Chapter 25
"But honey! I don't WANNA-"
"Sorry, dear. You're not getting anything tonight! Shoo!"
Jake winked at Riko, who was standing in the doorway and blushing furiously. Putting on
his best puppy face, he said, "Aw...come on Marie! Why don't we have some fun tonight?
You can put on that really skimpy black and red-"
"Agh! No more, you sick-minded freak!" Mariemaia giggled. "There're going to be
loud noises coming from the Yuy's room tonight, and I refuse to subject Riko to that
torture! Sorry, but tonight, you get to spend the night with the guys!"
"Um, Mariemaia-san, it's okay-"
"Haha, don't worry about this big lug!" Mariemaia chuckled, finally shoving Jake
out the door. "He needs to learn some self-control anyway!" Slamming the door, she
breathed a sigh of relief. "Whew! That was difficult!"
Riko giggled. "Poor Jake-san! I feel so bad getting between you two."
"It's okay, dear. It's not as if Jake doesn't like spending some time with the
guys. They'll be up all night. First they'll play some poker. Then they'll drink.
Then they'll play pool. Then they'll drink some more, and then switch on the TV. By the
time there's nothing good left on the TV, they'll be so drunk that they won't NEED any
more entertainment! It's good for him to get away for a little. And besides," she
continued, putting an arm around Riko's shoulders, "The walls here get a little on the
thin side, and your room's so close to your parents', so tonight, I think you're better off
spending the night with me!"
"Thanks, Mariemaia-san. Despite my Kaasan threatening my Tousan with the floor, I
somehow don't think that that's going to be the story..."
"Say no more! I think we are both FULLY aware of your parents' habits. In fact,
I think EVERYONE here is going to be migrating AWAY from that particular area of the
structure tonight!"
Riko cocked her head. "Everyone?"
"Two words: Duo Maxwell."
Riko burst out laughing. "Oh no! What, has he TAPED my parents doing...stuff?" she
blushed, unable to continue.
Mariemaia chuckled and smiled fondly at the embarrassed girl. "What, sex?" Laughing some
more at Riko's horrified look, she said, "Don't be so frightened! Your parents ARE
married! And as for whatever your Uncle Duo's been up to, well, I don't know if he's gone
THAT far, but it wouldn't surprise me! In any case, he's already spread the word all
around Headquarters that, 'Tonight, there's gonna be some action in room 01, so for all you
that value your sleep, be sure to get FAR away! But for those of you who would love to
get dirt on the Perfect Soldier, stick with me!'"
"Oh, great..."
"It's okay. Your father may be a typical guy when it comes to that particular
aspect of being married, but he's not stupid. He knows your Uncle Duo well."
"Which is probably why my mother's political career is still intact..."
"Exactly!"
a few minutes later...
"Feel like talking yet?"
Riko started. "You know me too well, Mariemaia-san," she sighed.
Mariemaia smiled sadly at the pensive girl. "Well?"
"Mariemaia-san, I just don't know...Everything's happened so fast! When my
father first began training me, I thought I was just learning some basic self-defense.
Even when we began working with mobile suits, I was just like, 'Oh, it's not like I'll
ever have to USE these skills.' And then now we're in a war. One friend is
permanently changed; one cousin will be traumatized for the rest of her life; another
cousin, and incidentally, my best friend, is missing and probably being raped as we
speak; and now my THIRD cousin has become a victim as well. But that's not all. After
sneaking around my mother for nearly a decade, it finally just explodes tonight. And
then, five seconds later, I've been drafted! Mariemaia-san...I'm lost! This...this
wasn't supposed to happen!"
"Riko! Calm down!"
"How?! How can I calm down?! I'm the pacifist vice foreign minister to be; I've
been preaching pacifism all my life; and now, this?! I don't know what to do anymore!
I...I told my mother that I was proud of who I am, but now, as I think about it more and
more, I feel like a lying hypocrite. Which way am I supposed to go, my mother's way, or
my father's way? How far CAN I go without sacrificing my pacifist ideals, but how far
MUST I go to save this peace?"
