moonlitnights: old/stories/xeno-picnic.txt comparison

comparison old/stories/xeno-picnic.txt @ 2:fc00894c1d4a moonlitnights

[svn r3] moved all the bad stuff to 'old'

author	rlm
date	Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:53:12 -0500
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+The Shion+KOS-MOS paring is the most debated in the Xenosaga fandom.
+I think they were made for each other. No pun intended.
+The events of this stroy take place betwenn Xenosaga Episode One and
+Two. There will be some spoilers for the end of Episode One, and
+those who haven't complete that game might be a bit lost in later
+chapters.
+I dont own Xenosaga. I only wish i did.
+Gerad Dalton is my creation, however. Steal him and die.
+Chapter One
+Picnic for Two
+By Silvercry
+silvercry2000@yahoo.com
+...my spirit sleeping somewhere cold,
+until you find it there and lead it back
+home....
+Bring Me to Life - Evanescence
+Allen had his head stuck in the refrigerator in the Elsa's kitchen,
+looking for an early morning snack. All he was able to find was
+freeze-dried this, frozen that, dehydrated something else.
+"Aw, man," Allen whined. Don't they have anything quick and easy?
+The service bots haven't woke up yet, and I'm hungry now. He heard
+the door open behind him, but paid it no mind.
+"Good morning, Allen," he heard Shion say cheerfully as she entered
+the room.
+"Hey, Chief," Allen replied, his head still buried in the fridge.
+"If you're looking for food," he went on, "you're out of luck till
+the bots are activated."
+"Yes, I know," Shion replied. It sounded like she was trying to
+suppress a little laugh as she spoke.
+Wow, she has a cute little laugh, Allen thought. She really should
+laugh more often.
+"Allen," Shion went on, "would you let everyone know that KOS-MOS
+and I will be gone for the day?" Her voice was moving through the
+room, stopping by the door leading to the main part of the ship.
+Allen finally pulled his head from the fridge and looked up. "Sure
+thing, Chief. Where are you two -- WHOA!"
+Allen's sudden yell startled Shion, and she nearly dropped the
+whicker basket she was carrying. "Allen, be quiet!" Shion said
+sharply. "Are you trying to wake the whole ship?" There was a silence
+in the kitchen as Allen stared open mouthed at Shion in shock. "You
+know, Allen," Shion politely informed him, "It's not nice to stare."
+Not nice to stare! Allen thought. How could I not?
+In all the time Allen and Shion had spent working together, he had
+only seen he out of uniform a handful of times. Shion was never one
+for casual social events; she spent almost all of her time working on
+KOS-MOS. She wasn't exactly anti-social, just focused on her project
+to the point of neglecting some other aspects of life. She was well
+liked though, by her fellow KOS-MOS Project team members and, more
+recently, by the unique party they were now apart of. The last time
+he saw her out of her uniform was at the private beech at the
+Foundation (he nearly had a heart attack when he saw her little black
+bikini, he recalled).
+But there was definitely something different about the way she was
+dressed this morning.
+Her hair was free of its typical braid, framing her face nicely. And
+since when did the chief wear make up? Allen thought. A hint of
+blush, a touch of lipstick and eye shadow...just what was going on
+here? She was wearing a long, light-purple sundress that fell to mid-
+calf length. The hem of the dress was purposely uneven, longer in
+front and in back than on the sides, where it only reached her knees.
+She was wearing a pair of matching sandals, and (much to Allen's
+surprise) was even wearing nail polish. She carried a large whicker
+picnic basket on one arm.
+"Allen, my face is up here," Shion reminded him.
+Allen snapped his head and neck back up so fast, Shion briefly
+wondered if there would be any permanent damage.
+Say something clever, yet indifferent! Allen thought to himself
+frantically. He opened his mouth, but all he could manage was, "D-Did
+you say something, Chief?"
+"Honestly, Allen, you act like you've never seen me out of uniform
+before," she replied.
+"Only five or six times," Allen confessed.
+A small smile crossed Shion's face. "So, you've been keeping count?"
+she asked.
+Allen shook a his head and hands furiously. "NO! I mean, not really.
+I mean --what I mean is --" How can I get out of this one? "Um,
+wasn't their a message you wanted me to give everyone?"
