Chapter 25: Design Presentation & Socialising
Sonnet transferred the file of the computer model to a disk and left her office. She took the route in reverse that she had travelled from Balcus' office to her own and arrived outside his office door within a matter of minutes. She announced herself to the guards outside, who allowed her to enter. Once inside, she moved to the front of the room and positioned herself in front of Balcus' large chair. Looking around, she noticed a computer with a drive for her disk. She held up the disk and said:
"May I?" while indicating the computer.
When Balcus nodded, she slid the disk into the computer and loaded up her file. The 3D model she had made appeared on Balcus' monitor. The design contained the head of a Gregole, the shoulders of a Vamore, with what appeared to be smaller Vamore pods on the arms, and the rest of the body appeared to be a mix of Xector and Ramotith. She began explaining the details to Dr Balcus:
"As you can see, the new zoanoid is a bit of a hybrid of previous designs, but there are a few changes. This design has the shoulder pods of a Vamore zoanoid but, instead of bio-lasers, the pods discharge Enzyme acid, and there are similar pods in the forearms. The shoulder pods will contain the Anti-Guyver acid that an Enzyme utilises, and the forearms will contain a new acid that I believe the Chemists have recently developed, one that will harden human skin and muscle resulting in complete deterioration within 60 hours."
Balcus interrupted at that point:
"What's the purpose of that?"
Sonnet smiled, as in reality, this acid had been "developed" by Chronos scientists that were actually part of Agito's Zeus Thunderbolt, and it would only leave a minor burn on the victim:
"Because we will have a "cure" for it, which will get us some more "volunteers" for troop processing."
His face didn't change, but he indicated for her to continue, which she did:
"The head is similar to that of Gregole, but has more strength in the mouth, so its bite is stronger. The basic strength of the zoanoid is 30 people. The skin and armour of the zoanoid is taken from the Xector model. Unfortunately, the design limits the number of bio-lasers. Unlike Xector, the maximum is two: one in each palm. Due to the lower body being a Ramotith, the speed of this zoanoid is, in theory, twice the speed of a Derzerb, and the agility is equal to that of a Derzerb."
"It looks impressive, Miss Baji. And you are well informed about that acid, as it's only just been made available company-wide."
"Thank you sir. However, I must repeat that this is all theoretical. Unlike the true scientists, I don't know if the zoanoid fluids can be altered to generate a hybrid like this. In fact, the only case I know of such a hybrid was the one-off model called Ap…"
"Do not say that name in my presence!" Balcus shouted.
Smirking inwardly, she feigned guilt, and apologised.
Balcus immediately seemed to calm down.
"Leave the details with me, and I'll inform you of my decision. Dismissed."
Sonnet bowed, and then left the room. When she returned to her office, she realised that it was close to 18:00. She decided to call it a day, and left. As before, she locked her office door, went to the reception area and signed herself out. As she walked towards her apartment, she wondered:
I wonder if Balcus will realise I didn't add any kind of mental defence to that design? If not, Ran will have no problems in dealing with it, which will really piss off Chronos.
Sonnet entered her apartment building, and returned to her apartment. When she walked in, she was surprised to see Mizuki asleep on the sofa. Not wanting to disturb her, Sonnet went into the kitchen area. She suddenly realised that she had no food of any kind in the apartment, which would be a problem if Mizuki was hungry when she woke up. Sonnet moved from the kitchen to the main bedroom and changed her clothes into something more casual: a pair of blue jeans, a white T-shirt, white socks and pale blue trainers. She picked up the skirt and jacket of her suit and hung it up. The blouse was thrown onto the bed.
When she entered the lounge area, heading for the front door, Mizuki stirred and woke up.
"Sonnet, where are you going?"
"There is nothing to eat here, and I thought you might be hungry. I was going to buy some food and a few other essentials. Want to come along?"
Mizuki looked at the clothes she was wearing, basically a white blouse and a blue knee length skirt, along with navy blue slip-on pumps, that Ran had loaned her, to make sure she looked presentable.
"Sure, why not."
"Great. I can get to know you a little better."
