Chapter 6 - The 'ploid, The Scout, and the Date
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~2010, Amy's House 4:52 PM (next day)~
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT ISN'T HERE?!!!"
I sighed. Rei was a great friend, and a great scout, but the screaming she did when she was angry could get on your nerves. I attempted to calm her down.
"It's okay, after he woke up…"
"YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T WAKE HIM WITHOUT US HERE!"
Lita this time.
Today is not going to go well.
I had called the others over without thinking to tell them one at a time that X was no longer in my custody.
Bad move…
"HE WOKE UP ON HIS OWN, OKAY!"
Who said that? For that matter, what do I say now? Why's it so silent? Why's everyone staring at me?
Oh, wait.
I screamed that time. Innocent, shy little Amy screamed at someone.
I blushed furiously.
"Why don't you tell us what happened Amy."
Serena spoke then, rather timidly.
"Fine, it's like this. His story is that he is what is called a Reploid. A reploid is a machine that has emotions and sentient life. It exists, and knows it exists and, more importantly, it cares that it exists. I know, if it were true, it would have been in countless magazines and people would be paying millions just to speak with it, but that's the thing. It hasn't been invented. Here."
"Don't tell me he's from the future."
Rei was more than a little sarcastic when she spoke.
"No. I said 'here', not 'yet'. He claims that he and the other reploids we've been fighting are from another dimension. He's some sort of police officer there, and was sent to hunt down the ones we've been fighting."
"Wait, if that's true, why not just program them not to hurt humans?"
Darien had a small frown on his face.
"Because a robot that can think for itself can disobey any programming put into it. As a result some came to hate humans, a started a war on them, so their 'creator' Dr. Cain, formed the 'Maverick Hunters' to stop them. They were apparently doing well until these 'mavericks' came here."
Darien nodded, then frowned again.
"Wait, why is he here alone then? Why not send several, if not ten or twenty?"
"I asked that too, and all he said was that he was the only one able to survive here for any long length of time, and since he has almost no chance of going home, it would have been a suicide mission for anyone else."
"Why is he the only one?"
This came from Lita, now sitting, and a great deal calmer.
"He said something about him being extremely advanced, but I don't quite believe him. He wasn't too sure of himself as he said it."
"It doesn't seem to make any sense. I can't believe that you believe this… this… thing! Advanced robots from another dimension? Maybe, we've seen stranger, but to believe that it isn't one of them! I don't like it."
This was from Rei again, quieter, but not much calmer. I paused to rub my temples.
I have a headache. A large one.
"I think the story is plausible, after all, why send out a probe to scan the civilization a full month after you make your first attack. That's what didn't make sense before. He may be lying about what he is, but I don't think he's lying about who he is and why he's here, or he would have had an easy time killing me as I stood there."
"Fine, but I don't like it."
With Rei's grumbling and grudging agreement the meeting adjourned. Darien left. The others did not. As I struggled to figure out why my fellow scouts had not yet left, Serena spoke up.
"Oh, Amy…"
"Yes, Serena."
I said this evenly. I was rather proud of that fact. I knew that tone of voice. That was the voice that said 'I have something devious up my sleeve and you'll hate me for it tomorrow'.
"We're not going anywhere just yet, we have to help you get ready for your date tonight."
"What are you talking about Serena I don…"
She didn't!!!
She did.
Why does she always set me up like this? Uh oh. Better say no before she considers my silence acquiescence.
"Serena, I don't think a blind date is such a g…"
"Nonsense, it's not a blind date, it's Rock."
"Rock?"
"Yeah, you know, the guy who tried to defend Darien and me when 'Big Bird' came in to my apartment through the living room wall? The guy who you later spent hours staring into his eyes? I know you were supposed to be checking him out, but that wasn't what the police had in mind."
I'm certain I was beet red as the other girls laughed.
"Come on, he'll be here at seven and you have to be ready."
I groaned, but complied, Serena was going to get what she wanted one way or another.
Mina, silent up until this point now spoke up. "Is he cute?"
