Zwei ********** "Good work, team," Commander Eldiah said, "things went by smoothly." Three hours had passed since the completion of the mission that the Darshana Division had been given. They had used three of its field operatives, Ashriel Gestalt, Kathleen 'Cream' Stenzel and Yoko Daitokuji to carry out the mission. And they had successfully taken the human test sample from the Protea Research Facility before the Saviours overran it. Now the three of them had returned to the Paracelsus with that boy in their grasp. The first thing they did was take him to the infirmary. Which was where they all were now (or at least some of them were). The boy had been redressed in some Darshana Division casual wear. Just a green and gold over-shirt and some denims. But he had not awakened since he had been liberated from the test tube he had been found in. Cream kneeled beside his bed and stared at the boy, curiously, while the older Yoko and the even older Commander Eldiah stood at the foot of the bed. Yoko nodded, staring at some of the empty beds beside this one. "Thank you, sir." "It was nothing!" Cream commented, "but I'm worried, Commander..." Eldiah crossed his arms. "About what? You did excellent work." "No, not about me," Cream gestured to the sleeping boy, "I'm talking about him. How come he hasn't woken up yet? Is he okay?" Yoko sighed "Why do you always get so worked up about every little detail? The boy is fine. He has been in stasis for some time, according to the information that General Schwartz supplied us with. It will take a bit before his body can adjust to life normally. It's probably a stretch for him to breathe outside of water as it is." Cream tugged at her bangs. "Okay... if you say so, Yoko." "By the way," Commander Eldiah looked around, "where is Lieutenant Gestalt?" The redheaded girl answered that. "Well I'm not sure about that one. He's been acting kind of weird since we came back from Protea though. When he saw the face of this guy, he seemed to know him Ash even called him 'Rain'. But after that... Ash wouldn't go near him. Strange, huh?" "It doesn't surprise me," Yoko snorted, "That boy is just self-centred. He never thinks of anyone but himself and quite frankly I'm sick of his attitude" Commander Eldiah and Cream stared oddly at Yoko for a moment. Then Yoko looked back and those incredulous stares with one of her own. "...What?" "Oh, never mind," Cream hopped up onto her feet, "I'll go get him. See what's up." The leader of the Darshana Division agreed to that. "Okay, Lieutenant. Be aware that this was not the end of our full task. We still have to deliver this boy to the Ministry. Once the Paracelsus stops off at Ladeny for some supplies and refuelling, we'll be heading to Crux Cartha to hand him over. The Ministry's own envoy will take them the rest of the way." Cream nodded back and skipped off down the length of the infirmary, past the other injured members of the crew. The metal doors to the far wall opened for her when she approached them and she gaited out of them, into the main corridor of the second floor. Though she wasn't certain where Ash was on the ship, Cream had a pretty good idea where he was right now. That boy had a habit of going to similar places when he was in a bad or irritable mood. Cream jogged down the carpeted hall down to a certain compartment in the side of the hallway. It stuck out slightly but was fixed into the Paracelsus' hull. It was a viewing balcony Completely covered over with highly protective transparent plastics and framed with metal. From that balcony you could get a good view of the landscape whilst travelling across the surface of a planet. In space (the travel for which this ship was truly intended) it gave a brilliant view of the stars. Cream looked through the glass of the inner door and saw Ash standing by the wall just ahead of the balcony of the partition. He looked like he was deep in thought. You didn't often see that kind of expression on that boy's face. Cream opened the first of the two doors leading into the balcony and then the second. She entered into the mini-room with Ash and pulled a bright smile across her face. "Ash? You okay?" The blonde one pressed his hand into the small wall of the balcony while the other was fixed on his hip. He tilted his head back up. "Cream. What are you doing here?" "I got worried about you," She admitted, "Since we came back from the mission, you've been kinda..." Ash smiled grimly. "Yeah. I understand." "So then? What's the deal?" "I'm just... thinking, that's all." "Thinking?" Cream pondered it, hooking her hands behind her back innocently, "About what?" Ash sighed "The past, mostly." "This is about that kid, isn't it?" The blonde one looked back over his shoulder with