"Oh Riko...I'm sorry you're confused, but those answers are answers you must find
on your own. As for your political career, well, I've always hated politics myself, but
in all honesty, you won't be doing much fighting if we can help it. Lady Une is putting
together a defense team that consists of our top Preventer pilots each under the
leadership of one Gundam pilot as well as Jake and I. Just count: There's Heero, Duo,
Trowa, Reiming, Quatre, Wufei, Meilai, Zechs, Noin, Jake, and me. That's eleven as it is.
Yes, we do need you; our formation works best with a team of twelve, but if we play our
cards right, they won't even ever FIND our location. Who knows, we may not even HAVE to
fight."
Riko laughed softly. "Now THAT, is wishful thinking."
Mariemaia laughed too. "Yes, I know. Cheer up, Riko! There really isn't much you can
do about the situation now, so why worry about it? Easier said than done, yes, but
you'll only put unnecessary pressure on yourself.
"Now," Mariemaia continued briskly, "let's talk about something else. Let's see
now...Oh yes! How's your, ah, love life?" she teased.
Riko rolled her eyes. "Oh you mean, my lack of one?" Wrinkling her nose, she said,
"They're all the same! 'Oh Miss Yuy, how are you today? My my Miss Yuy, you do look
lovely in that dress! And oh, by the way, just HOW much are you inheriting from your
parents? I'm sure your father receives a handsome pension, of course, and how much is
your mother inheriting from her parents? Of course, I'm sure it'll all go to you, because
after all, you are a princess by right, but of course, I'm JUST CURIOUS.'
Disgusting!"
"Hmm...I don't suppose it's a good thing then that you're on the list of, 'Most
Wanted Bacelorettes of the Century?'"
"What?!?! Since when?!"
"See for yourself!" Mariemaia laughed, tossing a magazine at her. Flipping
wildly through it, Riko gave out a howl of despair. "What?! How did they get this?" she
wailed in embarrassment. "Oh, if Jerry got a hold of this, he'd NEVER let me forget it!"
"'Miss Mariko Yuy is without a doubt one of the most desirable young ladies of
today,'" Mariemaia read. "'A combination of both beauty and brains, this budding young
politician is rich to boot. The daughter of Mr. Heero Yuy, an ex-Gundam pilot, and Mrs.
Relena Peacecraft Darlian Yuy, ex-princess and vice foreign minister, Miss Yuy is
without a doubt a member of the highest social circles. Charming and intelligent, with a
certain shy air about her, Miss Yuy-'"
"AHH! No more no more!" Riko shrieked, flinging a pillow at Mariemaia. "What's
wrong?" Mariemaia teased. "I'm sure this will earn you many suitors!"
"Exactly! Empty-headed second-son desperate and greasy jerks who undress you with
their eyes!"
"So? Just sic your father on them," Mariemaia said innocently.
Riko paused in mid-rant. "Oh...right..." A wicked grin formed on her face. "Hmm...maybe
I could even ask Tousan to bomb the stupid magazine company that put this out!"
"Now you're talking!"
The two laughed some more, then Riko smiled slyly at Mariemaia. "Well, that's enough about
ME. What was Jake-san saying about a certain skimpy red and black-OW!"
Riko was abruptly cut off as five pillows went flying at her.
later...
Riko glanced at Mariemaia's sleeping form. Satisfied that the older woman was asleep, she
finally allowed a tear to slip down her face. Sniffling to herself, Riko whimpered, "Oh
Aelis, where are you? I wish none of this happened...Then, we could just be at home,
laughing and talking, just like we used to.
"We were so innocent during the last war. We were young; we didn't even know what
was going on! And now, all these years later, we're stuck in the middle of it...especially
you! Oh Aelis!" and Riko started crying into her pillow.
elsewhere...
"Forget it!"
Just as she had done with her first captors, Aelis was glaring defiantly at the men
before her. "No, absolutely not! I REFUSE to work with you!"
One of the soldiers threw up his hands in frustration. "Sir, this is a waste of time!
Why don't we just kill her and get it over with? One less Gundam pilot, and we can make
an example of her."
"Patience, patience," his superior soothed. Eyeing her hungrily, he sighed and
said, "Remember, the Colonel has claimed this one as his own. What he wants us to do with
her, we do, and right now, it is essential that she stays alive."
