Disclaimer: Ya know … I could just break into the Namco company building and steal the rights … but since I don't want to be arrested or be so stupid or mean, I won't. Hence, you must assume that I don't own Xenosaga. Then again, assuming is only "making an ass out of you and me!"
Author's Notes:
I'm sorry about the delay for this chapter release! The site was having issues uploading the document! Though I do promise this to be a juicy chapter!
Ah! Ya know, I think this story is progressing rather nicely. A bit on the slow side with everything on the Woglinde, but I think it fits. I'm trying to get the timing right…
Enough of the hinting! This chappie is epic/dramatic, cute, and well, just plain Xenosaga-like, I guess. Ziggy could show up in this chapter, but I don't really know. I just write what feels right to write for that chapter. Oooooo … confusing… o.O
Music Pieces:
Chapter 6: Deeper Schemes -- "Fake Wings" (Subaru's Theme) – Yuki Kajiura -- .hack/SIGN
-- "Bevelle's Secret" – Noriko Matsueda – Final Fantasy X-2
Xenosaga: Nexus Ties
Chapter 6: Deeper Schemes
The Woglinde, Residence Area, Cabin H5, Shion Uzuki's Quarters
Everything was black and white as if color didn't exist. Shion was standing in a misty graveyard with nothing but the tombstones to comfort her. Glancing around, she felt a sense of mystery and sadness flow through her as she realized she was alone.
A faint ringing reached her ears as she turned and realized that she wasn't alone. The little girl she had seen before in the Encephalon, her eyes portraying that same emotionless stare. Shion stared back, wondering who she was and why she made her appearance now. She had never seen this girl before in her life. Why was she seeing her now?
The girl's gaze shifted over Shion's right shoulder. Shion turned and caught the sound of footsteps treading over grass as a human silhouette made its appearance in the mist. Narrowing her eyes, trying to recognize the figure, her dream ceased to continue and all was black once more.
Outside of her dream, in the material world, the young girl stood at the side of Shion's bed, simply staring. Shifting her gaze to the distant stars out the window, she blinked and nodded in approval.
The Woglinde, Analysis and Scientific Lab, Vector Industries
The double doors hissed open and closed as Allen entered the room. His decision to return to lock up the lab before bedtime seemed like a good idea, but there were still people in the lab.
"Hey." the black haired man said, preoccupied with his console.
"Hey, Allen." the blonde woman greeted.
"So, how was your date with the Chief?" the brunette interrogated, cutting straight to the latest gossip. Allen seemed stupefied as his expression became one of annoyance and embarrassment.
"How do you know about my date?" he questioned. The girls giggled and the man grinned.
"Gossip travels fast around here, you know." answered the brunette, the blonde leaning back against a chair with a wink. "Seems like you two are happy together. Did you get anything good out of it?" she continued.
Oh dear … Here it comes … The dreaded colleague questioning … This was going to take a while, so why not make it brief yet to the point to save trouble and time?
"Well, she did, um, kiss me." he replied.
"On the lips?" the blonde woman and the black haired man exclaimed in unison as the brunette gaped.
"No, no, no, no, no! On the cheek." Allen clarified, throwing his hands up in defeat. All three colleagues sighed and the blonde smacked her leg.
"Damn. And that would have been juicy gossip, too." she grumbled as the brunette nodded in agreement. Allen wrinkled his brow in pity and confusion at the two's antics.
"Every time I come in here there's always some story to be told." he shook his head. "Is that all you two live for is gossip?"
The ladies looked at each other for a brief moment before turning back to him with the fakest innocent grins.
"Yep, that's about it!" they replied with giggles. "And men, but you know, there aren't any eligible bachelors around here with good looks and all of the handsome ones are already taken…" the brunette trailed off.
Allen frowned as his shoulders sunk. He was an eligible bachelor … he wasn't taken … so then, he wasn't handsome?
"Gee, guys, thanks for the compliment." he grumbled. "I'm going back to bed now. I was going to lock up the lab, but since you're still here you can do that for me, right?"
"Sure, Allen. But hey, why not stay for a cup?" the black haired man raised his head from his console screen to him. A cup … of coffee? That couldn't be all that bad. He needed it anyway. Deciding to stay, he found a nearby drink dispenser and ordered darkened coffee. Once back inside the lab, he and his colleagues struck up an odd conversation involving champagne, romance, and something about guacamole…
The Elsa, Cabin 1
Chaos retuned to the cabin after taking a short trip to the Elsa restaurant for a quick snack. Quietly making his way to the woman's bedside, he knelt on his knees beside the woman and gazed at her elegant facial features. She was completely silent as she slept, yet she had a disturbing aura about her, as if something was terribly wrong inside her.
