Disclaimer: I don't own Metropolis.
I think this is it. I'm sorry it took so long to write, and the story is still a little flat for
most of the chapter, but at the end it really felt like something was starting.
My thanks to:
rockofmarduk: This ark's first reviewer.
TiraGiallo: Thank you. I can't put my finger on it either, but yes you're right, there
is something wrong with Shinsaku's character. Maybe I'll it'll eventually fade away
as I write.
Xalan: As ever my deepest thanks to you.
Moro Stagsleap: Thanks. I'm glad you're still there. I promise I'll try and go a little
lighter on the computer lingo this time. By the way, sorry about not making Kenichi
react quite so strongly when Tima woke up back in the last story's final chapter. I
wanted to, I really did, but it didn't feel quite right. Not after the two of them had
already spent so long together, even with all of the difficulties they had gone through.
Also, can you please tell me where you got the memoir book from?
Zechs Merquise: Thanks for the review!
Well then, please enjoy the story. As I said, things get better towards the end.
******************************************************************************************************
"Checkmate!" Tima said happily, placing the rook gently, but emphatically down.
Kenichi sighed, "You win again Tima." This was the fifteenth time he'd lost to her,
he'd only won once in the first game while Tima had still been learning, and Kenichi
doubted he would ever again. Her skill in chess was unbelievable. No matter what
move he made against Tima, Kenichi always found himself sitting in a trap of some
sort.
"Kenichi! Tima! It's time to go!"
"Coming Uncle Shinsaku!" they called in unison.
* * * * *
"I hope this works out…" Shinsaku muttered gruffly.
"Where are we going?" Tima asked.
"We're going to the police station," Kenichi answered. He wasn't sure about telling
her the rest.
"Why Kenichi?"
"There's someone there who wants to ask you some questions," Shinsaku answered
for Kenichi.
They were driving through the streets of Tokyo in Shinsaku's car, a small white hover
vehicle shaped like a classic American automobile. They were on their way to the
police station, as Tima had been requested to come in for questioning. Kenichi and
Shinsaku had their misgivings. How would the officer questioning Tima respond
when she answered 'I don't know,' to all of his questions, and what if she told them
about who she was? She had promised not to but police questioning could be pretty
forceful sometimes, as Kenichi had learned once when he had acted as a witness to a
crime after helping his Uncle on one of his investigations.
"What do they want to ask me?"
Kenichi sighed, he might as well tell her, "They want to ask you about Metropolis.
Just do your best to answer their questions,"
"Okay Kenichi," Tima said smiling.
* * * * *
As they walked into the reception area Kenichi thought back on the day they had last
come here. It had certainly been interesting. Kenichi silently reaffirmed his decision,
he loved Tima. He glanced at her, and catching Tima's eye received a warm smile.
"Uh… I'm Ban Shinsaku. I'm here with Saito Tima who was asked to come in for
questioning," Shinsaku said walking up to the reception desk.
"One moment please," the robot attending the reception desk said, "Ah yes, go up to
the fifth floor, then straight down the hall to room one three one."
"Thank you," Shinsaku said turning away. Japanese robots weren't quite as good as
the ones in Metropolis but they were pretty close.
* * * * *
"Here we are," Kenichi said as they stopped outside the door to the office they had
been directed to. He mentally compared this place with his uncle's office building.
The contrast was huge. Everything here was so clean, a model of efficiency and
cleanliness. Shinsaku knocked on the door.
"Come in," a voice called from inside. Kenichi, Tima and Shinsaku did so.
"Good morning," a man said standing up behind his desk. Once again, the office was
clean, tidy and tasteful, "You must be Ban-san, and that must make you Tima," he
said looking at Tima where she was peeking from behind Kenichi. He was tall, and
handsome in a statuesque sort of way. His face was smiling, but Kenichi couldn't
shake the feeling there was something not quite right about this man, "I'm Seijiro
Mori."
"Why exactly do you need to speak to Tima?" Shinsaku asked.
"We are trying to find out as much as we can about the city. Those who have lived
there normally know more than you can find out just by looking at maps," was Mori's
answer.
"Well, I warn you Tima doesn't know very much. She was hurt when the Ziggurat
collapsed and her memory's pretty fuzzy."
"Thank you. If you don't mind I have to ask you to wait outside."
"But-" Kenichi started to protest but stopped when Shinsaku nudged him.
"Don't worry Tima, we'll be right outside," Shinsaku said with as a smile as he and
Kenichi left.
* * * * *
"Why'd you stop me Uncle?" Kenichi asked once they were outside with door shut.
"I didn't want you causing a scene," Shinsaku lent back against the wall and pulled
down the brim of his hat.
