Friday, April 16, 2004
Episode 8A “ Come into my parlor…”
Batou stood frozen as the vortex of the ARMS gear evaporated and the lizard-thing behind him smoked. Steiner’s eyes were clouded over with a film and his cheeks were puffed and pale. Nanami was bent over him worriedly, shaking hands absently tracing the blue, icor that now clogged his veins.
“Batou… what’s, what’s wrong with him…?” she said, her voice breaking.
A voice, feminine but hard, called out from the darkness.
“It’s the poison from the claws of Silverscales.”
Batou whirled around, and Nanami’s head jerked up to see the woman striding out of the pooled shadows. She was tall, delicate yet muscular. Her eyes were violet and her hair a cascade of spun moonlight.
“Who are you?” Batou demanded.
“One not unlike yourself, Mr. Ukisawa.” She replied, the hint of a smile on her lips. Batou’s eyes widened reflexively before he could stop himself. Nanami rose and he protectively shifted himself in front of her.`
“No need to be afraid, Mr. Ukisawa. If I wanted to kill you you’d already be dead. And it would be a pity to destroy someone who’s adapted to ARMS so well.
“What are you talking about lady?” Nanami called out from behind Batou before he could stop her. “You trying to kill us?”
”Not exactly.” Her face wore the look of a parent indulging a petulant, rather dim-witted child. “Why don’t we discuss this at my cabin. We can may be even able to help your friend here…” She motioned to Steiner. Batou raised an eyebrow, and Nanami looked incredulous.
“You don’t leave us with much of a choice, lady.” He said simply.
“Very good, if you would be so kind as to follow me…” she motioned off into the woods. Batou nodded, hefting Steiner over one shoulder.
“Lead the way.”
And they disappeared into the foliage, and the stench of cooked lizard wafted in the breeze.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
The cabin was surprisingly close, if cabin was the right word for it. It was more of an actual house, half hidden in the rock of the jungle mountainside. The mysterious women led her charges into the foyer, where they were greeted by a pair of wildly different men. One was thin and on the short side. In fact, he was almost apish, with a narrow waist and long arms. His eyes were the color of blood and his nose had a wicked hook in it. The
other man was dark skinned and built heavier then a tank. He stood nearly 7 feet tall with a shaved head and gold eyes. They both radiated a kind of primal, if slightly different flavour. of pure terror.
“These are my… aides. Deimos-“ she motioned to the tall, scary man “- and Phobos” Waving back towards the sinister man with the bloody eyes. The tall man called Deimos spoke first.
“What can we do for you, Lady Eris?” Deimos asked in a deep baratone..
“Always ready to serve our mistress, we are.” Added Phobos, he seemed to relish the effect he was having on Nanami, who was white and clearly uncomfortable around him. Batou found him unnerving as well, the way he seemed to slip and melt in and out of shadows.
“Take our injured friend here to the infirmary. Make sure he gets the silverscales serum.” Replied Lady Eris. Deimos took Steiner off Batou’s shoulder like he were picking up a rag doll, and headed off down a hall out of sight.
“I’m sure the two of you would like to get cleaned up. If you would follow me…”
* * * *
It was quiet in the hospital, and Malakai couldn’t sleep. The nurses and doctors were adamant that Malakai not take the bandages off. But it was driving him insane, not being able to see, with that infernal cloth wrapped around his head. Supposedly they had had to perform some kind of emergency surgery on him when they found him, and the wounds wouldn’t heal for weeks, if not months. But he was having none of it. He was NOT going to stay in this blasted nursery any longer, his fathe… no, THE CHAIRMAN’s visits were beginning to become unpleasant. He was getting out of here. Tonite.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he jerked the IV from his arm, wincing in response. He fumbled for the monitor’s controls before yanking the cord out of the wall instead. Quietly as a blind, weakened man not a week out surgery could go, he moved for the bathroom. Impatiently he began to unravel the wrappings from his face, letting the bandages pool at his feet. Once that was off, he clawed off the medical tape and dug the gauze from his sockets….
