Disclaimer: Perhaps one day I'll find the rights to Xenosaga blowing down the street … Until then, I don't own anything but the games I bought … and the OC characters that appear throughout the story…
Authors Notes:
Okay, in this chappie it will be original text. This is where the plot begins to twist in the direction I'm aiming for … Well, at least I hope it's in the direction I want…
I usually listen to music when I write, music that gives me the mood I need to put on paper. So, I'm going to list the music track I listened to for each chapter! For those of you who are really into music and have heard these pieces, then you may have a better feel for that particular chapter. Those of you who haven't heard it, the story will still be the same obviously, and I don't really think it matters come to think about it… heh heh?
Anyway, I'll count the whole music thing as a bonus.
Music Pieces:
Chapter 1: KOS-MOS -- none (just listening to the beginning of XS Ep1 over and over and over…)
Chapter 2: Conspiracy -- "For the Reunion" – Uematsu Nobuo – Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Xenosaga: Nexus Ties
Chapter 2: Conspiracy
The sound of flesh ramming to flesh filled the chamber and two young men, perhaps in their mid-twenties, fell to the ground, wincing and stirring in pain. An older man across the room stared calmly and emotionlessly out of the window overlooking the whole of the universe, listening to the steps and the leather clothing of the angry 18 year old flutter behind him approach him.
"Boy, do I hate liars." he sighed and sneered as he slowly made his way to the older man.
"I apologize for my behavior." a deep baritone voice answered as the old man spoke.
"Tsh. You told me you had her destroyed. You yourself gave that false information to me." The teen's tenor-baritone voice had an angry sheen to its calmness, giving the impression of malevolence.
"Again I apologize. This time you get the truth." the older man wearing a sheer black business suit began calmly and confidently. "Our troops were thwarted by the target during the invasion. I'm afraid our commanders were careless."
"Is … that … right?" the silver-haired teen pronounced, his voice growing louder and ever more sincere.
"You have my word. I swear by it." came the reply. The teen's silver hair that fell to his jaw line swayed as he turned his back on the elder.
"Fine. Where is she now?" he inquired, his swelled anger slowly calming, yet his voice was impatient. "I suppose I will have to do the job myself this time."
"That won't be necessary, Kael." the elder's voice was light. "I've already cleaned up our little mess."
The teen, Kael, turned to the elder once more, his eyes burning into his back.
"Oh, really? Then you have her?" he inquired curiously.
"She is three floors below your very feet in a high voltage containment center." his voice was calm, almost reassuring. "I can guarantee that she won't be moving for quite a time."
"Have you prepared to break her?" Kael asked loudly, indicating that that was his primary concern.
"Not yet. We won't initiate Plan SEDRA for another 24 hours as a safety precaution." he replied. "It's best not to rush an instable experiment."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Careful, old man. You may have let that experiment in through the front door, but she will not depart that way if you aren't watchful." he warned darkly. The old man with dark hair and beige skin turn to the boy, his brown eyes piercing into the youth's blue ones.
"Do you question my methods?" he growled. Kael merely lowered his head a notch and frowned.
Did he question the man's methods? After all, even though they had an agreement, the man's plans and schemes seemed to grow more intense by the day. This current scheme was merely the beginning, should it be foretold.
Instead of using honesty, Kael chose to speak with his mind, not his heart.
"Not at all. I'm merely concerned."
Ignoring the trace of falsehood and mockery in the boy's tone, the old man smiled.
"I see. In that case, I have a mission for you as part of our agreement." the old man opened one of his desk drawers and retrieved and holographic device. He tossed the small module to the boy who easily caught the fist-sized object despite his leather gloves. "That should tell you everything you need to know."
There was a hesitant pause in the room as the elder turned back to his gazing.
"I understand." Kael nodded. "I will review this later and contact you. For now, my kinsmen and I need to regroup."
"Then go, Kael. Go and change someone's fate." the man smirked, his lips twisted and his eyes bloodthirsty.
