Saber Dolls G
A Saber Marionette Fanfiction
By BG-57
Program 06: Eleventh
A young boy lay stretched out on an operating table. His blond hair was brushed back making the electrodes glued to his temples more noticeable. He was dressed in a simple white smock. A voice called out, faint and distant.
"Are you awake, Eleventh?"
The boy's eyes opened and regarded the florescent lighting in the ceiling blankly. He suddenly sat up.
"Where am I?" he asked.
"You're in the medical procedure room," said the voice.
The boy looked to his left and saw a tall man standing a few feet away with blond hair in a ponytail and a stern expression. He was dressed in a casual shirt and jeans with a leather jacket draped over the back of a chair nearby.
"I am Gelhardt von Faust the Tenth," said the man.
"Who am I?" asked the boy, rubbing his forehead.
"You're Gelhardt von Faust the Eleventh," said Faust quietly.
"I'm named after you?" asked the boy.
Faust nodded. "You can pick a different name if you want."
"Are you my father then?" asked the boy, looking confused.
Faust smiled faintly. "In a manner of speaking."
The boy turned so his legs were dangling over the side.
"Have we met before?" asked the boy, frowning, "You look familiar."
Faust rubbed his chin. "Do you remember me?"
The boy shook his head.
"It's not important then," said Faust, "All you need to know is that you may be chosen to rule Gartlant."
"Me?" asked the boy incredulously.
Faust nodded. "Let me introduce you to the Saber Dolls. They will make sure that you come to no harm."
The boy looked to his right and saw a trio of Marionettes standing at the foot of the table.
"I'm Luchs," said the one with long blue hair and violet eyes, "I'm pleased to meet you Lord Faust."
"Call me Tiger," said the one with short red hair under a black cap. She smiled kindly at the boy.
"Panther," said the one with blond hair and a red eyepatch, jerking a thumb towards her face, "Nice to meetcha."
Ruebens walked down a dark corridor escorted by a pair of guards dressed in gray tunics and black helmets. They stopped in front of one of the doors. He looked at the door mournfully.
"Wait," said Faust, coming from the other direction.
"My Lord," said Ruebens, "Why are you here?"
"You are sure the brainwashing was reversed on the Eleventh?" asked Faust.
"As sure as I am of anything," replied Ruebens.
"I will keep my promise then," he said.
Ruebens shook his head. "Forget about me. Just look after Koyuki."
"Your fate is not certain Ruebens," said Faust, "I'll leave her in your care for a while longer."
One of the guards opened the door to the cell by punching on a keypad. The door opened with a hiss, revealing a brown haired Marionette sitting on the bed dressed in a kimono.
"Koyuki!" said Ruebens, his eyes open wide.
"Get in there!" barked a guard.
"Thank you," said Ruebens to Faust as he walked in. He turned around and smiled at Faust, as the door slammed shut.
Faust walked down the corridor until he reached a side room. It was mostly empty except for some boxes. He went through another door onto a balcony that overlooked the valley around the Summer Residence. Odd, he thought, he hadn't appreciated how beautiful the valley looked in autumn, and how much this edifice his predecessor had built marred it. He could make out Young Faust and the Saber Dolls walking along a green lawn.
"How is the boy doing?" asked an old man standing next to him.
Faust glanced at the old man that Mikey called Grandpa. Although frail and stooped with a long white beard, he was one of the interim rulers of Gartlant.
"Too soon to tell," stated Faust, "But I appreciate you allowing the Saber Dolls to look after him,"
"It's clear they have reformed," said Grandpa, "What's less clear is you."
Faust closed his eyes. "There will always be a darkness in my soul. I can either succumb to it or fight it."
Grandpa stroked his beard. "You are an enigma Faust. Ever since you abdicated, no one can predict you anymore."
Faust regarded Grandpa grimly. "I didn't abdicate, I was exiled."
"But you do want the boy to rule in your place," said Grandpa cannily.
Faust looked thoughtful. "If he wants to. But whatever his fate, I will spare him the anguish of my memories."
"What is it like to remember 300 years of history?" he asked.
Faust started to walk off but half turned when he reached the door.
"Be glad you don't know," said Faust as he left.
Young Faust kicked a rock along the path in the garden. It had been formal and ornamental once, but it had been neglected for some time. Most of the flowerbeds were filled with weeds.
"You shouldn't do that Young Master," chided Luchs.
Panther grinned and kicked a rock down the path.
"Panther!" said Luchs testily.
"Now Luchs, he's just a boy," said Tiger cheerfully, "Let him be one."
Luchs sighed as Young Faust turned to look at them.
"I'm sorry to cause you so much trouble Luchs," he said.
She smiled and knelt next to him. "You're no trouble at all Young Master. I'm honored to look after you."
"We'd give our lives for you," said Panther, putting a fist to her heart.
"Why would you do that?" asked Young Faust, looking horrified.
"Because you are the most precious thing to Lord Faust," said Tiger serenely.
"Doesn't he like me?" he asked.
"Of course he does," said Luchs, "You will be like a son to him."
"Will be?" said the boy in a confused tone.
"Well, you two have to get to know each other better first, right?" said Luchs with a smile.
Young Faust returned the smile.
"We need to decide how to do this," said Tiger, "Luchs, I think you should teach him history and science. You're the smartest one."
