Another Smile On Another Face
After passing the impossible ocean in the sky of Hueco Mundo and being separated from Chad by a bolt of lightning, Uryu was now careening chaotically through the air. He was still restrained by the giant claw the Arrancars used to capture him. Suddenly, several small whirlwinds formed out of nowhere. They created a cushion of air that caught hold of Uryu and gradually slowed his wild tumble. Soon, he found he was levitating comfortably within an air pocket they formed, and turned in an upright position. As he was carried through the desert, a few of the whirlwinds separated from the rest. Streams of energy emitted from the individual miniature tornadoes, forming a connection between them. A clear wave of energy projected from them, which served as a kind of screen. Upon it appeared a transparent image of Aeros.
"You?" Uryu said, "Who are you? What do you want?"
"First, I am not Aeros, not truly" the transparent image said, "I am a portion of his consciousness. A fragment that will assist you and then return to him."
"Like just a shade of him?" Uryu asked.
"Ah, that's an excellent descriptor, well done again. To that end, do I wish to praise your deductive reasoning regarding the Arrancars pursuing you. It was most laudable," the apparition of Aeros replied. As he spoke, a serpent-like air current coiled around him. It then moved to Uryu and sliced through the claw holding him. The pieces fell away to desert below, "Now there is another in need of those skills. I shall take you to her."
"I came to Hueco Mundo to rescue my friend, Inoue Orihime," the Quincy argued, "I appreciate you have your own in need of my help, but I cannot be diverted from that mission."
"I have already put your other friend, Yasutora Sado, on one possible route to reach her," The shade said, "I can provide you another. Of course, if you've some idea where she being held by Aizen Sōsuke, you're free to look for her on your own."
"Oh, you don't already know where she is?" Uryu replied, "You seem to be some type of dominant power within this Hollow domain."
"If I knew, there are those who would be unwilling to tolerate the risk her, you and your other two companions pose by being here. And you think far too much of me. I cannot possibly control all that happens in these sands. No one could," Aeros said, then gestured to the unending landscape, "The desert is vast. As with your world, there is more unknown to it then you could possibly imagine."
Uryu thought it odd that the Soul Society was also not included in those examples, but said nothing.
"And just how long..." he paused and reconsidered his question, deliberately trying to soften the tone between them, "How likely is it I'd find her if I looked by myself?"
"If I gave you an approximate location to begin searching," Aeros said, looking away briefly as if to mentally estimate the Quincy's chances, "You and she would add your dust to the sands before you even covered hundred thousandth of a single percent of the possible places she could be hidden."
"I see..." Uryu replied, then turned to gaze himself into seemingly unending sands, "Has anyone ever been able to reach the ends of it."
"Eh?" Aeros responded.
"The desert, I mean," the teen clarified, "No Hol-, Arrancar knows how far it goes?"
"Actually, a few do. I've another friend who's measured it. I question the efficacy of such knowledge, but he still completed the task none the less," the transparent image raised a hand, showing his four extended fingers with his thumb tucked behind it, "It took him this long."
"What, years, decades?" the raven-haired teen guessed regarding the four displayed digits.
"Centuries, even using the tools humans crafted to measure such distances" Aeros answered with a mischievous smile, "The desert of Hueco Mundo extends a nearly seven billion square kilometers. Seems such an easy number to say, doesn't it?"
"Uh, I mean, yes, that's an extremely large…" Uryu replied trying not to appear confounded by the size of the world the creature had revealed to him.
"The entirety of your Earth could fit within the desert a thousand times over," Aeros said, "You need not pretend you can grasp the enormity of that."
"Right," Uryu said, then switched to another tact, "Aren't there structures Aizen is hiding in that we could use to narrow our search."
"There is a network of tunnels that divide the desert from the Menos forest beneath it. What would you have me do?" Aeros asked, "Smash into buildings that have stood since before your ancestors were painting on cave walls?"
"Er, no, I would never…" Uryu stifled.
"Although, to be honest, I've no special reverence for old stones," said the image of the cryptic creature. The Quincy frowned in annoyance at this Aeros' constant irreverence.
"You said there is another way I may be able to reach Inoue-san?" Uryu now asked, "Why can I not just rejoin Sado-san?"
"You heard the name earlier, Szayel Aporro Granz, did you not?" Aeros answered, "The singular most, renowned, scientist of Las Noches. If you followed Sado, it would bring you far too close to his him than I would be comfortable risking, at least, not without the proper preparation."