+"Yes. KOS-MOS and I will be -- unavailable today. Just let everyone
+know if they ask, alright?" Shion repeated. She turned to leave.
+"Oh, right," Allen remembered, grateful for the change of subject.
+"Where are you two headed? Our report to Vector HQ isn't due for
+another two weeks."
+Shion hesitated. "Out," she replied after a moment. "I have this new
+EVS I want to load up and --" she stopped abruptly, then simply
+repeated: "Out."
+"Out?" Allen asked, puzzled.
+"Out," Shion confirmed. She turned sharply, her dress flaring out
+around her legs. The door opened, she walked through, and it shut
+behind her, leaving Allen to wonder what the heck had just happened.
+Shion quickly headed to for the elevator, not wanting to bump into
+anyone else. When the door shut behind her, and it began to descend,
+she released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She
+glanced at her reflection in the glass of the door before her. Even
+though she had spent a lot more time than usual on picking and
+dressing in this particular outfit, she was a little surprised by
+just how good she looked. A fact, she noted, which was definitely not
+lost on Allen. She smiled. She was not what you would call a vain
+person, but it was nice to be noticed as a woman once in a while.
+Problem was, she was noticed by the wrong person.
+Shion shook her head to clear it as the lift reached its
+destination. She exited the lift and proceeded towards her
+destination, her mood improving with every step. Past the cargo
+elevator, down to the catapult level, and through the AGWS hangar. At
+one point she noticed she was skipping, and stopped it immediately.
+Get a grip, Shion Uzuki! she scolded herself as she reached the door
+to KOS-MOS's room. You're acting like this is a --
+The door slid open, and Shion pushed the thought aside, and stepped
+into the room. It was a simple room, not much to look at. That is, of
+course, if one was to over look the single object in the center.
+Shion walked up to and around the black maintenance bed for KOS-MOS,
+to see the battle android still 'asleep' with in it.
+Her regeneration cycle will be over in a few moments, Shion thought
+to herself. Guess I'm a little early. She set the basket down near
+the foot of the pod, and took a seat on the side of it herself, never
+taking her eyes off the sleeping angel inside. An angel of death,
+maybe, she thought, recalling all the times she had seen KOS-MOS in
+action over the course off the last few days. On the heels of those
+memories came images of the several times KOS-MOS had put herself on
+the line to defend the Elsa...and Shion specifically. Ok, Shion
+thought. Maybe she's a guardian angel. Another memory came to her
+then -- a much older one. A thunderstorm, an attack by unknown men,
+the premature activation of the original KOS-MOS, and the massacre
+that followed. Or perhaps, she added sadly, a fallen angel.
+KOS-MOS slept on, blissfully unaware for the moment.
+"Sometimes I wish you could sleep forever," Shion whispered to the
+sleeping android. "And others, I can't wait to see you wake up. I
+wonder what would you say about that?" She tried to mimic KOS-MOS's
+voice and tone then said, "'Shion, your current line of thought is
+paradoxical in nature and serves no purpose.' Or something like
+that." Shion sighed. "Don't you think I know that?" she whispered.
+There was no reply from KOS-MOS. Shion continued to stare at the
+android's face, waiting patiently for her eyes to open. After a few
+moments, her gaze drifted down from her eyes to her mouth. And an
+idea suddenly formed in her mind. A crazy idea.
+What am I thinking? Shion asked herself silently. I can't do that!
+But the more she stared at KOS-MOS's lips, the greater the desire
+became. Just this one time, she tried to rationalize. She never has
+to know!
+"If I stole one kiss, would you hold it against me?" Shion asked in
+a voice to soft to even be called a whisper. It certainly wasn't the
+first time she thought about giving her mechanical angel a kiss, but
+in the days since the incident at Proto Merkabah, the desire had
+grown stronger and stronger. She had come so close to losing her that
+day. Twice in fact. Sitting in her cabin that evening, she came to a
+startling revelation.
+She was in love with KOS-MOS.
+"That's right, KOS-MOS," Shion told the sleeping angel. "I love you.
+This is some fix I've got myself in, huh?" she laughed wearily.
+"Wonder what everyone would say if they knew? I wonder what Kevin
+would say? I wonder what you will say? Would you even understand?"