Luchs nodded. "You should teach him about love and compassion Tiger."
"I'll train him to be physically fit," said Panther.
Luchs stood up. "We don't know how long we'll be together Young Master. But rest assured we will take care of you."
"Enough chitchat!" said Panther, "It's time to begin his training!"
"Training?" inquired Young Faust, "Training for what?"
"Come with me and I'll show you," said Panther taking his hand and leading him off.
Tiger looked at Luchs.
"Let's follow them," said Luchs.
A few minutes later Panther and Young Faust were standing in a junkyard on the western side of the Summer Residence. It was full of broken military trucks and tanks in enormous piles. Panther picked up the long barrel of a tank and shouldered it like a cane.
"Now Young Master," began Panther narrowing her eyes, "The first thing you must learn is strength. Strength through discipline!"
Young Faust gaped and pointed. "Isn't that heavy?"
Panther blinked and stared at the barrel. "Huh? Nah! Now you need to concentrate!"
"How much can you lift?" asked Young Faust.
Panther frowned. "I don't know! Don't distract me Young Master!"
Young Faust pointed to a rusting motor resting on cinderblocks. "Can you lift that?"
Panther sighed and ambled over and hefted the motor using her free hand.
"Piece of cake!" she said grinning.
"Wow!" said young Faust, "You're amazing!"
"That's nothing!" said Panther, "Watch this!"
The boy ran backwards as Panther flung the motor into the air. It arced overhead, glinting in the noonday sun and fell back down. As it neared the ground Panther swung with the barrel and sent the motor careening across the junkyard. It knocked over a car chassis and buried itself into the middle of a large junk pile with a tremendous metallic crash. Panther flinched as the pile started to collapse at first gradually, then getting louder and louder until they were sure that all of Gartlant could hear it. It sounded at the end like a mechanical explosion.
"What the hell was Panther thinking?" hissed Luchs to Tiger from their hiding place in a nearby junk pile.
"Panther doesn't think she just does," said Tiger wearily.
Panther shielded her eyes from the sun to inspect the damage. "Wow! I guess that was a bad idea!"
She began to laugh until she realized she couldn't see Young Faust anymore. She began digging through the rubble frantically.
"Young Master!" she called out.
She heard laughter behind her. She turned to see the boy hanging off the muzzle of the gun she was still carrying.
"Can we do that again?" he asked happily.
"Absolutely not!" said Panther angrily.
"Aw, c'mon Panther!" he said.
She pulled him off the cannon by the collar. "Don't scare me like that Young Master!" she admonished.
He smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. Do I weigh too much?"
She sighed and put him on her shoulder. "No more than a feather."
He giggled and they began to laugh together. She was startled when he touched her star shaped eyepatch.
"Did you lose an eye?" he asked.
"No, it's polarized to block the eyebeam," she said.
"Neat! Can I see it?" he asked.
She lifted the red glass exposing her yellow right eye, which contrasted sharply with her sky blue left eye.
He leaned in close and inspected it.
She blushed a bit. "Is something wrong Young Master?"
He shook his head. "No, I think you look prettier when I can see both your eyes."
She turned red and let the eyepatch drop back into place.
"Let's go back in," said Panther.
Later that night Panther was sitting on her bed in her room looking down at the eyepatch in her hand. Her room was Spartan to the extreme, devoid of any decoration except a framed painting of Faust on the wall with a slightly dented golden blade on a stand underneath. Next to it was a leather bound book of poetry. The rest of the room only had a chest of drawers and a desk; both made of blue metal that blended with the cold gray walls. The door at the foot of the bed opened and Luchs walked in.
"He's asleep now," she said.
"Good," said Panther absently.
"What's wrong?" asked Luchs.
Panther put the eyepatch on the desk. "Nothing. I'm going to crash. Night."
"Goodnight," said Luchs.
She left through the door out into the hallway. She stared at the door across the hall and then went through the door to the left of Panther's. Her room was similar except it had computer equipment on the desk. Instead of a formal portrait she had a framed photograph of Faust dressed casually and looking out a window, with a sad expression. She picked up the picture and hugged it.
"Goodnight Lord Faust," she said quietly.
She changed out of her uniform into a nightgown. She put her uniform jacket and skirt on a coat hanger and hung it on a hook mounted on the back of the door. She removed the purple ribbon from her hair and set it on the desk. She climbed into bed and pulled the covers over her. She looked over at the light on the desk and her eyes glowed softly violet. The night snapped off and the room was plunged into darkness. She closed her eyes.
There was a knock on the door.
She sat up and sighed. "Who is it?" she asked.
"Luchs, I had a scary dream!" said Young Faust.
She got up and opened the door. The boy embraced her, in tears.
"It was horrible!" he sobbed.
She picked him up. "There, there Young Master. It wasn't real."
"Someone tied me on a table and put something into my head!" he cried, "And there was a big metal dragon!"
She held him close. "Don't worry, I won't let anything hurt you."
He stopped sniffling. "Can I sleep with you tonight?" he asked.
She looked surprised. "What? I mean are you sure Young Master?"
He nodded and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "Yes."
She nodded and set him down. He climbed into bed. She climbed onto the other side. She put a hand on his shoulder.
"You're still shivering," she said.
"I'm sorry I'm so frightened," he said.