His empty sockets. The hospital would have resonated with his screams had the voice of The Chairman not burst into his skull.
This changes nothing. Agent Ashitaka. You WILL recover ARMS. Pull yourself together,
He pulled himself together.
However. In light of your… UNIQUE condition, the Inner 9 has decided to grant you a special consideration. The Chairman continued,
“And what would that be sir?” but the voice of the Chairman was silent. Instead, a new voice whispered softly from behind him.
“That would be me, sir. Lucius Apollo.” The voice was male, young but not without a taint of something dark in it. Malakai’s head turned, smooth and controlled once again.
“Apollo. The agent who got Yamada off the train.”
“That’s correct sir.”
“The Chairman tells me you come highly recommended. Well let’s get out of here, shall we?”
“I already have a car waiting, sir.” Lucius replied. Malakai smiled.
* * * *
Nanami relished the bath, and took her time enjoying the chance to wash up and get a fresh set of clothes. Wrapping a towel around herself, she found a fresh set of clothes, slightly more formal and definitely a tax bracket or two above who usual attire. She admired the clothes briefly before there was a knock at the door.
“Ma’am?” It was Deimos. “Lady Erus would like it if you would join her in the parlor at your earliest convience.” His voice was polite enough, but something about it made her shiver.
“Alright. I’ll be out in a moment.” She replied. No reply, just the sound of footsteps moving off down the hall.
* * * *
Batou raised an eye at the clothes he found on the bench waiting him. Black silk shirt by Vercacci. Black slacks. No ball cap. He frowned slightly at the expensive clothes.
His frown curled into a snarl at the sound of Phobos’ voice behind him.
“Hurry up, boy, Lady Eris is waiting.” Phobos snickered. Batou spun around, clutching the towel around his waste. He glared.
“Haven’t you heard of KNOCKING?” he growled. Phobos just snickered some more.
“Why knock when I can just let myself out?” The apish, oily bastard then melted into the shadow of the open bathroom door. Batou shivered and muttered something.
* * * *
Batou entered to find Nanami dressed in a stunning set of clothes, siting on an expensive couch with Eris seated at a piano playing something classical and obscure. At the fireplace, stood a man in an expensive robe, wearing an even more expensive smile. His wore a neatly trimmed beard along with a full head of dark brown hair. One hand held a cigar, the other a bourbon. Batou noticed the ring on the man’s finger. It was engraved with the symbol of mars. Batou’s eyes narrowed at this, and he cursed himself for not seeing it sooner.
“Councilman Ares”, Batou said. Ares smiled.
“Hello, Batou.” Ares replied. Smiling all the while.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Batou stood frozen as the vortex of the ARMS gear evaporated and the lizard-thing behind him smoked. Steiner’s eyes were clouded over with a film and his cheeks were puffed and pale. Nanami was bent over him worriedly, shaking hands absently tracing the blue, icor that now clogged his veins.
“Batou… what’s, what’s wrong with him…?” she said, her voice breaking.
A voice, feminine but hard, called out from the darkness.
“It’s the poison from the claws of Silverscales.”
Batou whirled around, and Nanami’s head jerked up to see the woman striding out of the pooled shadows. She was tall, delicate yet muscular. Her eyes were violet and her hair a cascade of spun moonlight.
“Who are you?” Batou demanded.
“One not unlike yourself, Mr. Ukisawa.” She replied, the hint of a smile on her lips. Batou’s eyes widened reflexively before he could stop himself. Nanami rose and he protectively shifted himself in front of her.`
“No need to be afraid, Mr. Ukisawa. If I wanted to kill you you’d already be dead. And it would be a pity to destroy someone who’s adapted to ARMS so well.
“What are you talking about lady?” Nanami called out from behind Batou before he could stop her. “You trying to kill us?”
