Chapter 10:: What the F is goin On??
Author's pathetic excuse to try and get some people to read her other story: If you like the insane antics of Xenogears TYOD, then you should read Blitzkrieg9688's original story Knights of the God's Realm under Original and Fantasy! …. OK, as I mentioned, that was pathetic, I'm sorry, I'll crawl back into my hole now.
"Jessie! Primera!!" Karina cried as she burst into the busy room.
"Whoa whoa whoa, Billy's Wife." Jessie laughed. "Calm do--" Jessie trailed off when he saw Karina's blood stained clothes. "Karina, what happened?!" He said quickly.
"I-It's Billy!! He… He…" Karina trailed off.
Primera blinked and her eyes grew wide.
"He's been what?" Jessie snatched her shoulders.
"Shot!! He's been shot!" Karina cried.
Primera's jaw went slack and her bottom lip trembled.
"…What?" Jessie paled and he shook his head, as if he couldn't quite register this. "W-What??"
"He…" Karina looked down and clenched her cold blood-soaked hands.
"Who did this?!" Jessie yelled and shook her.
"I… I… It was…. Himself…" Karina wailed and pulled away.
"Hey…" Fei walked up and stopped at the sight of Jessie and Karina. "I saw Rico and Doc leave pretty quick, what's going on??" He quickly stepped forward and asked quickly, "Whoa, hey, what happened, Karina?!"
"Yeah…" Sierra blinked as she walked up. "Did you mess yourself?"
"Sierra…" Karina looked at her and bit her lip.
"I suggest," The cold voice of Erich cut into the conversation. "That we head back to the Yggdrasil immediately. Most favorably before we attract more attention."
"Of course…" Karina shuddered as Brad burst into the small circle of people.
"Karina!!" Brad yelled and hugged her close. "I saw Bart talking to Rico and Citan about something that happened to Billy and that you might be in danger… Are you alright?!"
"Brad… I'm fine… but…"
"Girl!" Kajumei chirped as she walked up, a drink in her hand, a knocked out Ziggy in the other. "What the hell is going on?!"
"That's what I've been damn well tryin to figure out!" Jessie snapped and grabbed Karina. "What happened already?!"
"Lay off, Jessiah." Sierra snapped and hit his hand out of the way.
"Hurry up!" Erich snapped. "Fei, go and get the others, we will meet you on the Yggdrasil…" He snapped and spun around, exiting the room.
"Where did that punk come from?!" Brad yelled and followed him.
"Oh… Primera… I'm so sorry…" Karina knelt down next to Primera and stroked her hair. "I really am…" She smiled a little. "I promise your brother will be alright…"
Primera nodded slightly and clung onto Karina's hand and shivered a little.
"I'm gonna go get the others…" Fei said quietly and rushed off.
"Right." Jessie nodded and stomped past Karina and Primera. Karina stood up, took Primera's hand and walked out of the room slowly.
**********
"….You failed." A voice said coldly and the clone of Billy stepped back.
"My apologies, master." He bowed slightly. "I could not help it…" He murmured. "They have a boy with them, a boy of formidable power."
"A mere boy?" A female's voice snapped. "You are a weak fool."
"There was something different about him." Billy said coldly and stepped back, wincing at the pain in his lower gut.
"Hmn." A third voice hummed. "Go get yourself repaired…"
"Sir." Billy nodded and exited the room.
"We cannot lose the angel again." The first voice said coldly.
"The time of the Kuluxx is coming like the changing of the seasons." The second added.
"We'll have to attack differently this time." The third voice commented.
"Contact LeRage… I have a feeling we could get her to help us…"
**********
"Oh… Citan!!" Karina looked up, now dressed in a long white robe. "Is he…" She walked up to him as he rubbed his hands together and sighed.
"With all of my observations, he should be fine, how he will recover is still rather clouded, however. He should be awake in a few hours." Citan murmured and smiled a little. "Where is young Primera? I hope she is not too frightened by this."