"But sir! I understand her potential for being useful, but we DO have-"
"Quiet, fool!" he snarled, glancing at Aelis.
At this, Aelis narrowed her eyes. Have? What DID they have? And how exactly was she
USEFUL?
Once she and her captors had arrived at their destination, she had been shoved off and
stuck in some cell. She did not have to wait long. Now, she was standing in front of
these idiots who were trying to buy her cooperation...but cooperation on what? She still
hadn't been told.
The two soldiers conversed quietly, then nodded. "Very well then, if you will not
negociate with US, I suppose you will have to deal with the Colonel himself," one said,
then smiled when he saw her uneasy expression. "Hehe...wishing you had worked with us
now, aren't you. Too late; the Colonel's been quite eager to see you anyway. Take her
back to her cell and notify the Colonel that it's his turn."
"Yes sir!"
a few minutes later...
"This is getting old," Aelis muttered, trying to ease some of her fright as she
paced around the room. "I hate anticipation! Can't I just MEET this Colonel now? He's
late!" Then she heard footsteps outside. Squeezing her eyes shut in fear, she said,
"Wait, no! I take that back!" she wailed to herself, trying to ignore her clammy palms,
her twisting stomach, her-
The door opened.
Aelis turned around. Then she screamed.
The...thing...standing in front of her was more machine than human. It had two
robotic arms, part of a face seemingly molded onto a metal shell shaped like a human head,
and wires running over and under the skin of the neck. "So we finally meet," the
thing rasped. Aelis shuddered. "You...you are...?"
The thing seemed to smile. "You need not fear me for the reasons that you fear Nicolae.
I am not human enough to still lust after young busty girls. I am the Commander of the
Neo-Rommefeller."
Shaking off her shock, Aelis whispered, "Then you, are his superior?"
"Yes. He was quite uncooperative with me; he wanted the pleasure of 'interrogating'
you himself, though I'm sure we both know exactly what he meant by that,' the thing said
dryly. "No," and the gaze grew cruel and calculating. "No," he repeated, "we have more
important issues at hand here.
"I'm sure we are both aware of the amount of skill needed to pilot a mobile suit.
In my youth, I was an excellent pilot. But seeing as I have been reduced to this, I am
no longer suitable for the job. As a result, I turned to the young, healthy soldiers,
hoping for better results-"
"Get to the point!" Aelis snapped nervously.
The thing smiled again. "Just like your father," it rasped mockingly. "Young people these
days...so impetuous and rude. No politeness at all...we'll have to fix that now won't
we?"
Before Aelis could react, it's arm shot out and grasped her. Electric waves coursed
through her body. Aelis screamed and then collapsed, gasping and shaking.
The cyborg looked at her coldly. "Let that serve as a warning," he said, then continued
as if nothing had happened. "But unfortunately, precious few could even pilot a simple
Leo or Taurus. Almost none could pilot my own created mobile suit..."
As the cyborg rattled on, Aelis managed to cling to the last statement. "His own...
creation? It's the suit that found Geoffry and Jerry, then! I'll have to tell Lady Une
when...or IF I make it out alive..."
"-so there had to be an alternative. I decided to revert to the mobile doll
system. Unfortunately, as time has proven, mobile dolls are no match for your parents,
and probably not for you either. Then I remembered an event during the end of the Eve
Wars. Two advanced dolls had been programmed with the flight data of Heero Yuy and
Trowa Barton, with satisfactory results. I decided to convert my suits into dolls. But,
I need the flight data, and this, my dear, is where you come in."
Aelis glared up at him. "No," she whispered. "Kill me, torture me, hand me over to
Nicolae even, if you wish. I won't do it."
The cyborg seemed to sigh. "A pity," he said. "Well, you leave me no choice." Strolling
over to an intercom, he said, "Put on the images."
As Aelis watched, a monitor switched on. She saw images of a figure curled on the
floor. Suddenly, soldiers appeared on the scene. One carried what looked to be a rod,
and others carried clubs and various weapons. The one with the rod went over to the
figure and gave a vicious kick, then started beating the prisoner with the stun stick.
