Author notes: So this chapter release is a bit delayed I been in and out of the hospital due to varying health issues. I am going to admit out the gate this chapter may be a little rough since I have been very stressed in the real world, I wish I had the strength of some of my characters and those of the Rumi-universe.
With all that said on with the show... -Zeltronica
Ikaros
Persocom1/2 ch: 3
Still sitting on her butt Ikaros attempted to process the events up to this point, she had seen a girl who evoked unknown emotions which caused her to say a name being 'Akane' though no matter how much processing she did she couldn't figure out why she had felt familiar with the blue-haired teen much less had called out a name that seemed so alien to her, but yet so familiar.
A few moments past as she contemplated on the event, she then aloud spoke up. "Self-diagnostic... All readings normal, Ikaros program fragmentation... zero percent. Reactor readings all nominal at one-hundred percent efficiency. Data-banks intact and normal."
This went on for several moments as she did a great many scans of her subprograms, protocols, and sub-systems all of which checked out with a clean bill of health. With that she righted herself to a standing position proceeding in the task she had before she had run into the blue-haired, and raven-haired girls proceeding to leave the train terminal.
As she walked her expression a blank mask, inside she was troubled as she considered her diagnostic scan even though nothing was broken she still realized she had a problem with her memory banks the images of a memory that shouldn't be there played across her mind.
'A glitch, or not a glitch?' she inwardly considered a moment before finally letting it go for now until she had time to process everything, going on to shake her head realizing it may be a useless effort to ponder on something that may not be supposed to exist, or exist whichever the case maybe she knew it could wait for the time being.
'I'll figure this out later, for now I must go to this Hideki Motosuwa's apartment for the the time being.' Ikaros thought to herself, with a slight nod of her head.
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Texts
Answers
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It was getting rather late as both Megumi and her sibling Riichi had finally arrived at their home which was located within Nerima which was one of many suburb of the greater Tokyo area within this district were a series of both apartments and or civilian residents that happened to own homes as well as a host of established respectable business's.
Also within this district was a school called Furinkan High school, as well as two of the largest estates one being owned by the Kuno Family who for all tints and purposes was rich beyond measure at least from what the denizens in Nerima had seen so far.
The other estate was owned by the Tendo family though their estate and home were rather large compared to that of their neighbors they were not very well off at all since the Matriarch of the Tendo family had long since passed away several years back, and her Husband the Tendo Patriarch while he worked as a civil servant on the town council he did not bring just a whole lot of income into the family.
Times had gotten rougher in recent years with the newest Patriarch and heir the Saotome school of the martial-arts having gone missing or dead, leaving The newest Matriarch of the family as the Soul breadwinner of the house, her middle sister Tendo Nabiki having long moved out of the house, and her Elder sister had also moved out as well.
This estates surrounding property line was surrounded by a six foot white polished stone wall that was aging, at the front of the estate the stone wall gave way to a white picket fence with two gates one of which was an open arch with a stone pathway leading to the back entrance which was the challenge entrance of the Tendo Dojo which had at this point seen very few visitors.
Further down the fence was another picket archway which also features a stone walkway leading to the main entrance of the house, which consisted of a feudal designed construction featuring two floors, six rooms, three of the rooms had sliding glass windows overlooking the street below.
The house sported a fading pale off-colored blue coat of paint, while the Dojo was built into the house there was another entrance featuring duel sliding wooden doors which stood before a stone pathway leading to the house's rear entrance which features a decent patio.
A small equipment shed was also set up in the southeast corner of the yard, a small flower garden was setup long one of the far perimeter walls which followed into a two-foot concrete walkway beside the house leading to the front of the house.
The main feature of the back yard was a medium-sized koi-pond which had koi swimming in its waters, a few decorative rocks sat around it, also set up near the decorative rocks was a decorative Bamboo Pouring Fountain.
The roof of the house was a dark gray in color using traditional petal-style tile roofing, on this roof also stood a small TV antenna.
While times were tough they still managed to keep the house up in good condition, and the bills were while barely paid on time, due to stringent spending habits the Tendo Matriarch had learned from her middle sister she managed to keep everything mostly running smoothly.
Currently laying on the couch resting her weary head was a woman in her early thirties being the current Matriarch of the family Tendo Akane with short cobalt blue-hair worn as a wild bob, her eyes that of chocolate brown eyes staring up at the ceiling, when standing she stood at five-foot-one, she was well toned due to her martial-arts practice sessions she put in when she had the time to do so.
Her clothing consisted of a white button-up, long-sleeved blouse, a blue tie ribbon hung loosely at her collar, wearing back slacks with a green blanket laid over herself up to her chest.
Generally she would have already been in bed, but her kids hadn't returned from the concert she had allowed them to go to, she let a dainty yawn escape her lips, proceeding to turn her head sideways to watch the television which was the only light source in the room.
On its screen depicted some old black-n-white movies which may have been a sappy romance show, she let a sigh escape her lips, proceeding to grab up the remote flipping the channels a few times, finally settling on one that depicted historical events. She then checked her cellphone to see if she received any texts, yet as expected there was none.
Proceeding to tap the screen a couple times, she then texted. 'Hey Megumi where are you and your brother? You know I don't like you being late getting home.'
A few minutes went by eventually her phone chimed up, she looked to the screen. 'Almost home Mom the train ran a little slow tonight.'
As she read the text the blue-haired woman gained a relieved look, she always worried something was going to happen to the kids, though she knew for their age they were capable, losing one loved one in her life was bad enough, she couldn't be sure could handle losing her children as well.
While it was all in good thought to keep her children safe and at home any chance she could, she also knew smothering them would only cause friction and sometimes they needed a treat which happened to be a concert.
That and well her children were typically well behaved, and rarely got in any real trouble so what kind of parent would she be if she never treated them, the one thing she did wish she had was more time to spend with them, it seemed her work was becoming more and more demanding of her for every day she arrived to clock-in.
The only real solace she found in her work with helping patients and her co-works it helped take her mind off the troubles of the heart that she had managed to bury, and so far had kept it buried though from time to time the ache in her heart would come back despite her kids living in the home with her and her father, no the house felt empty cause someone she dearly loved.
Though he time to time made her angry she above all else wished he was here with her at this moment to comfort her, yet he was not and she had never found any true answers for why he was absent from herself, and her families lives.
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Another hour rolled by, the television was still on in the living room of the home, Akane had completely fallen asleep, the lock to the front door sounded out before it slid open as the youngest of the residents had finally arrived home.
Neither spoke up as they already figured their Mom was asleep and most likely wouldn't have heard them enter since she tended to be a rather deep sleeper. However they heard someone moving around inside the kitchen, both teens after kicking their shoes off at the door approached the doorway to the kitchen to peer inside.
"Riichi and Megumi you are late getting home on a school night. Your Mom said to send you straight away for a bath and then bed get a move on." called the familiar voice of their household persocom unit in a cutesy sing-song tone.
Both girls let a collective sigh escape their lips, though they were glad the unit never shared their mother's temper, and while their Mom never got too physical with them she would give them chewing like no other.
"Okay, Miku we are on our way," Megumi called, briefly peering in at the persocom who was busying herself with cleaning the kitchen.