"Don't be," she said embracing him from behind.
He sighed and relaxed. Eventually her turned to look back at her.
"I can see your eyes now," he said smiling weakly.
Luchs blinked. "Huh?"
"You're just like Panther," said Young Faust, "You hide your eyes."
She thought it over. "I suppose you're right. I don't like people knowing what I'm thinking."
"Well I trust you whatever you're thinking," he said sleepily.
She lay in the bed holding him close and she felt warmth spreading through her. She could tell that her maiden circuit was activating in some new way. She couldn't quite grasp what it was though. As she puzzled it out she gradually drifted to sleep.
Tiger woke with a start to the sound of pounding on her door.
"What is it?" she asked getting up and going to the door.
Panther burst in. "Young Master's gone!"
Tiger blanched. "What? Where could he have gone?"
"He isn't in his room!" said Panther.
They went out into the corridor.
"Let's try Luchs' room," suggested Tiger.
Panther pounded on the door. After a few minutes Young Faust opened the door.
"Good morning Panther, Tiger," he said sleepily.
Panther's jaw dropped. Tiger stifled a giggle.
"I had a scary dream, so I stayed with Luchs," said the boy cheerfully.
"So I see," said Tiger.
"Thanks Luchs!" he called back into the room then ran off between Tiger and Panther.
Luchs reached the door. "Be careful running Young Master!" she called after him.
Tiger and Panther stared at her and she blushed red.
"What?" she asked, "Young Master was scared."
"I'm so happy for you!" said Tiger, taking Luchs' hand.
"Why?" asked Luchs looking up.
"Your maiden circuit is 'motherhood'," said Tiger, "You've never had the chance to use it before."
"You should have been the one with this maiden circuit," said Luchs, "You're the one who raised Lord Faust."
Tiger's expression became sad. "I cannot raise the Young Master. He reminds me too much of Lord Faust as a boy."
"But you originally served Lord Faust the Ninth," said Panther, "How could you serve two Masters?"
Tiger sighed. "I couldn't. Every day I was torn in two. How can you obey one Master without betraying the other?"
"I see," said Panther in a subdued tone.
Lord Faust appeared, walking down the corridor. He stopped when he saw them.
"How is the boy doing?" he asked.
"Just fine, Lord Faust," said Tiger.
"Leave him to us," said Panther.
"We'll take care of him," said Luchs.
"Thank you," said Faust, "I am indebted to the three of you."
"Not at all," said Tiger.
"Has the Provisional Council decided what to do with him?" asked Luchs fearfully.
Faust shook his head. "They are supposed to give their decision later today."
The Saber Dolls exchanged apprehensive glances.
"Don't worry," he reassured them, "I have faith now in the people of Gartlant and Terra II."
He walked down the hallway until he reached a staircase. He stopped and stared at a half open doorway. It swung open and Young Faust stepped into the corridor. He looked up at Faust fearfully.
"Come with me Eleventh," said Faust.
Faust unlocked a set of double doors and led Young Faust into a large ornate room with chandeliers and golden candelabras on the walls. The walls had five enormous paintings each on the two longest walls, with busts in front of each. There was also a scale model of an intricate spaceship. A painting of a lovely woman with long orange-brown hair hung on the far wall. Young Faust gaped.
"What is this?" he asked.
"A monument to myself," said Faust.
The boy stared at one of the pictures labeled simply 'VII'. "Hey this one looks like you!" he said.
He ran over to next one labeled 'VIII'. "So does this one!" he said.
"They all do," said Faust, "We both are clones of them."
Young Faust's eyes grew wide. "We are?"
"Well, of him," said Faust pointing to a picture of the one marked 'I'. The man had shorter hair and was dressed in a white pressure suit.
"That was Gelhardt von Faust the First," said Faust, "A brilliant scientist from Terra I."
"Terra I?" asked Young Faust.
Faust nodded and indicated the ship model and the picture above it. "He was aboard the colony ship Mesopotamia when the computer went amok. Only six men made it to the surface of Terra II. The First was one of them. One woman was still trapped on the ship; that was Lorelei. She was held prisoner for 300 years by the computer."
The boy tried to take it all in. "Then what?"
"The six men created clones of themselves in order to survive. But they couldn't clone women, so they created Marionettes to replace them."
"Like Luchs, Tiger, and Panther right?" asked Young Faust.
Faust nodded. "Yes, but they're different from most Marionettes. They have maiden circuits that give them feelings and emotions like any human. Only seven Marionettes have these circuits: the Saber Dolls, three in Japoness, and one in New Texas. They were created to rescue Lorelei."
Young Faust grinned. "So the Saber Dolls rescued Lorelei?"
Faust looked thoughtful. "Well Luchs helped the Japoness Marionettes. Tiger was damaged at the time and I was injured so Panther stayed with me."
The boy beamed. "They're all so cool!"
Faust smiled. "Yes they are."
Young Faust examined the picture marked 'X'. "Is this you?" he asked.
"Yes," said Faust quietly.
"Is there one of me?" asked Young Faust eagerly.
"That depends," replied Faust, "On your wishes."
The boy looked confused. "My wishes?"
"Yes," said Faust, "My rule of Gartlant brought nothing but misery to my people. Knowing what a burden it will be, would you still want to rule Gartlant?"