~2010, Halo Apartments: Rock's Apartment 6:27 PM~
I stared at myself in the mirror as I dressed for my 'date'. I was slightly dressed up in a dark blue sweater and black slacks.
Irony at its finest. What do I tell her today? Where should I say I come from? Or should I lie at all? Why are emotions so much more confusing when you're a human? Must be the hormones. I wonder if this will go okay. I hope it does. I mean, I never even dated other reploids, much less humans. Oh, well if it doesn't… wait. Am I actually excited about this? She is kind of nice, but…
And for the second time in as many days, my thoughts trailed off incoherently, leaving only a confused mess behind.
~2010, Mizuno Residence 6:57 PM~
I was feeling decidedly nervous. He would be here in a few minutes.
I always am when Serena tries to set me up with someone. Some of the guys she's set me up with before were nice, but they just weren't my type.
I frowned at this.
Just what is my type? Do I even have one?
I sighed.
Yes, I do have a type. Someone who can keep up with my intelligence is a must, I can't have a good relationship with someone who doesn't understand me.
There are always problems though…
Every time I actually meet a guy, a nice guy, not arrogant, with a decent intelligence level, I'm always called away on some Scout business, which usually nullifies my chances at another date. Sometimes being a Scout isn't all it's cracked up to be.
But, to me, being a Scout is more than a job; it's a calling. I protect people who can't protect themselves. I sighed once more, and then straightened myself as the doorbell rang.
Life isn't easy.
~2010, Mizuno Residence 7:01 PM~
I was nervous. Not sweating bullets nervous, but that special kind of petrified nervousness that only shows itself in your eyes and unusually stiff posture until it makes you run away screaming. I imagine my eyes were a little wild and my movements a little jerky as I opened the door of my rental car for Amy as we walked around the midnight blue sedan.
I really hope Zero knew what he taught.
I pulled the car out of the driveway, and went off down the road, into the night.
"So, Rock, what do you do for a living?"
Uh oh. Think fast.
"I… I'm currently between jobs at the moment."
Unless you count blowing away mavericks a job…
"Oh, well, what did you do?"
A plan of action quickly formed in my head.
"Well, to be honest, I only recently got my masters in computer science, and am still looking for a job in that area. What about you?"
"Well, actually, I'm a part time pediatrician. I don't have anything besides an occasional check-up these days. What about your family?"
Not good.
I decided to respond with half-truths. I told her that I had no family left, but as a result had a decent bank balance. We talked for a while, before I parked the car, and we exited and entered the restaurant.
~2010, Restaurant, 7:32 PM~
The food was delicious.
The atmosphere was pleasant.
My date was charming in a shy sense of the word.
I had yet to have my communicator go off.
In short, for once everything was good on this date Serena set me up on.
So why do I have this nagging feeling that something's not right?
Rock was across from me, smiling politely as he ate. There was something in his eyes, though, they way they sparkled maybe, that really made me feel comfortable.
We talked in low voices to not disturb the couples around us. It seemed we had a sort of instant connection, despite his initial nervousness. Once he had loosened up a little he was even a little funny.
Then my communicator had the nerve to go off. I actually had to fight the urge to curse. Not that it was that hard, but the fact that I had to resist the urge at all showed that I was pretty upset at the interruption. I blushed profusely.
"Excuse me a moment…"
He smiled indulgently, but there was something else in his eyes.
Worry, maybe?
I didn't have time to ponder it. I went over to one of the public phones near the restrooms so it would look like a call. Lita's face came up on the screen.
"Amy? Sorry to interrupt, but could really use your help down here. This guy is tearing the place apart and I'm not sure how much longer we can hold out."
I nodded, and sighed.
"I'll be right there."
Lita's face took on a guilty expression.
"Sorry again, Amy."
"It's okay Lita. Try to hang on."
She nodded and shut down her end. I sighed.
And tonight was going so well too…
I headed back over to the table. Rock looked up at me, worry on his face.
"Is everything alright?"
I shook my head.
I hate this part.