There was a noticeable, and venomous, emphasis to how Aeros said the word "renowned' Uryu immediately picked up on.
"I recall him being mentioned by those other Arrancars," The teen said, "What of it? You expect me to hide away from him."
"Yes, I do," Aeros replied, "Given the rumors of what he is preparing for Aizen and the Shinigami, I do not want to give him an opportunity for experimenting on a Quincy also."
"And I if refuse?" Uryu asked defiantly, "Do you intend to force me into hiding?"
"If I must," Aeros replied, as he said that, his words echoed throughout Hueco Mundo, and clashes of thunders and bolts of lightning began rumbling around them. Then immediately the skies cleared and his voice returned to its normal tone, "But I would prefer not to."
The Quincy did not waiver despite this display, and only stared determined.
"That won't be necessary," Uryu said, "If this approach is the best strategically, I will comply. However, first there a few things I must know?"
"Oh, yes," Aeros replied with curiosity, "Do ask."
"You never answered my first question. Who are you?" the raven-haired boy asked, "What are you? You're not an Arrancar. Are you some sort of trickster god of the Hollows?"
"Hmm, well, there are be those who would not think kindly of associating myself with gods," said the ghostly image, "Can't blame them given the ones I've met."
Uryu only looked on.
"In this instance, the trick is only against Hueco Mundo's mad scientist, "My only goal here is to aid my friend, but I cannot personally be there and devote as much attention to that as I wish. I ask you to do so in my stead. If I can do that and hide you from Szayel, and offer you the opportunity to approach Aizen Sōsuke's operation, all the better."
"Yes, thank you. But, you still did not answer. What about you?" the dark-haired teen now almost demanded an answer to his question, "What are you?"
"I fear I am unable to provide you a satisfactory answer. One cost of a life as long as mine has been is you lose the memory of things, such as the beginning of it," the image said, "Here, in Hueco Mundo, in this at this current timew, I am the Aeros. I aid those Arrancars that would ask it of me. But I was here before them and I shall be here after all are gone."
"Before who, the Arrancars?" Uryu asked, "After whom have gone?"
"Them, and everything and everyone else," the being said, something in his voice made that sound as much of a burden as it was a boon.
"I see," Uryu replied, unable to press this mysterious being further, "I'm ready to assume this task."
"I'm glad to hear that, Ishida Uryu" Aeros said, "I will be using your mind to craft the form."
"Huh-" Uryu begun to ask as the transparent image placed a hand over the boy's face. A wind enveloped the young Quincy. He felt it seeping into him and, something, happening to him. He could not describe the sensation or even find some feeling to relate it to anything he'd ever experienced before. He had vague awareness of what was happening around him. He was traveling even more swiftly than he had previously through the desert. He was aware of a change in the scenery around him. The white sand spread beneath him had given away to a new locale. It was blue and more vibrant with motion, but just as vast as the unending desert.
"The ocean," he said, though it was his voice, it felt unattached to him, "I'm above the flying ocean."
He also questioned to himself if was truly seeing the waters beneath him. It was as if he was not physically seeing with his own eyes or speaking with his own voice. He was only, in some manner, perceiving what was around him and only visualizing himself commenting on it. He traveled on and a new object entered his awareness. He could tell it was a structure, a building like a castle. Before he could formulate more thoughts, he felt the sensation of wind contracting around, then the voice of Aeros cutting through the constant changes in his perspective.
"Prepare yourself," it warned, in some way distant and right next to Uryu.
There was a sound glass breaking. Uryu realized it was him smashing through a window, or rather the wind carrying him, which also protected him from harm. He continued descending, then abruptly felt himself turned upright. The winds shielding suddenly vanished, and he was dropped in a body of chest deep water. Steam obscured his returned vision, but he knew that this sense was his own again. He noticed another odd sensation. His arms and legs were wet, but the clothes he previously wore were gone, replaced by a smaller top and shorts, much tighter and more revealing than ones he'd have ever chosen himself. Though for some unclear reason, he was more comfortable in these clothes than he would have been in his original ones. He next touched his hands and forearms. He had always had a slim build, but now they were smaller and not as muscled. Also, his skin was softer and smoother. He touched his face. It was the same general shape, but again the skin was different, similar in its feeling to his arms. His glasses were gone, but there was something new aside his head. He could not remove it, but he could touch the skin beneath it, which was incredibly sensitive. His hair was longer but styled much the same. Then, he touched his chest and felt two soft, fleshy mounds. He knew more to his body was changed, but before he could account for that, he heard splashing elsewhere in the pool. There was another person with him. He could only make out an outline of them through the steam. They had climbed out of the water and grabbed something, but now they'd returned.