+Her lips still looked so inviting, but Shion just couldn't bring
+herself to kiss them. If that's going to happen, she decided, it will
+happen when she's awake, and only if she's ready -- if she can ever
+be ready. Instead, Shion leaned over KOS-MOS's body, her hair
+cascading over her shoulders, and gave the woman who had taken her
+heart without even trying, a quick, but heartfelt, kiss on the cheek.
+In a corner of KOS-MOS's mind, a corner so far removed that she
+wasn't even aware of its existence, something began to stir. To vague
+to be called emotion, to faint to be called a sub-conscious desire.
+Not yet important enough to trigger and internal diagnostic scan. But
+something was there, was brought to life by a kiss that wasn't
+supposed to happen -- yet. And it began to grow.
+Shion pulled back with a gasp as she felt a twitch of movement from
+KOS-MOS's face. Her face was mere inches away when her red eyes
+slowly opened and locked with her own.
+"Good morning, Shion." KOS-MOS greeted her in her even, precise
+voice. She took note of Shion's close proximity, and misunderstood
+the reason behind it. "My internal chronometer reads 0700 hours,
+which was the assigned activation time. Do you require additional
+offline time to finish my maintenance checks?"
+Shion quickly puller her self back up to a sitting position on the
+side of the maintenance bed, and turned her head to hide her growing
+blush. "That wont be necessary KOS-MOS," she said quickly. "I - um -
+had just finished."
+"Very well," KOS-MOS stated simply, and sat up. She ran her usual
+series of start-up diagnostics. Aside from and unexpected minor error
+in an otherwise blank section of her OS, all the internal quires came
+back green.
+"All systems are operating within normal parameters," she informed
+Shion.
+Still facing away from her, Shion nodded. "Very good KOS-MOS," she
+said carefully, her nerve failing. There was a brief rustle behind
+her, followed by the soft *click* of high heels as KOS-MOS landed on
+her feet outside the maintenance bed. Shion stood up then and the
+upper hatch of the bed lowered and secured itself in place. As she
+stood, she faced the battle android, who was staring at her intently.
+Shion knew perfectly well that KOS-MOS stared at everything intently,
+but today, she found the androids fixed gaze unnerving, and lowered
+her gaze to the floor.
+What was I thinking? Shion scolded herself. This was a bad idea; I
+never should have --
+"Shion, I am curious as to why I was set to be activated at this
+time," KOS-MOS stated. "Judging from your attire and the basket you
+have with you, you seem to have plans for some time of leisure
+activity, which does not include myself at this time."
+Shion looked up, meeting her creation's eyes once more. That's as
+close to a compliment on my dress as I'm going to get, she realized.
+Feeling some of her bravery return, she said, "That's not entirely
+true, KOS-MOS. I was actually hoping you would join me for a picnic."
+KOS-MOS experienced an unexpected data surge from the part of her
+Operating System was she had discovered the error this upon waking.
+Before she could isolate the problem, the spike was gone. She added
+to her error log for later review.
+"Very well, Shion. I will accompany you," she replied. She turned
+and headed for the door, her heels making a very rhythmic click-click
+sound on the floor. She was already through the door before Shion
+snapped out of her surprise. She picked up the basket, and headed out
+the door as well.
+------------------------------------------
+As much as the Federation likes to believe the opposite, there are
+parts of known space where they have no power. This was good news for
+Gerad Dalton.
+As he welded the final components of his terminal together, he felt
+the urge to cackle like one of those mad-scientist types he often saw
+in horror sci-fi holos. He kept the urge in check. Who actually
+laughs like that anyway? Besides, he wasn't mad. Furious maybe, but
+not mad.
+It wasn't too long ago that Gerad was a respected and up-incoming
+researcher at Vector Industries. He knew the men up top (maybe even
+Wilhelm himself!) had their eyes on him as he began to explore more
+applications for the UMN, taking what was thought to be an
+established, immutable science, and pushing it further. Some even
+went as far as to call him a genius.
+His own personal research was second in priority only to his desire
+to rid the universe of the Gnosis. When the KOS-MOS project was
+announced, he called in every favor he could to make sure he got the
+number two slot, right after project head Kevin. With his reputation
+and seniority in the company, he was the obvious choice.
+Except Kevin chose a complete unknown: an nineteen-year-old named
+Shion Uzuki.
