Disclaimer: See top of Chapter 1.
Notes: It has been a while between this chapter and the last, but I did warn that I was taking a leisurely pace with this fanfiction. I am out of college and...ironically, I now work for a newspaper. (Those who remember the last chapter should recall that Rem was an intern for a newspaper). However, my newspaper is a lot smaller operation than hers (small town paper) and I don't do journalism, I do advertising design and layout. I love my job, it's cool. It's just that, in this story, I've been drawing on myself and some of my own life experiences to write - and I gave her this internship before I got my job and I find it rather odd that I wrote that and now work for a newspaper... Though it's not at all important to this chapter of the story.
I also ask readers to revisit the first chapter, if nothing else than to remember that the "Vash" and "Knives" that I refer to in this chapter aren't the ones from the Trigun anime, but Rem's brothers in my fanfiction. Don't worry the Vash and Knives that we all know are coming.
Minor Spoiler Warning: No, not for Trigun. Strangely enough, for "Star Wars, Episode II". Don't ask.
THE ANGEL AND THE WARRIOR
Chapter 2
"So I joined up. Never finished my degree, though, too busy with my work. A good career option - in peacetime."
I listened eagerly to Alex tell me of his occupation. It was the least I could do after telling him practically my life story and all about my family - from poor little Vash to Tia Fé... breaking down crying periodically. I swear I was such an idiot.
We sat at a windowside table of a coffee shop called Jittery Jackson's. We both had been nursing cappuccinos since around 6pm and now the ornate brass hands of the shop's clock pointed at 15 'till 10. I stared at his face through the steam rising from my mug. It was a soft, clean-shaven face, strong chin, with strange blue-almost-violet eyes.
"The Air Force has been good to me, I enjoy my work," he said, "got up to Staff Sergeant from Airman First Class after all, may stick with it, but I can't help but think I'm in the wrong profession." He stared intently with those deep eyes. "I remember telling my recruiter that I didn't think I could take a gun and shoot anybody...heh, I haven't fired a gun since basic training. So, you see, we're not that different from each other. We're both confused about our life paths."
I smiled at Alex and cupped my hand over his on the table. He had been describing his position at Thornton Air Force Base as a Plant engineer. He was one of the maintenance crew. He monitored energy output levels, managed the coolant systems, and did complicated repairs on the containment unit when it got damaged - so he said. He kept calling it "her", like many men do with their cars. I never liked that - when men treated their machines like they were people, particularly when they assigned them the female gender. Something about it struck me as degrading to real women. I never called my little cherry-red Fitzroy a "him".
Alex told me that he and his fellow engineers had named the Thornton Plant "Nova". I didn't think of that as so bad. All the computers at the America Daily had been given cute nicknames for networking and organizational purposes.
"It's getting late," he muttered, "would you like me to walk you home? I mean, I assume you live around here and a lady should never go unescorted in this city at this time of night."
"Thank you," I said and accepted his offer. Though I had just met the man, I found something about him I could trust. He had a manner about him, perhaps even an aura, that told me that he was an individual of good intentions. We exchanged phone numbers before he walked me down the lighted streets. I entered my parent's house quietly. As far as they and I were concerned, I only slept there and I often returned home at all hours of the night - usually from late shifts at work or late classes at college.
I stopped short and stifled a small cry when I saw Knives sitting on the couch. "What are you doing awake?" I asked. It was past midnight and he was not usually up around this time. Knives was as much a morning person as I was a night owl.
He looked up from the comic book he was reading by lamplight and smiled slyly at me. I took a quick glance to see what one it was this time. He collected reproductions of old comics from the turn of the millenium, in particular one about a warrior in a post-apocalyptic American Southwest that was rather gory and another, even more disturbing comic following the adventures of a homicidal maniac. I wondered how he could read the things without getting creeped out...so much emphasis on death.
"Sooo..." Knives began, "I saw a guy bring you home. Didja score?"
