Genji felt a gentle resistance as he tried to pull away.
He looked down to find Hana with both arms around his left leg, locked in an embrace.
"You promised you won't go," she whispered.
Genji grew confused. He looked around and surveyed the dark living area where he laid her mother down on the couch, then down at the girl clinging onto him in the vestibule. "This is your home?"
She looked up confused, and nodded.
"And I have brought you back safely to it," he stated.
She nodded again, more hesitantly this time.
He stared at her. She returned it, either not understanding or choosing not to.
"Have I not fulfilled my promise?" he asked after a moment.
Slowly, the girl detached herself from him and stepped back. Still staring at him, tears started to well in her eyes.
What have I done?! thought Genji, absolutely bewildered. He frantically looked around, as if it would help, while Hana started to sob. He knelt down and came eye level with her. "Please, don't cry. What is the matter?"
"You said… You promised you won't go away."
Was that what he promised? The cyborg began to doubt his own memory. What did he say? He was sure he said something along the lines of bringing her home safe, but then why was she crying now?
Without knowing what else to do, Genji started patting her on the head. Confusion was something he was already very accustomed to, at least. "I'm very sorry Hana, but I really must go."
That wasn't the right thing to say. Hana shook harder in silent grief. The cyborg felt deep regret as he watched her, but he really couldn't stay.
"I won't ever see you again, will I?" she finally said, having calmed down some.
"Would you want to?"
"Yes," she replied, rubbing her eye.
Genji shook his head. "I do not understand."
"Huh?"
"Why would you?"
"Why would…"
"You are afraid of me, are you not?"
Even though the words were said carefully and kindly, Hana immediately looked down in shame. Genji waited for a response.
"...was," she mumbled after a while to her feet. "I'm sorry." She looked up once more, eyes pleading. "Please stay?"
The cyborg regarded her for a moment, and shook his head. "I must go," he repeated, placing a hand on her head before she could protest. "But I will return, if you wish it."
"Yes," she said quickly before he could change his mind. Just as Genji began to stand, she tackled him around the neck in a hug. "Thank you."
Caught by surprise, Genji hesitated before returning the embrace. "You're very welcome. We will see each other soon."
He waited for her to let go. She didn't. Slowly disentangling himself, he stood up and opened the door. Moonlight shined off him as the sound of crickets and the night's chill flowed through it. Hana leaned against the doorframe, a hand on the door, as she watched him slowly disappear down the hill.
Having reached the foot of the hill, Genji heard an odd buzz which sounded like it originated from his person. His heart jumped. The image of a large wasp of a glossy carapace of yellow and black came into his thoughts which sent his body into a wave of frenzied spasms before he remembered his body was encased in airtight armor.
Genji eventually discovered that the repaired black cube vibrating against him was causing the noise, and quickly glanced about in embarrassment. Fortunately, there was no one else on the street to witness his less than dignified episode. The cyborg pulled it out, watching the little thing shifting itself about his palm as it vibrated, a blue band of light streaking from its middle. It blinked in rhythm to the vibrations.
It was at this moment Genji realized he had no clue how the communicator worked. There didn't seem to be any physical buttons about the device, the entire thing being brushed in a matte black except for the section of blinking blue light. He turned it around in his hands. He shook it and tried to gently twist the section above the line of light, before stopping when it didn't give, remembering its fragility. At a complete loss, he brought it up and knocked it against his faceplate several times. Still vibrating.
"What…" he muttered to himself.
"What…" a synthetic reproduction of his voice said back to him. Genji held the device away from him at arm's length. He felt a sudden strong urge to throw it. Didn't matter where, just away from him. Would it grow legs too? A different voice came through this time, an unfamiliar female monotone. "Initiating voice protocol for: subject zero, zero, two. Access authorized. Coordinates confirmed and logged. Connecting transmission."
The blue illumination disappeared from the device as the vibrating ceased. A small segment from the top collapsed inwards, and light shot from there instead. For a second, the light beamed out into the night before focusing into itself, solidifying, and coalescing into a very familiar figure.
"Doctor Ziegler?" Genji asked in disbelief.
"We finally speak again, Genji," she said. Her voice sounded tiny coming from the device. The doctor looked haggard. She stood with hands in the pockets of her crumpled white coat, dark shadows hanging beneath half-lidded eyes. Despite this, she smiled fondly. "How have you been?"
"I've been well," he lied, continuing his walk. "And you?"
"I'm good too," she replied. "Just been going over some paperwork to prepare for my arrival in Nepal. Got to make sure I transition into Yellowstone hospital without a hitch, after all."
"You lie," stated the cyborg flatly. "You are not good. You look like you can barely stand, Doctor Ziegler."