"Who wouldn't be…?" Brad snapped. "One minute your brother goes into a dance club with my sister, who he better have not touched, the next, he's fodder."
"Brad!" Karina snapped and turned sharply to Brad.
"What?"
"Don't say it like that…" Karina murmured and looked away, biting her lower lip nervously. "Anyway…" Karina looked down. "She is sound asleep, for lack of a better word…"
"Hmph."
"You better take the best care of him as possible, Hyuga, if you don't, I'll-" Jessie began, but Citan held up a hand as a sign to stop.
"He is in good hands, Jessiah, don't fret." Citan smiled and walked into the Gunroom, where the others were waiting patiently.
"Is he alright?" Bart stood up.
Karina smiled and sighed. "He's fine…"
"Good." Fei nodded.
"Although his existence is rather meaningless, I suppose it is a relief that he is recovering." Erich said quietly and everybody turned to him.
"Aw, did the little imp forget to change his diapy?" Brad said sarcastically.
"Shut your mouth." Erich hissed and sat down on one of the stools.
"Anyway, munchkin…" Bart trailed off and leaned against him.
"What the f is goin on??" Sierra snapped and folded her arms.
"…Did any of you notice anything strange happen lately?" Erich looked down and shut his clouded eyes.
"Well, Bart is less potent than usual… But seriously… Umm…" Fei blinked and looked down.
The group sat in silence, when Elly stood up.
"I've got it!" She smiled. "The gears. They started operating again!"
"Yeah, they did!" Maria sat up and grinned.
"Exactly." Erich nodded and folded his arms. "Anyone have any ideas on this…?"
"Um…" Bart blinked.
"I have a feeling…." Rico trailed off. "That this has something to do with that organization you spoke of."
"You all are sharper than I thought…" Erich smiled rather coldly.
"Soooooo?" Emeralda stood up.
"So?" Erich looked harshly at the group. "Would you like to know?"
"Spill your guts, midget!!" Kajumei yelled. "Bart-o filled me in on everything else, and I wanna know!" She grabbed him in a headlock. "I wanna know why these creeps are after my chica gurl and why they decided to shoot her kissy kissy poo poo bear!"
"Unhand me!" Erich snapped and pulled away.
"Erich… Please…" Karina bit her lip again and looked down. "I have to know…"
Erich squinted slightly and rolled his eyes. "Very well. As you all know… The gears became for lack of a better word, dead after the monster Deus was destroyed, correct?"
"Your story seems vaguely correct." Citan nodded.
"Well… As of a few months ago a cycle began that occurs only every 10,000,000 years… This being that year would mark the 1st anniversary of the ancient event known as the Kuluxx. In that time, demons are summoned from the earth, and some of the vilest creatures are unleashed, some possibly worse than Deus." Erich paused and looked at them. "Mother Earth needs protection from these beings, and she brought back to life the most powerful weapons for her defense; The Omnigears and the Gears. She pulsed her own power into the originally created from her weapons to protect her from this evil. So, in a way, for giving the Gears to the men, Mother Earth is asking for a favor."
"So some ancient chick in the center of the Earth is bringing our Gears back?? Sounds hoaky to me." Bart murmured.
"Mother Earth is not 'some ancient chick'. It is the very soul of the Earth, and since no humans can possibly comprehend her true form, she comes in a simpler form…"
"Like Mama Earth could show up as a bubble?" Bart grinned.
Erich sighed and shook his head. "I suppose."
"Bart, shut up." Rico snapped. He was presently perched on Ziggy, who was still knocked out.
"Anyway…" Erich looked back down. "The clone of Billy that shot him was just that, a clone. Do you all remember being captured in Solaris?"
"Yes, but how do you know--" Emeralda blinked and looked up.