”Not exactly.” Her face wore the look of a parent indulging a petulant, rather dim-witted child. “Why don’t we discuss this at my cabin. We can may be even able to help your friend here…” She motioned to Steiner. Batou raised an eyebrow, and Nanami looked incredulous.
“You don’t leave us with much of a choice, lady.” He said simply.
“Very good, if you would be so kind as to follow me…” she motioned off into the woods. Batou nodded, hefting Steiner over one shoulder.
“Lead the way.”
And they disappeared into the foliage, and the stench of cooked lizard wafted in the breeze.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
The cabin was surprisingly close, if cabin was the right word for it. It was more of an actual house, half hidden in the rock of the jungle mountainside. The mysterious women led her charges into the foyer, where they were greeted by a pair of wildly different men. One was thin and on the short side. In fact, he was almost apish, with a narrow waist and long arms. His eyes were the color of blood and his nose had a wicked hook in it. The
other man was dark skinned and built heavier then a tank. He stood nearly 7 feet tall with a shaved head and gold eyes. They both radiated a kind of primal, if slightly different flavour. of pure terror.
“These are my… aides. Deimos-“ she motioned to the tall, scary man “- and Phobos” Waving back towards the sinister man with the bloody eyes. The tall man called Deimos spoke first.
“What can we do for you, Lady Eris?” Deimos asked in a deep baratone..
“Always ready to serve our mistress, we are.” Added Phobos, he seemed to relish the effect he was having on Nanami, who was white and clearly uncomfortable around him. Batou found him unnerving as well, the way he seemed to slip and melt in and out of shadows.
“Take our injured friend here to the infirmary. Make sure he gets the silverscales serum.” Replied Lady Eris. Deimos took Steiner off Batou’s shoulder like he were picking up a rag doll, and headed off down a hall out of sight.
“I’m sure the two of you would like to get cleaned up. If you would follow me…”
* * * *
It was quiet in the hospital, and Malakai couldn’t sleep. The nurses and doctors were adamant that Malakai not take the bandages off. But it was driving him insane, not being able to see, with that infernal cloth wrapped around his head. Supposedly they had had to perform some kind of emergency surgery on him when they found him, and the wounds wouldn’t heal for weeks, if not months. But he was having none of it. He was NOT going to stay in this blasted nursery any longer, his fathe… no, THE CHAIRMAN’s visits were beginning to become unpleasant. He was getting out of here. Tonite.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he jerked the IV from his arm, wincing in response. He fumbled for the monitor’s controls before yanking the cord out of the wall instead. Quietly as a blind, weakened man not a week out surgery could go, he moved for the bathroom. Impatiently he began to unravel the wrappings from his face, letting the bandages pool at his feet. Once that was off, he clawed off the medical tape and dug the gauze from his sockets….
His empty sockets. The hospital would have resonated with his screams had the voice of The Chairman not burst into his skull.
This changes nothing. Agent Ashitaka. You WILL recover ARMS. Pull yourself together,
He pulled himself together.
However. In light of your… UNIQUE condition, the Inner 9 has decided to grant you a special consideration. The Chairman continued,
“And what would that be sir?” but the voice of the Chairman was silent. Instead, a new voice whispered softly from behind him.
“That would be me, sir. Lucius Apollo.” The voice was male, young but not without a taint of something dark in it. Malakai’s head turned, smooth and controlled once again.
“Apollo. The agent who got Yamada off the train.”
“That’s correct sir.”
“The Chairman tells me you come highly recommended. Well let’s get out of here, shall we?”
“I already have a car waiting, sir.” Lucius replied. Malakai smiled.
* * * *
Nanami relished the bath, and took her time enjoying the chance to wash up and get a fresh set of clothes. Wrapping a towel around herself, she found a fresh set of clothes, slightly more formal and definitely a tax bracket or two above who usual attire. She admired the clothes briefly before there was a knock at the door.
“Ma’am?” It was Deimos. “Lady Erus would like it if you would join her in the parlor at your earliest convience.” His voice was polite enough, but something about it made her shiver.
