Author's notes:
First of all, I would like to apologize before my readers for taking so long with writing this chapter of this story of mine; to tell the truth, I was somewhat out of inspiration lately, and in addition to that, some parts of this chapter were very difficult to write. But don't worry, I am not giving up on writing fanfiction, and I will eventually update and (hopefully) eventually complete all my fanfictional stories that are currently "in progress".
Before starting this chapter, I would like to thank Mats Forsen and Kelvin Phillips for reviewing the previous chapter of this story of mine. Domo arigato gozaimasu, thank you very much!
Kelvin Phillips, extra thanks to you for your very encouraging review! But there is no need to worry; like I said, I don't plan to give up on either writing fanfictional stories in general or on writing this story of mine in particular. But thank you very much for your very encouraging words nevertheless!
Alright, and now without further ado…
The day I met you"This is where BU-35V is held," Kate confirmed, as she and Kurama stood before the second set of massive titanium-alloy doors. "Soon after her brain was transplanted into this body, she was locked here, in complete darkness, unable to even move her arms or legs. And do you know why?"
The question was rhetorical; everything about BU-35V "Mariko" was classified, but now Kurama was given the right to know.
"Because almost immediately after the brain-transplanting surgery, BU-35V developed twenty-six Vectors reaching for about eleven meters. We have reasons to believe that it isn't her limit, but no tests were conducted on her, for obvious reasons. BU-35V is truly an ultimate weapon, a weapon we have no means of controlling: despite all the cybernetic implants in her brain, its organic origin makes it impossible for us to control BU-35V through OMS."
"So this is where I come in, is it?" There was a hint of disgust in Kurama's voice as he spoke.
"Indeed, it is. Mentally, BU-35V's mind is on about the same level as that of a six years old girl; it is as much as we dared to speed her intellectual development without risking to have her developing major mental abnormalities. And interesting enough, the observations were made of her suggest that BU-35V in fact wishes to meet her parents, which made us believe that you have the greatest chance of making BU-35V obey your orders then anyone else. But that is not all of it. With Doctor Kakuzawa missing, you are the best expert on V-type Boomers we have, and Chairman Quincy has great faith in your ability to guide BU-35V. After all, not only did you conduct vast research on the way Vector System and V-type Boomers' minds operate, but you are also personally responsible for developing probably the most mentally stable V-type Boomer we created. You have made mistakes, but they can be forgiven as long as you don't repeat them."
"I see…" Kurama said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
Mistakes indeed…
(Flashback)
"Hey, Kurama."
Doctor Kurama raised his eyes from computer's monitor to look at the brown-haired with barely noticeable stubble, who currently stood before his desk.
"What is it, Kakuzawa?"
The relationship between two of Director Kakuzawa's chief researchers, the best friends back at their college days, were nothing like they used to be.
Unfortunately, it was only after Kurama reluctantly accepted his old friend's offer to work for GENOM together with him that Kurama realized that Yuu Kakuzawa was nothing like he used to be. A little rough, but always cheerful and generally well-meaning man he knew back from their college days seemed to all but die during the years they haven't seen each other; instead, Yuu Kakuzawa was now a bitter man, whose humor now always carried a sarcastic and sometimes even cruel edge about it. Kurama didn't know what has happened to change his former friend so much, but that was beyond the point.
Instead of replying, Yuu forwardly walked up to Kurama's desk and looked over his shoulder at the computer screen, filled with what would have made very little sense to anyone outside of Project V Development Team.
"Still working on how Numbers' thought patterns correlate with external factors? So, how's it going?"
"Not so well," Kurama didn't know why he responded; perhaps it was because he needed to talk with someone, and despite all Yuu's failings, he still felt, if not friendship, then at least a sort of familiarity towards him. "We are the ones who create V-type Boomers and imprint everything they should know in their brains, yet we can never know what mental structure will develop in the result. And until we get at least some degree of control over V-type Boomers' mental development, our goal of mass-producing them will remain unachievable. Moreover…"
"…Of six V-type Boomers we have made so far, five went rogue, resulting in nearly a hundred deaths," Yuu finished for him, "But you know… I have an idea you might find interesting."
"And what is it?" There was a hint of mistrust in Kurama's voice as he spoke.