a small smile. "Kid? He's the same age as you, Cream. Sixteen. And he's only a year younger than me, though he doesn't look it His name is Rain Sorel." "So you DO know him," The younger soldier said victoriously, "I knew it! So what's the story?" Ash dropped his smile and looked back out through the full-wall windows to the rolling snow-covered hills of the northern Rehoboam countryside. "That's what I was thinking about. You're right, you know He and I did know each other... I do know him..." "How?" "I could tell you that we were just friends..." Ash began, "but if I were truthful... I guess the best way to say is that we're... or we were... lovers." Cream's bright face blushed hard and her cheerful smile became a sly grin. "So Rain was your boyfriend!?" "Geez! Well... if you wanna put it like that, then yes... he was my boyfriend. It was a long time ago. Back during the old days when my parents were still alive..." Ash's face darkened, "...and when my brother was still around..." The smile on Cream's face faded away when she realized the sudden change in her friend's disposition. One thing she knew about Ash was that he didn't talk about his past. It was the same as Yoko, but it was also very different in many ways. People were too intimidated by Yoko and her stormy personality to really question and pry into her past of her private life. With Ash, most of the crewmembers just got the feeling that he didn't like discussing it. So they never brought it up. And none of them were off the mark. Now even Cream became serious. "Ash? I'm worried about you..." "You worry too much," He tried to give her another smile, "I'm not so feeble yet, Cream. I can... face up to the memories. No matter how painful I think they are or... how much I wanna bury them. I'm not sure that someone as innocent as you could... really understand what that feels like." Cream pressed her hands against her chest. That wasn't true, actually She did understand. More than Ash was aware of at the time. Practically everyone had memories they wanted to bury. But some more so than others. Cream was no exception to the rule. "What is it... you feel you're... running from...?" "...Everything, I guess." "Huh?" Ash exhaled a breath. "Look, I don't talk about it often. 'Cause it's no one's business but my own. But... I really trust you, Cream. Maybe more than anyone else right now. The fact is... my parents were scientists. You might have heard of them. Wilhelm and Maria Gestalt. They were two of the top Saviour Researchers of all time. And they worked with Rain's father, Dr. Heinrich Sorel. I don't know what they were working on before that day... but..." "But what?" Cream asked softly. "I can't explain it," Ash gripped the wall tighter, "not really. But three years ago... when Rain and I lived with my parents in their research facility... Saviours attacked the base. I don't remember much about that day. I can still picture fire, ashes, smoke, and that nasty stink of molten metal. And I remember..." "What?" Ash's expression became angered. "I remembered how that bastard killed my parents..." "W-who?" Cream said with a gasp. "It was my Brother," The blonde one turned around again, "I recall seeing that son of a bitch hack them down like pigs in a slaughterhouse. He disappeared ten years before then... when I was about five; but I knew it was him. I knew it because... there was a time when I missed him. And when you see someone you think you care about do something like that... it kind of dispels the image. It's easier to remember someone you hate, I think" The younger soldier shook her head solemnly. "I'm so sorry, Ash." "Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. Making the apologies for someone else's mistakes won't change a damned thing anyway. And I've come to terms with losing my Mom and Dad. What bothered me was... Rain." "He was with you, wasn't he?" Said Cream. Ash breathed in hard. "Since the day I met him... I made a promise to myself... that I would protect him. That I would always look after him and that no matter what shit came his way, I'd be there to block it off. And look at how that turned out. I failed him." "But, Ash-" "No, Cream," He said sternly, "I screwed up. I thought that he had been killed that day... but... now he's alive. Which means... not only did I fail to protect Rain like I thought I could... but I've been letting the Ministry experiment on him all this time... God, what must his Father think of me?" Cream shook her head. "But that's not true! You were just fourteen, right? What could you have done to protect him from the Saviours back then?!" Ash silenced himself for a moment after hearing that -- for a certain reason. He felt a warmth in his hands, like he had done three