Ch. 2: Human on the Inside
"Say what?" Uriko asked, barely finding the words.
"I said I want to learn to be human, like you," Uranus replied.
"But you are human, aren't you? If you're not human, what are you?"
"I'm human on the outside. I see, I hear, I smell, I touch, I taste, but inside, I don't feel. I was programmed to be angry, vengeful, full of hate, but then I saw you. When you are with that male, you seem... happy. I want to know what that is like."
"But why me?" she asked.
"Because, you are the one from which I was made. Please, I want to be normal! I implore you!"
"Umm... okay, but how am I gonna explain this to everyone else?"
"I'm sure we'll come up with something." A strong male voice said from around the corner. Kenji strode into view, and glared down Uranus. "But if this is a trick, Uranus, I will kill you. Are we clear?"
"Yes."
"Alright. Uriko, I have to head home. I'll call you later." Kenji left the girl he loved with a kiss on the cheek, and walked out the door. Uriko looked back at Uranus.
"Well first things first, we have to get you some new clothes... Mine wouldn't fit, neither would mom's or sis's... and Jenny... well, I don't think you want to walk around looking like a whore... SHOPPING TRIP!"
"Shopping?"
Uriko yanked Uranus's arm. "Yep! C'mon, its time you learned what fun is like!"
---
Busuzima's hand ran over the keyboard to his computer. The screen flickered to life, showing the image of a tall, handsome man cloaked in shadows, holding a glass of red wine. "Uh, boss? Boss, can you hear me?"
"I can hear you just fine Busuzima," he growled. "Has the project born fruit?"
"Oh yes sir, it surely has! She's perfect, stronger, faster, and more cunning than the original!"
"Good. I'll want to meet her as soon as possible. But first, I believe she should be introduced to her mother."
"Yes sir! I've sent Kira out to get them!"
The shadowy figure took a sip from his glass. "Good. Keep up the good work, Busuzima, and you'll become obscenely rich."
---
"Um, Uriko? These people are starring..." Uranus said uncomfortably.
"Well duh! You look like you just escaped from a lab! C'mon, lets go in here..." Uriko led her uncomfortable companion into a brightly lit store and led her by the hand to the women's section. Uranus looked nervously around as Uriko ran through the various outfits, until she finally found a few ensembles that she liked. "OK! Try these on!"
"Here? Is that not indecent?" Uranus asked befuddled.
Uriko raised an eyebrow in disbelief, before reminding herself that Uranus had little in the way of human contact and even littler knowledge of human customs. "Um no, in the dressing room. Follow me."
And so, Uriko's fashion show from Hell commenced. At first, Uranus was slightly less than thrilled with Uriko's colorful choices in clothes, but seeing the joy it brought to Uriko's face seeing her in such ridiculous outfits, she learned to relax and go with it, and even found herself enjoying Uriko's amusement. Finally, Uranus settled on several pairs of blue jeans and a few tank tops. The particular garb she dressed herself in for today was a pair of faded jeans and a blue tank. Uriko seemed somewhat satisfied with her companions clothes as the left the store.
"Well," she joked, "at least you don't look like a sci-fi flick reject anymore."
"Pardon?" Uranus asked, not understanding Uriko's words.
"Never mind," Uriko replied. She noticed a slight look of discomfort on Uranus's face. "What's wrong?"
"It is hard to move in these pants." Uranus replied. She kneeled over, and using her nails ripped the knees of her pants. She stood and bent her knees several times. "Much better," she remarked.
"Huh, the grunge look. I guess you do manage to pull it off somehow... Now the hair..."
"What is wrong with my hair?" Uranus asked.
"Um, how many people do you see with bright blue hair. But, I guess you need something to make you unique. So we skip the hair and go straight for the manicure!" Uriko again dragged Uranus through the mall.
Hours later, Uriko and Uranus emerged. "You like blue, don't you?" Uriko asked.
"I believe it is fitting, somehow."
"Well, looks like you already have a favorite color! Now, what should we do next? I dunno about you, but I'm starved!"
But Uriko's thought was cut short by the appearance of a familiar figure. "What do you want now?" she asked the red-clad woman ahead of her. Uranus wrapped her hands in lighting, and her eyes glowed with the prospect of battle.
"My boss wishes to speak with you. Please come quietly, I'm under orders not to kill you," Kira smirked.
"And why should we?"
Kira flooded her arms and closed her eyes. "Because I may be under orders to not kill you, but your friends and family have so such protection."
Uriko growled, then sighed. "We better do as she says, Uranus."
"Alright." Uranus calmed herself, and with Uriko let themselves be taken away by Kira. She led them to a black van, and sped away. Covered by armed guards, Uriko and Uranus could do little but wait until the van came to a stop, and Kira let them out. She led them inside a dilapidated old building. "Wait here," she growled. Kira left, leaving Uriko and Uranus alone. Or so they thought.
"'riko? Is that you?"
"Kenji?" Uriko flung herself into his arms. "What's happening?"
"I don't know." As if to answer Uriko's question, the wall ahead of them melted away, revealing a strange laboratory filled with the latest in high-tech equipment. Kenji, Uriko and Uranus approached, and heard an ear-peircing cackle.
"Welcome! You all must be wondering why I brought you here!"
"Busuzima..." Kenji growled.
"You see, years ago, an attempt was made to clone a zoanthrope. That attempt ended in failure, as we couldn't control what was created. But now, with the backing of my new benefactor, we have succeeded! Come on out, Mariko!"
Down a darkened hallway, the sounds of footsteps approached. Everyone waited with baited breath as a female figure emerged. She was slightly taller than Uriko, clad in red alligator skin pants and a shirt, and wearing a long red coat. Dark glasses obscured her face. She moved forward, right in front of Uriko. Before anyone could react, she backhanded Uriko, sending her spiraling to the floor. Kenji responded, lunging at the woman. But she was to fast, and she effortlessly parried Kenji's attack and grabbed him by the throat. She threw him away and against a wall. Uranus was the next to attack, throwing bolts of lightning at red-clad clone. The woman merely grinned as she took the energy into herself, throwing bolts of crimson lightning at Uranus. The blue haired woman was thrown back, stunned.
The clone walked over to the recovering Uriko, and grabbed her by the hair. "So weak. So pathetic! To think," she said removing her sunglasses, "I was made from you." She dropped Uriko to the floor, and made her way to Kenji. "And you. You were once strong, silent, you could kill without a thought, and you could fight like I breathe. Don't you want that back? Don't you want to awaken?" She forced her lips onto Kenji's, and then pulled away. Kenji squirmed a bit while Uriko crawled to him.
"Kenji, are you ok?"
"Stay away from me, weakling," he growled as he stood to his feet.
"Kenji?" Uriko stuttered in disbelief.
"Not Kenji," Mariko said with a wicked smile. "Bakuryu."