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Fragmented Lives (The Parody Pieces)
"Fairground Attraction"
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Copyright Info and Disclaimer.
"Neon Genesis Evangelion" is Copyright (c) 2003 by Gainax. All OTHER material is Copyright (c) 2003 their owners. All materials used for PARODY purposes.
"Altered Lives (The Parody)" and "Fragmented Lives (The Parody Pieces)" are Copyright (c) 2003 by DBM. This work is an Amateur, Non-Commercial work by an Anime/Manga Fan. This work was created in the Spirit of the Copyright Exemptions regarding Parodies and Satire.
If you like my work, you may keep a copy for your own personal records, but you may NOT post it on any websites/newsgroups, NOR may you include it in any printed publication for sale/public distribution. If printing out a copy for yourself or a friend, you may reformat it (paragraph spacing, page-breaks, font and font size, borders, bold/italic, etc) to fit the paper you use, but please do not change any of the actual words or wording in the document.
Sole web-posting at FanFiction.Net - Author's E-Mail address on File.
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Censorship Info and Disclaimer.
NOT Recommended for Children.
Intended for MATURE Audiences.
There are NO 'sex scenes', but, just like the original NGE series, the story will explore the results and side effects of such activities. Along the way, there'll be swearing, violence, drugs, Adult situations, and frank discussions of sex education/family planning information, as well as thoughts and opinions on the morals and ethics of sexual assault, dating, courtship, marriage, alternate sexualities, pregnancy, childbirth, parenthood, Family Values, etc.
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Fandom Alerts and Disclaimer.
AU Alert (Alternate Universe).
OOC Alert (Out Of Character).
ACC Alert (Author Created Character).
SI Alert (Self Insert - Author appears in the story as a character).
SPOILER Alert (May 'spoil' surprises in the Manga and Anime TV/Movies).
' ' denotes thoughts.
" " denotes speech.
* * denotes emphasis, or electronic communication.
denotes other method of communication.
--- denotes letters deleted for censorship reasons.
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Author's Ramblings - This started out as the 'OMAKE' shown below, but the Muse prompted me to expand on it.
It turned into a vision of another one of Mazurka's attempts to help the Clones become more Human. Than again, it could have been a case of Mazurka kicking back and relaxing on the Company's purse?
This one features Suekko, so you know it happens well after the Final Battle.
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OMAKE
Shakey was dreaming that he was lying in a woodland glade…
He heard his name being called and turned to see a number of happy dwarfs looking at him.
Shakey blinked, and his vision cleared to reveal he was in his bedroom.
…And it was packed choc-a-block solid with Rave Clones…
…All of whom, had been drawn in ultra-cute 'Super-Deformed' style…
NOTE - Super Deformed (SD) style. Characters are drawn disproportionately, usually about half their usual height. Often makes the characters look like children, or really cute 'dwarfs'. Often used to emphasize that character is engaged in 'non-serious' action/dialogue, or slapstick comedy…
"Onisan! (Elder Brother)" the SD Clones chorused cheerfully in ultra-cute voices, "Wake Up! Today's the day you promised to take us to Disney Land!"
Shortly thereafter, all 137 SD Clones swarmed out of Mazurka's apartment. They carried a bemused Shakey on their shoulders, like a wave carries flotsam.
The Fan Fiction writer decided he should reveal that Aesir wouldn't be appearing in this OMAKE… Mainly because the Horde of Ultra-Cute SD Clones had severely trampled her, COMPLETELY by 'accident', when they arrived to carry Shakey off…
Incidentally, despite their destination, and diminutive height, they WEREN'T singing the 'Hi-Ho' song from 'Snow White'…
…It was a modified version of the 'Smurf Theme Song' instead…
At the Theme Park, the Clones received a nice surprise… Because of their SD size, they all got in for Children's prices…
Unfortunately, it was balanced by the surprise they got at the 'Screaming Loops of Certain Death' Roller Coaster… Because of their SD size, they were unable to ride unless they were accompanied by an Adult, Guardian, or older family member…
Shakey suddenly had a not-so-vague feeling of impending doom as the Clones all looked expectantly at him…
"Err…" was all he had time to say before the Clones grabbed him, and bundled into the ride…
Where they encountered another problem…
They ALL wanted to sit next to Shakey…
The Clones solved the problem, by tying Shakey lengthwise between the two rows of seats in the rides carriage…
Thus it was, that Shakey Atari gibbered fearfully for his life for the several rides it took for ALL of the happy, smiling Clones to go on the ride with him…
Afterwards they decided to stop for lunch, and let Shakey recuperate before…
The Fan Fiction Writer decided to stop right there. He KNEW what was going to happen, once all 137 of the Clones got 'sugar-high' on 'Fairy Floss' at the soon-to-be-doomed Theme park…
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Fragment - Fairground Attraction.
