Chapter 4
Several weeks had passed since Iris's introduction into the Resistance. The young Reploid had now fallen into a routine. In the morning, she would wake up and get herself ready before visiting Ciel and Alouette. After that, she would chat with Milan or Aigel if they had free time, and she occasionally visited Cerveau in his lab to see what he was working on. In the afternoon, she would have her hands full in the infirmary assisting the injured Resistance soldiers. By the time she finished each of her shifts, she was left exhausted and hungry. She would return to her room immediately after work, eat her quota of E-crystals, and then shut down for the day, starting the whole cycle over again.
On this particular morning, Iris was having a friendly talk with Aigel before their shared medical shift.
"So Riss, what's going on between you and Milan these days?" asked Aigel.
"What do you mean by that, Aigel?"
"I mean that you've been sticking to him like an iron filing to a magnet. There ain't nothing going on between you two, is there?"
"No, not really," said Iris. "But it was Milan's team that found me, so I just feel more comfortable with him than the others."
"Might want to tone it down a bit, mate," Aigel warned. "Rumors spread 'round here faster than you can blink. You don't want the others getting the wrong idea."
"What should I do, then? I don't want to stop seeing Milan."
"Simple. You get yourself another job."
"Like what?"
Aigel closed her eyes in thought. "Well, what are you good at besides fixing other Reploids up?"
"I…don't know," Iris answered sadly. "I don't even know why I was built in the first place."
"That's not necessarily a bad thing, mate. All that means is you gotta reach out, try new things, and find what it is you need to do. Hey, I know!" She snapped her fingers. "Dunno if you've noticed, but the Doc's been looking a tad thin, lately. She's been so busy that she hasn't had much time to eat. Why don't ya try cooking for her?"
"Huh?!" Iris exclaimed. "Me, cook?! For a human? B-but I don't know a thing about cooking!"
"True, but you picked up on how to patch up a Reploid quickly enough," reasoned Aigel. "Besides, unlike most of us, you've got loads of time to kill. It can't hurt to try."
Iris considered it. It was true that Ciel hadn't been eating well, and Aigel was right about her having plenty of free time.
"Well… I guess I could give it a try," said Iris.
"That's the spirit, Riss!" exclaimed Aigel. "Maybe now that big ol' kitchen will stop collectin' dust!
"Um, sure. I just hope I don't make an even bigger disaster in the process."
"You'll be fine. I have faith in you, Riss."
"If you say so."
The next morning, Iris got up earlier than usual so she would have extra time for her coming task. She was a bundle of nerves as she entered the abandoned kitchen. It was very dark inside, forcing her to fumble for a light switch. Eventually, she found one and flipped it. The overhead lights lazily flickered to life, lifting both the darkness and some of the nervousness in Iris's core.
The kitchen had clearly seen better days. Every inch of the place, from the tile floors to the rusty metal cupboards, was covered in dust and grime. The cabinet doors were chipped and corroded, and mold thrived in every corner and crevice. Iris balked at the mess and assumed several decades had passed since it was last cleaned.
The first thing she knew she had to do was at least make the place sanitary. Humans were vulnerable to disease, especially when their food or water was contaminated, and Ciel didn't need to be sick on top of her other problems. Iris recalled the supply closet Passy had directed her to before and gathered a load of cleaning supplies from it. She filled a large bucket with water and soap, grabbed a sponge and a mop, and began to tackle the gargantuan mess.
The kitchen was so soiled that she was forced to replace her soapy water every ten minutes. Every time she dumped her bucket, the liquid released was colored a putrid grey. Her progress was slow but steady, and while the work was hard, she also found it oddly rewarding when she at last found a shiny surface hidden under the layers of dirt.
Three hours later, Iris had one-fourth of the kitchen sparkling. The same couldn't be said for her body. She inspected the dirt that now coated her skin and clothes and concluded that she needed a sound power wash before she started her medical shift.
On her way to the showers, she drew the eyes of many Resistance members. No doubt they were wondering what on earth happened to her. After all, she had never gotten so dirty before, and now she probably looked like she had been playing in a grey mud puddle.
Reploid showers were different from human showers. Since Reploids generally only had one set of clothing, each stall contained a special washing machine specifically for Reploid outfits. Iris removed her dress, beret, and hair tie and placed them in the washer before turning the shower's sprayer on. A powerful jet of water shot out of the nozzle, pulverizing the grime on her body. Such high pressure would be painful or even dangerous for a human, but for a Reploid, it was like getting a massage. Iris closed her eyes and enjoyed the spray for a while. Then, she grabbed some Reploid shampoo and worked it through her long hair.
After fifteen minutes, she walked out of the shower feeling refreshed. She wrapped a towel around her body and retrieved her clothes from the washing machine. While they were still damp, they didn't absorb water like normal cloth, so they would dry on their own soon enough. After a quick towel dry, Iris redressed herself and headed for the infirmary.
"So, how'd it go?" Aigel asked as soon as Iris arrived.
"The place is a disaster," Iris responded. "I can't even think about cooking until the dirt's all gone."
