being the biggest brain this side of the Milky Way. She knew
damned near everything a man could ever want to know. And, her information
always came at a price.
"I wanna know the location of the Galactic Leyline."
The brunette ceased stirring her drink with the straw and blinked huge hazel
eyes at the man as if he'd lost his mind. Then she smirked and returned her
attention to the rum and coke before her. "That," she said coyly, "will cost
you another fifteen wong."
She was a bit surprised when Gene threw the requested amount onto the table.
"Now, where is the Leyline now?"
Sierra Evangeline's [1] pretty eyes narrowed. A year or two older than
Starwind, she was well aware of his reputation. She also knew the rumor that he
and his crew had gone into the Galactic Leyline and had come out intact.
"Any special reason *why* you need to return to the Leyline, Mr. Starwind?"
"If you must know, Ms. Evangeline," the young man replied, "I've been having
dreams about it. Dreams that seem to tell me that someone was left behind who
appeared dead but is in reality alive. I want to go back and get him the hell
out of there."
"Oh, you mean the younger MacDougall, don't you?" Sierra asked, tucking a strand
of her long dark hair behind her ear.
Green eyes widened marginally before he regained his composure. "How did you--"
The woman smiled. "Everyone knows that none of the Kei pirates who entered the
Leyline escaped. They also know that only one MacDougall brother escaped
unscathed. And, since I'm sure that you as well as half the population of this
sector would much rather leave the pirates to rot, that leaves only Harry
MacDougall. Although," she added thoughtfully, "you don't strike me as the type
of guy who would offer aid and comfort to an enemy."
"Where is it?" Gene repeated, growing annoyed. He was not here to play Twenty
Questions, damn it, he was here for information!
Sierra once more focused on her drink. "The only one who knows *that* answer is
you."
"Look, if you didn't know--"
Hazel eyes snapped up, flashing with both anger and amusement. "You are the
only one who holds the key to that secret," she said, voice calm despite the
fury in her gaze. "The Leyline itself is touching your mind, drawing you ever
closer. Tell me, did you intend to come to Heyfong? Or did some instinct urge
you to return?"
"I..." the rogue said, the word trailing off. The truth was, he *hadn't*
intended to go to Heyfong. Something in one of the dreams had convinced him
that his answers lie there, but he never truly made a conscious decision to go
back.
The woman continued: "Do you actually see MacDougall in your dreams? Or do you
just hear his voice? Is he alone, or are there other people around? Has he
ever appeared in more than one form, and if so, did those parts ever make a
whole? Only you know those answers, just as only you know how to find the
Leyline again."
She settled back in her chair once more, a slight smile on her lips. "Now
then," she said in a calm tone, "if there was nothing else you needed from me,
might I suggest you leave now? You appear to have grown a tail."
//Nani?!// Gene turned slightly in the chair, muttering a curse under his
breath as he spotted the last person he'd ever expect to see in the Heyfong
sector at this point in time.
Ron MacDougall.
~*~*~
=Careful. I don't have very much power left.=
=Duh. Why else would I be gradually increasing your power supply?=
=Why are you doing it in the first place?=
Harry was uncertain of just how to answer that one. He was bored, and for that
reason alone he had begun to increase the flow of power from the central core to
Gilliam's energy reserves. Plus, he had the strangest feeling that there needed
to be some form of backup system just in case he went off-line for a long period
of time without warning.
=Better safe than sorry,= he finally replied, increasing the flow of power
slightly. =In case something happens that takes me out of commission--=
=Understood.=
Grateful that Gilliam wasn't going to press the issue, Harry fell silent and
concentrated on the power transference, his own cryptic words echoing in his
mind:
'Better safe than sorry.' [2]
o.w.a.r.i.p.a.r.t.s.i.x.
[1] Sierra Evangeline's appearance is based upon my RL imouto-chan's. Sierra is
one of her older screen names.
[2] Yep, another spoiler warning! Very mild, but Kara has an evil streak a mile
wide and is eagerly awaiting the chance to cause more trouble!
(8:47 PM 6/22/01)