-1Zidet: I am bloody back! (giggles) I hope you liked all of that chapter. Once again, I would like to thank Rioni Riishu for editing it, and Dragnstryker for helping me with the storyline. All in this together, yup yup ! And of course... you all! Thank you! Um... this chapter won't be as long as... well yeah... So yes... I am aware of it... Please don't yell at me, please!
Specter Von Baren- ...Um XD? lol, I hoped you liked it!
Zero's Shadow- I am so... flattered (giggles) Glad you like the way I put Phantom. And Biscuit Buster Man? Hear of him again? Of course! Just tell me when one of your stories go up. I will be sure to read them.
Ri2- Why is Zero being so weird? Ah well, I can't say yet. You will see in all due time. Believe me, I have this planned out. Just trying to figure out how to put it all in. But thank you for reading! Much appreciated! Hope you enjoy this chapter as well!
Kriim- It's nice to know such little munchkins have such powerful minds. Don't we wish we could act like that in real life? (Cheers)
Starfighter48- Well of course I am going to update, silly! (Clears throat) A-anyways... no worries if you ever forget to review. It's nice and reassuring to know you are still here.
Archaon- Yes, truly. If only we could eat them all... Too bad we would explode. XD! Anyways, how did they get there? Well when we look at silly little kids, we wonder how they do most things, right? So let's look at these little kiddies as... well... the Biscuit Agents. They are Agents!
Windwingxs- (Flails arms) No, no, no! You didn't forget at all. I just didn't receive your review in time to put it up here if that's what you mean. Or I must have missed it. I am sorry! Thank you for still reading, though... oh... and take deep breaths... 1...2...3 Breath!
Zidet: Alright... With this all done... (shifty eyes) On with the story!
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The dark hall was nearly silent, the only sound that of water dripping off of loose pipes in the distance. The two Guardians, Phantom and Fefnir, lay sprawled out on the floor, both mumbling lightly and twitching. The two small girls looked carefully up to Harpuia with innocent eyes.
"Um. Well I... Agents and biscuits... and... tag... and... biscuits?" Cammy stuttered, giving a sheepish smile. Alouette didn't look nearly as calm as her friend. Her eyes did indeed look very innocent, as they should have, but they were also filled with fear- fear at being in the direct presence of the one Guardian that she had heard so much about.
Harpuia sighed, looking down to the two Guardians on the floor and shaking his head. "It's ironic that so many soldiers can't put a scratch on Fefnir or Phantom... But you two..." He paused as he felt something warm and sticky hit his outstretched hand. The texture of it was somewhat soft, and yet crispy around the edges. Harpuia grimaced, pulling it eye level and then looking back down to Fefnir. "A biscuit...?"
Cammy couldn't help but snicker, looking back at Fefnir while covering her mouth to suppress her laughter. Her dark hair fell over her eyes in a lazy fashion, making her look as though she had just woken up. "Uncle Biscuit was eating that when I ran past him. He didn't want to leave it alone when he was playing tag with me, Daddy, so, erm... When they came around the corner he dropped it and it went up there." She raised one finger, pointing towards the ceiling with a giggle.
Alouette and Harpuia both looked up to confirm this before both looking back down to Cammy. "Is that so? Well... I was just getting ready to come out and see what he was up to. Why would you have ever thought he had time for a game of tag, Camille?" Sage knelt down next to her, looking her in the eye. "But enough games and jokes for now. What are you doing down here? I told you before that this was not a place for little kids, didn't I?" He gave her a stern look, waiting for some kind of excuse or close to that. Instead of hearing Cammy's small voice, however, he was shocked to hear Alouette say something instead, although her words were not directed at him or Cammy. She was instead looking inside of the room that he had just come out of, and it was fairly obvious who she was staring at. And who she was speaking to.
"Ciel!" The small reploid ran past Harpuia and Cammy, stumbling to hurry to the only mother she had ever really known. Alouette hurriedly knelt down in front of Ciel, but to her dismay, the older girl did not even seem to notice that she was there. The child reploid observed her a little more before looking at the chains that rested around Ciel's wrists. The woman's eyes were blank and staring, gazing straight ahead with a vague emptiness. "Ciel! Ciel... This isn't like you. What's the matter? Don't you see me?" Alouette tugged at her before directing her attention towards the two outside the door. She quickly rubbed her eyes and rose to her feet, turning to face them. "Why is Ciel like this? Cammy... please tell him to let go of-" Her words trailed off and she took a step back as Harpuia moved silently closer to her. His eyes were locked onto Ciel's small form, and he appeared deep in thought.