"Oh, right," said Aigel. "I kinda forgot about that bit, mate. Sorry."
"It's alright. I'm working on cleaning it up."
"Wait, what?! You're telling me you got on your hands and knees and scrubbed that dirt hole yourself?!"
"Yes. Is there something wrong with that?"
"Crikey, of course not! I just didn't think you were the type to get your hands dirty, is all. You're full of surprises, Riss."
"Um… Thanks?"
For the next several days, cleaning the kitchen was Iris's personal pet project. Each day before work, she spent a few hours in the kitchen and another quarter of an hour cleaning her body. It didn't take long for Milan to notice her new habits, and he soon confronted her about it. He was astonished at what she was doing and asked why she didn't request any help.
"Well, everyone else was busy," was her reply.
"In other words, you were too afraid to ask," concluded Milan. Iris's flinch told him he hit the nail on the head. "Iris, there's no shame in asking anyone to help you."
"B-but―"
"No one thinks you're a bother, Iris. Again, if you need help, tons of us are here, ready and willing."
"But I'm nearly finished cleaning that kitchen anyways!" blurted Iris.
"Then just keep it in mind for next time," said Milan.
"A-alright," Iris replied.
It took only one more day for Iris to finish with the kitchen. The difference was like night and day. Every surface was polished to a shine, and nary a speck of dirt could be seen anywhere. She wiped her brow, feeling proud of her accomplishment. She then frowned, remembering that by knocking down one obstacle, she faced another: she now had this huge kitchen to work in, but she didn't know the first thing about cooking.
"Well, no use worrying about it now," she stated. "I'll take a shower first, and then figure out what to do."
No sooner had she walked out of the kitchen when she heard a number of voices yell, "GET HER!"
Iris stood frozen in shock as a tiny thing zoomed by her, followed by a stampede of mostly male Reploids. As the dust cleared, all Iris could do was wonder what on earth was going on.
"Riss!" Aigel jogged up to her, huffing and puffing.
"Aigel! What the heck happened?"
"It's one of the Cyber Elves! She got loose!"
"Got loose?" Iris repeated.
"A group of soldiers found her not long ago and she was being held in the Doc's lab for study, but she made a break for it when Ciel got careless," said Aigel. "Now she's tearing through the base like a Tasmanian Devil and making fun of every guy she comes across."
"Oh. I…I see."
"Well, don't just stand there like an idiot, Riss! Come help catch her!"
Without waiting for Iris to respond, Aigel rejoined the chase after the stray Cyber Elf. Iris blinked a few times as her processor struggled to keep up with what had just happened.
"Whew, that was a close one," a voice said from nearby.
Iris shrieked and leapt into the air. "Who's there?!"
"Whoa, chill out, kid," said the voice. "It's not like I'm gonna bite ya."
"Where are you? Show yourself!" Iris demanded.
"Gimme a sec. There're a lot of tangles in here."
"Huh?"
A moment later, a tiny figure flew out of Iris's hair and presented itself to her. The being was clearly a Cyber Elf, but her design was very unusual. Her wings resembled those of a butterfly, and two curly pink strands of her otherwise blond hair gave her the appearance of having antennae.
"Hmm, so your name's Riss, is it?" asked the Cyber Elf.
"Um, actually, it's Iris," Iris corrected.
"Is that so? Well, I like Riss better," said the Cyber Elf. "Anyway, my name is Lumen. Nice to meet ya, kid."
"Er…likewise," said Iris. "Wait, are you the Cyber Elf that everyone was chasing earlier?"
"Yup. Some guys just can't take a joke, I guess."
"What did you say to them?!"
Lumen shrugged. "Just a thing or two about them not being attractive. Seriously, there're enough dudes here. You'd think there'd be one hottie among them."
"L-Lumen!" Iris exclaimed, red-faced. "Y-you go apologize to them right now!"
"And risk getting stuffed into a glass container again? No thanks," said Lumen.
"How'd you escape from them anyway?!" demanded Iris. "I know I saw you fly by! When did you hide in my hair?"
"I gave 'em the slip not long after passing by here. After that, I just backtracked and found the easiest place to hide. No offense kid, but you're far from the most observant Reploid out there."
"Hey!" Iris yelled.
"Now then, I've got a deal for you, Riss," said Lumen. "You keep that scientist from putting me in a cage, and I'll help you out with whatever you want."
"Wh-wha? But I don't need any help!"
"Aw, come on. I can tell you're having problems with something just by looking at ya."
"But I―"
"Let me guess. You slaved away cleaning that big kitchen over there, but you don't know a thing about cooking, right?"
"How did you―"
"Well, I may not be a cooking pro, but I'm sure I can show you a thing or two. What do you say?"
"Um," said Iris. "Well, it is true that I don't know the first thing about cooking. And Milan did tell me that I should ask for help when I need it. Alright then, you've got yourself a deal, Lumen."
"Great to hear!" the Cyber Elf exclaimed.
"On one condition!" Iris interrupted. "You have to go and apologize for all the trouble you caused."