Years ago, Mazurka had put in place a training plan that was supposed to help the Clones adapt to modern society, and know what it was to be 'normal' people.
Even though her plan had not been fully implemented, it had still been an outstanding success. Because of it, the Clones could at least 'mimic' the reactions of normal human beings, even if, not being 'Human', they could never truly know what it felt like to 'be' a Human.
Some of the activities they had experienced, had left lasting impressions on the Clones, and they had eagerly looked forward to the rest of Mazurka's curriculum.
Unfortunately, the dark plans of STEELY, and the social fallout of the Final Battle in the city, had put such things on indefinite hold.
Until now…
Shakey felt somewhat uneasy, and more than a little out of place as he waited in line with Mazurka and Suekko at the entrance to the Amusement park.
"Good Morning," the overworked and underpaid ticket seller announced when it was Mazurka's turn, "Family Saver Pass?"
"Actually," Mazurka cheerily replied, "I'm more interested in your 'Mega Passes'. They do cover all additional costs inside the park?"
"Yes Ma'am, they certainly do," the Ticket Seller politely confirmed, "All Rides, All Sideshow stalls, and All the food you can eat… But each 'Mega Pass' only covers one person, and they each cost triple the normal single adult ticket…"
"Hmmm…" mused Mazurka, "Do you get a discount if you buy in bulk?"
"Err… Yes…" came the reluctant admission, "But only if you're buying 5 or more, and I must point out, that each 'Mega Pass' is only useable on the day of issue…"
"In that case," Mazurka drawled, a mischievous gleam in her eye, "I'd like 141 'Mega Passes' please…"
The Ticket Seller was wide-eyed in shock, "Y-you want… 141… 'Mega Passes'?"
Mazurka smiled warmly, "I know, it sounds kind of odd, but I'm here as a Chaperone for a group from an All Girls School…"
The Ticket Seller raised a querying eyebrow as they stared at Shakey.
Mazurka noted the look and quickly said, "He's a relation of one of the girls. He's here to help watch out for them."
The Ticket Seller still seemed to be having trouble with reality, so Mazurka whipped out her special UN funded 'Platinum' class Corporate Credit Card.
The sight of the elite card only used by VERY WEALTHY People, or REALLY WELL FUNDED Corporate Employees, acted like smelling salts.
"**YES MA'AM**" the Ticket Seller enthusiastically agreed, perking up at the thought of having so many 'Mega Passes' on their tally sheet, "141 'Mega Passes' coming Right Up! I'll give you individual tickets, as well as a receipt!"
Mazurka's keenly honed bureaucratic instincts kicked in, "Speaking of receipts, will it be fully itemised?"
"Yes," the Ticket Seller confirmed, 'Our 'group' discount rate, which you MORE than qualify for, will be shown on your summary as a discount. As well as the totals for the full ticket price, and the discounted amount actually paid… We'll list the Card details, and validate any car park ticket you have…"
Shortly thereafter, Shakey was handing out 'Mega Passes', a whimsical smile on his face as each 'Individual' Clone took her individual ticket.
When deciding to go to the Amusement park, Mazurka had tackled the problem of having so many 'identical' girls in one place at one time.
She had considered having a 'unique' disguise for each girl, but had discarded that plan due to the costs involved.
Although the Clones had an extensive wardrobe, they still had too many 'multiple copies' and not enough 'variety' for all of them to use clothes as a disguise.
Then there was the fact that despite many Clones having dyed their hair, there were still too many with 'stand-out' hair colours of blue, red and blond.
'If all the blue, red or blond Raves show up in a group,' Mazurka had realised, 'people will realise something's up… Even if they were in different outfits, they'd still stand out…'
Mazurka had finally solved the problem while relaxing in the Clone Zone Hot Tub. She had been idly contemplating the random patterns on a stained glass window when inspiration had struck her…
"Of Course!" Mazurka had yelled, "Mosiacs!"
Mazurka's brilliantly simple solution, was to use the Clones' identical appearances to help them hide in plain sight.
She split the Girls up into groups, assigning identical looking 'disguised' Clones to different groups. This way each group was comprised of Clones who looked different to every OTHER member in that particular group, even if members of different groups did look 'identical' to members in other groups.
She further confused things by having clones in each group dress differently to their identical counterpart in the other groups, and sport different hairstyles and differently coloured/shaped accessories like sunglasses.
Thus, a blue-haired Clone in one group might be wearing 'blue' jeans and T-shirt, while the blue-haired Clone in a second group would be wearing a dress, the one in the third group would be wearing shorts, the one in the fourth group had slacks, the one in the fifth group had 'washed' jeans and button shirt, the one…
Mazurka knew this would make the number of 'identical' girls less noticeable, as they were 'mixed in' with other people who looked different to them, and were dressed differently to any other girls 'looking like' them.
