Mercurial > moonlitnights
diff old/stories/xeno-picnic.txt @ 2:fc00894c1d4a moonlitnights
[svn r3] moved all the bad stuff to 'old'
author | rlm |
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date | Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:53:12 -0500 |
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1.1 --- /dev/null Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000 1.2 +++ b/old/stories/xeno-picnic.txt Fri Feb 19 20:53:12 2010 -0500 1.3 @@ -0,0 +1,712 @@ 1.4 +The Shion+KOS-MOS paring is the most debated in the Xenosaga fandom. 1.5 +I think they were made for each other. No pun intended. 1.6 + 1.7 +The events of this stroy take place betwenn Xenosaga Episode One and 1.8 +Two. There will be some spoilers for the end of Episode One, and 1.9 +those who haven't complete that game might be a bit lost in later 1.10 +chapters. 1.11 + 1.12 +I dont own Xenosaga. I only wish i did. 1.13 + 1.14 +Gerad Dalton is my creation, however. Steal him and die. 1.15 + 1.16 + 1.17 +Chapter One 1.18 +Picnic for Two 1.19 +By Silvercry 1.20 +silvercry2000@yahoo.com 1.21 + 1.22 + 1.23 +...my spirit sleeping somewhere cold, 1.24 +until you find it there and lead it back 1.25 +home.... 1.26 +Bring Me to Life - Evanescence 1.27 + 1.28 + 1.29 +Allen had his head stuck in the refrigerator in the Elsa's kitchen, 1.30 +looking for an early morning snack. All he was able to find was 1.31 +freeze-dried this, frozen that, dehydrated something else. 1.32 + 1.33 +"Aw, man," Allen whined. Don't they have anything quick and easy? 1.34 +The service bots haven't woke up yet, and I'm hungry now. He heard 1.35 +the door open behind him, but paid it no mind. 1.36 + 1.37 +"Good morning, Allen," he heard Shion say cheerfully as she entered 1.38 +the room. 1.39 + 1.40 +"Hey, Chief," Allen replied, his head still buried in the fridge. 1.41 +"If you're looking for food," he went on, "you're out of luck till 1.42 +the bots are activated." 1.43 + 1.44 +"Yes, I know," Shion replied. It sounded like she was trying to 1.45 +suppress a little laugh as she spoke. 1.46 + 1.47 +Wow, she has a cute little laugh, Allen thought. She really should 1.48 +laugh more often. 1.49 + 1.50 +"Allen," Shion went on, "would you let everyone know that KOS-MOS 1.51 +and I will be gone for the day?" Her voice was moving through the 1.52 +room, stopping by the door leading to the main part of the ship. 1.53 + 1.54 +Allen finally pulled his head from the fridge and looked up. "Sure 1.55 +thing, Chief. Where are you two -- WHOA!" 1.56 + 1.57 +Allen's sudden yell startled Shion, and she nearly dropped the 1.58 +whicker basket she was carrying. "Allen, be quiet!" Shion said 1.59 +sharply. "Are you trying to wake the whole ship?" There was a silence 1.60 +in the kitchen as Allen stared open mouthed at Shion in shock. "You 1.61 +know, Allen," Shion politely informed him, "It's not nice to stare." 1.62 + 1.63 +Not nice to stare! Allen thought. How could I not? 1.64 + 1.65 +In all the time Allen and Shion had spent working together, he had 1.66 +only seen he out of uniform a handful of times. Shion was never one 1.67 +for casual social events; she spent almost all of her time working on 1.68 +KOS-MOS. She wasn't exactly anti-social, just focused on her project 1.69 +to the point of neglecting some other aspects of life. She was well 1.70 +liked though, by her fellow KOS-MOS Project team members and, more 1.71 +recently, by the unique party they were now apart of. The last time 1.72 +he saw her out of her uniform was at the private beech at the 1.73 +Foundation (he nearly had a heart attack when he saw her little black 1.74 +bikini, he recalled). 1.75 + 1.76 +But there was definitely something different about the way she was 1.77 +dressed this morning. 1.78 + 1.79 +Her hair was free of its typical braid, framing her face nicely. And 1.80 +since when did the chief wear make up? Allen thought. A hint of 1.81 +blush, a touch of lipstick and eye shadow...just what was going on 1.82 +here? She was wearing a long, light-purple sundress that fell to mid- 1.83 +calf length. The hem of the dress was purposely uneven, longer in 1.84 +front and in back than on the sides, where it only reached her knees. 1.85 +She was wearing a pair of matching sandals, and (much to Allen's 1.86 +surprise) was even wearing nail polish. She carried a large whicker 1.87 +picnic basket on one arm. 1.88 + 1.89 +"Allen, my face is up here," Shion reminded him. 1.90 + 1.91 +Allen snapped his head and neck back up so fast, Shion briefly 1.92 +wondered if there would be any permanent damage. 