"KNIVES!" I yelped.
"Heh, sis, you're such a prude! C'mon, you can tell me."
"I'll tell ya when you're older." I teased, rubbing his spiky black hair until it was thoroughly messed up. "I met him, we talked, went to a coffee shop, that's it."
"What's his name?" Knives prodded.
"Alex Thatcher." I said with a sigh. Why was I doing this? If I had a mirror, I was certain that I'd see myself blushing. Why was I acting like a giddy schoolgirl? I had only met the man several hours ago.
"He has great taste in hair." Knives quipped, running his fingers through his own black spikes, preening them back to their pristine state.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alex called me the next day. I realized what a dork I must have been and apologized profusely for dumping my life's problems on him. He told me not to worry about it and asked me if I was a fan of old movies...
I was a huge "Star Wars" fan. So was Alex. The Pegasus Court Theater was showing a marathon of the six complete films in their old, non-holographic enhanced versions. Non-holo theaters were a rarity and Alex and I agreed that old-style was the only way to truly appreciate these movies.
Old science-fiction...a few of the technologies in the films had come to pass since they were made. Alex pointed at the screen and made comments about the Empire's little flying spy droids - how strikingly similar the design was to what the ones the U.S. Military was using now. One of my uncles had a prosthetic arm like the one Anikin Skywalker got at the end of Episode II.
The marathon was running in blocks of three movies a day for two days, and even halved, the marathon was not for those who get eyestrain easily. In the darkened theater, Alex put his arm around and I let him. He pulled me close to him.
"I was afraid you'd think I was a geek for even suggesting this," he said.
"Not at all," I replied. "I love watching Yoda kick butt."
He laughed. "Not much of a first date, I think...you really deserve more...class...dinner and dancing I suppose. I really like you, Rem, and I hope...that I'm not taking things too fast."
I shifted closer to him. "Don't worry so much," I whispered, "You're very anxious. Thanks to you I'm starting to see a little hope for myself." Then, I changed the conversation topic. "Do you suppose a planet like Tatooine might actually exist out there? Lucas made it so barren...can you imagine a whole planet a desert? And two suns? How would a solar system like that work?"
"I suppose there might be," said Alex. "NASA claims to have discovered a couple of solar systems with twin and triple suns through telescoping and such. Don't know what the planets around them are like, though, or even if they'd be able to support life, though they say that some of them are possible prospects for that Project SEEDS."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three months passed in glory and love. My life was changing, thanks to Alex. We did the simplest things together, but the simplest things are often the most profound. Little things, talking, standing on the overpass where we met watching the sunset, meeting me randomly at college after classes when I started the Fall semester, even the fact that he remembered my favorite flowers - made me feel so special.
He even brought my Aunt Fé a bouquet when I introduced her to him. My love for red geraniums was definitely inspired by Fé. A love of flowers was deeply rooted in the culture of Old Mexico as part of a love for beauty and life. Red, too, was a significant color to her and then to me. It was the color of passion, of courage and determination. It was a life color, a love color, a sacrifice color.
Alex and I did a lot of those stupid little lover things; kissing frequently, "Eskimo" kissing, holding hands whenever we walked anywhere...we even gave each other ridiculous nicknames. I called him "Bear" because of his strength. He called me his "Dream-Girl", a play on my name, R.E.M. being the sleep-state.
One night he invited me into his bedroom. I declined. We agreed to abstain until marriage or at least until a later date. I...was afraid of becoming pregnant. I knew that Alex would be there for me whatever happened, but I just wasn't ready for the possibility of children. I knew that I could not afford to raise a child properly at the time, and I just didn't think that I was emotionally ready for it. I did not think of myself as a very responsible person. Alex respected my wishes - something that I had not come to expect of most men, but that was part of what made Alex special.
Then there was the night that changed my perception of the world forever. Alex got me a base pass and gave me a little tour. Then, after-hours he sneaked me into the base's Plant.