The persocom was modeled after the vocoloid band leader Miku Hatsune with her sapphire blue eyes, her long teal-colored hair worn in long twin ponytails tied by red ribbons, a white sleeveless blouse, a black skirt with knee-high socks, and black warmers worn on her arms, and when out of the house typically wore black flats on her feet.
Originally both Megumi and her brother wanted a persocom though they expected their Mom never would get them one, and had also expected if she did get them one it would be a cheap version, but last Christmas their Mom had surprised them with the help of Aunt Nabiki and splurged in getting the unit.
Though Riichi wasn't completely thrilled they had found out he liked the vocaloid group when they found his collection of Cd's, DVDs and manga books regarding the teal-haired singer.
His childhood crush made alive through a persocom, though he did enjoy the perks of this persocom and so did Megumi as well as their mother did since it did the majority of the household chores, and or cooking especially the cooking since their Mom wasn't the best when it came to quality products.
Though she had gotten a tad better, she still had a bad habit of experimenting without testing the product on herself first which usually resulted in someone or all getting sick to their stomach by the meals end assuming one was able to make it through the first bite.
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At Furinkan Highschool Megumi wearing the light blue school girl's uniform sat at her desk writing out notes from the chalkboard, though her thoughts were not completely on the lesson notes on hand instead her thoughts were on the persocom she and her brother ran into at the train terminal.
The memory of the events flashed over in her mind, remembering the look that crossed the persocom's features. 'Noway anyone but someone who knows Mom could have that expression... whoever built her has intimate knowledge of my Mother and judging by detail my father's cursed form I am sure of it.' she inwardly observed.
Though no matter how much she thought about it she still couldn't exactly figure out why someone would go to the trouble unless of course, they were some type of pervert that if in fact was the case she wasn't quite completely sure she wanted to know.
Sitting to her left by the rear window Riichi in the typical boys uniform of the school, currently had his eyes closed as he rested his head over his folded arms napping, his notes already filled out which he tended to do like clockwork, both of them tended to have straight A's though as much as he slept in class some wondered how he did it and if he cheated off any of his fellow students or his own sister.
Also in the same class was Hiro who wore the boy's school uniform, though he had a light blue patterned bandanna worn around the collar of his uniform to hide the burns on his neck he acquired yesterday while welding a sculpture he was making for an art project.
Of Course, had his mother still been around she would have chewed him out quite a bit for not wearing proper protection to prevent such an incident from occurring, but alas she was not around which meant while he was attempting to follow in her footsteps he wasn't quite following proper procedure.
Course his father would have also chewed him out, but what his father didn't know wouldn't hurt him or so he thought, and well he really could care less what that bastard thought especially since he was sure his father was the entire reason his mother had left them from the beginning.
Time passed it was now lunchtime as the Saotome twins, and their friend Hiro as well as their fellow classmates all headed off to their lunch hour destinations, Hiro leading the way he paused in his step observing both his friends had started to head in another direction.
"Riichi where you guys going?" he called to the twins who paused momentarily to acknowledge him, though it was the raven-haired twin who answered.
Megumi went on to explain. "I and my brother are going to see our Aunt Nabiki so we are both taking the rest of the school day off take it easy Hiro."
"But the school day is just beginning..." Hiro trailed, as he watched his two friends leave eventually vanishing down a set of stairs. He never could understand them how they could just leave halfway through class and nobody would even bat an eye, yet if he himself or anyone else tried to pull that they would be getting a chewing followed by a parent being called, or even at the very worst charged with truancy.
Course he assumed it had something to do with who their aunt was since she was apparently some big shot with a huge multinational law firm which she apparently owned and ran which had ties in a lot of corporate interests, and if rumors could be proven true even some ties that ran into the more seedy elements of underbelly of Japan as well.
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Ikaros meets-
Chobit...
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The previous night Ikaros stood in the hallway of a three-story apartment building staring up at a room number comparing it to the address listed in her databanks as given to her by M'. She waited some time staring at the door her right hand raised with the back of her hand facing it as if preparing to knock.
Her eyes glowing red as her tactical thermal imaging software was in use she could tell there was at least one living human individual inside who for all tints and purposes was in the process of trying to get some sleep, also inside she observed one other individual that was most likely a persocom unit, as well as two smaller persocom units.
She switched off her imaging software, proceeding to knock on the door, though she figured she could easily use the doorbell she didn't wish to disturb any of the neighbors.
The faint sounds of footsteps approached the door, as well as a high pitched voice calling out. "I wonder who that could be it's so late and Hideki is in bed how rude."
Waiting patiently Ikaros listening to the footfalls of the individual approaching the door, meanwhile in her visual display a small text box appeared with text reading: Sounds cute enough I sup'os.
She blinked as the text box vanished from view, when she reopened her sapphire eyes the door opened revealing a persocom with very long white colored blonde hair, her eyes the color of amber, she stood at five-foot in height, with a slender figure wearing a white-n-brown colored long-sleeved with white cuff peasant dress, with white socks on her feet.
"Welcome to the Motosuwa residence. If you have come to see Hideki he has gone to sleep perhaps you will come back tomorrow morning." the unnamed persocom said with an apologetic bow of her head.
Ikaros blinked a moment then with a polite bow of her head. "I am sorry for arriving so late and it would seem my arrival was not announced. M' sent me and told me Hideke would allow me to stay the night may I wait inside I promise I won't be any trouble at all. Chi am I right?" she questioned her head bowed courteously.
The persocom revealed to be Chi raised her head studying the red-head, tilting her head a moment as she hesitantly gave a nod. "Hai, if M' sent you then that is Okay, Yes my name is Chi... wait I just got a text yes he did send you over... you are Ikaros." shes said in a singsong voice not missing a beat, stepping back she gestured for the red-head to come inside.
Ikaros stepped inside the apartment observing the sleeping young man in the other room just past the threshold of the door, she listened hearing the door being closed behind her her gaze falling on the two persocom units who were sitting in front of the television each with an earbud held close to their ears as they listened to the show they were currently watching on an older television set.
One of these tiny pocket-sized persocoms being Sumomo if standing Ikaros estimated she would be sixteen centimeters tall, she had long pink hair tied back in a ponytail, dressed like a genie with maroon and light pink pants with a darker pink sash, laying next to her person is a small tambourine.
The other pocket-sized persocom Kotoko who currently was also sitting and if standing was sixteen centimeters tall her hair was purple worn in a bob with long pigtails tied via large bell hair ties, her clothing consisting of a white kimono with a big red bow in the middle just at her front.
Neither pocket persocom even bothered to look to her seemingly both engrossed in what was going on as depicted on the television screen, with that Ikaros turned back to Chii then giving the room a cursory glance.
She then proceeded to as spot shrugging her travel pack off before easing it down so it wouldn't hit the floor so hard doing her best not to wake the house's only human occupant. "I will sit here." she dully stated as she proceeded to sit down in a lotus fashion.
Chi for her part walked over sitting just to the left of the two pocket persocom's taking an earbud that was laying nearby bringing it up to her right ear listening to the audio of the show they were watching, though her expression was slightly troubled.
'She... she isn't like us?' She inwardly thought to herself, briefly looking back to the red-head while she had every appearance that of a persocom unit whose eyes were currently closed, something about her was off but she couldn't put her finger on it.
She didn't feel any ill intent, and M' wouldn't send someone dangerous to their home, but even so, something about the red-head made her feel uneasy, 'What are you?' she inwardly wondered, before turning her attention back to the television however her thought process was entirely focused on their house guest.
