Hello, here's the next one.

Disclaimer: RahXephon and its characters are the rightful property of their respective owners. This piece is not for profitable purposes.

Chapter 2: The RahXephon System

Lord Bähbem?

"Maya, we're going to go inside," Rikudoh Shogo says.

Curious who Lord Bähbem is, I follow silently as he, still holding Sister, and the other man go inside the building.

"The room is prepared for her," the man says.

Rikudoh Shougo responds by nodding his head yes.

We stop in front of a room and the man takes out a key and unlocks the door. I look inside and am frightened by all the machines making loud noises and flashing lights; what are all these doing here?

I am surprised as I see Rikudoh Shougo carry Sister over to the bed and place her on it. A woman in the room approaches Sister, what is she planning?
Worried, I move quickly to the bed and lay my body over Sister's.
My eyes narrowed, I look to the woman and say, "Don't touch her. I won't let you do this."
The woman steps back, appearing startled.
I feel a hand upon my right shoulder and peer back to see Rikudoh Shougo.
"Maya, Quon is very ill. These machines aren't bad, they help people, they can help Quon."
"Sister doesn't need it, she - was fine."
"A Mulian cannot survive in this world without a Dolem."
Hearing a new voice, I turn in its direction, and see an old man has entered the room.
He chuckles quietly before continuing, "It seems you don't recognize me, Maya Arpadis. Of course, Quon wanted to be the one most responsible."
I stand straight, but keep one arm on Sister to shield her.
"I'm sure that she spoke with you about your Dolems and the RahXephon system."
The RahXephon system...
"We are the chosen ones, Maya."
"Chosen?"
"Yes, we will create the melody of the RahXephon system."
"RahXephon..."
She nods her head yes slightly.
"Together, you with your RahXephon and I with my BerXephon, we will..."
"Tune the world, that is your destiny as an Instrumentalist," the man says.
Sister had told me, but I did not fully understand. How would we do it, what does it mean to tune, and where are the RahXephon and BerXephon?
"How rude of me, allow me to introduce myself. In this world, I am called Lord Ernst von Bähbem. Though, in the world that you know, I was called Narcal."
Narcal? I do recognize that name.
"What is the RahXephon system, Sister?"
"It was created by Narcal, he developed it so that the world may be tuned."
"Your Xephon currently exists in this realm, while Quon's does not. That is why you are experiencing no problems and Quon needs these machines to continue to exist."
Angry, I say, "They why aren't you doing anything to find it?"
"It is a function of the system. It will appear in time."
He turns to Rikudoh Shougo and says, "It commences," before leaving the room.
The woman approaches the bed once more, and I reluctantly move my arm away. Although I was not happy with his answer, if this is what will save Sister, I need to let it happen.

I watch painfully, sometimes wincing, as the woman connects Sister to the machines with strange tubes.

I am startled when, at one point, Rikudoh Shougo takes hold of my left hand, but I find myself sometimes squeezing it for support.

The woman finally finishes and leaves the room, the man from the entrance going with her, leaving the three of us behind.

I approach Sister and take hold of her hand.

"Sister, they told me this would help, I thought it was best since I don't want to lose you. I want you to be able to keep your promise."

I stay silent for a moment, half believing that I will hear a response.

"Maya."

Hearing my name, I turn my face to him but remain silent.

"I'll show you your room."

My room?

"There's a room for me?"

He laughs quietly and says, "Of course, but it's in another hallway."

"Why can't I have one close to Sister?"

"Because it's right next to where I'll be teaching you your lessons. There is much for you to learn, about this place – and your role as an Instrumentalist."

Quietly, I say, "Tell me first then, where are we?"

Appearing embarrassed, he says, "I'm sorry, Maya, but I realize now that I hadn't told you before. We are in a country called Japan, in the year 1989, according to the Christian calendar."

"Is there a way – a way Sister and I can go back home?"

He frowns and shakes his head no slowly.

"You are in a different place and time, Maya, you must continue to move forward…."

"To tune the world with Sister."

Neither of us says anything for a few moments before he smiles and says, "I think you'll like the room, and I hope that my lessons won't bore you too much."

Unable to stifle it, I smile slightly at his comment.

Feeling somewhat reassured, I return to the side of Sister's bed and hug her.

I bend towards her ear and say quietly, "It's all right, Sister, I'll make sure that you're okay. Please don't worry about me."

I step away and move towards the door.

Rikudoh Shougo exits, and I look at Sister one more time before I follow him out the door.