Chapter 14: Something Shockingly Strange
16 hours had passed. Still, computer analysis on blood sample taken from Hikki's body is far from complete. Omega Rugal grew restless; any upcoming result from the test was crucial for him, and he was desperate to see one. The Chrono power he had witnessed during the duel between him and Hikki was so intriguing, he wondered whether it was a power previously unknown to mankind, or it was just a power similar to the Orochi power gifted by Leopold Goenitz.
Omega Rugal, then, turned around and approached a Perplex tube mounted near electronic scanner. Inside the cylindrical encasing was an energy orb spinning and bulging inside the confined vacuum space. It was a tiny portion of the Chrono power extracted from the blood sample. The Kaiser put a hand on the tube and examined the energy orb, as if admiring its metallic blue colour that made up its beauty. Then, as to test the reaction the orb would give, he released a small amount of his Omega power into the tube. The result was surprising; the energy orb unleashed amounts of blue aura to counter the outside interference and engulfed the power, literally 'freezing' the invading entity. Then it suddenly glowed brightly and bounced wildly inside the tube, attempting escape. The resulting shockwave produced from the constant collision caused the scanner to malfunction and shutdown. The energy orb continued to struggle before it subdued and settled down.
"Very interesting," Omega Rugal thought and left the tube. He approached the damaged scanner, only to find that all the system was rendered useless. "It also permanently disrupted these equipments. I'm very sure it's different from both Orochi and Gear power combined, but I must do more analysis on the blood sample."
Omega Rugal left the laboratory and headed toward the Kaiser Hall to meditate. He decided to spend his time on more significant matter than to pointlessly stand in front of the monitor, waiting for the analysis to complete. Curiosity arose, as the image of Hikki murderously glowering at him appeared in his mind. "Those eyes… I thought I had seen them, but where?"
X-x-x-x-x
The Magnolia Village became alive again. After two critical days of recovery, Hikki returned to life and was now able to perform activities he used to do, particularly cosplaying. Already provoked Robo Ky with his talent, Hikki was now choosing the visitors as his target. His lively and mischievous attitude made most of his victims having serious headaches, yet for Yuu it was nothing compared to how grateful she was to see Hikki back in action.
"HIKKI!" Robo Ky roared and chased Hikki, the latter was cosplaying of Konoko (courtesy of ONI). "DAMN YOU! HOW DARE YOUR TRICKED ME! HOW DARE YOU!"
"Hah! Like I want to care," Hikki replied and stuck out his tongue at Robo Ky. Robo Ky was very enraged and puffed out smokes from his exhaust and kept chasing him around the village.
"WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS TEASING PEOPLE WITH YOUR TALENT!?" Robo Ky demanded as the two of them were now running over rooftops.
"Because it's my hobby," Hikki shouted back at Robo Ky, "to entertain people as much as they want."
"TO ENTERTAIN THE HELL WITH IT!" Robo Ky screamed. "YOU ANNOYING PEST! I SHALL CRUSH YOUR BONES ONCE I GET YOU!"
"Catch me if you can! PIIDAH!"
All the visitors watched at the 'cat-and-mouse' chase and just shook head in amazement. "They're surely very energetic today, don't you think Wolfie?" asked Cassandra while the five of them stood at the square.
"They surely are," Lone Wolf SIX spoke and broke in laughter. "Though I found it was damn funny to see Robo Ky freaked out by the Konoko disguise."
[flashback]
Konoko: Hello, Robo Boy. Want to have a date with me?
Robo Ky: CTRL-ALT-DEL! AM I DREAMING OR WHAT?!
Konoko: What's wrong, Robo Boy? Oh, I get it. You're never asked by a woman to go out for a date. Isn't that right, hmm? (seductively smiled)
Robo Ky: UHH, WELL, YOU SEE, IT'S NOT THAT I NEVER HAVE A DATE, BUT…
Konoko: (approached Robo Ky and placed both hands on his chest) but what? (slowly traced a finger down his metallic skin)
Robo Ky: WARNING! WARNING! EXCITEMENT METER REACHES DANGEROUS LEVEL! (gulped as Konoko teasingly fondled and undid his outfit)
Konoko: Robo Boy… (sighed and rested her head on his bare chest) don't you want me to be girlfriend? I've been longing to be with a man with such strength as you are… (encircled her arms around his body) please, take me with you…
[/flashback]
"And when Robo Ky almost said 'yes'," Lone Wolf SIX spoke between his laughs, "Konoko suddenly cried 'EEK! You pervert gay-BOT!' and revealed herself as Hikki!" Almost simultaneously all of them laughed out loud. Robo Ky overheard the laughter and snapped in anger.
"DON'T LAUGH AT ME!" He did not realize that he was floating over a gap between rooftops and crashed on crates below him. All the people stopped laughing and rushed toward the crash site and helped Robo Ky to get off the wooden boxes.
"Hey, you okay?" Hikki asked after he got down from the rooftops.
"DO I LOOK OKAY TO YOU?" Robo Ky replied.