"What are you doing in my bath, Arrancar?" A voice asked, cutting through the fog.
It belonged to a tall, dark-skinned blond woman. She wore a white jacket with a collar that fully concealed the lower half of her face, although at the corners, portions of a Hollow mask were visible beneath it. Uryu knew immediately she was an Arrancar. He could tell also from her reiastu, she was an immensely strong one, easily one of the most powerful beings he'd ever been in the presence of. She was possibly stronger than even some Shinigami Captains he'd met like Kurotsuchi Mayuri or Kuchiki Byakuya. For a few moments, he was able to only stare gape-mouthed until finally what she called him registered.
"Did you just call me-" he started to ask, but paused when he noticed a difference in his voice. He had almost gathered himself enough to continue when others came to check on the situation.
"Halibel-sama, what's happened?" came a voice of another entering the pool room.
"Are you okay?" said someone following the first.
A quartet of female Arrancars filed in. One was sleekly built with short, black hair, a helmet-like mask piece with a single, centered horn. Most striking of all, she had mismatched eyes, one a cold blue, the other a shining gold. Next to her was taller, bustier, more muscular dark-skinned one, in clothes that resembled more a bikini than a battle outfit. After her, the third a slim one in a long dress with even longer sleeves and tint of green to her dark hair. Standing apart from the trio was smaller one in black pigtails, who's dress exposed much of her breasts and stomach. She also had a skull-like mask piece covering her left eye.
"Who's this?" the first asked, then blushed, "She's so cute."
"I'm fine girls," the blond Arrancar answered, then looked to the broken window in the ceiling Uryu entered through, "This one suddenly dropped in here from above."
"You should be ashamed of yourself, getting distracted like that Apacci! Ah, Halibel-sama," the tall one said, then looked away, also blushing, "You're indecent. Loly, dress her immediately!"
"Yes, Mila Rose-sama," the shorter dark-haired Arrancar replied, running to attend the blonde identified as Halibel, "Right away, this way please, Halibel-sama."
Uryu noticed for the first time Halibel was nude aside from the jacket that covered the lower part of her face and exposed the lower portion of her enormous breasts. She seemed unbothered with by her nakedness, but Uryu looked away.
"Quite the magnificent view, huh new girl" the Arrancar Apacci said leaning over to offer a hand to help Uryu out of the pool. Though the Quincy was confused by what was happening, he accepted and exited the body of water.
"Apacci, how dare you speak about Halibel-sama that way!" Mila Rose again angrily chided, "She is the water lily of Hueco Mundo, the pure and beautiful flower of this desolate desert."
"And she's just not into you Mila," Apacci sniped back.
Mila swung at the smaller Arrancar, which Apacci easily ducked
"If you two are done getting all gooey ga-ga horny over others," said the third Arrancar, covering her mouth with one of her giant sleeves, "Perhaps we should do something about this intruder?"
"Shut up, Sung-Sun," Apacci snapped back, still holding Uryu's hand as she replied, "You and Mila like men, and their gross, things!"
"You mean penises, Apacci?" responded Sung-Sun, "I'm at least capable of saying the word. Are you and Mila able to talk about women's bodies without getting all blubbery and weak kneed"
The dark-haired Apacci looked first wide-eyed, then turned burning red at the discussion of anatomy.
"I can like both," mumbled Mila Rose, then added a defensive, "Hey! I do not act like that!"
"Girls, please, there's a lot more to love and attraction than just sex," came the a new voice of someone else entering the bathing room. It belonged to a sixth female Arrancar. She was as beautiful as the others, with long purple hair that had the locks hanging in front of her shoulders, curled elegantly. She wore a skirt in similar style to the clothes of the others along with arm-length gloves and a sheer cape attached the gloves and back of her dress. Her top made bare her hips and stomach as Loly's, but covered more of her breasts, onLy leaving small amount of cleavage. She was well-endowed, but not massively so, like Halibel or Mila Rose. Atop her head was a Hollow mask, styled of all things, like a rabbit, even with dangling ears. She carried a large staff with gold bands curling into a heart shape. Her tone with the three others was not condescending or exasperated, but displayed an almost motherly patience of them.