"What do we do if they find out about Tima?" Kenichi joined him. Shinsaku didn't
say anything.
* * * * *
Tima stood quietly looking at the door, "Now then," Mori said walking forward,
"Why don't you sit down Tima-san?" he asked indicating a chair in front of his desk.
Tima quietly did so. Mori pressed a button on his computer's keyboard. A
microphone on the end of his desk whined for a moment then was silent.
"Now, for the recording, what is your name?"
"Tima," she answered.
"And your second name?"
"What's a second name?"
"Hm," Mori lent over to the microphone and said "Saito."
"When were you born?"
"I don't know."
"Where did you live before coming to Japan?"
"I don't know."
Mori was becoming a little frustrated, "How did you first come to be in Metropolis?"
"I was there when I woke up," Tima said, becoming a little confused.
"Who is currently governing Metropolis?"
"I… don't know,"
"Why was there a rebellion? I thought Metropolis didn't have any civil problems."
"The people living in zone two were unhappy,"
"Why were they unhappy?"
"I… I'm not sure… Atlas said something about robots taking their jobs but…" Tima
hadn't been expecting all these difficult questions.
"What happened to that huge tower they were building? Why did it suddenly
explode?"
"I don't know," Tima answered in confusion, "The strange man with the big nose
made me sit on the throne, and Kenichi pulled me off. And… and something in my
mind made me try to hurt him, and then I fell but… but…"
The man with the big nose? Was this talking about Duke Red? "But what Tima?"
"Kenichi tried to save me but I fell…"
"How did you survive?" Mori was confused. This couldn't be true, but he felt sure
Tima wasn't lying.
"I-I don't know, I fell, and then I woke up in that nice room with Kenichi and Koh,
and I couldn't talk properly."
"Who's Koh?"
"Kenichi says he helped save me."
"How did he save you?"
"I don't know…"
This boy seemed to figure a lot in Tima's way of thinking, "How did you meet
Kenichi?" Mori asked.
"There was a fire… and… Kenichi saved me."
"It sounds to me like Kenichi's been telling you a lot of things Tima," Mori said
thoughtfully.
"Oh he has!" Tima said excitedly, "He taught me how to speak, and write, and…"
"How could he have done that?" Mori asked, becoming annoyed, "You only met half
a year ago!"
"I… I just listened to him and learned…" Tima answered feeling insecure.
Mori's expression softened, "Listen Tima-san, I know Kenichi told you what to say to
me, but he isn't here right now. You can tell me everything. Who are you really?"
"I'm Tima!" Tima said.
"Okay then Tima-san, why did you come to Japan?"
"Kenichi said Metropolis was too dangerous,"
"Forget Kenichi," Mori said sharply, "Tell me the truth!"
"I am telling the truth!" Tima cried.
"Fine, then where were you born?"
"I don't know. I woke up in doctor Laughton's laboratory,"
"Who's Doctor Laughton?"
"The man who made me-," Tima cut herself off too late.
"What do you mean made you?" Mori asked in annoyance, "Tell me the truth!"
"But I am telling the truth!" Tima said desperately. This man thought Kenichi had
told her to lie, and she had to prove to him that he hadn't.
"You are not!" Mori almost shouted.
"I am! Kenichi isn't a liar! Doctor Laughton made me! I'm a robot with a human
heart! I can prove it!" Tima didn't care anymore. She had to prove Kenichi wasn't
lying. She turned her head and held her hair back, turning back her ear and revealing
a small metal socket.
The rest happened quite quickly. Mori managed to extract from Tima all of that she
knew about herself, from why she had been created to the immense strength she had
by skilfully drawing her on with accusations about Kenichi. She knew she was
breaking her promise, but she just couldn't bear to let anyone talk about Kenichi so
horribly.
* * * * *
It had been fifteen minutes. Kenichi and Shinsaku were still waiting outside the
room, which they had discovered was sound proofed when Kenichi had tried to listen
through the door. He was becoming ever more fretful, and Shinsaku kept having to
stop him bursting into the room. It was then that door exploded open, and Tima
charged out and hid behind Kenichi.
"Tima what…?" Kenichi asked as she buried her face in his jacket.
A muffled "Kenichi…" came from behind him. Mori walked through the door.
"What happened?" Shinsaku asked him.
"Tima's told me some very interesting things," Mori answered with an odd look in his
eye.
"Tima… what did you tell him?" Kenichi asked Tima having extricated her from his
back and holding her by her shoulders.
