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Fragmented Lives (The Parody Pieces)
"Kowmoo"
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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 - By 2018, the Clones are famous singers. They use a Tour to Europe as a cover to the clandestine investigation of some E.T. Fields.
Instead of finding an illegal AVE facility, they find the last surviving Kowmoo Clone in tragic circumstances, and bring him back to Japan.
These scenes occur over a number of years, and also include Suekko.
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Fragment - Unwelcome Remembrance…
The only sound in Mazurka's bathroom was Kowmoo's laboured breathing. He leaned on his walking frame, and breathed deeply of the humid air…
'…calm…' Kowmoo realised, as he sat on a chair and awkwardly removed his clothes.
He looked at the hospital clothes he'd just taken off, comparing their utilitarian drabness to the brightly coloured clothes he would wear tonight…
He held the bundle of party clothes to his face, and breathed deeply. The scent of brand new fabric filled his nose.
A faint smile spread across his face, '…new…'
The novelty of this unexpected gift to him, prompted him to look around at the rest of the peaceful reality he now found himself existing in…
He turned slowly, staring at the confines of the room, examining everything. All around were the traces of the regular occupants of Mazurka's apartment.
Shampoo, deodorant, tissues, soap, towels, cosmetics… The commonplace things people take for granted in the humdrum existence of their regular daily lives.
Things the room's current occupant had not known in recent years.
Kowmoo stood and idly picked up a designer perfume bottle, unscrewing the cap. He pulled back in surprise at the flowery scent that wafted out.
'…flowers?…'
His mind roved back, to the last time he had equated flowers with peace and quiet. It had been years ago, in a field in Europe…
…Just before he'd become a hunted fugitive… injured… afraid… living in ditches… stealing to live… A being whose only luxury, was in knowing that he was alone…
Kowmoo grimaced as the unwanted memories arose from the darkness within… He hurriedly put the perfume back…
He turned to the bathtub, intending to ignore the memories, by concentrating on the routine of cleaning himself… Scrubbing himself raw if need be…
Kowmoo paused as he saw the warm water waiting for him in the bathtub.
Mist rose lazily from the surface of the warm liquid, the vapour twisting in the light from the electric bulb, like mist had risen from…
'…this is not that place…' he gasped, hiding his face in his hands, trying to swap pleasant memories for what the sight of the mist prompted him to remember…
Faces of his creche siblings swam before his tear blurred gaze. He remembered their peaceful smiles, their gentle laughter, their caring company…
Kowmoo choked back a sob, as he remembered he'd never see any of them again…
'…gone…' he sobbed, '…gone… gone…'
Kowmoo collapsed to the floor as he remembered the last time he'd seen them. And the ordeal of pain that had taken them from him…
His present reality swirled away, as the memories took him back…
- - - - - - - - - -
It had been the latest 'wargame' STEELY had wanted them to practice. Just another in a series of similar events. Nothing special in that.
'New weapons and tactics' they had been told… A familiar theme that piqued their interest. Similar statements had always foreshadowed new toys to play with, new ways of playing the games they were taught.
As ordered, they had trooped out to the latest 'battlefield', happy to be leaving their Spartan underground quarters.
They found themselves in a secluded valley, nestled in the higher foothills. A mountain creek meandered slowly through a meadow of alpine grasses and flowers.
It was just before dawn, and mist rose from the bends and pools of the creek.
Spirits among his siblings were high, and they looked forward with anticipation to the day's events. They had looked with curiosity at the many STEELY troops that huddled around portable rocket launchers.
Then the command, "Disperse and Evade! Anti-Rocket Drill! Fields UP! GO!!"
Ah! Another game of 'hide and seek', with an explosive game of 'tag' added…
The Kowmoo Clones complied, eagerly running across the meadow. Making for the cover of it's forested edges, and the rocky outcrops of the foothills.
The Clones laughed as they ran, wondering who would last the longest before being 'tagged' by the clumsy troops behind them.