1.93 + 1.94 +Say something clever, yet indifferent! Allen thought to himself 1.95 +frantically. He opened his mouth, but all he could manage was, "D-Did 1.96 +you say something, Chief?" 1.97 + 1.98 +"Honestly, Allen, you act like you've never seen me out of uniform 1.99 +before," she replied. 1.100 + 1.101 +"Only five or six times," Allen confessed. 1.102 + 1.103 +A small smile crossed Shion's face. "So, you've been keeping count?" 1.104 +she asked. 1.105 + 1.106 +Allen shook a his head and hands furiously. "NO! I mean, not really. 1.107 +I mean --what I mean is --" How can I get out of this one? "Um, 1.108 +wasn't their a message you wanted me to give everyone?" 1.109 + 1.110 +"Yes. KOS-MOS and I will be -- unavailable today. Just let everyone 1.111 +know if they ask, alright?" Shion repeated. She turned to leave. 1.112 + 1.113 +"Oh, right," Allen remembered, grateful for the change of subject. 1.114 +"Where are you two headed? Our report to Vector HQ isn't due for 1.115 +another two weeks." 1.116 + 1.117 +Shion hesitated. "Out," she replied after a moment. "I have this new 1.118 +EVS I want to load up and --" she stopped abruptly, then simply 1.119 +repeated: "Out." 1.120 + 1.121 +"Out?" Allen asked, puzzled. 1.122 + 1.123 +"Out," Shion confirmed. She turned sharply, her dress flaring out 1.124 +around her legs. The door opened, she walked through, and it shut 1.125 +behind her, leaving Allen to wonder what the heck had just happened. 1.126 + 1.127 +Shion quickly headed to for the elevator, not wanting to bump into 1.128 +anyone else. When the door shut behind her, and it began to descend, 1.129 +she released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She 1.130 +glanced at her reflection in the glass of the door before her. Even 1.131 +though she had spent a lot more time than usual on picking and 1.132 +dressing in this particular outfit, she was a little surprised by 1.133 +just how good she looked. A fact, she noted, which was definitely not 1.134 +lost on Allen. She smiled. She was not what you would call a vain 1.135 +person, but it was nice to be noticed as a woman once in a while. 1.136 + 1.137 +Problem was, she was noticed by the wrong person. 1.138 + 1.139 +Shion shook her head to clear it as the lift reached its 1.140 +destination. She exited the lift and proceeded towards her 1.141 +destination, her mood improving with every step. Past the cargo 1.142 +elevator, down to the catapult level, and through the AGWS hangar. At 1.143 +one point she noticed she was skipping, and stopped it immediately. 1.144 +Get a grip, Shion Uzuki! she scolded herself as she reached the door 1.145 +to KOS-MOS's room. You're acting like this is a -- 1.146 + 1.147 +The door slid open, and Shion pushed the thought aside, and stepped 1.148 +into the room. It was a simple room, not much to look at. That is, of 1.149 +course, if one was to over look the single object in the center. 1.150 +Shion walked up to and around the black maintenance bed for KOS-MOS, 1.151 +to see the battle android still 'asleep' with in it. 1.152 + 1.153 +Her regeneration cycle will be over in a few moments, Shion thought 1.154 +to herself. Guess I'm a little early. She set the basket down near 1.155 +the foot of the pod, and took a seat on the side of it herself, never 1.156 +taking her eyes off the sleeping angel inside. An angel of death, 1.157 +maybe, she thought, recalling all the times she had seen KOS-MOS in 1.158 +action over the course off the last few days. On the heels of those 1.159 +memories came images of the several times KOS-MOS had put herself on 1.160 +the line to defend the Elsa...and Shion specifically. Ok, Shion 1.161 +thought. Maybe she's a guardian angel. Another memory came to her 1.162 +then -- a much older one. A thunderstorm, an attack by unknown men, 1.163 +the premature activation of the original KOS-MOS, and the massacre 1.164 +that followed. Or perhaps, she added sadly, a fallen angel. 1.165 + 1.166 +KOS-MOS slept on, blissfully unaware for the moment. 1.167 + 1.168 +"Sometimes I wish you could sleep forever," Shion whispered to the 1.169 +sleeping android. "And others, I can't wait to see you wake up. I 1.170 +wonder what would you say about that?" She tried to mimic KOS-MOS's 1.171 +voice and tone then said, "'Shion, your current line of thought is 1.172 +paradoxical in nature and serves no purpose.' Or something like 1.173 +that." Shion sighed. "Don't you think I know that?" she whispered. 