It was the end of the day, and most people were out to enjoy the last rays of sunshine before the cold night covered them.
'Hmm... there's more reploids out today.' Phantom observed from his vantage point through a tiny telescope. 'Good, things are starting to stabilize.' He smiled, knowing that no one could see him... but he could see them.
Then he moved his sight to what was truly of interest- X and Draupadi Zero walking through the streets, stopping at stores and enjoying their time as a lover and beloved.
Master X could almost pass for a human with his casual clothes. He was stunning and glowing with love each time he saw his wife. Sometimes letting her drag him to a particular venue, other time dragging her to an antique store.
As for Draupadi...
Phantom never knew a woman could look so beautiful in a long panel skirt with printed design, it was a dusty blue and pink and hid Draupadi's delightful feet, giving the Shinobi peaks as they emerged from its hem like water dripping from a roof.
She wore the world's most simple flip-flops, the type that wouldn't go in between the toes since...
Draupadi didn't have them... her feet evoked the form of said appendages covered with thick, black and white sock...
She had even put some chains with bells at her ankles... their sound sweet. Enchanting Phantom's mind every time the Queen of Neo-Arcadia took a step.
He had memorized them this morning as she passed by him, glided, really, on her way out of Leviathan's room, being led by the blue guardian to her new office.
Draupadi and X moved to another store, this one selling flowers and other things Phantom didn't really care about. And as she looked at a flower basket, her skirt shifted to reveal the sole of her right foot stretching taut.
He zoomed in...
Yes, He was a creep right now. Yes... He really should stop voyeurism Draupadi's delightful feet and focus on providing air security since Harpuia had been demoted to a janitorial role until he learned how to behave around X's wife.
He really should...
He. really...
'Hmm... her arch is stiff, delightful but... painful. How did she manage to run through the desert with them?' Phantom wondered in the privacy of his mind. "I think I have to tools and resources needed to upgrade her feet... and fix whatever's been damaged and overworked. I wonder, are they hard or soft? is the covering like a sock? or is it part of her synth skin?' He sighed. "Oh, They must be... I'll get to hold them...No, Phantom. Focus!' The Shinobi scolded himself as he tried to move his mind at a location were it was truly needed.
And not a moment too soon, for a pair of unknown were approaching the couple.
Phantom tensed, it could be anything like it could be nothing.
The pair of unknown talked the divine couple, X smile became a bit stiff and Draupadi... remained sweet and serene as always.
Phantom moved to another angle, were he could get a better view of their face.
It was a human woman, her skin unnaturally pale that seemed to have walked out of a victorian era portrait, complete with a black lace umbrella, a long, black gown that reached her feet, dark gloves covered her arms up to her elbows and a bonnet. She held a leach, and on the end of the leach was a...
A rat of uncommon size?
No... upon closer inspection, it seemed that the creature was a cat with absolutely no hair, a Genetic mutation, certainly.
Beside the woman was a blond and... highly stylish reploid. He wore a light pink shirt, cream dress pants. And high heels. He was speaking to X animatedly as his... handler and Draupadi awkwardly stood staring at one another.
The Queen of Neo-Arcadia stooped (showing her perfect heel and absolutely mind-blowing curve of her divine toes.)as she reached out her hand to the leached cat. Letting the abnormal beast sniffed her hand. She spoke to the beast, reciting the mantra to it with a bright and compassionate smile.
It... was hard not to fall in love with her.
After a few whiffs, the cat began to affectionately rub it's... his head against Draupadi's hands, and their queen affectionate gave back the affection tenfold.
She raised her head; the woman was probably talking to her. Whatever she was saying must have pleased Draupadi, for the queen ox X's heart beamed as she got up, the cat nestled in her arms like a baby.
Eventually, both conversations merged, and the two couples continued their sojourn through the city... seemingly without rhymes or reason.
It was... so mundane.
And X was glowing with happiness. A Happiness and seemingly unlimited love that shamelessly flooded the stone-hearted Shinobi, its heat melting his core with its supreme intensity.
Phantom moved to another location, following the aimless progress of the couple... and taking note of whatever disparity had to be fixed and whatever political injustice reared its ugly head.
Master X was only the acting head, but Phantom had been chosen to lead Neo-Arcadia to a bright future.
A future lit by a light called Draupadi Devi Dasi.
Back on ground level.
"Ugh, I can't believe you want to buy Draupadi some dusty old relics," Leviathan complained as she carefully walked around the old chairs and wardrobe that filed the stuffy shop. "Can't we, like... get her something new, shiny and not dusty?"
Fefnir vented out of his nose, they had not even started to look for the perfect home decor for the lovely Draupadi that his Sister was whining about the dust of the place.
"I know where you want to go, Lebi... and we will get there soon." He assured the water-based copy with thinning patience.
"But not before I get caked with dust again... Oh, eww... I can feel a film forming as we speak!" She rubbed her arms and shoulder, As she screwed her face in disgust. "Oh, God! Is that?... yuk! It's a stuffed bird! Oh god, I want a shower; I need a shower!"