Lumen sighed. "Alright, fine. As long as you make sure they don't lock me up."
Iris brought Lumen back to Ciel, and after a bit of persuasion, the scientist consented to having the Cyber Elf stay with Iris. However, Ciel requested to have Lumen for study once a week, to which Lumen complied on the condition that she not be held in a container. Afterwards, Ciel summoned all of the Resistance members so Lumen could apologize to all of them. They still seemed a little angry, but for the most part the Cyber Elf's mischief was forgiven.
That night, Iris collapsed into her bed, utterly exhausted. "What a day."
"You said it, Riss," said Lumen. "But we can't let up. After all, your lessons start tomorrow."
"Lessons?"
"Cooking lessons, of course. Did you forget already?"
"Oh, yeah," said Iris.
Lumen sighed and shook her head. "Are you always this spacey?"
"No!" Iris snapped.
"Ha, I'm just teasing. But seriously, you've gotta learn to pay more attention. Someone might just take advantage of your carelessness one of these days."
"Sorry."
"Well, it's good you have me around, then," said Lumen. "Don't worry, Riss, I'll watch your back for you."
"Um, thanks, I guess," mumbled Iris.
"Better get some sleep, kid. We've got a long day tomorrow."
"Don't worry. I'll get to sleep soon. But first, I have a question for you, Lumen."
"What is it?"
"What exactly is your power as a Cyber Elf? I know all Cyber Elves have a unique ability that helps Reploids, but you seem a little different from other Cyber Elves."
When Lumen did not answer right away, Iris backpedaled. "Err, I mean, if you don't feel like telling me, that's fine. I-I was just curious. Sorry for being nosy."
"It's fine," said Lumen. "You just took me a little off guard. In all honesty, I don't really have a 'power', per say. More like…a talent."
"A talent?"
"Yeah. It's left that scientist stumped. She's been studying me for days now and can't figure me out."
"Wait, I thought Dr. Ciel was busy searching for Zero."
"She's been doing that, too. I've been more of a side project, so to speak."
"I see. So what is your talent?" Iris asked.
"It'd be easier to just show you," Lumen responded. "But first, you gotta get to sleep."
"What? Why?"
"First, it's clear that you need your rest. And second, I'd rather not draw a crowd in here."
Iris was baffled, but decided to obey Lumen's strange request anyway. She settled into bed and closed her eyes, and it seemed barely a moment had passed when she found herself on the black plane of her dreams. This time, however, the figure she saw before was nowhere to be found. Instead, she was surprised to see a familiar face.
It was Lumen. Or at the very least, it was a person who looked very much like Lumen. She still had that strange, butterfly-like appearance, wings and all, but she now had the size and proportions of a human. Iris opened her mouth to ask what was going on, but Lumen raised a finger to her lips to silence her. The humanoid Cyber Elf floated away a short distance and closed her eyes. Then, Lumen opened her mouth, and wondrous sound emerged from it.
"Eternally, we will be in each other's memory…"
It was incredible. Lumen's voice was unlike Iris had ever heard before. Her database informed her that this was called "singing", and it was a talent normally restricted to humans. Reploids could only mimic what they had heard, like a recording, and Cyber Elves had no need for such a frivolous thing. Lumen, however, was obviously the exception to the rule. Iris now understood why Lumen had made her request; everyone who heard this song would've gathered in Iris's room to listen.
As she sang, Lumen spun and danced through the air, creating a display nearly as beautiful as her voice. She rose and fell with the flow of the song, as if she were a part of it. At the end, she performed one last spin and bowed deeply. Iris was at first too captivated to react, but she soon broke into applause.
"Lumen, that was amazing!" she exclaimed.
"Thank you," said Lumen. "It was my pleasure."
"How are you in my dreams, though?" wondered Iris.
"That is just another one of my talents. However, I only use it when I want to ensure a private audience."
"I see. Well, thank you for letting me listen to you. That was the first time I ever heard someone singing before."
Lumen beamed. "Well, I'd better get going now. I need my rest, too. Good night, kid."
"Good night, Lumen."
With that, the Cyber Elf vanished into sparkles of light. Iris smiled widely before drifting off, Lumen's haunting voice still filling her ears.
And here is the last chapter I wrote while the previous version of the story was still up. For those who don't know, Lumen is actually a character from Azure Striker Gunvolt, which is the spiritual successor to the Mega Man Zero series. And I love it. I felt like Lumen would actually fit quite well into this story as a Cyber Elf due to her design and the fact that she is a virtual avatar in Gunvolt (to the point where at first Gunvolt believes she is a computer program). And I adore her personality. Unfortunately nearly all of her flavor text was removed from the English version due to time constraints, but from the handful of lines she does have, I grew to like her a lot. I will probably be winging it again with her personality, but I will do my best.
The song Lumen is singing here is "Eternal Blue" by Sakicho Hara. It is the English version of "Beyond the Blue", which is one of Lumen's songs in Gunvolt. And I love it to bits. I strongly recommend you give it a listen.