When the light died down, Donut was surprised that he was no longer in the desert but rather a town of some kind. Now normally this wouldn't be cause for concern, however the town looks like one that would from about five hundred years ago. Also, it looked like Donut had landed in the "seedy" part of it.
Looking around there was a park nearby with some boys hanging out there. They were whispering about the strange light and the sudden emergence of the pink armoured figure.
Donut figured he could ask these boys where he was.
So, putting his battle rifle on his back, he walked over to the boys and offered a simple wave.
"Hiya. You wouldn't mind telling me where I am would you?" Donut asks.
"Your on Mars, welcome." One of the boys offers a snide remark.
"Huh, it's a lot more green than I remember." Donut voices aloud. He boys laugh at his response.
"Wow, your dumber than we thought." A second boy says.
"Hey! That's not very nice!" Donut exclaims.
"And your voice sounds absolutely retarded. And what's with the colour you're wearing?" A third boy rudely asks.
"It's lighting-red." Donut defends.
"Hey!" Comes a new voice. Turning towards its source, Donut finds the speaker is a girl around Kaede's age. She's slightly taller than Kaede, has short black hair, and was wearing all black clothes and it looks like she is carrying a sketchbook. "I've told you several times to stop picking on people!"
"We've never listens to you Aiko, so you best stop trying! Now fuck off!" The first boy shouts.
"What's with all the hostility?" Donut asks.
"We'll leave for now, but we'll come back when we damn please and do what ever the hell we want, whether you like it or not Aiko." The first boy says before he and his group move elsewhere.
"Sorry about them, they're so mean. They kicked a soccer ball through my window once." The girl says after rushing up to meet Donut.
"It's all good, I'm used to people getting rough. I'm Donut." Donut introduces.
"I'm Aiko." Aiko introduces. "If you don't mind me asking, why are you wearing... that?"
"This is armour, it's standards issue for us soldiers. I earned mine after helping to capture the enemy flag." Donut explains.
"What's so important about the enemy flag?" Aiko questions.
"You know, I've never really thought about it." Donut admits. "But enough about me, tell me about you."
"I... uh like to draw." Aiko nervously lets out.
"Awesome. May I see?" Donut asks. Aiko hesitantly hands him her sketchbook to which he takes a quick look. Not only were her drawings good, they were near perfect in Donuts eyes, this girl was really talented. "Wow, I don't know what I was expecting but these are good, better than good!"
"Maybe, but I'm no where near the level of my mom. She's a professional." Aiko explains.
"Maybe, but with enough practice I'm sure you'll be on her level." Donut assures. "If she's there to help you it'll make it easier."
"About that..." Aiko starts. "I've never actually met my mother."
"Huh!" Donut exclaims.
"She moved abroad and became a real artist. Even so, I want to meet with her one day." Aiko explains. "Stupid right. Mother threw me away, yet I still long for her."
"No! I don't think its stupid at all." Donut exclaims. "I understand after all that you'd still want to see her."
"Yeah, I do. But I've missed my chance." Aiko sadly responds.
"What do you mean?" Donut asks.
"Three years ago, she came back here for some exhibition. I wanted to go, to go meet her, but I was too afraid. Now I don't know when or if she'll come back." Aiko answers. Donut is saddened at the girls story, however, more and more people seemed to gather around to watch the pink armoured man. Aiko noticed too. "Lets go somewhere a little more private."
With that, the two made their way around the neighbourhood with haste, away from prying eyes.
"So, what did you need help with?" Aiko finally asks him.
Kurama watched with his small task force as #6 made another round. This was getting tiresome. They'd been all over the world at this point and no clue as to the Queens whereabouts. At this point, they were just wasting money to give #5 and #6 a world tour. After the worldwide search turned up nothing, Kurama insisted to the director that the queen must be dead, however, Kakuzawa insisted they not take chances in the off chance that she somehow avoided their search party and that they scower the globe until they find either her or her corpse.
It would go a lot faster if there were more search party's, but releasing that many Diclonius would be too risky. Just releasing these two was risky enough.
He continued to watch #6 when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Looking over he sees one of the sat members holding a radio.
"Sir, theirs been suspicious activity not too far from here. None of it seems to be diclonius related, but I think its still worth checking out." He says.
"Very well. Even if it doesn't seem diclonii related, it very well COULD be very soon." Kurama agrees. He takes the radio from the soldier and after switching the frequency, talks into it. "#6, we're moving elsewhere to investigate some suspicious activity. You will comply." She had to. Before being sent on the search mission, #5 and #6 were sedated and had bombs implanted in their bodies much like they had done with his daughter. If they were to step out of line, be that killing someone, infecting someone, or any suspicious activity of any kind, all it would take is the press of a button and they would be a memory. If their were any witnesses to the explosion, it could easily be explained as a terrorist attack of some kind.