Fefnir sighed as he lifted his eyes to the sky, Praying to Draupadi's God for strength and patience.
"I wanna leave this place~" Leviathan's whining finally got to Fefnir.
"Then just leave!" He angrily hissed. "You're the one who wanted to follow me; you're the one who wanted to help me shop. We would already be done if you would stop whining and start looking for the stuff for Draupadi's room and not for your overinflated wardrobe!"
"My wardrobes are not overinflated." Leviathan denied as she pouted, crossing her arms under her breast. "There was just this sale over at my favourite store and... Oh, I haven't gone out shopping for four years." She leered at her brother. "Do you know how last season everything is?"
"Levi, it's just clothing...we don't even need clothing." Fefnir once again hissed as he did his best to keep his tone down as not to disturb the store owner.
Well, that was not quite true, but they didn't need that much clothing! Especially if it would only be worn a few times before being forgotten in the back of yet another closet!
Speaking of which, his sister unit was wearing an ocean blue... a short type on one piece with plenty of beach-inspired baubles.
Sure, she was the water-based general... but she didn't need to overly advertise herself.
"Lev... I just don't get your infatuation with clothing..."
"That's because you're a man." Leviathan shot back.
"No... Leviathan, none of us have a conventional gender." Fefnir reminded 'her.'
"Well, I have chosen to be a girly girl and embrace my feminine nature!" She triumphantly huffed as she struck a pose.
[Good for you... but is Draupadi into girls?] Fefnir pointedly asked over the air; this was not something that should be spoken in public... let alone an antic boutique.
[... what may you think I made a pass at her?] Leviathan asked a bit too... deniable?
[Lebi... Do you think I didn't see the mark on her neck and how you held her waist?] Fefnir shot back as he moved to a rack filled with hummingbirds made of tiny glass beads. This was... both kitschy and yet held quite a level of craftsmanship. 'yeah... I need more thing to put in the window.' like those blown glass orbs... and he had plenty of spider plants that would kill it in ancient-style pots and fish bowls.
Yes, so they had gotten their queen... X's Queen, really, a nice room at the base of the tower. She had a balcony, a small garden on the said balcony and a decent-sized room filled with the streaming sunlight.
It used to belong to this Hell-bat guy... He hated sunlight.
Oh well, Fefnir was certain his Draupadi would appreciate the room better then the previous tenant. They just needed to fill it up with plenty of stuff to make it as cozy and homey as possible.
And Fefnir would have been done in record time... if not for Leviathan's insistence that they stop at each and every accessory store and posh cloth boutiques on the way.
...
[Oh, and you didn't take advantage of her?] Leviathan went on the offensive. [ I have no idea where you two were, but you were so loud, even I could hear it in my pool.] The water general went to sit in an antique chair. [So... was it satisfying?] She smirked as she casually sat in something that probably should belong in a private collection or something.
Fefnir didn't give Leviathan the pleasure of his answer, for he was still deep in thought about what his... the holder of his heart had told him.
Whatever she did was for X's pleasure... And her Guru's satisfaction.
Draupadi was willing to sacrifice everything for X's dream, even her own chastity and pleasure.
Yes, she had fought Fefnir at the height of her power, only holding back enough so that he survived the greatest spar of his life, and what a fight it was!
No matter what fender did or what weapon would break, Draupadi would still keep fighting.
Her sword got stuck in the ceiling? she used her triple rod when that got broken, she switched to her buster, what that overheated (it was a piece of junk, it had it coming.) she used her boomerang shield. And when that got sparked. Draupadi switched to brawler mode.
And she was a frigging tease, blatantly giving Fefnir many delightful openings, showing her back and that smirk!
And those feet crushing him to the ground.
'Yeah... it was satisfying.' What to say of the after-care?
Draupadi-Zero's frame fitted perfectly in Fefnir's arms. Of course, he wouldn't mind if the maverick queen to be a few inches taller. But he was still happy with what he got.
She was perfect on his lap... and her lips were perfect.
Fefnir moved to another section of the store... Draupadi was perfect; she was everything Fefnir wanted... including her dedication to Master X.
And then there was her spiritual side, the one she would show the most when given the chance.
Just give her an opening, and Draupadi-Zero would talk for hours about Krishna. Her God, and it was clear she took more pleasure in chanting this Hare-Krishna code then letting loose on Fefnir.
It was admittedly weird... But this just gave the red ripper that much more charm.
And it made fefnir realized that she was more then just a pretty face with a beefed-up war-grade computer.
She was... no, not special. she was beyond special.
she was the answer to everyone's prayer; this he knew.
[Yoo-hoo? Fefnir?] Leviathan called as she tried yet another couch, this one much bigger and fluffier then the last. [So? Did she fulfilled this kink of yours?] His sister purred as he flopped on the opulent couch.
