-RECORDING 9-

"Sis?"

"What is it?"

"Who do you want to be if you're able to become someone else?"

It was interesting to find the hovercraft stopping at what seemed to be an access point to some place above the water channel. The pier was simply a stepping stone to a ladder that only one person can access at a time, but it seemed most of the floor's integrity had given away due to corrosion or a hard collision. Calai led the way while I stood guard with my Autogun.

"Quite the waterworks."

My body became stiff. Was someone watching us the whole time?

"Yes, I've been here the whole time."

Huh? I looked over my shoulder, expecting someone. In my immediate surroundings, I found a large mechanical butterfly with a small face and a raccoon tail. It had a blue body, white wings, and silver as its subcolor. It was a MAG. I believe the kind it is was something called a Pushan.

"I hate the name Pushan."

Huh. No wonder it was able to access my mind. MAGs are able to synchronize its data with its host. In this manner, the MAG can lend strength to the holder in such wondrous ways, such as physical endurance, photon amplification, guidance amplification, and mental amplification. Lately, I have not been seeing MAGs around Pioneer 2, and those who usually have MAGs are hunters or black marketers. Seeing a MAG to my disposal was an utter shock. I must be lucky to have found one somehow.

"Hmm... I like that word..."

"What word?"

"Lucky. You know what? You can call me Lucky." He spun. "Nice to meet you, Tuna."

... Tuna?

"Oh, don't like that? How about Forte?"

... Forte?

"Not Forte, huh? How about Anutrof?"

"How about Fortuna?" I interjected, disregarding his need to call me names.

"Huh. Lucky and Fortuna. Makes us sound a little too alike."

I looked away to see Calai not back yet from her inspection above. As how the situation stood, can I maintain or exceed Calai's expectations in the future? The future... "How about Futura?"

"The future, huh? Lucky future. I like the sound of that."

Something about this was familiar. I pondered as to why that was, but Calai pounded once and then tapped twice on the ladder. It was her signal that the scene was clear.

The situation appeared to be dire the moment I realized the predicament I was in. The small landing Calai used to cross to the ladder seemed to have been destroyed upon use. How ironic that I am named Fortuna.

"Are you going to jump across?"

Jump across? No civilian model can make the jump onto the ladder. Even so, it was the only out from the situation I was placed in. Also, I will be separated from Calai if I do not take the jump.

"Futura," Lucky interrupted. "I know you can do this."

"I... I do not know-"

"You CAN do this! You have me! You are not alone. So, please, show me that you have a future; that even luck has a role in our future!"

... You know, why not? I should start relying on others. "Okay. Let us try this."

"That's the spirit! Well, without effort, this'll not work. So, try to build up some momentum for the jump."

So, he expects a running start for the jump. Well, I can try as much. Mags are known to have made people exceed their own expectations of themselves. So, maybe this will actually do me good in knowing how well I can do.

"Exceed your own expectations. Let's do this!"

A deep breath came into me as a last, dear attempt for possibly the last moment of my life. I began to feel lighter than ever. That ladder... All I have to do is reach out for even one of the bars. Here we go!

My foot finally lift off the raft. One step, then another, and another...! As I went, red and blue photons made my power output steeper than ever. Then, after ten, I kicked off the floor with both my feet. I closed my eyes for a moment, hearing nothing; nothing but the whisper of silence and stagnant air whistling through my gear and hair. It was like I was flying.

"Futura!"

My eyes shot open. The bars of the ladder were closing in! My arms whipped out...! A massive crash resounded through the tunnel. Warning signs of damage were alerting me of immediate action to be placed. It did not dawn upon me but I was cradling onto the ladder, my legs broken off the bottom few steps and actually touching the sewage down below. I took a glance upward, seeing a shadow of Calai over me. Relief began to settle, allowing me to regain proper function.

I then tapped three times on the ladder, confirming I am climbing.

When I reached the top, Calai closed the hatch to find the place more mechanized but in what seemed to be a jungle. It was a bit of a relief, but at the same time, it was ominous.

"That's weird," Calai said to herself. "We're at Gal Da Val Islands."

Of course it was familiar. We both came here one time with Daddy to inspect several findings in the western tower by an unknown client. I only know that we were here one day and that was all that was significant. Nothing else was as such.

Calai folded her arms and began processing data. "Really, that boat ride wasn't that long. I wonder... Huh? What?" She shoved me aside and she began patting the ground. "Wait, wait. What? I swear...!" I looked over to what she was concerned about and found nothing. Indeed, that was a concern. She knocked at the floor but found it was solid. "No way..."