Young Faust looked thoughtful. "Are you going to give it to me?"
Faust shook his head. "It is not within my power to give you."
"Then why are you asking me?" asked the Young Faust.
Faust put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Because no one ever asked me."
Young Faust nodded. "Well maybe one day. I want to make you proud of me first."
"I already am," said Faust.
Faust went back to looking at the paintings with his hands behind his back. Young Faust stood next to him, glanced up at Faust and put his hands behind his back too.
Young Faust found Tiger at one of the flowerbeds. She was busy removing the weeds and putting them into a wheelbarrow. A young boy sat next to Tiger and helped to pull the weeds.
"Hi Tiger," said Young Faust.
She looked up and smiled. "Hello Young Master. Have you met Mikey?"
The boy next to Tiger stood up and dusted his hands off on his pants. "I'm Mikey," he said, extending his hand.
Young Faust took it. "I'm Gelhardt von Faust the Eleventh," he said.
Mikey blinked. "That's a lot to remember."
Young Faust grinned. "Well, you call me Gelhardt."
Mikey nodded. "I'm helping Tiger plant flowers. Want to help?"
"Why don't you two run off and play for a bit?" said Tiger standing up.
They nodded and ran off toward the dilapidated gazebo. She sadly watched them chase each other. Faust joined her.
"What's wrong Tiger?" he asked.
She looked up at him. "I'm scared. Scared that I'm going to lose him the way I lost you Master."
Faust looked grim. "I took him from you."
Tiger raised the brim of her cap. "What do you mean?"
"I have the Ninth's memories along with all the others," said Faust angrily, "I carry the memory of the monster he forced the Tenth to become."
Tiger clasped her hands around his. "No Master! You carry the memories of the Ninth, but you are not the Ninth! You are the Tenth!"
"I will not let anything happen to the boy," said Faust, "I swear."
Tiger's eyes grew moist. "Oh Lord Faust."
He kissed her hands. "I am nothing without you."
Tiger felt someone tugging at her sleeve.
"Hey Tiger," said Young Faust, "Would you like to play with us?"
Tiger smiled down at him. "Sure."
Young Faust took her hand and led her towards the field. Faust stood and watched them, his hands in his jacket pockets.
Ruebens lay on the bed with his head across Koyuki's lap. His blond wig and Gartlant uniform was in a pile in the corner. His long black hair was exposed. He was dressed now in a simple gray tunic.
"I know you'll forgive me Koyuki," he said, "But I don't think I'll be able to forgive myself."
The door suddenly opened with a hiss. Two guards stood there.
"Herr Ruebens?" asked one.
"I'm just Soemon now," he said. "Ruebens is dead."
"Come with us whoever you are," said the other guard.
He stood up. "What about Koyuki?" he asked.
"Bring her too," said the first guard.
He led Koyuki down the corridor until they reached the main conference room. He paused.
"Have they decided when my execution is?" he asked.
"Just go in!" said the second guard.
He walked inside followed by Koyuki. He saw the Provisional Council, with two vacant seats: one was his, the other belonged to the late lamented Colonel Roland. Faust and the Saber Dolls stood on one side of Grandpa, Young Faust on the other.
"You might be curious about our decision regarding Faust the Eleventh," said Grandpa.
Soemon nodded.
"We have decided to make Gelhardt von Faust the Eleventh the next Fuhrer of Gartlant," said Grandpa.
Soemon smiled brightly. "Excellent choice."
"Provided," continued Grandpa, "That his position is mandated by the will of the people of Gartlant."
Soemon nodded. "Very wise."
"However, he is not of age, so we need someone to manage the day to day affairs until he is ready to ascend," said Grandpa, "We need a viceroy."
"I recommend Lord Faust," said Soemon stiffly.
"Impossible," said Grandpa, "Even if he wanted the job, he's too divisive."
"I want you to be my viceroy," said Young Faust.
"Me?" said Soemon, "Why?"
"You have shown constant loyalty to Lord Faust," said Grandpa, "And while your reasons were not always admirable, you brought the Eleventh into being."
"He can usher in a new golden age for Gartlant," said Faust.
"Plus the hero of Terra II vouches for your character," said Grandpa.
"Otaru Mamiya?" said Soemon, surprised, "I can't believe he would say that after what I did to him."
Grandpa chuckled. "Events have conspired in your favor Soemon. I suggest you go along."
Young Faust ran over to Luchs and took her hand. "Hey Luchs," he said.
"Yes my Fuhrer?" she asked.
"Aw, don't call me that Luchs," he said, "But you'll stay with me right?"
"As long as Master Faust wishes me to," she replied.
He looked at Faust. "You want to stay, right?"
Faust looked down at the boy. "As long as I'm useful."
"I'll give you any position you want!" said Young Faust.
Faust shook his head. "People like me should not have power. I want no office."
The boy held out his hand cautiously. "Will you be my father then?"
Faust looked down at the boy, the embodiments of so many of his lost dreams and hopes.
"Of course," he said.
He took the boy's hand.
Preview
Young Master is going to become the new Fuhrer of Gartlant and everyone's been invited. But Lord Faust may decide to leave. Should we stay with Lord Faust or the Young Master? What will Tiger and Luchs do? Argh, my head! Next time on Saber Dolls G: 'Ascension'. Lord Faust, I love you!