"Come on, I was just trying to help," Hikki spoke.
"I NEED NO ONE TO HELP ME," Robo Ky uttered and hastily stood up and walked toward the hill. "I NEED SOME PRIVACY. NOBODY SHOULD DISTURB ME," he announced and left them. Cassandra grumbled in dismay and put her hands on her hips.
"What a show-off," the Greek swordswoman spoke. "Hey! If you robot don't want to thank us, fine! We won't help you the next time you're in trouble."
"He's one strange robot, you know," Hikki uttered and took off the disguise. "Phew, this suit made me sweating a lot. Eh? Hibiki, where are you going?"
"I'm following Robo Ky," Hibiki told him.
"But didn't you hear him?" Cassandra asked. "He doesn't want to be disturbed."
"I don't care. Whether he wants it or not, I'm going to accompany him," the iaijitsu woman insisted.
"Hibiki-" Cassandra voiced before Lone Wolf SIX signalled her to let her go. "But Wolfie, he's going to hurt her."
"Trust her," the GVS author assured. "If Robo Ky wants to talk with someone, Hibiki's the person." Then he looked at Hibiki who was waiting for his permission. "Take care. Just be careful with Robo Ky, okay?"
"Haii."
On top of the hill.
Robo Ky stood immobile, cursing and swearing and blaming as much as he could. The treatment 'those human' had given was unfair and meant to anger him. He did not like it, especially when he's the one and only Robo Ky to exist. His hand clenched the hilt of the Thunderseal and began channelling electricity into its blade.
"Robo Ky, we need to talk." The PWAB knight turned around and saw Hibiki standing not far from him. He stared at the woman for a while before he grumbled and turned away. "I know you're angry, but I didn't come here to provoke you."
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" Robo Ky questioned.
Hibiki breathed out and slowly approached Robo Ky. "I just want to talk with you, because I noticed that you're…"
"ALONE? I HAVE SUMOMO AS A FRIEND. I AM NOT ALONE," Robo Ky uttered.
"No, that isn't what I mean. Well, you do have Sumomo-san, but the truth is," Hibiki spoke before breathed out again. She approached Robo Ky from the front and stared into his yellow square eyes. "You need a friend from among of us."
Robo Ky stared deeply at the Mueru Maden Ryuu iaijitsu master before he sarcastically laughed. "ME? NEED A HUMAN FRIEND? FOOL! I, THE ONE AND ONLY ROBO KY DOESN'T NEED A HUMAN TO BE MY FRIEND!"
"Chigau!" Hibiki exclaimed. "You still need one, even if he constantly annoys you."
"HIKKI? YOU WANT ME TO BEFRIEND THAT COSPLAYER?" Robo Ky questioned. "NO! I WILL NEVER TRUST HIM! NEVER! AND I WILL NEVER TRUST IN HUMAN FOREVER!"
A hard slap perched on his stainless steel cheek. Robo Ky was astounded; he had been slapped by Hibiki. Rubbing his bruised cheek, he looked at Hibiki and noticed tears forming in her eyes well.
"Baaka! How could you say such detested things," Hibiki scolded and clenched her fist. "Onegai, Robo Ky. Don't misjudge the people around you just because some of us mistreat you. Onegai…"
For a while, Robo Ky stared at the woman who slowly broke into tears. Then he frowned and had his own version of angsty expression. "PEOPLE AROUND ME…?" he half-whispered.
"Haii, people around you," Hibiki spoke, trying not to cry. "You may say that some of us dislike you, but most of us don't. We don't hate or dislike you just because you're an artificial being." She wiped off all tears and continued speaking, her glassy eyes kept on staring at the robot. "If you still don't like us, please think of your creator. If he sees you like this, what would he feel? What would he say when his most prized creation acts in such… behaviour?"
"MY CREATOR…" Then Robo Ky startled. A part of his memory previously unknown knocked his subconscious. A memory of a researcher emerged in his mind. A memory he had forgotten for a very long time; long before he was handed over to the Post-War Administrative Bureau.
Robo Ky shrugged and held his head, mumbling under his robotic breath. Hibiki was curious and asked whether he was fine. "MY MEMORY… I THINK IT SHOULD BE PUT TO A TEMPORARY REST," the robot spoke and lowered his Thunderseal. "HIBIKI."
"Haii?" Hibiki voiced.
"I… I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY FOR BEHAVING RUDE TO YOU." Then he lifted his head and looked at her. "I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU CRY A MOMENT AGO, BUT I'M SO SORRY."
Hibiki could not help but to giggle. "Daijoobu, Robo Ky." She reached his hand and firmly took a hold on it. "Robo Ky, if you need anything, I'll be grateful to help you."
"YOU REALLY THINK SO?" Robo Ky asked.
"Of course," she answered and smiled.
Robo Ky was silent again. His database was trying to figure out what kind of help he needed the most. Then the troubled Holy Order fighting style came to his mind. Already damaged from previous battles, he thought that it would be sufficient to look for alternative combat techniques.
