The first of two alternate endings. They are not required reading... They are more like 'What if something different happened?'
------- Alternate Chapter 5 (I) : In This Life Or The Next -------
"Keep ya pants on!" Shouted Malice as he opened the front door.
"Look Mr. Malice, we have been nothing but patient with you and now I demand that you return her to me now." Said Doctor Sierra.
"Wait, wait. I have an idea. Perhaps I could buy her from you. You can always make more right?" Said Malice.
"She is a prototype!" Said Sierra, almost screaming. "We need her back to analyse the nerve degeneration patterns she's developing."
"Nerve what now?"
While the two of them argued, Mr. Benz noticed the RAcaseal inside cast a furtive glance towards a closed door. He did some quick mental arithmetic.
"She's getting away!" He bellowed and sprinted for the elevators.
Doctor Sierra watched as the two security guards headed rapidly down the corridor before giving chase.
As he ran he turned and shouted to Malice. "If she's damaged in any way you're gonna be in deep shit!"
-------
Sarunakai walked dejectedly in the direction of the hoverbus terminal. The piazza was quite crowded as this time of evening, the shoppers were making their way home and the night-life crowd were just setting out. With each plodding step he took felt like his legs were made of lead and his heart felt so heavy that he thought it might burst. He stared at the ground as he walked, the crowd flowing around him like a stream around a rock.
He had just come from his girlfriend's appartment, Mylina was breaking up with him! Breaking up with him! The words echoed around his head and he felt empty inside. She had told him that it was not working out, he was too needy, obsessive almost. Obsessive? He was passionate! She was just afraid of commitment because he vowed to love her with all his heart, with all his soul! She wanted time apart. For how long he had asked. She said that she needed time to clear her head, but her eyes told him everything that her mouth did not. She no longer loved him, he could see that now and no amount of begging or pleading could change that.
He fought back the tears. What they had was... Special. Now... Now he was alone. Where would he find another girl that was quite as special as her...
The world jolted violently as someone or something collided with him. He just about kept his balance and spun around to see what was responsible. On the ground before him was a young woman looking slightly disorientated. Without a moment's hesitation he crouched beside her and with an arm around her waist carefully lifted her back to her feet. Her eyes were the most beautiful shade of dark green-blue and he could not help staring into them. Once sure that she was able to stand on her own he reluctantly let her go.
"Are you alright miss? I am so sorry, it was totally my fault." He said as sincerely as he could.
A few people had stopped to see what was going on but they quickly went about their business. The girl tugged the jogging bottoms that she was wearing up high around her waist. It was clearly several sizes too large for her, in fact the top she was wearing also hung about her, like she had just stolen the clothes of a large man. She began to glance over his shoulder, past him in the direction of the road. He looked there to see two men running towards them.
"Are you in trouble miss? Are those men after you?" He asked her.
"I must go now." She said, beginning to back away from him.
Sarunakai held on to her wrist lightly. "I can help you... If you'll let me."
She hesitated and looked at his face. He seemed to be genuinely concerned for her predicament, despite having only just met her.
"Help me please." She said, her voice no louder than a whisper.
Hearing the approaching commotion, Sarunakai turned around to put himself between between the girl and the two men. He could see them fully now that the crowd had thinned slightly. They were muscular in build, they would make natural HUnters, yet they were dressed in dark navy uniforms, the badges marking them out as security guards of some kind. They noticed his intent to interfere and slowed their run to a jog, hands hovering close to the holstered side arm that each of them wore.
"Stay out of this kid. It's none of your business." Said the first one, obviously the leader.
Kid? Sarunakai scoffed at the remark. He might had been only eighteen, but he considered himself to be quite wise for his age. He was also glad that he was dressed in casual attire and not his FOrce robes. If there was going to be any trouble, they would be in for a surprise.
"Why should I believe you?" He retorted.
The man raised his left forearm to his mouth and pressed a button upon it.
"Doc? We got her cornered outside southside bus terminal." He lowered his arm and addressed Sarunakai. "I suggest you step aside. She's coming with us."
Sarunakai sniggered. "I'd like to see you try."