1.174 + 1.175 +There was no reply from KOS-MOS. Shion continued to stare at the 1.176 +android's face, waiting patiently for her eyes to open. After a few 1.177 +moments, her gaze drifted down from her eyes to her mouth. And an 1.178 +idea suddenly formed in her mind. A crazy idea. 1.179 + 1.180 +What am I thinking? Shion asked herself silently. I can't do that! 1.181 +But the more she stared at KOS-MOS's lips, the greater the desire 1.182 +became. Just this one time, she tried to rationalize. She never has 1.183 +to know! 1.184 + 1.185 +"If I stole one kiss, would you hold it against me?" Shion asked in 1.186 +a voice to soft to even be called a whisper. It certainly wasn't the 1.187 +first time she thought about giving her mechanical angel a kiss, but 1.188 +in the days since the incident at Proto Merkabah, the desire had 1.189 +grown stronger and stronger. She had come so close to losing her that 1.190 +day. Twice in fact. Sitting in her cabin that evening, she came to a 1.191 +startling revelation. 1.192 + 1.193 +She was in love with KOS-MOS. 1.194 + 1.195 +"That's right, KOS-MOS," Shion told the sleeping angel. "I love you. 1.196 +This is some fix I've got myself in, huh?" she laughed wearily. 1.197 +"Wonder what everyone would say if they knew? I wonder what Kevin 1.198 +would say? I wonder what you will say? Would you even understand?" 1.199 + 1.200 +Her lips still looked so inviting, but Shion just couldn't bring 1.201 +herself to kiss them. If that's going to happen, she decided, it will 1.202 +happen when she's awake, and only if she's ready -- if she can ever 1.203 +be ready. Instead, Shion leaned over KOS-MOS's body, her hair 1.204 +cascading over her shoulders, and gave the woman who had taken her 1.205 +heart without even trying, a quick, but heartfelt, kiss on the cheek. 1.206 + 1.207 +In a corner of KOS-MOS's mind, a corner so far removed that she 1.208 +wasn't even aware of its existence, something began to stir. To vague 1.209 +to be called emotion, to faint to be called a sub-conscious desire. 1.210 +Not yet important enough to trigger and internal diagnostic scan. But 1.211 +something was there, was brought to life by a kiss that wasn't 1.212 +supposed to happen -- yet. And it began to grow. 1.213 + 1.214 +Shion pulled back with a gasp as she felt a twitch of movement from 1.215 +KOS-MOS's face. Her face was mere inches away when her red eyes 1.216 +slowly opened and locked with her own. 1.217 + 1.218 +"Good morning, Shion." KOS-MOS greeted her in her even, precise 1.219 +voice. She took note of Shion's close proximity, and misunderstood 1.220 +the reason behind it. "My internal chronometer reads 0700 hours, 1.221 +which was the assigned activation time. Do you require additional 1.222 +offline time to finish my maintenance checks?" 1.223 + 1.224 +Shion quickly puller her self back up to a sitting position on the 1.225 +side of the maintenance bed, and turned her head to hide her growing 1.226 +blush. "That wont be necessary KOS-MOS," she said quickly. "I - um - 1.227 +had just finished." 1.228 + 1.229 +"Very well," KOS-MOS stated simply, and sat up. She ran her usual 1.230 +series of start-up diagnostics. Aside from and unexpected minor error 1.231 +in an otherwise blank section of her OS, all the internal quires came 1.232 +back green. 1.233 + 1.234 +"All systems are operating within normal parameters," she informed 1.235 +Shion. 1.236 + 1.237 +Still facing away from her, Shion nodded. "Very good KOS-MOS," she 1.238 +said carefully, her nerve failing. There was a brief rustle behind 1.239 +her, followed by the soft *click* of high heels as KOS-MOS landed on 1.240 +her feet outside the maintenance bed. Shion stood up then and the 1.241 +upper hatch of the bed lowered and secured itself in place. As she 1.242 +stood, she faced the battle android, who was staring at her intently. 1.243 +Shion knew perfectly well that KOS-MOS stared at everything intently, 1.244 +but today, she found the androids fixed gaze unnerving, and lowered 1.245 +her gaze to the floor. 1.246 + 1.247 +What was I thinking? Shion scolded herself. This was a bad idea; I 1.248 +never should have -- 1.249 + 1.250 +"Shion, I am curious as to why I was set to be activated at this 1.251 +time," KOS-MOS stated. "Judging from your attire and the basket you 1.252 +have with you, you seem to have plans for some time of leisure 1.253 +activity, which does not include myself at this time." 1.254 + 1.255 +Shion looked up, meeting her creation's eyes once more. That's as 1.256 +close to a compliment on my dress as I'm going to get, she realized. 1.257 +Feeling some of her bravery return, she said, "That's not entirely 1.258 +true, KOS-MOS. I was actually hoping you would join me for a picnic." 