+Gerad wanted to cruse, wanted to scream, wanted to pound his fists
+into the wall, but once again, held himself in check. The tiny, one
+bedroom shack he lived in on a God-forsaken moon was covered wall to
+wall with computer equipment; throwing a tantrum would only damage
+something. Crudely wired and looking rather thrown together, a casual
+observer would dismiss the mess as trash. It had taken several long
+years to assemble, however, and its true power could not be seen by
+the naked eye.
+He called it the Jolly Roger. It was his life's work, nearly
+destroyed by her.
+When Kevin passed him over for that four-eyed wench, he was
+devastated. It defied logic, defied reason. By choosing Shion over
+him, he basically told him he wasn't good enough.
+He wasn't good enough? Him, the genius Gerad Dalton??
+The Jolly Roger would show him, show her, show Vector, show the
+whole damn universe!
+He was so close the last time, two years ago. His research into the
+UMN, combined with Vector's resources, made the Jolly Roger a
+reality. His goal: the complete and total control over the entire
+Unus Mundus Network. Lets see Shion Uzuki do that.
+As it turned out, she did one better: she discovered what he was
+doing, and reported him before he had the chance to bring the Jolly
+Roger on-line.
+Gerad removed the goggles he had been wearing. His face was tight
+and worn, marked with many wrinkles. He was a mere 40 standard years
+old, but his run from Federation law and his harsh life on a moon of
+the ice planet Vladek has caused him to age horribly. His once neat
+black hair was now long and unruly, peppered by streaks of gray. As
+he closed of the final section of his super computer, he gave a sigh
+of relief, and allowed himself a smile.
+It was time to hack the entire UMN.
+Once that was accomplished, he would see about handing out some
+payback.
+------------------------------------------
+KOS-MOS eyes darted from Shion's face to the strawberry she was
+offering between her thumb and index finger, then back to her face.
+She blinked once, then repeated the action.
+She is so cute when she's confused, Shion thought.
+"I do not see the point to this action," KOS-MOS informed her
+finally. "I do not require foodstuffs to function."
+"Just try it this once," Shion replied. "I think you might like it."
+The two women were sitting on a red and white checkered sheet, in
+the shade of a large (and probably extinct, Shion thought) tree. This
+tree stood in the middle of a large expanse of grass and rolling
+hills, extending as far as the eyes could see in any direction. They
+sky was a perfect clear blue, with only the occasional whisper of a
+cloud here and there. All in all it was the perfect time and place
+for a picnic. Not even the red and blue EVS exit portal spinning
+silently nearby could shatter the illusion. There was slight breeze
+just then, blowing KOS-MOS pale blue hair across her face slightly.
+Shion worried about it getting in her eyes for about a second, until
+she remembered just who she was sitting with.
+"Upon swallowing this item," KOS-MOS tried to explain. "It would be
+broken down to its basic elements, and consumed by my internal
+generator. I would draw no benefit from it. It would be better if you
+were to eat it. I insist."
+Shion felt touched by this comment, even though she knew it was
+basic on cold logic and not genuine caring. She'd take what she could
+get for now.
+"KOS-MOS, don't argue." Shion instructed. "Open your mouth."
+KOS-MOS's lips parted slowly, and Shion felt a slight blush fill her
+cheeks. She slowly placed the strawberry in her friends mouth, and
+forced herself to tear her eyes away as KOS-MOS bit into it and began
+to chew. She quickly activated her Connection Gear that she had been
+holding in the other hand, and accessed a program that she had spent
+most of the last few weeks working on. Once the screen came up, she
+hit the 'Upload Now' option.
+The data transfer was so fast that even KOS-MOS almost missed it. In
+no time at all a new OS sub-routine was downloaded, taking up the
+same space where the unknown bug had been detected earlier. That was
+the first thing she noticed.
+The second was an explosion of sensations in her mouth. She had been
+chewing the strawberry as instructed, but now she could taste it! It
+was sweet and soft and juicy and -- and --
+KOS-MOS swallowed. Though her facial expression changed only
+slightly, it was a difference Shion was able to notice.
+"Wow," KOS-MOS said at last.
+Shion was stunned. "Did you just say 'wow?'" she asked.
