"I get the feeling you're making fun of me right now." Koko commented as she stared up at the looming hull of the Nightfall still firmly on the ground and so close to completion that Valentine didn't even need to be present at the shipyard anymore. Unbeknownst to Koko and her team was that Valentine made it a point to showcase a small... teaser to the entire work crew - over 700 people in all - of the consequences for the security breach by the Syndicate, and that any more delays would result in more than just that gruesome teaser.
"Why would I do that?" Valentine replied with a smirk.
"Well that big sidearm of yours looks a lot like the Smart Pistol from Titanfall, for starters." Koko indicated Valentine's Auto-Wing on his leg, which also went with his own T-15 variant, the barest minimum components and next to no armour plating. It was even less substantial than Sheva's T-15a2 Pilot model.
"It inspired the design, yes." Valentine chuckled as they all turned towards the access elevator that lead to a bridge to the deck of the ship above them. "And my T-15 here has certain pieces inspired by the game as well."
"I'm still waiting for the punchline." Koko teased as they gathered in the elevator and went to the top, during which Valentine held his tongue with a cheeky little smile tugging at his lips. The doors opened and Koko groaned in amusement.
"You even made yourself your own BT-7274!"
"Not exactly, Miss Heckmatyar. I am Cherub Class BSAA-NF01, otherwise known as Rico. I assure you, I know about the Titan you speak of and the design similarities that we share." Rico's head and optical sensors were focused on them as they crossed the short bridge to stand on the deck proper. "Greetings, and welcome aboard the Nightfall."
"I can't imagine what the view would be like once we're in the air, even from here it's impressive." Lehm commented with an impressed expression at the ship's main deck armaments, especially the menacing railgun turrets, four mounts with three guns each, that loomed even over Rico's head. He did recall that there were seven mounts in total, and something like eighteen railguns themselves. Where were the other six guns?
"Oh believe me, it'll be quite impressive." Valentine chuckled. "Rico, my hoverboard please."
"Yes sir." Rico opened his armour plating and the underlying cockpit as he reached up to retrieve the board that had been temporarily stored on the seat tucked inside the mass of controls and holographic displays.
"Yup, definitely cooler in person." Koko laughed after witnessing the cockpit hatch close before being protected by the mass of armoured plating around it. "How tall are you, Rico?"
"38 feet, 7 inches, ma'am."
"And how big do you think BT is?" Valentine asked, since even he didn't know the exact number for the Titan's height in the game.
"By evaluating the footage of the game, I estimate that BT-7274 stands around twenty five feet in height."
"So you're a lot bigger, for sure." Koko laughed. "So, Valentine, shall we continue with the tour of the ship?"
"See you in the hangar bay, Rico." Valentine gave a nod and a wave to the mech as he rose a few feet into the air with his hoverboard. "Right this way, Koko."
"Pardon me, Mr. Darkwood, is Rachael home?" Zenith asked as he looked up to find Tobias' staggering frame in the doorway of the family's front door.
"And you are?" Tobias was rightfully suspicious at the new teenager, let alone the fact he was asking for Rachael by name.
"My name is Zenith, I've met your daughters a few times, and well... to be blunt... Rachael admitted to having romantic feelings towards me when I visited the bar with my roommates, who made things much too awkward for both of us. I came with the intention to speak with her about the possibility of going on a date before classes begin on Monday."
"Hmmm... I see." Tobias stared at the teenager carefully, noting his facial features intently. "Step inside, she's on her way."
"Thank you, sir." Zenith bowed his head in respect as the large man stepped aside to reveal Rachael halfway down the stairs, both coming to a halt as they saw each other.
"Zenith...?" Rachael's cheek went red as she recalled Yuuki's comment about him coming back to see her by himself.
"I was wondering if you'd like to go on a date with me before classes begin." Zenith didn't even need to glance at Tobias beside him to know that asymmetrical gaze was studying him intensely.
"I uh..." Rachael blinked all of her eyes for a moment, thinking fast. "If you've got time, we could go grab a coffee right now."
Tobias smirked behind Zenith's back as he caught the sound of Yuuki's low chuckling from upstairs. Of course, this was her doing.
"I'd love to." Zenith's precious little smile appeared, and Rachael blushed even more at the sight of it. "I'll wait here, whenever you're ready."
"I'll be right back. Please don't scare him, Dad." Rachael shot her smirking father a glare as she hurried back to her room.
In a surprising twist, Tobias spoke to Zenith in a low voice in fairly fluent German. "Are you the original or the clone?"
"With all due respect, Mr. Darkwood, I'd like to earn your daughter's trust first." Zenith replied in - much better - German as well. "But, to answer your question... I am the clone of Zenith Wesker, the only son of Albert and Alex Wesker."
The sound of Yuuki's laughter from upstairs caught their attention, just as Rachael came out of their room with blazing scarlet cheeks from her twin's onslaught of teasing.
"Back in a bit, please slap her when you get a chance." Rachael spoke to her father as her heeled boots clicked across the hardwood flooring to approach Zenith.
"I heard her. She's not wrong, Rachael. I'd have said the same thing." Tobias chuckled again before adding. "See you when you get back."
The pair left the house and hopped into Zenith's awaiting Audi, which was a slight surprise to Rachael after remembering his white Triumph motorcycle.
"I thought you rode a Triumph...?" Rachael sat beside him as he turned the engine over and put on his seatbelt, and she did the same after a moment of confusion. Bikes didn't have them, and she felt like an idiot.
"I have two vehicles, this and my bike." Zenith smiled as he carefully backed out of the driveway and headed for the nearby coffee shop that he knew - from watching a few episodes of Darkwood's first season - the family typically went to. "And what about you? Just your bike?"
"Yeah, but me and Yuuki are setting money aside for a car. We're still deciding on a make and model."
"Sounds like a worthy plan." Zenith nodded slightly. "I um..." He paused for a moment. "I like you too, Rachael... I'm a bit new to relationships, believe it or not."
Rachael could feel her heart pounding at his confession to her. Yuuki didn't say shit about that curveball...
"Well, let's just... take things one step at a time, alright? No need to just blindly rush this, after all." Rachael kept herself focused on the conversation, knowing that it was still new for her as well. She might appear to be a nearly 18 year old girl, but she knew very well that she was actually only about 3 years old. She was 'born' at the age of 15.
"Absolutely." Zenith felt the same internal conflict she was unbeknownst to him having at the same time. He was a clone, and even though his original bore the same romantic feelings towards her that he did himself, his situation was much more complicated than it seemed.
He had to start their entire relationship... Which was the hard part, by default.