“Alright. I’ll be out in a moment.” She replied. No reply, just the sound of footsteps moving off down the hall.
* * * *
Batou raised an eye at the clothes he found on the bench waiting him. Black silk shirt by Vercacci. Black slacks. No ball cap. He frowned slightly at the expensive clothes.
His frown curled into a snarl at the sound of Phobos’ voice behind him.
“Hurry up, boy, Lady Eris is waiting.” Phobos snickered. Batou spun around, clutching the towel around his waste. He glared.
“Haven’t you heard of KNOCKING?” he growled. Phobos just snickered some more.
“Why knock when I can just let myself out?” The apish, oily bastard then melted into the shadow of the open bathroom door. Batou shivered and muttered something.
* * * *
Batou entered to find Nanami dressed in a stunning set of clothes, siting on an expensive couch with Eris seated at a piano playing something classical and obscure. At the fireplace, stood a man in an expensive robe, wearing an even more expensive smile. His wore a neatly trimmed beard along with a full head of dark brown hair. One hand held a cigar, the other a bourbon. Batou noticed the ring on the man’s finger. It was engraved with the symbol of mars. Batou’s eyes narrowed at this, and he cursed himself for not seeing it sooner.
“Councilman Ares”, Batou said. Ares smiled.
“Hello, Batou.” Ares replied. Smiling all the while.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Friday, April 09, 2004
Episode 7: Silverscales
Several days had gone by, and the three had moved deep into the wilderness. Steiner’s outdoor survival training had served them well, and Batou’s almost supernatural sense had helped avoid the less blatant patrols and search parties. There hadn’t been any for a more then a day, but some kind of 6th sense kept the disturbed young man on edge. Nanami, usually pretty talkative, had been somewhat quiet since last night:
It had been quite, the fire burnt down low, and Steiner was somewhere off in the woods patrolling the camp. She heard sobbing, and had spied Batou rocking back in forth in the shadows, the glint of firelight illuminating his face in sickly balefire, his chin stained with blood from when he had bitten his lip to keep from screaming in agony. She saw his eyes wide and soulless, staring out in some waking nightmarish vision he couldn’t escape from….
“Hold on.“ Steiner gripped her shoulder. They were at a stream, swollen from the recent snowmelt, but still clogged with muck on it’s banks. Batou was crouched in the foul shit, examining something.
“What is it?” Steiner said.
“Spore of some kind.” Batou replied.
“Spore? From what? I don’t know any natural creature that makes prints like those.” Steiner scoffed.
“That’s because it’s not natural.” Batou called back.
A piercing shriek echoed off of the spires of rock that lined the stream.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Nanami said, backing up. Steiner cocked his pistol, scanning the nearby trees.
“Now don’t get shaky on me…” he started to say.
And then the canopy rained down a ferocious slavering storm of scales and fangs from above.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
A savage reptilian thing dropped down from the trees above Steiner. It stood some four feet high, but was all muscle and adrenaline. It’s scales were a deep shifting green, as if changing with foliage. Its eyes were a satanic gold, and each limb ended in a four digit clawed mitt. The Interpol agent rolled to the side, dodging the razors that capped the beast’s twisted fingers. Coming up on one knee, the kraut emptied his clip into lizardman. Nanami stumbled back into cover as Steiner kept the monster busy.
“Come on you Jurassic Park reject…. DROP ALREADY!” he shouted. The lizard man shrieked, but seemed more irritated then harmed by the bullets. It charged Steiner, tackling him part way into the stream.
“Nanami!” Batou yelled.
He tried to pistol jab it, but it smacked his gun away and crushed his hand. He grunted. It’s jaws ran with a foul slime, and it hissed in triumph in his face.
“Hey! Leave him alone!” Nanami picked up a rock and dropped it on the scaly beasts skull. It gurgled in anger and rose to turn on her.
“NANAMI!” Batou yelled again.