A Saber Marionette Fanfiction
By BG-57
Program 06: Eleventh
A young boy lay stretched out on an operating table. His blond hair was brushed back making the electrodes glued to his temples more noticeable. He was dressed in a simple white smock. A voice called out, faint and distant.
"Are you awake, Eleventh?"
The boy's eyes opened and regarded the florescent lighting in the ceiling blankly. He suddenly sat up.
"Where am I?" he asked.
"You're in the medical procedure room," said the voice.
The boy looked to his left and saw a tall man standing a few feet away with blond hair in a ponytail and a stern expression. He was dressed in a casual shirt and jeans with a leather jacket draped over the back of a chair nearby.
"I am Gelhardt von Faust the Tenth," said the man.
"Who am I?" asked the boy, rubbing his forehead.
"You're Gelhardt von Faust the Eleventh," said Faust quietly.
"I'm named after you?" asked the boy.
Faust nodded. "You can pick a different name if you want."
"Are you my father then?" asked the boy, looking confused.
Faust smiled faintly. "In a manner of speaking."
The boy turned so his legs were dangling over the side.
"Have we met before?" asked the boy, frowning, "You look familiar."
Faust rubbed his chin. "Do you remember me?"
The boy shook his head.
"It's not important then," said Faust, "All you need to know is that you may be chosen to rule Gartlant."
"Me?" asked the boy incredulously.
Faust nodded. "Let me introduce you to the Saber Dolls. They will make sure that you come to no harm."
The boy looked to his right and saw a trio of Marionettes standing at the foot of the table.
"I'm Luchs," said the one with long blue hair and violet eyes, "I'm pleased to meet you Lord Faust."
"Call me Tiger," said the one with short red hair under a black cap. She smiled kindly at the boy.
"Panther," said the one with blond hair and a red eyepatch, jerking a thumb towards her face, "Nice to meetcha."
Ruebens walked down a dark corridor escorted by a pair of guards dressed in gray tunics and black helmets. They stopped in front of one of the doors. He looked at the door mournfully.
"Wait," said Faust, coming from the other direction.
"My Lord," said Ruebens, "Why are you here?"
"You are sure the brainwashing was reversed on the Eleventh?" asked Faust.
"As sure as I am of anything," replied Ruebens.
"I will keep my promise then," he said.
Ruebens shook his head. "Forget about me. Just look after Koyuki."
"Your fate is not certain Ruebens," said Faust, "I'll leave her in your care for a while longer."
One of the guards opened the door to the cell by punching on a keypad. The door opened with a hiss, revealing a brown haired Marionette sitting on the bed dressed in a kimono.
"Koyuki!" said Ruebens, his eyes open wide.
"Get in there!" barked a guard.
"Thank you," said Ruebens to Faust as he walked in. He turned around and smiled at Faust, as the door slammed shut.
Faust walked down the corridor until he reached a side room. It was mostly empty except for some boxes. He went through another door onto a balcony that overlooked the valley around the Summer Residence. Odd, he thought, he hadn't appreciated how beautiful the valley looked in autumn, and how much this edifice his predecessor had built marred it. He could make out Young Faust and the Saber Dolls walking along a green lawn.
"How is the boy doing?" asked an old man standing next to him.
Faust glanced at the old man that Mikey called Grandpa. Although frail and stooped with a long white beard, he was one of the interim rulers of Gartlant.
"Too soon to tell," stated Faust, "But I appreciate you allowing the Saber Dolls to look after him,"
"It's clear they have reformed," said Grandpa, "What's less clear is you."
Faust closed his eyes. "There will always be a darkness in my soul. I can either succumb to it or fight it."
Grandpa stroked his beard. "You are an enigma Faust. Ever since you abdicated, no one can predict you anymore."
Faust regarded Grandpa grimly. "I didn't abdicate, I was exiled."
"But you do want the boy to rule in your place," said Grandpa cannily.
Faust looked thoughtful. "If he wants to. But whatever his fate, I will spare him the anguish of my memories."
"What is it like to remember 300 years of history?" he asked.
Faust started to walk off but half turned when he reached the door.
"Be glad you don't know," said Faust as he left.
Young Faust kicked a rock along the path in the garden. It had been formal and ornamental once, but it had been neglected for some time. Most of the flowerbeds were filled with weeds.
"You shouldn't do that Young Master," chided Luchs.
Panther grinned and kicked a rock down the path.
"Panther!" said Luchs testily.
"Now Luchs, he's just a boy," said Tiger cheerfully, "Let him be one."
Luchs sighed as Young Faust turned to look at them.
"I'm sorry to cause you so much trouble Luchs," he said.
She smiled and knelt next to him. "You're no trouble at all Young Master. I'm honored to look after you."
"We'd give our lives for you," said Panther, putting a fist to her heart.
"Why would you do that?" asked Young Faust, looking horrified.
"Because you are the most precious thing to Lord Faust," said Tiger serenely.
"Doesn't he like me?" he asked.
"Of course he does," said Luchs, "You will be like a son to him."
"Will be?" said the boy in a confused tone.
"Well, you two have to get to know each other better first, right?" said Luchs with a smile.
Young Faust returned the smile.
"We need to decide how to do this," said Tiger, "Luchs, I think you should teach him history and science. You're the smartest one."