[yes, she did.] The fire-fighter admitted with gritted teeth as he moved to another part of the store. [And this is why we have to love and protect her like the God-send she is.]
There was heavy radio silence after this weighty declaration.
Sure, He will take what Draupadi would give him... but he would not push for more Fefnri knew she didn;t like it.
Draupadi was his Bae, no a precious jewel belonging to another that had fallen in his pocket. And he would make sure this diamond would not shatter from stress.
He ow it to X... He owed it to her.
[Wow, Ok... hum, I know she knows how to make my filament dance but... Geez, Fefnir, should I go male to have the amount of attention she gave you?]
Fefnir stared at his sister and sneered, not even bothering the sound of sheer disgust that escaped his lips. He left his sister to the lounge of the ancient couch, something that really should be moved into a museum and went to the store's toy section.
The fire general moved through the cluttered aisle, looking at the ancient and not-so-old dolls that creepily filled the place. There was just something extremely unsettling about those lifeless human forms... especially the baby-shaped one.
[hey, just... Um...] Leviathan once again reached out to her brother. and fefnir sighed as he closed his eyes.]
[Listen, Levi, Draupadi doing us a major Favour by letting us play with her. And this means, don't abuse of her Generosity Levi, Draupadi's heart belongs to X, and she's only tolerating us because she can't kill us... and she has nowhere to go.] Fefnir knew that X would follow wherever the best of wife would go... and wherever X would go...
Draupadi-Zero was stuck between a rock and a hard place... she was with the love of her life, and yet this love had to be shared between all of them.
They could not be with her... and yet could not be without her.
And the poor damsels had to juggle with all of them while still finding time for her spiritual practice.
A practise that, if the old reploid had told them, required abstinence from all forms illicit of Sex.
And Draupadi was ... she was willing to break that if it meant that no fight would break out between the Guardians over her and that X would not fall into depression and madness again because his brothers and sister were fighting over the literal Golden apple of Ultimate love and knowledge.
Well, it worked, and X seemed to be floating on a cloud, but reviewing what he remembered feeling from master X and what Draupadi had informed him... about how Doctore light had linked their emotional circuit with X's own in a two-way nightmare relay...
Yeah, Fefnir had to watch how he felt and make sure he was happy... for X and Draupadi's sake.
Maybe even the world.
He reached the section where everything was bright and colourful, something that resembled some sort of exotic place he had only seen in books. He walked around until his eyes caught a specific display with a very ratty trio.
'hey... huh... Krishna?' Fefnir began as he stood in front of a trio of supper old wooden dolls, one that used to be black, one that used to be yellow and one that was black... its round eyes splotched and Gray.
The thing seemed to be staring at him expectantly.
It was a weird place for I'm to pray, admittedly. But with how helpless he felt, Fenfir felt that this was the best thing he could do at the moment.
'So... Draupadi's apparently yours... but... I really, really love her, we all do and... I'm scared for her.' He addressed the Lord for the first time since his activation.
'She's willing to do everything in her power to stop any wars... and if this means she has to... cheat on X, who would cut his own powerlines for her, well, she's already doing that. And the worst part is...
I like it... I've never felt any better with her, it's like... it's like she's hope, and she's my life. And She's X's life too.'
"I don't know... I don't know how master X managed to live without her for so long; I don't think I would've been able to last so long as he did.' Fefnir moved closer to the three idols, feeling as if they were listening to him.
It was... not as creepy as he thought, to be honest.
'What I'm trying to say is... I... I don't want anything bad to happen to her. I want to protect her, but...'
'We all want a piece of her Lord; I got mine and... yeah, I wouldn't mind more if, given a chance, I'm like that but... But I swear I will treat your envoy like the queen she is... I will threaten her right, even if it means to destroy my other siblings and to turn my back to X and Neo-Arcadia...'
'Not that I would tough since... the Last thing Draupadi want's is more wars... and I don't blame her... were all tired of this shit.' Fefnir sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, feeling quite naked in front of those idols...
'Anyway... Krishna... Please help your Draupadi out... don't let a war happen. Don't... X's heart's been broken so often and... and if you have to get rid of the four of us for that...'
He keeled in front of the Idols and folded his palms... it felt like the right thing to do.
'Oh, God... Please, do as you will. Help us all...'
A few moments passed as Fefnir prayed; he had no idea who those idols were... but he had the distinct feeling his prayer had been heard.
Either that, or he was a bit too optimistic about this whole 'Gods a person, and he will listen to you' Shtick Draupadi was into.
Nevertheless, the firefighter felt more at peace with the universe now...
He got up from the floor, his gaze never leaving the wooden trio.
'Huh... those sorta look indien.' The firefighter noticed... picking up the smaller one.
It's... her old silk dress was dark brown and falling apart. All the pearl and beads were gone, leaving her in tattered clothes.
Same with the other two.
"Man, you look like you could use so TLC." He addressed the yellow one, her paint flaking off in different places... just like her brothers. "You too."