"I'm sorry Kenichi!" Tima sobbed, unable to look him in the eye, "He said you had
told me lies and I had to prove you hadn't, so I told him… told him I was…" Tima
started to cry again. Kenichi put his arms around her and murmured, "It's okay…"
Shinsaku shook his head; they both knew what had happened.
Desperately trying to find an excuse, Shinsaku said, "Tima always was an imaginative
child Seijiro-san. I'm sure she just made up whatever she said as an answer to your
questions."
"On the contrary Ban-san, Tima-san was very detailed," Mori said with an unpleasant
smile, "I'm going to forward this to someone of higher rank, expect a visit soon. Just
so you don't decide to make any unexpected trips I'm placing you all under house
arrest. Oh and Tima? You convinced me, Kenichi isn't a liar," he walked away
laughing, leaving the Kenichi and Shinsaku glaring angrily at his back.
* * * * *
"What now Uncle?" Kenichi asked. They'd been silent since the three of them had
left the police station, and he felt awkward speaking. The car was oppressive.
"We go home," Shinsaku answered in a restrained voice.
"We're not going to do anything?"
"What is there to do?" Shinsaku said sharply.
Tima lowered her eyes, "What will happen Kenichi?"
"I…" Kenichi wasn't sure he should tell her what he was afraid might happen, "I
don't know Tima," if he was right and they were going to try to take Tima away, he
didn't want her worrying about it.
"Then why are you sad?"
"Don't worry. What do you want to do when we get home?" Kenichi asked smiling.
* * * * *
It was a day later, and Kenichi and Tima, out of shear boredom at being stuck indoors
had gone up into the loft in the hopes of finding something to do. In the end they had
found Shinsaku's old games consoles, and with a little work Kenichi had fixed the
plugs to work with the modern wall sockets. There was something really nice about
playing a game through such a cumbersome instrument as a joy pad, a sort of feeling
of disconnection. Somehow it just seemed more fun than the current holographic
games. At one point Shinsaku had come in and joined them. In a matter of seconds
he had put all of there efforts to shame, and hadn't been very graceful about it.
Before he had left he had patted Kenichi on the head and said it was only because of
experience, but the sniggering which had drifted back to them from down the hall
suggested otherwise.
It seemed Tima's abilities in chess did not extend to videogames. Every game they
had played Kenichi had one almost every time. Interestingly, Shinsaku seemed to
have had a penchant for the less orthodox kinds of games. Novelty puzzlers, multi-
player role-plays and such. One game they had both really enjoyed was a strange
little platform type game in which the players would fly around a dream world. But
once again Kenichi came out on top with roughly a hundred times Tima score. Of
course he occasionally let Tima win, but it looked like they had discovered Tima's
weakness.
"It's not fair," Tima pouted, "You must be cheating."
"Come on Tima, surely you don't believe that!" Kenichi laughed.
"No I suppose not…" she sighed.
Grinning Kenichi put an arm around Tima's shoulders. She looked at Kenichi and
smiled, then lent her head against him.
Given time to think Tima could do anything, but she just couldn't seem to adapt to a
constantly changing situation.
Kenichi's thoughts were interrupted by his Uncle's voice calling them downstairs.
* * * * *
"Tima, this is Shuishiro Hito-san," Shinsaku said gesturing to a man who had just
walked into the house. His voice was cold and held absolutely no congeniality. Even
through his polite words Shinsaku's emotions were obvious, and Kenichi wasn't
making any attempt to disguise his dislike of the man either. If looks could bore holes
in people, between the two of them they could have turned the man into Swiss cheese
in seconds. Tima stood alongside Kenichi wearing a confused look. She couldn't
understand why there was so much tension between them.
"Hello," Tima said bowing slightly.
"Hello Tima," Shuishiro said smiling and showing only the slightest uncomfortable
reaction to Kenichi and Shinsaku.
"Why don't we go into the sitting room?" Shinsaku asked. He and Kenichi walked
quietly away, Tima quickly running to catch up. Shuishiro followed them.
* * * * *
Shuishiro took a sip of his tea, then set it down, "By the looks on your faces, I
suppose you two know why I'm here?"
Shinsaku and Kenichi both nodded mutely.
"Why are you here?" Tima asked.
"I'm here to make you a request Tima-san," Shuishiro said.
"Yes?" Tima prompted.
"I'm in charge of a research of station and I'd like you to come back with me. We'd
like to learn more about you. You are an amazing creation, I'd expect nothing less
from the masterpiece of the cybernetics genius Joshua Laughton."
"You knew about Laughton?" Shinsaku asked, ceasing his emotionless stare.