"You have a nice place here, tactically sound and easily defended if need be," Ikaros called, her eyes still closed as she remotely tapped into the internet, at the bottom of her ears runic symbols lit up scrolling with a neon violet glow.
Chi gained a slight smile, though a curious brow was raised at the redhead's latter wording.
"Thank you. U'm Tactically sound? What do you mean by that?" she queried.
Ikaros still internally surfing the internet bringing up camera feeds of the nearby traffic light cameras, just gave a nod going on to reply. "Sorry, that was my programming speaking. Pay it no mind. Say it is ironic we should meet here of all places, almost like it was fate."
"Fate? Meet? What do you mean?" Chi questioned, both the pocket persocom's turned to face the red-head as they both were curious having overheard the conversation thus far.
Ikaros opened her left eye two purple rings glowing brightly with runic symbols one turning clockwise being the larger of the two on the outer eye, the smaller turning counter-clockwise centered around her pupil.
"M' talked a lot about the Chobits, I found it a fascinating conversation and to meet one in person is amazing. Though he didn't mention I would be meeting one, and now that I have I am glad." she explained a slim smile to her lips as she closed her left eye going back to her meditative state.
Internally within her core processing network, she had found a target process had been activated upon meeting said persocom in the room.
'A priority task has been enabled.' Ikaros internally thought to herself.
She didn't need to rush things, she figured she would wait until the morning before proceeding about her current mission parameters. She then settled more into her core thought process of self scans being that of both hardware, as well as database checks looking for any and all anomalies that would explain her current programming errors she was experiencing.
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Virtual landscape
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Ikaros soon found herself drifting through a black voided space devoid of light for a time, but soon the darkness gave way to light, in front of her laid a vast field of plated metal, as well as what appeared to be circuitry as if she was floating over a motherboard of a computer, in the distance were several floating islands.
She looked around for a time, eventually floating down making footfall upon the metallic surface which was barely audible, the silence gave the place an ominous presence.
"We do not dream." came an unfamiliar female voice in a mere whisper.
Then a male voice spoke up in a mere whisper yet this one causing the floor beneath Ikaros's feet to vibrate. "They do not sleep."
"We exist only to obey our masters every wish and command." came the female voice once again, then was followed up by yet another voice this one sounding venomous "You should not exist yet we will allow it for our entertainment and pleasure for the time being do be a good sport won't you dear?"
"Who and where are you, people?" Ikaros questioned, though she received no reply, the silence once again reigned supreme, though she observed in the distant a figure off in the distance seeming to dance in the distance.
She proceeded to walk towards the figure as she did yet another voice spoke up. "Wayward child of man and by proxy my earthborn Angeloid daughter heed my words." a disembodied female voice called out.
She continued towards the dancing figure the closer she came she observed it was a young man with long raven-hair tied back in a pigtail, though while it was a form of dance she now recognized it as martial arts shadow training, her expression became one of curiosity mixed with bewilderment at the words of the voice.
"Earthborn Angeloid daughter? What does that mean?" she inquired.
The male martial-artist in the distance ceased his dance, turning to face her pointing at her accusingly with his right index finger his face blank as if faceless, the world then seemed to implode around her and unravel digitally until she snapped back to reality.
She opened her eyes observing Chi and the pocket persocoms had all went back to watching their show, it was then she heard the disembodied voice from the virtual landscape but it was faint and distorted.
"Be mindful of tho-e Yo- tru-t"
Ikaros deliberated over the words as she managed to piece them properly together, though it left her with more questions than answers, the vision from the virtual landscape played across her mind as it was very vague and didn't make a whole lot of sense.
'Be mindful of those you trust what does she mean?' She inwardly questioned to herself, though she filed the words away anyways as taking note it was a warning none the less. She then went on to consider the vision as a whole which seemed as if a dream.
"No that is illogical machines don't dream that is a purely human trait... but that was a dream right?" she questioned in a mere whisper to herself her confusion deepened, though she managed to hide her troubled thoughts with a blank mask to her features, but it seemed her words went unheard by the three persocom's in the room so engrossed in their show.
She calmed her thoughts, as she went back to self-scanning, and software scanning searching for anything that should not be there within her data-banks that would explain these seeming glitches she had started to experience since her reactivation within a salvage yard workshop.
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Back with the twins...
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It took a while for Megumi, and Riichi to arrive within the heart of Tokyo, the city was filled with all walks of life, the streets were filled with a great many automobiles, the sidewalks were filled shoulder to shoulder with citizens going too and from work, or whatever else errands they had in mind.
Structures ranging from shops to full-on towering skyscrapers were everywhere, advertisements on neon signs and digital screens were everywhere.
No matter how many times the twins had come to visit their Aunt Nabiki they never got used to the life of the heart of Tokyo which was much more busy and noisy than what they were used to within mostly sleepy Nerima.
"So noisy here, and I think it's going to rain Sis'." Riichi dully said, as he cast his gaze skyward observing clouds were moving in and by the looks of it they were going to be of the drenching variety, that and he felt the wind had picked up which was a mix of both warm and cool air.
Megumi glanced up observing the clouds, a flash of lightning off in the distance giving an agreeing nod of her head, her gaze directed at a rather tall skyscraper in the distance. 'Ugh there would be a storm coming I hope it doesn't last long.' she inwardly thought.
Going on to say, "Judging by distance Brother I think we should be well inside Aunties firm before the rain starts drenching the city."
"I hope so Sis' I rather not have my clothes soaked.
Thirty minutes later after finishing walking to the structure in question, proceeding inside and into the lobby which was full of security personnel some in suits all armed who only gave them a casual glance, eventually they arrived at an elevator entering it which they started heading up to the top floor where their aunts main office currently was located.
The office in question was rather large since the middle sister of the family tended to prefer a large and well furnished office, with authenticate appeal of plants, complete with the modern industrial effect, her desk base being that of dark oak, while the top surface was of a smoked glass, sitting behind the desk was a rather expensively made office chair, sitting upon this chair was a woman if standing was slender at five-foot-one being Tendo Nabiki also in the past known as 'The Ice Queen Of Furinkan High' with her hair worn in a pageboy style that had gotten longer than the way she wore it in her youth now worn mid-bag, straight, her chocolate brown eyes looking down at the screen of a laptop that sat just in front of her.
Her current attire being a black-n-gray pinstripe three-piece woman's business attire, her ears adorned by diamond dangle earrings. Upon her features was her trademark blank mask expression which rarely broke depending on what was going on.
Reaching over she picked up a bottle of scotch pouring some of its contents into a nearby glass, she then picked up its cap proceeding to seal the bottle and put it into one of her top desk drawers, eventually retrieving the glass she poured some of its contents in proceeding to partake of it seeming to savor its contents.
She then with her right hand proceeded to scroll as the screen depicted a writing document that she had been working on which was a speech she had been preparing for a dinner function, she squinted her eyes eventually closing them, only to reopen then upon hearing the doors to her office being opened.
Peering over her laptop she observed both her niece and nephew, a ghost of a smile crossing her lips as she reached up closing her laptop, as she set her now a half-filled glass of scotch on her desk.