At least we are all at a different location than the Organics. In a way, it was for the best. However, even so, we should not-

"I swear, I heard something down this way."

We had enough time to turn but instead found someone already in sights. I raised my arms to aim with my Autogun but Calai whipped a hand out to stop me. I stopped when I found a RAcast aiming a Beam-a red-photon rifle-at us.

"Warning. Intruder alert."

"Hey, we're one of you." Calai took a step forward. "Can't you see-?"

The CAST shot at her but Calai's reaction time had her block the attack instantly. He then said, "Halt. Stay where you are."

Calai raised her hands, surrendering. She motioned for me to do the same. Once I did as ordered after stowing my Autogun, a HUcaseal came into view. She had a yellow main color and a blue subcolor.

The HUcaseal folded her arms upon acknowledging us. "Oh. What do we got here?"

"Ladies, Mila-"

The HUcaseal snapped a spinning roundhouse kick to his torso, sending him flying until he hit a box that prevented him from falling overboard into the water. Huh. Interesting. I soon realized we were at a dam.

"Do forgive his manners," she said as she stepped forward to greet us with open arms. Her visual sensors moved upon me. "I didn't mean for him to scare you."

Calai laughed. "Oh, it was-"

The HUcaseal snatched my hand and pulled me along. "Let's go to the big boss's chambers! I must see to it that you are invited properly."

I glanced back to Calai. She was hesitant to follow. The RAcast then pushed himself up to follow us along the dam. It was odd to find us just below more water. How long had I been unconscious? Also, the Gal Da Val Islands were considerably far away, and by the velocity we were traveling from the Pioneer 1 Central Dome relic, we would only be halfway in between the two locations. However, we were here: on an isolated location away from Pioneer 1 that once conducted top-secret research and possibly headed by Dr. Osto himself.

Dr. Osto was a head researcher onboard Pioneer 1. If data serves correctly, although he was highly regarded, he also conducted research that should be considered on the blacklist of laboratories. With this location being away from the main residential area and on an island, all kinds of research was considered to have happened here. Military Hero Heathcliff Flowen was considered to be declared dead here, but for some reason, Tyrell's Hero was able to find what was left of Mr. Flowen: a massive D-Cellular humanoid in the depths of the seabed laboratory. If considering him, he would be the second person found alive after the mysterious explosion that somehow eliminated nearly all inhabitants of Pioneer 1. For some reason, there were rumors that the first person alive was Red Ring Rico Tyrell and that Tyrell's Hero was the one who slain her. When I process this, Tyrell's Hero sounds more of a savage beast than anything else. He-assuming the gender is male-is able to kill massive D-cellular humanoids and especially several other massive objects such as De Rol Le, Pioneer 1's Main AI Vol Opt, Barba Ray, Pioneer 2's remake attempt of Coral's Gol Dragon, a Gal Griphon... I assume he was at a level similar to Black Paper's Black Hound Kireek who was considered able to kill just as efficiently, but even then, he was slain by Tyrell's Hero. And because of Tyrell's Hero, there came a wave of the infamous "Organic Superiority." I assume the thought was that Tyrell's Hero was an Organic. After all, no normal CAST could rebel against a humanoid unless commanded to. Assuming that all this is true, this O. P. S. S. order from the new principal was in favor of the Organic Superiority faction. Cleansing? Fixing? Such utter lies. Those military fools tried to annihilate us!

The HUcaseal said, "Big boss loves new CASTs. Big boss is beautiful and especially caring. Big boss is going to find you interesting, for sure."

I realized she was only talking to me. Why me? Why not Calai? She is more interactive than I am. I am nothing worth praising! I kept on being dragged along and then pulled down along the side of the dam, where a landing was. I remember this location. It was from Elly Person's recording of the time she came down onto the Gal Da Val Islands due to an odd series of events. If I do recall, Tyrell's Hero was the one who accepted the mission. There was never a clear view of whoever the person was. The hero excelled in swiftness, power, and mechanics.

"Big boss! I found someone snooping around!"

"Big boss?"

An Organic girl turned to us. I came into alert mode upon seeing her. She appeared to be a fifteen-year-old Human. Although still maturing in looks, something about her seemed out of the ordinary. Surely, where one Organic is, another is nearby. She had a white dress and cobalt-blue hair, most likely a FOmarl to be exact.

"Hello, Ms. Caseal."

The Human girl held a hand out to me. I did not attempt to reach out to her. So, she smiled and came to me. Her outstretched hand rose up to feel my face. I kept visuals on her, waiting for a sign to react upon.

