Thwarted Demise

Disclaimer: I don't own Xenosaga. I wish I did though

Summary: The re-telling of the ending is over so I'm finally moving on to the real story. The chapters are fairly short because I don't want to bore you to death or anything

Chapter 5: The truth revealed!

Durandal/Bridge

Once aboard the Durandal, Jr was welcomed with an effusive hug from MOMO. Shion also seemed pleased to see him in one piece.

"Did you make up with him?" asked the young engineer with a hint of compassion in her voice. The peculiar relationship between the two URTV brothers strongly reminded her of Jin and herself. Well…maybe just a little.

"Er…", stuttered Jr while Shion looked at him curiously, "He said he hated me until the very end…you know…we're both pretty stubborn." Jr had a hard time hiding the awful truths about his life to his friends, but…what other choice did he have? He didn't feel ready to introduce Albedo to society! What if his brother's screws were still loose? The red-headed boy couldn't jeopardize the well-being of the people, Realians, A.W.G.S and androids aboard the battleship for his brother's sake.

Damn…I've been careless again, haven't I?

"Are you feeling okay, Jr?" asked MOMO, squeezing his arm gently to get his attention. The young Realian had stayed by his side during the entire 'Zohar's retrieval process' and seemed genuinely worried about his quietness. After all, it was unusual to see Jr. with such a grave expression on his youthful face.

"Uhh, yeah…I'm just a little tired. That's all!" he said trying to sound unconcerned.

"Little Mastah!" cried Mary while Shelley and the blue-haired 100-Series pushed buttons hastily in their respective work stations, "Why don't you lie down for a little while? My sis and I will take care of the ol' Zohar for ya!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," said Shelley slowly, "Please, take a rest Little Master."

"Aww well, if you guys insist! (I could force Albedo to wake up and check his mental state) See ya later Shion, KOS-MOS!" said Jr with a small smile and a wave as he stepped on the elevator with MOMO still clinging to his right arm.

"Uhmm, can I accompany you to your bedroom?" murmured MOMO with slight blush grazing her cheeks.

"Er…" the girl's golden eyes lit up which made Jr feel increasingly uncomfortable and guilty. To hide the truth from Shion was one thing, but to hide it from MOMO

"Sure, no problem!"

They both took the elevator and then headed for the transport that would take them to the residential area. On the way the pair received the nosy glances of many of the Durandal's crew members. Now that the popularity of the 'Little Master' had increased enormously with the captain's triumphant return, the odds that he would confess his love to the adorable 100-Series prototype had raised as well. Indeed, the rumor that the Little Master had grown rather fond on the artificial girl was flying back and forth between the Durandal and The Foundation at alarming speed these days.

When they reached Jr's room, MOMO let go of his hand and gave him one of her tender smiles.

"I hope you get a good rest! Good night!" she said and turned around to check on Ziggy. Jr hadn't said a word during the short trip to his room and the young Realian assumed that he was still upset for his brother's demise. A pure soul like MOMO's could not held any grudges and even if Albedo had hurt her in the past, his death as well as Jr's ordeal depressed her greatly. She didn't want to interrupt Jr's rest on such a sad day.

"MOMO, wait… I gotta tell you something", murmured Jr. after making sure the coast was clear. The synthetic girl spun around and looked at him with her full attention. The seriousness on Jr's face quickly turned into nervousness as he stood under MOMO's inquisitive gaze.

On the bridge, Mary, Shion, and a group of 100-Series were looking at MOMO and Jr. through one of the surveillance cameras located outside the Little Master's room. The screen showed the two 'teenagers' absorbed in a quiet conversation

"Look y'all! The Little Master is gonna declare his love to MOMO!" chimed the Realian that constantly tried to mimic Mary's southern accent. The others hushed her up and watched the scene with bated breath.

"I must admit that this is better than a soap show, Mary but…aren't we violating his privacy?" said Shion with a smile.

Mary winked mischievously at her. "Of course not! Besides, the Little Mastah ain't bright enough ta notice. I've been doin' this for months an' months!"

Shelley let out a soft chuckle. She was still monitoring the activity of the Original Zohar in the quarantine hangar, but that didn't stop her from stealing a few glances at the monitor every minute or so. "True, she spies on Little Master and MOMO whenever they're aboard the Durandal, while Hammer and Tony inform her about the events that take place between them on the Elsa. I've told her that Little Master will fire her if he finds out."

"But only the Kaiser can fire us, Shelley!"