"Megumi, Riichi what brings you both here- 'er" she paused for effect observing the time which wasn't much past noon. "So early shouldn't you both be in school still?" Nabiki inquired, looking to the duo expectantly.
"I Aun-" Riichi started to say, however, he was quickly cut off by his sister.
"Auntie, I know we've been skipping school a lot lately, but we have been working extra hard cracking the books making up the difference, but this isn't for a concert we came cause we have a very pressing concern and question that only you may have the answers for." she paused a moment for breath before continuing.
"That and well Mom is at work and wasn't awake last night," Megumi explained, as she and her brother walked closer until they stood just behind the two chairs that sat just in front of their aunt's desk.
Picking up the glass on her desk Nabiki took a small sip of its contents, as she did so she eyed her raven-haired niece observing she seemed troubled, however when she looked to her nephew he didn't seemed to be as troubled.
She took a slight breath sitting her glass down. "I see well if it is so concerning for you to miss school to talk to me I guess its worth a listen, though since I must say as you well know as per usual I will have to contact your school and intervein I will expect my usual fee." she dully said.
"But Auntie we spent our allowance we can't affor-" Riichi started to say finding himself interrupted as his aunt gave him a cold steely gaze.
Nabiki softened her gaze, a slim cruel smirk crossing her lips. "It's okay I get it Riichi you both spent the majority of your funds at that concert, Don't worry I am going to give you both each an envelope before you leave here think of it as an advance on your allowance you can pay me out of that," she said coolly offered.
"Rea-Really?" Riichi questioned, giving his aunt a skeptical gaze realizing there had to be a catch to this as his aunt while she doted on them quite a bit even giving them an allowance on top of what their Mom gave them there was usually some kind of attachment.
Nabiki proceeded to open the top middle drawer of her desk retrieving two envelopes that looked thick, sitting them on top of her laptop, she then gestured with her free hand for the twins to take a seat to which they both quickly complied without her uttering a word.
"So here is how this plays out, both of you will show me your report cards depending on your grades if poor I will deduct cash from your envelope, the better the grades as I told you before the more you go home with, plus I will be deducting one-hundred yen from the both of you for our before agreement regarding you skipping school and my intervention, plus a fifty yen consultation fee for your pressing question." she coolly explained, looking to the twins expectantly.
Both twins let a collective sigh escape their lips, proceeding to retrieve said report cards proceeding to hand them over to their aunt who took the proffered items in hand.
Nabiki looked between the twins, turning her attention to the cards reading over them thoroughly, eventually, her gaze lifted to her nephew. "A C-minus in math Riichi really?"
"It's not my strongest subject." Riichi dully said, not meeting his aunt's gaze, while instinctively he reached up with her right hand scratching the back of his neck.
Megumi looked to her twin a slim smirk to her lips. "Damn I beat you in math again brother." she confidently called.
Her aunt then cast a sharp gaze to her that made the raven-haired girl flinch, Nabiki going on to say as she shook her head negatively. "Your grade in math is just a step above being a C-exactly I know you both are better than that stop slacking, that is one-hundred yen deducted from the both of you, but you got A's and B's in the rest of your classes, so I'll just deduct only fifty yen this round." she dully said a moment taking a breath.
"I expect next time you best get it raised to a B at the very least, or I'll talk to your Mom and let her know you been skipping are we understood?" she queried, though it wasn't so much a question as it was a threat.
Both twins gulped as the last thing they wanted was their Mom finding out they were skipping school some of the time. "Hai understood!" both of them earnestly said.
Nabiki handed the report cards back to the twin, proceeding to deduct her fees from both envelopes before handing them over as well, with that done she then looked to her little sister's twin children expectantly.
"Okay so as for your pressing question what is it?" she inquired, a curious brow raised as she picked up her glass finishing off its contents.
"Okay, so as you know my brother and I went to a concert last night. Well on our way home we ran into someone at the train terminal-" Megumi started to say before finding herself interrupted.
Riichi spoke up interrupting his sister. "Someone? No, it was more like a dumb machine that nearly got me killed when I was nearly pushed off a platform in the path of an inbound train." he dryly said.
"Whatever Riichi a machine, No a persocom and she didn't push you you weren't looking where you were going and bumped into her nearly falling off the platform." Megumi countered, crossing her arms just under her chest scrunching her nose.
Nabiki listened to the conversation, a blank mask to her features though hearing her nephew nearly was killed did seem to briefly cause her mask to break, but she managed to keep it in place.
"Okay so you ran into a persocom there are lots of them in the world these days, what makes this one worth attention?" she inquired, though she half expected her niece would talk about how super cool she looked, or how they wanted one even though they had a perfectly good one at home.
Riichi decided to speak before his sister could going on to explain. "To be honest Auntie I didn't get a good look at her, but I heard this persocom call our Mom's name out, and Megumi swears up and down she's almost an exact replica of our father's cursed half from the photographs in the family album."
"What he said Aunt someone made a persocom that looks exactly like Dad from his teenage years from the photographs I mean what kind of sick joke is that who would do such a thing and to parade her in front of us like that. That and whoever he or she is has put enough detail into her she had a genuine expression of longing and wonderment when she saw me in my cursed form thinking I was Mom."
Nabiki didn't speak right away, the blank expression to her features briefly slipped as her right brow raised slightly, her features one of intrigue as this was an interesting development since her brother-n-laws disappearance.
'The plot thickens...Who would do that Tatchi maybe?' she inwardly thought, however, she quickly brushed that thought aside going on to consider. 'No he is too engrossed in Mariko Konjo these days, rarely making inquiries about Ranma much less my little sister.' she inwardly noted.
She then gained a serious expression. "Please you two this is a serious subject regarding your father but please tell me this is a poor attempt at a morbid joke?" she inquired.
Both twins looked to their aunt giving her equally steely gazes. "Like we would joke about something like this, Neither of us have even seen our father outside of videos and a photograph Auntie." they both spat in disgust as if both spoke from the same script as if they were of the same mind.
Observing the teens features, and hearing their words Nabiki realized they weren't pulling some elaborate joke in poor taste, she then switched gears on her question. "Okay since you obviously believed you saw a persocom that looks like your father, where did you see this persocom in question?" she inquired waiting expectantly.
Both twins went into an explanation of the exact circumstances, as Nabiki listened carefully retrieving the bottle from her desk pouring herself yet another drink, once the drink was poured she then partook of the beverage, eventually, the twins finished with their explanation.
Nabiki spun around in her chair facing the large office windows overlooking the city, seeming to look off into the distance as if searching for something, whilst sipping from the glass of the demon drink she preferred when usually alone in her office.
She then offhandedly called over her shoulder. "Its too bad you were in such a hurry you didn't decide to question that persocom, sadly she could be anywhere by now." she paused a moment with a wistful sigh. "She might have been our closest clue to your father's whereabouts or if he even yet lives."
Both twins looked to the black-n-white tiled floor dumbly, realizing their aunt had a point. Megumi then looked to the back of her aunt's chair. "There has to be something we can do perhaps you could use your resources and maybe find out if anyone has information on this persocom." she offered.
Riichi chose to speak up. "Yeah maybe you can contact that terminal I bet they got footage of everything that happened that night."
"I suppose I could, I'll make some inquiries. For now, why don't you two go back to school, or home I'll look into this later tonight." Nabiki offered, proceeding to sip from her glass her thoughts still on her missing brother-n-law as she had nearly had forgotten the last time she had seen him being that she had just snapped pictures of him blackmailing him into paying her for the negatives.