"They took DNA samples from you… It was originally to test for Ether levels. However, some of the scientists in charge of it were part of that radical group that originated in Solaris, and after observing the data on the specimens, decided they were adequate for weapons when the time came for the Kuluxx. They managed to escape in the fall of Solaris, and since then have been engineering your clones, one for each of you. The are extraordinarily powerful, their capabilities are enhanced by almost two times. However, most of their body is formed by advanced machinery. They are more machine than man."
"A clone of each of us?" Elly blinked.
"…Why did this have to happen?" Karina asked quietly and everyone turned to her. "Billy got hurt because of me…"
"It wasn't your fault!" Maria cried and walked up to her.
"Yes it was…" Karina smiled sadly and looked at them. "Perhaps I should just give myself to them and stop causing you all such trouble…"
Erich's eyes flashed and he stormed up to her and with a one quick move, ran a hard slap across her face.
Karina looked down, her face reddening. Tears stung her eyes.
"You idiot!" Erich yelled. "Never say that! Not once should you lose your courage, you fool!" He snapped and turned away.
"Hey, you little punk!!" Brad yelled and began to go up to Erich, but Karina stopped him. "Kari??"
"No, Brad, he's right. I have to be strong." Karina smiled a little and glared at Erich. "However I would rather be put back into reality a little more politely." She snapped.
Erich squinted. "Forgive me." He said coldly.
"That arrogant punk." Kajumei snapped.
"Arrogant is an understatement." Bart hissed.
"Citan… Could I go see Billy… Oh please…" Karina looked at him.
"Of course…" Citan nodded. "Go right ahead."
"Thank you…" Karina nodded and walked out of the Gunroom.
"She is losing her resolve…" Erich hissed and folded his arms.
"And you're helping a lot, punk." Brad snapped through clenched teeth.
"Did I ask for your point of view, idiot?" Erich glared at Brad.
"Sigurd…" Sierra looked at him seriously. "Could we talk?" She murmured.
"Sure…" Sigurd shrugged and left the room with Sierra.
"Hmn." Citan squinted. ~ Don't get too wound up, Sigurd… I smell betrayal mixed in her perfume. ~ He thought and looked away.
"You feel it too, Hyu?" Jessie looked at him.
"How could you tell?" Citan smiled at him.
"You're a genius, Hyuga, but anyone could read you like a book." Jessie shrugged.
"Really?" Citan smiled a little wider. "I'll have to try and do better at hiding my thoughts…"
Emeralda yawned and stood up. "I'm sure we'll feel better in the morning…" She said quietly. "I'm going to bed… Goodnight."
The group said their goodnights to her and she left the room.
"Me too…" Elly nodded and followed, Maria and Fei filtering out as well.
"I don't like this, Jessie, Citan, Rico… I don't like it at all." Bart muttered. Kajumei and Brad looked at him. "You two also…"
"None of us do, young one." Citan smiled slightly. "We should be going to bed too…"
"Hey, Brad, I wanna talk to you, OK?" Kajumei stood up and left the room, her arms folded.
"Right." Brad nodded. "Goodnight, guys."
"Night." The others shouted.
Rico paused and looked down. "I don't think anyone has truly realized what has happened."
"They are denying it." Jessie folded his arms.
"It's simple human nature… Block out what you don't want to remember…" Citan nodded.
"I've got a feeling we'll be doing that a lot pretty soon." Bart pushed off of the bar and walked to the door. "I'll be hittin' the sack, later guys." He nodded and left the room.
"I'm going to bed too…" Rico stood up and followed Bart to the rooms.
"Right… Wanna go spy on Sig and Sierra, Hyu?" Jessie looked at Citan.
"Sounds fun, actually." Citan nodded and the two left the room, turning off the lights.
Only one shadow remained in the room. Erich, who had slipped off to the corner walked out and looked into the darkness. "None of you realize that the sky is going to darken permanently soon, the ground seeped in you and your families blood. It's a pity." Erich shook his head and left the room silently.
A soft thud sounded as Ziggy fell to the floor, from where he had been laying, sprawled on the couch. "Whoa, Mon, what happened?" He blinked and looked into the darkness.