+The moment soon passed, and KOS-MOS was in control again. "I believe
+I did," she replied. "Perhaps my linguistic programs are
+malfunctioning."
+Shion sighed and rolled her eyes. "Well, how did you like it?" she
+asked.
+KOS-MOS opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again. After a
+few seconds she spoke. "While I do not see how this program will
+enhance my abilities as an Anti-Gnosis weapon system, it is a welcome
+addition to my operating system."
+"I meant the strawberry," Shion clarified.
+"I see," KOS-MOS replied. "I find that I rather enjoyed it. Thank
+you for sharing it with me."
+Shion felt her heart beat just a little faster, and a new blush
+spread across her cheeks. What am I, fourteen? she thought. She was
+just being polite, stop reading into it!
+"Shion, in the last several hours, I have noticed several abrupt and
+dramatic changes in your heartbeat, respiration rate, and body
+temperature," KOS-MOS informed her. "I am concerned about your
+health. Perhaps you should consult a physician."
+"How every perceptive of you, KOS-MOS," Shion said with a little
+laugh. "I'll be alright, though. It's nothing."
+"Are you certain?" KOS-MOS asked.
+Shion looked away, staring off into the sky for a moment. She
+sighed. "If I didn't know better," she said quietly, "I would think
+you actually cared."
+KOS-MOS turned her own gaze upward, scanning for whatever Shion was
+looking at. "I do not wish for you to be unwell," she said
+"Of course not," Shion said sadly. "After all, I'm your Primary
+Directive."
+KOS-MOS identified the tone of Shion's voice as what one might sound
+like if the were unhappy or distressed. Unsure of how to respond to
+such a situation, she decided to merely relate the facts of the
+matter. It was what she did best after all.
+"The Primary Directive of which you speak directs my action in time
+of crisis. In such situations, I am to safeguard all Vector
+personnel, especially you," she explained. "My current desire to
+ensure you are well is --," she paused here, momentarily surprised by
+what she was about to say. " - my own," she finished. "I -- just want
+you to be alright."
+Shion turned her head to look at the android, who was still staring
+into the sky. She hadn't been expecting that response. She wasn't
+sure what to say.
+"Would you like another strawberry?" she asked awkwardly. Where did
+that come from, Uzuki? she thought. KOS-MOS just performed the
+android equivalent of pouring her heart out, and all you can do is
+ask if she wants another strawberry??
+"I would like that very much, Shion," she replied, still staring off
+into the sky.
+---------------------------------
+On board the Elsa, MOMO watched the scene transpire on the UMN
+screen near the bridge. In her hurry, Shion had neglected to activate
+a privacy screen, and MOMO just happened upon it while on her way to
+the UMN store terminal.
+"Wow, Shion is so pretty in that dress!" she said to herself as she
+watched them converse on the screen. Of course KOS-MOS is pretty
+too...I wonder if she ever gets tired of wearing the same outfit? she
+added silently. Then she remembered just who she was taking about and
+decided that the android probably never gave it a second thought.
+As she watched, Shion reached out with her foot, snagged the picnic
+basket, and pulled it towards them. KOS-MOS watched her do this, and
+said something to her. There was no sound , but it was easy enough
+for MOMO to read their lips.
+"It would have been easier to use your hands, Shion," KOS-MOS was
+saying.
+"But not as much fun!" Shion replied. MOMO giggled at that; she had
+a point there.
+"Fun is a wasted use of resources." KOS-MOS informed her creator.
+Shion surprised MOMO by sticking her tongue out at KOS-MOS,
+effectively teasing a machine capable of destroying a planet some
+day.
+"You still want these strawberries or not?" Shion asked. KOS-MOS
+nodded. "All right, then," Shion stated. She reached into the basket,
+and pulled out one strawberries. She held it between her thumb and
+index figure, and guided it to KOS-MOS's mouth. The android slowly
+opened her mouth and bit into the fruit carefully. She closed her
+eyes as the taste of the simple piece of fruit washed over her.
+MOMO noticed the blush in Shion's cheeks.
+She also noticed the serene expression of genuine enjoyment on KOS-
+MOS's face.
+She started to feel a little awkward herself. Just what is happening
+here? she wondered. What are they doing? She was beginning to think
+she should quit watching, when Fate decided the matter for her.