The Clones heard the barked order to 'Open Fire', and dodged sideways, hoping to spoil the aim of the rocket launchers. Not that they could evade 'seeker' rockets at such close range for long, but still, it was invigorating to try…
The Clones merry mood changed abruptly with the first volley.
Thunder boomed around the valley as the first rockets exploded. The blast and shrapnel deflected safely off the Clones E.T. Fields…
Or at least, off most of them.
Sounds of distress, were abruptly cut off as machineguns fired.
The Clones faltered in their flight, looking back, wondering what had happened.
On the field behind them, lay smouldering debris from the rockets, and the ragged corpses of several Clones.
There hadn't been time to understand. A second volley of rockets swarmed across the meadow, spawning psychedelic fireballs as they impacted against E.T. Fields…
The 'tagged' E.T. Fields vanished… The Clones whose E.T. Fields had been negated, staggered as if struck. They fell to the ground in confusion and pain.
They didn't suffer long.
More machineguns fired, ripping the disorientated and defenceless Clones apart.
Confusion turned to fear as a third volley of rockets tore across the meadow.
What happened next, was not something Kowmoo remembered clearly… Something for which he was grateful…
Strangely coloured fireballs blooming amid thunder… People wearing his face staggering against him… Screams… The sound of machineguns… Bodies exploding under a hail of bullets… Splattering Gore… The scent of blood… Terror… A memory of running, trying to escape the pain that suddenly found him…
- - - - - - - - - -
In Mazurka's bathroom, the last surviving Kowmoo Clone lay curled up naked on the floor, sobbing as time and reality once again ceased to have meaning for him.
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Fragment - Facing the Past…
Outside in Mazurka's kitchen, Shakey had finished preparing the party dishes. He stepped back and surveyed his handiwork.
"Let's see…" mumbled Shakey, running over his checklist again, "Variety of vegetarian foods, and PLENTY of each one… Ice-cream in the fridge… Drinks…"
Satisfied that everything was in order, and that he hadn't forgotten anything, Shakey sighed with relief, and went to check on how the single Rave Clone was going, preparing Shakey's apartment for his unexpected 'guest'…
- - - - - - - - - -
Years ago, Mazurka had suggested that as Shakey and Aesir were… 'growing up'… it might be best if they had more 'personal space' of their own. That is, if they went and got apartments of their own. If they wanted to…
Mazurka had reconciled herself to the fact that 'her children' would move away from her 'home' sooner or later. What Mazurka hadn't considered, was that the two teens might not like the idea of leaving her all alone in her apartment.
Or that 'Rave' might use some of her own funds to purchase the apartment block Mazurka lived in, and give the apartments on either side of her to Aesir and Shakey.
Mazurka had been surprised, and more than a little touched, to find out who her new neighbours were.
She was even more surprised, when Rave suggested they put doors in the walls between the apartments, so that they could still 'live' together…
Aesir christened her apartment 'Lebens Raum' (German for 'Living Room', or 'Room in which to Live'), and put a flashy brass Plaque on the door that joined it to Mazurka's. She had moved into 'her' apartment, her possessions expanding like magic to fill all available space.
Shakey couldn't understand it. How had she been able to compress all of that junk into her one room at Mazurka's? Then he realised Aesir must have had it in 'storage'.
Then he'd wondered if it was stuff she hadn't been able to fit into Mazurka's apartment when she'd first arrived, all those years ago, or whether it was new stuff she'd bought since…
Shakey followed Aesir's example, moving into 'his' apartment, getting a new 'unfamiliar ceiling' in exchange for the one he'd gotten used to at Mazurka's.
He even adorned his door into Mazurka's apartment with the old 'Shakey's Lovely Suite' sign Mazurka had originally put on his door…
That had left Mazurka with two empty rooms. At the suggestion of the Rave Clones, she turned them into 'guest rooms', for the more or less permanent use of various Rave Clones acting as a 'Security Detail'.
It was an ideal arrangement… The Clones kept Mazurka's apartment almost spotless, while learning more about being 'human', by living among them… They were also close enough to protect their best friends in case of danger.