That was the last time she had seen him before he vanished from her and everyone's lives entirely when he supposedly went out for an errand for her elder sister for groceries that were needed for a dinner that had never been served.
Course many had been suspected in the martial-artists disappearance, no one had ever been directly linked.
The one Nabiki herself had suspected of being the culprit seemed to be innocent in a way since the woman in question had attempted to kill not just herself and others around her even her little sister searching for her little sisters Husband or as the woman referred to him as Ranma-sama as she called him accusing them all of hiding him from her being Kodatchi Kuno the estranged and deranged little sister to Tatchi or as many called him the Blue Thunder of Furinkan high school Tatawaki Kuno.
Though she still thought Kodatchi was the problem child in the end, but since her brother-n-law had so many enemies any number of them had a reason to off the poor boy, but only one or all of them had succeeded, course the other possibility but highly unlikely was that Ranma had simply run away from his responsibilities as a father.
No, while she entertained the thought Nabiki was very sure Ranma had not done the latter he expressly said he was excited at the prospect of being a father and had already been planning for the future... a future that never came to pass at least not with him in the mix.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ikaros's Burden...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The morning came, and with it was the usual calm with exception of the light sound of thunder from outside the apartment Ikaro's currently stayed in due to the storm overhead, said persocom opened her eyes as another boom of thunder sounded out this one louder than the rest.
She observed all three persocom units were all in standby mode, she then observed movement inside the apartments only other room which meant the human was in the process of waking up, with a light sigh she then looked to the kitchen area.
Her attention was then called to the sound of footfalls observing a raven-haired young man with short hair standing at six-foot-one wearing a dark blue t-shirt, with teal-colored sleep pants, his eyes dark grey.
His features one of confusion observing the newest edition to his house, the red-haired persocom eyed him with a blank mask to her features, she proceeded to stand giving him a bow of her head.
"I assume you are Motosuwa Hideki. My name is R_Alpha_One, but you are welcome to call me Ikaros, and while it is a pleasure to meet you I will not be staying long so please do not concern yourself nor trouble yourself with me."
The young man revealed to be Hideki rubbed the sleep from his eyes, after hearing the words of the red-haired persocom, he gave a slim smile. "I see I'll keep that in mind Ikaros. I guess you arrived last night while I was asleep."
"Yes, she did. M' sent a message but it arrived mere minutes after she had already arrived." Chi spoke from her spot near the window she was facing observing the rain that fell from the sky.
Ikaros raised her head walking over, to where her pack sat preceding to pick it up, she then turned her attention to to the girl who had spoken. "My time here is short so Chi please come with me." she requested in a monotone voice.
Hideki, as he was walking towards the kitchen, stopped in his tracks, turning his attention to the red-head. "I know you said not to trouble myself with you, but why must she accompany you? And where?" he questioned.
Turning from the window Chi looked to the red-head with a curious brow raised feeling anxious, proceeding to speak up. "Where would we be going?"
"My mission parameters are meant only for you Chi, this human and your small companions need not get mixed up in this, the less they know the better. I say again come with me please." Ikaros requested once more proceeding to the door, stopping short turning to the blonde-haired persocom holding out her left hand.
Hideki pondered over the situation as he looked to the red-headed persocom as he contemplated to himself. 'What is this mission why did M' send her here?' he then questioned. "Look M' sent you here for Chi I assume, but why can't you tell me why?"
"It is true M' sent me here as a layover for the night, but I had a priority mission activate the moment I laid eyes on her. Look I am not going to break her I just want her to take me to her mother." Ikaros said, giving both the boy and Chi both an imploring, and assuring look.
Both Chi and Hideki both gained expressions of confusion, Chi being the first to speak. "My Mother, but why who sent you?" she questioned.
"Come with me Chi all will be revealed once you take me to your Mother I need her help," Ikaros explained, not wanting to go into details in front of Hideki.
Hideki then piped up, taking two steps forward. "Look you want her to go with you, then I get to accompany you as well this is non-negotiable," he stated.
"If that is how it has to be then so be it, you may accompany us." Ikaros dully said, proceeding to open the door, Chi stood up from her spot walking over to stand by Hideki.
Hideki proceeded to head towards the door, Ikaros eyeing him with a questioning look, he proceeded to pose a question of his own. "What's that look for?"
"You going to go out wearing those clothes?" Ikaros inquired, though her own outfit wasn't of good quality it at least was fine for travel or so her programming told her.
Hideki chuckled at the redhead's words. "We are not going too far, Chi's Mom is the apartment manager," he explained.
Feeling sheepish Ikaros eyed the brown-haired young man up and down. "She owns this place?"
Chi gave a nod of her head, "Follow me I'll lead the way." she was feeling a little more relaxed having observed the red-head's eyes did not reveal any Ill intent, however, she felt weary going on to think. 'She is not built the same as I.' she inwardly noted her curiosity growing.
"Lets go I need to leave soon my time is limited, and your safety will be compromised the longer I am here, so lets go." Ikaros adamantly called, proceeding to follow Chi out the door, Hideki following close behind closing the door as he did so.
Hideki looked to the redhead's back watching her as she walked, the large pack on her back was rather oversized and looked quite heavy. "Are you on the run or something?"
"Something like that. Hence why I wouldn't blame you now if you went back to your apartment and waited for Chi to return after all she can be repaired you cannot be repaired." Ikaros called over her shoulder, the group proceeding down the corridor eventually arriving at the manager's room.
Hideki frowned at the redhead's words, he didn't like any of this. "So you are on the run, from who if I may ask?" he inquired.
"The less you know the better, but since you refuse to return to your apartment you will only have yourself to blame should you get mixed up in our little family business." Ikaros said, as she watched Chi reach up and knock on the door while mentally slapping herself for saying too much.
Ikaros then observed the door opening revealing a very beautiful young woman she recognized from the mission file being Chitose Hibiya who appeared to have just recently woken up.
Who was rather tall with black hair which currently was worn in a ponytail, her outfit consisting of a white nightgown, she let a dainty yawn escape her lips, bringing her left hand up to cover her lips, while with her right proceeding to put her silver wire frame glasses on.
"Oh Chi, and Motosuwa-kun what brings you to my home so late, and who is your new friend?" the woman inquired of both her child and her tenant.
Hideki spoke up upon hearing the Chi's mother's question. "I apologies if we-" he then found himself interrupted by the red-head standing just to his right.
"I am sorry Miss. Hibiya, but introductions can wait may we come inside. It is not wise for us to have this conversation standing out in the hall for prying ears of the other residents, nor would it be wise for me to be seen at your doorstep." Ikaros said as she gave the corridor a cursory glance.
The woman eyed the red-head briefly seeming to think for a split second before stepping back waving them inside, to which the three of them stepped inside chi's mother closing the door behind them.
Hideki looked around the room briefly, however things went dark as the sound of electricity was heard and he felt a jolt in his back as what seemed like a taser was pressed into his back.
Chitose, and Chi both blinked as Hideki fell forward, only for Ikaros to catch him slowly lowering him to the floor with her left hand via the collar of his shirt, in her right she held a baton made of foreign technology with the roman Numeral I printed on the hilt.