"Daddy... What are you doing?" Cammy whispered shakily from behind him. The sound of water falling to the ground echoed off somewhere in the distance, pulling a peaceful, almost eerie aura around them. Other than that minute noise, complete silence seemed to reign throughout the area. Cammy took one step forward, holding out one hand while grasping the doorway for support with the other. She kept her eyes locked on the green Guardian, not knowing what was going to happen. This fun, crazy moment had suddenly turned cold and frightening for her. For the first time in weeks, Cammy had no words to express how she felt. Scared? Confused? Maybe even happy? But how could that be possible at the moment? Cammy had already known that Neo Arcadia had taken away Miss Ciel, but seeing her like this was not something that she had expected. "It was... all... a game..." Her lips moved, barely forming the words, and she was still holding the side of the door. Her dark hair fell over her face in softy, wavy tangles.
Harpuia closed his eyes for a moment, knowing that he may truly regret what he was getting ready to do. "I'm sorry..."
Alouette's eyes widened even more, and she quickly moved her hands over her face, but she remained standing in front of Ciel. A small whine escape her lips. Her legs shook from beneath her, barely holding her up. She had always figured that this was going to happen; it had simply taken a little time for it to come around. I was always scared to come here... But for Ciel... I had to. But I was so scared. Of them... She closed her eyes closed tightly and remained where she was, shaking terribly.
Harpuia activated one saber and paced toward the two, his eyes focused on one specific thing. He had already made up his mind. There was a strange calmness on his face. Cammy stumbled, running over to him and tugging at his arm, tears already spilling from her eyes. "Daddy! No! Harpuia! Please, don't do it! They're my friends! You can't!" She continued pulling at him, biting her lip. Her cheeks turned red for lack of breath, since she was holding it in her anxiety in expectance for some kind of reply. "You're supposed to protect people! Not hurt anyone! And they are nice, yes! Why would you hurt nice people?" She was still vainly holding onto him, but she could do nothing but watch with panic-stricken eyes as he raised his saber. She redoubled her efforts, but to no avail, and she closed her eyes, shaking her head and sending the sparkling tears on her face spraying into the dank air. "Stop!"
Harpuia stopped for a moment and looked down at her, his expression a blank mask. "Cammy... Do not be afraid... It will be okay." His voice was clear and straightforward as he brought the saber up higher, eyeing his target all the while. "We can leave right after this... I promise." There was another long moment of silence... before the shrill sound of Cammy's scream rang through the room as the saber struck home.
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Leviathan's eyes shot open and she quickly looked at her door, her hands rising to her chest. Standing from the chair in which she sat next to the window, she scanned the room around her for anything related to the noise she had heard. "Did I hear it?" One hand fell to her side, the other staying on her chest. She shook her head, walking over to the bed and sitting down. A dark, heavy feeling washed over her, making her wince. She reached over, grabbed a nearby pillow, and clutched it tightly to herself, rolling onto one side and looking up to the ceiling. Her hand slowly went to the side of her face, and she half-expected to feel some sort of wetness on her cheek. Her other thought was... something else. Could it be a wish? Or her regret that she would never being able to cry, no matter how hurt she became inside? She turned again lightly on her bed, hugging her pillow tightly.
A sharp pain went through her body like nothing she had ever felt before; a constant aching at her chest. "Why... am I hurting so much suddenly...? Like... It feels... like I am in pain... with someone else..." Her voice was shaky. She sat up, looking out the open window in her room. The calm winds blew through her long, blue hair, which hung loose down her back without her helmet to confine it. "I envy you all," she whispered, gazing out at the sky. "I wish I was... what you all get to be. Humans... You all take that pain in your hearts for granted. You don't want to feel it anymore. But you always have someone to hold on to... and just let all that pain out through those wonderful tears. I wish... I wish I could do the same."
