Sunday, February 08, 2004
Episode 5: I only have EYES for you
Yamada stood with his mouth gapping open, like a hooked bass, gasping for air. Malakai smirked and stood square, and walked around the table. He towered over the piggy little man.
"Come now, Mr. Yamada, you didn't really think the chairman was unaware of you're side project? EYES was a natural evolution of ARMS... the stealth/scout version of the soldier model..." Malakai was obviously pleased to see Yamada's look of fear and apprehension. Yamada's face turned dark as he saw the sneer of disdain, the obvious distaste in Malakai Ashitaka's eyes.
"H-how DARE you speak to me that way!" Yamada sputtered. "Just wait until the chairman hears of this!!! You'll never work-" Hysterical laughter erupted from all sides, booming out from speakers hidden in the walls. It was Director Andross.
"Shut your mouth, old man. The chairman is well aware of your little side project," he snarled in between hysterical giggling. "You must be a fool to think the chairman that simple, Gendo Yamada. I never approved your appointment. We have my predecssor to thank for that, but unless you FULLY cooperate with Agent Ashitaka..." The giggling bubbled over, drowning out the Director's voice. Yamada gulped.
"We-well then, let me show you the test facility..." he stammered.
"Excellent." Malakai smiled.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
The underground tram slowed, and shuttered to a stop on its maglev cushion…the power cut out and the transport dropped the half foot to the rail line floor. The doors wisked open, and Agent Ashitaka strode out, Gendo Yamada in tow. They walked for the elevator tube, which decended further into the Earth. The doors opened onto chrome corridors that reeked of antiseptic. Mousy lab techs scurried from cubicle to test rooms and back, by Malakai paid them no mind. He seemed to know where he was going, each step seemed to bring a growing tide of urgency…Mr. Yamada was to precoccupied huffing and puffing in an attempt to keep the long and easy strides of Agent Ashitaka. He tried to look officious and in control, and even tried to order a few techs about, but that was swiftly halted with a glance back by Malakai, a clearing of the throat, and an icy stare.
After nearly twenty minutes of walking, they came to the first of several airlock style doors. Malakai motion for the disgruntled executive to authorize entry and then took the lead again. It was clear Malakai was in control, and Yamada was merely a key to open the treasure…
“Ag..Agent Ashitaka, may I ask you why you need access to EYES?” Yamada croaked.
“No.”
“Then may I..”
“No.”
“Would it be…”
“No, Mr. Yamada. The answer to your questions is no.”
Ashitaka never broke stride as he stepped around a small knot of lab techs, Yamada just stood, reeling at this unabashed abuse. Malakai turned on the far end of the compartment.
“Come Mr. Yamada. We have a schedule to keep.” Malakai called.
* * * *
The mist clung to the forest floor as the sun rose, the early light filtering through the foliage. Steiner had scattered the remains of their campfire and the trio set off into the woods. Nanami was silent, thinking about what Batou had told them last night, as Steiner’s interrogation winded down…
“I don’t remember everything… mostly nothing, actually. I remember the stench of burning meat, the screams of my little sister… well, I think she was my sister. The monsters came out of the woods… they played with her like a cat plays with a mouse its going to eat. I remember… a cave, leaving the trails and going off into the woods. My… father had said something about wild animals. I didn’t listen. I think I was about… 9, 10 years old. And then… I remember seeing mother and father being stretched out… and…” his voice had broken then. Bitter tears in his eyes, glaring at Steiner, he continued.
“And there was a man, he was tall, older. His had a predatory look about him. The creatures broke away when he entered the clearing. For some reason, they had saved me… I remember being tied up with vines or something with spines… The man spoke in a bestial tongue, and the THINGS cowered before him, almost fawning over him…” Batou hadn’t said much else that night. And now the he walked next to her, and she almost wanted to say something. Anything. But she didn’t and instead the trio continued with Steiner leading the way…
* * * *
Further in the depths of the remote facility, Malakai and Gendo Yamada were making their way through the final check point to the holding bay where EYES was. Yamada wanted to say something, but held his tongue, sweating bullets, he punched in the last numerical sequence and the door hissed open with a blast of tepid air. Yamada loosened his tie and stumped in after Agent Ashitaka’s long legged stride. Several lab workers were in there, clad with white coats. They glanced at Yamada briefly, who jerked his head to the side after Malakai waved a hand. The technicians left hurriedly.
Malakai vaulted over the railing to the pit where EYES case was. He began bypassing the security lockouts, and lifted the belt out of its armored cradle.
“Agent Ashitaka…if you would let me coordinate a test subject, some trials at least… the device has never been used by humans…” Yamada stammered.
“There isn’t time, Mr. Yamada. We have you to thank for that. ARMS is running loose, and someone has to stop it.” Malakai spat.
“But… but…” Yamada whimpered as Malakai slung the belt around his waist, and locked it into place…
“Henshin.”
Yamada screamed as Malakai was consumed in a globe of hypersonic energy, shattering glass. The light was blinding, and in the center of the globe stood a being crafted from forbidden lore and alien technology… and it spoke in a high pitched whine…
“I… I… can seeeee!” then its howling was consumed in the back-blast that incinerated the bunker.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Yamada stood with his mouth gapping open, like a hooked bass, gasping for air. Malakai smirked and stood square, and walked around the table. He towered over the piggy little man.