The others joined in. The tortured prisoner thrashed about in agony, and seemed to be
screaming. Slowly, Aelis felt the wind rush out of her. "No...it can't
be..."
Smiling at her pale face, the cyborg called out, almost cheerfully, "Increase intensity
and switch on to audio."
Immediately, screams came blasting out over the intercom, but it was nothing compared to
Aelis' own cry of pain.
"NO!!! No no no! It...it...GEOFFRY!!!" she cried, tears streaming down her
face. Screaming out in pain, she rushed to the cyborg and grabbed onto its shoulders.
"Please...no...just stop it...I BEG you," she choked, painfully aware as the screams
grew louder and the soldiers' laughter mixed in the background. "Please...spare my
brother," she whispered, falling to her knees and clinging onto his synthetic legs.
"As you can see, your brother was quite uncooperative when we offered him the same
deal," the cyborg said casually, ignoring the sobbing girl at his feet. "If he won't
cooperate, then he is of no use to us. What do you think?"
Aelis couldn't manage any words out. She felt as if her heart were being torn apart.
She continued to cry as the cyborg kept talking.
"Who knows, if he gives in, his mind and body might just be somewhat intact for us
to make use of it. But your brother is one stubborn little boy. He even managed to kill
off several of our soldiers. Do you know how we caught him? Quite pathetic, really.
He had run off on his own, and it was a simple matter of just bringing him back. It's
too bad he was only armed with a pistol; he picked off every single soldier with deadly
accuracy until he simply ran out of bullets. He paid dearly for that, of course. I
believe it was twenty lashings per soldier killed, followed by some 'shock therapy.'"
"No...no..."
"Yes, he's good entertainment for now, but that can only last so long." The
cyborg sighed. "Yes, it's made life quite interesting, I suppose, but maybe I should
end it now..."
"NO!"
Aelis scrambled wildly to her feet and flung herself between the cyborg and the
microphone. Her shaking voice mingled with Geoffry's screams. "I...I..."
The cyborg smiled victoriously. "We have an agreement, then?"
Aelis closed her eyes in defeat. Her head slumped forward.
"Yes...I will do as you wish."
"But honey! I don't WANNA-"
"Sorry, dear. You're not getting anything tonight! Shoo!"
Jake winked at Riko, who was standing in the doorway and blushing furiously. Putting on
his best puppy face, he said, "Aw...come on Marie! Why don't we have some fun tonight?
You can put on that really skimpy black and red-"
"Agh! No more, you sick-minded freak!" Mariemaia giggled. "There're going to be
loud noises coming from the Yuy's room tonight, and I refuse to subject Riko to that
torture! Sorry, but tonight, you get to spend the night with the guys!"
"Um, Mariemaia-san, it's okay-"
"Haha, don't worry about this big lug!" Mariemaia chuckled, finally shoving Jake
out the door. "He needs to learn some self-control anyway!" Slamming the door, she
breathed a sigh of relief. "Whew! That was difficult!"
Riko giggled. "Poor Jake-san! I feel so bad getting between you two."
"It's okay, dear. It's not as if Jake doesn't like spending some time with the
guys. They'll be up all night. First they'll play some poker. Then they'll drink.
Then they'll play pool. Then they'll drink some more, and then switch on the TV. By the
time there's nothing good left on the TV, they'll be so drunk that they won't NEED any
more entertainment! It's good for him to get away for a little. And besides," she
continued, putting an arm around Riko's shoulders, "The walls here get a little on the
thin side, and your room's so close to your parents', so tonight, I think you're better off
spending the night with me!"
"Thanks, Mariemaia-san. Despite my Kaasan threatening my Tousan with the floor, I
somehow don't think that that's going to be the story..."
"Say no more! I think we are both FULLY aware of your parents' habits. In fact,
I think EVERYONE here is going to be migrating AWAY from that particular area of the
structure tonight!"
Riko cocked her head. "Everyone?"
"Two words: Duo Maxwell."
Riko burst out laughing. "Oh no! What, has he TAPED my parents doing...stuff?" she
blushed, unable to continue.