"Alex, maybe we shouldn't," I said, climbing after him down a concrete stairwell, "Can't you be court marshaled for this?"
"Court marshaled?" he laughed, "Oh, no - a mark on my record, extra duties, docked pay...for a minor security infraction - nothing more than that. After all, you're a loyal American, unless you are a Chinese spy and neglected to tell me all this time."
I laughed nervously.
I felt dubious about this whole thing, though Alex said he wouldn't be revealing any profound secrets bearing on the Plant's structure or national security. He couldn't because he himself did not have the security clearance to know very much. When we reached the floor of the stairwell I felt like I was going to faint. The vast underground chamber, walled in concrete and steel, was bathed in the brightest light I had ever seen save the sun.
I stared up at the enormous belly of the great glass light bulb. Alex thrust his arm forth.
"Rem, meet Nova!"
I approached the bulb.
"Containment unit." Alex explained. "I'm sure you've seen them above ground...in some cities."
"But so few cities have them." I replied, "And I've never seen any of them this close. The glass is to contain the energy, right? The atomic reactions?"
"Not...quite," he told me. Then - I saw her. My heart rate rose. I didn't know what to do. My first instinct was to run, but I found my muscles frozen. Eyes stared at me from behind the glass; eyes set in a human face. What looked like deformed wings and viney tendrils flowed all around her. Flowed - it is the only word I can find to describe it.
"They're alive, Rem." Alex said with a broad smile. "I didn't believe it either until I saw it for myself."
"What are they?" I asked. I was shocked. Nova, though strange with all of her feathery appendages and white-light glow, looked human...like a woman or some kind of angel.
"Us." Alex stated, "But a species apart."
I placed my palms upon the glass. Nova mimicked me, her palms against mine from behind the thick transparent wall. I felt a warmth flow through me, something like an electric current running through my veins, but nothing painful - more like a benevolent energy.
"They began as an accident." Alex sighed. "Fifty-six years ago there was a medical experiment. I'm kept from knowing all the details of it; the information has not all be declassified. All I know was that there was an experimental treatment for terminal cancer, that it involved radiation, but a different kind than what is used in chemotherapy. Something unexpected happened to the test subjects - who became the parents of the creatures we now call the Plants." Alex shook his head and sighed. "After the initial incident some say the people were purposefully manipulated. I'm not sure anyone knows the whole story anymore - it is all buried in secrets."
"This is awful!" I exclaimed, "We are using living, intelligent beings for energy! We've got them...imprisoned! I know they've helped saved us but this is just not right!"
"Rem, please, calm down!" Alex cried, fear and sorrow evident I his eyes. "It is okay, they don't mind, they really don't. They cannot live any other way. The containment units are shelters for them, without which they would die. They wish to live in harmony with us, to nurture us as we nurture them. Nova will tell you. Go ahead, let her speak to you."
I felt something like a mild static electricity flow into my head...it felt like buzzing, but was soft and un-intrusive. Nova smiled at me. "Dream...girl..." she said to me, but without speaking vocally. Her voice was inside my head. "You're Dream-Girl, aren't you?"
"I...I guess so," I said aloud.
"I've heard of you..." Nova continued. "You are afraid, aren't you?"
"N-no." I stuttered.
"You are. Don't be. I will not hurt you. And, no, I am not hurt. Your concept of 'freedom' puzzles me. You think I am not free? Do not worry. You care...a lot. Be careful that your heart does not lead you to pain."
To be continued...
Lady Shadowcat, 2002.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have not read the Trigun manga and people I know who have seem to be themselves confused on the origin of the Plants. I'm working with the anime universe, so I figure that my guess about their origins is as good as anyone's.
Kudos to you if you get the comic references, especially because one of them is not a commercially published comic, but my own! A little bit of authorservice, gwahahahaha.
This story will probably have only 2 more chapters. Stay tuned.