"He used to be a military scientist before that unpleasant business with the organ
trafficking. We kept tabs on him after that of course, if he ever came up with
anything useful we wouldn't have wanted to see it wasted. Truth be told we've
known about Tima-san's existence since a short time after Laughton started work on
her, however we all thought she along with all the prototypes were lost in the fire. So
to find that Tima-san, the finished design still exists is a great discovery. From what
the preliminary designs taken by one of our infiltrators showed us, you have a
tremendous amount of potential Tima-san."
"What does he mean Kenichi?" Tima asked looking worried.
Kenichi was clenching and unclenching his fists in anger, "He's saying you'd make a
powerful weapon."
"But I'm not a weapon!" Tima shouted standing up suddenly.
"I'm not asking you to fight Tima-san, all I want you to do is come with me for a few
days so that we can find out more about you," Shuishiro said placatingly.
"What will you do with what you learn from Tima?" Kenichi asked.
"I'm sorry. That information is classified."
"I see," Shinsaku said, "So your intentions aren't entirely honourable. What's it
going to be? An army of Timas? All of them capable of killing hundreds of soldiers
before going down?"
"As I said, I'm not allowed to disclose that information-,"
"How old will they be?" Shinsaku shouted standing up and hitting his leg against the
table spilling the tea and eliciting a frightened squeak from Tima, "How old will you
make them? Children I suppose to save on materials. Imagine it Kenichi! An army
of children!"
"Now hold on-!" Shuishiro protested.
"How about programming?! Will they just be mindless dolls? Or perhaps you'll give
them personalities for better fighting ability?" Shinsaku kicked aside the table, and
Tima by now utterly confused by the change in Shinsaku burst into tears and hid
behind Kenichi, "How much will you let them know?! I guess only enough to fight
huh?! You'll send children perhaps five minutes into their lives out onto the
battlefield?!"
"Ban-san! I don't know anything but-!" Shuishiro was cut off as Shinsaku took him
by the throat.
"Uncle-!" Kenichi shouted.
"Uncle Shinsaku stop it!" Tima yelled running forward tugging at his shirt.
"Were you even planning on bringing Tima back?!" Shinsaku said suddenly calm and
cold. Shuishiro was starting to choke.
"Yes…" he gasped, "Yes, in three days time…"
Shinsaku let go and Shuishiro fell to the floor in a heap holding his neck and
breathing hard.
"You had better," he said darkly.
"Uncle, you're not serious-!" Kenichi protested, realising Shinsaku planned to let
them take Tima.
"Why Uncle Shinsaku?" Tima asked, her voice shaky.
Shinsaku turned to face them, and then, unable to look them in the eyes said, "I'm
sorry Kenichi, Tima… He's got a sidearm in his coat."
"Yes and it looks like you made an intelligent decision," Shuishiro having recovered
himself, he was now standing with the gun in his hand, "If you had refused I was
under orders to take Tima by force, and to kill the two of you if you had tried to stop
me. And by the way, don't try anything silly, there's a small unit of soldiers waiting
for me outside."
"Kill…" Tima repeated quietly, "I'll go with you. I don't want you to hurt Kenichi."
"That's a good girl." Shuishiro said, then turning back to Kenichi and Shinsaku,
"Don't try filing any complaints. By law robots have no rights, and since you
illegally registered Tima as a human, she has no owner and is therefore state property.
You're lucky I don't have you both arrested right now."
"You… bastard…" Shinsaku growled. He and Kenichi could only watch as Shuishiro
took Tima's hand and walked out of the house with her. Just before the door closed
Tima looked back at Kenichi over her shoulder, her eyes filled with poorly concealed fear, her face
streaked with tears, and then the door was shut. A moment later a vehicle could be
heard pulling away.
Shinsaku slowly relaxed his body, and then let his head hang. He had failed to protect
her… Kenichi on the other hand reacted much more strongly.
"Rrrr…" the sound came from the back of his throat, his whole body was tense as he
walked up to the door.
"DAMN IT!" he screamed, bringing his fist down on the door so hard it jarred his arm
right up to his shoulder. Clutching his arm, Kenichi looked darkly at the door for a
few seconds, and fell to his knees. From the way his body was shaking and from his
unsteady breathing, Shinsaku could tell he was crying.
"damn it…" Kenichi whispered, his tears forming dark spots on the carpet, "damn…"
********************************************************************************************************
Well that's it. Thanks for reading, and please review! Sorry this chapter took so long
coming! You know, that's the first time I've ever used anything stronger than a very weak curse.
Oh, and I'm sorry about the weird way I responded to your reviews. I've been reading a book
called MYST: The Book Of Ti'Anna, and I think it's officious style's started to rub off on me.