years ago, when he had last used... "It doesn't matter what the reason is," Ash said suddenly, "the fact of the matter is... I broke my promise because I was too weak to do anything for him That's why I joined the army -- so that I could make myself stronger. So that if I ever found someone else to protect... I'd be able to do it without failing. But now he's alive... how can I go in there and face him? When I thought Rain was dead I could put the fact that I broke my oath behind me. But he's alive and... when I look into his eyes I... I'll be reminded that... my weakness nearly got him killed. How worthless does that make me?" Cream shook her head repeatedly. "That's not right! You're not worthless! You're one of my best friends, Ash! You've never let me down! I know what happened with Rain is hurting you... but that doesn't mean that you should avoid him because of it! I'm sure the only person he wants to see right now is you!" "...You think?" Ash asked genuinely. "Uh huh!" She replied, "I'm sure of it!" The boy sighed. "You really want me to see Rain, don't you?" "Yup!" "And you're not gonna let this go until I do, are you?" "Nope!" Ash lowered his head with a smile of defeat. "I don't think I could get away with not seeing him now that you know about all of this, right?" "Right!" Cream said with a nod. "Man," The blonde youth chuckled, "this is so typical of you, Cream. Come on then. Let's go see Rain." The redheaded soldier giggled happily and hooked her arm around Ash's left She dragged him off from the glass-room of the balcony and back into the main corridor of the second floor of the Paracelsus. The two of them walked from there straight to the infirmary. When the automatic doors for the two of them opened, they walked inside, seen by both Commander Eldiah and Yoko. Cream unhooked her arm while Ash took a deep breath and started walking. When Ash came up to the bed he looked down and saw the boy. The one no more than a year younger than himself. The one whom he had failed to protect. "...Rain..." The Commander stared at his subordinate for a moment. "Lieutenant Gestalt? You know this one?" "...Yes, sir." He answered. Yoko uncrossed her arms. "Who is he then?" "He's Rain Sorel," Ash told her, "we were... kinda close once." Cream held her hands at her hips with a smile stepped ahead. Before anyone knew it, she was behind Yoko and the Commander. Which was when she started pushing. Yoko and Eldiah scoffed without understanding, but Cream only ordered 'these two need to be alone!' before shoving herself and her companions out the metal door to the right. Though there were still a few other people laid up in bed in the infirmary, they were all asleep as Rain was, so there was nothing to worry when it came to being overheard. Ash kneeled down to his knees and rested his hands on the edge of the bed. Ash stared silently at Rain for a moment. It had been at least three years since he had last seen the boy, but he was just as beautiful now as he was then. That might have seemed like a odd word to use for a boy. Beautiful But that was what Rain was. Beautiful. Ash thought that honestly. All of Rain's features were so delicate and petite, but in an effeminate sense. Even the smallest things about Rain's body were proof of that in Ash's mind. The short auburn brown hair and the long, bounding bangs that came from them, the soft milky tone of his skin, the pixie dust-like chocolate freckles over his pouting cheeks and button nose, the now concealed brightness of his emerald green eyes, the black silky length of his eyelashes, his pink and slightly dampened lips; everything about Rain; Ash had loved. And he had matured into his beauty so well since then. To see him in the flesh now just made Ash more aware of how badly he failed back then. "I'm so sorry, Rain." Was all he said. Ash tilted his head down forlornly and reflected on his thoughts, which made him unaware that Rain's eyelids were trembling. Suddenly those emerald eyes began to open for themselves. Rain's eyelids fluttered open and revealed his bright emerald eyes to the world. He squinted, as if he were unused to using them, and slowly turned to see Ash locked in thought. Rain's lips parted with surprise, and though his voice was frail, it didn't stop him from addressing the blonde soldier. "...A-Ash...?" The sound of that melodic albeit weakened voice caused Rain to gasp. He was awake. "...Rain." ********** "Are you sure you're okay for moving around so much? You sure you don't need to rest s'more?" Rain smiled innocently at that while Ash sighed. Now he understood where Cream got her reputation for being such a worrier. An hour had passed since Rain had arisen from the slumber he had been induced into having from being