"Angela. You did too," she pointed out.
"How—"
"Jack filled me in when you reached Korea." Her face softened. She looked so tired. "How are you, really?"
"Worried, now. Doc—Angela, it brings me unease to see you caring for all besides yourself."
Her eyes brightened as her face lit up in a big smile. It was difficult to see through the fuzzy details of the blue hologram, but did her cheeks darken in color?
"Genji?"
"Yes?"
"Can you say that again, please?"
"I said I brings me unease that you care for everyone but your—"
"No," she interrupted. "Before that."
Genji paused. "I'm… worried?" he tried.
"After that." She was growing impatient now.
The cyborg reached up and scratched his helmet. "Angela?"
She giggled, not saying anything.
"What is it?"
"Nothing," she said, collecting herself. "That's the first time you said my first name, isn't it?"
He took a moment to think. "No," he started, "I don't believe so."
"Are you sure?" she responded, skeptical. "I'm sure I would have remembered it."
"It was last night" — Was it really just last night? he thought, it already feels like so long ago — "You were barely conscious as I brought you to your room to rest."
She was fidgeting uncomfortably with a lock of her hair. "You brought me to my room?"
"Of course."
"So to do that… you had to carry me."
"Naturally. How did you think you would wake up in your bed, and not on the shore?"
"I suppose I didn't give it any thought." Her head was bowed now, and Genji couldn't see her eyes. He tried to duck down while keeping the communicator higher, but it clearly didn't work that way. Seeing the same image despite adjusting his perspective, he might as well had been trying it on a screen.
"Are you… embarrassed?" he asked curiously.
"Well, yes. Especially since I have no memory of it," she admitted.
"I do not see why you should be. It's the second time I've—"
"Second?!" She looked up.
Genji leaned back at the sudden outburst. "I suppose you wouldn't remember—"
"When?" Her voice was of a considerably higher pitch.
"When I first awoke after you saved my life, doctor," he answered, "you collapsed from exhaustion, and I caught you before you reached the ground, and carried you to your room."
"I should start research on sustained stimulation on cognitive faculties," she mused thoughtfully. "It would reduce the number of bruises and pains I occasionally wake up to at the very least, if I can stay awake longer. And caffeine only helps so much."
"Or you can simply sleep," Genji said softly.
She waved him off. "I get enough."
"You black out from exhaustion—"
"I don't have the time!"
"Time you are spending talking to me now," he pointed out.
"That's because you're important to me," she said without missing a beat. "And it's crucial I have an update of your physical and emotional well being. So, how are you?"
Genji stopped walking and coolly maintained his attention to the hologram. He did not respond.
"All right, fine. I'll head off to bed after this," she said, giving in.
The cyborg remained unwavered.
"And I promise to get some more sleep," she muttered after a moment.
Relaxing, Genji continued onto the docks. "Really, I'm fine. Though I've felt much hostility since my arrival, I do not feel as lost as I had before. I think I understand."
"Understand?"
"Yes. How people can feel, and what drives them to act and behave as they do." He hesitated. "But I cannot help but wonder, what and where am I? What part am I supposed to play in this world I have forgotten? What is my role?"
"Rediscovery," she whispered.
"What was that?"
Her eyes looked soft and incredibly fragile, and very far away. "It must be scary, braving a world you don't understand. Seeing so much, yet recognizing so little." She raised her eyes and looked at him. "I am ashamed I have done so little to alleviate your pain, despite saving your life." Just as Genji was about to interrupt, she raised a hand to stop him. "Listen to me, Genji. You must trust yourself. Even if you feel trapped within the confines of your mind, don't hide in it. See, and learn. Watch the world around you. You will find out the person you was, then you will understand who you're supposed to be."
"How can I possibly trust myself with where I've come from? A member of a family whose lives are dedicated to crime?" he inquired thoughtfully, after a moment.
"Because I trust you," she put simply. "I believe in you, now you must believe in yourself."
"I wish I shared the same optimism."
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course," he said immediately.
Angela smiled. "Then that should be enough."
So easy. Genji sighed. He knew nothing about himself, and at times he wasn't even sure how he was supposed to act and respond to others, like he was an actor to a play he was thrusted into during its last moments, fumbling over lines he'd barely read. He nodded.
"I wish you were here," she said. "You and Lena both. I've gotten too used to having you around. Winston feels the same way too, I'm sure."
Genji smiled. "Likewise, I hope we can see each other soon—"
"No! Brandon!" the doctor shouted, looking off to the side. "Stop that, it's filthy in there. I'm sorry Genji, but can we leave it off here for now? I'll call you back soon."
"Get some rest, doctor."