Notes: It has been a while between this chapter and the last, but I did warn that I was taking a leisurely pace with this fanfiction. I am out of college and...ironically, I now work for a newspaper. (Those who remember the last chapter should recall that Rem was an intern for a newspaper). However, my newspaper is a lot smaller operation than hers (small town paper) and I don't do journalism, I do advertising design and layout. I love my job, it's cool. It's just that, in this story, I've been drawing on myself and some of my own life experiences to write - and I gave her this internship before I got my job and I find it rather odd that I wrote that and now work for a newspaper... Though it's not at all important to this chapter of the story.
I also ask readers to revisit the first chapter, if nothing else than to remember that the "Vash" and "Knives" that I refer to in this chapter aren't the ones from the Trigun anime, but Rem's brothers in my fanfiction. Don't worry the Vash and Knives that we all know are coming.
Minor Spoiler Warning: No, not for Trigun. Strangely enough, for "Star Wars, Episode II". Don't ask.
THE ANGEL AND THE WARRIOR
Chapter 2
"So I joined up. Never finished my degree, though, too busy with my work. A good career option - in peacetime."
I listened eagerly to Alex tell me of his occupation. It was the least I could do after telling him practically my life story and all about my family - from poor little Vash to Tia Fé... breaking down crying periodically. I swear I was such an idiot.
We sat at a windowside table of a coffee shop called Jittery Jackson's. We both had been nursing cappuccinos since around 6pm and now the ornate brass hands of the shop's clock pointed at 15 'till 10. I stared at his face through the steam rising from my mug. It was a soft, clean-shaven face, strong chin, with strange blue-almost-violet eyes.
"The Air Force has been good to me, I enjoy my work," he said, "got up to Staff Sergeant from Airman First Class after all, may stick with it, but I can't help but think I'm in the wrong profession." He stared intently with those deep eyes. "I remember telling my recruiter that I didn't think I could take a gun and shoot anybody...heh, I haven't fired a gun since basic training. So, you see, we're not that different from each other. We're both confused about our life paths."
I smiled at Alex and cupped my hand over his on the table. He had been describing his position at Thornton Air Force Base as a Plant engineer. He was one of the maintenance crew. He monitored energy output levels, managed the coolant systems, and did complicated repairs on the containment unit when it got damaged - so he said. He kept calling it "her", like many men do with their cars. I never liked that - when men treated their machines like they were people, particularly when they assigned them the female gender. Something about it struck me as degrading to real women. I never called my little cherry-red Fitzroy a "him".
Alex told me that he and his fellow engineers had named the Thornton Plant "Nova". I didn't think of that as so bad. All the computers at the America Daily had been given cute nicknames for networking and organizational purposes.
"It's getting late," he muttered, "would you like me to walk you home? I mean, I assume you live around here and a lady should never go unescorted in this city at this time of night."
"Thank you," I said and accepted his offer. Though I had just met the man, I found something about him I could trust. He had a manner about him, perhaps even an aura, that told me that he was an individual of good intentions. We exchanged phone numbers before he walked me down the lighted streets. I entered my parent's house quietly. As far as they and I were concerned, I only slept there and I often returned home at all hours of the night - usually from late shifts at work or late classes at college.
I stopped short and stifled a small cry when I saw Knives sitting on the couch. "What are you doing awake?" I asked. It was past midnight and he was not usually up around this time. Knives was as much a morning person as I was a night owl.
He looked up from the comic book he was reading by lamplight and smiled slyly at me. I took a quick glance to see what one it was this time. He collected reproductions of old comics from the turn of the millenium, in particular one about a warrior in a post-apocalyptic American Southwest that was rather gory and another, even more disturbing comic following the adventures of a homicidal maniac. I wondered how he could read the things without getting creeped out...so much emphasis on death.
"Sooo..." Knives began, "I saw a guy bring you home. Didja score?"