The woman began to gently stir her eyes opened into small slits with awakening. Gradually she blinked and each time her eyes would open wider, becoming more alert to the world around her.
"Oh, you're awake." chaos said as the woman's eyes shifted to him. "Are you alright? You were pretty shaken up when we found you."
The woman groaned as she closed her eyes, blocking out the cabin lights.
"Where am I?" she asked groggily. Worriedly and frightened her eyes shot open. "Where's Wilder and Kael?" she shouted as she bolted upright. She winced and remained silent as she hit her head on the bottom of the bunk above her.
"Easy. You're already hurt, I can tell. Don't further your injuries." chaos warned with care as he guided her back down to her pillow. The woman sighed as she fixed her eyes upon him, her violet orbs filled with suffering.
"Where am I?" she asked again, far more calmly.
"You're aboard the spaceship Elsa." he answered quietly, yet with a strong voice. The woman contemplated this, her eyes blinking for a moment. "We found you inside a jettisoned casket, but you were still alive when we brought you in."
There was a hesitant pause from the woman before her attention was back in the real world.
"Who are you to take me in so generously?" she whispered.
"My name is chaos." he answered. "And you?"
"I'm called NINA." the voice of an angel replied, her eyes softening from their hard gaze.
"You're welcome here aboard the Elsa, NINA. You'll be safe here from whatever did this to you." he reassured kindly as NINA's eyes fluttered closed with exhaustion. Chaos understood her distress. What he had observed, this woman had been through agonizing torture. And now he knew…
NINA was the screaming woman in his nightmare.
Kael stood quietly in the cockpit in his personalized spacecraft, overlooking the stars ahead of him. He was not alone, however. Two other silver haired men sat slightly behind him, both in leather just as Kael was.
"Hey Kael … What was it that Wilder wanted us to do?" the man with long silver hair asked in his naturally soft tenor voice.
"Quiet, Juris! Can't you see our big brother is thinking?" the third man exclaimed in his baritone voice. He ran a hand through his short silver hair that broke at the tips of his ears. It was much of a shag cut, really.
"He is not so loud as you, Benit. You and your shouting … Give your voice a break or I will do it for you." Kael snapped. "Both of you know what our job is, so don't play stupid."
Juris and Benit frowned either in shame or dislike towards their brother's attitude. Kael usually wasn't so sensitive, but something had been scratching at his mind lately.
"I fulfilled my part of the deal, now Wilder wants his part fulfilled." Kael explained quietly. "The experiment he jettisoned … He wants us to find it and be sure that it survived. I'm not entirely sure where she is, or whether the reconfiguration was performed. That is your job, Juris. And your job, Benit, is to keep her at bay when we do find her. Do you both understand?"
"What about your job?" Juris asked in an almost teasing tone. "I don't see you putting your Gift to use." He smiled lightly with malevolent eyes behind his older brother.
"My job is to make sure you and Benit aren't harmed when we engage the experiment. I will use my Gift when is necessary, Juris. My Gift is not to be toyed with."
"I understand, brother." he replied and the cockpit was silent once more. Kael did not enjoy tracing what seemed like a sparrow lost in the depths of the universe. This experiment was proving to be most troublesome indeed.
"Aren't we being double played here, Kael?" Benit piped up sincerely. "It seems like we have two parts to this deal, like we're being used."
"Yes, Benit. I am aware of that. That's precisely what I want from Wilder. If there's one lesson I learned," he paused, raising his right hand as streams of turquoise matter flowed from his palm like smoke. His palm began to glow as he gave the most wicked smile. "It's to never let your greed cloud your judgment."
The two younger brothers glanced at one another and gave a smirk. They understood what Kael was planning. He had done it so many times before. Soon, Wilder and the U-TIC Organization would be out of the way…
For good.
I'm sorry this was so short. And I just realized that it's way too early to put Ziggy in yet … But he'll be in here in a few chapters, I'd imagine. It's getting close!
What's this mumbo-jumbo about this Gift Kael has? What are his plans for Wilder and U-TIC? Who the hell is Wilder? Well, actually, I think you all know…
Anyway, I know for sure this next chapter will have—um—terrifying moments. And plenty of them, I foresee!
Special thanks to KOS-MOS rox just for sending in a review and giving me much needed encouragement! I appreciate it! XD
As you already know … Reviews are appreciated!
The Next Chapter Will Be PublishedMonday (June 26, 2006)