The fancy idols did not spoke back to him, but their grimy and faded eyes ruefully stared back at Fefnir...
They resembled some of those animals at the no-kill shelter, desperately wanting love and affection.
Personally, Fefnir would absolutely love to bring them all back to their former glories, but those three were not abused orchids but dolls.
He gently took the trio; he knew someone who had the ability and the love required to fix them. He made his way to the cashier, a reploid...
A happy reploid.
Besides the cashier was Leviathan, she was giving the man the pass-code for the loading dock. "... and I better not see any of my purchases damage, is that clear?"
"yes, Ma'am, Absolutely." The clerk happily said as he calculated the total of Leviathan's purchase.
Fefnir's eyes almost popped out of his orbits. 'The hell? Did leviathan bought the entire store?' She was known as a money drain by the treasurer... but that was...
Those were dusty old relics, not fancy new clothes.
Noticing Fefnir staring at her and the foraminous bill, Leviathan turned to him, his hand to her hip. "Well, I don't know about you, but I want to make my room as Di-Zi friendly as possible.' [Since she's a frequent visitor and all that.]
[Don't take more then what she's willing to give.] Fefnir warned.
[I'll take what she'll give me... she does owe me for letting her in, you know. And delivering those love messages to X.]
Fefnir vented out, once again sending a prayer to Draupadi's god.
"Oh? What are those things?" Leviathan asked as her nose wrinkled in disgust. "I hope it's not a gift for Di-Zi; she deserves, like, so much better then that."
"Don't worry, Levi, it's for phantom's doll collection, you know how he likes to fix then, right?" Fefnir gently corrected his sister.
Levy fondly rolled her eyes. "yeah... As long as it's not another barbie."
"Oh god, those things are nasty." Fefnir readily agreed as he walked up to the cashier, uploading the numbers of his purchases.
Once he put everything on Neo-Arcadia's tab, the siblings walked out of the store, the dolls secure in a specialized basket.
"Don't tell me you're going to carry them with you?" Leviathan asked. "We still have five more stores to hit, you know."
"Leb, those are made out of wood; I lift heavier for fun." He shot back.
"Alright, have it your way." Leviathan dramatically shrugged as she sashayed her way out of the store. "Next stop! The love nest store."
Fefnir moaned as he prayed to Draupadi's god for strength... it would be a long and tedious evening.
'At least I'm not with Harpuia.' The Fire guardien let out a shudder... He had now seen the true might of Master X's holy and rightful wrath.
Harpuia stood in the oily hallway of the reploid processing centre; the floor was covered in the carcass of the mechanical staff, dust and Zero's footprint.
Well... boot-prints... all over the place.
It smelled like mechanical death, and, now that the power had been turned off to prevent any more slaughter (X's words, not his.), it was too quiet for Harpuia's liking.
He felt watch, despite the lack of security... or maybe there was still some camera working.
And no... it was not from the expertly hidden 'friend' of X who had been tasked to keep an eye on him as if Harpuia would ever dare go against one of X order... despite being fully aware that his master's mind had been tampered with.
Nevertheless, the dark corridor and eery atmosphere, coupled with the reploid blood and mangled bodies, meant that the head of the brave sky was practically living in a Horror game.
He hated Horror games.
He hated this place...
He had to clean it... for his Glorious master had expressed the desire to turn this into a school... a Vedic/Montessori school.
This was Master X's punishment for Harpuia's insubordination toward... High Empress Draupadi Devi Dasi.
High Empress...
Harpuia sneered in disgust as he grabbed the dispo-bin and began picking up body parts, scanning whatever torso and heads were left for any survivor... and he better not leave them dead, for a certain doctor. Cinnamon would go over all of them...
And he better not 'Mercy' kill them... for doctor Cinnamon would know, and her invisible girlfriend would make his life hell if he did.
Harpuia had almost scoffed at the prosperous statement, now truly believing that his Master's psyches had now been truly lost at the claws of the black and red witch.
That was until he met madam Cinnamon and Marino, her wife and protector.
She had commented how pretty his wings look... and how that fault on his back was like a welcoming sign for a knife. She had then activated her cloaking device...
And then Marino had breath on Harpuia's neck... just to make a point.
For all he knew, the pink bitch was probably around here somewhere, hanging around in her eye-searing hot pink jumper as she loudly chewed bubble gum... just to annoy him.
X... Master X had downgraded him to be a mere janitor-bot, someone who cleaned dirty places because other wouldn't bother to learn how to use a broom and a mope...
Harpuia gritted his teeth again, wondering how much pressure they could take before they snapped.
To add insult to even more insults, Draupadi-Zero had taught the degraded general how to clean, and to manage his energy, and not to slip on spilled water, oil and whatever else he could encounter.
And it did this... with all the respect in the world. And truth be told, Harpuia had to admit that, for a legendary warrior, Zero knew many cleaning tips that had been lost to time, especially when it came to cleaning up after a disaster.