"Fine." #6 grumpily replies. She was always grumpy, probably because of all she's been through coupled with her unrequited lust for killing humans. Kurama missed Nana during times like these. She was nothing like any other of the test subjects were.
Donut and Aiko arrived at what looked like a storage room of some kind. There was little light and no people around, so it was the perfect place for the two to continue their conversation.
"What did you need help with?" Aiko asks.
"Oh you see, I'm kinda lost. A little while ago, I was in the desert with some friends. I find a purple ball on the ground and suddenly, I'm here." Donut explains.
"I don't know where you came from, but right now, you're in Kamakura Japan." Aiko explains. "I've never heard of a teleporter ever existing."
"I have, but this one was different." Donut explains.
Upon arriving at the scene, Kurama, his men, and #6 are treated to the sight of an armoured man talking with a 17 year old girl.
"Never seen that kind of armour." One of the men says.
"Whats it made of?" Another asks.
"Whys it bright pink?" Yet another asks.
"I'm unfamiliar with the rifle on his back." Another chimes in.
"Enough chatter." Kurama orders. "This is no simple cosplayer. That armour looks to be made of a metal alloy of some kind. What the alloy is, and where this man got it, and where HE came from are all questions that must be answered. For now he seems docile, so I will simply ask him these questions. Perhaps we could get these for our own men if they're superior to our own."
"But we aren't gonna order em in pink, right?" one soldier asks.
"But sir." A more serious soldier interjects. "What if he turns hostile when you approach, or refuses to answer your questions?"
"If he refuses to answer, then we will not force him to. However, should he turn hostile, all of you will subdue him." Kurama orders. "Take care not to harm the civilian."
Meanwhile, #6 came to a realization with the pink man. 'He's infected.' she realized. 'But who could have infected him? Has one of our kind eluded capture and is carrying the queens will." She then came to another realization. 'No, what if the queen herself infected him?' That meant he had to at least have crossed paths with the queen. Giving into a bit of selfishness, despite the possibility it could compromise the queen, she spoke up.
"He's infected with the vector virus." She says. "He was infected by the queen." A little half truth should be enough to convince them. If this man gave them the location of the queen and they found her, she could easily just kill all of them, and possibly release her. She could serve right beside the queen as humanity's downfall began. It was worth the risk in #6's mind.
"The queen!" A soldier exclaims. "Are you sure?" #6 nods.
"Then this changes everything." Kurama says. "If this man has crossed paths with the queen, then we absolutely must get the possible information on her location. Even if he have to capture him and interrogate him for it. The fate of humanity depends on it."
"What are your orders, sir!" A soldier asks.
"Hold back, The previous plan still applies. However, should he refuse to answer our questions, we shall take him into custody." Kurama says before leaving the group towards the pink armoured man.
"So, Kamakura then. One of my friends said she was from here." Donut comments. He then spies a sharp looking man with glasses approach them.
"Excuse me, sir." The man asks. "If you wouldn't mind, could you tell me where you acquired that armour?"
"This thing? The UNSC just gave it to me after I helped capture a flag." Donut responds.
Kurama raised an eyebrow to this. UNSC? He had never heard of it before. And they gave it to him for retrieving a flag? Maybe that was just some kind of test.
Aiko, pulls Donut closer to whisper into his ear. "Careful. This guy seems pretty shifty to me.
"Very well then, would you please answer some more questions for me?" Kurama asks. Donut narrows his eyes under his helmet. His motion tracker showed he was being surrounded, just what do these people want.
"I dunno. I'll do my best." Donut replies.
"By any chance, have you seen a girl with pink hair anywhere. The girl would have been wearing a hat or look like she has horns. She should be about the same age as the girl beside you." Kurama asks.
"Why are you looking for her?" Donut asks, forgetting his suspicion. Kaede never spoke of her family, so maybe he was her family. That or he was a part of the police that by the request of her family, was looking for her.
"She may not look it, but the girl is a dangerous murderer. If you know where she is, we need to know immediately." Kurama responds.
That destroys that theory. How could they think Kaede is a murderer? This gets Donut to put his guard back up.
"I dunno. After all, people don't have natural lightish red hair." Donut comments. This prompted another eyebrow raise from Kurama.
"Very well, back onto the armour, what is this UNSC?" Kurama asks. Donut puts hand on his belt for a grenade.
"I'm surprised that you don't know that." Donut comments.
"He's got a grenade! Take him down!" He hears someone yell. With that, about a dozen soldiers jump out of hiding and charge toward him. A few hanging back aiming their pistols at him.
With the practice that came with years of tossing, Donut armed and threw the grenade into the group causing some to retreat and for the armed ones to take cover. Donut threw himself over Aiko before it went off, shielding her from the blast. Some of the SAT troopers were not so lucky, most being blow away, if not outright killed.
Aiko screamed as she held onto Donut. She too didn't know what Donut was talking about, but she was more concerned about the fact that these men were shooting them for it. Donut hefted Aiko up as he also got to his feet.
