Rip 6

BEGIN: -------  VII  -------

Recollection initiated...

Stored memory analysis commencing in..  5...4...3...2...1...

The creation of ACWs. A difficult process. First and foremost, you cannot proceed without a proper host. There are only eight in the entire world. In a way, we are 'chosen ones'. Typically, the capacity to become an ACW exists within one individual at a time, but passes on when they die. This stops when the ACW 'awakens'.

In other words, there was someone before me who could become ACW Model VII, and then they died. So at that point it was I who could become an ACW. Of course, once someone becomes an ACW nobody can take that spot. The line 'ends'. Which in a way makes me happy, since nobody else will have to go through the same thing in the future. I am okay with that. However some part of me still resents the choice. 'Why did it have to be me? Out of millions of people living out there, why me in particular?'

The earliest days in that pod were lonely and the process was quite unpleasant. I can recall it as if it happened today. My shoulders still feel a bit weird sometime, from the equipment they loaded down there, and...I...

   One does suppose this is fate, even if cruel, yes. How...W-wait a second..

"Lilyyyy! It's 7 a.m, come on, wake up!'-Sarla's shouting brings me to my senses.

"Noooo! I want to sleeeep!!!"-I am surprised by the fact. I have slept for so long, inside that pod. And it was not always uncomfortable. One would think I'd be tired of sleep, but it seems that I still require it in certain quantities. Every day. Eight full hours.

"Lily."-I can already mentally picture Sarla folding her arms and looking at me sternly. How does she even wake up this early? Actually, give me a moment!

"How do you even wake up so early?"

   It most certainly is uncanny. Perhaps it relates to her past. In which case prying would not be wise.

That could be..yes... "I...I mean, if it's not..."

"The sun gets up pretty early around here and you get used to it."-Sarla said. "Plus, I'm a morning person. I've never been particularly bothered by early morning hours."-she added. I opened my eyes for the first time. Ah. Hand on her hips, rather than folded arms. I got the pose wrong. Sarla's Posing: 1 Lily: 0.

"I-I see. I suppose... Uh...but what are we doing today? We can't exactly go around town can we?"-I turned to ask her. After all we had to remain in a safe locale, where the Emernian agents would not be spotting us.

"Technically, yes. However tracking us down is in the bottom of the Emernian's list now. You will be surprised to learn what went on after we left. Beatrix took over apparently."-Sarla said and sat by the side of my bed.

"Wait..."-Who's B..Oh. Yes, the second I thought about it, it hit me. Perhaps B's name was indeed apt. I wish I had asked her. Or that we otherwise exchanged names. I don't think my relationship with her would have gone as smoothly as that with Sarla, but that feeling of unresolved animosity will not leave me.

It itches away at my conscience. Is this what drives Sarla to obtain answers too? I do not care as much as she does about that sort of thing, I must admit. But I think I can grasp a bit of the feeling that drives her with this. Nonetheless, there is another troublesome matter we must deal with.

"Wouldn't that be more trouble?"-I turn to Sarla. "Most of them do not have a personal vendetta against us. Beatrix being in charge..."

"Yes. Exactly."-Sarla pats my sides, or..well,the sheets over that part. "They will do what is best to retrieve us because it's good for business. However, Beatrix does not feel that need. She already thinks she is superior so she does not see that we are returned. Simply put...she's got a different agenda entirely."

"I-I see... but that is still rather risky. We cannot just go around at will, can we?"-I asked, turning around and looking up at Sarla. I just remembered now, what had happened to her in that tower...

"Sarla, I..."-I put a hand up, and gently touched her arm. I remembered too, that I promised I could return her sense of touch in the replaced bits. Well, I did warn her it's risky... And it is a very complicated affair. I would need to replicate a proper nervous system and then connect it to her spine...which has probably been tampered with too.

Sarla only smiles a little though, and pats my head. "It's alright. Being here is all I need right now. We'll figure everything out with time, I am sure of it. Besides, we've already come so far. We are going to fix everything. I know we can."-Sarla's confidence makes me smile as well, as I throw the bedsheets off and get up from bed.

"Alright, alright. But first we need breakfast! I...wonder how the food in here is. Could be like the one in Galamine! They had tasty food in there actually, even if I only smelled it..."-I only need to eat every once in a while. Actually I am not sure if I even need to do that, or if it's some strange reflex.