"KNIVES!" I yelped.
"Heh, sis, you're such a prude! C'mon, you can tell me."
"I'll tell ya when you're older." I teased, rubbing his spiky black hair until it was thoroughly messed up. "I met him, we talked, went to a coffee shop, that's it."
"What's his name?" Knives prodded.
"Alex Thatcher." I said with a sigh. Why was I doing this? If I had a mirror, I was certain that I'd see myself blushing. Why was I acting like a giddy schoolgirl? I had only met the man several hours ago.
"He has great taste in hair." Knives quipped, running his fingers through his own black spikes, preening them back to their pristine state.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alex called me the next day. I realized what a dork I must have been and apologized profusely for dumping my life's problems on him. He told me not to worry about it and asked me if I was a fan of old movies...
I was a huge "Star Wars" fan. So was Alex. The Pegasus Court Theater was showing a marathon of the six complete films in their old, non-holographic enhanced versions. Non-holo theaters were a rarity and Alex and I agreed that old-style was the only way to truly appreciate these movies.
Old science-fiction...a few of the technologies in the films had come to pass since they were made. Alex pointed at the screen and made comments about the Empire's little flying spy droids - how strikingly similar the design was to what the ones the U.S. Military was using now. One of my uncles had a prosthetic arm like the one Anikin Skywalker got at the end of Episode II.
The marathon was running in blocks of three movies a day for two days, and even halved, the marathon was not for those who get eyestrain easily. In the darkened theater, Alex put his arm around and I let him. He pulled me close to him.
"I was afraid you'd think I was a geek for even suggesting this," he said.
"Not at all," I replied. "I love watching Yoda kick butt."
He laughed. "Not much of a first date, I think...you really deserve more...class...dinner and dancing I suppose. I really like you, Rem, and I hope...that I'm not taking things too fast."
I shifted closer to him. "Don't worry so much," I whispered, "You're very anxious. Thanks to you I'm starting to see a little hope for myself." Then, I changed the conversation topic. "Do you suppose a planet like Tatooine might actually exist out there? Lucas made it so barren...can you imagine a whole planet a desert? And two suns? How would a solar system like that work?"
"I suppose there might be," said Alex. "NASA claims to have discovered a couple of solar systems with twin and triple suns through telescoping and such. Don't know what the planets around them are like, though, or even if they'd be able to support life, though they say that some of them are possible prospects for that Project SEEDS."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three months passed in glory and love. My life was changing, thanks to Alex. We did the simplest things together, but the simplest things are often the most profound. Little things, talking, standing on the overpass where we met watching the sunset, meeting me randomly at college after classes when I started the Fall semester, even the fact that he remembered my favorite flowers - made me feel so special.
He even brought my Aunt Fé a bouquet when I introduced her to him. My love for red geraniums was definitely inspired by Fé. A love of flowers was deeply rooted in the culture of Old Mexico as part of a love for beauty and life. Red, too, was a significant color to her and then to me. It was the color of passion, of courage and determination. It was a life color, a love color, a sacrifice color.
Alex and I did a lot of those stupid little lover things; kissing frequently, "Eskimo" kissing, holding hands whenever we walked anywhere...we even gave each other ridiculous nicknames. I called him "Bear" because of his strength. He called me his "Dream-Girl", a play on my name, R.E.M. being the sleep-state.
One night he invited me into his bedroom. I declined. We agreed to abstain until marriage or at least until a later date. I...was afraid of becoming pregnant. I knew that Alex would be there for me whatever happened, but I just wasn't ready for the possibility of children. I knew that I could not afford to raise a child properly at the time, and I just didn't think that I was emotionally ready for it. I did not think of myself as a very responsible person. Alex respected my wishes - something that I had not come to expect of most men, but that was part of what made Alex special.
Then there was the night that changed my perception of the world forever. Alex got me a base pass and gave me a little tour. Then, after-hours he sneaked me into the base's Plant.