Mariemaia chuckled and smiled fondly at the embarrassed girl. "What, sex?" Laughing some
more at Riko's horrified look, she said, "Don't be so frightened! Your parents ARE
married! And as for whatever your Uncle Duo's been up to, well, I don't know if he's gone
THAT far, but it wouldn't surprise me! In any case, he's already spread the word all
around Headquarters that, 'Tonight, there's gonna be some action in room 01, so for all you
that value your sleep, be sure to get FAR away! But for those of you who would love to
get dirt on the Perfect Soldier, stick with me!'"
"Oh, great..."
"It's okay. Your father may be a typical guy when it comes to that particular
aspect of being married, but he's not stupid. He knows your Uncle Duo well."
"Which is probably why my mother's political career is still intact..."
"Exactly!"
a few minutes later...
"Feel like talking yet?"
Riko started. "You know me too well, Mariemaia-san," she sighed.
Mariemaia smiled sadly at the pensive girl. "Well?"
"Mariemaia-san, I just don't know...Everything's happened so fast! When my
father first began training me, I thought I was just learning some basic self-defense.
Even when we began working with mobile suits, I was just like, 'Oh, it's not like I'll
ever have to USE these skills.' And then now we're in a war. One friend is
permanently changed; one cousin will be traumatized for the rest of her life; another
cousin, and incidentally, my best friend, is missing and probably being raped as we
speak; and now my THIRD cousin has become a victim as well. But that's not all. After
sneaking around my mother for nearly a decade, it finally just explodes tonight. And
then, five seconds later, I've been drafted! Mariemaia-san...I'm lost! This...this
wasn't supposed to happen!"
"Riko! Calm down!"
"How?! How can I calm down?! I'm the pacifist vice foreign minister to be; I've
been preaching pacifism all my life; and now, this?! I don't know what to do anymore!
I...I told my mother that I was proud of who I am, but now, as I think about it more and
more, I feel like a lying hypocrite. Which way am I supposed to go, my mother's way, or
my father's way? How far CAN I go without sacrificing my pacifist ideals, but how far
MUST I go to save this peace?"
"Oh Riko...I'm sorry you're confused, but those answers are answers you must find
on your own. As for your political career, well, I've always hated politics myself, but
in all honesty, you won't be doing much fighting if we can help it. Lady Une is putting
together a defense team that consists of our top Preventer pilots each under the
leadership of one Gundam pilot as well as Jake and I. Just count: There's Heero, Duo,
Trowa, Reiming, Quatre, Wufei, Meilai, Zechs, Noin, Jake, and me. That's eleven as it is.
Yes, we do need you; our formation works best with a team of twelve, but if we play our
cards right, they won't even ever FIND our location. Who knows, we may not even HAVE to
fight."
Riko laughed softly. "Now THAT, is wishful thinking."
Mariemaia laughed too. "Yes, I know. Cheer up, Riko! There really isn't much you can
do about the situation now, so why worry about it? Easier said than done, yes, but
you'll only put unnecessary pressure on yourself.
"Now," Mariemaia continued briskly, "let's talk about something else. Let's see
now...Oh yes! How's your, ah, love life?" she teased.
Riko rolled her eyes. "Oh you mean, my lack of one?" Wrinkling her nose, she said,
"They're all the same! 'Oh Miss Yuy, how are you today? My my Miss Yuy, you do look
lovely in that dress! And oh, by the way, just HOW much are you inheriting from your
parents? I'm sure your father receives a handsome pension, of course, and how much is
your mother inheriting from her parents? Of course, I'm sure it'll all go to you, because
after all, you are a princess by right, but of course, I'm JUST CURIOUS.'
Disgusting!"
"Hmm...I don't suppose it's a good thing then that you're on the list of, 'Most
Wanted Bacelorettes of the Century?'"
"What?!?! Since when?!"
"See for yourself!" Mariemaia laughed, tossing a magazine at her. Flipping
wildly through it, Riko gave out a howl of despair. "What?! How did they get this?" she
wailed in embarrassment. "Oh, if Jerry got a hold of this, he'd NEVER let me forget it!"
"'Miss Mariko Yuy is without a doubt one of the most desirable young ladies of
today,'" Mariemaia read. "'A combination of both beauty and brains, this budding young
politician is rich to boot. The daughter of Mr. Heero Yuy, an ex-Gundam pilot, and Mrs.
