Okay! Once again we both have sniffed too much lemonade powder and we've been happily screaming "KOS-MOS" Shion style for the past few days and now are proud to bring you chapter 2 of the Kukai Director! Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far, we hope it continues to scare/please/not please/whatever.

--Eliza and Ally

            Standing out in the clean recycled air, Jr.'s smile grew even wider as he ran back into the cavern on top of Kukai Rock.  "Gaignun?"  Jr. called out as he made his way through all the 100-series Realians to reach Gaignun, who was sleeping amongst his hos.  "Gaignun!  Get up, dammit!"

            Jr. was getting ready to kick Gaignun when Shelley spoke. "Little Master is awake..." 

            Gaignun rolled over from his current position, trying to ignore the various, "Gaignuns" that were being shouted at him. Still half asleep, he replied, "He's your Little Master this morning..."

            Jr. proceeded to kick him in the knee. "Get your lazy ass up!  You promised me you would!" 

            Yawning, Gaignun got up followed by Mary and Shelley awakening, and said, "Okay, okay.  Act your age would you?" 

            The happy family made their way outside the cavern, where only Gaignun continued to walk on.  Jr. turned around to acknowledge his mothers, and received a smack in the butt from a giggling Mary. Shooting a glare at Mary behind him, Jr. jogged up Kukai Rock to catch up with his 'father', Gaignun.

            Gaignun was surveying the vast lands that lay before them. "Look there, Jr. All the land that the environmental bugs fly over is our foundation, the Kukai Lands," he stated wisely.

Jr. rolled his eyes and replied with sarcasm. "Wow, really?"  

            Gaignun glowered at him, but continued. "The rule of a Director falls and rises with those bugs.  Someday, when those bugs fall, I will fall as well, and they will raise again when you become the new Director." 

Jr grinned and said, "Cool. So I get all this?"

            "Yes. You get everything..." Gaignun said, but Jr. interrupted with another question.

"What about that shadowy place?"

            Gaignun quickly replied, "That is the Song of Nephilim.  Stay the fuck away from there."

            Jr. stared then shrugged, and stated, "I thought you said I would own everything!" 

Gaignun simply chuckled and shook his head. "Being a Director doesn't mean you can pimp around as you please. There is a lot more to it than that."

            Ignoring the fact that Gaignun pimped around twice as much as anyone else in the foundation, Jr.'s eyes grew wide with interest. "There's more, huh?"

Gaignun laughed again, "Jr..."

            The two then climbed down from their spot on Kukai Rock, and walked together through the Durandal Plains.  Gaignun then spoke softly, "Everything here forms one delicate circle...  We must all live in harmony together--from the Realians, to the A.G.W.S. Units, to the wild KOS-MOS..." He paused to only continue a moment later, "Jr., you must respect them all."

            "Uh, Gaignun," Jr. began, confused, "Don't we blow up the A.G.W.S. Units sometimes?"

Gaignun shrugged and said, "Yes, but the A.G.W.S. Units... well, they sometimes accidently step on the artificial birds.  The birds can then be re-created by humans, who we employ. Then our employees--as well as us--sometimes get shot by the wild KOS-MOS.  Therefore, we are all connected in the great Circle of Life Recycling."

            "Well put, Gaignun."  Jr. said. Just then Nephilim appeared once again, out of nowhere, as was her usual fashion.

            "Good morning Master Gaignun," she said with a small smile. 

            Gaignun turned around and said, "What are the reports for today?"

            "Well, the wild KOS-MOS have been shooting at the Realians again.  It appears that the Realians are trying to eat them, but as you know..."  Nephilim began.

Jr. wasn't very interested to hear the boring reports. Instead he began shooting at the various environmental bugs that flew through the air.  One of his bullets went astray, and Jr. ending up shooting a bird.

            "Whoops..."  Jr. mumbled as Gaignun turned his attention to his 'son'.  He calmly asked, "Jr., what are you doing?"