1.259 + 1.260 +KOS-MOS experienced an unexpected data surge from the part of her 1.261 +Operating System was she had discovered the error this upon waking. 1.262 +Before she could isolate the problem, the spike was gone. She added 1.263 +to her error log for later review. 1.264 + 1.265 +"Very well, Shion. I will accompany you," she replied. She turned 1.266 +and headed for the door, her heels making a very rhythmic click-click 1.267 +sound on the floor. She was already through the door before Shion 1.268 +snapped out of her surprise. She picked up the basket, and headed out 1.269 +the door as well. 1.270 + 1.271 +------------------------------------------ 1.272 + 1.273 +As much as the Federation likes to believe the opposite, there are 1.274 +parts of known space where they have no power. This was good news for 1.275 +Gerad Dalton. 1.276 + 1.277 +As he welded the final components of his terminal together, he felt 1.278 +the urge to cackle like one of those mad-scientist types he often saw 1.279 +in horror sci-fi holos. He kept the urge in check. Who actually 1.280 +laughs like that anyway? Besides, he wasn't mad. Furious maybe, but 1.281 +not mad. 1.282 + 1.283 +It wasn't too long ago that Gerad was a respected and up-incoming 1.284 +researcher at Vector Industries. He knew the men up top (maybe even 1.285 +Wilhelm himself!) had their eyes on him as he began to explore more 1.286 +applications for the UMN, taking what was thought to be an 1.287 +established, immutable science, and pushing it further. Some even 1.288 +went as far as to call him a genius. 1.289 + 1.290 +His own personal research was second in priority only to his desire 1.291 +to rid the universe of the Gnosis. When the KOS-MOS project was 1.292 +announced, he called in every favor he could to make sure he got the 1.293 +number two slot, right after project head Kevin. With his reputation 1.294 +and seniority in the company, he was the obvious choice. 1.295 + 1.296 +Except Kevin chose a complete unknown: an nineteen-year-old named 1.297 +Shion Uzuki. 1.298 + 1.299 +Gerad wanted to cruse, wanted to scream, wanted to pound his fists 1.300 +into the wall, but once again, held himself in check. The tiny, one 1.301 +bedroom shack he lived in on a God-forsaken moon was covered wall to 1.302 +wall with computer equipment; throwing a tantrum would only damage 1.303 +something. Crudely wired and looking rather thrown together, a casual 1.304 +observer would dismiss the mess as trash. It had taken several long 1.305 +years to assemble, however, and its true power could not be seen by 1.306 +the naked eye. 1.307 + 1.308 +He called it the Jolly Roger. It was his life's work, nearly 1.309 +destroyed by her. 1.310 + 1.311 +When Kevin passed him over for that four-eyed wench, he was 1.312 +devastated. It defied logic, defied reason. By choosing Shion over 1.313 +him, he basically told him he wasn't good enough. 1.314 + 1.315 +He wasn't good enough? Him, the genius Gerad Dalton?? 1.316 + 1.317 +The Jolly Roger would show him, show her, show Vector, show the 1.318 +whole damn universe! 1.319 + 1.320 +He was so close the last time, two years ago. His research into the 1.321 +UMN, combined with Vector's resources, made the Jolly Roger a 1.322 +reality. His goal: the complete and total control over the entire 1.323 +Unus Mundus Network. Lets see Shion Uzuki do that. 1.324 + 1.325 +As it turned out, she did one better: she discovered what he was 1.326 +doing, and reported him before he had the chance to bring the Jolly 1.327 +Roger on-line. 1.328 + 1.329 +Gerad removed the goggles he had been wearing. His face was tight 1.330 +and worn, marked with many wrinkles. He was a mere 40 standard years 1.331 +old, but his run from Federation law and his harsh life on a moon of 1.332 +the ice planet Vladek has caused him to age horribly. His once neat 1.333 +black hair was now long and unruly, peppered by streaks of gray. As 1.334 +he closed of the final section of his super computer, he gave a sigh 1.335 +of relief, and allowed himself a smile. 1.336 + 1.337 +It was time to hack the entire UMN. 1.338 + 1.339 +Once that was accomplished, he would see about handing out some 1.340 +payback. 1.341 + 1.342 +------------------------------------------ 1.343 + 1.344 +KOS-MOS eyes darted from Shion's face to the strawberry she was 1.345 +offering between her thumb and index finger, then back to her face. 1.346 +She blinked once, then repeated the action. 1.347 + 1.348 +She is so cute when she's confused, Shion thought. 1.349 + 1.350 +"I do not see the point to this action," KOS-MOS informed her 1.351 +finally. "I do not require foodstuffs to function." 