She had been 'kind,' 'respectful,' and...
'She was making fun of me... it's his fault I'm in this position!' He could not even keep his usual garb, wearing what a cleaning lady would.
Baggy pants, an apron, and a simple, long-sleeved shirt... and instead of his customary helmet, he wore a kerchief.
"So you don't get dirty... you just need to peel it off and throw it in... I'll wash it for you."
''I'll wash it for you.' Who the hell does it think it is? My wife?' Harpuia openly sneered as he took whatever body parts were left to the dispo-pile. He had yet to find any survivors, and this was just the first hallway of the first level.
He had to go into every room, every floor and sanitize everything.
Master X's orders... and Harpuia's punishment.
"Why do I have to be the only one punished?' He angrily wondered. 'Leviathan and Fefnir also got oil on their hands, and what about Phantom? He revelled in the hunt; he would personally kill them... and Leviathan's Muto, that ice buck, loved to torture and leave a mangled mess after his interrogations! How come they're not demoted!'
And thus, thirty minutes pass, an hour, then two. And despite the size of the task, Harpuia could not help but puff his chest at how spotless the corridor was and be... begrudgingly grateful for Draupadi's cleaning advice.
But it also gave the demoted general a clue as to what the witch was doing before being found by Cain.
She... of it used to be a cleaner-bot. Nothing more then a fancy appliance made to look pretty for her master.
'It should have stayed a cleaner-bot...' Harpuia grumbled venomously.
"You missed a spot." Came the lazy drawl of his hidden warden. Oh, Harpuia had already located the glitch, a shame that he had his blades confiscated and his power blocked.
But... the bitch in pink wasn't wrong; he really did miss an oily spot.
As he went to eliminate the stain, he noticed the security room... or the place where the security footage could be accessed.
Of course, it was under quite a few passwords, Biometric and biosynthetic lock... but maybe, just, maybe they didn't change it.
"Were are you going?" The veiled reploid asked on edge.
"Some oil went under the door; I have to clean it," Harpuia informed his warden as he checked if his passcodes were still viable.
The door opened, and he quickly walked in, re-locking it on his way out. Smirking as he finally got some peace from the unpleasant thief.
The server and security room were quiet, save for the humming of the machines and...
"Oh God's above... who the hell wired this place!" The Harpi-like general openly sneered at the spaghetti factory.
Apparently, he had not lied to Marino; he really had to clean this place up, it was a complete nightmare.
Thirty minutes later and a spotless server room not about to spontaneously combust, Harpuia finally sat in the old swivel chair in front of the security monitor.
He was... mentally tired, and he deserved a break. And what better then to see the good running of his facility.
Taking the monitor HDMI cord to his system and connecting his motion tracker to the main computer's USB port, Harpuia was quick to find the video files of the Killing centre.
He leaned back on the chair... trying to ignore this... annoying feeling that gnawed at him.
They were just machines; all feelings were produced by calculating possibility and selecting the proper reaction to outside stimulus. Nothing more... and if they had nothing better to do then just idly walk around, acting as if Neo-Arcadia was also their paradise, then they had another thing coming.
Harpuia was a useful tool, and thus, he would never have to face destruction, and if he would become useless, then he would ignore the self-preservation order and would end his own artificial life.
He wasn't sure about the other guardien tough, for they had proven to be easily corrupted to be too easily swayed. And Master X...
A thought came over Harpuia... if he was tasked to protect master X, but Master X was considered useless by the humans... would it mean that he would have to be... to be...
Harpuia shook his head; he was not made to think about the gradation of morality.
If humans considered the guardians a threat to their continued enjoyment and wanted th...
This is wrong... this is so wrong... Why would I sacrifice myself for...
'Nope... not going there.' Harpuia moved away from this topic, resolute not to let Whatever brainwashing X was suffering from taking away from his break... and mission.
He managed to find the last video file, the one that contained the legendary traitor's open vandalism and murder of his top officer.
The recording started normally; reploids were in the funnel, waiting to be decommissioned. Some were screaming; others were hysterically sobbing while others were awaiting death with some degree of decorum.
Something... a malaise overcame Harpuia. But the blond ignored it with ease.
'Zero must be corrupting Master X further... and this feeling is due to his natural defence kicking in.' Yes, that made sense.
Harpuia moved from channel to channel... from the holding cells, the interrogation room... the crusher.
He felt a revulsion that was not his, That could not be his... and moved away from the horrific scene.
Oh god... what have I done...
He shook his head at the intrusive thought.
This had been his orders; this was the facilities that had been given...
No... he had been the one to design the Maverick correctional facilities... it was merely correctional. Still, it was also known that one could not fix maverikism and thus, as per the wise council, it had been decided to simply destroy the aberrant units and replace them with pantheons because pantheons could not go out of lines since they were simple AI's...
Simple AI.
Not much different from him... Born from X...
Zero slaughtered them all... They killed them all...