She swiveled and planted her feet on the floor before standing and brushing back a few strands of her hair. She approached the window once again and took up her previous spot in the chair, resting her chin in the palm of her hand. "You should all remember that those tears... no matter how much it may hurt while it's happening... It's a perfect symbol of humanity. Because... all of you cry. No matter how tough you all may think you are sometimes. Such a beautiful substance..." She lowered her eyes and looked at the floor with a heavy sigh, dropping her hands to her lap. "I heard a long time ago... That X... used to cry. He shed tears just like humans did. He cried over such silly things that some reploids could not understand. But I am sure I could... He would cry for the war that happened so long ago. All the deaths... not just for humans but for reploids as well. I don't even know if Harpuia knows much about it. But... it doesn't matter." The blue Guardian looked back through the window and watched a few doves fly by. She smiled. "You had such a big heart, X. Even if you were a reploid. You were special. So very special... I always covered up my dreams and wishes of being able to react and think just as a human would. But... these feelings just get stronger. There is nothing I can do to release this horrible feeling inside of me. And when I saw Cammy in that alleyway... that beautiful child... I thought everything would turn out okay then, because I could live my life through her; watch her tears and dry them after. I could be a mother... almost like a human mother, because I would have a human child."
Leviathan's gaze fixed on some distant, unknown point somewhere beyond the window, her mind elsewhere, her heart a deep well of mixed emotions. "All of you... be happy... Your creator allowed for you to cry. And that's a wonderful sign of love. And I do hope one day I will be able to do the same... just how you all do." She trailed off, closing her eyes and leaning against the window. Slowly, she began to drift into a peaceful sleep. "Perhaps... in my dreams... I can..."
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The sound of slow, calm footsteps echoed through the halls. The soldiers walking by immediately stopped and bowed respectfully, unspeaking. The figure moved through the corridor in silence, seemingly ignoring the troops as he stared straight ahead.
He had heard that scream down below -he was sure many had- but he couldn't quite place who it was. The distance was too far to really determine that. The only thing he knew for sure was that the voice was female. He headed around another corner, keeping his arms to his sides and his eyes closed. He didn't need to see where he was going. He already had a pretty good idea of where it had come from, and although the worst may have happened, he seriously doubted it.
That scream... sounds so familiar in a way. He continued to ponder this before stopping right before reaching the steps that led to the lower areas. The same place he had had Ciel taken. Hmm. I do wonder what could have caused such a scare down there? He put a hand to his chin, taking one slow step downward and then quickening his pace. Whatever the reason was, he would get there soon enough, although his Guardians should have already been there fixing the problem, whatever it was.
"Well, if they didn't... I suppose I will have to fix everything again, as usual. Sometimes I wonder why I ask anyone to do such things for me. Perhaps I should have just kept Ciel with me. It would have guaranteed that nothing would have gone wrong- as it seems have," he mumbled, shaking his head and stepping into the darkness, red eyes glowing.
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Cammy kept her eyes closed and her hands over her ears. She wanted to block out anything she might have heard. She couldn't tell if she had been successful in stopping all sound from getting through, or if there had been nothing to hear- either way, she heard nothing. She silently prayed that the second reason was true. Whimpering quietly, she cautiously opened her eyes, unshed tears hiding in the corners. She slowly removed her hands from her ears and stared straight ahead. The first moving person she saw was Ally, who trembled, still standing in the same spot that she had been before.
Alouette had her hands over her mouth and was whining and looking back at Ciel with a slight shift of her eyes. Then she brought them back to Harpuia. "I... I... umm," the little reploid muttered softly, although nobody could even attempt to understand what she was saying. Cammy watched silently as her best friend fell to knees, her soft, pink dress wrapped around her legs. The reploid girl slid back in fear, but her expression held something more; relief.
Ciel's hands dropped to her sides, the chains around them now on the floor and broken apart. Her eyes were now showing some emotion, but Harpuia couldn't really read it well. He stared straight at her for a few moments and then, turning away from both of them, put his saber away and gazed down at Cammy.
"I suppose I am going to have to say sorry to Master X in his presence soon. But I believe that this was the right thing to do. No matter if Master X is the ruler of Neo Arcadia... It is wrong to keep someone like her in shackles over trying to do the same thing as we all have been trying to accomplish. If anything, Dr. Ciel is the closest to coming up with anything that we could actually use. And if I... no... if we keep her here, what can she do for the all reploids and humans?" He spoke very clearly, unsure if Cammy could really understand what he was truly saying.