Author's pathetic excuse to try and get some people to read her other story: If you like the insane antics of Xenogears TYOD, then you should read Blitzkrieg9688's original story Knights of the God's Realm under Original and Fantasy! …. OK, as I mentioned, that was pathetic, I'm sorry, I'll crawl back into my hole now.
"Jessie! Primera!!" Karina cried as she burst into the busy room.
"Whoa whoa whoa, Billy's Wife." Jessie laughed. "Calm do--" Jessie trailed off when he saw Karina's blood stained clothes. "Karina, what happened?!" He said quickly.
"I-It's Billy!! He… He…" Karina trailed off.
Primera blinked and her eyes grew wide.
"He's been what?" Jessie snatched her shoulders.
"Shot!! He's been shot!" Karina cried.
Primera's jaw went slack and her bottom lip trembled.
"…What?" Jessie paled and he shook his head, as if he couldn't quite register this. "W-What??"
"He…" Karina looked down and clenched her cold blood-soaked hands.
"Who did this?!" Jessie yelled and shook her.
"I… I… It was…. Himself…" Karina wailed and pulled away.
"Hey…" Fei walked up and stopped at the sight of Jessie and Karina. "I saw Rico and Doc leave pretty quick, what's going on??" He quickly stepped forward and asked quickly, "Whoa, hey, what happened, Karina?!"
"Yeah…" Sierra blinked as she walked up. "Did you mess yourself?"
"Sierra…" Karina looked at her and bit her lip.
"I suggest," The cold voice of Erich cut into the conversation. "That we head back to the Yggdrasil immediately. Most favorably before we attract more attention."
"Of course…" Karina shuddered as Brad burst into the small circle of people.
"Karina!!" Brad yelled and hugged her close. "I saw Bart talking to Rico and Citan about something that happened to Billy and that you might be in danger… Are you alright?!"
"Brad… I'm fine… but…"
"Girl!" Kajumei chirped as she walked up, a drink in her hand, a knocked out Ziggy in the other. "What the hell is going on?!"
"That's what I've been damn well tryin to figure out!" Jessie snapped and grabbed Karina. "What happened already?!"
"Lay off, Jessiah." Sierra snapped and hit his hand out of the way.
"Hurry up!" Erich snapped. "Fei, go and get the others, we will meet you on the Yggdrasil…" He snapped and spun around, exiting the room.
"Where did that punk come from?!" Brad yelled and followed him.
"Oh… Primera… I'm so sorry…" Karina knelt down next to Primera and stroked her hair. "I really am…" She smiled a little. "I promise your brother will be alright…"
Primera nodded slightly and clung onto Karina's hand and shivered a little.
"I'm gonna go get the others…" Fei said quietly and rushed off.
"Right." Jessie nodded and stomped past Karina and Primera. Karina stood up, took Primera's hand and walked out of the room slowly.
**********
"….You failed." A voice said coldly and the clone of Billy stepped back.
"My apologies, master." He bowed slightly. "I could not help it…" He murmured. "They have a boy with them, a boy of formidable power."
"A mere boy?" A female's voice snapped. "You are a weak fool."
"There was something different about him." Billy said coldly and stepped back, wincing at the pain in his lower gut.
"Hmn." A third voice hummed. "Go get yourself repaired…"
"Sir." Billy nodded and exited the room.
"We cannot lose the angel again." The first voice said coldly.
"The time of the Kuluxx is coming like the changing of the seasons." The second added.
"We'll have to attack differently this time." The third voice commented.
"Contact LeRage… I have a feeling we could get her to help us…"
**********
"Oh… Citan!!" Karina looked up, now dressed in a long white robe. "Is he…" She walked up to him as he rubbed his hands together and sighed.
"With all of my observations, he should be fine, how he will recover is still rather clouded, however. He should be awake in a few hours." Citan murmured and smiled a little. "Where is young Primera? I hope she is not too frightened by this."