"There's an emergency I need to take care of. One of my patients."
He nodded, and smiled a little, the worry still in his eyes.
"Do you need me to drop you somewhere?"
I shook my head again.
"No, my assistant is coming to pick me up."
He sighed.
"Well, I'll take care of the check…"
He looked up at me and blushed slightly before continuing.
"Maybe we could try again another time?"
I smiled and nodded.
"I'd like that. I'll have Serena give you my number, I really should go…"
He nodded, and smiled too.
"Go…"
I rushed out.
~2010, Restaurant Exterior, 7:34 PM~
Amy had been lying, and I knew it. I wasn't about to call her on it though; I had picked up the maverick signature myself.
I'm not sure what I would have done if she hadn't been called away…
I got out into the street and smiled, moving for an alley. The rental car would probably be safe until I got back. Once there I changed to X and summoned my land chaser, heading in the direction of the maverick signal.
I tracked it to what was apparently an abandoned warehouse. I climbed to the roof immediately, moving for a skylight. I peered in.
Fantastic.
The interior was something to the effect of Flame Mammoth's set up from oh so long ago, complete with the conveyor belts that had half assembled mavericks firing off rounds. Of course, that wasn't the real problem. The real problem was the resurrected maverick in the center.
Infinity Mijinion…
The problem with fighting Infinity was that his greenish bulb-like body had an infinite energy supply thanks to the fact that his core was made of plasma. Said core made him unstable, but cautious. Light help them all if the mavericks ever figured out how to duplicate it. Having a lot of Infinities-turned-suicide-bombers was not a happy thought. But as luck would have it, Infinity Mijinion's core personality was based on survival, not sacrifice, which was what had made it acceptable to build him, not that Gate probably would have cared.
Of course this new infinity looked downright evil, given that his ordinarily green glowing core was a dark sickening purplish color. It also seemed that the blasts that for some reason liked to fly out of his butt were the purple color as well.
And probably twice as damaging…
Oh well. No time like the present.
And with that I leapt in, shattering the skylight as I plummeted downwards.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~2010, Amy's House 4:52 PM (next day)~
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT ISN'T HERE?!!!"
I sighed. Rei was a great friend, and a great scout, but the screaming she did when she was angry could get on your nerves. I attempted to calm her down.
"It's okay, after he woke up…"
"YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T WAKE HIM WITHOUT US HERE!"
Lita this time.
Today is not going to go well.
I had called the others over without thinking to tell them one at a time that X was no longer in my custody.
Bad move…
"HE WOKE UP ON HIS OWN, OKAY!"
Who said that? For that matter, what do I say now? Why's it so silent? Why's everyone staring at me?
Oh, wait.
I screamed that time. Innocent, shy little Amy screamed at someone.
I blushed furiously.
"Why don't you tell us what happened Amy."
Serena spoke then, rather timidly.
"Fine, it's like this. His story is that he is what is called a Reploid. A reploid is a machine that has emotions and sentient life. It exists, and knows it exists and, more importantly, it cares that it exists. I know, if it were true, it would have been in countless magazines and people would be paying millions just to speak with it, but that's the thing. It hasn't been invented. Here."
"Don't tell me he's from the future."
Rei was more than a little sarcastic when she spoke.
"No. I said 'here', not 'yet'. He claims that he and the other reploids we've been fighting are from another dimension. He's some sort of police officer there, and was sent to hunt down the ones we've been fighting."
"Wait, if that's true, why not just program them not to hurt humans?"
Darien had a small frown on his face.
"Because a robot that can think for itself can disobey any programming put into it. As a result some came to hate humans, a started a war on them, so their 'creator' Dr. Cain, formed the 'Maverick Hunters' to stop them. They were apparently doing well until these 'mavericks' came here."
Darien nodded, then frowned again.
"Wait, why is he here alone then? Why not send several, if not ten or twenty?"
"I asked that too, and all he said was that he was the only one able to survive here for any long length of time, and since he has almost no chance of going home, it would have been a suicide mission for anyone else."