Luchs nodded. "You should teach him about love and compassion Tiger."
"I'll train him to be physically fit," said Panther.
Luchs stood up. "We don't know how long we'll be together Young Master. But rest assured we will take care of you."
"Enough chitchat!" said Panther, "It's time to begin his training!"
"Training?" inquired Young Faust, "Training for what?"
"Come with me and I'll show you," said Panther taking his hand and leading him off.
Tiger looked at Luchs.
"Let's follow them," said Luchs.
A few minutes later Panther and Young Faust were standing in a junkyard on the western side of the Summer Residence. It was full of broken military trucks and tanks in enormous piles. Panther picked up the long barrel of a tank and shouldered it like a cane.
"Now Young Master," began Panther narrowing her eyes, "The first thing you must learn is strength. Strength through discipline!"
Young Faust gaped and pointed. "Isn't that heavy?"
Panther blinked and stared at the barrel. "Huh? Nah! Now you need to concentrate!"
"How much can you lift?" asked Young Faust.
Panther frowned. "I don't know! Don't distract me Young Master!"
Young Faust pointed to a rusting motor resting on cinderblocks. "Can you lift that?"
Panther sighed and ambled over and hefted the motor using her free hand.
"Piece of cake!" she said grinning.
"Wow!" said young Faust, "You're amazing!"
"That's nothing!" said Panther, "Watch this!"
The boy ran backwards as Panther flung the motor into the air. It arced overhead, glinting in the noonday sun and fell back down. As it neared the ground Panther swung with the barrel and sent the motor careening across the junkyard. It knocked over a car chassis and buried itself into the middle of a large junk pile with a tremendous metallic crash. Panther flinched as the pile started to collapse at first gradually, then getting louder and louder until they were sure that all of Gartlant could hear it. It sounded at the end like a mechanical explosion.
"What the hell was Panther thinking?" hissed Luchs to Tiger from their hiding place in a nearby junk pile.
"Panther doesn't think she just does," said Tiger wearily.
Panther shielded her eyes from the sun to inspect the damage. "Wow! I guess that was a bad idea!"
She began to laugh until she realized she couldn't see Young Faust anymore. She began digging through the rubble frantically.
"Young Master!" she called out.
She heard laughter behind her. She turned to see the boy hanging off the muzzle of the gun she was still carrying.
"Can we do that again?" he asked happily.
"Absolutely not!" said Panther angrily.
"Aw, c'mon Panther!" he said.
She pulled him off the cannon by the collar. "Don't scare me like that Young Master!" she admonished.
He smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. Do I weigh too much?"
She sighed and put him on her shoulder. "No more than a feather."
He giggled and they began to laugh together. She was startled when he touched her star shaped eyepatch.
"Did you lose an eye?" he asked.
"No, it's polarized to block the eyebeam," she said.
"Neat! Can I see it?" he asked.
She lifted the red glass exposing her yellow right eye, which contrasted sharply with her sky blue left eye.
He leaned in close and inspected it.
She blushed a bit. "Is something wrong Young Master?"
He shook his head. "No, I think you look prettier when I can see both your eyes."
She turned red and let the eyepatch drop back into place.
"Let's go back in," said Panther.
Later that night Panther was sitting on her bed in her room looking down at the eyepatch in her hand. Her room was Spartan to the extreme, devoid of any decoration except a framed painting of Faust on the wall with a slightly dented golden blade on a stand underneath. Next to it was a leather bound book of poetry. The rest of the room only had a chest of drawers and a desk; both made of blue metal that blended with the cold gray walls. The door at the foot of the bed opened and Luchs walked in.
"He's asleep now," she said.
"Good," said Panther absently.
"What's wrong?" asked Luchs.
Panther put the eyepatch on the desk. "Nothing. I'm going to crash. Night."
"Goodnight," said Luchs.
She left through the door out into the hallway. She stared at the door across the hall and then went through the door to the left of Panther's. Her room was similar except it had computer equipment on the desk. Instead of a formal portrait she had a framed photograph of Faust dressed casually and looking out a window, with a sad expression. She picked up the picture and hugged it.
"Goodnight Lord Faust," she said quietly.
She changed out of her uniform into a nightgown. She put her uniform jacket and skirt on a coat hanger and hung it on a hook mounted on the back of the door. She removed the purple ribbon from her hair and set it on the desk. She climbed into bed and pulled the covers over her. She looked over at the light on the desk and her eyes glowed softly violet. The night snapped off and the room was plunged into darkness. She closed her eyes.
There was a knock on the door.
She sat up and sighed. "Who is it?" she asked.
"Luchs, I had a scary dream!" said Young Faust.
She got up and opened the door. The boy embraced her, in tears.
"It was horrible!" he sobbed.
She picked him up. "There, there Young Master. It wasn't real."
"Someone tied me on a table and put something into my head!" he cried, "And there was a big metal dragon!"
She held him close. "Don't worry, I won't let anything hurt you."
He stopped sniffling. "Can I sleep with you tonight?" he asked.
She looked surprised. "What? I mean are you sure Young Master?"
He nodded and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "Yes."
She nodded and set him down. He climbed into bed. She climbed onto the other side. She put a hand on his shoulder.
"You're still shivering," she said.
"I'm sorry I'm so frightened," he said.