He felt the girl put her hands upon his shoulders and press herself into his back. She was afraid of these men, and he would definitely not stand to let her fall into their hands, least not without a damn good reason. As one, they reached for their guns, Sarunakai reacted by instinct, throwing up an out-stretched hand.
"Gibarta!" He commanded.
The air before him turned white in a cone shape starting from his hand as he ripped the entropic energy from it. A layer of ice building up rapidly on the two men as well as on a few bystanders who had stopped to see what was happening. Even with their muscle strength impaired by the numbing cold, it would not be long before they broke free. He had bought them a Beat or two of time at best and they could not afford to linger any further, so he turned around to face her.
"I can help you, but only if you trust me." He said holding out his hand.
She looked at his hand, then into his eyes and his heart skipped a beat. Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his.
"Where are you going?" He asked her.
"I am to find someone in Viridia sector. They can hide me." She replied.
He glanced over his shoulder. The two men had shielded their faces when they were frozen so they would not be able to see which direction they would be heading. They set off for the hoverbus terminal. He soon noticed that she had no shoes on of any kind, that the running was painful for her. He would have gladly carried her, but he lacked the physical strength to do so for any amount of time and he was already exhausted from the Technique that he had cast on her pursuers.
Once inside the terminal, he hastily purchased two tickets for the first available bus leaving with the intent of changing to one headed to their destination as soon as was possible. A mad dash to the lifts, they were able to catch their ride with only centibeats to spare. They were late-comers and so had to stand, the vehicle packed with shoppers. When the bus started moving, the girl was caught unawares and she fell forwards, grabbing his shirt to save herself. He in turn placed an arm around her to keep her steady.
"Don't worry, I won't let you fall. Though I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Sarunakai. What's yours?"
"I am Matilda."
"Matilda? That's a beautiful name."
Matilda blushed at the comment. Stupid! Don't embaress her. Gotta be smooth... They stood there in awkward silence, just holding each other as the hoverbus wove its way through the evening traffic of the city. Sarunakai was unsure of what to say next, he had no desire to see her disappear from his life once he delivered Matilda to her destination but anything he said might sound contrived, plus he was content to just stand there and feel her warmth as he held her.
Sarunakai frowned. He could feel her body beginning to tremble almost as if she were cold, yet with so many people in close proximity the temperature was enough to induce a light sweat on his brow. He looked at her face to see her eyes shut tight, lips drawn back in a grimace.
"Are you all right? You seem..."
She slipped down out of his grasp and collapsed to the floor, convulsing slightly. Sarunakai knelt beside her as a low groan escaped her lips. What was happening to her? As she writhed and stretched in pain he lay his hands upon her in a vain attempt to calm her down. He was not sure if casting Resta now would have any effect since she did not appear to have any wounds, but he could not think of anything else he could do and seeing her in this condition was heart-wrenching.
He pressed his hands upon her chest and shut his eyes, letting out a breath slowly as he struggled to empty himself of the anxiety he was feeling all the while trying to ignore the voices of the other passengers that had now taken an interest in their situation. A faint green glow started to emanate from around his hands, growing more and more brighter in intensity. Soon the light coalesced into green energy that poured into her body.
He opened his eyes slightly to see if it was having the desired effect and was dismayed to see that she was still flopping around, her face scrunched up in agony. He became even more frantic, but that was ruining his concentration and the light rapidly began to fade. Her movements became slower and weaker, arms dropping to her sides as her legs became still.
"I... I..." She tried to speak.
"I think she's dying, fly this thing to a hospital!" A voice cried out. It sounded so distant he could not even be sure if he had said it or if it was someone else.
He carefully lifted her head and brushed the hairs from her eyes.
"Don't speak. You've been through a lot but I think you're okay now."
"... Feel different. It... Is not.. Like the other... Times..." With every word, her voice got weaker, her eyes losing focus and staring beyond him.
"No! NO! Hold on!" He cried out, shaking her gently. "We're nearly there... Nearly there..."
Matilda's head lolled to one side, her eyes now lifeless. Sarunakai pulled her up close to him and hugged her tight. He could not help but shed a tear for the girl he would never know as the bus began its descent into the shadows of the city.