Seeya in the next chapter! ^_^
I think this is it. I'm sorry it took so long to write, and the story is still a little flat for
most of the chapter, but at the end it really felt like something was starting.
My thanks to:
rockofmarduk: This ark's first reviewer.
TiraGiallo: Thank you. I can't put my finger on it either, but yes you're right, there
is something wrong with Shinsaku's character. Maybe I'll it'll eventually fade away
as I write.
Xalan: As ever my deepest thanks to you.
Moro Stagsleap: Thanks. I'm glad you're still there. I promise I'll try and go a little
lighter on the computer lingo this time. By the way, sorry about not making Kenichi
react quite so strongly when Tima woke up back in the last story's final chapter. I
wanted to, I really did, but it didn't feel quite right. Not after the two of them had
already spent so long together, even with all of the difficulties they had gone through.
Also, can you please tell me where you got the memoir book from?
Zechs Merquise: Thanks for the review!
Well then, please enjoy the story. As I said, things get better towards the end.
******************************************************************************************************
"Checkmate!" Tima said happily, placing the rook gently, but emphatically down.
Kenichi sighed, "You win again Tima." This was the fifteenth time he'd lost to her,
he'd only won once in the first game while Tima had still been learning, and Kenichi
doubted he would ever again. Her skill in chess was unbelievable. No matter what
move he made against Tima, Kenichi always found himself sitting in a trap of some
sort.
"Kenichi! Tima! It's time to go!"
"Coming Uncle Shinsaku!" they called in unison.
* * * * *
"I hope this works out…" Shinsaku muttered gruffly.
"Where are we going?" Tima asked.
"We're going to the police station," Kenichi answered. He wasn't sure about telling
her the rest.
"Why Kenichi?"
"There's someone there who wants to ask you some questions," Shinsaku answered
for Kenichi.
They were driving through the streets of Tokyo in Shinsaku's car, a small white hover
vehicle shaped like a classic American automobile. They were on their way to the
police station, as Tima had been requested to come in for questioning. Kenichi and
Shinsaku had their misgivings. How would the officer questioning Tima respond
when she answered 'I don't know,' to all of his questions, and what if she told them
about who she was? She had promised not to but police questioning could be pretty
forceful sometimes, as Kenichi had learned once when he had acted as a witness to a
crime after helping his Uncle on one of his investigations.
"What do they want to ask me?"
Kenichi sighed, he might as well tell her, "They want to ask you about Metropolis.
Just do your best to answer their questions,"
"Okay Kenichi," Tima said smiling.
* * * * *
As they walked into the reception area Kenichi thought back on the day they had last
come here. It had certainly been interesting. Kenichi silently reaffirmed his decision,
he loved Tima. He glanced at her, and catching Tima's eye received a warm smile.
"Uh… I'm Ban Shinsaku. I'm here with Saito Tima who was asked to come in for
questioning," Shinsaku said walking up to the reception desk.
"One moment please," the robot attending the reception desk said, "Ah yes, go up to
the fifth floor, then straight down the hall to room one three one."
"Thank you," Shinsaku said turning away. Japanese robots weren't quite as good as
the ones in Metropolis but they were pretty close.
* * * * *
"Here we are," Kenichi said as they stopped outside the door to the office they had
been directed to. He mentally compared this place with his uncle's office building.
The contrast was huge. Everything here was so clean, a model of efficiency and
cleanliness. Shinsaku knocked on the door.
"Come in," a voice called from inside. Kenichi, Tima and Shinsaku did so.
"Good morning," a man said standing up behind his desk. Once again, the office was
clean, tidy and tasteful, "You must be Ban-san, and that must make you Tima," he
said looking at Tima where she was peeking from behind Kenichi. He was tall, and
handsome in a statuesque sort of way. His face was smiling, but Kenichi couldn't
shake the feeling there was something not quite right about this man, "I'm Seijiro
Mori."
"Why exactly do you need to speak to Tima?" Shinsaku asked.
"We are trying to find out as much as we can about the city. Those who have lived
there normally know more than you can find out just by looking at maps," was Mori's
answer.
"Well, I warn you Tima doesn't know very much. She was hurt when the Ziggurat
collapsed and her memory's pretty fuzzy."
"Thank you. If you don't mind I have to ask you to wait outside."
"But-" Kenichi started to protest but stopped when Shinsaku nudged him.
"Don't worry Tima, we'll be right outside," Shinsaku said with as a smile as he and
Kenichi left.
* * * * *
"Why'd you stop me Uncle?" Kenichi asked once they were outside with door shut.
"I didn't want you causing a scene," Shinsaku lent back against the wall and pulled
down the brim of his hat.