"Alex, maybe we shouldn't," I said, climbing after him down a concrete stairwell, "Can't you be court marshaled for this?"
"Court marshaled?" he laughed, "Oh, no - a mark on my record, extra duties, docked pay...for a minor security infraction - nothing more than that. After all, you're a loyal American, unless you are a Chinese spy and neglected to tell me all this time."
I laughed nervously.
I felt dubious about this whole thing, though Alex said he wouldn't be revealing any profound secrets bearing on the Plant's structure or national security. He couldn't because he himself did not have the security clearance to know very much. When we reached the floor of the stairwell I felt like I was going to faint. The vast underground chamber, walled in concrete and steel, was bathed in the brightest light I had ever seen save the sun.
I stared up at the enormous belly of the great glass light bulb. Alex thrust his arm forth.
"Rem, meet Nova!"
I approached the bulb.
"Containment unit." Alex explained. "I'm sure you've seen them above ground...in some cities."
"But so few cities have them." I replied, "And I've never seen any of them this close. The glass is to contain the energy, right? The atomic reactions?"
"Not...quite," he told me. Then - I saw her. My heart rate rose. I didn't know what to do. My first instinct was to run, but I found my muscles frozen. Eyes stared at me from behind the glass; eyes set in a human face. What looked like deformed wings and viney tendrils flowed all around her. Flowed - it is the only word I can find to describe it.
"They're alive, Rem." Alex said with a broad smile. "I didn't believe it either until I saw it for myself."
"What are they?" I asked. I was shocked. Nova, though strange with all of her feathery appendages and white-light glow, looked human...like a woman or some kind of angel.
"Us." Alex stated, "But a species apart."
I placed my palms upon the glass. Nova mimicked me, her palms against mine from behind the thick transparent wall. I felt a warmth flow through me, something like an electric current running through my veins, but nothing painful - more like a benevolent energy.
"They began as an accident." Alex sighed. "Fifty-six years ago there was a medical experiment. I'm kept from knowing all the details of it; the information has not all be declassified. All I know was that there was an experimental treatment for terminal cancer, that it involved radiation, but a different kind than what is used in chemotherapy. Something unexpected happened to the test subjects - who became the parents of the creatures we now call the Plants." Alex shook his head and sighed. "After the initial incident some say the people were purposefully manipulated. I'm not sure anyone knows the whole story anymore - it is all buried in secrets."
"This is awful!" I exclaimed, "We are using living, intelligent beings for energy! We've got them...imprisoned! I know they've helped saved us but this is just not right!"
"Rem, please, calm down!" Alex cried, fear and sorrow evident I his eyes. "It is okay, they don't mind, they really don't. They cannot live any other way. The containment units are shelters for them, without which they would die. They wish to live in harmony with us, to nurture us as we nurture them. Nova will tell you. Go ahead, let her speak to you."
I felt something like a mild static electricity flow into my head...it felt like buzzing, but was soft and un-intrusive. Nova smiled at me. "Dream...girl..." she said to me, but without speaking vocally. Her voice was inside my head. "You're Dream-Girl, aren't you?"
"I...I guess so," I said aloud.
"I've heard of you..." Nova continued. "You are afraid, aren't you?"
"N-no." I stuttered.
"You are. Don't be. I will not hurt you. And, no, I am not hurt. Your concept of 'freedom' puzzles me. You think I am not free? Do not worry. You care...a lot. Be careful that your heart does not lead you to pain."
To be continued...
Lady Shadowcat, 2002.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have not read the Trigun manga and people I know who have seem to be themselves confused on the origin of the Plants. I'm working with the anime universe, so I figure that my guess about their origins is as good as anyone's.
Kudos to you if you get the comic references, especially because one of them is not a commercially published comic, but my own! A little bit of authorservice, gwahahahaha.
This story will probably have only 2 more chapters. Stay tuned.