------- Alternate Chapter 5 (I) : In This Life Or The Next -------
"Keep ya pants on!" Shouted Malice as he opened the front door.
"Look Mr. Malice, we have been nothing but patient with you and now I demand that you return her to me now." Said Doctor Sierra.
"Wait, wait. I have an idea. Perhaps I could buy her from you. You can always make more right?" Said Malice.
"She is a prototype!" Said Sierra, almost screaming. "We need her back to analyse the nerve degeneration patterns she's developing."
"Nerve what now?"
While the two of them argued, Mr. Benz noticed the RAcaseal inside cast a furtive glance towards a closed door. He did some quick mental arithmetic.
"She's getting away!" He bellowed and sprinted for the elevators.
Doctor Sierra watched as the two security guards headed rapidly down the corridor before giving chase.
As he ran he turned and shouted to Malice. "If she's damaged in any way you're gonna be in deep shit!"
-------
Sarunakai walked dejectedly in the direction of the hoverbus terminal. The piazza was quite crowded as this time of evening, the shoppers were making their way home and the night-life crowd were just setting out. With each plodding step he took felt like his legs were made of lead and his heart felt so heavy that he thought it might burst. He stared at the ground as he walked, the crowd flowing around him like a stream around a rock.
He had just come from his girlfriend's appartment, Mylina was breaking up with him! Breaking up with him! The words echoed around his head and he felt empty inside. She had told him that it was not working out, he was too needy, obsessive almost. Obsessive? He was passionate! She was just afraid of commitment because he vowed to love her with all his heart, with all his soul! She wanted time apart. For how long he had asked. She said that she needed time to clear her head, but her eyes told him everything that her mouth did not. She no longer loved him, he could see that now and no amount of begging or pleading could change that.
He fought back the tears. What they had was... Special. Now... Now he was alone. Where would he find another girl that was quite as special as her...
The world jolted violently as someone or something collided with him. He just about kept his balance and spun around to see what was responsible. On the ground before him was a young woman looking slightly disorientated. Without a moment's hesitation he crouched beside her and with an arm around her waist carefully lifted her back to her feet. Her eyes were the most beautiful shade of dark green-blue and he could not help staring into them. Once sure that she was able to stand on her own he reluctantly let her go.
"Are you alright miss? I am so sorry, it was totally my fault." He said as sincerely as he could.
A few people had stopped to see what was going on but they quickly went about their business. The girl tugged the jogging bottoms that she was wearing up high around her waist. It was clearly several sizes too large for her, in fact the top she was wearing also hung about her, like she had just stolen the clothes of a large man. She began to glance over his shoulder, past him in the direction of the road. He looked there to see two men running towards them.
"Are you in trouble miss? Are those men after you?" He asked her.
"I must go now." She said, beginning to back away from him.
Sarunakai held on to her wrist lightly. "I can help you... If you'll let me."
She hesitated and looked at his face. He seemed to be genuinely concerned for her predicament, despite having only just met her.
"Help me please." She said, her voice no louder than a whisper.
Hearing the approaching commotion, Sarunakai turned around to put himself between between the girl and the two men. He could see them fully now that the crowd had thinned slightly. They were muscular in build, they would make natural HUnters, yet they were dressed in dark navy uniforms, the badges marking them out as security guards of some kind. They noticed his intent to interfere and slowed their run to a jog, hands hovering close to the holstered side arm that each of them wore.
"Stay out of this kid. It's none of your business." Said the first one, obviously the leader.
Kid? Sarunakai scoffed at the remark. He might had been only eighteen, but he considered himself to be quite wise for his age. He was also glad that he was dressed in casual attire and not his FOrce robes. If there was going to be any trouble, they would be in for a surprise.
"Why should I believe you?" He retorted.
The man raised his left forearm to his mouth and pressed a button upon it.
"Doc? We got her cornered outside southside bus terminal." He lowered his arm and addressed Sarunakai. "I suggest you step aside. She's coming with us."
Sarunakai sniggered. "I'd like to see you try."