locked inside an oxygenated test tube for so long. And he was beginning to settle into himself again. Minutes after Cream had gone out of her way to make sure that Ash had some alone time with Rain, she couldn't help herself from coming into the infirmary and seeing what happened after she left. To her surprise, Rain was awake. And she had never seen Ash looking so happy before. The blonde boy's eyes were lit up with a new charge of life and Cream was so pleased to see it. The three of them spent the following while talking between themselves. Mostly just Cream teasing Ash about his concern, even though Cream was the one most concerned about Rain's condition beforehand. That didn't stop until one of the Darshana Division operatives came in and said that a room had been prepared for Rain in the dorms. Cream and Ash decided to show him to it And they were on their way now. The three of them walked down the long corridor of the dormitories of the Paracelsus, where all the personnel slept during their allocated hours. As Rain walked along between Cream and Ash down that corridor, he shook his head for a no. "Please... do not be concerned with me I am fine. Although I must say, I... was rather shocked to wake up here and... to see Ash... after all these years..." "But it's good too, right?" Cream nudged eagerly, "Now you two can pick up where you left off!" Ash blushed hard. "Cream! You're embarrassing me, goddamnit!" Cream stuck her tongue out while Ash glared back with flushed cheeks. Rain giggled lightly at the pair of them. Ash had made good friends since the old days. "It's fine. I don't mind." The three of them kept walking, until Ash stopped before a particular door. A door that happened to be his own, judging by the little plaque on the side which read 'Lieutenant Ashriel Gestalt'. When Ash stopped before it Cream and Rain did the same, turning back to him questioningly. Cream was the one who spoke up about it, though. "Why'd you stop, Ash?" Ash gave Cream a genuine look. "You mind if I talk to Rain alone for a little while?" "Sure," She replied with a shrug, "I should catch up with Yoko now anyways. I'll see you two later then, okay? Maybe we can do something when we stop to refuel at Ladeny?" "Yeah. Lets do that." He told her. Cream smiled and waved when she started walking down the opposite direction. Ash shoved a hand into the pocket of his normal green and gold military uniform and took out his key card. He swiped it through the control panel of his bedroom door and walked inside. He prompted Rain to follow him, which Rain did. When Rain looked around he could see that it really had been three years since their last meeting. Everything around here told him of the changes that Ash had made to his life since then. The posters of his room in the old Gestalt Research Facility were all of his favourite rocks bands and computer game characters. Now they were replaced by landscape painting of old Earth. Hanging off the wall above his bed was a scroll written in a ancient Earth language that Rain couldn't quite understand. To their right was a bookshelf which, rather than being overloaded with comics, contained actual books. Most of them seemed to be about swordplay but there were some that focused on modern philosophy and psychology, as well as geology and humanism. Ash was still only seventeen years old but he had grown up a lot since three years ago. As pleased as Rain was for that, it actually hurt him to know that Ash had been making all these changes too his life when Rain wasn't there to see it. As selfish as that might have sounded, he did feel that way. A little. "Well, this is my room," Ash noticed the sudden drop in Rain's mood. "Is something wrong?" Rain looked up from his sandals. "You've been... growing up without me. I... wish I could have been there." "Same to you," Ash told him with a smirk, "I wish I was there too." This might not have seemed like a smart thing to do, getting reacquainted, especially since Rain would have to be turned over to the Ministry soon, but they couldn't help it. Ash nodded his head to his bed and walked over to his chest of drawers. "You can sit down, you know." Rain did that, lowering himself to the bedspread. Ash opened the door to the mini-cooler he had on top of his chest of drawers and extracted two bottles of mineral water He walked over to the bed and sat down, being careful to put a bit of space between them. He handed Rain the bottle. "Here." "You remembered..." The brunette said smiling, taking the bottle. "Well you always told me back then that I should drink more of this stuff These days I'd rather have a beer, but... it keeps the body healthy. And I can't drink on duty either, which makes sense. Who'd wanna fight the Saviours