They screamed... some of their mangled body stuck on the press... dripping red oil...
Harpuia grabbed the desk as he looked away at the gruesome sight...
Would he have been human, he would be retching.
He closed this video log; he had seen enough of this... enough of this. he chose another directory, this one hopefully less graphic.
But... going to previous logs, many of which were... somewhat deleted, Harpuia could see himself standing over the part-pit, looking over the mouth of the incinerator, sneering at whatever reploids had managed to survive the initial decommission.
His eyes were steel-cold, and a nasty smirk was at his lips.
'Is this... is this how I look? I look like a maverick..." He observed... was this... He wasn't a maverick!
He was just... scolding at the sight of the crushed reploid heading toward the incinerator, that's all...
Dead reploids could be taken for parts, but if mangled beyond hope, only a strong incinerator could get rid of the unneeded mater.
Still, so see himself smile at the scene...
It felt wrong...
Suddenly, Aztec Falcon entered the scene and began speaking to Harpuia.
The demoted general bit his lips as he felt tears gather in his eyes... Aztec had been more then just a mere Muto for him; he was a confident, a friend, someone he trusted implicitly with his life...
This was probably the last conversation he had with his friend before... the Red Queen ended his service life.
Oh, he was already repaired, but... The point still stood, Zero had destroyed his second in command with little to no regard to the absolute logistical nightmare it would cause... and the fact that she... they had ensnared X in such a way that his glorious master had ordered his newly rebuild tech department to reduce the once-proud commander to...
A horse.
X had apologized. Stating that, after his rail gun had malfunctioned. (Zero's fault.) his memory centre had been fried. Leaving the once highly intelligent muto no better then a dumb animal.
An animal that had taken a shine to Zero since, of course, the universe hated him now.
Out of Morbid curiosity, Harpuia moved the cursor to where Zero had breached in the disposal centre.
And there it was, running down the hall like a brainless maniac, cutting down oily swat from the mechanized personnel. Freeing whatever obsolete unit he could on the way.
Many of those would throw themselves to Zero, other would fall at his feet and more run after offering whatever they had on them that would help their saviour.
Zero's movements were fluid, assured and deadly, leaving no one behind, not even the cleaner bots.
Harpuia sat back... for how much he hated Zero, It was clear that he was more accustomed to the battle field then even he, it was like watching poetry in motion.
A jump followed by a roll and a boost off from a pantheon to reach a ledge that would otherwise be inaccessible. A jump, five buster shoot to a rolling shield's back, hopping across some more pantheon's with the triple rod... his hair flowing behind them as he practically flew trough the infrastructure like the devil out of hell...
His power was undeniable, and his skills. 'Oh, Zero, why didn't you join our side? Why did Ciel have to get her grubby hands on you.' He would have been perfect in his squadron, his... second in command.
He charged to a closer date... as much as he hated it, he had to see it.
He leaned further back, watching as Zero mercilessly slaughter Aztec Falcon on top of the press...
'Why were we using this setup again? Just some saltwater in the hard drive would have done it. Or even just a bit of sand.' and more cost-efficient also, since the Press used hydraulics to work... and it was, even to Harpuia, a horrific way to dispose of reploids.
He pressed his lips... No, this was... there was a rat somewhere, a big, fat, stinky one hidden behind a wall.
The more he looked at the setup; the more Sage Harpuia had to question the efficiency of the crusher... what powered it? And how much energy a reploid needed to function. Not only that, but why were reploid still manufactured although they were in an energy crisis...
And... what was the source of the crisis anyway?
Right... the Eden dome needed a ludicrous amount of energy to keep working, which was why Master X had taken a gamble and situated the nuclear power plant deep under the city... with enough security measure to ensure it would not blow up the last paradise sky high.
It was actually a water-based fusion reactor, very efficient, and as long as the ocean was not dry and humans and water-based lifeforms would not stop perspiring, it would always work with minimal fuss...
'So why was it shut down? Wind turbines and solar energy can only give so much.' Especially for a glutenous city like Neo-Arcadia...
The more he thought about it..., the more this whole thing stopped making sense. Not only that but E-crystals...
Harpuia clutched his head... Hitting a bottleneck...
'It's not my duty to think about those things...' No... it was not his duty to...
But what were his duties anyway?
He was supposed to reestablish the proper weather for the planet... to bring rain, raise the wind and protect X...
Protect X... this directive was now impossible to follow due to Zero... His only viable directive was now null and void. And after a hundred years, even with all of his pride in his team, Harpuia would shamefully admit that he had failed this other directive...
It took more then a bunch of highly advanced Robots to change the weather, and Neo-Arcadia was always pleasant, if extremely fake.
'But... I still have to investigate the cause of my abnormal weather reading.' Harpuia thought as he disconnected from the computer and pushed himself away from the console, his processor heavy. 'If it rains in the desert... I don't think our city will be able to withstand the moisture.'
But... with his current position, he didn't have access to the weather towers anymore... at least until the Reploid decommission centre was spotlessly clean.