Her scheme worked. The 'test runs' proved the fact that the entire complement of Clones could pass as a 'variegated' crowd. Despite the fact that it was made up of less than a dozen 'base' appearance types.
So on the Big Day, all 137 of the Clones were in their assigned groups, hiding amongst the dissimilar appearances, others in their group provided.
"Remember!" Mazurka advised in serious tones, "You MUST keep your pass with you! It's proof that you've already paid for any ride you want to go on, however many times you want to go on it! Sideshow stalls and meals are ALSO included, so you'll have to show your card to the stall operator…"
"Yeah, Yeah!" Aesir irritably confirmed, before turning towards Shakey and sweetly asking, "Hey Shakey! Wanna go on ride with me?"
Shakey's 'Vague Feeling of Impending Doom' immediately blew a fuse…
"So? What about it Shakey?" Aesir pressed as Shakey remained silent.
Shakey gulped, then surprised himself by calmly replying, "Well… it's Suekko's first time in an Amusement Park, and I really think I should only take her on rides suitable for her…"
"Shakey…" Aesir said in deadpan tones, "She's got at least a hundred baby-sitters who can fill in for you…"
"Yeah, but…" Shakey lamely protested, "I'm her Uncle…"
"Fine!" Aesir said in exasperation, "If you're not 'Man Enough', I guess I'll just find someone who is…"
"How will you do that?" one of the Clones asked, curiosity on her face.
"Easy," replied Aesir with authority, "I'll just hang around the Real Rides…"
"Real rides?" another Clone repeated, "We do not understand?"
"What I mean," Aesir said with a sigh, "Is rides that a person needs courage to go on… The ones that sort the Wimps from the Men, because people are afraid to ride them…"
The Clones were puzzled, "Why would people be afraid of the rides?"
Aesir rolled her eyes in exasperation, words failing her.
An amused Mazurka put her two bits in, "You must remember that most of the people going on the rides are Civilians. It's unlikely they've ever experienced the level of the physical forces produced in the rides."
"But why would that make them afraid?" the Clones queried.
Mazurka smiled, "Fear of 'unusual' things is a psychological safety system. If something is different to what we know to be safe, we tend to distrust it, thus avoiding potential danger. The rides are harmless, but the physical sensations they produce, mimic what a person might feel in dangerous situations."
"We see," several Clones nodded, "A form of therapy based on Virtual Training… A person afraid of falling from a great height, would use the bungy-jump until they are cured of their phobia…"
"Err…" Mazurka sweat-dropped, "More or less, but it's more… complex… than that…"
"Aesir," the Clones exclaimed, "Would you please help us?"
"What with?" Aesir replied in a bored tone.
"We wish to know which are the 'real rides'."
"You do?" Aesir said, surprise on her face.
"Yes," confirmed the Clones, "We wish to see how normal humans confront their fear of unusual physical sensations…"
Aesir shook her head and snorted in disbelief. She opened her mouth to speak, but paused as an Evil Gleam came into her eyes.
"That's fine by me," Aesir confirmed with a not-so-innocent smile, "In fact, you couldn't get a better person to help you, even if I do say so myself…"
Shakey and Mazurka began to sweat nervously, as Aesir lead a group of Clones off towards the 'Screaming Loops of Certain Death' Roller Coaster.
"Should we say something…?" asked Shakey.
"Nah…" said Mazurka dismissively, "The Girls will be all right…"
'I Hope!' Mazurka added mentally.
Shaking off the thoughts of what the overly competitive, and evilly inventive Aesir might come up with to torment the Clones, Shakey turned to Suekko and asked…
"Is there any sort of ride you'd like to go on?"
Suekko nodded slightly.
"Which one?"
"…with you…" Suekko shyly admitted.
Shakey smiled, then took Suekko by her hand and led her off to that Universal Childhood Memory, known as the Carousel…
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Fragment - Stalling for Time.
Elsewhere, one group of Variously Disguised Clones were investigating that Social Phenomenon known as 'Sideshow Alley'…
"Roll up and try yer luck!" cried one stall owner as he spied the Clones looking inquisitively at his stall, "Knock all the bottles over and win a prize!"
"That is all I have to do?" asked a Clone in a flowing dress, dark hair and suntan, indicating a small pyramid of precariously stacked drink bottles, "Just knock all of the bottles over?"
"Yes Lady!" confirmed the spruiker, sensing an 'easy mark', "Just take a Baseball and throw it, and if you knock ALL of the bottles over, you can choose any prize in the stall!"
The other Clones eyed the stall over, assessing what if any of the cheap and tacky 'prizes' were worth having. While the stall had the usual 'glittery' trinkets and junk that caught the eye, it also had a few stuffed toy animals, and cheap but attractive wall-scrolls.
"I will have a go," said a Clone in jeans and halter top.
"So will I," declared another Clone, this one in a 'fashionably worn' outfit of camouflage army fatigues that the Clone had personally 'worn out' in a war zone.