1.352 + 1.353 +"Just try it this once," Shion replied. "I think you might like it." 1.354 + 1.355 +The two women were sitting on a red and white checkered sheet, in 1.356 +the shade of a large (and probably extinct, Shion thought) tree. This 1.357 +tree stood in the middle of a large expanse of grass and rolling 1.358 +hills, extending as far as the eyes could see in any direction. They 1.359 +sky was a perfect clear blue, with only the occasional whisper of a 1.360 +cloud here and there. All in all it was the perfect time and place 1.361 +for a picnic. Not even the red and blue EVS exit portal spinning 1.362 +silently nearby could shatter the illusion. There was slight breeze 1.363 +just then, blowing KOS-MOS pale blue hair across her face slightly. 1.364 +Shion worried about it getting in her eyes for about a second, until 1.365 +she remembered just who she was sitting with. 1.366 + 1.367 +"Upon swallowing this item," KOS-MOS tried to explain. "It would be 1.368 +broken down to its basic elements, and consumed by my internal 1.369 +generator. I would draw no benefit from it. It would be better if you 1.370 +were to eat it. I insist." 1.371 + 1.372 +Shion felt touched by this comment, even though she knew it was 1.373 +basic on cold logic and not genuine caring. She'd take what she could 1.374 +get for now. 1.375 + 1.376 +"KOS-MOS, don't argue." Shion instructed. "Open your mouth." 1.377 + 1.378 +KOS-MOS's lips parted slowly, and Shion felt a slight blush fill her 1.379 +cheeks. She slowly placed the strawberry in her friends mouth, and 1.380 +forced herself to tear her eyes away as KOS-MOS bit into it and began 1.381 +to chew. She quickly activated her Connection Gear that she had been 1.382 +holding in the other hand, and accessed a program that she had spent 1.383 +most of the last few weeks working on. Once the screen came up, she 1.384 +hit the 'Upload Now' option. 1.385 + 1.386 +The data transfer was so fast that even KOS-MOS almost missed it. In 1.387 +no time at all a new OS sub-routine was downloaded, taking up the 1.388 +same space where the unknown bug had been detected earlier. That was 1.389 +the first thing she noticed. 1.390 + 1.391 +The second was an explosion of sensations in her mouth. She had been 1.392 +chewing the strawberry as instructed, but now she could taste it! It 1.393 +was sweet and soft and juicy and -- and -- 1.394 + 1.395 +KOS-MOS swallowed. Though her facial expression changed only 1.396 +slightly, it was a difference Shion was able to notice. 1.397 + 1.398 +"Wow," KOS-MOS said at last. 1.399 + 1.400 +Shion was stunned. "Did you just say 'wow?'" she asked. 1.401 + 1.402 +The moment soon passed, and KOS-MOS was in control again. "I believe 1.403 +I did," she replied. "Perhaps my linguistic programs are 1.404 +malfunctioning." 1.405 + 1.406 +Shion sighed and rolled her eyes. "Well, how did you like it?" she 1.407 +asked. 1.408 + 1.409 +KOS-MOS opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again. After a 1.410 +few seconds she spoke. "While I do not see how this program will 1.411 +enhance my abilities as an Anti-Gnosis weapon system, it is a welcome 1.412 +addition to my operating system." 1.413 + 1.414 +"I meant the strawberry," Shion clarified. 1.415 + 1.416 +"I see," KOS-MOS replied. "I find that I rather enjoyed it. Thank 1.417 +you for sharing it with me." 1.418 + 1.419 +Shion felt her heart beat just a little faster, and a new blush 1.420 +spread across her cheeks. What am I, fourteen? she thought. She was 1.421 +just being polite, stop reading into it! 1.422 + 1.423 +"Shion, in the last several hours, I have noticed several abrupt and 1.424 +dramatic changes in your heartbeat, respiration rate, and body 1.425 +temperature," KOS-MOS informed her. "I am concerned about your 1.426 +health. Perhaps you should consult a physician." 1.427 + 1.428 +"How every perceptive of you, KOS-MOS," Shion said with a little 1.429 +laugh. "I'll be alright, though. It's nothing." 1.430 + 1.431 +"Are you certain?" KOS-MOS asked. 1.432 + 1.433 +Shion looked away, staring off into the sky for a moment. She 1.434 +sighed. "If I didn't know better," she said quietly, "I would think 1.435 +you actually cared." 1.436 + 1.437 +KOS-MOS turned her own gaze upward, scanning for whatever Shion was 1.438 +looking at. "I do not wish for you to be unwell," she said 1.439 + 1.440 +"Of course not," Shion said sadly. "After all, I'm your Primary 1.441 +Directive." 