"Don't be," she said embracing him from behind.
He sighed and relaxed. Eventually her turned to look back at her.
"I can see your eyes now," he said smiling weakly.
Luchs blinked. "Huh?"
"You're just like Panther," said Young Faust, "You hide your eyes."
She thought it over. "I suppose you're right. I don't like people knowing what I'm thinking."
"Well I trust you whatever you're thinking," he said sleepily.
She lay in the bed holding him close and she felt warmth spreading through her. She could tell that her maiden circuit was activating in some new way. She couldn't quite grasp what it was though. As she puzzled it out she gradually drifted to sleep.
Tiger woke with a start to the sound of pounding on her door.
"What is it?" she asked getting up and going to the door.
Panther burst in. "Young Master's gone!"
Tiger blanched. "What? Where could he have gone?"
"He isn't in his room!" said Panther.
They went out into the corridor.
"Let's try Luchs' room," suggested Tiger.
Panther pounded on the door. After a few minutes Young Faust opened the door.
"Good morning Panther, Tiger," he said sleepily.
Panther's jaw dropped. Tiger stifled a giggle.
"I had a scary dream, so I stayed with Luchs," said the boy cheerfully.
"So I see," said Tiger.
"Thanks Luchs!" he called back into the room then ran off between Tiger and Panther.
Luchs reached the door. "Be careful running Young Master!" she called after him.
Tiger and Panther stared at her and she blushed red.
"What?" she asked, "Young Master was scared."
"I'm so happy for you!" said Tiger, taking Luchs' hand.
"Why?" asked Luchs looking up.
"Your maiden circuit is 'motherhood'," said Tiger, "You've never had the chance to use it before."
"You should have been the one with this maiden circuit," said Luchs, "You're the one who raised Lord Faust."
Tiger's expression became sad. "I cannot raise the Young Master. He reminds me too much of Lord Faust as a boy."
"But you originally served Lord Faust the Ninth," said Panther, "How could you serve two Masters?"
Tiger sighed. "I couldn't. Every day I was torn in two. How can you obey one Master without betraying the other?"
"I see," said Panther in a subdued tone.
Lord Faust appeared, walking down the corridor. He stopped when he saw them.
"How is the boy doing?" he asked.
"Just fine, Lord Faust," said Tiger.
"Leave him to us," said Panther.
"We'll take care of him," said Luchs.
"Thank you," said Faust, "I am indebted to the three of you."
"Not at all," said Tiger.
"Has the Provisional Council decided what to do with him?" asked Luchs fearfully.
Faust shook his head. "They are supposed to give their decision later today."
The Saber Dolls exchanged apprehensive glances.
"Don't worry," he reassured them, "I have faith now in the people of Gartlant and Terra II."
He walked down the hallway until he reached a staircase. He stopped and stared at a half open doorway. It swung open and Young Faust stepped into the corridor. He looked up at Faust fearfully.
"Come with me Eleventh," said Faust.
Faust unlocked a set of double doors and led Young Faust into a large ornate room with chandeliers and golden candelabras on the walls. The walls had five enormous paintings each on the two longest walls, with busts in front of each. There was also a scale model of an intricate spaceship. A painting of a lovely woman with long orange-brown hair hung on the far wall. Young Faust gaped.
"What is this?" he asked.
"A monument to myself," said Faust.
The boy stared at one of the pictures labeled simply 'VII'. "Hey this one looks like you!" he said.
He ran over to next one labeled 'VIII'. "So does this one!" he said.
"They all do," said Faust, "We both are clones of them."
Young Faust's eyes grew wide. "We are?"
"Well, of him," said Faust pointing to a picture of the one marked 'I'. The man had shorter hair and was dressed in a white pressure suit.
"That was Gelhardt von Faust the First," said Faust, "A brilliant scientist from Terra I."
"Terra I?" asked Young Faust.
Faust nodded and indicated the ship model and the picture above it. "He was aboard the colony ship Mesopotamia when the computer went amok. Only six men made it to the surface of Terra II. The First was one of them. One woman was still trapped on the ship; that was Lorelei. She was held prisoner for 300 years by the computer."
The boy tried to take it all in. "Then what?"
"The six men created clones of themselves in order to survive. But they couldn't clone women, so they created Marionettes to replace them."
"Like Luchs, Tiger, and Panther right?" asked Young Faust.
Faust nodded. "Yes, but they're different from most Marionettes. They have maiden circuits that give them feelings and emotions like any human. Only seven Marionettes have these circuits: the Saber Dolls, three in Japoness, and one in New Texas. They were created to rescue Lorelei."
Young Faust grinned. "So the Saber Dolls rescued Lorelei?"
Faust looked thoughtful. "Well Luchs helped the Japoness Marionettes. Tiger was damaged at the time and I was injured so Panther stayed with me."
The boy beamed. "They're all so cool!"
Faust smiled. "Yes they are."
Young Faust examined the picture marked 'X'. "Is this you?" he asked.
"Yes," said Faust quietly.
"Is there one of me?" asked Young Faust eagerly.
"That depends," replied Faust, "On your wishes."
The boy looked confused. "My wishes?"
"Yes," said Faust, "My rule of Gartlant brought nothing but misery to my people. Knowing what a burden it will be, would you still want to rule Gartlant?"