+The Elsa, which had been cruising through hyperspace at an even
+clip, was suddenly thrown violently back into real space so abruptly
+that she fell to the floor with a small yelp of surprise. She banged
+her head against the UMN terminal, and saw stars for a few moments
+before rising to her feet and heading for the bridge. She took a few
+steps, then remembered that her friends were still in the EVS, and
+hit communication button on the terminal to let them know what was
+going on.
+"Hey, Shion, KOS-MOS, I think you better get back. Something seems
+to be --"
+MOMO stopped speaking when she noticed that neither of the two women
+could hear her. They continued their meal, oblivious to what was
+going on in the real world. She quickly keyed in a few more commands
+to the computer to discover the problem when the screen went blank
+suddenly. After a few moments, it winked back on.
+MOMO took one look at it. "Uh-oh," she said. Then she turned and ran
+to the bridge.
+On the UMN screen, there was a rotating gray and black image of the
+skull and crossbones.
+---------------------------------
+After feeding KOS-MOS nearly every piece of fruit that she had
+brought with her (and having quite a bit of food herself) Shion began
+to feel a little better, and very, very tired.
+"Perhaps we should return now," KOS-MOS suggested.
+"Not yet," Shion sighed wistfully. Once again, they sat side by
+side, backs against the tree, staring out over the horizon. Shion
+tapped a few commands into her computer, and suddenly it was sunset.
+The bright oranges, reds and yellows slowly receding away from the
+backdrop of twilight was breathtaking.
+"It's beautiful, don't you think, KOS-MOS?" Shion asked, even though
+she new the android thought no such thing.
+"It is a unique sight for one who has spent their entire existence
+in space," KOS-MOS agreed.
+Shion leaned her head on the friend's shoulder. This really has been
+a perfect day, Shion thought. Pleasant conversation, opening her mind
+to new experiences, and just being together without having to worry
+about the Zohar or the Gnosis or Albedo. I should really end it on
+this note.
+"What do think of me, KOS-MOS?" The question was out of her mouth
+before she could stop it.
+"You are Shion Uzuki, head of Vector Industries First R&D Division's
+KOS-MOS project. You designed me," KOS-MOS replied.
+"Forget I asked," Shion said quickly.
+There was a pause of several minutes as the sun continued to set on
+the two women. Shion felt her self grow more and more drowsy. She
+felt so relaxed where she was, so safe, so happy. For the next few
+minutes, she decided, I'm not going to think. Just be here with KOS-
+MOS. I'll worry about what that means later.
+KOS-MOS's mind, on the other hand, was spinning. Things seemed to
+fall into place for her all of sudden. Every moment she had ever
+spent with Shion since she was activated came back to her in an
+instant. When she was upset with her, when she spoke with her, when
+she tried to keep her from doing things she had to do. Lastly, the
+utter terror and desperation in her voice aboard Proto Merkabah.
+("You'd better come back, KOS-MOS! You'd better!)
+Realization dawned on the android at once. The area of her mind now
+occupied by the new taste program cheered silently at this
+realization...but it was still to faint to be noticed. For now.
+"Shion," KOS-MOS spoke suddenly, startling the young scientist. "I
+believe I have come to a realization."
+"What is it, KOS-MOS?" Shion asked. She felt her eyelids growing
+heavy, and she was looking forward to falling asleep right where she
+was.
+"You are in love with me," KOS-MOS stated simply.
+Shion was suddenly wide awake. She sat up quickly just as KOS-MOS
+turned her head to face her.
+"Do not deny it, Shion," KOS-MOS went on. "Careful examination of
+your actions since the time of my activation proves this fact. What
+we must now do is discuss what we shall do about it."
+"You make it sound like this a problem to be 'dealt with' and
+disposed off," Shion said, a little angrily. Not at KOS-MOS, but at
+herself for being so obvious when she had thought she was keeping it
+to herself. "Emotions are more complicated than that."
+"I am aware of this, even if I do not understand them completely,"
+KOS-MOS responded. "If you follow that fact to its logical
+conclusion, you realize that I can never fully understand your
+feelings for me, and therefore can never return them. This may be
+acceptable for you now, as this 'date' indicates --"
+"This is not a date!" Shion insisted, but her protest sounded hollow
+even to her own ears.