1.442 + 1.443 +KOS-MOS identified the tone of Shion's voice as what one might sound 1.444 +like if the were unhappy or distressed. Unsure of how to respond to 1.445 +such a situation, she decided to merely relate the facts of the 1.446 +matter. It was what she did best after all. 1.447 + 1.448 +"The Primary Directive of which you speak directs my action in time 1.449 +of crisis. In such situations, I am to safeguard all Vector 1.450 +personnel, especially you," she explained. "My current desire to 1.451 +ensure you are well is --," she paused here, momentarily surprised by 1.452 +what she was about to say. " - my own," she finished. "I -- just want 1.453 +you to be alright." 1.454 + 1.455 +Shion turned her head to look at the android, who was still staring 1.456 +into the sky. She hadn't been expecting that response. She wasn't 1.457 +sure what to say. 1.458 + 1.459 +"Would you like another strawberry?" she asked awkwardly. Where did 1.460 +that come from, Uzuki? she thought. KOS-MOS just performed the 1.461 +android equivalent of pouring her heart out, and all you can do is 1.462 +ask if she wants another strawberry?? 1.463 + 1.464 +"I would like that very much, Shion," she replied, still staring off 1.465 +into the sky. 1.466 + 1.467 +--------------------------------- 1.468 + 1.469 +On board the Elsa, MOMO watched the scene transpire on the UMN 1.470 +screen near the bridge. In her hurry, Shion had neglected to activate 1.471 +a privacy screen, and MOMO just happened upon it while on her way to 1.472 +the UMN store terminal. 1.473 + 1.474 +"Wow, Shion is so pretty in that dress!" she said to herself as she 1.475 +watched them converse on the screen. Of course KOS-MOS is pretty 1.476 +too...I wonder if she ever gets tired of wearing the same outfit? she 1.477 +added silently. Then she remembered just who she was taking about and 1.478 +decided that the android probably never gave it a second thought. 1.479 + 1.480 +As she watched, Shion reached out with her foot, snagged the picnic 1.481 +basket, and pulled it towards them. KOS-MOS watched her do this, and 1.482 +said something to her. There was no sound , but it was easy enough 1.483 +for MOMO to read their lips. 1.484 + 1.485 +"It would have been easier to use your hands, Shion," KOS-MOS was 1.486 +saying. 1.487 + 1.488 +"But not as much fun!" Shion replied. MOMO giggled at that; she had 1.489 +a point there. 1.490 + 1.491 +"Fun is a wasted use of resources." KOS-MOS informed her creator. 1.492 + 1.493 +Shion surprised MOMO by sticking her tongue out at KOS-MOS, 1.494 +effectively teasing a machine capable of destroying a planet some 1.495 +day. 1.496 + 1.497 +"You still want these strawberries or not?" Shion asked. KOS-MOS 1.498 +nodded. "All right, then," Shion stated. She reached into the basket, 1.499 +and pulled out one strawberries. She held it between her thumb and 1.500 +index figure, and guided it to KOS-MOS's mouth. The android slowly 1.501 +opened her mouth and bit into the fruit carefully. She closed her 1.502 +eyes as the taste of the simple piece of fruit washed over her. 1.503 + 1.504 +MOMO noticed the blush in Shion's cheeks. 1.505 + 1.506 +She also noticed the serene expression of genuine enjoyment on KOS- 1.507 +MOS's face. 1.508 + 1.509 +She started to feel a little awkward herself. Just what is happening 1.510 +here? she wondered. What are they doing? She was beginning to think 1.511 +she should quit watching, when Fate decided the matter for her. 1.512 + 1.513 +The Elsa, which had been cruising through hyperspace at an even 1.514 +clip, was suddenly thrown violently back into real space so abruptly 1.515 +that she fell to the floor with a small yelp of surprise. She banged 1.516 +her head against the UMN terminal, and saw stars for a few moments 1.517 +before rising to her feet and heading for the bridge. She took a few 1.518 +steps, then remembered that her friends were still in the EVS, and 1.519 +hit communication button on the terminal to let them know what was 1.520 +going on. 1.521 + 1.522 +"Hey, Shion, KOS-MOS, I think you better get back. Something seems 1.523 +to be --" 1.524 + 1.525 +MOMO stopped speaking when she noticed that neither of the two women 1.526 +could hear her. They continued their meal, oblivious to what was 1.527 +going on in the real world. She quickly keyed in a few more commands 1.528 +to the computer to discover the problem when the screen went blank 1.529 +suddenly. After a few moments, it winked back on. 1.530 + 1.531 +MOMO took one look at it. "Uh-oh," she said. Then she turned and ran 1.532 +to the bridge. 1.533 + 1.534 +On the UMN screen, there was a rotating gray and black image of the 1.535 +skull and crossbones. 