Kael turned to leave, the door hissing open and closed as he exited the room. Perhaps he made a mistake when he took up the offer from that man. Not only did the man fail to complete his mission, he also sucked more than enough money away from him for a failed mission.
Next time, Kael would pay after the mission was completed, not in advance. And now, he was beginning to think that this mission he had just been assigned was one that would change the fate of the universe as a whole…
The Woglinde, Analysis and Scientific Lab: Vector Industries
Shion sighed as she and KOS-MOS caught their bearings after the test run in the V.R.S.
"Well Allen, the test run was successful! No abnormalities to report." Shion called into the space of the Encephalon.
"That's great, Shion! Do you need to return to tune up KOS-MOS?" he asked. Shion turned to KOS-MOS, first looking her over for any unlikely major damage, and then asking to confirm her positive report.
"Is everything alright, KOS-MOS?" she inquired. The android paused for a mere moment before answering.
"All systems returning to normal, Shion. Auto safety is now enabled." she replied with a small nod, the visor still shielding her eyes.
"Good." the woman in a violet, cream, and black Vector uniform replied. "Okay, Allen. No need to quit now. Let's continue."
"Roger." Allen's tenor voice called through the simulator. "Booting up simulated action sequence. The enemies should be appearing any minute."
Just as Allen had spoken those words, the Gnosis dummies materialized just as KOS-MOS and Shion had earlier. They stayed in their designated areas, yet their movements really were random. There was no way to predict where they would move next.
"Ready, KOS-MOS?" Shion asked for the final time, just to be sure there wouldn't be a problem. To have a repeat of the last launch into the simulator would be catastrophic.
"Yes, Shion. Please lead the way." she answered, waiting perfectly still and patiently.
Shion began towards a run down building guarded by a holo-Gnosis, perhaps two. The scientist and her creation walked calmly to the entrance of the building, carefully choosing their steps. Once the holo-Gnosis caught sight of them, they froze.
"Your orders, Shion?" KOS-MOS's cool voice piped up as she waited for orders.
"Engage in battle." Shion ordered. KOS-MOS began toward the simulated Gnosis with quick, yet measured steps.
"Disabling auto safety. Permission granted to engage in battle." she announced as she drew her blaster from her side, aiming towards the enemy. Firing two shots weakened the holo-Gnosis enough and she used her conjured sword to bring it down, its simulated form disappearing.
"Target eliminated. Battle mode disengaged." she said, standing straight and still as Shion arrived at her side.
"Very good, KOS-MOS." she praised.
"Thank you, Shion. I was glad to be of service." the android replied, seemingly happy to be praised.
"Now, let's keep going."
Shion led the way into the building, leaving the well lit simulated environment behind and entering the dimly lit and dreary building. She had entered this building before, and this was where everything went downhill last time…
The young lady sat quietly on a steel bench behind thick prison bars that were flowing with electricity. There were several guards guarding her cell, keeping every eye on her, daring her to move.
What had she done to deserve this? Surely she hadn't committed any crime. One day she woke up and found her ship flooded with troops claiming to be from the U-TIC Organization. But what would U-TIC want with her?
Next thing she knew, she had thwarted and injured the troops that had tried to kidnap her. But then, there's a hole in her memory … a hole of blackness. All that comes to mind was her waking up here in this cell, waiting for U-TIC to decide her fate.
What had she done to deserve this? Was self-defense really a crime in this world?
Ah, and uneventful chapter, save for the introduction of three characters. But this is the beginning of the story, so it's probably to be expected that so many characters came in so soon… I was going to wait for a different chapter to reveal Kael and the older man (who has a name, but I refuse to reveal it yet.), but then I thought that posting it in this chapter could work to my benefit…Obviously I still have characters to introduce, so don't get your panties all in a wad because your favorite character isn't in here yet.
Yes … chaos is going to show up very soon. I haven't forgotten why I did this story.
Reviews are appreciated!
The Next Chapter Will Be Published Sunday (June 18, 2006)