"Ah, Cherlindra," said Halibel rejoining them, now clothed in a pair of the baggy pants like many Arrancars wore, but cut to show her hips also, "I was searching for similar words to get them to calm down."
"They'd have come to you, dear Halibel," this Cherlindra said placing her hand upon Halibel's chest, just above her left breast. Halibel responded by gently squeezing purple-haired Arrancar's hand. It reminded Uryu of how Chad and Lisa said goodbye to one another before the former departed for Hueco Mundo.
"Of course, there's also far more to sex than this part goes in this," the purple-haired Arrancar added, which turned Apacci red again, along with Mila Rose. Sung-Sun looked oddly ashamed. She dropped the hand she used to hide her mouth. Even Halibel seemed blush beneath the jacket hiding her face.
"Now about this newcomer. I summoned her," Cherlindra said, and looked upwards to the broken window in the ceiling.
"Although I didn't think it would be such a dramatic entrance. I'll get that fixed," she said, then looked to Uryu, "She's here to help with the matter we discussed Halibel. I'll take her first to be examined by Roka."
"I understand, thank you," Halibel said, "I'll met with both of you soon."
"Well, child, we will depart from the others here," said the purple-haired Arrancar, "Although, first, if you would be so kind, please let them have your name."
"Ar, Artemis," Uryu replied, though it was a mystery what spurred him to give that name and where it came, but it felt correct somehow, "Artemis Uriel."
"Hmm, a grand name for someone who makes a grand entrance," said Cherlindra, "Please follow me."
Once away from Halibel and the others, Cherlindra turned to Uryu and questioned him.
"Aeros sent you, didn't he?" she said. This wasn't asked with the same motherly tone she used with the others, nor was there any trace of sinister intent in it either. The impression Uryu got was that the Arrancar wanted to keep the information secretive. He noticed too, she did not use the "sama" honorific all others used to address the bizarre creature he'd met earlier.
"Uh, yes," Uryu answered, unsure what more to say regarding his encounter with strange being.
"I suspected as much," Cherlindra replied, softening to him somewhat, like she had sensed his uncertainty, "You needn't say more. Come with me."
Uryu followed the purple-haired Arrancar through a series of hallways. In one they passed Loly with another female Arrancar. She had purple hair like Cherlindra. It a darker shade than motherly Arrancar leading Uryu through the fortress now. This new woman's white dress was styled like Uryu had seen some young girls from the Living World wear. He believed it was called something like "Gothic Lolita." She was leaning over Loly lecherously, with one arm extended over pigtailed Arrancar's shoulder, pinning her against wall. Loly did not seem in any way distressed by this. This new Arrancar's other hand was beneath Loly's clothes, groping her right breast. She withdrew it immediately upon noticing Uryu observing them, and both glared at him, furious at being interrupted. He quickly looked away and caught up with Cherlindra, who showed no acknowledgment of them.
A brief time later, they a passed another oddity. It was a woman, or at least appeared to be a female human. She was exceptionally beautiful and extremely curvaceous, like Halibel, possibly even more so. She light skinned. Her hair was tied up and back, but loosed locks hung about her face. She wore a extremely short purple kimono with a red fringe, hanging off her in manner that seemed impossible and showed off her shoulders and massive breasts. It was tied with a sash of a lighter shade and in the front was a bow, covered by two huge flowers of red and pink. Peeking through the petals was the skull of some unknown animal. She had long, sharp fingernails. Visible around her left wrist, her left breast and her right thighs were boney claws, appearing to clutch onto these parts of her. A similar bone structure floated behind, and coiled and slithered around her. She said nothing to either Uryu or Cherlindra, but only offered each of them seductive smile as she passed.
Uryu simply stared in confusion.
"She was no Arrancar," he said after she was gone, "Similar, somewhat, but not like Aeros either."
The purple-haired Arrancar whispered to him.
"That is the Hone-Onna," she said, "I'm not certain who or what she is. She came here one day, long, long ago, when there were few others besides Halibel, when she was still under the mask. She sought shelter, which Halibel provided, and has caused no trouble since."
"There is something else familiar about her," Uryu said still staring as she walked away, "Like I've met her before, but not quite."
"Hmm, that's not an unusual assessment. Although whatever that may mean, we may never know the answer," Cherlindra said, "That aside, as mentioned, she's has never caused any strife with Halibel, me or anyone here. And she is incredibly fun to have a drink with. Please follow me further Artemis."
Uryu looked towards Cherlindra questioningly, unsure how serious she was being. He let this comment go and quickly accompanied her into a small room with a medical chair and supplies, and a body-length mirror.