"You have an ill fate. Here. Let me-"

I slapped her hand away but found a Twin Brand-a blue-photon double saber-to my neck and a Beam to my head.

"Stand down," the RAcast commanded.

The Human girl sighed and patted the CASTs. The two moved back to leave the girl with me. Her disciples, huh? The girl lifted a hand and placed it on my thorax. She then chanted something to herself...

Suddenly, she was blown back. The CASTs barely reacted in time to catch her. She was out of breath and pale. What was happening?

"Big boss!" the two CASTs kept calling. I do not know what was happening but I know for sure that the two are bound to her. I came to them but the girl cowered away upon seeing me.

"The catalyst!" she cried. "The catalyst! Begone!"

Catalyst? She was even pointing at me. What is happening? Suddenly, photon bolts shot around me, striking the two CASTs. As the two staggered and as I was turning to see what was happening, I was struck from the side, crashing against the wall of the dam with massive damage to my right waist. I turned with an Autogun at hand to find the two CASTs already annihilated and two smoking Gatlings in Calai's hands. Her expression was not cheerful nor even identifiable.

She said with such contempt, "You do not know what you are talking about."

"Quickly, disciple! While you still can, turn away from-!"

Calai shot through her forehead relentlessly with a charged shot, leaving not much of the girl's head left on the neck. The body fell back as fragments of flesh, organs, and bone mixed with a massive splatter of fresh blood. Calai sighed and turned her head over to me.

Wait... What is this? My hands...!

"Sis, what're you-?"

"Shut up!" my voice thundered. "Where is Calai?" My hands shook as they aimed the Autogun at her.

"What're you talking about? I'm me!"

Calai is not like this. There has to be some mistake! "Where is Calai!?"

"Sis!"

The loud pop of the Autogun resounded. My breaths were labored and my processor was scorching. Too many processes. I had to undo some processes... But what?

"Sis! What...?"

My visual lens open and I look straight in front of me. Calai was before me with my arms pressed up. She must have deflected my arms as I shot into the air.

"What's wrong with you!?" she exclaimed.

That is what I should be asking, but... "Who are you? What have you done with Calai?"

"Listen to me!" I attempted to thrash my arms but she pinned them against the wall. "Sis! Listen!"

Calai: the defender. Calai: the justified one. Calai: the merciful one. The one I saw contradicted those. Calai... Calai! You are not Calai!

"I've always said I'll protect you." She then moved her hands along my arm to curl into mine. "I'll protect you from anything that will separate us-that will change us." She attempted a smile but her face was distraught. "You're not my enemy. The last person I want to fight is you." Our hands moved between us and her forehead pressed against mine.

Calai... "What is the name of Daddy?"

She shook her head against mine. "We don't know his name. We're not supposed to know."

"Where is Mommy?"

"She disappeared in the explosion."

"Who are you to me?"

"I am your uber sexy sister."

"Calai?"

"Hm?"

"Shut up."

"No, you shut up."

Calai...! Gradually my fingers curled, fitting my hands into hers. So much pressure was on my cheeks. I cannot help but smile. She pressed away to find my visual lens lowered and that crook on my face. Calai smiled back as she laughed.

"Now, I should be the one asking if you're Sis. My Sis never smiles."

I glanced up at her but shot my lenses away from her. "Your sensors need to be checked."

She came close to me and whispered into one of my auditory sensors, "It looks good on you. You should smile more." She pressed away and saw that my smile was still on me. "Feelings can't be denied forever, Sis. Let it all out." I nodded with my head still bowed. "But you know, don't smile too much."

I raised my head in question, but could not make contact with hers. She felt along a lock of hair as she looked away.

"I don't want others to see your smile."

I ripped my hands away from her and walked away. However, I realized we were romancing over another's grave. I stared at the girl's remains. Calai, you said you are protecting me. How does this even relate to protecting me?

"I'll tell you why I did what I did in due time," Calai said as she curled a hand into mine once more. "Until then..." Her grip tightened. "... you have to trust me. I'll protect you and we'll go back to Daddy together, okay?"

"Promise?"

Calai looked over to me. I kept staring at the remains but my priority was completely on her.

She sighed and threw her sights aside. "Yeah. I promise."

I came to the RAcast and started rummaging through his inventory. "We're moving in a little while. Take what you can."

Calai, when we get home, I will prepare some cake. I promise you that.

-END RECORDING-
LOCATION: RAGOL
SCENE: CENTRAL CONTROL AREA IN GAL DA VAL ISLANDS