Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Xenosaga.
A/N: Well here is Chapter 2. If you read this I'd love some feedback about any issues with tense, OOCness, or other problems. Or just to know if you guys enjoyed it at all.
Chapter Two: Unwelcome Return
Shion, Allen, and Ziggy had left the bridge in order to prepare, with KOS-MOS, for the upcoming task of identifying the source of the Song and reversing its cloaking device with the use of the phase transfer canon. Jr had elected to stay behind on the bridge mostly out of the desire to speak with Gaignun about what was going on.
So I guess that you were right after all.
If you took the chance to perceive what's around you instead rashly sprinting through life you wouldn't have to deal with this kind of disappointment you know. Speaking with Gaignun through telepathy had become a second nature in the past fourteen years. But it seems strange now, that while Jr's inner voice had remained the same, his brother's had grown deeper and more mature.
You know I have my reasons for the way that I am... plus that's what I have you for little brother and I know you get some sadistic satisfaction out of being right all the time.
There was a moment of silence, Are you worried for the girl?
The question takes Jr off guard, much like the black haired man's comment about taking MOMO to the beach. Of course I'm worried, you know that. We are all worried, she's a sweet girl, even the emotionless cyborg cares for her. Not to mention...
What she has within her. Jr nods in response, The Y Data, no one knows what is held within the legacy Mizrahi left behind, but whatever it is cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. But I sense that isn't the main reason for your concern. The red haired man shoots a glare at the other man. She does look astoundingly like—
"Stop!" the order is out loud, and all the realians cast worried glances towards him; all he can do is shrug it off uncomfortably. It isn't what you think Gaignun, the resemblance just makes it... strange. MOMO is her own person not a ghost from my past, something I can't allow myself to forget.
Wise words from one so young. Chuckling Gaignun places a hand on the red head's back, I will do what I can to help you keep your promise.
I only hope that I can...I think I know who's controlling the song, what the dark image is Gaignun. Jr looks up at the other man through worry clouded eyes.
"We're all ready to go." The voice is Shion's, full of a confidence that suits her well.
I'll tell you soon Gaignun, if this works I'll know for sure if I'm right. The black haired man nods, and Jr turns to those that have rejoined them, "Well let's get it done!" calls Jr, walking back towards the elevator and placing a reassuring hand on Shion's arm. The tiny warm smile she gives him in return stirs warmth within him, and he can't help but smile back, despite everything.
As Jr turns to the front of the Durandal a screen appears next to Miyuki's; KOS-MOS drifting against a star coated curtain. He smiles; space always looks that way to him, fake. Better than dealing with the feeling of utter insignificance that overtakes him every time he thinks of what it is really like.
"Listen to me, KOS-MOS. Try to keep the phase transfer mass as low as possible." Again Jr's glance falls on the brunette, she is so genuinely concerned even though KOS-MOS would naturally do anything in her power to keep at least Vector personnel from being harmed, "All we need is the locus of that force field." Then will have to infiltrate the cause of the Song, the red head muses darkly.
"Affirmative. Setting transfer mass to 0.11 MPT. Transfer time set to 4.8 times ten to the negative thirty-eighth." The android slipps the red cartridge into the small grey gun, "Loading cartridge." Then the pistol sized gun transforms into one of the biggest gun's he'd ever seen, Vector sure is something, I need to get my hands on one of those...
"Bypass between D.S.S.S. and mainframe secured. Opening multidirectional scan." Confirms Miyuki, giving KOS-MOS the go ahead.
The tension rises in the silence as everyone in the room watches KOS-MOS silently survey the area. "Distortion detected a direction 8-0-1-8, near the U.M.N. structure. It is currently emitting a weak column pulse."
"That's it!" Shion affirms, always thorough she asks, "And your line of fire?"
"Line of fire, clear. Awaiting orders." Better make sure the Foundation's shields are up just in case anything goes askew with an aftershock or electro pulse.
As Jr turns to Shelley, someone beats him to the punch, "Shelley, are the anti-electromagnetic shields ready?" to Jr, authority looks good on Shion.
"Preparations are complete. You may fire at will." States the purple haired beauty.
"Roger." Nods Shion, "KOS-MOS, fire the phase transfer canon." Jr can feel goose bumps rise on his neck in anticipation of the shot and in response to the tension in Shion's voice. The blue pulse flies into space and disappears momentarily before it contacts something, and the station dubbed the Song of Nephilim appears against the dark landscape.
"I knew it..." Gaignun mutters darkly beside Jr, who can't help but place his hands on the console to keep himself steady.
"It's exactly the same..." the red head murmurs, "Nothing's changed at all." He is caught somewhere between disbelief and fear.