with a hangover." Rain giggled to himself. "What's so funny?" "It's just," Ash couldn't help but notice the beautiful twinkle in Rain's eyes when he said, "I'm glad to know you haven't changed too much since the old days." Ash pulled a smile. "I guess not." Rain certainly wasn't different. He was still so petite and innocent, but not like Cream. Rain's attitude was gentle and self-aware, with a kind of confidence that shined enough to put even the worst memories aside for as long as possible. It was kind of hard to describe if you couldn't experience it for yourself, Ash noted that, but he could see it so well in Rain. Even now he brought no attention to the fact that he had been used like a guinea pig by the Ministry. And he had not been liberated from that fate. He was only to be transported to a safer location before being handed over to the Ministry's department in Crux Cartha. "So what have you been doing with yourself since then?" Rain asked, "If I have to ask?" Ash leaned back on the bed. "I joined the military. Straight after... what happened. At first I was just a part of the normal sector, but after I helped deal with a Saviour attack on a little southern city, I was promoted to Lieutenant. Then a year ago I was drafted into the Darshana Division; a special operations corps against the Saviour insurgency." "I see..." Rain looked away, "...and what about..." "What?" Rain's large green eyes saddened slightly. "Your romantic life." To be honest, Ash hadn't expected that one. He probably should have, considering what they once were to each other. But he would have thought that Rain would have had more pressing concerns on his mind. Like what was going to happen to him now. Ash was so thrown by what Rain had asked him that he clammed up a bit When moments passed and Rain realized that Ash wasn't answering him, he turned to his left and stared questioningly at him. "Can't you tell me?" "...Well, I... just..." Rain looked away again. "...I'm being selfish I shouldn't expect that after three years you would still-" "There hasn't been anyone since you." That last comment hung in the air hard. Ash crossed his arms behind his head uncomfortably and leaned backwards over the bed. The bottle of water in his hand dropped with him. While Rain sat properly but with a million thoughts running through his mind It was flattering to him in a way. But if anyone, Rain could see that Ash took no pride in it. He was a good-looking, kind man and he was certainly capable of finding someone to be with. Even in the old days, the girls couldn't get enough of Ash. But if what he said was true then he hadn't been in relationship with anyone else since his one with Rain. Years had passed and he still hadn't let go of his feelings; even though he had thought that Rain was dead. That just went to show it - there was still something between them. Attraction was a given, but... there was still more than that. "I'm sorry," Rain apologized, "I never wanted to hold you back." Ash grinned "You didn't hold me back, I held myself back. If I wanted to let go of you... I would have done." That was another positive change in Ash since those days. He seemed to find it easier to express his emotions now. A quality that Rain certainly found magnetic. "...I never stopped thinking about you. Even when..." "Rain...?" Although this conversation was verging ever closer and closer to the question on the current state of their relationship, the part of Ash that was a soldier had some confusions to clear up. The biggest one being, "Look I have to know. We both survived the Saviour attack. But how is it that you ended up as a test subject of the Ministry? How did you...?" "...It was him," Rain said sadly, "...I thought he was saving me... but... he was working for them." Ash didn't even have to hear the name to know that Rain was talking about his older Brother. "Goddamn that bastard...! What did he even want with you?!" "I don't know," Replied the Sorel boy, "they kept talking about something called the Anti-Lambda Effect as if it was important when he left me with the Ministry. They said that I hold the secret to that. But after that day they didn't treat me like a prisoner. I was well looked after, I'm guessing out of respect for my Father. He and your Mother and Father were members of the Ministry too at a point. Then a few months ago they put me in stasis. That's basically... what I understand of it." Ash scowled "Goddamnit. I can't believe you've been going through all this. All because of that murdering bastard! How many more times will he screw me over?!" "...Ash..." "I'm sorry," The soldier of Germanic descent said, "I shouldn't have let it happen. But I swear to God, Rain, if I'd have known that you were still