"I also," declared the rest, having seen some items of interest.
"Well then," grinned the spruiker, glad that business was picking up, "Pay your money and take your best shot…"
He boggled slightly as all of the Clones produced their 'Mega Passes', but quietly swiped them through his card reader.
A few minutes later, the spruiker closed his much depleted stall down, while he sought a stiff drink or five to help him get over what he'd just been through…
The first Clone had thrown the baseball at much the same force as a normal human could have. The baseball had hit the bottles dead on, but merely bounced off, having failed to knock any of the stacked bottles over…
We must try harder? she had sent to her sisters.
The next Clone had thrown the Baseball at much the same force as a Professional 'Fast Pitcher' in any of the Major Baseball leagues could. Again, the baseball hit dead on, but failed to knock any of the bottles over. Although the table holding the bottles had shaken considerably.
Full force then? sent the disappointed Clone.
The Third Clone had not held back. She had flexed her body, twisting from the hips, using all of her body to propel the baseball at full force at the bottles.
This time the baseball hit dead on, and while none of the bottles shifted out of position, the force of impact knocked bottles and table over onto the floor. With the bottles still, 'oddly enough', in their original pyramid formation on the tipped over table top.
"I win!" stated the Clone, "I have knocked the bottles over… I would like the Chinese wall scroll…"
The startled spruiker quickly handed over the choice of prize, then rapidly set up the table again, trying to hide the fact that he didn't need to restack any of the bottles.
The Clones however, DID notice…
The bottles did not move out of position in their stacked formation? Impossible! The pile was tilted through 90 degrees from the vertical! Gravity alone should have disarrayed them! Unless? The bottles are NOT merely 'stacked' one atop the other… But have been 'fixed' in position? Perhaps with glue?
The Clones decided to test their theory, throwing ball after ball into the stack of bottles, each time knocking the entire table over, but never ONCE dislodging ANY of the bottles from their position in the stacked pyramid.
It was NOT a good day for the stall owner, especially as a small crowd gathered to watch the proceedings.
Some of the crowd looked rather angry. Not surprising, as they were previous customers of the stall who had NOT been able to win anything…
"Look Daddy!" one young girl announced, "The Ladies are winning!"
"Yes honey, they are…" the girl's father slowly replied, a slow anger simmering in him as he saw how the bottle pyramid stayed intact, despite the number of times the table it was on was knocked over.
"If they can do it, why couldn't you?" the child asked innocently, stating the question every father dreads to hear.
The Child's father kept silent, wondering how he could tell his daughter that the stall operator was a cheat, and that her father had been 'had'.
The Clones came to his rescue. "Because your father works hard during the week, and is probably feeling tired today," replied the latest winner.
The Clone looked at the embarrassed man, "Did you try to win something for your little girl?"
The child answered for her father, "Yeah! The pink panda!"
The Clone turned to the stall operator, and simply said, "You heard her…"
The stall operator meekly handed over the toy. The Clone took it and handed it to the surprised child, saying, "Even Parents get tired and need to rest…"
"Ah-huh!" the child agreed, happily hugging her new toy and looking trustingly at the nice lady.
"Thank you…" the father said quietly.
The Clone nodded in acknowledgement, then turned to the small crowd and asked, "Has anyone else tried to win a prize at this stall?"
There were several affirmatives.
"Well then," said the Clone, turning to smile at the stall operator, "Another ball if you please…"
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Fragment - Food of the Gods.
Elsewhere, other Clones had discovered that greatest of Carnival Culinary Masterpieces, 'Fairy Floss'…
A group of Clones stood and watched as the Fairy Floss stand operator conjured a pink cloud on a stick, by merely waving it around.
Interesting! thought the Clones, Heat sugar and food colouring. Centrifuge the mixture into fine strands. Then wrap around a stick…
Intrigued, the Clones bought several lots of Fairy Floss to 'try it out'.
Fibrous texture… Melts in the mouth… Correction, melts on contact with saliva Or sweaty fingers… Sweet… Leaves a slightly burning sensation…
Other food stalls caught their eye, not that they sampled all of the wares…
"What exactly is a 'Dagwood Dog'?" A Clone asked one vendor.
"It's a type of spicy sausage, dipped in batter and deep fried," was the reply.
"Sausage?" repeated the Clone, "Does it contain meat?"
"Huh," snorted the vendor, "Supposedly…"
The Clone nodded, then bought several of the fresh pancake rollups, filled with fresh cream and strawberry jam… The pancakes were indeed fresh, being still warm and moist from the frying pan, and the cream was still delightfully cool and 'solid' from being in the fridge. The jam was, as always, a chunky semi-liquid gel.
One stand selling vegetarian 'soy' hamburgers and hot dogs, was to suffer the patronage of ALL of the Clones. The poor fellow running the stand didn't mind having his sales skyrocket, but he could almost SWEAR he'd been serving the same few people all day long…
'Perhaps I really SHOULD get new glasses,' he wondered.