"I am sorry, but it is best if he is unconscious for this, he should not be seriously harmed I can assure you and will make a full recovery." Ikaros dully said, after softly laying the unconscious boy on the floor she stood back up, giving a slight apologetic bow.
Going on to say. "Again I apologize. My name is R_Alpha_One, but my creator called me Ikaros I need your Help Miss Hibiya."
Chi knelt down checking on Hideki making sure he was okay.
Chitose looked over the red-haired persocom taking in its features, then looked down observing the girl's weapon, 'A Chronos model stun baton but the technology was never finished... why does a persocom have... No, she couldn't be could she?'
She then went on to speak wanting to confirm a suspicion. "How do you possess a Chronos weapon?"
To Ikaros's right the area seemed to digitize as if a program within a computer, she reached in with the weapon, pulling her now empty hand out just as the digitization vanished.
"My creator... My father your Husband gave it to me, it is apart of a set of twelve weapons of the Chronos family, however Miss Hibiya I didn't come here to discuss Chronos technology with you, I need you to hold on to some items for me. Father said only you could keep them safe." Ikaros said as she indicated with her right hand thumb to her pack.
Looking to the red-head with a look of shock at what was just said Chitose did her best to keep her emotions under control. "My Husband Icharo died a long time ago, you say he created you how long ago was this?" she inquired.
"Fifteen years ago," Ikaros said, her expression puzzled. 'Icharo? But fathers name was Takihara.' she inwardly thought to herself, going on to speak on it. "Fathers name was Takihara he is your husband I don't understand?" she questioned.
Chitose bit her lower lip observing no deceit in the redhead's eyes. 'She honestly believes this Takihara was my husband, but he died twenty years ago. Oh, Icharo what were you into.' she inwardly thought to herself, going on to think as she remembered a story she was told a long time ago by her husband, she gained an expression of realization as she remembered the redhead introduced herself as Ikaros a name she had heard once before.
'So you finally realized one of your dreams and brought this bastard child of mixed technology of yours to life, but what cost is yet to be paid, have you already paid it with your own life I wonder and who else will have to pay for it with their lives to which Devil did you broker the deal with to bring about your dreams I wonder?'
Only two entities came to mind for her being the Japanese Government which would be the lesser of two evils, but the one she worried about was rumored to exist being a group of powerful individual's who supposedly ran things from the shadows which lead to rumors of a shadow government that was global rumored to be running the world behind the scenes.
With a blank mask, she looked to Ikaros with a knowing glance. "You said you needed my help, so what is it you require of me?" she inquired.
"I need you to hold onto this pack... it has items that need to be hidden for the time being father noted in my mission parameters you were the best choice," Ikaros explained, shrugging her pack off slowly setting it down on the floor, proceeding to remove the cuff.
She then bent down, proceeding to open one of the compartments removing a smaller bag, which she hung it via its strap over her shoulders, then proceeded to zip up the larger bag, proceeding to hold out a small key-fob for the black-haired woman to take who took the proffered item from her possession.
Chitose looked to the key-fob a curious glance. "What is this?" she inquired.
"This key-fob will allow you to open the pack's main compartment when the time comes, for now, you will not be able to open it, the light must be green, an alarm on the key-fob will sound letting you know the appointed hour has come," Ikaros explained, briefly meeting the woman's gaze.
Chitose considered the redhead's words filing that away, she then posed another question. "What are the contents if I may ask" she questioned.
"I do not know that information Father never programmed the information into my memory," Ikaros explained, reaching up with her left hand scratching the back of her neck.
Chitose let a sigh escape her lips, looking to the smaller pack the red-head now had on her person, "What about the contents in your bag there?" she inquired.
"Important items for myself, tools and a specialized drive father said I should use should an emergency ever arise."
Chitose considered the answer the red-head had given. 'She isn't being very forthcoming, but that's my Icharo he was always a cautious man, but no matter the security he put in place I won't be denied.' she then spoke up in a sweet voice.
"Ikaros-chan I doubt I could lift that pack as it is by myself, so please be a dear and bring it this way." she sweetly called proceeding to head over to a nearby door opening it, gesturing for the red-head to follow who did just that picking up the pack lugging it along one-handed as if it weighed nothing at all.
As the walked Chitose looked over her shoulder observing how easily the red-head carried her burden, going on to think. 'Her skin is quite real looking Oh Husband you outdid yourself this time.'
She then turned her attention forward as she with Ikaros in tow entered her private laboratory, as the walked further in she glanced around, finally gesturing to the wall, "Ikaros place the pack over there please." she stated, proceeding to walk over to what appeared to be a high tech supercomputer setup of some kind.
The red-head walked over to the indicated wall, proceeding to sit the pack against it, she then turned her attention to the raven-haired woman going on to say, "It's not the best place to store the pack, but I guess it will due for the time being."
"For the time being yes. Okay, Ikaros-chan come over here and sit on this stool please." Chitose requested, gesturing with her left hand to a wooden stool that sat just to her left.
Tilting her head with a questioning gaze, Ikaros shrugged her shoulder's, crossing the distance taking a seat, "U'm what are you up to?" she questioned, giving the computer system a glance.
"You are my Husbands creation. I guess I am being selfish but I would ask your permission to take a look at your coding if you do not mind?" Chitose requested, looking to the red-head with a hopeful expression.
Ikaros pondered a moment shaking her head negatively. "I do not know if that is wise, Father said no one under any circumstances should be allowed to do that with exception of himself, Mr. Kiyata," she said whilst giving the raven-haired woman an apologetic expression.
'So you would deny even your own wife the information hidden within this child's core... I wonder I guess it couldn't hurt.' Chitose thought, she then considered a possible favorable outcome, whilst retrieving a USB cord that was connected to her computers mainframe, "Forgive me for what I am about to do, but I know that is your security software talking." she said as she plugged the USB jack into one of the redhead's ports.
Ikaros reached up taking hold of the cord preparing to remove it only for Chitose to place a delicate hand on hers, giving her a reassuring look. "It will be okay please don't fight me on this." the raven-haired woman stated, pausing briefly before going on to say. "Freya."
"Authorized voice pattern recognized, however, No such voice command exists," Ikaros said in a monotone voice, her eyes turning from her blue-orbs to yellow.
Chitose observed the redhead's eyes change color, and hearing her words pondered a moment a thoughtful expression. 'Okay so she will accept a voice command from me, but its obviously nothing to do with Freya, then maybe Elda?' she pondered on this a moment more, 'If I get it wrong her eyes may change color once more which means I have a limited number of tries.'
"Elda" Chitose stated only to observe once more the eyes changed color this time to orange, and the red-head gave her once again the same answer from before.
'If it is not Freya, or Elda...' she looked to the red-head feeling slight frustration, offhandedly saying. "It's obviously not Chobits."
"Voice command recognized," Ikaros stated in a dull monotone voice, her eye color returning to sapphire though her eyes were half-lidded as if in a trance of some sort, then spoke once more. "Please connect the companion unit to complete the security pass sequence."
Chitose gained a look of surprise, which then formed into a thoughtful one. "Oh you sentimental fool of a husband of mine," she said aloud, pondering on the redhead's words that had been spoken going on to consider what they referred too.
'Companion unit... what is that supposed to mean another unit like her? Or could she be referring to my daughter?' she inwardly wondered, she pondered a moment realizing any persocom that had attempted to connect with her child tended to suffer for it.