"Why don't you personally oversee the development of our newest Number? It will give you a new perspective on your research, I think. In fact, I've already took it upon myself to bring this idea into my father's attention, and he fully approved of it. So, everything is taken care of." Yuu gave Kurama his trademark grin.
"The bastard!"
V-type Boomers may have been just the lines of information on a computer's screen or in the printed reports for him, but Kurama wasn't oblivious to what they were making there: they were making weapons aimed to kill in one of the quickest and most effective ways known, the weapons that turned against their creators more often then not…
"What is the status?"
"All system functioning and ready for initial activation."
"Alright, let's get on with it."
"Understood."
Kurama barely paid any attention to the exchange between Yuu and chief engineer, instead staring at the large mental container in front of him, as if it could somehow prepare him for what he was about to face. As it turned out, it didn't…
Kurama could only stare in astonishment as the container opened, and a nude fifteen years old girl uncertainly stepped out of it. When Kurama finally recovered from the shock, he turned to Yuu for explanation.
"Is this some kind of a joke?"
Yuu responded to the question with his trademark smile.
"Not at all. This particular form is typical for a V-type Boomer; since they don't rely on conventional weapons or armor, it was decided that a more harmless-looking form will suit them better then an obviously combat-orientated one. As you know, their bodies are similar to those of BU-33S, and that would mislead both humans and all conventional combat boomers into underestimating V-type Boomer's abilities. And as you know too well, their AI effectively operates on the same level as the human brain, so… Since you are to be its mentor of a sort, perhaps you should greet her?"
Kurama turned back to the girl, no, a V-type Boomer, who was curiously looking around the room. It took Kurama some time before he found what to say.
"Ahem… Welcome to the world, Nana Bangou."
"Nana…" V-type Boomer repeated, as her previously wandering eyes focused on Kurama. And then, to Kurama's great surprise, the boomer's lips suddenly broke into a happy smile.
"Nana!"
It looked like she liked the part of "Number Seven" that she seemed to pick out as her name, and once again, Kurama couldn't help feeling surprised at how human V-type Boomer appeared to be.
"Ne, Papa?"
"Papa?!" Kurama barely restrained himself from saying it out loud.
"What… What is Nana to do now? I just know very little about the world, but I really want to be of use to Papa! So… What do you want Nana to do?"
And as he looked into Nana's large trusting eyes, Kurama almost hated himself for what he knew had to happen next.
"Everything is ready. We'll start over at 270 joules."
"Understood."
Kurama grimly looked first the other people in the control room, who went about their work with cold efficiency, then at the girl, no, a V-type Boomer chained to the wall in the next room, behind a bulletproof glass wall. No sooner then Nana recovered from the previous test, they were going to put her through a new one. However, Nana never complained, and that was one of the things that bothered Kurama the most: was it simply because of so-called Overmind System that made boomers completely obedient to humans, or… Was it something else?
"Feeling it is unnecessary, perhaps?" A slightly mocking voice said from behind him.
Though Kurama was officially in charge of Nana's development, Yuu often came along when they were conducting tests, almost as though he was enjoying it. In the very least, he was never shy to give his comments.
"Indeed, we could have easily installed a pain-blocking system in her brain, which would have allowed her to completely block pain with but a thought. If fact, combat boomers aren't usually made to feel pain at all, as it would only provide a distraction in combat. V-type Boomers are different however. Since Vector System was originally designed to be an artificial enhancement for a human brain, and was re-designed to be a part of a boomer only when the original concept didn't work, it seems to rely on user's instinctive need to use Vectors, therefore requiring for user to think and feel the same way as humans do. And as you know, V-type Boomers need "motivation" for their Vectors to develop…" Yuu gave Kurama a somewhat apologetic smile, almost as though he was sorry about this situation, which Kurama knew he wasn't, "…That's where the "tests" come in. The Vectors, as you well know, were originally designed to be a defense system, and their enormous offensive capabilities were only later realized. Therefore, to make V-type Boomers develop their Vectors, we need to provide them with physical threat against which Vectors could be a good defense. And once their Vectors are developed, V-type Boomers are perfectly capable to use them for offensive purposes as well. It is an ultimate offense and defense system in one small package!"