"What do we do if they find out about Tima?" Kenichi joined him. Shinsaku didn't
say anything.
* * * * *
Tima stood quietly looking at the door, "Now then," Mori said walking forward,
"Why don't you sit down Tima-san?" he asked indicating a chair in front of his desk.
Tima quietly did so. Mori pressed a button on his computer's keyboard. A
microphone on the end of his desk whined for a moment then was silent.
"Now, for the recording, what is your name?"
"Tima," she answered.
"And your second name?"
"What's a second name?"
"Hm," Mori lent over to the microphone and said "Saito."
"When were you born?"
"I don't know."
"Where did you live before coming to Japan?"
"I don't know."
Mori was becoming a little frustrated, "How did you first come to be in Metropolis?"
"I was there when I woke up," Tima said, becoming a little confused.
"Who is currently governing Metropolis?"
"I… don't know,"
"Why was there a rebellion? I thought Metropolis didn't have any civil problems."
"The people living in zone two were unhappy,"
"Why were they unhappy?"
"I… I'm not sure… Atlas said something about robots taking their jobs but…" Tima
hadn't been expecting all these difficult questions.
"What happened to that huge tower they were building? Why did it suddenly
explode?"
"I don't know," Tima answered in confusion, "The strange man with the big nose
made me sit on the throne, and Kenichi pulled me off. And… and something in my
mind made me try to hurt him, and then I fell but… but…"
The man with the big nose? Was this talking about Duke Red? "But what Tima?"
"Kenichi tried to save me but I fell…"
"How did you survive?" Mori was confused. This couldn't be true, but he felt sure
Tima wasn't lying.
"I-I don't know, I fell, and then I woke up in that nice room with Kenichi and Koh,
and I couldn't talk properly."
"Who's Koh?"
"Kenichi says he helped save me."
"How did he save you?"
"I don't know…"
This boy seemed to figure a lot in Tima's way of thinking, "How did you meet
Kenichi?" Mori asked.
"There was a fire… and… Kenichi saved me."
"It sounds to me like Kenichi's been telling you a lot of things Tima," Mori said
thoughtfully.
"Oh he has!" Tima said excitedly, "He taught me how to speak, and write, and…"
"How could he have done that?" Mori asked, becoming annoyed, "You only met half
a year ago!"
"I… I just listened to him and learned…" Tima answered feeling insecure.
Mori's expression softened, "Listen Tima-san, I know Kenichi told you what to say to
me, but he isn't here right now. You can tell me everything. Who are you really?"
"I'm Tima!" Tima said.
"Okay then Tima-san, why did you come to Japan?"
"Kenichi said Metropolis was too dangerous,"
"Forget Kenichi," Mori said sharply, "Tell me the truth!"
"I am telling the truth!" Tima cried.
"Fine, then where were you born?"
"I don't know. I woke up in doctor Laughton's laboratory,"
"Who's Doctor Laughton?"
"The man who made me-," Tima cut herself off too late.
"What do you mean made you?" Mori asked in annoyance, "Tell me the truth!"
"But I am telling the truth!" Tima said desperately. This man thought Kenichi had
told her to lie, and she had to prove to him that he hadn't.
"You are not!" Mori almost shouted.
"I am! Kenichi isn't a liar! Doctor Laughton made me! I'm a robot with a human
heart! I can prove it!" Tima didn't care anymore. She had to prove Kenichi wasn't
lying. She turned her head and held her hair back, turning back her ear and revealing
a small metal socket.
The rest happened quite quickly. Mori managed to extract from Tima all of that she
knew about herself, from why she had been created to the immense strength she had
by skilfully drawing her on with accusations about Kenichi. She knew she was
breaking her promise, but she just couldn't bear to let anyone talk about Kenichi so
horribly.
* * * * *
It had been fifteen minutes. Kenichi and Shinsaku were still waiting outside the
room, which they had discovered was sound proofed when Kenichi had tried to listen
through the door. He was becoming ever more fretful, and Shinsaku kept having to
stop him bursting into the room. It was then that door exploded open, and Tima
charged out and hid behind Kenichi.
"Tima what…?" Kenichi asked as she buried her face in his jacket.
A muffled "Kenichi…" came from behind him. Mori walked through the door.
"What happened?" Shinsaku asked him.
"Tima's told me some very interesting things," Mori answered with an odd look in his
eye.
"Tima… what did you tell him?" Kenichi asked Tima having extricated her from his
back and holding her by her shoulders.