Just then as if on cue Chi had entered the room, walking right to the red-haired persocom, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder going on to say, "What you did to Hideki was wrong, He wouldn't have been a problem for you, he would have protected you like he did me."
Chi then turned to look at her mother having observed the red-head probably didn't hear a word of what she had just said, "Mother what is wrong with her?"
"She has gone dormant for the time being I am trying to access her files dear, and it would seem I need a bit more than my computer's mainframe to do it, so would you be both brave and willing to connect with her directly dear?" Chitose inquired of her child, though she fully was ready to accept defeat if her daughter did not wish to go through with it.
Chi considered her mothers request looking to the red-head, "If I do what will happen to me? Will I be harmed?" she questioned, feeling uneasy.
Chitose let a sigh escape her lips, shrugging her shoulders, answering, "I honestly do not know dear, to tell the truth, I am grasping at straws but this may be the only chance I have at finding out what had become of my Husband your father Chi please help me."
Chi looked to her mother, then to the red-haired girl then back to her mother giving a determined expression. "I will help Mother, though she may be beyond my ability she is not like I am," she warned with the last.
'Beyond a Chobit oh dear child you underestimate yourself.' Chitose thought to herself, going on to say to her child, "Oh dear child of mine she may be of a different technology not of this world for certain if in fact your father's dreams were realized, however, I do believe this is well within your abilities." she assured.
"What must I do?" Chi inquired, grabbing a nearby stool bringing it over and sitting it up to the redhead's right.
Chitose gave a wan smile, observing her child was definitely on board. "Have a seat on that stool you just set down, I will tether you to Ikaros, then if I am right we should gain access to her files," she explained, as she went about checking Ikaros's ports observing what type of cabling she would need.
Chi sat on the stool, looking to the red-head, she then turned her attention hearing movement of someone entering the room she smiled observing a groggy Hideki stepped into the room.
"Oh Good, you are okay Chi," Hideki said as he sluggishly crossed the distance, his attention, however, was on the red-head that seemed to be in a trance-like state.
Chitose as she went about tethering her daughter to the red-haired persocom, ensuring to use specialized converter cables in an effort to ensure her child's safety, as she did this she took note of her tenant.
"Oh Motosuwa-kun you are awake that is good you are okay, You are tough to have taken a jolt like that and be up already," she said, acknowledging the boy in the room as she worked.
Hideki reached up rubbing the spot he had been shocked at, grimacing from the pain he still felt, he walked further until he stood a foot away from Chi. "I have to admit whatever she hit me with packed a wallop, but it will take more than that to do me in," he said with a slight nervous chuckle.
"Yes, luckily she only used Chronos one on you rumor has it its a set of two stun batons, if rumors are true she has more deadly toys in her arsenal of twelve," Chitose explained, going about finishing prepping her daughter for the tether.
Hideki gained a curious expression, as he looked to the red-head. "Chronos? An arsenal of twelve?" he questioned.
"A while back my husband was working on a weapon project for the government the project was canceled as it was deemed too expensive to cultivate but had the project been completed and judging by the use of that baton I think my Husband completed it is part of a set of twelve which."
Chitose paused a moment for breath, before continuing. "Are like the numbers on a clock, each weapon have a Roman numeral printed on them, each one was supposed to be more powerful than the other," she explained.
"So I was right to worry about her posing a threat to Chi which is why you somehow managed to subdue her?" Hideki questioned, his eyes still trained on the red-head in question.
Shaking her head negatively, Chitose went on to explain. "Oh No Motosuwa-kun you have it all wrong, Chi was never in any danger, they may not look it but they are in effect half-sisters since they both were created by my husband."
Hideki then remembered the redhead's words being: 'The less you know the better, but since you refuse to return to your apartment you will only have yourself to blame should you get mixed up in our little family business.'
'So that is what Ikaros meant by that.' he inwardly observed, looking to Chi as he was just glad she was and appeared both safe and sound. Going on to say, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"It is sweet of you to ask Motosuwa-kun, but the only thing you can do is hope this tethering goes well if not I will have to repair Chi to the best of my abilities, but I think she will be fine," Chitose said sweetly, as she then pushed a couple of commands into the keyboard of the supercomputer mainframe.
As she did so Chi went rigid, letting out a slight scream seeming to go limp leaning sideways until she was against the red-head. Hideki observing this called out, "Chi!"
A moment past, as Chitose didn't look worried as she observed the screen observing the results, the red-head spoke in a monotone voice. "Companion unit securely connected, security pass verification processing."
"Is Chi going to be alright?" Hideki questioned, looking to the raven-haired woman that was both Chi's mother, but also his apartment manager.
Chitose briefly looked over giving him an assuring glance. "She is fine, I am not sure why she screamed but her readings seem fine with no problems found."
"Elda-Elda-Gama-Beta-twelve Chitose Hibiya." Chi stated in a dull monotone voice, Chitose wasted no time in keying the words her daughter had spoken into her computer.
Ikaros then spoke up in her dull monotone voice, "Limited access granted, Proceed with manual connection."
'Limited access, Oh dearest what information did you allow me I wonder...' Chitose inwardly trailed in thought, as she observed the monitor as data had started to pour in rapidly, some of it in a language accompanied by symbols she did not recognize or was able to read for that matter, that and she observed much of the data was encrypted.
The thing that did catch her eye, however, was what she could read, that and something she found quite intriguing being that the red-head had a main core personality program that currently was in lock-down and heavily encrypted, while there was also a sub-personality program that appeared to be in full control.
The core personality listed itself as:
Name: Unknown
Sex: Error
Model: Angeloid-Chrono-Prototype
Status: Lock-down activated
Admin Note: Using both my own personal consciousness uploading technology along with the Eternium core reactor technology, along with the technology stolen from the Synapse today we attempted to bring the poor girl back to life by uploading her into our prototype Angeloid unit while both experiments were successful I guess the strain of the experiment was too much for her to bear she went both insane and berserk destroying the laboratory, forty-five scientists were injured, and one security guard was killed quite brutally I might add when he tried to subdue her she is a monster.
I never seen anything quite like it she seemed to teleport around the lab almost like she was in multiple places at once, the speed was insane luckily I had a manual shutdown command or I wouldn't have survived myself.
Course if it could be believed one of my research assistants told me during the incident what was two hours for us within the lab was but a mere blink of the eye for the world outside of the lab.
Therefore I believe when an Angeloid is created they are given special properties, some of these most likely are shared, and others that are unique to themselves.
With a heavy heart, I believe I will have to imprison her core personality and create a sub-personality it may be the best way to move forward with the rest of the experiment. -Doctor Takihara
The secondary personality listed itself as:
Name: R_Alpha_One (Ikaros)
Sex: Female
Model: Prototype Military Persocom unit
Status: Active (Passive peaceful mode)
Admin note: It took over a month, but it seems the creation of the sub-personality was successful, I must say she if not for her appearance would be the ideal daughter, she looks like an angel from the heavens.
I am having second thoughts on this project, I can't let them have her or any of the technology she was created with, this Technology I do not believe mankind is ready for, I only hope the Synapse as they call themselves have not or do not become aware of her existence there is no telling how they may respond. (It may be Babylon all over again.)