Cammy looked up at him slowly with innocent eyes and reached out one shaking hand while blinking back her tears. The Guardian kneeled down and looked at her with curious eyes, tilting his head very slightly, wondering what she was getting ready to say.
She touched his cheek with a small hand, tracing the side of his face. Smiling weakly, she let out a small sigh. "You would never hurt anyone on purpose, Daddy... because..." She trailed off and then edged a little closer to whisper in his ear just loud enough for him to make out the words. "Mommy told me that one night while I was sleeping."
Harpuia's eyes widened and he almost fell back. He regained his balance and looked down quickly, clenching one fist. He said nothing for a quite some time, as if struggling to believe Cammy. He closed his eyes, images going through his mind. How could I ever have let one of my only true friends slip away from me like that?... I just... He shuddered, watching pieces of memories replay in his mind again. She was so sad those last few years... and I could barely help her. But I tried... although it all ended in failure, it seems. The images went though his head so quickly that it almost made him sick to his stomach, and he put one hand to his head, looking away from Cammy. "That's not possible... It can't be... If what she said was true, then I would have never let something happen to her," he said softly, his eyes going back over to Ciel and then Alouette. "That's why it's so hard to keep her here. And I can't do that anymore. She has a child, too... Just like Brina." Harpuia pulled his attention back to Cammy, confusion apparent in his eyes. "Cammy...? How did you know that I..." he trailed off, looking back down to the ground, moving away, and standing back up. "I never told you that... I..." Harpuia figured there was no point in continuing the conversation, so he quickly shrugged it off, hoping Cammy would know not to say anything to Master X. She may be a child... but she still had a pretty sharp mind for one so young.
His attention immediately went over to the two behind him and he sighed and shook his head. "Alright then... now... Miss Ciel, I am afraid, has to stay here. There is no doubt in my mind that Zero is coming to get her anyways. You two must come with me... I was well informed that Fefnir was supposed to be going back to the Resistance Base to bring you back, Cammy. It will be a mystery why he brought you back, too, but..." He eyed Alouette, shrugging and walking towards the door. "That's just something we will have to deal with. I am sure you can go back with Miss Ciel later, but it would a bit to strange to place you in here right now in case someone comes before Zero does. I am counting on the fact that he will come before anyone else."
Cammy shook her head a few times to shake off the fear that still resided in her. She took his hand gratefully, looking at Alouette with a small, reassuring smile. "Its ok Ally... he won't lie. Daddy always keeps his promises. It's... Uncle Biscuits who is bad at that." She tried to let out a small giggle, hoping to make Alouette do the same.
Alouette managed a small smile as she walked over to the two, casting one more look back to Ciel. She leaned down and gave her a loving kiss on the cheek. The scientist's eyes followed her movement. "Ciel...Zero will come get you. I wish I could have saved you, but... I guess I am still too small. But when Zero comes for you... Can you tell him to make you smile? Because I... I don't like seeing you sad... okay?" She knew that she would probably receive no response. She stood up slowly, ready to follow her friend. As she was getting to her feet, she felt something pull at her arm, making her gasp and look down, her hair swinging with the quick movement of her head.
"Ciel..?" she murmured, putting her own hand on the one that lovingly wrapped around hers.
"Alouette... I w-will be sure to do that... Go with your friend..." As she said this, Ciel's eyes traveled up to Harpuia's with a pleading stare. She said nothing to him, but continued looking up at him, her locks of hair tangled about her face.
Harpuia held the eye contact for a moment, nodding but saying nothing. Finally, he walked to the door and stepped out, not turning back. "Come now, you two. Ciel will be fine." He closed his eyes and put his hand over them. 'Please forgive me, Master X. It was what I felt was best for now. We can't keep her here... I know this is somewhat for my own feelings and reasons, but I do hope everyone will understand. I can't keep her sister here... Not after I promised to always protect her..."
The two little girls looked back to Ciel once more before walking over to the Guardian, waiting for him to lead on. They both were silent, unsure whether talking would be fitting for this situation. Cammy was too busy wondering why her dad... Harpuia... was acting so strange. Alouette was obviously just concerned for Ciel.