Relena Peacecraft Darlian Yuy, ex-princess and vice foreign minister, Miss Yuy is
without a doubt a member of the highest social circles. Charming and intelligent, with a
certain shy air about her, Miss Yuy-'"
"AHH! No more no more!" Riko shrieked, flinging a pillow at Mariemaia. "What's
wrong?" Mariemaia teased. "I'm sure this will earn you many suitors!"
"Exactly! Empty-headed second-son desperate and greasy jerks who undress you with
their eyes!"
"So? Just sic your father on them," Mariemaia said innocently.
Riko paused in mid-rant. "Oh...right..." A wicked grin formed on her face. "Hmm...maybe
I could even ask Tousan to bomb the stupid magazine company that put this out!"
"Now you're talking!"
The two laughed some more, then Riko smiled slyly at Mariemaia. "Well, that's enough about
ME. What was Jake-san saying about a certain skimpy red and black-OW!"
Riko was abruptly cut off as five pillows went flying at her.
later...
Riko glanced at Mariemaia's sleeping form. Satisfied that the older woman was asleep, she
finally allowed a tear to slip down her face. Sniffling to herself, Riko whimpered, "Oh
Aelis, where are you? I wish none of this happened...Then, we could just be at home,
laughing and talking, just like we used to.
"We were so innocent during the last war. We were young; we didn't even know what
was going on! And now, all these years later, we're stuck in the middle of it...especially
you! Oh Aelis!" and Riko started crying into her pillow.
elsewhere...
"Forget it!"
Just as she had done with her first captors, Aelis was glaring defiantly at the men
before her. "No, absolutely not! I REFUSE to work with you!"
One of the soldiers threw up his hands in frustration. "Sir, this is a waste of time!
Why don't we just kill her and get it over with? One less Gundam pilot, and we can make
an example of her."
"Patience, patience," his superior soothed. Eyeing her hungrily, he sighed and
said, "Remember, the Colonel has claimed this one as his own. What he wants us to do with
her, we do, and right now, it is essential that she stays alive."
"But sir! I understand her potential for being useful, but we DO have-"
"Quiet, fool!" he snarled, glancing at Aelis.
At this, Aelis narrowed her eyes. Have? What DID they have? And how exactly was she
USEFUL?
Once she and her captors had arrived at their destination, she had been shoved off and
stuck in some cell. She did not have to wait long. Now, she was standing in front of
these idiots who were trying to buy her cooperation...but cooperation on what? She still
hadn't been told.
The two soldiers conversed quietly, then nodded. "Very well then, if you will not
negociate with US, I suppose you will have to deal with the Colonel himself," one said,
then smiled when he saw her uneasy expression. "Hehe...wishing you had worked with us
now, aren't you. Too late; the Colonel's been quite eager to see you anyway. Take her
back to her cell and notify the Colonel that it's his turn."
"Yes sir!"
a few minutes later...
"This is getting old," Aelis muttered, trying to ease some of her fright as she
paced around the room. "I hate anticipation! Can't I just MEET this Colonel now? He's
late!" Then she heard footsteps outside. Squeezing her eyes shut in fear, she said,
"Wait, no! I take that back!" she wailed to herself, trying to ignore her clammy palms,
her twisting stomach, her-
The door opened.
Aelis turned around. Then she screamed.
The...thing...standing in front of her was more machine than human. It had two
robotic arms, part of a face seemingly molded onto a metal shell shaped like a human head,
and wires running over and under the skin of the neck. "So we finally meet," the
thing rasped. Aelis shuddered. "You...you are...?"
The thing seemed to smile. "You need not fear me for the reasons that you fear Nicolae.
I am not human enough to still lust after young busty girls. I am the Commander of the
Neo-Rommefeller."
Shaking off her shock, Aelis whispered, "Then you, are his superior?"
"Yes. He was quite uncooperative with me; he wanted the pleasure of 'interrogating'
you himself, though I'm sure we both know exactly what he meant by that,' the thing said
dryly. "No," and the gaze grew cruel and calculating. "No," he repeated, "we have more
important issues at hand here.