"Why is he the only one?"
This came from Lita, now sitting, and a great deal calmer.
"He said something about him being extremely advanced, but I don't quite believe him. He wasn't too sure of himself as he said it."
"It doesn't seem to make any sense. I can't believe that you believe this… this… thing! Advanced robots from another dimension? Maybe, we've seen stranger, but to believe that it isn't one of them! I don't like it."
This was from Rei again, quieter, but not much calmer. I paused to rub my temples.
I have a headache. A large one.
"I think the story is plausible, after all, why send out a probe to scan the civilization a full month after you make your first attack. That's what didn't make sense before. He may be lying about what he is, but I don't think he's lying about who he is and why he's here, or he would have had an easy time killing me as I stood there."
"Fine, but I don't like it."
With Rei's grumbling and grudging agreement the meeting adjourned. Darien left. The others did not. As I struggled to figure out why my fellow scouts had not yet left, Serena spoke up.
"Oh, Amy…"
"Yes, Serena."
I said this evenly. I was rather proud of that fact. I knew that tone of voice. That was the voice that said 'I have something devious up my sleeve and you'll hate me for it tomorrow'.
"We're not going anywhere just yet, we have to help you get ready for your date tonight."
"What are you talking about Serena I don…"
She didn't!!!
She did.
Why does she always set me up like this? Uh oh. Better say no before she considers my silence acquiescence.
"Serena, I don't think a blind date is such a g…"
"Nonsense, it's not a blind date, it's Rock."
"Rock?"
"Yeah, you know, the guy who tried to defend Darien and me when 'Big Bird' came in to my apartment through the living room wall? The guy who you later spent hours staring into his eyes? I know you were supposed to be checking him out, but that wasn't what the police had in mind."
I'm certain I was beet red as the other girls laughed.
"Come on, he'll be here at seven and you have to be ready."
I groaned, but complied, Serena was going to get what she wanted one way or another.
Mina, silent up until this point now spoke up. "Is he cute?"
~2010, Halo Apartments: Rock's Apartment 6:27 PM~
I stared at myself in the mirror as I dressed for my 'date'. I was slightly dressed up in a dark blue sweater and black slacks.
Irony at its finest. What do I tell her today? Where should I say I come from? Or should I lie at all? Why are emotions so much more confusing when you're a human? Must be the hormones. I wonder if this will go okay. I hope it does. I mean, I never even dated other reploids, much less humans. Oh, well if it doesn't… wait. Am I actually excited about this? She is kind of nice, but…
And for the second time in as many days, my thoughts trailed off incoherently, leaving only a confused mess behind.
~2010, Mizuno Residence 6:57 PM~
I was feeling decidedly nervous. He would be here in a few minutes.
I always am when Serena tries to set me up with someone. Some of the guys she's set me up with before were nice, but they just weren't my type.
I frowned at this.
Just what is my type? Do I even have one?
I sighed.
Yes, I do have a type. Someone who can keep up with my intelligence is a must, I can't have a good relationship with someone who doesn't understand me.
There are always problems though…
Every time I actually meet a guy, a nice guy, not arrogant, with a decent intelligence level, I'm always called away on some Scout business, which usually nullifies my chances at another date. Sometimes being a Scout isn't all it's cracked up to be.
But, to me, being a Scout is more than a job; it's a calling. I protect people who can't protect themselves. I sighed once more, and then straightened myself as the doorbell rang.
Life isn't easy.
~2010, Mizuno Residence 7:01 PM~
I was nervous. Not sweating bullets nervous, but that special kind of petrified nervousness that only shows itself in your eyes and unusually stiff posture until it makes you run away screaming. I imagine my eyes were a little wild and my movements a little jerky as I opened the door of my rental car for Amy as we walked around the midnight blue sedan.
I really hope Zero knew what he taught.
I pulled the car out of the driveway, and went off down the road, into the night.
"So, Rock, what do you do for a living?"
Uh oh. Think fast.
"I… I'm currently between jobs at the moment."