"Who wouldn't be…?" Brad snapped. "One minute your brother goes into a dance club with my sister, who he better have not touched, the next, he's fodder."
"Brad!" Karina snapped and turned sharply to Brad.
"What?"
"Don't say it like that…" Karina murmured and looked away, biting her lower lip nervously. "Anyway…" Karina looked down. "She is sound asleep, for lack of a better word…"
"Hmph."
"You better take the best care of him as possible, Hyuga, if you don't, I'll-" Jessie began, but Citan held up a hand as a sign to stop.
"He is in good hands, Jessiah, don't fret." Citan smiled and walked into the Gunroom, where the others were waiting patiently.
"Is he alright?" Bart stood up.
Karina smiled and sighed. "He's fine…"
"Good." Fei nodded.
"Although his existence is rather meaningless, I suppose it is a relief that he is recovering." Erich said quietly and everybody turned to him.
"Aw, did the little imp forget to change his diapy?" Brad said sarcastically.
"Shut your mouth." Erich hissed and sat down on one of the stools.
"Anyway, munchkin…" Bart trailed off and leaned against him.
"What the f is goin on??" Sierra snapped and folded her arms.
"…Did any of you notice anything strange happen lately?" Erich looked down and shut his clouded eyes.
"Well, Bart is less potent than usual… But seriously… Umm…" Fei blinked and looked down.
The group sat in silence, when Elly stood up.
"I've got it!" She smiled. "The gears. They started operating again!"
"Yeah, they did!" Maria sat up and grinned.
"Exactly." Erich nodded and folded his arms. "Anyone have any ideas on this…?"
"Um…" Bart blinked.
"I have a feeling…." Rico trailed off. "That this has something to do with that organization you spoke of."
"You all are sharper than I thought…" Erich smiled rather coldly.
"Soooooo?" Emeralda stood up.
"So?" Erich looked harshly at the group. "Would you like to know?"
"Spill your guts, midget!!" Kajumei yelled. "Bart-o filled me in on everything else, and I wanna know!" She grabbed him in a headlock. "I wanna know why these creeps are after my chica gurl and why they decided to shoot her kissy kissy poo poo bear!"
"Unhand me!" Erich snapped and pulled away.
"Erich… Please…" Karina bit her lip again and looked down. "I have to know…"
Erich squinted slightly and rolled his eyes. "Very well. As you all know… The gears became for lack of a better word, dead after the monster Deus was destroyed, correct?"
"Your story seems vaguely correct." Citan nodded.
"Well… As of a few months ago a cycle began that occurs only every 10,000,000 years… This being that year would mark the 1st anniversary of the ancient event known as the Kuluxx. In that time, demons are summoned from the earth, and some of the vilest creatures are unleashed, some possibly worse than Deus." Erich paused and looked at them. "Mother Earth needs protection from these beings, and she brought back to life the most powerful weapons for her defense; The Omnigears and the Gears. She pulsed her own power into the originally created from her weapons to protect her from this evil. So, in a way, for giving the Gears to the men, Mother Earth is asking for a favor."
"So some ancient chick in the center of the Earth is bringing our Gears back?? Sounds hoaky to me." Bart murmured.
"Mother Earth is not 'some ancient chick'. It is the very soul of the Earth, and since no humans can possibly comprehend her true form, she comes in a simpler form…"
"Like Mama Earth could show up as a bubble?" Bart grinned.
Erich sighed and shook his head. "I suppose."
"Bart, shut up." Rico snapped. He was presently perched on Ziggy, who was still knocked out.
"Anyway…" Erich looked back down. "The clone of Billy that shot him was just that, a clone. Do you all remember being captured in Solaris?"
"Yes, but how do you know--" Emeralda blinked and looked up.
