Galerians: Ash - Alternate Destiny

**DISCLAIMER: This is a short story based on one of my favorite Playstation 2 games, "Galerians: Ash." The characters and original storyline are not mine, except the character later known as Gia (pronounced Guy a.)**

File 16647: Dorothy's Weakness & Gia's Powers

"Your ... Dorothy's weaknesses?" Rion repeated out loud, mostly for himself.

Gia backed away again, as if fearful of something. "I ... I ran away. He's coming after me. He's coming to get me for mother ... make him go ... PLEASE, MAKE HIM GO AWAY!" Gia screamed. Gia screamed so loudly, that it effected the world around her. Rion covered his ears as Gia's overwhelming scream sent out waves of high pitched psychic energy. It stretched out far, making buildings of Michelangelo City crumble at her sound. Gia then stopped and fell to her knees, as she started crying again. Rion looked towards her, taking his hands away from his ears. "G- Gia?" he replied. "Who's after you?" Rion asked. Gia took her hands away and looked at Rion. "The last Galerian ... the most powerful ... Ash."

Rion's eyes became wide at the sound of Ash's name. Suddenly, Rion heard static from his communicator that Lilia had given him. He took it out of his pocket, and pressed the large red button. "Rion? Rion, are you there?" Lilia replied over the staticing communicator. "Yes Lilia ... I'm here." Rion called out. "Have you found the Galerian?" Lilia asked. Rion looked over at Gia again, as all of a sudden Gia took his hand in hers and brought it to her heart. "I'm still human ... I don't ... I don't want to hurt anyone." she replied. Rion looked deeply into Gia's eyes, as if searching for the truth. Rion could sense something different about Gia. He sensed that she was no threat to anyone, but herself. He couldn't leave her out there alone. Not for Ash to find ... and not so close to the base.

"Rion? Rion!"

"I'm still here, Lilia. I've found the Galerian ... I'm bringing her in."

"What? Rion, do you have any idea what you are saying? She's a Galerian!"

"You don't understand Lilia ... she's not a threat to us. She said she's a Galerian made from Dorothy's weaknesses ... Ash is after her. If that is the case, Dorothy must see her own creation as another threat to destroy her. We have to bring her in."

"Rion, I don't know -"

"Trust me, Lilia ... if she wanted to kill me, she would've tried already."

"Alright then ... I'll open the hatch for you. I'll meet you directly inside." Beep.

Rion placed his communicator back in his pocket and stared back at Gia, who still held his hand with hers upon her heart. Rion pulled his hand away and grabbed Gia's chin, lifting her head so he could see her. "Gia ... you need to come with me. I'll protect you from Ash." he replied. Gia's eyes wavered, but it had seemed she had excepted Rion's help, as she laid her head on Rion's shoulder. Rion placed his arm around her and lead her to the open hatch of the base.

Lilia stood before the hatch, as her face turned to shock at the site of this girl. She was the same age as Rion and herself, yet she seemed distraught and scared. "Is this her?" Lilia asked. Rion nodded, still keeping his eyes on Gia. Opening her eyes, Gia looked at Lilia, who smiled and reached out towards her. "Hello." she replied. Gia merely lurched back and grabbed onto Rion tighter out of fear. "Oh, don't be frightened, I won't hurt you." Lilia assured. Still, Gia clung to Rion as a puppy to its master. "She's scared... we should get her to your lab." Rion exclaimed. "Right ... I hope we can pass her by Commander Romero." Lilia replied, as she started leading the way back upstairs. Yet before they could get there, Commander Romero, Cas and a few of their soilders stood before Rion, Lilia and Gia.

"I believe you have some explaining to do, Professor Pascalle. You as well ... Galerian." Romero angrily stated.

Rion stared angrily at Romero, holding Gia tighter towards him. Lilia sighed, knowing she and Rion would have to explain why Gia was in their secret base.

***

Back in Lilia's lab, Romero, Cas, Rion, Gia, Lilia and a few soilders has gathered for what appeared to be a long explanation. "Care to explain why the hell we have a Galerian in our secret base? Do you have any idea the danger you have put us all in?" Romero demanded, walking back and forth around the lab. Gia stood near Rion, her arms tight around Rion's arm. "Believe me ... she may be a Galerian, but she's different. She won't hurt us!" Rion yelled out. Romero turned on his heel and stared dead on with Rion. He walked up to him, nearly a feet away from his face. "Any Galerian is a threat to our survival ... especially you!" he reprimanded, as Rion tried holding back his anger. Cas walked up and placed her hand on Romero's shoulder, calming him down.

"Commander Romero ... please ... let's just hear things out." Cas reasoned out.