"Please wait here briefly," she told him, "I will return with our medic Roka. I just want her to check something about you. Don't worry she's very trustworthy."
She left and Uryu walked to the mirror and confirmed what he suspected.
"A woman, a girl. I've been turned into a girl," he said with less shock than he thought he would.
"You surprised me as well," said a voice. It the transparent shade of Aeros, appearing randomly leaning against a wall, "I did not imagine you'd allow me to change you so. I had thought to make you some barely noticed driver of transport Hollows, but you wanted to be integrated deeper into the fold."
"I…" Uryu began, but became distracted with his reflection again. The shape in the mirror was thinner and feminine, but still decidedly Ishida Uryu, or was once Ishida Uryu. The hair was longer, just past the shoulders. There was a several red streaks spaced throughout the locks. A broken mask piece on the left side of his head had replaced his glasses, with a horn that sharply curled backwards for half its length. He then suddenly questioned his choice of the pronouns describing himself, and even said quietly, "His?"
"The red highlights were a personal touch of mine," Aeros commented, "just adding a bit of color for flair."
Uryu said nothing and moved on to cupping the new breasts, more baffled by their sheer existence than any thrill of touching them, though he stopped as that began to feel pleasurable.
"They're barely bigger than Kuchiki-san's" Uryu again found himself saying aloud.
"Just keeping them reasonable to your fame," the shade replied, "and so they'd not interfere with your archery."
Uryu felt lower, slipping a hand it the front of the shorts that replaced his pants and immediately withdrew. Despite the shock at what he felt, he did note a small, rectangular object at his waist and knew instinctively it would serve as his bow, now composed of the bone-like material that formed Hollows' masks, and compacted for easy carrying.
"You've changed everything…" Uryu was finally able to say after a brief pause.
"Yes," Aeros replied, sounding ready for the coming questions, "You guided me on the creation of the body and I made the changes and supplied you the knowledge of you need for the existence in this form. Although I have arranged for that be your own journey of self-discovery, done at the pace you are comfortable."
Uryu placed a hand against his forehead and shut his eyes, evaluating for himself if he believed things Aeros told him. As he did so, the realization came that all the entity said was true and he could recall it happening as he was carried through to the fortress. The memory just instantaneously awakened in him.
"I understand now. That is what you have done, what's happened to me," Uryu said cautiously, "You even made me an Arrancar. I thought that was impossible."
"Not for me," the creature said, sounding almost sinisterly proud of his accomplishment.
"And you did this bypassing my stubborn Quincy pride." as he said that, Uryu knew somehow this creature had never truly used those words, but thought them during the transformation process, "What did you do? Reach into my subconscious and re-shape me?"
"In a fashion," Aeros replied, "But not exactly. I did take you along with through it."
"Everything you say seems true," the being that was previously was the Quincy Ishida Uryu said, "But how do I know this it is all by your design, done with your power. I mean not just the physical changes, but the knowledge now placed within my mind. How do I know anything I choose to do next is of my own choice, my own will?"
"Well, if were truly controlling you, considering the danger your presence poses, I could have simply returned you to your world," The Shade said then raised its hand and snapped its fingers. A portal to the Living World appeared. The light in the room seemed to darken, leaving only the passageway's glow. A subtle wind moved between the two worlds, "That's still an option, you know. I could help you. You could go home, live your life, and forget all you've seen of this world."
Light from the portal returned Uryu his previous form. He briefly checked over his original body, then stared at his home world. He almost took a step forward, but stopped himself, and quickly said, "I, I could never."
"I understand," Aeros said and lowered his hand. With that motion. the portal vanished and the lights of the room returned to normal, and Uryu was again Artemis.
"Admiring your creation, Aeros," Cherlindra said, re-entering with a meek-looking female Arrancar in green clothes and half her face covered in a skull mask.
"It was a collaborative effort, Cherlindra," Aeros responded, "I was just explaining how Artemis largely molded her own existence, I merely facilitated it."
"I see," she said, then directed the other Arrancar with her, "Roka, please examine her."
The skull-faced Arrancar scanned Uryu with several bizarre instruments Uryu did not recognize.
"Thank you," the Arrancar said with a tiny voice, then turned back to the purple-haired one, "She's a perfectly normal Adjucha-level Arrancar. I'd say she likely a bit under the strength of the Tres Bestias."