Or at least, to protect Shakey should Aesir's temper get out of control…
The Clones would often bring over friends from their 'real' lives, either for joint study sessions, slumber parties, or general 'Girls being Girls Nights'…
Mazurka was glad of the extra company, and only too happy to 'chaperone'. Shakey was happy to see his non-human 'sisters' acting like normal girls…
Or make that, 'almost' like normal girls…
Aesir had quite a few parties with her friends from College. Some were more raucous than others, and she often had friends sleep over after studying for their College examinations.
Shakey didn't know what to do with all the space he now had. So he converted the other rooms in his apartment into 'guest rooms'. The occupants were usually Kantsee and Toe-Jam, who would sleep over after their own late night study sessions. Although the Clones frequently slept over when their parties 'over-flowed' from Mazurka's,
It was after one such 'sleep over', that Shakey noticed the sign on his door had been changed to, "Shakey's New and Improved Bachelor Pad, Now with MORE Girls…"
Shakey had been embarrassed. Aesir had been outraged. Mazurka had laughed herself sick. And the Clone known as Twelve, had worn a VERY innocent expression for days afterwards…
Tonight though, the double bunks in one of Shakey's guest rooms had been made up for a single guest. A very special guest…
- - - - - - - - - -
Originally, the Rave Clones had not told Shakey much about the 'guest' they had brought back from Europe. What they had told him, was that he was NOT an enemy, and that Shakey really needed to see for himself, to understand…
The Clones mysterious attitude had not reassured Shakey. Nor had their insistence that he come to the Hospital alone… When he saw the 'guest' at the Hospital, Shakey realised WHY the Rave Clones had been so secretive.
It had been a bad shock for Shakey.
Not because of the disfiguring injuries the emaciated, and near crippled wretch in the hospital bed had. No, it was the face, and the colour of the hair and eyes, that had brought back memories of a person Shakey had to kill many years ago.
While Shakey had been reeling with the realisation of who, and WHAT the person in the Hospital bed was, the Rave Cones had given him another shock.
They had asked if Shakey would let 'Kowmoo' stay with him in his apartment when he came out of the Hospital.
Shakey had needed time to think about that…
Having to kill the other Kowmoo Clone, had caused Shakey serious emotional trauma. It hadn't helped that the AVE Limited Editions, controlled by Kowmoo 'Doppelganger' Units had almost killed Aesir during the Final Battle.
Shakey hadn't known what he should do, when something happened that made his mind up for him…
The Kowmoo Clone had been on painkillers, part of being treated for various injuries. Consequently, he was only semi-conscious at best.
…But his drugged condition didn't stop him moving about in bed…
A movement from the person under discussion attracted Shakey's attention. That was how Shakey came to be looking, when Kowmoo momentarily opened his eyes.
Revealing red irises.
That had stabbed Shakey's conscience. It had made him remember another person with red irises. One that Shakey felt he had failed to help… And of a solemn promise Shakey made one night, while holding a solitary wake for a dead friend…
Shakey had turned to the Rave Clones and said he'd take Kowmoo in…
On certain conditions…
The Rave Clones had to tell Aesir about Kowmoo **THEMSELVES**. And provide a permanent 'safety buffer' between Shakey, Kowmoo and Aesir, should the need arise.
The Rave Clones had agreed to the conditions, relieved by Shakey's acceptance of Kowmoo. It would speed the rehabilitation of the Kowmoo Clone to be among Humans who were 'Clone friendly'.
Which partly explained why Shakey had thrown himself so whole-heartedly into preparing the dinner for Kowmoo's 'Welcome Party' tonight.
Shakey was 'overcompensating', in an attempt to keep the past firmly forgotten, and make of the present what he could.
In short, to create the best impression Shakey could for his 'guest'…
- - - - - - - - - -
"I am finished," Clone #125 said, anticipating Shakey's question, "The beds are prepared, there are extra pillows, and I have cleaned all of the apartment."
"Thanks," Shakey sighed with relief, "I really appreciate your help!"
"It was no problem," #125 replied, a pleased little smile on her pink cheeks.