“Oh know you don’t, scaly!” Steiner tried to push it off him, but succeeded in only drawing it’s wrath back on him. It screeched and raked its talons across his chest and face. Steiner cried out, and convulsed as some kind of contact poison raced into his veins. Batou grabbed Nanami and hauled her up. Her clothes were muddy and torn but she was okay.
“Gimme the belt!” he yelled.
“What?” she asked, still in shock
“The belt… aw never mind.” He grabbed her satchel and pulled out the rectangular pad, snapping the ends out and pulling them apart, the belt spooled out of the back piece. He slung the thing around his narrow waist and slammed down the buckle and the activation control on his left hip.
“HENSHIN!” He roared.
A nimbus of protoplasmic energy erupted from along the length of the belt. The mercurial substance swelled and hardened around his arms; encasing his body in other worldly armor. ARMS’ eyes flashed with the surge of power and it grabbed the lizard man with one hand, tossing him across the stream with ease. The beast squawked in indignation, its hard skulled head cracked stone as it landed right on a boulder. The monster righted itself and hissed in hatred. It charged ARMS.
ARMS was waiting, one well placed uppercut juggled the lizard man into the air, and then ARMS fist blossomed into an array of lens and barrels, following the concussive force with a point blank assault of a focus energy discharge. The monster’s smoking carcass fell with a thud. ARMS turned to Nanami, who was crouched over Steiner. The vortex of dimensional energy washed ARMS away and left Batou to stand over a blue veined, puffy looking Steiner….
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Several days had gone by, and the three had moved deep into the wilderness. Steiner’s outdoor survival training had served them well, and Batou’s almost supernatural sense had helped avoid the less blatant patrols and search parties. There hadn’t been any for a more then a day, but some kind of 6th sense kept the disturbed young man on edge. Nanami, usually pretty talkative, had been somewhat quiet since last night:
It had been quite, the fire burnt down low, and Steiner was somewhere off in the woods patrolling the camp. She heard sobbing, and had spied Batou rocking back in forth in the shadows, the glint of firelight illuminating his face in sickly balefire, his chin stained with blood from when he had bitten his lip to keep from screaming in agony. She saw his eyes wide and soulless, staring out in some waking nightmarish vision he couldn’t escape from….
“Hold on.“ Steiner gripped her shoulder. They were at a stream, swollen from the recent snowmelt, but still clogged with muck on it’s banks. Batou was crouched in the foul shit, examining something.
“What is it?” Steiner said.
“Spore of some kind.” Batou replied.
“Spore? From what? I don’t know any natural creature that makes prints like those.” Steiner scoffed.
“That’s because it’s not natural.” Batou called back.
A piercing shriek echoed off of the spires of rock that lined the stream.
“I have a bad feeling about this,” Nanami said, backing up. Steiner cocked his pistol, scanning the nearby trees.
“Now don’t get shaky on me…” he started to say.
And then the canopy rained down a ferocious slavering storm of scales and fangs from above.
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
A savage reptilian thing dropped down from the trees above Steiner. It stood some four feet high, but was all muscle and adrenaline. It’s scales were a deep shifting green, as if changing with foliage. Its eyes were a satanic gold, and each limb ended in a four digit clawed mitt. The Interpol agent rolled to the side, dodging the razors that capped the beast’s twisted fingers. Coming up on one knee, the kraut emptied his clip into lizardman. Nanami stumbled back into cover as Steiner kept the monster busy.
“Come on you Jurassic Park reject…. DROP ALREADY!” he shouted. The lizard man shrieked, but seemed more irritated then harmed by the bullets. It charged Steiner, tackling him part way into the stream.
“Nanami!” Batou yelled.
He tried to pistol jab it, but it smacked his gun away and crushed his hand. He grunted. It’s jaws ran with a foul slime, and it hissed in triumph in his face.
“Hey! Leave him alone!” Nanami picked up a rock and dropped it on the scaly beasts skull. It gurgled in anger and rose to turn on her.