"I'm sure we are both aware of the amount of skill needed to pilot a mobile suit.
In my youth, I was an excellent pilot. But seeing as I have been reduced to this, I am
no longer suitable for the job. As a result, I turned to the young, healthy soldiers,
hoping for better results-"
"Get to the point!" Aelis snapped nervously.
The thing smiled again. "Just like your father," it rasped mockingly. "Young people these
days...so impetuous and rude. No politeness at all...we'll have to fix that now won't
we?"
Before Aelis could react, it's arm shot out and grasped her. Electric waves coursed
through her body. Aelis screamed and then collapsed, gasping and shaking.
The cyborg looked at her coldly. "Let that serve as a warning," he said, then continued
as if nothing had happened. "But unfortunately, precious few could even pilot a simple
Leo or Taurus. Almost none could pilot my own created mobile suit..."
As the cyborg rattled on, Aelis managed to cling to the last statement. "His own...
creation? It's the suit that found Geoffry and Jerry, then! I'll have to tell Lady Une
when...or IF I make it out alive..."
"-so there had to be an alternative. I decided to revert to the mobile doll
system. Unfortunately, as time has proven, mobile dolls are no match for your parents,
and probably not for you either. Then I remembered an event during the end of the Eve
Wars. Two advanced dolls had been programmed with the flight data of Heero Yuy and
Trowa Barton, with satisfactory results. I decided to convert my suits into dolls. But,
I need the flight data, and this, my dear, is where you come in."
Aelis glared up at him. "No," she whispered. "Kill me, torture me, hand me over to
Nicolae even, if you wish. I won't do it."
The cyborg seemed to sigh. "A pity," he said. "Well, you leave me no choice." Strolling
over to an intercom, he said, "Put on the images."
As Aelis watched, a monitor switched on. She saw images of a figure curled on the
floor. Suddenly, soldiers appeared on the scene. One carried what looked to be a rod,
and others carried clubs and various weapons. The one with the rod went over to the
figure and gave a vicious kick, then started beating the prisoner with the stun stick.
The others joined in. The tortured prisoner thrashed about in agony, and seemed to be
screaming. Slowly, Aelis felt the wind rush out of her. "No...it can't
be..."
Smiling at her pale face, the cyborg called out, almost cheerfully, "Increase intensity
and switch on to audio."
Immediately, screams came blasting out over the intercom, but it was nothing compared to
Aelis' own cry of pain.
"NO!!! No no no! It...it...GEOFFRY!!!" she cried, tears streaming down her
face. Screaming out in pain, she rushed to the cyborg and grabbed onto its shoulders.
"Please...no...just stop it...I BEG you," she choked, painfully aware as the screams
grew louder and the soldiers' laughter mixed in the background. "Please...spare my
brother," she whispered, falling to her knees and clinging onto his synthetic legs.
"As you can see, your brother was quite uncooperative when we offered him the same
deal," the cyborg said casually, ignoring the sobbing girl at his feet. "If he won't
cooperate, then he is of no use to us. What do you think?"
Aelis couldn't manage any words out. She felt as if her heart were being torn apart.
She continued to cry as the cyborg kept talking.
"Who knows, if he gives in, his mind and body might just be somewhat intact for us
to make use of it. But your brother is one stubborn little boy. He even managed to kill
off several of our soldiers. Do you know how we caught him? Quite pathetic, really.
He had run off on his own, and it was a simple matter of just bringing him back. It's
too bad he was only armed with a pistol; he picked off every single soldier with deadly
accuracy until he simply ran out of bullets. He paid dearly for that, of course. I
believe it was twenty lashings per soldier killed, followed by some 'shock therapy.'"
"No...no..."
"Yes, he's good entertainment for now, but that can only last so long." The
cyborg sighed. "Yes, it's made life quite interesting, I suppose, but maybe I should
end it now..."
"NO!"
Aelis scrambled wildly to her feet and flung herself between the cyborg and the
microphone. Her shaking voice mingled with Geoffry's screams. "I...I..."
The cyborg smiled victoriously. "We have an agreement, then?"
Aelis closed her eyes in defeat. Her head slumped forward.
"Yes...I will do as you wish."