"Lets get out of here!" Donut exclaims. With that, the two ran as bullets flew past them, a few hitting Donut's armour but harmlessly plinking off.
"Hold your fire! We don't want to endanger the civilian." Kurama exclaims.
"Sir, his armour must be strong. He took several 9mm bullets and didn't even flinch." One of the soldiers said.
"Aim for the areas where he is uncovered by the armour. Remember we're taking him alive, so don't shoot to kill. Same goes for the girl, bring her back alive. She has seen to much, and will likely see more." Kurama advises. He then turns to #6. "I want you to bring them in too. Alive. If you kill either of them, anyone else you find in the area, or attempt to escape, we will kill you."
"Fine." #6 huffs. "I'll bring them back." She didn't think the girl was infected, so at the very least she could infect her while "bringing her back". As small as it would be, it would help the diclonius. With that, #6 went off to look for the two runaways. Her diclonii sense would be useless as none of them were Diclonius. She could sense Donut was infected, but that didn't make him a beacon for her kind to sense like each other. If only...
Donut and Aiko ran though back ally's as they attempted to get away from pursuers.
"Who are those guys?" Donut asks.
"I don't know, I was gonna ask you." Aiko answers.
"And what do they want with Kaede?" Donut asks.
"Who?" Aiko asks.
"Kaede's my friend. You'll like her. You two should meet sometime." Donut says, his tone changing from serious to casual almost on a whim.
"I'd like to, but first we have to get out of here." Aiko exclaims. Before the two could continue running, they spot a girl a little younger than Aiko approaching. She had pink hair that went down to her shoulders and was wearing a black dress and had ribbons in her hair. Donut couldn't tell if her hair was dyed or natural like Kaede's, it was a slightly different shade of lightish red than hers. "Listen, you should get out of here!" Aiko yells over to the girl. "It isn't safe, there are dangerous men around here!"
The girl looks at them with red eyes much like Kaede's, yet still a different shade. 'Was she a relative?' Donut thought.
"Where is the queen?" The girl bluntly asks.
"What?" Aiko exclaims. Now she was really confused.
"Queen? What are you talking about!" Donut exclaims. With that, #6 sighs. The hard way it was then. She wouldn't have much time before the rest of the humans accompanying her found them. Using her vectors, #6 roughly grabbed Aiko and pulled her towards her.
"Ahhhhhh!" Aiko screamed taken by surprise by the sudden force. Once she was near #6, she was held in place. Donut grabbed his battle rifle and aimed. He was hesitant at firing on some little girl.
"Tell me where she is, now! Or I'll gut this girl right in front of you." #6 says.
"Who? I don't know any know anything about any queen." Donut honestly answers. #6 removes on of her ribbons, exposing one of her horns.
"Then someone like me." She rephrases.
"Do... do you mean Kaede?" Donut asks. So he did know something.
"It came from over here!" She heard one of the SAT members yell. She was out of time, but luckily, she didn't come up empty handed. She knew the name of her queen and saviour of her race. Using on of her vectors, she pulled the pin on a strange purple grenade on his belt. The humans can't get their hands on him. He knows too much, so best to kill him in a way that wouldn't be directly linked to her.
"Huh!" Donut exclaims, noticing the hum of the grenade. In a flash of light, he was gone.
"Donut!" Aiko exclaims.
The SAT team then arrived along with that bastard, Kurama.
"What happened?" He calmly asked her.
"The foolish human would rather die then be taken. So he used some strange grenade to commit suicide." #6 explains. He seemed to have bought it. "I've captured the girl as you requested."
"Whats going on!" Aiko exclaims, now in a panic.
"I see." Kurama responds to #6 as he eyes Aiko. He kneels down to eye level. "Listen, what you just witnessed is of the top most secrecy. Many would want you permanently silenced for what you just saw." Aiko gulped fearfully. "But I am willing to be more lenient. What did the pink armoured man tell you?"
"He... he told me he was lost. He said he was with some people in a desert when he was suddenly transported her." Aiko fearfully explains. "Its the truth! Honest!" #6 was thankful the girl kept quiet on the matter of the queen, or Kaede as she was named. She would do the same.
"I see." Kurama says, standing back up to his full height. "What is your name?"
"It... its Aiko." Aiko responds.
"Aiko. Don't tell a word of what you just saw to anyone. As far as your concerned, nothing that happened here ever happened. And trust me, we'll know if you speak word of it." Kurama says. With that, Kurama, #6, and the SAT team, leave a fearful Aiko.
AN: So... Reviving Bionicle just got a new episode meaning I'll have to update my react fic... and write the script for it... and the reactions... and who knows what else... *sigh* this is gonna take awhile, I'm putting this story on a small hiatus, you'll know when its over when that other fic is updated, signalling I'll be working on this again. (At least I'm not gonna be neglecting the people who read that fic anymore)