I got up from  bed right away, and looked around. From the window I could see the city in full. A vast expanse of buildings, some taller, some shorter, a large curving highway with many roads rising over some of the buildings and further still, the massive body of an airship, atop which a palace was built. The central district of Atharom from what I had gathered.

The eight gateways could also be seen on the surrounding wall. Large and foreboding, as the railways come to an end within the city and are redirected through the underground railway system, that runs beneath Atharom. I got ready to leave of course, and turned to the door. "Did you have breakfast?"-I asked Sarla.

She shook her head. "I was waiting for you to get ready. We can eat together. They have some delicious food here in Atharom..."-and then she corrects herself. "Well, delicious by comparison. The food in most other parts of the desert is...not the best, to say the least."

I smiled, nonetheless. I'd love to try something nice for breakfast here. With that, we both left the room.

END: ~~~~~~~  VII  ~~~~~~~

BEGIN: -------  B  -------

This place is indeed a mess. Banishing the old lords did not bring about the swiftest of revolutions, but it seems that me alerting everyone to the sudden 'regime change' does not appear to have caused too much of a ruckus. This is good of course, as it allows me to sway the palace to my ends.

Anton and Sirius entered the hall shortly after, but by that point the voting was well underway, and finished before they could make a move. They looked relieved. I allowed them to sit in the chairs once occupied by the Emernian lords. For hundreds of years nobody else has sat here. How preposterous. These people cling to such stupid things such as a mere seat. I shot another disdainful look at the doorway, remembering the former lords leaving the room.

I had them flown down to the city. I decided to keep them all in one ship, and drop them off in a relatively safe area. Pointless cruelty is beneath me at this point... and besides, I have to show I am better than them. Not that I wouldn't want revenge, but if the people I seek to rule over will think of me as the same type of person as the ones I just deposed, that would make me hardly fit for the job. I wish to maintain my power for a while longer than just today.

"Anton. Sirius."-I beckoned the two, who stood up at that moment, as I did. I headed towards the nearby window and looked once more at the risen sun. "I will need you to keep the troops in order for the time being. I... do not want fighting to break out, especially not after what has already transpired. That would be too much."

"Of course."-Anton says. Sirius seems a bit more doubtful, but he nods in agreement as well.

"Is something wrong?"-I turned to him.

"...Yes, as a matter of fact."-Sirius added. "Why? Why did you do all this?"

"All this?"-I understood what he could possibly mean, but I had to make sure nonetheless. Sirius begun to reply right away.

"You could have run away. I understand the need to survive, but instead you turned on the organization here. Again, understandable. But unlikely. This is much unlike you Beatrix."

He... much unlike me...

   My influence was not subtle enough it seems. I apologize if I caused a rift with your loved ones, or otherwise inconvenienced you.
   Unfortunate as it is... it was still necessary. I hope you understand that dear.

Of course. It is necessary still. I turned to Sirius. "Yes. I get what you are saying. However, the information I obtained during my time spent with those foreigners... about that woman in the pod, and everything else... While I cannot share it with you, for fear of your own death, I can assure you it has enlightened me to a number of things."

Sirius accepts this. Of course in the past such dealings have been had. Between us, who work from the shadows to secure the future of a rather corrupt and barely held-together organisation such as a noble family in Atharom, secrets are nothing new. Trusting someone is defined as being aware they are keeping a secret from you, and understanding that it is for the best that you do not know it.

   Send him away. Him and Anton. Send them to look for the two girls. Not to capture them of course... I think you would not want that
   right?

That is correct.

   But you agree with me, that you need to know their position in the city, in any case. And for that matter, deal with those fools of
   Violet Thorn.

How did you kn-

   I know things dear. But that is not important. What you need to know is where those two are. Hmm... that Lily girl came here from
   Galamine. That could be a hint.

...I see. Very well. I will make use of this knowledge. For now. "Anton. Sirius. We do need to be informed on the whereabouts of the two escaped girls however. Lily...and Sarla. Those are their names. I have been informed that one of them, the one from the pod. She came from Galamine. You know what to do."

Anton and Sirius looked at eachother, and then at me. I nodded. This was a fairly logical request, after all, those two girls were important assets. Keeping an eye on such valuable targets is reasonable after all. Perhaps that will calm them down some too. I can only wait and hope for the outcome.