"One thing first, do you have something I can tie my hair back with?"
Mizuki's hair was quite a bit longer than it had been when she first became aware of Chronos and the Guyvers. Instead of being just above her shoulders, it was now hanging down her back, and ended below her shoulder blades.
"Afraid of being recognised?" Sonnet asked.
"Yes. I wouldn't be surprised if Chronos has me on a 'Most Wanted' list. That's part of the reason I let my hair grow, to change my appearance a little."
"I don't actually have anything spare. Hold on."
Sonnet reached to the back of her head and pulled the bands she had used from her braid, allowing her hair to hang freely behind her. Sonnet's long silvery hair ended below her waist, much longer than Mizuki's.
"Shouldn't you be the one wearing these?" Mizuki asked, as she took the bands from Sonnet's hand.
"Nah. I don't like tying my hair back. I prefer leaving it free. I only tie it back when I need to look smart."
Mizuki quickly placed the bands into her hair and then nodded to Sonnet.
"OK. I'm ready now."
The two women left the apartment and headed for the town centre. During the walk Mizuki held out a key to Sonnet.
"Here. It's your spare apartment key. I borrowed it from Ran."
"Thanks." Sonnet replied, taking the key and putting it in a pocket in her jeans.
"Mind if I ask you something?"
"No."
"How come your apartment is so bare? There is nothing on the walls, or anywhere, to indicate that someone lives there."
Sonnet had no immediate answer.
"I'm sorry," Mizuki said, "I've offended you."
"No, you haven't," Sonnet said, "To be honest, I've never really thought about buying pictures and things like that."
"I'm surprised. Don't you have any interests?"
"Other than reading Kyriu's book collection. No, not really."
I'm gonna have to do something about that. Mizuki thought.
Sonnet and Mizuki arrived at the town centre. There were plenty of shops still open. Sonnet immediately went to a cash machine and took some cash out of her account. She offered some of the withdrawn yen to Mizuki.
"I can't take that." She said to Sonnet.
"Why not?"
"I don't think I can pay you back. Not for a while at least."
"That's not a problem. I rarely spend any of my wages; I've no reason to. I have plenty of money, so don't worry about having to pay me back."
"You're sure?"
Sonnet nodded, and held out the yen notes again. This time Mizuki took them.
"Thank you."
"Maybe you should by yourself some more clothes. You can't keep wearing those."
"Good idea, Sonnet. Should we split up and meet back here in, say, half an hour?"
"Fine with me. I'll see you then."
The two women then headed into different shops.
Remember you can talk to me this way as well, if you need to. Sonnet telepathically sent to Mizuki.
Understood. Was the reply.
Sonnet went to a key cutting shop, and asked the man there to copy her spare apartment key. She then went into a supermarket, and picked up a variety of foods, including ramen, rice packets and a couple of instant curries. She also bought some washing powder and cleaning equipment, for washing her clothes and keeping her apartment clean. After paying for the items, she went back to the key cutter, who handed her a copy of her key, as well as her original. She thanked and paid the man, and then went to meet Mizuki.
When she arrived at the point they had split up, Sonnet saw no sign of Mizuki.
Guyver 5, are you OK?
Yes, I'm fine. I'm stuck in a queue in a clothes shop.
Sonnet smiled before replying, OK, I'll see you in a few minutes.
Right.
Sonnet then cut the link. She spotted a small café nearby and went to sit down. She sat down at a table where she could see the meeting area, and ordered two glasses of water. Mizuki showed up about ten minutes later, carrying at least six bags. She sat down in the seat opposite Sonnet.
"Busy shops?" Sonnet queried.
"Yeah, crazy," Mizuki replied. She then noticed the water, "I thought you couldn't drink anything?"
"Not quite. I can't eat anything, since I don't actually have a stomach. But I can drink fluids." Sonnet answered, sliding a glass across to Mizuki.
"Thanks," Mizuki said, picking up the glass and taking a large swig, "If you don't mind my asking, how is it possible for you to drink, but not eat?"
"I'd rather not answer here," Sonnet replied, "Too public."
Mizuki looked around the café.