            Jr. simply shrugged and grinned. "I'm practicing my shooting skills. What else would I be doing?"

            Gaignun smirked and held his hand out, motioning for Jr. to hand over one of his guns. "Let a pro show you how it's done." 

Jr. give him a quizzical look. "Whatever." He tossed one of his Makarovs over to Gaignun.

            "Will you please turn around, Nephilim?"  Gaignun asked.

            Nephilim, always obedient, did so. She was oblivious to the scheming that was going on, and continued giving her report in a dull voice. As the 'father' and 'son' huddled together and discussed their scheme, Nephilim finally took notice of what was going on. 

            "Master Gaignun, what are you and Little Master doing?"  Nephilim , her voice slightly worried.

            "Mm, nothing," Gaignun replied as Nephilim sighed. Gaignun then continued, "Just a shooting lesson, that's all."

            "Oh, please no Master Gaignun!  This is too humiliating for me!"  Nephilim said, frowning. Her lower lip was beginning to pout.

            Gaignun just motioned for her to be quiet and to turn around again. Nephilim peeked back over her shoulder to find that Gaignun and Jr. were nowhere in sight.  Nervously she called out, "Little Master?  Master Gaginun?"

            Just then, a bullet whizzed by her head, and she fell off the rock in shock.  Gaignun  cheered as Jr. grinned with happiness. Nephilim's look of displeasure was a great contrast from the success on the faces of both URTVs.

            Suddenly, a small 100-series Realian approached Nephilim, weaving her way through the grass. "Nephilim, there's bad news!"

            Gaignun was reloading his Makarov, and about to teach Jr. another way of shooting, when Nephilim interrupted him. "Master Gaignun!" she cried. "There are Gnosis coming onto the Eastern Dock Plain!"

            Gaignun's face grew serious. He handed back Jr.'s gun, and he immediately started off towards the plain. "Jr., I must go. You stay here."

            Jr. frowned. "Why can't I go? There are plenty of things in this world scarier than the Gnosis." 

            Gaignun merely shook his head. "Just stay here, will you?"

            As Gaignun left, little Nephilim began to walk with Jr. back to Kukai Rock, doing her best to show the Little Master some sympathy. "Don't worry, someday you'll be able to chase away those annoying, foolish, fatheaded, pesky, ugly, horrible, stupid--"

            Jr. held up his hand and said, "Okay... I get the point, already!"

            Nephilim smiled innocently and continued. "Well, one day you'll be able to chase them around as much as you like."

            "Hey, Uncle Albedo! Guess what!"

            Albedo, toying with the snapped-off arm of some unlucky Realian, didn't turn around. "You shot another bird." Albedo didn't understand the boy's interesting in shooting airborne objects. Dismembering Realians was far more entertaining.

            "No, stupid," Jr. said. "I'm gonna be the next Director of the Kukai Foundation!"

            Albedo giggled. "Yeah right," he said, tossing the arm over the cliff behind him. "You gutless bastard." He moved his eyes to look over at his 'nephew,' who seemed confused.

            "You're so weird," Jr. said, an edge of scorn in his voice.

            Albedo produced a knife, covered in dried blood, and idly ran the edge along the crook of his elbow. "You have no idea. Did Gaignun show you the entire Foundation?"

            Jr. smirked. "Everything," he said. His voice was laced with confidence, and Albedo immediately knew that things were about to get much more fun.

            "He didn't show you that area of dead space to the north?"

            Jr.'s face fell, and he kicked at the dirt on the ground. "Nah," he admitted. "Gaignun said I'm not allowed to go there."

            "Well, he's absolutely right," Albedo snickered. "Not many are confident enough to go there, what with the song and all."

            "I'm confident," Jr. said. "What's out there? Does it have anything to do with our Nephilim?"