Lilia was working on the keyboard for the main computer Elaine. She started opening a data file with Gia's name on it. "Listen to me. She told me that she was made through Dorothy's feelings and emotions ... her weaknesess. She is no danger to us ... just look at how she clings to me out of fear. If anything, I believe she can help us." Rion explained. Cas walked over to Gia, as Gia kept moving back, keeping her grip on Rion. "Well, she seems harmless. Also looks like its only you she'll let come near her or touch her." Cas replied, noticing Gia's actions.
"It's because I approached her without fear ... I didn't approach her with hostility. I also told her I'd protect her from Ash, who's looking for her." said Rion. "Ash?" Cas repeated. "If that bastard wants her, then we're a sitting target with her here." Romero replied, getting angrier by the second. "No ... she's fine as long as she doesn't use her powers. Galerians can feel they're own through the use of her psychic abilities. She used it once, but not long enough for detection. I wanted to bring her here to analyze her, she exactly what she has." Rion explained. Cas sighed and looked towards the Commander. Romero sighed and shook his head. "If she proves to be lying ..."

"Then I will deal with the consequences." Rion answered.

With that said, Rion looked towards Lilia, who nodded her head and pressed a button, which released a operating table for Gia. "I need Gia to lay here ... I'll place these hacking wires to her temples, it will allow us to see what's inside her head. Any memories, images, symbols or information that could explain her to us. Or maybe even any information on Dorothy." Lilia explained. "Gia ..." she replied.

Gia looked up towards Lilia, still seeming scared. "I need you to lay here, please." she asked. Gia back away again, still fearful of everyone. Except Rion. Slowly, Rion took Gia's hand in his. Surprised, Gia looked up at Rion, as for once in a long time, he smiled. "Its ok, Gia. Trust me ... these people are here to help and protect you as I am. We need to know what's been done to you ... everything you know or remember. Alright?" Rion replied sweetly. Gia casted her eyes down a moment, and nodded in understandment. Rion lead her up the stairs and let her lay on the table. Lilia carefully placed the hacking wires to Gia's temples, yet Rion kept his hold on Gia's hand to keep her calm. Lilia returned to the console, typing consectively. Gia suddenly went into a trance, as numbers seemed to scan through her eyes, like on a computer screen.

"Opening Files now ..." Lila replied.

Lilia opened a large computer monitor for everyone to see what was inside Gia's head. Rion looked over, as they all stood in shock to what they saw.

Gia was five and playing in the water of a beach. Gia was at her parents grave. Gia was celebrating her eight birthday with her grandparents. Gia was dancing in her school play. Gia is singing for a national tournament. Gia wins. Gia is hospitalized for a heart transplant. Gia recovers. Screen goes blank. A ruined Michelangelo City is shown. Ash is seen, destroying humans left and right. Gia is seen with Dorothy, being manipulated like all the other Galerians. Gia is overtaken by so much emotion, pain and fear that once belonged to Dorothy along with her own. Gia attempts to run away. Ash stops her, takes her by her throat and says he'll kill her should she try to escape. Gia finally runs away ... and Rion appears. Rion takes Gia into the base .... Blank screen.

Lilia looks over to Gia, who suddenly knocks out of her trance. Gia is breathing heavily, and starts to cry, remembering all that has happened through her memories. Rion takes the wires off of Gia, as Gia clasped Rion's hand tighter. "I ... I can't go back. She'll win if I go back. Please ... Rion ... don't let me go bakc there." Gia pleaded. "So ... she does talk." Cas replied. Lilia printed out the information they recieved fro Gia's memory and read it out loud.

"It seems Gia is what she says, a Galerian with manipulated human genes, yet she has been donwloaded with Dorothy's fears and emotions ... everything human abotu Dorothy is in Gia now, giving her psychic abilities, far beyond comprehension. Yet ... she has no control over handling her overload of emotions."

"So, wait ... what does that mean exactly?" Cas questioned, trying to follow Lilia.

"It means Gia is dealing with too much emotion. She was human once, so besides her own emotions, she must deal with Dorothy's as well. So she can't control when she cries, screams out or is afraid. Whcih makes her powers uncontrollable for her ..." Rion explained, helping Gia from the table. Romero sighed. "So ... we should destroy her." he suggested. "NO!" Rion yelled out, making the whole room silent. Lilia then steped in. "Commander Romero ... destroying her would do nothing. That's just what Dorothy and Ash want. For her to be destroyed. She carries Dorothy's weaknesses. Dorothy created her as a Galerian, hoping she would be able to fight on her side, but it seems due to her state, Gia proves to be a threat to Dorothy just as Rion is. If anything ... its best she's on our side." Lilia explained.
Romero sighed and closed his eyes. "Very well. I understand, Professor Pascalle. I will permit Gia to stay, but we must to something in order for her to harbor her powers, and if anything, use them against the opposing last Galerians." he announced. "Rion and I will take care of it, Commander Romero." Lilia replied. "Very well." Romero stated, leaving the lab, followed by Cas and the other soilders.

Rion looked at Gia who started crying again, and picked up her head for her to look at him. "Gia ... we're going to help you. But we need your help as well. Will you help us ... Gia?" Rion asked. Gia sighed and rested her golden eyes on Rion.

"For you, Rion ... I will do anything. Whatever it takes."

****** END OF FILE 16647