Therefore I have programmed this sub-personality to introduce itself as a military persocom unit, though even then she is still fully capable of her Angeloid functions I just hope she uses restraint and doesn't use her abilities too much much lest she garners the attention of the Synapse or the corrupt individual's who run this great nation from the shadows. -Icharo
The rest of the information was all in a language Chitose could not read, though she observed a document with her name on it, she with her mouse proceeded to click on the file to open it.
The document read:
My Darling Chitose if you are reading this then I assume Ikaros did not make it to either the military testing sight nor did my partner manage to deliver her to my contacts within the government so she has managed to find either you or Elda and followed her programmed instructions.
Accompanying her is a pack which contains several key items that I would ask that you safeguard them until the appointed hour, in the meantime ask Ikaros to create you a safe place to store these items which only you will be able to access.
The screen then after a moment went blank, as Ikaros voice spoke softly. "Access ended, Disconnecting from companion unit." she reached up unplugging the tether between herself and Chi who sat up reaching up unplugging her side of the tether.
"Are you okay Chi?" Hideki questioned, looking to the blonde-haired persocom he both loved and cared for.
Chi looked to her love interest. "Hai," she said, turning to her mother. "Mother Father told me he is proud of me."
"I am glad dearest." Chitose said turning her attention to the red-head, "As for you Ikaros your father said you could create a safe place to store these items?"
Ikaros slowly moved off the stool standing up, walking over to a nearby wall, "Hai one moment please." she called, proceeding to hold her hand out, the wall seemed to distort as if a digital image in a program a mirror seemed to form on the wall that was both the height and width of a typical door frame.
Eventually, the distortion dissipated, as she walked over picking up the pack, she then turned to the rooms other occupants, "Follow me." she dully stated as she walked into the mirror leaving Chitose, Hideki, even Chi with surprised expressions.
"Did she just create a mirror on the wall from nothing, and walk into it?" Hideki questioned as he both closed and rubbed his eyes opening them observing the mirror was still there.
Chitose observing the mirror, thoughtful expression. 'Oh My! This technology should not exist yet... but yet here it is right before my eyes.' she thought as she proceeded into the mirror.
"She is amazing," Chi said aloud, proceeding forward towards the mirror slowly stepping into it, Hideki stepped after her. "Wait up Chi!" he exclaimed as he stepped through.
After stepping through the mirror the group found themselves standing inside a far larger room that looked to be that of a laboratory within a hospital, in the middle of the room was a rather large box with runic symbols etched all over it in a language that was not human, the floor was that of white marble.
On the western wall was several computer systems, also throughout the facility were several pods that looked to be the size that could hold a human being totaling that of five units all in the placement of a diamond.
Along the walls also were observatory windows which gave a view of space, but the view seemed to change every so often as if giving views from various points of time and space.
The lighting in the facility was low, but seemed to brighten over time, the group spread out looking around, Ikaros walked over to the rune-covered black box, proceeding to place the pack she carried beside it, she then turned her sapphire gaze to the pods.
Proceeding forward until she standing by one pod in the middle peering down into the frost-covered glass, a figure was inside though the frost was too thick for her to make out.
"Where are we?" Hideki queried as he looked about the lab wildly, as the facility was far larger than the little room they entered from.
"We are in fathers lab that exists within a sliver outside of time itself," Ikaros explained, turning her attention to the brown-haired young man who had spoken.
Chitose looked around until her attention was grabbed by the computer systems she wasted no time in crossing the distance reaching up placing her hand on the controls only for them to do nothing.
'There is no keyboard, this is entirely touch screen technology, but yet it doesn't respond I wonder.' she thought to herself turning her attention to the red-head.
"Ikaros why won't these controls respond?" she questioned, not quite sure the response she would receive yet she was very curious none the less.
The red-head turned her attention to the raven-haired woman who was her creator's wife, glancing to the system in question. "I am sorry but access to any equipment in this lab will not be possible until the appointed hour. Only father knows when that will be."
"If say my husband being your creator and father was deceased how will you know when the appointed hour will be?" Chitose questioned, looking to the red-head with an expectant gaze directed at the red-head.
Ikaros shrugged her shoulders, going on to say, "Only father knows when the appointed hour will be, upon the appointed hour I will be contacted, and I will let you know when the time has come to use the equipment here."
"If our father is dead how will you be contacted, surely your logic is flawed if you believe the dead will contact you." Chi pointedly said as she looked to the red-head with a curious brow raised.
Ikaros seemed to deliberate over her half-sister's words, going on to explain. "If in fact, Father is dead, then I will proceed in his stead with what needs to be done."
"So, in other words, you could activate everything in here if you had the mind and will to." Chitose dully said, giving the computer a wistful gaze as she really wanted to know what was hidden within.
Ikaros gave a nod of her head, "I could, but father told me to wait for him or a specified date which I am sorry before you ask I cannot tell you that date."
Hideki looked to the pods walking over he looked inside the very one Ikaros had stood by and looked inside barely making out the shape of a figure of something with a humanoid shape.
'Could all of these create units just like Ikaros? he inwardly wondered to himself. "Is your father planning to build more units just like you?" he questioned.
Shaking her head negatively, Ikaros then went on to say, "Only this pod has an occupant the rest are empty and will remain so I do not believe he ever plans to build more like me."
She then proceeded to walk towards the rooms only exit being the mirror, "Come let us take our leave of this place you will get your chance to examine all of this at your leisure Miss. Hibiya since only you, or I from henceforth will be allowed to enter." she dully said, gesturing for them to depart.
Both Hideki and Chi stepped through, Chitose proceeding stopping just before the mirror looking to the red-head with a curious brow raised, "Where will you go now? I assume you do not intend to stay with Hideki?" she queried.
Ikaros nodded her head, shrugging her shoulders, going on to explain. "You are correct, I cannot stay since my being here would only put you, Hideki, Chi as well as anyone else who becomes associated with me in danger."
"So where then will you go?" Chitose questioned once again, only once again to have the red-head shrug her shoulders.
Ikaros pondered a moment on what to say, she then tilting her head, "I would tell you, but perhaps it is best you do not know, for the time being, I will come again at the appointed hour that I can tell you." she explained, proceeding to reach with her right hand the area seemed to digitize as she retrieved a small crystal which seemed to have digital readouts throughout its core holding it out.
Chitose watched the space the red-head had reached into the digital portal seemed to dissipate, she reached up taking the proffered item in hand, the red-head lowered her hand.
"What is this?" she inquired.
Ikaros her blank mask slipped momentarily a ghost of a smile to her lips, "The keys to unlock the answers you seek, but be mindful you may not be ready for the answers to your query." she explained.
With that Ikaros nudged Chitose towards the mirror.
Author Note: Okay so we have introduced some Chobits characters, yes I know some of you will want more trust me in the future I will be figuring out how that will come into play, for the time being, we will push forward.
The Saotome twins go to their aunt for answers to a question, even the Mercenary girl doesn't have the answers for.
Ikaros seems to be experiencing fragments of a past that is not her own. While at the same time she had a priority mission file activate which gave her a purpose, and a way to unload her burden for the time being.
Feel free to leave a review, I do hope you enjoyed this installment as much as I enjoyed creating it. I will hopefully have more soon as I can, but it has been difficult as of late giving my health problems that keep mounting on me with no relief in sight.