            "I've never asked," Albedo said, delicately. "But a secret laboratory is no place for a—"

            "Wow!" Jr. said, excited all of a sudden. Laboratories were so much fun! He'd been born in one, of course, but a secret laboratory was bound to be much more fun.

            "Oh, dear," Albedo said, his voice shaking with laughter. "I've said too much, haven't I? Do me a favor, and never go there. We wouldn't want you to hear the Song, now would we? That beautiful song… that maddening, delightful song…" At this point Albedo broke out into a full cackle.

            Jr.'s face plainly said that he planned to go visit this place as soon as he could. "Sure, Uncle Albedo," he said. "Whatever you say!"

            "Run along, now," Albedo said, satisfied with his tricks. "Your mothers are probably looking for you."

            His eyes full of a scheme, Jr. turned and ran back towards the front of Kukai Rock.

            A waterfall ran down one side of Kukai Rock, and it was there the citizens took it upon themselves to bathe. At the moment, a little 100-Series was standing under a stream of water, clad in a swimsuit, scrubbing her hair with the aid of her adopted mother.

            All the peace and silence of the waterfall was broken when the Little Master, Jr., came running in, looking for his friend.

            "MOMO!" he called, spotting her. "Hey, MOMO!"

            The 100-Series, a little embarrassed that he would come looking for her here, tried to keep her composure. "Hi, Jr.!"

            "Come on, MOMO," Jr. said. "I just heard about this great place, I think you'd love it!"

            MOMO glanced up at her head, which was covered in suds. "Jr.," she whispered. "I'm taking a shower!"

            "And it's time for yours."

            Before Jr. could protest, Shelley grabbed him from behind. Stripping him of his trenchcoat, she shoved him under the waterfall, poured shampoo in his hair, and began to work it vigorously with her fingertips.

            "Gah!" Jr. spluttered, running out from under the water. "Shelley, you're messin' up my hair, dammit!" He stuck his head back under the waterfall, washed the soap out, then smoothed down his hair. He drew himself up with as much attitude as he could (though his clothes were dripping wet.). "I'm clean, already. Can MOMO and I go now?"

            "I don't know, Little Master," Shelley said. "Gaignun told you to stay out of trouble. Where is it you're taking her?"

            "Uh…" Jr. said, thinking fast. "Somewhere in Sector 26."

            "But Jr.," MOMO said, "I've been there lots of times! What's so special—"

            Jr. leaned in towards her face. "It's something new," he said. "Real special—a surprise!"

            MOMO's face lit up. She loved surprises.

            "So, can we go?" Jr. asked, turning back towards Shelley.

            "Well…" Shelley said. "What do you think, Juli?"

            MOMO's mother looked more than happy to let her go. "Go," she said, in a flat voice. "Take the girl out of my sight. I don't want to see her."

            Why doesn't Mommy love me? Thought MOMO.

            "Then, it's all right with me…" Shelley began.

            "Sweet!" Jr. cried.

            Shelley, however, was not finished. "…as long as Nephilim goes with you."

            The smiles dropped immediately from Jr. and MOMO's faces. "Aw, dammit," Jr. muttered.

            "Please hurry," Nephilim murmured. "I can't remain in this world for too long. The sooner we reach Sector 26, the sooner we can return."

            MOMO giggled, and turned to whisper to Jr. "So where are we really going?" she asked.

            "The Song of Nephilim!" Jr. said.

            MOMO's eyes lit up. "Wow! Does that have anything to do with her?"

            Jr. shrugged.

            MOMO continued to speak, getting more excited. "Will I be able to see Daddy there?"

            "Uh… maybe," Jr. lied.

            "How are we going to stop her from coming with us?" MOMO's large golden eyes turned towards Nephilim, whose orange hair was waving in the breeze.

            Before Jr. could reply, Nephilim turned around and smiled a wan smile at the two whisperers.

            "You two are so cute," she said. "If… you could only face your pasts, I'm sure you two could get married."