Which was true enough… Shakey's apartment was never more than a 'one-cleaner' job, at the WORST of times… Unlike Mazurka's…
"If there are no other jobs you want me to do," continued the Clone, "I will go and get ready for the party tonight…"
"Nothing springs to mind," replied Shakey, "You'll have to use the bathroom here though, as Kowmoo's using the one in Mazurka's…"
#125 nodded wordlessly, and went to get her things from Mazurka's.
Shakey stood in his apartment, looking around at the 'Clean Zone' the Clone had so-easily imposed on his 'Improved Bachelor Pad'…
"Shakey?" a soft voice asked with unusual urgency.
Shakey turned around. Clone #125 stood with a worried look on her face.
"What's wrong?"
"I am not sure," #125 replied, "There are… strange noises… coming from Mazurka's bathroom. Could you please come and check? I think Kowmoo may need help…"
Frowning, Shakey left #125 behind as he rushed back into Mazurka's apartment…
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Fragment - Embracing the Future…
Shakey pressed his ear to the door of Mazurka's Bathroom, and listened…
From inside, he heard the sound of sobbing.
Rave Clone #125 stood beside Shakey, looking inquisitively at him.
Shakey knocked loudly on the Bathroom door, and said with forced cheer, "Hey? Kowmoo? I've got dinner ready…"
There was no reply.
Shakey gulped, and turned to the Rave Clone beside him, "I'm going to open the door and check on him. I don't know if there's a problem, but if there is…"
"I am already in contact with the others," confirmed #125.
Shakey nodded, then opened the door to Mazurka's Bathroom.
From the doorway, he and #125 could clearly see the naked bundle of 'Post Traumatic Stress Disorder' that was the last surviving Kowmoo Clone.
Shakey and #125 both entered the Bathroom, and quickly checked Kowmoo's condition.
"No bleeding," commented Shakey, checking Kowmoo out for injuries, "No visible wounds… No obvious sources of danger… Can't be electrical shock… Perhaps he slipped and fell?"
"Possible," said #125, wrapping a large bath towel around Kowmoo to keep him warm, "But was such a fall the cause, or the result of his current condition?"
"Hey!" Shakey said in a louder voice, reaching out to firmly shake Kowmoo by the shoulder, "Can you hear me? What's wrong? What happened?"
Shakey's voice filtered through into the inner hell that was Kowmoo's mind…
'…who?…' thought Kowmoo.
His bleary gaze turned on those near him, focussing on the one speaking to him.
Shakey…
Kowmoo blinked as he saw a young male face looking at him. The face wore a concerned look, similar to the looks Kowmoo's siblings wore when they tended the injuries of their kin.
"Are you all right?" asked Shakey, "What happened?"
The simple question caused a wave of dark emotion to swamp Kowmoo, forcing him back into the depths of his despair.
With a sob, Kowmoo latched onto Shakey. Shakey's show of concern for him, helped Kowmoo to make-believe he was holding one of his long dead siblings…
Shakey blinked in surprise at the impromptu hug. The Rave Clone beside him merely raised an eyebrow.
"…erm…" Shakey mumbled, unsure of what he should do…
Rave Clone #125 saw Shakey's indecision and discomfort, "Hold him. He needs physical contact to counteract the psychiatric state he is in."
Shakey nodded, and gingerly put his arms around Kowmoo, trying to hold him in what Shakey hoped would be interpreted as a 'Man-Giving-Manly-Support-To-Another-Man' type of embrace.
Clone #125 added, "He will be all right. He has… bad memories… to deal with."
'He's like me…' realised Shakey, 'Bad memories always found me in the Bathroom…'
Shakey understood Kowmoo's plight, as shadows from his own dark past briefly surfaced. Sympathy bloomed within Shakey, and it showed in how his warm embrace relaxed caringly about Kowmoo.
"I will go and prepare for the party," murmured the Clone, "I will not be long."