Harpuia wobbled his way out of the security room, only to find the green-haired bitch hacking the high-security lock... and succeeding.
'Why is she now under Phantom's guidance?' Harpuia wondered with both awe and fear as the stone-dog-inspired reploid looked at him with clear disappointment.
Marino stared at Harpuia... then had her work and sneered. Muttering something about premature discharge and how M-model were not what they used to be.
Harpuia bit back a remark; he would spar with words later.
"Max, is everything alright?" Draupadi asked her husband. "You... spaced out for a bit."
"I... I supposed I did" X admitted as he resumed Zero's petting. His hands shaking.
The cat, not his wife... not that he would mind petting her also.
His processor was heavy and he felt... disturbingly huffy despite the wonderful company that surrounded him tonight.
Those were not the usual boot-lickers, dubious politicians with their hidden agenda and their spouse. It was not the eight gentle judge (going through rehabilitation. And if Doctore cinnamon was as truthful as she was confident, they would soon worship Max's wife like the rest of them. (Unorthodox, but X did not see any harm there.) nor was it the hologram in the broken capsule repeating nonsense about how X was the next step, for the two Goddesses desired it so.
No, those were his first real two friends. One human, and the other reploid. The couple represented his dream... and his Father's dream.
Cohabitation between the synth and organic... and not mere co-operation, but a true relationship.
As it turned out, Genevive suffered from albinism. And since this lack of melatonin was seen as unwanted for the population. (high cancer risk, more eye's problem then what a good corrective surgery could fix.) And since this was unwanted...
Well, as it turned out, the Human Council and the medical branch had this rule that those with unwanted traits could not reproduce.
It sounded well on paper, but not in practice. X... Max was doubly sure of that.
So, since she was... sterilized, Genevieve had live a rather comfortable life despite the fact that she had been robbed of the opportunity to procreate. But, she moved on, got a perfect job and eventually, a reploid boyfriend who had more human friends then X ever hoped he to get.
They now lived under the same roof, own a cat and managed to make their two styles match despite their opposite nature.
Such an inspiring Couple.
After meeting with Genevieve and TK, the two couples had hit it off better then expected.
She simply Adored Draupadi, especially the classic skirt she wore, Her hair (Also Max's favourite.) and the marks adorning her forehead.
The two women had talked at length as Max and TK wandered aimlessly around the streets of Neo-Arcadia. The father of all reploids had happily noticed how more Reploids now dared to be out, talking to their friends.
Reploids friends... and human friends also. Not only that, but MaX had happily observed how reploids only stores were starting to reopen. Like the cooling pad store and the flavoured crystal parlour.
After an hour or so, they had been back to TK and Genevieve's home. There, they sat and shared stories, flavoured rechargeable E-crystal and some ice mochi... for the only human of the group.
As X happily sucked the energy out of a flavoured crystal... something hit him.
What he had in his mouth was reusable, and Neo-Arcadia once had the most stable and safe Tokamak in the world, and, after some amazing breakthrough, had learned how to transform the immense amount of energy produced by the miniature sun into something that reploids and every common household could use.
It was clean, renewable and left practically no waste behind, and whatever waste was there...
Well, reploids liked to call it junk food. And no, humans had no idea what it was, it was just the workers there who, on a dare, tried it.
They called it reploid Marmite, and it was delicious.
Nevertheless... X could not remember why the fusion plant had been closed down. It had been the literal heart of the city, working without fail for centuries.
Maybe... was it something about a pair of Baby-Elves?
But... why would they close the entire facility for a pair of baby-elves?
Or... maybe there was something more to it?
He had sent a request to Leviathan to look into this matter, for she was the one in charge of the archives and whatever happened in Sub-Arcadia.
But it seemed this had caused his to... space out for a bit, to the great worry of his wife.
Either that, or all of his Guardian's simultaneously realized that something was afoot in their homes, and thus had caused a feedback loop.
X... Max hated feedback loop.
: I'm fine; I just realized that... There was no need to declare a state of emergency over the amount of energy reploids needed.: He admitted, via waves. : Just... Something else on my plate, I guess.:
Zero, the cat, chose this moment for rubbing his head under X's chin. Reminding the former regent of his all-important task.
Cat cuddling... and the evilest cards in humanity, waiting for him to unleash the absolute garbage he had been given.
Seriously, he worried for the man who'd made this game.
Draupadi sighed. : Yeah... don't you love it when God decides it's time for a major spring clean-up?: She asked as she leaned her head on her left hand. : You have wars, Natural calamities, pestilence... Conspiracies brought to light, me.:
: So... that's how miseries are explained then.: X pressed his lips together. : I don't know if I really like this aspect of him.:
: Hey, for Krishna, it's the same as moving people to other places and giving them a fresh set of clothes...: "So yes, I saw this cute dress in this one store; I think if I wait long enough, it will be available. By the way, thank you so much for all the nice dresses." His dear wife smiled as she changed the Subject as both ancient reploid returned to normal time.