And he had found the one who would help him.
"HIBIKI," Robo Ky uttered and held her hand in return. "WILL YOU TEACH ME ALL ABOUT IAIJITSU?"
x-x-x-x-x
Back to the Black Noah ship.
Omega Rugal was still inside the Kaiser Hall for his meditation session. The computer that analysed the blood sample was left unattended, performing the analysis by self-automation operation. He decided not to interfere with the process, and proceeded with his meditation.
Unknown to him, however, the analysis was complete. Documents were coming out from nearby printer, page by page, all showing data from the analysis done on the blood sample.
The result of the analysis?
"Negative. Analysis has found that the DNA doesn't match those of the Orochi clan. Study has also shown that the owner of the extracted DNA has no obvious relationship with the Howard family, even though his fighting style was identical to Kobojutsu and Hakkyokuseiken. Even the origin of the Chrono power has yet to be discovered due to tack of database regarding the illusive power." A part of the printed document revealed. "This experiment will continue until all data are revealed."
x-x-x-x-x
Bridget was getting annoyed. Not only Malin was following him everywhere, she never stopped offering to become his TAG partner. Despite his stern warning not to bother him, the girl remained insistent as ever and kept on her efforts.
"Just stop following me!" Bridget roared and withdrew his metal yo-yo. "Look, Malin. I don't know why you're so persistent to become my TAG partner, but just stop following me. Okay?"
"Aww, what's wrong with you Bridget?" Malin asked and teasingly giggled. Then she approached Bridget and closed her face to his, as to watch his enraged eyes. "I'm not going to flirt on you like what everyone else has expected."
"Yeah, right," Bridget replied and pouted, much to Malin's delighted surprise.
"Well, look at that," she spoke and poked his cheek. "Pouting like a clownfish frustrated at himself because his joke doesn't work. Let me sing for you, buddy."
Bridget glowered at Malin. "Don't"
"Oh, yes. I do."
"I said don't."
"Do."
"Don't."
"Do."
"Don't."
"Do."
"Do."
Silence. Then Bridget grumbled disapprovingly and folded his arms. "Fine, fine. Just do whatever you want. Sheesh."
Malin leaped in excitement and began singing, as to please the Brit crossdresser. "Just keep walking, just keep walking; just keep walking, walking, walking; just keep walking, just keep-"
"Will you stop singing that song?" Bridget demanded with a vein popped on his head. "Why are you acting like that blue fish who suffers from short-term memory lapse?"
Under the sea, Dory was listening to Marlin's story when she suddenly sneezed. "Something wrong, Dory?" the clownfish asked.
"I don't know," Dory said and rubbed her nose. "But I think somebody's picking on me."
Malin stopped singing the song and looked at Bridget. "Well, what do you know," she uttered and giggled, "Our crossdresser hates that song very much."
"Stop acting like that fish!" Bridget demanded.
Again, at the Great Barrier Reef, Dory sneezed, much to Marlin's concern. "Dory, are you sure you're okay?" Marlin asked.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Dory assured and shrugged.
"Okay, I'll stop doing it," Malin surrendered and stared at Bridget. "What's wrong with you today, Bridget? You seem to be bothered by something."
"Yeah, yeah," Bridget uttered and shrugged. "Just stop worrying of me."
"Oh, okay then."
Bridget and Malin were heading toward an inn when they were called by someone from distance. Both turned around and saw Athena and Justine waving at them, in which Malin happily waved back at them. "We're in luck. Instead of forming a TAG, we should form a team. What do you say, Bridget?" Malin suggested as she greeted Athena and Justine.
"Hey, who's making decision in here?" Bridget questioned.
"Come on. It's going to be a lot more exciting if there are four of us," Malin assured.
Bridget slapped his forehead and grumbled in dismay. "Great. Now I have the narrator girl, a goddess in disguise and a super-cute command Gear accompanying me. GAH! I'm so going to kill him…!"
x-x-x-x-x
Zofeah was walking down the Chao Praya River. Heading to a destination he only knew, he had decided to pay a visit to the majestic and mystical land of the Siam. Merely a simple walk-around tour, he had no intention of challenging most of the Muay Thai artists he encountered, though some of them did declare their challenge in which he disregarded it. He wasn't interested in fighting for the moment; all he wanted to do was just walking around, enjoying as much the beauty of the region as he could.
He halted his steps. Standing before him was a man he had encountered before, way back at South Town. "We meet again, Legendary Wolf," he uttered.
"This is surely an encounter I've expected to happen," Terry spoke.
"I noticed that," Zofeah said. He summoned his Shishi belt and transformed it into a pair of kodachi. He opened a battle stance and stared at Terry. "Just talking isn't enough for the two of us. We should have this battle started quickly."
"Well, you're the one who asked for it," Terry replied and opened his stance. "Come on. This wolf spirit is hungry for the taste of your strength."
Zofeah merely grinned and lowered his stance, the twin blades pointing backwards. "Let's go."