“NANAMI!” Batou yelled again.
“Oh know you don’t, scaly!” Steiner tried to push it off him, but succeeded in only drawing it’s wrath back on him. It screeched and raked its talons across his chest and face. Steiner cried out, and convulsed as some kind of contact poison raced into his veins. Batou grabbed Nanami and hauled her up. Her clothes were muddy and torn but she was okay.
“Gimme the belt!” he yelled.
“What?” she asked, still in shock
“The belt… aw never mind.” He grabbed her satchel and pulled out the rectangular pad, snapping the ends out and pulling them apart, the belt spooled out of the back piece. He slung the thing around his narrow waist and slammed down the buckle and the activation control on his left hip.
“HENSHIN!” He roared.
A nimbus of protoplasmic energy erupted from along the length of the belt. The mercurial substance swelled and hardened around his arms; encasing his body in other worldly armor. ARMS’ eyes flashed with the surge of power and it grabbed the lizard man with one hand, tossing him across the stream with ease. The beast squawked in indignation, its hard skulled head cracked stone as it landed right on a boulder. The monster righted itself and hissed in hatred. It charged ARMS.
ARMS was waiting, one well placed uppercut juggled the lizard man into the air, and then ARMS fist blossomed into an array of lens and barrels, following the concussive force with a point blank assault of a focus energy discharge. The monster’s smoking carcass fell with a thud. ARMS turned to Nanami, who was crouched over Steiner. The vortex of dimensional energy washed ARMS away and left Batou to stand over a blue veined, puffy looking Steiner….
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
Episode 6: Ground Zero and Square One…
It was mid morning now, the remnants of the campsite were far behind the trio of Batou, Steiner, and Nanami. They had gone late into the night talking, and not just about Batou’s past. Steiner was mulling over how much he should tell the other two.
How much can I trust them? And what to do after this is all over…? He thought.
Batou’s shout snapped Steiner out of his reverie. The shadow of a VTOL craft spilled over the forest as it toped a nearby rise and began skimming over the area. Nanami and Batou had already scrambled for cover when Steiner rolled to the other side of the trail they were on and underneath some leafy fronds. The huge Selene Systems logo could be seen plastered over the aircrafts sleek black wasp-like form, and the blisters of ducted fans were arranged along it’s belly and flanks along with two small tilt rotary arrays. The oily craft circled the area a few times before buzzing back towards the river near the crash site of the train.
“We’d better stay off the trails”, Batou said.
“Yeah, this place is going to be swarming with a Selene Systems recovery team in a matter of minutes…” Steiner replied.
The three ducked into the foliage and started cutting cross country, hoping to blend in and disappear deep enough into the wilderness before the Selene Systems team was onto them. And from the darkness of a jungle thicket, a pair of glowing eyes watches silently…
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
Seconds after EYES had gone active, Gendo Yamada was turned to a kind of superheated jelly. Within ten seconds, the pressure inside the chamber ruptured the titanium reinforced walls and a backblast not unlike a small payload nuclear weapon tore down the hallways, searing metal and evaporating organics in a two mile radius. Within 60 seconds, Selene System’s Central Control had evaluated and dispatched a team to contain the incident. Within 5 minutes, all roads within the compound’s control sphere were locked down and secured. Within 30 minutes, and additional 25 miles of roadblocks had been erected by local government authorities under Selene’s control. Within the hour, a report had been filed with the media explaining an alternative nuclear reactor prototype had been undergoing tests, when a militant splinter faction of Green Peace had attacked the compound. Fighting had apparently compromised the fusion generator’s water cooling system and the rupture resulted in a catastrophic incident not unlike Hiroshima.
In the smoking crater that was the carcass of the testing facility, one body stirred… unlike the rest, it’s flesh was neither missing nor melted… in fact the most appropriate way to discribe the state it was in would be a kind of freezer burn. In the darkness, it clawed its way through the rubble…
* * *
Argh. My head hurts. What’s covering my eyes? Where am I…? Last thing I remember… EYES. Gendo Yamada’s screams. PAIN.