"Come now, Mr. Yamada, you didn't really think the chairman was unaware of you're side project? EYES was a natural evolution of ARMS... the stealth/scout version of the soldier model..." Malakai was obviously pleased to see Yamada's look of fear and apprehension. Yamada's face turned dark as he saw the sneer of disdain, the obvious distaste in Malakai Ashitaka's eyes.
"H-how DARE you speak to me that way!" Yamada sputtered. "Just wait until the chairman hears of this!!! You'll never work-" Hysterical laughter erupted from all sides, booming out from speakers hidden in the walls. It was Director Andross.
"Shut your mouth, old man. The chairman is well aware of your little side project," he snarled in between hysterical giggling. "You must be a fool to think the chairman that simple, Gendo Yamada. I never approved your appointment. We have my predecssor to thank for that, but unless you FULLY cooperate with Agent Ashitaka..." The giggling bubbled over, drowning out the Director's voice. Yamada gulped.
"We-well then, let me show you the test facility..." he stammered.
"Excellent." Malakai smiled.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
The underground tram slowed, and shuttered to a stop on its maglev cushion…the power cut out and the transport dropped the half foot to the rail line floor. The doors wisked open, and Agent Ashitaka strode out, Gendo Yamada in tow. They walked for the elevator tube, which decended further into the Earth. The doors opened onto chrome corridors that reeked of antiseptic. Mousy lab techs scurried from cubicle to test rooms and back, by Malakai paid them no mind. He seemed to know where he was going, each step seemed to bring a growing tide of urgency…Mr. Yamada was to precoccupied huffing and puffing in an attempt to keep the long and easy strides of Agent Ashitaka. He tried to look officious and in control, and even tried to order a few techs about, but that was swiftly halted with a glance back by Malakai, a clearing of the throat, and an icy stare.
After nearly twenty minutes of walking, they came to the first of several airlock style doors. Malakai motion for the disgruntled executive to authorize entry and then took the lead again. It was clear Malakai was in control, and Yamada was merely a key to open the treasure…
“Ag..Agent Ashitaka, may I ask you why you need access to EYES?” Yamada croaked.
“No.”
“Then may I..”
“No.”
“Would it be…”
“No, Mr. Yamada. The answer to your questions is no.”
Ashitaka never broke stride as he stepped around a small knot of lab techs, Yamada just stood, reeling at this unabashed abuse. Malakai turned on the far end of the compartment.
“Come Mr. Yamada. We have a schedule to keep.” Malakai called.
* * * *
The mist clung to the forest floor as the sun rose, the early light filtering through the foliage. Steiner had scattered the remains of their campfire and the trio set off into the woods. Nanami was silent, thinking about what Batou had told them last night, as Steiner’s interrogation winded down…
“I don’t remember everything… mostly nothing, actually. I remember the stench of burning meat, the screams of my little sister… well, I think she was my sister. The monsters came out of the woods… they played with her like a cat plays with a mouse its going to eat. I remember… a cave, leaving the trails and going off into the woods. My… father had said something about wild animals. I didn’t listen. I think I was about… 9, 10 years old. And then… I remember seeing mother and father being stretched out… and…” his voice had broken then. Bitter tears in his eyes, glaring at Steiner, he continued.
“And there was a man, he was tall, older. His had a predatory look about him. The creatures broke away when he entered the clearing. For some reason, they had saved me… I remember being tied up with vines or something with spines… The man spoke in a bestial tongue, and the THINGS cowered before him, almost fawning over him…” Batou hadn’t said much else that night. And now the he walked next to her, and she almost wanted to say something. Anything. But she didn’t and instead the trio continued with Steiner leading the way…
* * * *
Further in the depths of the remote facility, Malakai and Gendo Yamada were making their way through the final check point to the holding bay where EYES was. Yamada wanted to say something, but held his tongue, sweating bullets, he punched in the last numerical sequence and the door hissed open with a blast of tepid air. Yamada loosened his tie and stumped in after Agent Ashitaka’s long legged stride. Several lab workers were in there, clad with white coats. They glanced at Yamada briefly, who jerked his head to the side after Malakai waved a hand. The technicians left hurriedly.
Malakai vaulted over the railing to the pit where EYES case was. He began bypassing the security lockouts, and lifted the belt out of its armored cradle.
“Agent Ashitaka…if you would let me coordinate a test subject, some trials at least… the device has never been used by humans…” Yamada stammered.
“There isn’t time, Mr. Yamada. We have you to thank for that. ARMS is running loose, and someone has to stop it.” Malakai spat.
“But… but…” Yamada whimpered as Malakai slung the belt around his waist, and locked it into place…
“Henshin.”
Yamada screamed as Malakai was consumed in a globe of hypersonic energy, shattering glass. The light was blinding, and in the center of the globe stood a being crafted from forbidden lore and alien technology… and it spoke in a high pitched whine…
“I… I… can seeeee!” then its howling was consumed in the back-blast that incinerated the bunker.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