1.536 + 1.537 +--------------------------------- 1.538 + 1.539 +After feeding KOS-MOS nearly every piece of fruit that she had 1.540 +brought with her (and having quite a bit of food herself) Shion began 1.541 +to feel a little better, and very, very tired. 1.542 + 1.543 +"Perhaps we should return now," KOS-MOS suggested. 1.544 + 1.545 +"Not yet," Shion sighed wistfully. Once again, they sat side by 1.546 +side, backs against the tree, staring out over the horizon. Shion 1.547 +tapped a few commands into her computer, and suddenly it was sunset. 1.548 +The bright oranges, reds and yellows slowly receding away from the 1.549 +backdrop of twilight was breathtaking. 1.550 + 1.551 +"It's beautiful, don't you think, KOS-MOS?" Shion asked, even though 1.552 +she new the android thought no such thing. 1.553 + 1.554 +"It is a unique sight for one who has spent their entire existence 1.555 +in space," KOS-MOS agreed. 1.556 + 1.557 +Shion leaned her head on the friend's shoulder. This really has been 1.558 +a perfect day, Shion thought. Pleasant conversation, opening her mind 1.559 +to new experiences, and just being together without having to worry 1.560 +about the Zohar or the Gnosis or Albedo. I should really end it on 1.561 +this note. 1.562 + 1.563 +"What do think of me, KOS-MOS?" The question was out of her mouth 1.564 +before she could stop it. 1.565 + 1.566 +"You are Shion Uzuki, head of Vector Industries First R&D Division's 1.567 +KOS-MOS project. You designed me," KOS-MOS replied. 1.568 + 1.569 +"Forget I asked," Shion said quickly. 1.570 + 1.571 +There was a pause of several minutes as the sun continued to set on 1.572 +the two women. Shion felt her self grow more and more drowsy. She 1.573 +felt so relaxed where she was, so safe, so happy. For the next few 1.574 +minutes, she decided, I'm not going to think. Just be here with KOS- 1.575 +MOS. I'll worry about what that means later. 1.576 + 1.577 +KOS-MOS's mind, on the other hand, was spinning. Things seemed to 1.578 +fall into place for her all of sudden. Every moment she had ever 1.579 +spent with Shion since she was activated came back to her in an 1.580 +instant. When she was upset with her, when she spoke with her, when 1.581 +she tried to keep her from doing things she had to do. Lastly, the 1.582 +utter terror and desperation in her voice aboard Proto Merkabah. 1.583 + 1.584 +("You'd better come back, KOS-MOS! You'd better!) 1.585 + 1.586 +Realization dawned on the android at once. The area of her mind now 1.587 +occupied by the new taste program cheered silently at this 1.588 +realization...but it was still to faint to be noticed. For now. 1.589 + 1.590 +"Shion," KOS-MOS spoke suddenly, startling the young scientist. "I 1.591 +believe I have come to a realization." 1.592 + 1.593 +"What is it, KOS-MOS?" Shion asked. She felt her eyelids growing 1.594 +heavy, and she was looking forward to falling asleep right where she 1.595 +was. 1.596 + 1.597 +"You are in love with me," KOS-MOS stated simply. 1.598 + 1.599 +Shion was suddenly wide awake. She sat up quickly just as KOS-MOS 1.600 +turned her head to face her. 1.601 + 1.602 +"Do not deny it, Shion," KOS-MOS went on. "Careful examination of 1.603 +your actions since the time of my activation proves this fact. What 1.604 +we must now do is discuss what we shall do about it." 1.605 + 1.606 +"You make it sound like this a problem to be 'dealt with' and 1.607 +disposed off," Shion said, a little angrily. Not at KOS-MOS, but at 1.608 +herself for being so obvious when she had thought she was keeping it 1.609 +to herself. "Emotions are more complicated than that." 1.610 + 1.611 +"I am aware of this, even if I do not understand them completely," 1.612 +KOS-MOS responded. "If you follow that fact to its logical 1.613 +conclusion, you realize that I can never fully understand your 1.614 +feelings for me, and therefore can never return them. This may be 1.615 +acceptable for you now, as this 'date' indicates --" 1.616 + 1.617 +"This is not a date!" Shion insisted, but her protest sounded hollow 1.618 +even to her own ears. 1.619 + 1.620 +" -- but eventually I will become a cause of great emotional stress 1.621 +and pain for you." The android stood up. Without looking at Shion, 1.622 +she continued. "The best course of action would be for me to remove 1.623 +myself from your life as soon as possible." Shion began to protest, 1.624 +but KOS-MOS talked over her. "I realize that my sudden departure will 1.625 +hurt you, but I believe that it will be far better if I hurt you a 1.626 +small amount now, compared to the great amount I will harm you later 1.627 +by staying. In addition, the time has come for me to be turned over 1.628 +to the Second Division, and begin mass production and field testing. 