+" -- but eventually I will become a cause of great emotional stress
+and pain for you." The android stood up. Without looking at Shion,
+she continued. "The best course of action would be for me to remove
+myself from your life as soon as possible." Shion began to protest,
+but KOS-MOS talked over her. "I realize that my sudden departure will
+hurt you, but I believe that it will be far better if I hurt you a
+small amount now, compared to the great amount I will harm you later
+by staying. In addition, the time has come for me to be turned over
+to the Second Division, and begin mass production and field testing.
+Good bye, Shion." She began to walk to the exit portal.
+"Just you wait a minute, KOS-MOS!" Shion called after her. She
+jumped to her feet as well. "You can't just leave like this!"
+KOS-MOS continued walking. "That is precisely what I am doing. After
+careful consideration, I have decided this will be the best course of
+action."
+Shion forced herself not to panic, even though she could feel the
+same sense of dread fill her chest that she felt at Proto Merkabah.
+She tried to keep her voice even (and failed) as she spoke. "Don't
+leave me," she said quietly.
+KOS-MOS stopped walking. She turned her head slightly to one side.
+Shion could almost make out the profile of her face. She was looking
+toward the ground. In that pose, as her ruby-red eyes blinked slowly
+twice, she almost looked -- sad.
+"I do not wish to hurt you, Shion. If I remain with you, I will do
+so more than if I were to leave now," she said.
+"Is that really what you want, KOS-MOS?" Shion asked her.
+KOS-MOS opened her mouth to say 'affirmative', but found she
+couldn't. She was experiencing an error in her verbal skill
+programming. She quickly ran an internal diagnostic, to find the
+error source was coming from the same place as before.
+"No," she found herself saying.
+Shion held her hand out to the android. "Then don't go," she said.
+"Are you two serious?" a new voice called suddenly from the upper
+branches of the tree. "Kevin passed me up for you? A child, little
+girl who's so foolish that she'd fall in love with a weapon?"
+Startled, Shion spun around and looked up. In an instant, KOS-MOS
+was beside her, her right hand hovering over her holster. "Identify
+yourself!" KOS-MOS demanded. This was only the second time in her
+life that someone was able to sneak up on her, and she wasn't happy
+about it. It didn't occur to her just then the fact she was angry
+should have been impossible.
+Standing quite easily on a tree branch which was actually thinner
+than his feet, stood a man in a black and gray Vector uniform. Over
+his right breast pocket however, was the image of the skull and
+crossbones.
+Shion noticed this, and her eyes went wide. "Dalton?" she asked.
+"Ah, Ms. Uzuki!" Gerad replied. He brought both hands over his heart
+in a gesture of mock happiness. "You remember me! I can't help but be
+touched!" The smile vanished from his face, and his tone became as
+serious as a heart attack. "I, of course, remember you."
+"You know this person, Shion?" KOS-MOS asked. She attempted to use
+her internal UMN link to access Vector personnel files for a Gerad
+Dalton, but was unable to log on. Another internal error? she
+wondered.
+"I don't know how you got here, Gerad, but you can rest assured once
+we get back, I'll be sure to report you! The Federation has been
+looking for you for a long time!"
+" 'We?' " Gerad asked. "What, do you have a mouse in your pocket?"
+"Just what is that supposed to mean, Gerad?" Shion yelled back. "I
+was talking about myself and KOS-MOS!"
+"Oh yes, the weapon," Gerad said as though he was noticing the
+battle android for the first time. "It could pose a problem. Lets
+take care of that now, shall we?"
+Gerad quickly pointed toward the two women. At the same time, KOS-
+MOS detected a sudden energy surge coming from his body, and drew her
+blaster. A jagged bolt of blue-white energy sprang from his
+fingertips. Simultaneously, KOS-MOS shoved Shion down out of the way
+with her left hand and fired with her right.
+The two blasts met in mid-air and exploded, the force of the
+explosion pushing Shion along the ground about five feet, and
+flooding the artificial evening with light. When her vision cleared,
+she noticed neither Gerad nor KOS-MOS had budged an inch.
+"Well, well, well," Gerad said with honest surprise. "This should be
+fun."

Mercurial > moonlitnights

comparison old/stories/xeno-picnic.txt @ 2:fc00894c1d4a moonlitnights