Another favourite of the voracious vegetarian Clones, were the deep fried potato chips one 'health' stand was making onsite from fresh potatoes and vegetable oil. Lightly salted and splashed with white vinegar, they were a taste sensation.
Other stands making 'Fruit Smoothies', a blend of milk/thickshake and fruit, were also well patronised.
Shakey and Mazurka were enjoying themselves, gorging on the various junk foods like there was no tomorrow.
Shakey for his part was quite happy not to have to do any cooking, while Mazurka, being Mazurka, was more than capable of putting away any amount of food if she had something to 'wash it down' with.
Mazurka slightly 'upset' one particular Beer Hall, by drinking straight from the large multi-litre serving jug that was put on her table… They watched in stunned horror as Mazurka effortlessly chugged the entire thing without appearing to actually swallow.
"Yeee-HAAAAaa!" crowed Mazurka, before burping loudly, and ordering another jug…
Meanwhile Aesir… Had been MOST diligent in her educating the Clones about which of the rides were 'real' ones.
She spent all morning taking the Clones around the various rides, giving quite lengthy opinions on them.
The Clones had listened attentively to Aesir's words of experienced wisdom, and had diligently observed the people going on the rides.
Not that the Clones had gone on any of the rides themselves…
As Aesir had advised, "We'll just check them out at the moment. After lunch, we can decide which ones to go on…"
The Clones nodded, understanding the apparent logic in Aesir's words.
At lunch…
"Is that ALL your eating?" Aesir asked, as she checked out the 'rabbit food' the vegetarian Clones were eating.
The Clones nodded an affirmative, some glancing at their own meals, others looking curiously at the food on Aesir's plate.
Aesir sighed, "You come all the way to an Amusement park, and you still only eat what you normally do?"
"What should we eat?" a Clone asked, voicing the Group Mind's concern over whether or not they were adequately experiencing the many facets of the park.
"Well now," grinned Aesir, her hand pointing to a nearby shop selling extremely 'rich' cakes and desserts, "If you ask me, I'd say you should eat as much as you can… After all, it's not every day you have THIS wide a choice for FREE…"
Seeing the wisdom in Aesir's words, the Clones needed no further prompting to wash their Spartan vegetarian meal down with dessert.
Actually, desserts… At Aesir's prompting, they ALL tried several servings of the many rich and flavoursome 'diet-busters' that lurked nearby.
After lunch, Aesir took the 'well-fed' Clones onto the first of many rides.
The Clones were battle-hardened veterans, survivors of many lethal encounters. They had often pushed their own finely honed bodies to their limits, frequently exceeding what was humanly possible.
None of which helped them now, as the combination of spicy/greasy/junk food they'd consumed, interacted with the effects of the rides they went on…
As they whirled through another ride, the squeamishly greenish expressions on the faces of the Clones, stood in stark contrast to Aesir's own satisfied smirk.
Of course, the inevitable happened…
"There, there," Aesir consoled the retching Clones, "There's a saying about Amusement Parks… 'You're not having REAL fun until you throw up'…"
The Clones continued to gurgle out their lunches, to Aesir's accompanying humming of 'Deutscher, Deutscher, Uber Alles!' (Germans, Germans, Over All!)
This is peculiar… thought the Group Mind of the Clones, Why are we reacting like this? We have been through more stressful situations before without any sort of disability…
This bears further investigation… the Group Mind concluded.
Those feeling ill will be relieved from further experimentation… decided the Group Mind, And we will re-test ourselves, using a different group…
A couple of groups of Clones that had been taking in the sights of the Park, broke off their current activities and went to 'relieve' the Clones with Aesir.
Aesir's surprise at seeing the new batch of Clones, turned to mild concern when they literally dragged her onto the same ride the sick Clones had just been on.
"Why do you want to go on this ride again?" asked Aesir.
"We need further analysis of it's effects on us," a Clone replied.
"So?" complained Aesir, "Why do you need me? I went with the last lot?"
"Because," another Clone replied in a 'mild and reasonable' voice, "We are curious as to the prolonged physical effects of such rides on humans… Unless, you're not fit enough to endure such extended activities?"
"Try me!" snarled Aesir, her competitive nature taking over.
Elsewhere, Shakey was 'doing the Uncle thing' with Suekko, taking her on another of the 'tame' rides.
Despite her origins and earliest education, Suekko was a normal young girl at heart. Her reactions to the rides Shakey took her on, was proof of that.
She smiled constantly, taking childish delight in each new ride she went on.
Shakey smiled as well, finding a happy escape from dreary reality in such old favourites as the 'Carousel', and the 'Ferris Wheel'.
'Big brother looking after his little sister,' thought the bemused Carousel operator, as he saw how the teenaged Shakey accompanied the obviously pre-school Suekko on the ride.