Shakey nodded, "I'll yell out if anything happens…"
When the Clone had left, Shakey realised he was now alone in the Bathroom, with a nearly naked male in his arms…
Shakey's 17-year old mind, knew such a situation might be misinterpreted by the person he was holding…
"…um…" Shakey said, unsure if he should say anything. Then he decided he'd better, just to be on the safe side…
"Kowmoo… I just want you to know… I'm NOT 'Gay'… All Right?"
Kowmoo replied quietly, "…neither am i…"
Shakey breathed a sigh of relief…
Shakey held the distraught Kowmoo Clone, comforting him as a brother would…
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Fragment - Master Erase… The Clones settle up some 'old' business…
Somewhere in the European countryside, a remote mountain valley hid a manmade secret. Deep beneath the valley floor, behind armour plates and steel bulkheads, lay the last undiscovered bunker of the shadowy STEELY group.
A hidden fortress, the installation was built tough enough to survive a direct hit from several Nuclear weapons. Lesser attacks by Bio-chemical weapons would hardly be noticed, let alone the efforts of a mere Infantry assault.
It was here, secure from the vengeful gaze of the outer world, that the last surviving STEELY member lived in solitude, secure in the knowledge that his whereabouts were unknown, and that he was truly 'untouchable'…
Until now…
Now he sat in the most secure of all of the bunker levels, cowering in fear.
The installation was currently under attack, and the last Master had listened in disbelief as level after level had fallen before the relentless onslaught. One by one, communications with the various defence platoons disappeared.
If the rapidly silenced screams heard over the radio had been any indication, they had all been slaughtered.
Now, his own personal guards, the last line of defense, were waiting their turn…
It had been an hour since the previous line of defenders went silent. In a growing panic, the last Master had requested frequent status reports.
Reports that were now five minutes overdue…
He couldn't wait any more, he had to know. His nervously shaking hands fumbled with the communications panel, "Report status," was all he said.
Static was all he got in return.
"Report Status, I said," he demanded.
This time, the static was broken by the sound of three slow knocks. They came not from the speaker on his desk but from the door to his room.
The last Master switched off the communication line in fear, 'They're here…' he realised, 'They're… HERE!'
His assumption was borne out by a faint creaking noise, one that swelled into a tortured groaning as the blast proof armoured doors guarding the Inner Sanctum started to bulge inwards…
Over several nerve wracking minutes, the doors slowly ripped off their hinges, the ruptured metal finally falling to the floor with a loud crash.
Beyond the ruined portal, total darkness beckoned.
The last Master was trembling by now, but he still armed himself with a gun, and sat facing the way the intruders had to come. He sat, peering into the gloom, waiting for his assassins to make their entrance.
Then he saw something…
In the gloom, a lighter shade of darkness swirled aside.
Then another… and another… Then… A shadow that didn't swirl, but advanced from out the gloom, coming closer, more distinct…
Through the ruined portal, into the last secret stronghold of STEELY, walked the last surviving Kowmoo Clone…
"Tadaima (I'm Home)" he said, a faint smile on his face.
The last Master stared in disbelief, "Y-You!?"
"Yes," Kowmoo admitted, "It is I, the last of your Humble Servants…"
From behind Kowmoo, shadows coalesced into the forms of several figures in SWAT outfits. Like the Operation they were on, their outfits were black…
"Destroy them!" the Master shouted at Kowmoo, pointing at the SWAT Team.
"Oh," said Kowmoo, his face showing sheepish embarrassment, "I'm terribly sorry, but… I'm only here to tender my resignation as your Humble Servant… Effective immediately, I'm afraid…"
"Do as I say!" demanded the Master, "You must obey, I created you!"
"Did you?" asked Kowmoo with a surprised look on his face, "Then I simply MUST thank you for the fine job you did…"
"OBEY ME!" the Master screamed, spittle starting to fly, "DESTROY THEM!"
"No," Kowmoo said, with a serene smile, "I can't… not any more… But… Perhaps…"
"Perhaps?" the Master parroted in near insane confusion.
Kowmoo's eyes suddenly narrowed, "You could ask one of my 'siblings' instead?"