"I'm sorry Kenichi!" Tima sobbed, unable to look him in the eye, "He said you had
told me lies and I had to prove you hadn't, so I told him… told him I was…" Tima
started to cry again. Kenichi put his arms around her and murmured, "It's okay…"
Shinsaku shook his head; they both knew what had happened.
Desperately trying to find an excuse, Shinsaku said, "Tima always was an imaginative
child Seijiro-san. I'm sure she just made up whatever she said as an answer to your
questions."
"On the contrary Ban-san, Tima-san was very detailed," Mori said with an unpleasant
smile, "I'm going to forward this to someone of higher rank, expect a visit soon. Just
so you don't decide to make any unexpected trips I'm placing you all under house
arrest. Oh and Tima? You convinced me, Kenichi isn't a liar," he walked away
laughing, leaving the Kenichi and Shinsaku glaring angrily at his back.
* * * * *
"What now Uncle?" Kenichi asked. They'd been silent since the three of them had
left the police station, and he felt awkward speaking. The car was oppressive.
"We go home," Shinsaku answered in a restrained voice.
"We're not going to do anything?"
"What is there to do?" Shinsaku said sharply.
Tima lowered her eyes, "What will happen Kenichi?"
"I…" Kenichi wasn't sure he should tell her what he was afraid might happen, "I
don't know Tima," if he was right and they were going to try to take Tima away, he
didn't want her worrying about it.
"Then why are you sad?"
"Don't worry. What do you want to do when we get home?" Kenichi asked smiling.
* * * * *
It was a day later, and Kenichi and Tima, out of shear boredom at being stuck indoors
had gone up into the loft in the hopes of finding something to do. In the end they had
found Shinsaku's old games consoles, and with a little work Kenichi had fixed the
plugs to work with the modern wall sockets. There was something really nice about
playing a game through such a cumbersome instrument as a joy pad, a sort of feeling
of disconnection. Somehow it just seemed more fun than the current holographic
games. At one point Shinsaku had come in and joined them. In a matter of seconds
he had put all of there efforts to shame, and hadn't been very graceful about it.
Before he had left he had patted Kenichi on the head and said it was only because of
experience, but the sniggering which had drifted back to them from down the hall
suggested otherwise.
It seemed Tima's abilities in chess did not extend to videogames. Every game they
had played Kenichi had one almost every time. Interestingly, Shinsaku seemed to
have had a penchant for the less orthodox kinds of games. Novelty puzzlers, multi-
player role-plays and such. One game they had both really enjoyed was a strange
little platform type game in which the players would fly around a dream world. But
once again Kenichi came out on top with roughly a hundred times Tima score. Of
course he occasionally let Tima win, but it looked like they had discovered Tima's
weakness.
"It's not fair," Tima pouted, "You must be cheating."
"Come on Tima, surely you don't believe that!" Kenichi laughed.
"No I suppose not…" she sighed.
Grinning Kenichi put an arm around Tima's shoulders. She looked at Kenichi and
smiled, then lent her head against him.
Given time to think Tima could do anything, but she just couldn't seem to adapt to a
constantly changing situation.
Kenichi's thoughts were interrupted by his Uncle's voice calling them downstairs.
* * * * *
"Tima, this is Shuishiro Hito-san," Shinsaku said gesturing to a man who had just
walked into the house. His voice was cold and held absolutely no congeniality. Even
through his polite words Shinsaku's emotions were obvious, and Kenichi wasn't
making any attempt to disguise his dislike of the man either. If looks could bore holes
in people, between the two of them they could have turned the man into Swiss cheese
in seconds. Tima stood alongside Kenichi wearing a confused look. She couldn't
understand why there was so much tension between them.
"Hello," Tima said bowing slightly.
"Hello Tima," Shuishiro said smiling and showing only the slightest uncomfortable
reaction to Kenichi and Shinsaku.
"Why don't we go into the sitting room?" Shinsaku asked. He and Kenichi walked
quietly away, Tima quickly running to catch up. Shuishiro followed them.
* * * * *
Shuishiro took a sip of his tea, then set it down, "By the looks on your faces, I
suppose you two know why I'm here?"
Shinsaku and Kenichi both nodded mutely.
"Why are you here?" Tima asked.
"I'm here to make you a request Tima-san," Shuishiro said.
"Yes?" Tima prompted.
"I'm in charge of a research of station and I'd like you to come back with me. We'd
like to learn more about you. You are an amazing creation, I'd expect nothing less
from the masterpiece of the cybernetics genius Joshua Laughton."
"You knew about Laughton?" Shinsaku asked, ceasing his emotionless stare.