Ashitaka bolted upright and gulped air, a strong hand steadied him.
“Easy son. You’ve been through a lot,” spoke the hidden stranger. Malakai tore at the bandages on his face. The man was tall, older, with dark reddish brown hair, lines in his face hinted to the roads he had walked… some clearly not meant for man to walk.
“What’s going on? Why can’t I…”
“EYES, Agent Ashitaka.” The older man’s reassuring voice was gone, replaced with the echoing metallic speech of…
“Director Andross.”
“That’s correct.”
“The facility?”
“Gone.”
“Yamada?”
Silence greet him, Malakai knew the answer. A tingling in the back of his mind told him to be quiet. A heavyset nurse wandered into the room.
“OH! Our patient’s awake!” she said.
“Yes, thankfully.” The man’s voice was back now, warm and paternal.
“Would you like some soup hon?”
“Yes… please. And some for my… father.”
“Why I’m sure we can find something for him in the cafeteria.”
“That would be lovely, thank you.” The paternal voice was back again, and the hands rested on Malakai’s bare shoulders. He only had a pair of blue cotton hospital pants on… in the cool of the recovery room Malakai’s flesh tingled. He shivered. The paternal voice was gone, and the cold echoing loneliness of the director’s voice sang in Malakai’s mind.
“I need you to recover ARMS, Agent Ashitaka.”
“Yes, sir, bu…”
“No. With you’re mind. The nurse’s will suspect something otherwise. This is hospital is not fully under our control.”
“Understood sir.”
“Very good. After this incident I expect better results from you. PANDORA’s Inner 9 is not pleased with you’re apparent lack of control. This will not be easy to recover from. In the last 12 hours alone we’ve had to pull the plug on 42 operations.
Malakai gulped. It won’t happen again, sir.
Of course, you’re history of outstanding performance will curb the worst of the council’s wrath. But expect a heavy deduction on your wages and command privleges for the remainder of this operation.
Most generous of you, sir.
Do not let my relationship with you bring any false sense of protection. I will terminate you if you fail me again.
Of course, father.
Good.
The nurse waddled back in bearing two trays of fresh bread and soup for the two. Director Andross’s voice was gone, replaced by the warmth of a proud father relieved to see his son alright.
“Ah, here’s the nurse now, Malakai. Ready to see if you’re appitite’s gone blind too?” There was warmth in his words, but it was merely a velvet glove for the cold, cruel steel of sarcasm underneath. Malakai choked slightly, and then smiled weakly, clumsily extending his hands for the tray. The nurse stayed and helped Malakai eat. He and the director were a regular father and son, if just for a little while.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
It was mid morning now, the remnants of the campsite were far behind the trio of Batou, Steiner, and Nanami. They had gone late into the night talking, and not just about Batou’s past. Steiner was mulling over how much he should tell the other two.
How much can I trust them? And what to do after this is all over…? He thought.
Batou’s shout snapped Steiner out of his reverie. The shadow of a VTOL craft spilled over the forest as it toped a nearby rise and began skimming over the area. Nanami and Batou had already scrambled for cover when Steiner rolled to the other side of the trail they were on and underneath some leafy fronds. The huge Selene Systems logo could be seen plastered over the aircrafts sleek black wasp-like form, and the blisters of ducted fans were arranged along it’s belly and flanks along with two small tilt rotary arrays. The oily craft circled the area a few times before buzzing back towards the river near the crash site of the train.
“We’d better stay off the trails”, Batou said.
“Yeah, this place is going to be swarming with a Selene Systems recovery team in a matter of minutes…” Steiner replied.