The Master flinched backwards, not so much at what Kowmoo had just said, as the terrible look of rage Kowmoo now wore on his face.
Kowmoo stalked slowly forward, his eyes narrowed to slits, and his voice a soft serpent that hissed quietly forth, "Why don't you call to them for help?"
The Master's gun came up and he pumped round after round at Kowmoo.
All to no avail. The bullets splattered against the glow of an E.T. Field.
"Oh dear?" Kowmoo said in mock sympathetic tones, as the Master's gun ran out of amnmunition, "All out? Well then, that must mean it's MY turn…"
Kowmoo's E.T. Field suddenly flexed, lashing out at the Master.
With a scream of pain the Master was flung back against the wall. He slumped to the floor in a dishevelled heap, only to suddenly slide back up the wall as the E.T. Field pressed in against him…
"Stop!" the Master choked out, "Return to the fold from whence you came, and…"
**CRUNCH** The E.T. Field suddenly constricted about the Master's lower face, pulping the lower jaw.
A despairing gurgle escaped from the bloody maw of the Master, as it finally sank in that his own Angel of Death had arrived…
"Don't you mean…" Kowmoo sneered, "The fold from whence you cast ME **OUT**?!"
"You want me to serve YOU?" hissed Kowmooo, "You who killed us? You who betrayed us? You who sent us like lambs to the slaughter? **HAH**!!"
"D-do you have…" stuttered Kowmoo, near incoherent with emotional overload, "Eh-Any idea! What… went… p-pain… …**I**…" He trailed off, his ragged breathing replacing his ability to speak.
Around the Master, the E.T. Field trembled and flexed, causing joints to dislocate, and bones to break. The Master screamed in pain and fear.
Kowmoo suddenly dissipated his E.T. Field, and turned his back on the body he'd broken. The Master fell to the floor, bloody froth bubbling from his crushed lips…
"No," Kowmoo said, his voice trembling, "…not…" He lurched rather than walked from the room muttering, "…theirs…"
Behind Kowmoo, the SWAT team closed in on the last Master. Some of them removed their helmets to reveal the blue hair of a Rave Clone.
"Do you know…" a soft voice asked, "How much pain and suffering you've caused?"
Not getting a response from the Master, another Clone continued, "No? Don't worry, you will…"
They knelt beside the last Master, cradling his head in their hands, forcing a reverse-synchronisation with him. Then they downloaded all the memories of pain and suffering the Clones had ever encountered, personally or from others…
Somewhere during the download of Aesir being butchered, the last Master died…
Afterwards, the Clones used their E.T. Fields to turn his remains into a large, thin stain on the ground…
The Rave Clones weren't vindictive, but they were **THOROUGH**…
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Fragment - First Words…
It was another pleasant day in the Kutsarug Halfway House for Recovering Clones…
Kowmoo was helping Suekko build a 'castle' out of Alphabet blocks…
Shakey was washing dishes in Mazurka's kitchen…
Mazurka was washing her recent meal down with a beer or two…
Rave was doing several things at once, in several different locations…
Aesir was in her apartment, hogging its bathroom…
"K… O… W… M… O… O…" said Kowmoo, arranging the Alphabet blocks to spell out his name, "That's how you spell my name…"
Suekko looked at Kowmoo's handiwork, then took the blocks and rearranged them.
Kowmoo blinked as he realised that Suekko had spelt out 'Suekko'.
"That's right," Kowmoo said, a smile growing on his face, "That's YOUR name… What other names can you spell?"
Suekko began to rearrange the blocks.
"Mazurka," said Kowmoo, as Suekko finished, her work, "That's very good…"
Suekko smiled, and changed the blocks again.
"Rave…" noted Kowmoo, "Any more?"
Suekko blushed slightly, then rearranged the blocks.
"Shakey…" smiled Kowmoo, pleased that his toddler sized companion was beginning to communicate in a more 'normal' fashion.
"…shay…kee…" said a small voice near Kowmoo.
Kowmoo blinked in surprise, as he realised the only person the voice could have come from.
"Suekko?" he said peering questioningly at her, "Did you just say something?"