alive I would have-" Rain nodded "I know that." "But I-" Again, Rain was forced to calm Ash down. He place a sole finger upon his lips, gently shushing him for the moment. Ash composed himself for a second; taking notice of how soft Rain's fingertip felt against his lips. He was a man of quick temper but Rain always knew how to calm him down. Rain waited until Ash chilled out a little before saying. "Listen to me Don't for a second think I blame you for what happened. You swore that you would always protect me and I still believe that. Please don't ever doubt it, Ash. You're the one thing... I have to hold onto." Ash took Rain's hand into his own. "I... missed you so much." "I missed you too." "Hey," Ash proposed something, "If you're feeling up to it... the Paracelsus is stopping in Ladeny city to refuel and restock on supplies. Cream and I have some free time so we're going to stop there for a little while and relax. You wanna come?" Rain gave him a bright smile. "I'd love to." ********** The Ministerial Bastion, headquarters of the Ministry, possessed the largest set of laboratories in the known sphere of influence. More than 45 levels of which were underground while another 32 existed above ground as part of the main building. Obviously the more important experiments involving issues important to the Ministry (and those that were not dangerous to the building on the whole) were conducted in the lower levels of the Bastion. And a very important one happened to be getting underway right at this moment. It was a very hall in which it would take place. One wide enough to swallow up half of the Tsar's Kyhshi Palace. It was divided into three levels. One was the observational bay -- a railing surrounding the upper walls of the room from which the experiment could be viewed from a non-participant's position. The second of them was the observational platform. The place where the organizers of the experiment and its overseers would what they needed to carry it out. The third and final part was ground level. That was where all the proceedings would... proceed. In the centre of that ground level area was a certain 'woman'. One of the BAS-Series bioandroids. But this time this one could be easily differentiated from the others. Her body was enswathed in futuristic armour. Silver-painted/gold-streaked plates constructed from the lightest kind of protective titanium were connected to her wrists, shins, thighs, arms, hands, neck, and chest. From the girl's back extended six metal protrusions, each one shaped like the exhaust pipe tail of a Magi Armour. They seemed to have no purpose now; but there was. Aside from the armour and the white undershirt beneath it, the bioandroid was naked. Her limp and armoured body was strapped to a tall steel cross as if prepared for a crucifixion. The steel crucifix stood in the centre of a shallow ring-like indentation in the ground. From the grooves of that indentation were a set of cables and wires, as well as electrodes, for a now unknown purpose. The girl was motionless, unconscious. Computers and those running them were positioned twenty metres south of the steel crucifix Twenty young men and women, the operatives of the experiment, all dressed in white lab coast bearing the insignia of the Ministry on them; sat beside them with their fingers to their keyboards. Even now readings were coming in from the sleeping metal girl in their care. The observation platform was slightly above the ground level. Standing beside the railing of that platform was none other than Dianus Maximus and her redheaded 'doll' Isabelle. The two of them stood together and watched as the scientists down below prepared things. But there was someone else waiting there. Someone who had just recently come through the door to the back of the platform A tall woman dressed in the same lab coat as her subordinates and a big player in the Ministry. Dianus didn't even have to look back to know that she was approaching "Dr. Kuhnen." Doctor Annette Kuhnen, as she was called, strode up to Dianus with a gentle smirk. "Many greetings, Doctor Maximus. I trust you are keeping well." "Well, well, well," Dianus said, "Formalities. I don't have a great deal of memories to draw back upon in which I've seen that from you." "The same might apply to you and pleasantries," Annette pressed her hand into the metal railing, then cast her eyes to the right and saw Isabelle, standing next to her mistress obediently, "and who might she be? That is a model from the BAS-Series, right? Is she is not a member of personnel?" Dianus gestured to Isabelle. "No she is not. She is the first of the BAS-Series. My secretary, Isabelle." "Secretary, eh?" Annette repeated, "it's funny. The planning stages necessary for