Kurama barely suppressed a sigh. He has already known all of this, but it did little to make him feel better.
"Very well, let's proceed."
But before the test started, Kurama turned on the speakers that allowed him to communicate with his "charge".
"Nana, it will be the same as before, all you have to do is to deflect the balls. We will gradually increase the force, so do your best."
"H-hai."
Nana's reply sounded somewhat weekly; though she has never complained about the tests out loud, it was nevertheless clear that she didn't enjoy them, to put it mildly.
But it was one of many things about Nana's "development" that were beyond Kurama's control, so the only thing he could do was to order: "Begin".
At once, several metal balls where shot from a cannon-like machine mounted at the upper part of the wall in front of Nana, striking the wall in various places around her, hard enough to leave visible dents in it.
"270 joules re-confirmed. Switching to 300 joules."
"Understood."
This time, the metal ball struck Nana's leg at full force, leaving a spray of blood on the wall behind it. Kurama couldn't help visibly wincing, and this didn't escape the notice of one of his colleagues.
"Shall we continue the test, Doctor Kurama?"
Kurama hesitated.
"Number Seven is ten days old now," it was Yuu who once again made his opinion known, "Your own research indicate that V-type Boomer's Vectors should at least reach the mark of 300 joules by now. And GENOM doesn't need any more under-developed V-type Boomers, you know?"
Kurama gritted his teeth.
"Very well, go on with the test."
"At once."
Kurama could barely resist an urge to turn away as more metal balls were shot at Nana, each infallibly hitting their target, until the fifth ball struck the wall, missing the boomer's head by just a few millimeters.
"Again."
Three more balls were shot, but like the previous one, all three narrowly missed their target.
"300 joules confirmed. Shall we switch to 330 joules?"
"Do it. We have to be sure." Kurama's voice was as grim as it could be.
Again, the cannon-like machine fired, and this time the very first ball hit Nana square in the chest. It was followed by two more shorts, which hit Nana in left breast and abdomen; by then, she has all but gone limp in her chains, and didn't seem to even try to deflect the shots.
"Alright that's enough. It looks like it is the best result we will get today. We'll continue with the tests tomorrow."
Their working day was already nearing an end, and with Nana not in condition for more tests, the research cell's operatives started to leave, along with Yuu. Kurama, however, lingered in the control room, casting another look at Nana who was left chained in the next room.
With test finally over, Nana slumped to the floor, her body held semi-upright only by the chains bound her arms to the wall and kept them twisted upwards and slightly behind, a position obviously painful in itself, though nobody in the laboratory seemed to care about such little trifles. Although she seemed to take the tests much better then anyone could expect, on closer examination Kurama could see that the tears were now running down her cheeks along with blood.
In the state she was currently in, one might expect that Nana would be completely obvious to everything around her, yet she immediately registered his footsteps and raised her head to look at Kurama as he approached.
"Papa."
It hurt Kurama every time she called him that; some father he was…
"How are you feeling, Nana?"
Kurama almost winced as he asked that. It was a stupid, and in a way even cruel thing to ask, yet Nana managed to smile in response.
"It's… Everything's fine… Really! Just a several broken bones, nothing to worry about. I'll be completely fine by tomorrow."
V-type Boomers' regenerating capabilities were indeed amazing, but what bothered Kurama among all other things was that it took other scientists' minds off the degree of harm and pain their "tests" were responsible for. It was too easy to leave Nana in her cell, beaten within an inch of her life, and return the next day to find her as healthy as she was before the test. And as about the pain… Nobody bothered to take her feelings into account; after all, she was only a boomer… Wasn't she?
"Ne, Papa…"
"What is it?"
"I just wanted to say that… Nana is really happy to be of use to you."
Author's notes:
Now when this chapter is finished, I would like to say sorry about how short it turned out to be. I originally intended for it to be longer, but then I decided to split it in two chapters, mainly because I took too long with writing this chapter as it is. I promise to write the next chapter of this story of mine as quickly as I am able to, but… Just so you know, I would really appreciate at least some reviews for this chapter of this story of mine. Some chapters of this story of mine were left without any reviews at all, and this kind of thing really takes my inspiration away.