Suekko shyly nodded, her lips moving as she repeated herself, "…shay…kee…"
Kowmoo grinned. 'Just WAIT until the others hear THIS!' he thought.
"Suekko," Kowmoo asked, "Is this the first time you've spoken?"
Suekko nodded, her gaze on the floor.
"I think we should let the others know, shouldn't we?" Kowmoo said gently, "It'll be a nice surprise for them? Especially Shakey?"
Suekko looked up at Kowmoo, and nodded her agreement.
"Shakey Dear?" Kowmoo called out as he led Suekko to where Mazurka was, "I've got something to show you?"
Shakey came out of the kitchen with a slight blush on his face. Even though Kowmoo was 'physically male', he rarely acted in a 'gender-specific' fashion.
"What?" Shakey asked in slightly guarded tones.
"Take a seat," Kowmoo said mysteriously, "Suekko's got something important for all of us…"
Shakey sat down at the dining table beside Mazurka.
"So what's the surprise?" Mazurka asked, as Suekko climbed onto Shakey's lap.
Kowmoo turned to Suekko, "Suekko, don't you have something to SAY to Shakey?"
"You don't mean?" Mazurka grinned as she caught on to what Kowmoo had said.
Suekko took a deep breath, and opened her lips…
The others in the room looked at Suekko expectantly…
"…**MINE**…"
…Was all Suekko said, as she hugged Shakey…
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Fragment - Ultimatum. (2022, Wedding of Shakey 21 and Aesir 20)
The elderly priest smiled at the young couple before him, "…if there is anyone who wishes to protest this wedding, let them speak now, or forever hold their-"
The sudden crash as the church doors slammed open cut the priest off in mid-sentence. Throughout the packed church, heads turned to the source of the timely intervention.
In the open arch of the doorway, a dark silhouette stood against the daylight that streamed in from outside.
The figure strode forward, the change in light revealing a body clad in full SWAT regalia, the outfit hiding all indication of who it might be.
The various Clones in the Church watched in silence, none making any attempt to intercept the intruder.
Shakey and Aesir watched in shocked surprise as the intruder walked up to them, finally stopping within arms distance. The intruder turned to look at Aesir and Shakey in turn, then turned to the priest.
"Do not worry," the intruder's masculine voice betrayed their gender, "…they are wished well. But they should know this! You are not the only one who loves the one you marry. If ever you prove unworthy of their love, if ever you wrong them, betray them, hurt or abuse them… Another stands ready to take them from you…"
The warning given, the intruder turned and stalked from the Church, heedless of the flashing cameras and shouted questions from the media frenzy outside.
"En-Anyone else?" the elderly priest wheezed.
Reassured when nothing else happened, the old priest thankfully concluded the ceremony as quickly as he could.
Sometime later, and a certain SWAT-suited individual was in the Operations Centre changing room, just one figure among many similarly attired others…
The helmet came off, revealing the black non-flammable balaclava worn underneath. The Helmet went on a hook in the locker, then gloved hands reached for the straps of the gas mask.
"Thank you," the Clone known as Twelve said from behind the figure.
"Not a problem," the removal of the gas mask muffled the reply. The filter canister was removed and sealed in a zip-lock plastic bag, before the silicone rubber face seal was wiped with a cleaning pad and hung on another hook, "Thank you for telling the others not to interfere…"
"We would have said it ourselves…" Twelve continued, "But then everyone would know who it was…"
"How could they?" the balaclava came off, revealing blue-grey locks very similar to those of the Clones. The last surviving Kowmoo Clone turned to look at Twelve with a quizzical gaze.
"Voice…" Twelve's response was the enlightened obvious, "As it was a Heterosexual couple that was being married, any female protesting the marriage would automatically be assumed to be after the Groom…"
"And I wasn't?" Kowmoo quipped with a lisp.
Twelve blinked, then looked at Kowmoo with a narrow-eyed scowl. As did ALL of the other Rave Clones in the immediate vicinity.