"So that's...the Song of Nephilim...Dr. Mizrahi...Miltia's..." Shion's voice is barely audible, but the shock in it has Jr wondering again what she'd been through herself on Miltia.
His thoughts are interrupted by a familiar, terrified voice—Help me...Jr...Her voice cuts to his core, he can feel her pain and desperation inside of it; he was failing her. "MOMO...MOMO's inside that thing!"
Then he feels the other presence, the one that he's been expecting yet was never prepared to feel again. Jr can't even hear what the people around him are saying, as pain erupts from the right side of his chest. It is him, the one with whom he had once been so close, a part of him that he had abandoned on Miltia. Despite the circumstance Jr can't fight the relief that accompanies the pain, his brother is alive; the one with whom he'd shared a body. That relief lasts only a moment before the rage and hatred sets in at what the other is doing, "Damn it! It's him...Albedo!" breathing is difficult as his throat constricts, "I felt his presence...the moment I heard MOMO's voice..."
"Ah...Albedo." Gaignun's voice is calm and collected, serving only to enrage the red head more, "That explains what that unsettling feeling was about. Not to mention why she's there."
"What do you mean?" the detached voice of Ziggy is distant in Jr's ears, barely audible above the angry blood pounding through his veins.
"That girl MOMO...not only is she a specialized Realian, but also the repository for the late Joachim Mizrahi's records. Albedo and the U-TIC Organization want that information. They've wanted it for a long time..." explains Gaignun emotionlessly, Jr had always envied that part of his little brother's personality.
"Albedo? Who's that?" Allen asks dumbfounded.
Staring at the floor, breathing Jr harnesses his composure, "My dark half...the part I've tried to hide away..." his eyes travel to the endless sea of stars outside of the bridge.
"Dark half?"
Ziggy interrupts the stagnant tension, "Jr...Get this ship closer to the Song of Nephilim." Straight to business as always, eliciting a shocked response from Shion's subordinate, "It isn't necessary to get too close. Just lend me a shuttle; that'll be enough."
The emotionless voice tears at Jr's self-control, how could he do it, remain calm when MOMO is in such danger, when that lunatic has his hands on her. Thinking of the pain in her voice his control shatters, he rushes in front of Ziggy before the man can take the elevator down. "Hold it! Where do you think you're going?" he needs to confront Albedo himself, he can't jsut let the cyborg go, "I'm going to save MOMO...No matter what!" the rage within him burns all the way down to his finger tips against the other man's chest.
"Don't bother." is the only reply.
The lump of anger rises in Jr's chest, "What did you say?" his eyes narrow darkly and his jaw tightens into a clench.
The man remains un-phased, "When someone close to you is in danger, you lose your objectivity." The words grate against Jr's ears, "And it almost always ends in tragedy. I've..." in the pause Jr almost sees emotions flicker in the other's cold, blue eyes, "seen it happen too often."
From the corner of his eye Jr sees Shion approaching from the fore of the ship but he can't stop the words from spilling out, "Oh, what, so I'm just like them now?" deep down he is so much more than just human, but once the words are out he realizes the mistake.
"Aren't you?" the cool regard in Ziggy's eyes is degrading, but thankfully he drops it, "This Albedo person...When you finally confront him, do you think you can keep your head straight?" the words cut deep, because Jr knows he couldn't possibly say yes truthfully, and he drops his eyes in shame, "If you can honestly say yes, that's all I have to say. But if you can't..."
The words hang in the tense air, forcing out Jr's anger once more, "You're really something, you know that?" this cyborg knows nothing about the things that Jr has been through in his life, no one does, "You think you're such a hardened soldier compared to me. Tell me then...how can I become a cold and detached like you?"
Jr hates that the other man doesn't even hesitate, "Only allow yourself to think of numbers and battle strategy. Don't let your mind wander to the faces or voices of those precious to you..." he pauses letting the words impact all those listening, "even when it seems cruel not to. Too intense of an interference will overwhelm and ruin everything. That's what I've learned over the past hundred years."
Suddenly at his words, Jr feels his anger dissipate into sympathy for his depressing stance on life, it is hard to ever imagine this man leading a human life; "The day numbers and battle strategies replace people...it'll be game over, cyborg."
"Jr..." the red head glances coldly over his shoulder; his eyes catch the pained look in Shion's as the cyborg speaks, "Remember to stay focused, no matter what he does to MOMO. Only by doing so will you be able to save her. Listen to my advice." Jr is about to scoff, "I know what you're going through." But the sincerity in the other man's comment strikes a chord in Jr, and he remains silent as he faces the wall, not wanting anyone to see the pain in his eyes, and rides down the elevator.