'Huh?' wondered the Carousel operator, as over a dozen teenaged girls then got onto his ride, 'What is this? Girls' day out or something?'
"What an adorable little girl!" exclaimed the elderly female ticket vendor at the Giant Ferris Wheel, "Is this your daughter's first time in the Park?"
"She is not our daughter," the Rave Clone with Shakey and Suekko replied.
"Sorry," apologised the vendor, suddenly noting the age discrepancy between Suekko and the teenagers, "My eyesight isn't what it used to be… I could have sworn you all looked closely related though…"
"She's my niece," Shakey offered awkwardly.
"I am her… aunt," stated the Rave Clone, "From the other side of the family…"
"I see," said the enlightened ticket vendor, "Please enjoy your ride."
"We will," the Rave Clone replied.
The vendor spared a last look as Shakey, Suekko, and the disguised Rave Clone walked off to the Ferris Wheel.
Being an elderly woman with several decades of soap-operas and a veritable library of romance novels under her belt, she quite reasonably jumped to the conclusion…
'Same niece, but to different sides of the family? Their elder siblings must have married, and had a child… How sweet of them to baby-sit her for them…'
Her further wonderings about what Suekko's parents might be doing with their new-found 'spare time', was interrupted by another Rave Clone.
"Excuse me," asked the Clone, "But is this ride considered 'mild'?"
The ticket seller blinked, "Sorry dear, but my hearing isn't what it used to be… Did you say 'mild', or 'wild'?"
"MILD," repeated the Clone.
"Oh yes," confirmed the vendor, "It's one of the mildest in the Park. All of the families take their young children on it…"
"A ticket please," said the Clone, offering her Mega Pass.
As did the squad of 'looking-slightly-the-worse-for-wear' Clones behind her…
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Fragment - Moments Alone…
Back in the Ferris Wheel ride, Shakey was yawning.
It had been an eventful morning, and now things were starting to catch up with him, especially as his body tried to digest the lunch he'd had.
"Are you tired?" the Rave Clone asked.
"A bit," Shakey admitted, "I think I'll catch some shut-eye on this ride… Suekko should be able to handle it by herself…"
Suekko was looking intently out the window, at the many small people far below.
Shakey closed his eyes, and curled up on the wide seat, using his hands for a pillow. He was just starting to drift off when something moved near his face.
"Wha…?" he blearily asked.
"If you sleep like that," replied the Rave Clone, lifting him up, "You will get a stiff back. You need a pillow…"
"Can't be helped," shrugged Shakey, "I don't have one."
"You may rest your head on my lap," the Rave Clone softly replied, sitting down on the seat beside Shakey, and tipping his startled body over so that his head was resting on her thighs.
"Uhhh…" Shakey mumbled, his face slightly pink.
"It is all right," the Rave Clone confirmed, her face also slightly pink, "I do not mind…"
Deciding that silent submission was the better part of valour, Shakey acquiesced without further protest.
He dozed for the rest of the ride, barely conscious of the way the Rave Clone gently cradled him.
When the ride stopped, Shakey took a few seconds to wake and realise where he was.
So it was, that the 'position' he was in, was noticed by the elderly female ticket vendor.
'How sweet,' she thought, 'Love bloomed for their older siblings, and now it looks like it's blooming for them…'
Her conclusion would only have been fuelled by the NEXT ride Shakey went on, at the mild insistence of another of the Clones.
"Shakey?" a Clone asked, "You are feeling tired?"
"Oh, it's nothing," Shakey replied with a sheepish smile, "I'm fine…"
At Shakey's unconscious mention of the infamous understatement, all of the Clones looked worriedly at him.
"Are you too tired to go on any more rides with us" asked one Clone.
"No, no, I'm all right," Shakey confirmed, "Which ride? The Roller Coaster?"
"No…" the Clone quickly replied, "We do not wish to tire you out… We were thinking of something more… relaxing…"
"Oh? What?"
"That one," the Clone shyly admitted, pointing behind Shakey.
Shakey turned, and suddenly gulped in embarrassment as he saw which ride the Clone wanted to go on with him.
"T-Tunnel of Love?" Shakey croaked.
"Yes," the Clone confirmed, "You were tired on the Ferris Wheel, so we thought…"
"B-but," Shakey countered, his 'Vague Sense of Impending Doom' doing an impromptu Acid-Rock rendition on a Calliope, "W-what about Aesir…?"
"You do not need to worry about Aesir," the Clone quietly replied, "She would not be going on such a… 'mild' ride. As she said, she prefers… 'real' rides…"
"Okay…" Shakey said, not really reassured…
Shakey's fears were NOT groundless, as was proved by a conversation that Clone had recently had with the 'Tunnel of Love' ticket vendor…
"I am curious about this ride," The Rave Clone said to the ticket vendor, "What does your sign mean, 'two for one'?"