"Joking! Joking!" Kowmoo quickly protested as multiple E.T. Fields began powering up…
======================================================================
The END of this Fragment of "Altered Lives (The Parody)"
======================================================================
OMAKE - Embracing The Future… (2018)
Shakey nodded, and gingerly put his arms around Kowmoo, trying to hold him in what Shakey hoped would be interpreted as a 'Man-Giving-Manly-Support-To-Another-Man' type of embrace.
"I will go and prepare for the party," murmured Clone#125, "I will not be long."
Shakey nodded, "I'll yell out if anything happens…"
When the Clone had left, Shakey realised he was now alone in the Bathroom, with a nearly naked male in his arms…
Shakey's 17-year old mind, knew such a situation might be misinterpreted by the person he was holding…
"…um…" Shakey said, unsure if he should say anything. Then he decided he'd better, just to be on the safe side…
"Kowmoo… I just want you to know… I'm NOT 'Gay'… All Right?"
Kowmoo replied quietly, "…neither am i…"
Shakey breathed a sigh of relief…
"…i'm 'bi'…" continued Kowmoo, SNUGGLING up against Shakey…
Shakey froze, DEFINITELY unsure of what to do or say…
A sudden gasping noise from the doorway, made Shakey turn his head.
When the Rave Clone had left, she had not shut the Bathroom door, reasoning that if Shakey did need help, a shut door might muffle any cry for assistance.
So it was, that Shakey and Kowmoo had an unexpected audience.
Aesir…
She had come home MUCH earlier than usual. She had entered her apartment, and had been attracted by the smell of the food Shakey had cooked next door…
Shakey started to sweat as he saw the slack-jawed look of shock on Aesir's face…
It had occurred to Shakey, that the male he had embraced might somehow 'misinterpret' such a simple gesture of goodwill…
Shakey now realised that the sight of him embracing a nearly naked male in the Bathroom, might ALSO be 'misinterpreted' by anyone who saw them…
"Ay-Aesir!" Shakey stammered, "I was j-just helping…"
"…you…" Aesir growled raggedly, her body starting to tremble…
Kowmoo chose that moment to raise his head and look around, trying to see who Shakey was talking to.
Aesir's face twitched, then began to contort as she noticed that the towel-clad and extremely pale person Shakey was holding, had RED IRISES beneath that unkempt mop of abnormally coloured hair…
"You Pervert! What are you doing to Rave?!" demanded Aesir.
"Rave?" asked Shakey in confusion. Then it dawned on him, that because of the towel, Aesir didn't know the person in his arms was male…
"…i'm not rave…" Kowmoo said, partly unwrapping the towel, "…i'm kowmoo… see?…"
Aesir's eyes went wide as saucers as Kowmoo proved he WASN'T female…
"You dis-GUSTING **PERVERTS**!!" Aesir screamed, storming into the bathroom, a look of Outraged Fury on her tomato-red face…
Shakey gulped, his 'Sense of Impending Doom' going into 'Over Load', and flashing the message, 'Been Nice Knowing You,' through his mind… The resulting Primal Fear reflex caused him to unconsciously tighten his embrace on Kowmoo…
The Kowmoo Clone raised his hand in a 'stop' gesture, and Aesir hit an E.T. Field…
Aesir staggered back, surprised. Then she began beating on the E.T. Field. First with her bare fists, then with the Bathroom chair, all the while screaming Multilingual vulgarities at those on the other side.
On one side of the E.T. Field, an angry Aesir ranted and fumed. On the other side of the E.T. Field, a VERY frightened Shakey clung for dear life to the being that had spawned said E.T. Field.
'…Mmmm!!…' thought the Kowmoo Clone, THOROUGHLY enjoying Shakey's tight embrace, '…i MUST see if i can get her to walk in on me and shakey more often…"
Things did NOT improve when a rather sudsy, 'barely-towel-clad' Rave Clone #125 rushed into the room, wanting to know what the shouting was about…
The Fan Fiction Writer hopes that this puts an end to all of those 'scurrilous rumours' that Kowmoo was 'Gay'…
=========================The END of the OMAKE=========================