"...Can I ask where we are going, though, before we leave?" Cammy looked up at the figure in front of her, though his back was still to her. She stared straight ahead, unmoving, her hands to her sides. She was still feeling a little shaky from what had happened just a few moments ago.
The sound of water falling to the ground still echoed through the area, making Cammy wince a few times. The silence that surrounded the walls was already creepy enough- the little effect of dripping water made this place sound and look like a haunted dungeon. But she had everyone around her, so she felt safe enough.
"I am sure... mommy Levi would be happy to see you. I believe I will take you two to her. I have lot's of work to do after this, so both of you need to stay put when I drop you off with her, understand?" His voice came out in almost a whisper, but a little higher. Cammy couldn't help but wonder why he was acting so strange suddenly. Though it bothered her inside to see him act like this, she figured she should keep it to herself.
Cammy's answer came out as a mumble. "Yes.. we understand." She nodded slightly, twisting a lock of her hair around her finger and looking at the floor. She was prepared to just follow along, but stopped as she saw the two others on the ground, apparently still unconscious and twitching. A small smile found it's way onto her lips, and she put a hand to her mouth to hold back a little laugh. "Oh... oops... I forgot about them."
Harpuia looked both ways and let out a small sigh, putting one hand to his side with a small chuckle. "Well why not..?" He took a few steps toward Fefnir, nudging him with his foot a little before looking at the biscuit that the red Guardian still held in his hand. His eyes then traveled over to Phantom, and then the room behind him. "Well Cammy... I suppose just this once... It would not hurt to think like you, though I do believe it could be dangerous for someone like me. So just this once... alright?" He turned his gaze over to Cammy who nodded, putting hands behind her back and rocking her body from side to side in a sweet, shy fashion.
"Okay then. I understand..." She turned and momentarily went back to the room where Ciel was. She gave Harpuia a nod as she came back out.
Alouette watched curiously as the green Guardian lifted Fefnir up and dragged him into the room, propping him up against the wall. "Though this is a long shot and won't last long, I am counting on the fact that Zero will come along before Master X does... But... I am sure he will... But with the luck right now, Master X will come first... Let's hope for the other way around."
Before they knew it, they were all making their way down the hall and up the stairs, heading for Leviathans room, leaving behind two twitching Guardians, both in the prison room of where Ciel was. Harpuia certainly had no use for the biscuit that Fefnir had so lovingly nibbled at and was prepared to throw it away, but Cammy had suggested putting it in her Uncle's hand for pure amusement.
"Well either way.. I am responsible for this however it goes.. But I don't see why that big lug can't come down with me.. Besides.. you said he was chasing you, right? Well then, why not get him in more trouble... I don't see anything wrong with that. I do believe he deserves it."
The door shut from upstairs, leaving a drunken looking Fefnir with a biscuit in his hand, and a fidgeting Phantom.
"I am sure Master X will give them a better nap after he finds them! Cammy shouted with glee.
Harpuia looked down and put one hand to the back of his head.
"Oh yes... a better nap... yes..."
They continued along down the upper halls, Cammy chatting along the way and occasionally hopping up and down. Once again, the moment had drastically changed... but none of them seemed to have noticed. And that was just as Harpuia wanted it. He did not want Cammy or this small reploid girl to worry. Little ones such as themselves shouldn't ever have to cry or hide away. Not like so many others had to do to over the years. Not like Brina... Not like Ciel.
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Zidet: I do hope you all don't think this story is dragging... I just don't wanna shove too much information into one chapter... I have had serious writers block... and I don't believe that writing out stuff that is of great importance to the storyline in a few bunched up chapters would make you all feel to happy with me... (laughs nervously) Um... I ...erm... hope... you all like this... and... please... don't yell at me for this short chapter... I tried... for you all (Runs away crying) If there is any of you anymore!
...Any one of you have anything you want to happen at all so I can put in some other stuff besides the main parts of the story so it... won't... be like... well I don't know... Never mind... I will just shut up! (cries and runs away) byes!
Ri: I want to offer my personal apology to Zidet's readers; the long delay in this chapter was my fault, since I was supposed to be proofreading all this time, and I'm a horrible slacker. ;; I promise to you guys and to Zidet that I'll do better from now on!
Zidet: heh she blames herself to much.. pats Ri and huggles her