"Well Ma'am," the vendor replied, "Unlike most of the other rides in the Park, you don't purchase a ticket for each person going on this ride, just a single ticket for the boat you use…"
The Clone looked at the 'boats' used in the ride.
Three of them waited at a small dock, bobbing slightly in the flow of a man-made stream. About four feet wide by six feet long, they resembled rowboats, except for the suspect dimensions, and the lack of rowlocks on the gunwales.
They do not appear to be secured in any fashion the Rave Clone thought, As they are not affected by the flow of the water, they must be fixed on underwater rails, like other watercraft in the Park…
"Really?" asked the Clone, "How many people can ride on each boat?"
"No more than two," informed the vendor, "Each boat has an extra wide seat so that… larger persons can use them. But for Safety reasons, we only allow two people per boat…"
"How long does the ride take?"
"Just over six minutes," offered the ticket seller, "If we're busy enough. We'll launch a boat every two minutes. But since we're in a 'dead spot' now, if you did take the ride, you'd practically have it all to yourself…"
"What if you receive other customers in the meantime?"
"If we get 'em," shrugged the ticket seller, "We send 'em through…"
"What if I purchase three tickets?" asked the Clone
"Three?" asked the mystified ticket seller, "You want to go on it three times?"
"No," clarified the Clone, "Just once. But I wish to be sure that we have… privacy… while on the ride."
"…ah… …yes…" confirmed the ticket seller, "I can understand that… but…"
"But?" asked the Clone, her eyes narrowing slightly as her gaze bored into him.
"But…" the vendor nervously replied, "If someone comes up to me, I HAVE to sell them a ticket… And even if I've sold you enough tickets for all the boats on the ride, I can't make others wait if there isn't a line up…"
The Clone stood silently for a moment, then slowly asked, "If… there are more people waiting to use the ride… than you have boats… Then any new comers would have to wait?"
"Sure!" admitted the vendor, "If people are lined up, any newcomers would HAVE to wait their turn."
"I see," replied the Clone, "I will return shortly…"
The ticket vendor was stifling a yawn when the Clone returned with Shakey.
"Good Afternoon," the ticket seller offered, "How many tickets would you like?"
"Three please," replied the Clone, much to Shakey's surprise.
'Three?' Shakey thought in bewilderment, 'Is she buying for the others as well?'
"Sure," stated the vendor with an amused wink at Shakey, "That'll be…"
"I'll use these," the Clone stated, presenting her Mega Pass.
"Ah… Yes Ma'am," stated the vendor, only slightly startled, "Three tickets…"
Shakey and the Clone took their seats, and their boat disappeared into the romantically lit reaches of the 'Tunnel of Love'.
"Good luck," the ticket vendor smirked as he watched the boat disappear.
"Excuse us," said a soft voice behind the vendor, "We would like some tickets.
The ticket seller turned to find a LARGE group of girls lined up at his booth.
'oh dear,' thought the vendor, 'Looks like that pair won't get their privacy…'
"She told us about the deal with the multiple tickets," the first girl said, "And we would like to help her out…"
"Oh?" asked the surprised vendor, "So you're friends of hers then?"
"We all come from the same Girl's School," the Clone replied, using the cover story Mazurka had pre-arranged for them.
"Ah!" said the vendor, nodding his head knowingly, "So how many tickets do you want, Miss?"
"Three each," chorused all the Clones.
"…err…" said the vendor, the maths boggling his mind.
As one, the Clones all produced their Mega Passes, "And we'll pay with these!"
The ticket vendor was stunned speechless…
The 'Tunnel of Love' ride was a hallowed Fairground Institution. Often no more than a dimly lit tunnel with romantic background music, it was a favourite ride of any young couple wanting a few precious minutes of pseudo-privacy.
The ride didn't last long, but it usually provided enough time for young lovers to 'confess their hearts' to each other, and seal their words with a kiss…
The sole occupants of one such ride were two teenagers, each of whom had deep feelings for the other. Not that they had ever really admitted such things to each other, for the usual reasons. Shyness, and inexperience.
Shakey sat beside one of the disguised Clones, feeling nervous like any young man might in such a situation. Although, Shakey DID have additional reasons…
Most of them UNLIKE those of other young men…
"Three tickets?' Shakey thought to himself, 'If she's buying multiple rides, does that mean the other Clones will all want a ride on this with me as well?'
His silent wonderings were abruptly cut off as the Clone beside him suddenly leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
Shakey suddenly remembered the nature of the ride he was on, and gulped nervously.
'Th-this is the 'Tunnel of Love' ride,' he thought in alarm, 'Do the Clones know what most people DO on this ride?'
Apparently the Clone DID have a clue, for she snuggled up against Shakey.
Shakey swallowed nervously, his heart thumping loudly in his chest.