1.629 +Good bye, Shion." She began to walk to the exit portal. 1.630 + 1.631 +"Just you wait a minute, KOS-MOS!" Shion called after her. She 1.632 +jumped to her feet as well. "You can't just leave like this!" 1.633 + 1.634 +KOS-MOS continued walking. "That is precisely what I am doing. After 1.635 +careful consideration, I have decided this will be the best course of 1.636 +action." 1.637 + 1.638 +Shion forced herself not to panic, even though she could feel the 1.639 +same sense of dread fill her chest that she felt at Proto Merkabah. 1.640 +She tried to keep her voice even (and failed) as she spoke. "Don't 1.641 +leave me," she said quietly. 1.642 + 1.643 +KOS-MOS stopped walking. She turned her head slightly to one side. 1.644 +Shion could almost make out the profile of her face. She was looking 1.645 +toward the ground. In that pose, as her ruby-red eyes blinked slowly 1.646 +twice, she almost looked -- sad. 1.647 + 1.648 +"I do not wish to hurt you, Shion. If I remain with you, I will do 1.649 +so more than if I were to leave now," she said. 1.650 + 1.651 +"Is that really what you want, KOS-MOS?" Shion asked her. 1.652 + 1.653 +KOS-MOS opened her mouth to say 'affirmative', but found she 1.654 +couldn't. She was experiencing an error in her verbal skill 1.655 +programming. She quickly ran an internal diagnostic, to find the 1.656 +error source was coming from the same place as before. 1.657 + 1.658 +"No," she found herself saying. 1.659 + 1.660 +Shion held her hand out to the android. "Then don't go," she said. 1.661 + 1.662 +"Are you two serious?" a new voice called suddenly from the upper 1.663 +branches of the tree. "Kevin passed me up for you? A child, little 1.664 +girl who's so foolish that she'd fall in love with a weapon?" 1.665 + 1.666 +Startled, Shion spun around and looked up. In an instant, KOS-MOS 1.667 +was beside her, her right hand hovering over her holster. "Identify 1.668 +yourself!" KOS-MOS demanded. This was only the second time in her 1.669 +life that someone was able to sneak up on her, and she wasn't happy 1.670 +about it. It didn't occur to her just then the fact she was angry 1.671 +should have been impossible. 1.672 + 1.673 +Standing quite easily on a tree branch which was actually thinner 1.674 +than his feet, stood a man in a black and gray Vector uniform. Over 1.675 +his right breast pocket however, was the image of the skull and 1.676 +crossbones. 1.677 + 1.678 +Shion noticed this, and her eyes went wide. "Dalton?" she asked. 1.679 + 1.680 +"Ah, Ms. Uzuki!" Gerad replied. He brought both hands over his heart 1.681 +in a gesture of mock happiness. "You remember me! I can't help but be 1.682 +touched!" The smile vanished from his face, and his tone became as 1.683 +serious as a heart attack. "I, of course, remember you." 1.684 + 1.685 +"You know this person, Shion?" KOS-MOS asked. She attempted to use 1.686 +her internal UMN link to access Vector personnel files for a Gerad 1.687 +Dalton, but was unable to log on. Another internal error? she 1.688 +wondered. 1.689 + 1.690 +"I don't know how you got here, Gerad, but you can rest assured once 1.691 +we get back, I'll be sure to report you! The Federation has been 1.692 +looking for you for a long time!" 1.693 + 1.694 +" 'We?' " Gerad asked. "What, do you have a mouse in your pocket?" 1.695 + 1.696 +"Just what is that supposed to mean, Gerad?" Shion yelled back. "I 1.697 +was talking about myself and KOS-MOS!" 1.698 + 1.699 +"Oh yes, the weapon," Gerad said as though he was noticing the 1.700 +battle android for the first time. "It could pose a problem. Lets 1.701 +take care of that now, shall we?" 1.702 + 1.703 +Gerad quickly pointed toward the two women. At the same time, KOS- 1.704 +MOS detected a sudden energy surge coming from his body, and drew her 1.705 +blaster. A jagged bolt of blue-white energy sprang from his 1.706 +fingertips. Simultaneously, KOS-MOS shoved Shion down out of the way 1.707 +with her left hand and fired with her right. 1.708 + 1.709 +The two blasts met in mid-air and exploded, the force of the 1.710 +explosion pushing Shion along the ground about five feet, and 1.711 +flooding the artificial evening with light. When her vision cleared, 1.712 +she noticed neither Gerad nor KOS-MOS had budged an inch. 1.713 + 1.714 +"Well, well, well," Gerad said with honest surprise. "This should be 1.715 +fun." 1.716 \ No newline at end of file