"They took DNA samples from you… It was originally to test for Ether levels. However, some of the scientists in charge of it were part of that radical group that originated in Solaris, and after observing the data on the specimens, decided they were adequate for weapons when the time came for the Kuluxx. They managed to escape in the fall of Solaris, and since then have been engineering your clones, one for each of you. The are extraordinarily powerful, their capabilities are enhanced by almost two times. However, most of their body is formed by advanced machinery. They are more machine than man."
"A clone of each of us?" Elly blinked.
"…Why did this have to happen?" Karina asked quietly and everyone turned to her. "Billy got hurt because of me…"
"It wasn't your fault!" Maria cried and walked up to her.
"Yes it was…" Karina smiled sadly and looked at them. "Perhaps I should just give myself to them and stop causing you all such trouble…"
Erich's eyes flashed and he stormed up to her and with a one quick move, ran a hard slap across her face.
Karina looked down, her face reddening. Tears stung her eyes.
"You idiot!" Erich yelled. "Never say that! Not once should you lose your courage, you fool!" He snapped and turned away.
"Hey, you little punk!!" Brad yelled and began to go up to Erich, but Karina stopped him. "Kari??"
"No, Brad, he's right. I have to be strong." Karina smiled a little and glared at Erich. "However I would rather be put back into reality a little more politely." She snapped.
Erich squinted. "Forgive me." He said coldly.
"That arrogant punk." Kajumei snapped.
"Arrogant is an understatement." Bart hissed.
"Citan… Could I go see Billy… Oh please…" Karina looked at him.
"Of course…" Citan nodded. "Go right ahead."
"Thank you…" Karina nodded and walked out of the Gunroom.
"She is losing her resolve…" Erich hissed and folded his arms.
"And you're helping a lot, punk." Brad snapped through clenched teeth.
"Did I ask for your point of view, idiot?" Erich glared at Brad.
"Sigurd…" Sierra looked at him seriously. "Could we talk?" She murmured.
"Sure…" Sigurd shrugged and left the room with Sierra.
"Hmn." Citan squinted. ~ Don't get too wound up, Sigurd… I smell betrayal mixed in her perfume. ~ He thought and looked away.
"You feel it too, Hyu?" Jessie looked at him.
"How could you tell?" Citan smiled at him.
"You're a genius, Hyuga, but anyone could read you like a book." Jessie shrugged.
"Really?" Citan smiled a little wider. "I'll have to try and do better at hiding my thoughts…"
Emeralda yawned and stood up. "I'm sure we'll feel better in the morning…" She said quietly. "I'm going to bed… Goodnight."
The group said their goodnights to her and she left the room.
"Me too…" Elly nodded and followed, Maria and Fei filtering out as well.
"I don't like this, Jessie, Citan, Rico… I don't like it at all." Bart muttered. Kajumei and Brad looked at him. "You two also…"
"None of us do, young one." Citan smiled slightly. "We should be going to bed too…"
"Hey, Brad, I wanna talk to you, OK?" Kajumei stood up and left the room, her arms folded.
"Right." Brad nodded. "Goodnight, guys."
"Night." The others shouted.
Rico paused and looked down. "I don't think anyone has truly realized what has happened."
"They are denying it." Jessie folded his arms.
"It's simple human nature… Block out what you don't want to remember…" Citan nodded.
"I've got a feeling we'll be doing that a lot pretty soon." Bart pushed off of the bar and walked to the door. "I'll be hittin' the sack, later guys." He nodded and left the room.
"I'm going to bed too…" Rico stood up and followed Bart to the rooms.
"Right… Wanna go spy on Sig and Sierra, Hyu?" Jessie looked at Citan.
"Sounds fun, actually." Citan nodded and the two left the room, turning off the lights.
Only one shadow remained in the room. Erich, who had slipped off to the corner walked out and looked into the darkness. "None of you realize that the sky is going to darken permanently soon, the ground seeped in you and your families blood. It's a pity." Erich shook his head and left the room silently.
A soft thud sounded as Ziggy fell to the floor, from where he had been laying, sprawled on the couch. "Whoa, Mon, what happened?" He blinked and looked into the darkness.