It was amazing how much could be said in as little time as possible when having a quantum computer for brain.
X smiled. "Your welcome, Lorelei." He inclined his head, still keeping an eye on his anxious wife. "But it was TK who found them." He admitted.
"Puh-lease." The heels-loving reploid gestured the praise away. "I only showed you where the real jewelry where. You, Maxime, know quality at a glance." TK praised.
X blushed; his friend was not wrong... for his Draupadi had caught his eyes the moment he had caught them trying to spy on his person.
Some would have found it creepy, but for X... it was clear Zero was enamoured with him but had no idea how to express it.
"It's so true," Genevieve readily agreed, now wearing something less cumbersome then a victorian dress. " I never had a better guest in my life... save Max, of course."
"You must not have that many guests then." Draupadi quipped with a wry smile. Causing the only human in the group to chuckle.
"And you must not have many humans friends either then."
"Toucher!" Draupadi smirked. Then her eyes grew wide at the implication. "Wait, you think of me as a friend?"
The way she said it... it broke X, Max's heart even further. And it brought to light a severe problem.
Short of themselves, The couple had no real friends to speak of. They had no reploids they were close to, for the fear that they would turn maverick would always hang above their heads.
And as for humans... as X had found out, the rift between the two races was not something that could easily be crossed.
Really, it would have been better if Neo-Arcadia would have remained a heaven for reploids and let the organic deal with saving the earth. But alas, man wishes supplanted the needs of the synths...
Again.
"So... who's turn was it anyway?" TK asked as he held his black cards. "I can't wait to show you the true horrors a TK-liner can rain upon humanity."
"Oh-Ho!" Draupadi scoffed. " You know the card I threw down as to how Batman picked up girls at the abortion clinic?" Draupadi gave a bloodcurdling grin. "That was just me warming up."
Suddenly, X's felt a ping from Fefnir and a short text message. : Master X, Harpuia's a lazy ass... found the open gravesite...:
X quickly contacted Fefnir. : Fefnir, X speaking. What did Necromancess found?: The blue bomber asked as he tried to hide his grin at the absolute baby-filled dumpster fire of a card his dear sweet Draupadi threw on the table.
Good Lord, this was a game Sigma would adore; he was sure of it. And he would not doubt Lumine would have been a beast at it.
:... Fef?: X asked after a few moments of silence.
: Fefnir...: X asked again, ripping his consciousness from the happy and carefree game night.
: Ah no ah... Damn it, alright. Necromancers... he thinks he found Draupadi's friend... what's left of her anyway.:
X painfully closed his eyes. 'there goes our happy evening.' He was used to it... this was his and Draupadi's curse, it seems.
: Thank you Fefnir... I'll... break the news to her. I trust that you will be there to comfort her, right?:
"Oh, God..." Genevieve burst into laughter, hiding her eyes as her unnaturally pale skin turned red either due to her gales or from the utterly disgusting and wretched combination Draupadi had smacked on the table. "Rolli. I tough, I thought you were a Religious woman!" the human cackled. To the witch, Draupadi crossed her arms with triumph.
"Oh, Genevieve, You have no idea what the Bhagavatam and Ramayana hold." Draupadi spoke with a goading smile. "the ninth Canto is especially twisted!" She whispered conspiratorially.
"Oh... where can I find this book?" The woman asked as she leaned closer.
It was clear X's wife, and TK's Girlfriend were getting on better then a house fire... 'Too bad I have to break this good time.' X lamented as he hugged Zero, the cat closer. Gaining some licks for his trouble.
"Lorollei... we have to leave." He interrupted the happy event, feeling like the sinful man he was—his tone conveying the gravity of the situation.
"X... what's going on?" His saintly wife asked as she got up, apologizing for her sudden departure.
: I'll tell you back at the tower...:
: How many died?: She asked again, and X knew she was already locking away whatever emotions were there in her vault.
: We don't know yet... just brace yourself.:
Draupadi sent her husband a concerned look.
'Brace yourself, X...' If the iris event was any indication. His guardians would see a whole other side of the High Empress Draupadi... a side she would only show X.
He dreaded their reactions.
Author's note:
Yes, so... A Hare Krishna has to follow the four regulative principles of human life, meaning no meat-eating, killing animals or others. No intoxication, no gambling and not illicit sex.
It's ok to have it with your wife, and even better if it's only to beget KC kids.
Also, no, it's not hard since... well, we do have something better then sex, like, way better then sex.
Harpuia's reaction is... he's a mixed bag. not really evil, but a bastard nonetheless. And Leviathan sees Draupadi-Zero as something pleasurable. X will shamelessly worship his wife, Phantom like's her feet and Fefnir...
Fefnir feel's like the only sane one, to be honest. And since it's my first time writing something as complex...
Yeah, things are bound to get very messy.
Also, shout out to cards against humanity.