            Jr. raised one eyebrow. "Me? Marry MOMO? But she's a Realian!"

            MOMO looked a little hurt.

            "No offense," Jr. added quickly.

            "No, it would be a little weird, wouldn't it?" MOMO giggled, agreeing.

            "Well, I doubt you'll have a choice," Nephilim said. "Though sometimes a tiny wave can spread throughout the whole, I'm afraid the power of a 'parent's' decision is stronger even than the most hopeful wave."

            Jr. mouthed her last few words with a sarcastic expression on his face. "When I'm director, 'parental' decisions will be the first thing to go."

            "Not so long as I'm around," Nephilim said, annoyed.

            "Yeah, you won't be around forever," Jr. said. "Go fade back into your world of consciousness."

            "Nice try," Nephilim said, "but only the director can tell me where to go."

            "But Jr.'s the future director," MOMO pointed out.

            "Yeah," Jr. said, thumping his chest. "So go back to your little world and play with Feb."

            Nephilim scowled. "Not yet I won't! With an attitude like that you'll never be able to face your past and take your place in the Circle of Life Recycling."

            Jr. smiled, listening to the mysterious background music, and prepared to burst into song. "That's not the way I see it," he said.

I'm gonna be a mighty director So U-TIC beware!

            Nephilim was growing more annoyed by the second.

Well, I've never seen a director of people With quite a little—

            Jr. cracked Nephilim over the head, mortified, and continued his song.

Hey!  I'm gonna be the main event

like no director was before

I'm workin' on finishing up

the new casino, hardcore

            "Thus far, a rather…" Nephilim paused to search for the right word. "stupid thing…"

            Jr. ignored her.

Oh, I  just can't wait to be director!

            "You've a rather long way to go, Little Master, if you think—"

No one sayin' do this

            "Please accept your memories," Nephilim begged.

            MOMO decided to jump into the song, as well.

No one sayin' be there

            Oh, not MOMO too, Nephilim thought. "Whoops, what I meant was…"

No one sayin' stop that

            Jr. was smirking.

            "Look, Little Master—" Nephilim began.

No one sayin' see here!

            "Now see here!" Nephilim cried, as Jr. and MOMO ran away, the latter in giggles.

Free to pimp around all day!

            "Well, I guess that's kind of true," Nephilim admitted, thinking grudgingly of Gaignun's favorite hobby.

            Jr. grinned triumphantly.

Free to do it all my way!

            "I think it's time that you and I arranged a heart to heart," Nephilim told him.

Directors don't need advice From creepy little girls for a start

            "If this is where the Foundation is headed, count me the hell out!" Nephilim declared. "Out of service, out of Kukai, I wouldn't hang about." Suddenly snapping, she joined in the song.

Perhaps I'll take a job with Vector—

            Jr. interrupted her.

Oh, I just can't wait to be director!

            Jr. and MOMO ran off, leading Nephilim on yet another wild goose chase through the plains.

Everybody look left!

            Jr. fired his gun to the left, and Nephilim jumped out of the way just in time.

Everybody look right!

            Just as Nephilim had moved to Jr.'s right, afraid of another shot, another bullet flew past her ear.

Everywhere you look I'm Standing in the spotlight!

            He posed triumphantly. "Not yet!" Nephilim scowled.

            A gaggle of 100-Series Realians and A.G.W.S. units emerged from the grass. They joined the chorus.

Let every creation go for broke and sing Let's hear it on the bridge and on the wings It's gonna be Little Master's finest fling!

            "Whoa," Jr. said, punctuating the song.

Oh, I just can't wait to be director! Oh, I just can't wait to be director! Oh, I just can't waaaaaaaait… to be director!

            The swarm of Realians, A.G.W.S., and the single URTV in the midst of it all was too much for Nephilim. She found her vision fading, and when it cleared, she was standing before a swingset. "Oh, no," she said, looking around. "Jr.? MOMO?"