"…are you afraid?" the Clone's voice breathed against Shakey's neck.
Shakey didn't answer.
"…are you afraid… of me?" the Clone's soft voice was tinged with worry.
Shakey paused then wordlessly shook his head, not relaxing in the slightest.
"…thank you…" whispered the Clone, a smile of 'womanly amusement' on her face.
Then the Clone moved, looping her arms around Shakey, and hugging him.
"…thank you…" she repeated, "…for not being afraid of us… …for accepting us as you have… …even though… you know the truth… …about us…"
"No problem," Shakey heard his voice croak.
"…it has meant much to us…" the Clone murmured, "…you do not know…"
Shakey blinked as something moist dripped down his neck. He turned his head, to see tears running down the Clone's face. He hardly paused, moving in the Clone's embrace, putting his own arms around her.
"…how much… …you mean to us…" the Clone said in a broken voice, "…far more… …than anything… …else… …more than… …anyone… …else… …even… …ourselves…"
Shakey wondered if he should say anything, but decided against it. This was not just the sure knowledge that silence itself can make a profound comment, but rather the sure knowledge that he'd probably 'say the wrong thing'…
"…we love you…" the words whispered into the dimly lit tunnel.
Shakey tightened his hug on the crying Clone, pleasantly surprising both of them.
The background sounds took over, the gentle slosh of the water in the canal as the boat 'floated' along, made a natural harmony with the mood music.
The pair huddled in silence for the rest of the ride…
All good things must come to an end, and the ride Shakey and the Clone were on was no exception. Soon enough, their boat was back at the starting dock.
"Did you enjoy your ride?" Shakey asked the Clone beside him.
"…yes…" the Clone shyly replied, as she wiped her tear-streaked face with a handkerchief, "Thank you…"
"Here," offered Shakey as he stood up, "I'll help you up…"
"Stay," said the Clone, an amused look in her eyes as she gently pulled Shakey back down onto the seat, before she exited the boat.
Shakey blinked in surprise as another, differently attired Clone suddenly plopped down onto the seat beside him.
"MY turn…" the new Clone growled happily, as she gave Shakey a fierce bear hug.
"…Twelve…?" gulped Shakey nervously, "…is that you…?"
"None other, Lover," purred Twelve, rubbing her face happily against Shakey's shoulder, much to his embarrassment.
"…uhhhh…" said Shakey, noticing the LONG line of Clones at the Ticket Booth…
"For now at any rate," amended Twelve, as the boat took off again…
Elsewhere, the Clones had come to a conclusion about the 'Real' rides some of them were taking with Aesir…
Interesting! thought the Group Mind, We appear to have overcome our unusual reaction to the 'Screaming Loops of Certain Death' Roller Coaster! Even after 27 consecutive rides, the second group is still well!
A mournful groaning noise interrupted the Clones' train of thoughts. A Clone located the source of the noise, just in time to observe a greenish-faced Aesir projectile vomit out the side of the Roller Coaster carriage she was in.
Outstanding! observed the Group Mind, Even Aesir is having 'real' fun…
======================================================================
The END of this Fragment of "Altered Lives (The Parody)"
======================================================================
OMAKE - Moments Alone…
"…Twelve…?" gulped Shakey nervously, "…is that you…?"
"None other, Lover," purred Twelve, rubbing her face happily against Shakey's shoulder, much to his embarrassment.
"…uhhhh…" said Shakey, noticing the LONG line of Clones at the Ticket Booth…
"For now at any rate," amended Twelve, as the boat took off again…
Once in the twilight privacy of the tunnel, Twelve breathed into Shakey's ear, "Would you like to become one with me? To be of one mind and body?"
Shakey's eyes widened in Mortal Fear, as he remembered another OMAKE in which Twelve had asked a similar question. Knowing what was probably going to happen, he did the only Manly thing he felt capable of… He Fainted…
Not getting any complaints from her prey, Twelve moved in for a kiss…
Only to have her face suddenly flatten against the unexpected obstacle of an E.T. Field…
"WHO?" snapped a somewhat emotionally frustrated Twelve. She glared around, but suddenly stopped as she located the source of the E.T. Field…
"…uhhh…" said Twelve, starting to sweat nervously.
For there, hovering in mid-air in the dimly lit tunnel and GLARING balefully at Twelve with crimson eyes…
…was Suekko, the pint-sized genetic conglomerate spawned from a Clone corpse.
{What is the Prime Directive regarding the Shakey?} a rather disgruntled looking Suekko sent, as her multiple E.T. Fields coalesced into being.
{Share and Share alike!} reminded Suekko, who, while not actually competing for Shakey's heart like the Clones and Aesir were doing, was still somewhat upset that the other girls were monopolising the person Suekko considered **HER** 'Teddy Bear'…
…A rather painful episode of 'Sibling Rivalry' followed…
=========================The END of the OMAKE=========================