"I see. I'll ask you back at the apartment."
Sonnet nodded.
"Speaking of which," Mizuki continued, "Am I OK to stay there for now, until Sho contacts me?"
"Of course. Is he having problems?"
"I think they are trying to set up a new place to use as a base of operations and somewhere to live. Until then, he thinks it would be a good idea for me to stay with you."
"Why's that?"
"Among other things, I can be a link between the two groups of us Guyvers."
Mizuki said the word 'Guyvers' telepathically, so that other customers in the café wouldn't hear her.
"OK, fine with me." Sonnet said, putting her hand into a pocket in her jeans and then holding that hand out to Mizuki. Mizuki took the key copy that Sonnet handed to her.
"That's your key to the place. You can use it anytime."
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
The two of them finished their water and left the café, heading back to the apartment. When they returned, Sonnet let Mizuki use her new key, to check that it worked, before entering the apartment and locking the door behind her using her key. Mizuki then removed the bands from her hair and placed them on the counter in the kitchen. The two of them then unpacked the food and other items that Sonnet had bought, before unpacking the small selection of clothes that Mizuki had bought for herself. Among the clothes were a few shirts, undergarments, nightwear, a couple of skirts and a pair of jeans. Mizuki had also bought herself a few hair bands to save her from borrowing Sonnet's in the future.
"Hey, Sonnet?"
"Yes?"
"Mind if I use the bathroom?"
"Go right ahead."
"Thanks."
"Mizuki."
"Yes?"
"Don't bother to ask in the future, while you are staying here at least. You're my roommate for the time being, so treat the place as you would your own home."
Mizuki considered this for a minute then she smiled.
"Thank you."
Sonnet nodded in response to this, and then turned and went into the main bedroom and picked up her blouse from the bed. She took that into the kitchen, and put it into the washing machine. She then went into the lounge area of the apartment. She sat down on the sofa, and wondered what Balcus would decide to do about her design. While she was wondering, she heard water running, and presumed Mizuki was having a shower. About 30 minutes later, Mizuki walked into the lounge area wearing a pair of red pyjamas and sat down in one of the chairs.
"How are you feeling?" Sonnet asked her.
"Pretty good, albeit a bit tired."
"I don't know what it's like to 'die' as a Guyver. I've never been 'killed' so I can't really tell you anything about it. But my guess is, you're tired because you didn't actually sleep while you were regenerating. Your body was in a kind of stasis, which isn't the same."
"You're probably right. By the way, when I spoke to Sho earlier, he asked me to relay a message to you."
"What's that?"
"'We may require your assistance again soon. I hope you'll help.'"
"That's all?"
"Yes. Sounds like he has something planned."
"Or Agito."
"Mind if I ask you again? About why you can drink, but not eat?"
"Sure. I'll try to..."
"What?"
Sonnet's eyes suddenly started glowing blue.
"Get to the roof, and bio-boost." Sonnet told Mizuki.
"What?"
"Just do it. You'll understand."
Sonnet sent a mental image of the roof of the apartment building to Mizuki, who then nodded and teleported herself out of the room. Sonnet's eyes then returned to their regular blue colour. A few seconds later, someone knocked on her apartment door. Sonnet went to the door, and opened it. Outside was a man dressed in a black suit, holding an envelope. He held the envelope out to Sonnet, who took it and then closed the door.
Guyver 5, don't kill that zoanoid. Sonnet ordered.
Why not?
It might get them suspicious about the building's residents.
All right.
Sonnet waited a few minutes, until the man was away from the building, before sending.
OK. All clear.
A minute or two later, Guyver 5 reappeared in the lounge area. The armour then disappeared and Mizuki sat down in the chair she was using a few minutes ago.
"What was that about?" Mizuki asked Sonnet.
"Someone from Chronos wanted to give me something," Sonnet replied, holding up the envelope, "I wonder what it is?"
Sonnet then opened the envelope. Inside it was a message from Dr Balcus. It read:
'Miss Baji,
After considering your design, and the features it has, I have decided to allow two prototypes to be developed. Your input will be required at a later stage.
Dr Balcus.'