"He used to be a military scientist before that unpleasant business with the organ
trafficking. We kept tabs on him after that of course, if he ever came up with
anything useful we wouldn't have wanted to see it wasted. Truth be told we've
known about Tima-san's existence since a short time after Laughton started work on
her, however we all thought she along with all the prototypes were lost in the fire. So
to find that Tima-san, the finished design still exists is a great discovery. From what
the preliminary designs taken by one of our infiltrators showed us, you have a
tremendous amount of potential Tima-san."
"What does he mean Kenichi?" Tima asked looking worried.
Kenichi was clenching and unclenching his fists in anger, "He's saying you'd make a
powerful weapon."
"But I'm not a weapon!" Tima shouted standing up suddenly.
"I'm not asking you to fight Tima-san, all I want you to do is come with me for a few
days so that we can find out more about you," Shuishiro said placatingly.
"What will you do with what you learn from Tima?" Kenichi asked.
"I'm sorry. That information is classified."
"I see," Shinsaku said, "So your intentions aren't entirely honourable. What's it
going to be? An army of Timas? All of them capable of killing hundreds of soldiers
before going down?"
"As I said, I'm not allowed to disclose that information-,"
"How old will they be?" Shinsaku shouted standing up and hitting his leg against the
table spilling the tea and eliciting a frightened squeak from Tima, "How old will you
make them? Children I suppose to save on materials. Imagine it Kenichi! An army
of children!"
"Now hold on-!" Shuishiro protested.
"How about programming?! Will they just be mindless dolls? Or perhaps you'll give
them personalities for better fighting ability?" Shinsaku kicked aside the table, and
Tima by now utterly confused by the change in Shinsaku burst into tears and hid
behind Kenichi, "How much will you let them know?! I guess only enough to fight
huh?! You'll send children perhaps five minutes into their lives out onto the
battlefield?!"
"Ban-san! I don't know anything but-!" Shuishiro was cut off as Shinsaku took him
by the throat.
"Uncle-!" Kenichi shouted.
"Uncle Shinsaku stop it!" Tima yelled running forward tugging at his shirt.
"Were you even planning on bringing Tima back?!" Shinsaku said suddenly calm and
cold. Shuishiro was starting to choke.
"Yes…" he gasped, "Yes, in three days time…"
Shinsaku let go and Shuishiro fell to the floor in a heap holding his neck and
breathing hard.
"You had better," he said darkly.
"Uncle, you're not serious-!" Kenichi protested, realising Shinsaku planned to let
them take Tima.
"Why Uncle Shinsaku?" Tima asked, her voice shaky.
Shinsaku turned to face them, and then, unable to look them in the eyes said, "I'm
sorry Kenichi, Tima… He's got a sidearm in his coat."
"Yes and it looks like you made an intelligent decision," Shuishiro having recovered
himself, he was now standing with the gun in his hand, "If you had refused I was
under orders to take Tima by force, and to kill the two of you if you had tried to stop
me. And by the way, don't try anything silly, there's a small unit of soldiers waiting
for me outside."
"Kill…" Tima repeated quietly, "I'll go with you. I don't want you to hurt Kenichi."
"That's a good girl." Shuishiro said, then turning back to Kenichi and Shinsaku,
"Don't try filing any complaints. By law robots have no rights, and since you
illegally registered Tima as a human, she has no owner and is therefore state property.
You're lucky I don't have you both arrested right now."
"You… bastard…" Shinsaku growled. He and Kenichi could only watch as Shuishiro
took Tima's hand and walked out of the house with her. Just before the door closed
Tima looked back at Kenichi over her shoulder, her eyes filled with poorly concealed fear, her face
streaked with tears, and then the door was shut. A moment later a vehicle could be
heard pulling away.
Shinsaku slowly relaxed his body, and then let his head hang. He had failed to protect
her… Kenichi on the other hand reacted much more strongly.
"Rrrr…" the sound came from the back of his throat, his whole body was tense as he
walked up to the door.
"DAMN IT!" he screamed, bringing his fist down on the door so hard it jarred his arm
right up to his shoulder. Clutching his arm, Kenichi looked darkly at the door for a
few seconds, and fell to his knees. From the way his body was shaking and from his
unsteady breathing, Shinsaku could tell he was crying.
"damn it…" Kenichi whispered, his tears forming dark spots on the carpet, "damn…"
********************************************************************************************************
Well that's it. Thanks for reading, and please review! Sorry this chapter took so long
coming! You know, that's the first time I've ever used anything stronger than a very weak curse.
Oh, and I'm sorry about the weird way I responded to your reviews. I've been reading a book
called MYST: The Book Of Ti'Anna, and I think it's officious style's started to rub off on me.
Seeya in the next chapter! ^_^