Chapter Two: Settling Down

"Talk about company perks…" Shion murmured to herself, looking around. After the more or less unsuccessful meeting with the Director of the First R&D Division, she had headed back down to Second Milita and packed her meager belongings for the move up to the Dammerung. Surprisingly, Jin hadn't given her a hard time as she thought he would have…instead, all he had given her was a warning.

"Be careful Shion." Startled, Shion looked up from packing her clothes.

"Huh?" Jin didn't reply, but stepped into the room, crossing his arms.

"This whole business…something seems off. Promise me that you'll be on your guard."

"Jin!"

"Just promise me!" Shion rolled her eyes.

"Alright, alright, I promise."

"Honestly, I don't know what goes on inside his mind sometimes!" Shaking her head, Shion looked down at her new Connection Gear (apparently all members of the First Division got to test out any/or all new gadgets). She also had a new e-mail address, in 15 minutes she was slated for a minor outpatient procedure, a chip that would allow her access to the Encephalon would be implanted in her body, aligning her nervous system, then she had to pick up her new uniforms… However, she wasn't due to start work until the day after tomorrow.

Well, that's good, I can get myself familiar with the area…or should I say the ship? To call the Dammerung massive truly had to be an understatement…when she had flown up to the ship before to question her post, she had been like a wide-eyed tourist, swiveling her head around to try and take in all the sights…

----

"You're kidding me, right?" The Director sighed, pushing his glasses back up on his nose.

"Kevin…"

"No! I don't have the time to baby-sit some bubble-headed twit just as this project finally gets off its feet!"

"She's not a twit, she's very bright and despite the circumstances, she'd make a wonderful addition to your team!" The older man said, trying to soothe his younger employee's ruffled feathers. "Please Kevin; don't be so quick to judge!"

"Who the hell assigned her here anyway?! No wait, let me guess, she's the mistress of one of the higher-ups but he's passing her off as his secretary!" The Director gasped in shock.

"Kevin! Never have I…it's not like that! I don't even know where the orders came from!" The younger man snarled and crossed his arms, looking to the side. "Look, doesn't my word count for something?! She may be green, but give her a few months, you'd never be able to tell that she never interned. It's like…she has a natural gift for this kind of thing!"

"Fine. Have her report to me day after tomorrow." With that Kevin cut his end of the connection, leaving his boss to splutter at a blank screen. Sighing, he shook his head and pressed a button on his desk.

"Send a message to Miss Uzuki. I need to see her immediately."

----

Blissfully unaware of the malice forming against her, Shion exited the clinic, her body sore all over. This was a result of her nerves adjusting to the Encephalon chip inside of her; it was aligned with her nervous system to allow her easy access.

"Ow…" Remembering the doctor's orders to rest someplace until her body settled, Shion decided to head back to her living area, there'd been a little Japanese-style restaurant there, and she was a bit homesick for some of her native food.

Afterwards I can go back and get my uniforms… Her Connection Gear beeped, alerting her that she had an e-mail.

"Oh!" She pulled the portable device out of her pocket, activating the screen. The Director wants to see me? Sighing, she shut down the window. Guess I'll have to get it to go…

----

He watched as she left the restaurant, pulling her Connection Gear out of her pocket and checking it for directions. Even now, he had a hard time believing that she was as important as his master had made her out to be.

A slip of a woman…not even that, a girl! And it is with her that our fate rests. He trailed Shion silently, his red eyes not leaving her small form. He had to admit, Mizrahi had been quite clever; the idea of hiding something valuable in plain sight had worked perfectly…not even his former master had known of her presence.

Whatever power she wields, it guards her well. Had Wilhelm not told him of Shion's involvement, he would have just passed her over as another human. Even now, he still harbored his doubts. The girl was completely, utterly clueless…not when it came to brains, no she was quite smart, he'd seen her test results, her file. No, she was oblivious when it came to her new position, just what she was put there for…she honestly believed that there had been a mistake in the paperwork someplace.

Thinking like that can get you killed. But it just wasn't her innocence and naivety that bothered him…or was it? She was a direct polar opposite of him, of his master and of his former master. And as soon as it discovered of Shion's existence, it would stop at nothing to strip her of the secrets she held and kill her…was this the reason why Wilhelm demanded that she be protected, to be shielded from harsh reality until it was the proper time for her to face it?

----

The Director looked up as Shion was ushered into his office.

"Shion!" Bushing, the brunette bowed.

"I'm sorry I'm late, your call came right when I was about to get lunch…"

"It's alright. Please, sit down." Shion complied, her green eyes darkening.

"Is…something wrong?" The older man sighed, clasping his hands together and putting them on top of his desk.

"Yes there is. No, it's not your paperwork; it's…your boss." Shion didn't say anything, but tilted her head slightly to the side, a puzzled expression on her features.

"My…boss?"

"Kevin Winnicot, head of the KOS-MOS project. I assume you've made yourself familiar with the details?" The younger woman nodded, and the Director sighed, shaking his head.

Just how the hell… "Shion, I'll be frank. You may run into some difficulty with Kevin, this project is his baby and when he found out that you…" The unspoken words hung in the air, their meaning all too clear. Green eyes lowered to gaze at the floor.

"I see." Desperate to reassure, the older man leaned forward.

"I talked to him, everything should be alright, but if you run into any problems, come to me right away!" Shion looked up, squaring her shoulders and nodding.

"Yes sir."

"You've got a natural gift for this job; don't let anyone tell you different!" The brunette nodded once more.

"I'll do my best, sir." Rising, she bowed once more, and then quickly left the office. It was only in the elevator that she dared let her emotions show, sliding down to the floor, fighting back tears. Shion shook her head, forcing herself to get a grip, standing back up. She had errands to finish, then afterwards she'd go back to her room and rest.

Almost directly behind her, but unheard by her ears and unseen by her eyes, was the rustle of a long black cloak…

----

The lights of the city provided a soothing balm for Shion's nerves as she looked out her room window.

Stupid me, I should have expected this. You just don't get into Vector's First R&D Division without some sort of backlash! Sighing, she pressed the button to turn the window opaque, the hem of her dark-blue nightshirt grazing the tops of her knees. And as I continue, I'll only run into more situations like this one. Taking off her glasses, she placed them on the table, ordering the computer to turn off the lights as she slid underneath the bedcovers. I just have to go one day at a time… She closed her eyes, turning onto her stomach, curling up underneath the sheets.

Things'll get better…