the BAS-Series was begun more than a decade before you and I were born. Because of the lack of the necessary biological profiling and a significant deficit in funds, they could not be completed until now. Yet when you take over... each of the results were cast in the same image. One that seems to have a great deal of similarities with Alexandra-" Dianus cast a hateful stare at Annette. "Don't you dare speak her name. I cast that past away years ago. Who my creations do or do not look like is absolutely none of your business." "I am sorry, Director. I didn't mean to strike a nerve." "You're a terrible liar, Annette. You were so in university and you are so now. And I don't need any of your disingenuous apologies. I came here to work. And that is exactly what I will do" Annette looked away with a smile. "Very well. I must offer you my thanks, anyway. The other teams and I were busy working with the systems of the Zarathustra But since DNA samples have not been implanted into the main cortex as yet -- I cannot begin my part in the act. Thus I appreciate being given the opportunity to work on something else in the mean time." "It can't be helped. Your skills in the nanomachine field are necessary for the modifications that will be made after the activation of the Zophim." Dianus told her. "I am flattered," Annette looked out to the armoured girl on the steel crucifix, "so she is the one who will be used as the sample for the core?" Dianus pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Yes. All the other Seraphim Replicates have been completed on Planet Shem. However the Zophim was far too important to allocate to the Shem branch. Once the data on the completed models were sent here -- we began work. The Esdraelon Conglomerate needed to be assuaged thanks to the delays on the Baruva Cannon. They should keep Bardia busy." "But the Zophim is not a part of that, right?" Annette questioned. The older woman smirked. "Of course not. She has a far greater destiny ahead of her. The psychological and spiritual strain that would be placed on a normal human being who will attempt to do what the Zophim will do is too great. What better tool to use than a soulless vessel? One who cannot feel pain or joy?" "I suppose that you are the one most knowledgeable about the SIGMA Project You should understand better than anyone how well the Zophim will be able to cope in resonance with the Mahalah sample. But I am most impressed by the weapons specs She will be stronger than any other humanoid weapon we have ever made; yet her purpose is not warfare... it seems somewhat ironic, don't you think?" Dianus pressed her hand against her side. "Not necessarily. There is no assurance that we won't have to use her in combat. The Galactic Confederacy could always make trouble for us should they happen to discover the true nature of the Master Plan. And that doesn't even take into account the reaction that the Esdraelon Conglomerate will have if they figure out that Zophim has been kept secret from them. I refuse to believe that we won't ever have to defend ourselves in the future." "She certainly has the capability," Annette took a look at the papers on her clipboard, "the memo I received says that not only was she programmed with psychokinetic and photokinetic capacities, but also that she can channel those powers through the long-ranged Crescentius-PRO8000 lance-rifle she has been equipped with, correct? I had heard that the military were planning on providing soldiers with those kinds of weapons for use against the Saviours but I did not know you of all people were one of the ones behind its development." Dianus looked at Isabelle for a moment before continuing. "Weapons development is not my forte by any sense of standard. But I was commanded by the military to act. What choice did I really have in the matter? In any case, the Crescentius is finished and is ready to be linked to the Zophim's Sahaja operating system. All we need to think about now is the activation of the Zophim." And so the dark-haired woman looked down on the twenty scientists. "Begin the activation!" Shouts of 'yes, ma'am' were thrown back to her by some of the workers down there. They began an even more frantic tapping of the keys of their control panels. In front of all twenty computers but a short distance ahead of the Zophim, who was still strapped to the steel crucifix, was a flat visual producer. It generated a holographic mapping sphere which seemed to run in tandem with the unified actions of the desk-bound clerks. "Affirmative," Said Technician #1, "activation test for the ZOPHIM Seraphim Replicate begins." A second Technician tapped the keys of her terminal. "Contact made with Agnus Dei IGP, Prometheus. Permission granted for