He felt the girl put her hands upon his shoulders and press herself into his back. She was afraid of these men, and he would definitely not stand to let her fall into their hands, least not without a damn good reason. As one, they reached for their guns, Sarunakai reacted by instinct, throwing up an out-stretched hand.
"Gibarta!" He commanded.
The air before him turned white in a cone shape starting from his hand as he ripped the entropic energy from it. A layer of ice building up rapidly on the two men as well as on a few bystanders who had stopped to see what was happening. Even with their muscle strength impaired by the numbing cold, it would not be long before they broke free. He had bought them a Beat or two of time at best and they could not afford to linger any further, so he turned around to face her.
"I can help you, but only if you trust me." He said holding out his hand.
She looked at his hand, then into his eyes and his heart skipped a beat. Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his.
"Where are you going?" He asked her.
"I am to find someone in Viridia sector. They can hide me." She replied.
He glanced over his shoulder. The two men had shielded their faces when they were frozen so they would not be able to see which direction they would be heading. They set off for the hoverbus terminal. He soon noticed that she had no shoes on of any kind, that the running was painful for her. He would have gladly carried her, but he lacked the physical strength to do so for any amount of time and he was already exhausted from the Technique that he had cast on her pursuers.
Once inside the terminal, he hastily purchased two tickets for the first available bus leaving with the intent of changing to one headed to their destination as soon as was possible. A mad dash to the lifts, they were able to catch their ride with only centibeats to spare. They were late-comers and so had to stand, the vehicle packed with shoppers. When the bus started moving, the girl was caught unawares and she fell forwards, grabbing his shirt to save herself. He in turn placed an arm around her to keep her steady.
"Don't worry, I won't let you fall. Though I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Sarunakai. What's yours?"
"I am Matilda."
"Matilda? That's a beautiful name."
Matilda blushed at the comment. Stupid! Don't embaress her. Gotta be smooth... They stood there in awkward silence, just holding each other as the hoverbus wove its way through the evening traffic of the city. Sarunakai was unsure of what to say next, he had no desire to see her disappear from his life once he delivered Matilda to her destination but anything he said might sound contrived, plus he was content to just stand there and feel her warmth as he held her.
Sarunakai frowned. He could feel her body beginning to tremble almost as if she were cold, yet with so many people in close proximity the temperature was enough to induce a light sweat on his brow. He looked at her face to see her eyes shut tight, lips drawn back in a grimace.
"Are you all right? You seem..."
She slipped down out of his grasp and collapsed to the floor, convulsing slightly. Sarunakai knelt beside her as a low groan escaped her lips. What was happening to her? As she writhed and stretched in pain he lay his hands upon her in a vain attempt to calm her down. He was not sure if casting Resta now would have any effect since she did not appear to have any wounds, but he could not think of anything else he could do and seeing her in this condition was heart-wrenching.
He pressed his hands upon her chest and shut his eyes, letting out a breath slowly as he struggled to empty himself of the anxiety he was feeling all the while trying to ignore the voices of the other passengers that had now taken an interest in their situation. A faint green glow started to emanate from around his hands, growing more and more brighter in intensity. Soon the light coalesced into green energy that poured into her body.
He opened his eyes slightly to see if it was having the desired effect and was dismayed to see that she was still flopping around, her face scrunched up in agony. He became even more frantic, but that was ruining his concentration and the light rapidly began to fade. Her movements became slower and weaker, arms dropping to her sides as her legs became still.
"I... I..." She tried to speak.
"I think she's dying, fly this thing to a hospital!" A voice cried out. It sounded so distant he could not even be sure if he had said it or if it was someone else.
He carefully lifted her head and brushed the hairs from her eyes.
"Don't speak. You've been through a lot but I think you're okay now."
"... Feel different. It... Is not.. Like the other... Times..." With every word, her voice got weaker, her eyes losing focus and staring beyond him.
"No! NO! Hold on!" He cried out, shaking her gently. "We're nearly there... Nearly there..."
Matilda's head lolled to one side, her eyes now lifeless. Sarunakai pulled her up close to him and hugged her tight. He could not help but shed a tear for the girl he would never know as the bus began its descent into the shadows of the city.