"I already promised, haven't I?" she reminded, before ending the transmission.
Looking up, Genji saw he was back at the docks, with the large steel ship slowly rising and falling in the darkness, barely illuminated by dim streetlamps which lined the concrete. He wondered what time it was. With a start, a small window appeared at the edge of his vision, informing him that it was indeed a few minutes past midnight. Really, I should learn to expect these things by now, he thought, as he returned to the ship shrouded by a moonless sky.
The morning that followed didn't really seem to agree with the cyborg. Startled by the morning alarm, he bumped into a metal post of his bunkbed, causing it to warp and collapse under the weight of the recruit sleeping above him. He fell and tumbled abruptly onto the ground.
"I'm so sorry," the cyborg said, raising his voice to be heard over the bells. He moved out of his bed and helped the man to his feet. "Are you alright?"
"Just fine," he gasped, attempting at a smile through his grimace of pain. It wasn't entirely convincing, especially since he was hunched over clutching his hip. "Don't worry about me." He looked up, eyes widening. "Hey, you're the one everyone's been talking—"
"Ten, hut!"
The bells stopped. Men sluggishly peeling themselves from beds immediately scrambled up and drew themselves up to full height beside their beds, the rustling of fabric occupying the silence that ensued as more of the soldiers in barracks three realized that the lieutenant was standing at the door. The man who fell from the bed quickly fell in in front of Genji.
Lieutenant Sobel looked from to broken bed to the cyborg briefly, and didn't press the issue. He glanced to his left. "Kyles, what time is it?"
"It is eight-fifty in the morning, sir!" Private Kyles barked, eyes forward.
"Private Kyles, ask me when you lot are expected at shooting range one."
"When are we expected at the shooting range, sir!"
"Five minutes ago," he said curtly, turning from the door. "Move it, grunts!"
"Sir, what about breakfast?" came a voice from behind Genji, loud and clear.
A few people groaned as the lieutenant slowly turned back into the room. His face was entirely devoid of emotion, or so it seemed. "Who said that?"
"That was me, sir. Right here."
"Come forward."
The recruit stepped up to him. He seemed so much smaller being before the broad lieutenant with hands folded behind his back.
"What's your name?"
"Paves. Richard Paves, sir."
Sobel smiled coldly. "Well, Paves Richard Paves, hungry, are we? Would you like some breakfast?"
"Well, sir… I, uh—"
His hideous smile quickly faded. "A straight answer. Now."
"Yes, sir," he said meekly.
Pin-dropping silence as the lieutenant regarded him. Genji couldn't even hear anyone breathing. After a too long, extremely tense moment, the lieutenant raised a hand. Richard Paves flinched, preparing for the blow.
"You, and you," he called, pointing to two men near the back of the room. "Come forward."
They came forward.
"Both of you are to retrieve a single table and chair from the cafeteria, and collect a serving of breakfast which you will then serve to Paves Richard Paves in this room. You will then ensure that he has properly eaten and had his fill. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," they said in unison.
"Would anyone else like some breakfast?" He turned his gaze to the room. Some men stood up straighter. None uttered a word. "Dismissed," he said to the two recruits, waving them off. They ran from the room.
"As for you, Paves Richard Paves, you will remain in this room until you have finished your breakfast, with not one crumb remaining. I tremble in worry at the thought of you collapsing in training due to hunger, so understand that it is from my deep concern for you that I forbid you from leaving this room until you have done so, or your bunk-mates will suffer the consequence for neglecting your well-being."
Private Paves gulped audibly.
"The rest of you, shooting range—now." He left through the corridor.
Everyone released a breath they had been holding and hastily shrugged on their fatigues, all morning fatigue expelled. Nobody looked at Private Paves as they filed out of the room, except for a certain cyborg, who saw the private's body locked up with cheeks crimson, hiding his eyes with head bowed. From anger or shame, Genji couldn't tell, as he followed the rest to shooting range one.
Author's Notes:
Time really flies, doesn't it? It feels like just yesterday when I stepped into the office for the first time, eager to prove myself and appropriately nervous, and now I find myself eagerly awaiting the end of my internship, which would be this Friday. But it doesn't end there, I'm afraid. Straight back to school to deal with a great deal more work is in store for me after the weekend, but every moment of inactivity or irrelevance will be spent thinking of this story, and looking for inspiration and the like, which is to say, in my classes.
Thank you all so much for patience waiting for this chapter, and stay tuned for the next one. PEACE.
Oh, and for those who would like to see more coverage on other characters other than Genji, it really remains to be seen even from me if it'll come. Sorry! The story kinda goes off on its own, I just set the stones to direct it to major checkpoints.