power diversion through the Bastion." "All probes working in link with the Sahaja Operating System," Said Technician #4, "re-routing energy supply through Ministerial Bastion to TEC Umbilical Cable. " A reaction suddenly took place in the Zophim as the technicians did their work. Connected to the ceiling was the long 'umbilical cable' that had been plugged into the lower-back of her skull on the other end. It started glowing as energy was passed through it from the generators of the Bastion to the Zophim herself. Its body jerked a bit but did not awaken immediately. And yet that did not seem to be an expectation right away. Then a second cable descended from the high ceiling along a metal shaft. The shaft came down close enough to the head of the Zophim to attach that new black cable to the left side of her head "Cephalic Neuromodulator Umbilical Cable inserted. Now secreting neuromodulator fluid into Z-A1 brainstem at 89.2%." "Energy transfer is beginning," Started Technician #8, "ego borders vitalized. Cerebral cortex vitalized. Cerebellospinal tract vitalized. Total central nervous system revitalization!" Technician #12 looked up from his computer. "Lowering neuromodulator fluid by 35.87%. Ideographic projection indicating unmitigated acceptance of revitalization" "Acknowledged," Said Technician #17, "Sahaja Operating System running at full power. 67.9875% of all bodily functions of the Zophim are operating in semi-operational stasis. Now proceeding with removal of Neuromodulator Umbilical Cable and preparing for cardiovascular stimulation." The black cable attached to the Zophim's skull was ejected with a puff of cold air and sallow white liquid. It dangled freely from the upper levels while electrical energy was still being pumped into the Zophim's body by the lengthy blue cable sticking out of its cranium. This time that power was focused on a specific spot of the Zophim's biotechnological body. Its lithe, buxom body jerked hard at that, its limbs shrugging hard at the chains that bound it to the steel crucifix. Technician #3 grinned. "Cardiovascular stimulation is a success. We've got a heartbeat!" "Roger," Claimed Technician #18, "preparing to fuse Valkyrie-PRO8000 Armour into the peripheral and central nervous systems of subject Zophim." There was a momentary delay. Then the undersides of the plates of armour around the flesh of the Zophim began to react to the commands issued out by the technicians. The metal of that Valkyrie-PRO8000 armour started fusing with the very skin on the Seraphim Replicate. The cables from those plates weaved their way into her limbs and body and attached themselves to the bone, muscle and veins of the girl. For any normal humanoid it would have been a most excruciating process. But the body of the Zophim did not move an inch during it. It just hung from the steel crucifix on the edge that existed between life and death. Technician #11 laughed victoriously. "Valkyrie-PRO8000 armour installation is a success!" Dianus stared out at unmoving Zophim with a cunning smile. "Perfect... that's just perfect. Now awaken it." "Very well, Ma'am," Technician #7 answered, "activating Lambda Effect Containment Geon for imminent Zophim awakening." The technicians took that on board and got to it, working over their boards with rapid keystrokes The cables attached to the Zophim were ejected with puffs of cold air in one go The serrations around the circular indent that the steel crucifix had been staked into began to illuminate. All of a sudden a huge sphere of protective (or entrapping) energy surrounded the steel crucifix. It was a precaution. Then the holographic mapping sphere changed from a bright green to a bright red. And abruptly enough the Zophim's beautiful emerald eyes opened. All those in the hall gasped as it tilted its head upwards, swinging its locks of red hair around the shoulder plates that had been infused into her very skin. She yanked her steel covered arms from the binds and kicked the chains off her feet, jumping down to the ground. When she landed on the ground, the six metal protrusions stemming from her back started humming a low growl. Six beautiful and sparkling sapphire blue wing-like energy manifestations shot out from then. The six-winged Seraphim Replicate stood up while the others gasped. The Zophim was alive and awake. Dianus called out to it from the platform. "Tell me! What is your name!?" The Zophim's voice was extremely slow and methodical, like that of Isabelle "Joint Esdraelon/Ministerial Production -- Hyper Seraphim Replicate ZOPHIM." "And what is your purpose?!" The sparkling eyes of the Zophim looked up at her creator. "The catalyst of that which shall be God."
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