The three ducked into the foliage and started cutting cross country, hoping to blend in and disappear deep enough into the wilderness before the Selene Systems team was onto them. And from the darkness of a jungle thicket, a pair of glowing eyes watches silently…
((Opening theme: Don't Fear The Reaper, Techno Remix))
Seconds after EYES had gone active, Gendo Yamada was turned to a kind of superheated jelly. Within ten seconds, the pressure inside the chamber ruptured the titanium reinforced walls and a backblast not unlike a small payload nuclear weapon tore down the hallways, searing metal and evaporating organics in a two mile radius. Within 60 seconds, Selene System’s Central Control had evaluated and dispatched a team to contain the incident. Within 5 minutes, all roads within the compound’s control sphere were locked down and secured. Within 30 minutes, and additional 25 miles of roadblocks had been erected by local government authorities under Selene’s control. Within the hour, a report had been filed with the media explaining an alternative nuclear reactor prototype had been undergoing tests, when a militant splinter faction of Green Peace had attacked the compound. Fighting had apparently compromised the fusion generator’s water cooling system and the rupture resulted in a catastrophic incident not unlike Hiroshima.
In the smoking crater that was the carcass of the testing facility, one body stirred… unlike the rest, it’s flesh was neither missing nor melted… in fact the most appropriate way to discribe the state it was in would be a kind of freezer burn. In the darkness, it clawed its way through the rubble…
* * *
Argh. My head hurts. What’s covering my eyes? Where am I…? Last thing I remember… EYES. Gendo Yamada’s screams. PAIN.
Ashitaka bolted upright and gulped air, a strong hand steadied him.
“Easy son. You’ve been through a lot,” spoke the hidden stranger. Malakai tore at the bandages on his face. The man was tall, older, with dark reddish brown hair, lines in his face hinted to the roads he had walked… some clearly not meant for man to walk.
“What’s going on? Why can’t I…”
“EYES, Agent Ashitaka.” The older man’s reassuring voice was gone, replaced with the echoing metallic speech of…
“Director Andross.”
“That’s correct.”
“The facility?”
“Gone.”
“Yamada?”
Silence greet him, Malakai knew the answer. A tingling in the back of his mind told him to be quiet. A heavyset nurse wandered into the room.
“OH! Our patient’s awake!” she said.
“Yes, thankfully.” The man’s voice was back now, warm and paternal.
“Would you like some soup hon?”
“Yes… please. And some for my… father.”
“Why I’m sure we can find something for him in the cafeteria.”
“That would be lovely, thank you.” The paternal voice was back again, and the hands rested on Malakai’s bare shoulders. He only had a pair of blue cotton hospital pants on… in the cool of the recovery room Malakai’s flesh tingled. He shivered. The paternal voice was gone, and the cold echoing loneliness of the director’s voice sang in Malakai’s mind.
“I need you to recover ARMS, Agent Ashitaka.”
“Yes, sir, bu…”
“No. With you’re mind. The nurse’s will suspect something otherwise. This is hospital is not fully under our control.”
“Understood sir.”
“Very good. After this incident I expect better results from you. PANDORA’s Inner 9 is not pleased with you’re apparent lack of control. This will not be easy to recover from. In the last 12 hours alone we’ve had to pull the plug on 42 operations.
Malakai gulped. It won’t happen again, sir.
Of course, you’re history of outstanding performance will curb the worst of the council’s wrath. But expect a heavy deduction on your wages and command privleges for the remainder of this operation.
Most generous of you, sir.
Do not let my relationship with you bring any false sense of protection. I will terminate you if you fail me again.
Of course, father.
Good.
The nurse waddled back in bearing two trays of fresh bread and soup for the two. Director Andross’s voice was gone, replaced by the warmth of a proud father relieved to see his son alright.
“Ah, here’s the nurse now, Malakai. Ready to see if you’re appitite’s gone blind too?” There was warmth in his words, but it was merely a velvet glove for the cold, cruel steel of sarcasm underneath. Malakai choked slightly, and then smiled weakly, clumsily extending his hands for the tray. The nurse stayed and helped Malakai eat. He and the director were a regular father and son, if just for a little while.
((Closing Theme: Liberate your Mind, Disturbed))