Young Faust looked thoughtful. "Are you going to give it to me?"
Faust shook his head. "It is not within my power to give you."
"Then why are you asking me?" asked the Young Faust.
Faust put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Because no one ever asked me."
Young Faust nodded. "Well maybe one day. I want to make you proud of me first."
"I already am," said Faust.
Faust went back to looking at the paintings with his hands behind his back. Young Faust stood next to him, glanced up at Faust and put his hands behind his back too.
Young Faust found Tiger at one of the flowerbeds. She was busy removing the weeds and putting them into a wheelbarrow. A young boy sat next to Tiger and helped to pull the weeds.
"Hi Tiger," said Young Faust.
She looked up and smiled. "Hello Young Master. Have you met Mikey?"
The boy next to Tiger stood up and dusted his hands off on his pants. "I'm Mikey," he said, extending his hand.
Young Faust took it. "I'm Gelhardt von Faust the Eleventh," he said.
Mikey blinked. "That's a lot to remember."
Young Faust grinned. "Well, you call me Gelhardt."
Mikey nodded. "I'm helping Tiger plant flowers. Want to help?"
"Why don't you two run off and play for a bit?" said Tiger standing up.
They nodded and ran off toward the dilapidated gazebo. She sadly watched them chase each other. Faust joined her.
"What's wrong Tiger?" he asked.
She looked up at him. "I'm scared. Scared that I'm going to lose him the way I lost you Master."
Faust looked grim. "I took him from you."
Tiger raised the brim of her cap. "What do you mean?"
"I have the Ninth's memories along with all the others," said Faust angrily, "I carry the memory of the monster he forced the Tenth to become."
Tiger clasped her hands around his. "No Master! You carry the memories of the Ninth, but you are not the Ninth! You are the Tenth!"
"I will not let anything happen to the boy," said Faust, "I swear."
Tiger's eyes grew moist. "Oh Lord Faust."
He kissed her hands. "I am nothing without you."
Tiger felt someone tugging at her sleeve.
"Hey Tiger," said Young Faust, "Would you like to play with us?"
Tiger smiled down at him. "Sure."
Young Faust took her hand and led her towards the field. Faust stood and watched them, his hands in his jacket pockets.
Ruebens lay on the bed with his head across Koyuki's lap. His blond wig and Gartlant uniform was in a pile in the corner. His long black hair was exposed. He was dressed now in a simple gray tunic.
"I know you'll forgive me Koyuki," he said, "But I don't think I'll be able to forgive myself."
The door suddenly opened with a hiss. Two guards stood there.
"Herr Ruebens?" asked one.
"I'm just Soemon now," he said. "Ruebens is dead."
"Come with us whoever you are," said the other guard.
He stood up. "What about Koyuki?" he asked.
"Bring her too," said the first guard.
He led Koyuki down the corridor until they reached the main conference room. He paused.
"Have they decided when my execution is?" he asked.
"Just go in!" said the second guard.
He walked inside followed by Koyuki. He saw the Provisional Council, with two vacant seats: one was his, the other belonged to the late lamented Colonel Roland. Faust and the Saber Dolls stood on one side of Grandpa, Young Faust on the other.
"You might be curious about our decision regarding Faust the Eleventh," said Grandpa.
Soemon nodded.
"We have decided to make Gelhardt von Faust the Eleventh the next Fuhrer of Gartlant," said Grandpa.
Soemon smiled brightly. "Excellent choice."
"Provided," continued Grandpa, "That his position is mandated by the will of the people of Gartlant."
Soemon nodded. "Very wise."
"However, he is not of age, so we need someone to manage the day to day affairs until he is ready to ascend," said Grandpa, "We need a viceroy."
"I recommend Lord Faust," said Soemon stiffly.
"Impossible," said Grandpa, "Even if he wanted the job, he's too divisive."
"I want you to be my viceroy," said Young Faust.
"Me?" said Soemon, "Why?"
"You have shown constant loyalty to Lord Faust," said Grandpa, "And while your reasons were not always admirable, you brought the Eleventh into being."
"He can usher in a new golden age for Gartlant," said Faust.
"Plus the hero of Terra II vouches for your character," said Grandpa.
"Otaru Mamiya?" said Soemon, surprised, "I can't believe he would say that after what I did to him."
Grandpa chuckled. "Events have conspired in your favor Soemon. I suggest you go along."
Young Faust ran over to Luchs and took her hand. "Hey Luchs," he said.
"Yes my Fuhrer?" she asked.
"Aw, don't call me that Luchs," he said, "But you'll stay with me right?"
"As long as Master Faust wishes me to," she replied.
He looked at Faust. "You want to stay, right?"
Faust looked down at the boy. "As long as I'm useful."
"I'll give you any position you want!" said Young Faust.
Faust shook his head. "People like me should not have power. I want no office."
The boy held out his hand cautiously. "Will you be my father then?"
Faust looked down at the boy, the embodiments of so many of his lost dreams and hopes.
"Of course," he said.
He took the boy's hand.
Preview
Young Master is going to become the new Fuhrer of Gartlant and everyone's been invited. But Lord Faust may decide to leave. Should we stay with Lord Faust or the Young Master? What will Tiger and Luchs do? Argh, my head! Next time on Saber Dolls G: 'Ascension'. Lord Faust, I love you!