Unless you count blowing away mavericks a job…
"Oh, well, what did you do?"
A plan of action quickly formed in my head.
"Well, to be honest, I only recently got my masters in computer science, and am still looking for a job in that area. What about you?"
"Well, actually, I'm a part time pediatrician. I don't have anything besides an occasional check-up these days. What about your family?"
Not good.
I decided to respond with half-truths. I told her that I had no family left, but as a result had a decent bank balance. We talked for a while, before I parked the car, and we exited and entered the restaurant.
~2010, Restaurant, 7:32 PM~
The food was delicious.
The atmosphere was pleasant.
My date was charming in a shy sense of the word.
I had yet to have my communicator go off.
In short, for once everything was good on this date Serena set me up on.
So why do I have this nagging feeling that something's not right?
Rock was across from me, smiling politely as he ate. There was something in his eyes, though, they way they sparkled maybe, that really made me feel comfortable.
We talked in low voices to not disturb the couples around us. It seemed we had a sort of instant connection, despite his initial nervousness. Once he had loosened up a little he was even a little funny.
Then my communicator had the nerve to go off. I actually had to fight the urge to curse. Not that it was that hard, but the fact that I had to resist the urge at all showed that I was pretty upset at the interruption. I blushed profusely.
"Excuse me a moment…"
He smiled indulgently, but there was something else in his eyes.
Worry, maybe?
I didn't have time to ponder it. I went over to one of the public phones near the restrooms so it would look like a call. Lita's face came up on the screen.
"Amy? Sorry to interrupt, but could really use your help down here. This guy is tearing the place apart and I'm not sure how much longer we can hold out."
I nodded, and sighed.
"I'll be right there."
Lita's face took on a guilty expression.
"Sorry again, Amy."
"It's okay Lita. Try to hang on."
She nodded and shut down her end. I sighed.
And tonight was going so well too…
I headed back over to the table. Rock looked up at me, worry on his face.
"Is everything alright?"
I shook my head.
I hate this part.
"There's an emergency I need to take care of. One of my patients."
He nodded, and smiled a little, the worry still in his eyes.
"Do you need me to drop you somewhere?"
I shook my head again.
"No, my assistant is coming to pick me up."
He sighed.
"Well, I'll take care of the check…"
He looked up at me and blushed slightly before continuing.
"Maybe we could try again another time?"
I smiled and nodded.
"I'd like that. I'll have Serena give you my number, I really should go…"
He nodded, and smiled too.
"Go…"
I rushed out.
~2010, Restaurant Exterior, 7:34 PM~
Amy had been lying, and I knew it. I wasn't about to call her on it though; I had picked up the maverick signature myself.
I'm not sure what I would have done if she hadn't been called away…
I got out into the street and smiled, moving for an alley. The rental car would probably be safe until I got back. Once there I changed to X and summoned my land chaser, heading in the direction of the maverick signal.
I tracked it to what was apparently an abandoned warehouse. I climbed to the roof immediately, moving for a skylight. I peered in.
Fantastic.
The interior was something to the effect of Flame Mammoth's set up from oh so long ago, complete with the conveyor belts that had half assembled mavericks firing off rounds. Of course, that wasn't the real problem. The real problem was the resurrected maverick in the center.
Infinity Mijinion…
The problem with fighting Infinity was that his greenish bulb-like body had an infinite energy supply thanks to the fact that his core was made of plasma. Said core made him unstable, but cautious. Light help them all if the mavericks ever figured out how to duplicate it. Having a lot of Infinities-turned-suicide-bombers was not a happy thought. But as luck would have it, Infinity Mijinion's core personality was based on survival, not sacrifice, which was what had made it acceptable to build him, not that Gate probably would have cared.
Of course this new infinity looked downright evil, given that his ordinarily green glowing core was a dark sickening purplish color. It also seemed that the blasts that for some reason liked to fly out of his butt were the purple color as well.
And probably twice as damaging…
Oh well. No time like the present.
And with that I leapt in, shattering the skylight as I plummeted downwards.