"Good work Roka," Cherlindra said, as the medic stood away, "So Aeros, what is she actually?"
Aeros raised his hand again and snapped his fingers. Rings of energy appeared around Uryu and moved toward the floor and ceiling. For a moment, the Quincy once again in his original body and clothes. He felt a strange awe in how easily this Aeros creature could transform him. A second set of energy bands that moved over him and Artemis was returned.
"I see," the rabbit Arrancar said, "You believe she can help me aid Halibel."
"I do," the shade, "The best of luck to the three of you."
With that and a nod to Roka, he disappeared as if blown away by a wind.
"That I would need to resort to my ex's best friend," Cherlindra said with a sigh and leaned against the rear wall, then called to the fading specter, "At least, fix the window on your way out!"
"What did you mean by your ex?" Uryu asked.
"I'll explain later, so-," she began to say just as the blond Arrancar from earlier entered, "Ah, Halibel, I was about to discuss with Artemis why she's here."
"Very good, Cherlindra," the blond Arrancar, walking other and placing an arm around the purple-haired women, "Please proceed."
"Artemis, you're likely aware of the opposing factions in Hueco Mundo, specifically Aizen is plotting to move against the King in Las Noches," Cherlindra explained, "Halibel wants me to advise her how much we should align behind his attempt to seize power."
"I understand," Uryu replied.
"I admit, though I have my own thoughts of the man and his ambitions, but," she paused, sounding regretful of some shortcoming, "I have, become uncertain of how best to help Halibel to proceed. I'd be most appreciative of some additional opinion of him."
"To allow for this," added Halibel, "I can have you accompany another member of our castle, Cirucci, to a strategizing meeting with this former Captain."
"Simply go and observe," Cherlindra continued, "Tell us what impression you take of him and his plans."
After a brief silence, Uryu asked, "You would trust my judgment of such things?"
"I trust Cherlindra," Halibel said, who looked to the purple-haired woman. She smiled and nodded back the blond Arrancar, "And if she trusts you, then I will also. I only ask you make your best effort to be worthy of that."
Uryu bowed his head in meditation of her request.
"I will," Artemis looked up and answered, "Halibel-sama."
Cherlindra and Roka glanced at one another, noting a clear change within the newcomer, as she was genuinely now accepting her new responsibility.
XXX
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Far, far away, across the sands of Hueco Mundo, a singular tower stood of grey stone. Beneath it and the sands, there was a massive complex. Each room housed byzantine, and sometimes horrifying experiments of Hollow subjects. Within one room in the underground building, a dark-haired female Arrancar with half her face covered by a skull mask suddenly rapped to attention. She left the assorted samples of Hollow tissues she was organizing and swiftly walked to an adjoining larger room. There, a massive machine was projecting a blue-tinted image a section of the desert. A floating Arrancar with a bird –like mask covering much of his face and head, and with an eerily long double set of arms, and even longer creepy fingers was reading information from a clipboard to a bored-looking pink-haired Arrancar with his head propped up on one hand. He was seated in large chair overlooking the map.
"The calculations have been checked multiple times, Szayel-sama," The floating creature said, nervous of the Espada's annoyance, "We'll be able to manipulate any incoming Gargantas to Aizen-sama's-"
The flying Arrancar trailed off as the vexed-looking Szayel waved him away.
"Yes, yes, very good Aisslinger, go summarize the rest of report. That Shinigami with his godhood stick up his ass will only care about the shortest version," the disinterested scientist said, then groaned in disgust at the recently entered female member, "Ugh, what is it, Roka?"
"Szayel-sama, I have just received a report from my copy in Halibel-sama's fortress," she said, "A new Arrancar has joined her group."
"But no sign yet of the Quincy that incompetent pretty boy that sniffs after Nnoitra lost?" he asked turning away to another clipboard with sketches of some complicated device.
"No sir," she replied.
"Then why are boring me with this?" He whined, "Between that and Starrk acting like he cares about that human girl, this day can't get any more irritating!"
Suddenly a sweating, out of breath Menoly burst in.
"Roka...please...come quickly!" Menoly managed between desperate gasps, "Orihime...the human girl, passed out."
"Ulquiorra already managed to break Aizen's new toy?" Szayel said with amusement, then motioned at his assistant to leave, "Go take care of it."
As the two women exited, the scientist Arrancar was overheard commenting, "Now this makes things interesting. C'mon Aisslinger, maybe we can catch Nnoitra or Ulquiorra having to fess up to Aizen about their screw-ups."