"Shhh! I think Jr. is saying something!" said Shion.

"Turn the volume up, please" said Shelley in a dignified tone.

"What do you want to tell me?" asked the Realian when she saw that Jr remained silent.

"Well…er…it is a little complicated"

MOMO tilted her head, her curiosity increasing. She didn't recall seeing Jr. this nervous before, but she had to admit that he looked absolutely cute.

But…what…what am I thinking? MOMO's cheeks reddened profusely and she began to feel short of breath.

"Well……" Jr. stammered. The young Realian took a tiny step forward and smiled shyly at him.

"Yes..?"

Would she condemn him for bringing Albedo to the Durandal or forgive him? He had to take the risk.

The red-head took a deep breath. "I brought Albedo to the Durandal" he said and then quickly added, "I know I shouldn't have done it, but listen…it seems that I managed to neutralize the U-DO waves that had invaded his body without killing him! He might not be a wacko anymore and---"he stopped abruptly to observe MOMO's reaction. The young Realian had placed both hands on the sides of her face in a poor attempt to conceal her blushing cheeks and the look of childish devotion that had taken over her beautiful eyes.

"MOMO?"

"Oh Jr…I…I feel the same way about you… tooo…" she said in a very quiet and dazed tone.

"Huh? What did you say? Your molars hurt?" asked Jr. as he took her by the shoulders worriedly. Unfortunately, the artificial girl mistook the URTV's action for something else and she quickly covered her mouth with her hands.

"Nooo, Jr…I…I …this is so embarrassing….but I don't…I don't know how…" she murmured between her fingers as her cheeks reddened even more. Now there was hardly any difference between MOMO's face and Jr's fiery crimson hair.

"Rubedo, what are you doing to ma pêche?"

Jr. and MOMO both jumped and before the Realian could shriek in fear, the little URTV hugged her defensively against his chest.

"Hey! What is wrong with you? Sneaking behind us like that!" yelled Jr. while he held MOMO's head to shield her virgin eyes from the scantily clad Albedo. "How the hell did you get out of the room?"

"So that's how Mastah Gaignun looks without his suit!" squealed Mary joyfully while the 100 Series stared at the screen with widened eyes.

"How could you say that at a time like this, Mary?" cried Shion, "Albedo is a dangerous man! And he's here!"

"Affirmative," said KOS-MOS who had remained standing stoically beside her creator without saying much, "There is a 96.9999999 percent probability that the URTV unit 667 is still mentally unstable."

Albedo let out his famous 5-minutes cackle. The truth was that, sane or insane, Albedo simply wouldn't be Albedo if he didn't laugh like a madman. When he finished cackling, he took a deep breath and smiled placidly at his red-headed brother. "Are you referring to those 4 walls in which you tried to imprison me?" said Albedo pointing at Jr's bedroom with his thumb, "That was preposterous, Rubedo! Normal rooms cannot restrain me!"

"Yeah, I noticed…" said Rubedo through gritted teeth. "Do me a favor and put some clothes on, will you? Don't expect me to let you strut around my ship looking like that!

"Jr…what's happening?" whispered MOMO against his shirt.

"Nothing MOMO, don't worry"

"Don't expect me to fit in your clothes either, Rubedo!" sneered Albedo, "You might have stayed small, but I did grow and a LOT…"

"Damn! I told you not to make fun of my height!" Jr. let go of MOMO and stood with clenched fists in front of Albedo who looked down at him with narrowed eyes. "Come on, I will take you to Gaignun's room. I'm sure some of his clothes will fit you just fine…" And with that the red headed URTV steered his brother with little difficulty to the Kaiser's quarters, leaving a very confused 100-Series prototype behind him.

"Jr…Jr…hugged me again" MOMO sighed completely oblivious of the scene that had just happened before her eyes.

"MOMO…"said a little voice.

"Eh?" MOMO turned towards the voice and her eyes widened, "OH! No. 44, No. 57, No. 88, No.39, No.66 and No.95! My sisters! You are still alive!"

"Yes," replied the Kirschwasser No. 95, "Just like our Master Albedo. Please extend our gratitude to Rubedo for saving our Master's life."

"Albedo? Albedo is alive?"

MOMO didn't understand what was going on.

To be continued…

Author notes: What didja think? I'm trying my best not to make the characters too outrageously OOC even though that's always fun neh? I might include a bit of Jr x MOMO if you wish…uhmm…

Comments are appreciated!

GRACIAS!