XENOSAGA: Kirschwasser -- 2/?? -- COMPLETE
[YURIEV] ::Black. Yuriev finally decided to turn away from deep space. He decided to look away from the glass panes, away from his reflection within them, and even away from the multiplied amount of reflections against his glasses. He stared beyond them now, at the desk--and then up at Wilhelm.::
It is definitely not an issue within Raziel. I ordered Ramsus to do a series of tests within a mock-up unit, and the phenomena did not reappear. We cannot recreate it. --Which means it lies within Sakura's own perception of the Encephalon. Regardless, ... ::He noticed the holographic chessboard get brighter. He side-eyed the Compass of Order, which had cast an ominous glow upon the board.::
I believe it would have been fine if Juli Mizrahi had not interfered. ::He studied the board, and finally made a decision. He grasped his black horse by its head and moved it two squares up, and one square left.
A small, but still anxious smile crossed Yuriev's face. He exhaled softly as if he couldn't believe it.::
Is that a checkmate?
[WILHELM] ::Wilhelm was leaning on one elbow, fingers curled and cradling his jaw along perfect pale knuckles. His posture was very relaxed despite the war that was raging on the chessboard in front of him, a war that he had been commanding with the same scary and precise prowess he had Hyams, Vector, the Federation, and numerous other organizations that had formed from him or flourished because of him.
One of his holographic computer monitors was still on too, though the news feed remained muted. This combined with the Compass' functioning ring produced a pale green glow that oscillated over everything. In the background, Wagner was playing.::
That's very interesting. ::Wilhelm made his next move, not hesitating, and then waited for Yuriev's.:: It's not unheard of, is it? Perhaps the UMN's impressions reached her before you realized it, creating a "deja vu" sort of effect. Perhaps something else lies beneath her subconscious domain that your previous tests were completely unaware of, and the introduction of your children's waveforms were enough to bring it to the surface.
::Wilhelm blinked--actually, really blinked. Hard. Yuriev probably derived some satisfaction from the nearly panicked way Wilhelm was looking over the chessboard.::
... yes. ::The other hand, still hovering over the board, gently grabbed onto his white king and laid it on its side.:: Checkmate.
I assume Juli Mizrahi's trust was--shaken. Is it that much of a setback?
[YURIEV] ::He pushed Wilhelm's "panic" aside with another grin.::
You let me win. ::That had to be it. He had never beaten Wilhelm before--he had always come close, but then Wilhelm would reveal the plot he had had all along and utterly destroy Yuriev every time. The game returned to the back of Yuriev's mind with the advent of Wilhelm's new question.::
Actually, that's why I'm here. Juli Mizrahi--I haven't received any formal communications with her, but I am certain that she intends on taking Sakura out of the program. It's a real shame. Our therapists were able to take Sakura so far; she can play the piano, she's been gardening a lot lately. She's showed incredible progress in her math and music skills. --Of course, she is still unable to speak or write.
::He licked his lips, prepared to make another move with his chess pieces, and then realized that the game was over. .. he had won. A fluke at best.::
But I know that Mizrahi is afraid of Phase 2 of the program. --It may be untested, but she has to realize that if it can cure Sakura, it can also cure millions of other people throughout the star cluster. It's selfish for her to put a halt to scientific evolution like this.
--And she can break the contract at any time. She's from money, after all. .. though I hear her husband has already given up hope. He's constructing some kind of android to replace the child.
And besides. You know as well as I do what lies in the deepest depths of that girl.
[WILHELM] ::Wilhelm didn't confirm or deny Yuriev's accusation. This was one of countless games they had played over these very many, very long years, Yuriev with different hands and Wilhelm always with the same. He was still studying the board, reviewing the game one move at a time, searching for where he had somehow let his guard down and allowed Yuriev to do that. When he did or didn't find what he was looking for, he reached forward with both hands to set the pieces back in their default positions as he spoke.::
We do, but this is something that your sciences will be unable to verify. It's something that those monitoring will demand an explanation to, should they see it in the first place.
::Blood red eyes flicked up to Yuriev as he set the last black pawn in place.:: You have only heard half the story, then. It's not that he has given up hope--on the contrary, actually. You see, I've provided in the case of this eventuality.
::He glanced to the Compass sitting next to him. Though it was only half-functional, it had been an incredible ally in charting just what Juli and Joachim were planning to do, were going to do. He smiled.::
Directly or not, I know how best to tug at a mother's heartstrings. If nothing else, your rehabilitation of Sakura Mizrahi will not only help her mind, but also provide irreplaceable information for Joachim's "android." At my suggestion, he intends to link Sakura with his creation, such that she will be able to experience the world despite her... autism, if that's what you've defined it as?
Mrs. Mizrahi will see reason. I assure you, and I promise you, that aggrieved parents are the easiest to manipulate of them all.
::Well, Wilhelm would know, wouldn't he?::
[YURIEV] That's.. a relief. ::A relief Yuriev had not expected to see coming.
Did that mean that Sakura's consciousness could be transferred to this android? Did that mean that even in the event of Sakura's death--a real threat as of late--they would not lose contact with the entity?::
Thank you, Wilhelm. You always make things so convenient. This gives me some opportunities to push them a little harder--Sakura and her parents both.
::He leaned back in his seat, which had been summoned up specially for Yuriev. Wilhelm would have made any other man stand, but Yuriev had even been offered some shallow glasses of wine--none of which he had touched.::
And the Designer Children, as well..
::He closed his eyes and contemplated.:: UUUUUUU-DOOOO...
[WILHELM] ::Wilhelm's smile somehow got softer, sweeter. It was an expression that only a handful of people had ever seen on Wilhelm's face. The cold reality was that most of those people were long since dead.::
You're welcome, my beloved Dr. Yuriev. ::He reached for his own wine glass, which he had no regrets about quaffing, if only to get rid of this useless sentimentalism. For a long time now, he had provided for Yuriev's every eventuality, up to and including the complete and total funding of the Salvator Faction and thus the Yuriev Institute. To be honest, when Yuriev came to meet him in person, Wilhelm had been expecting a request for more money or something.
Someone once said that a child needed your presence more than your presents, but Wilhelm had decided presents were just as good.::
[NARRATOR] ~ Some Time Later ~
[RUBEDO] ::Another bullet flung right off of the bull's eye and into the ammunition trench beneath it. Rubedo wasn't unhappy with his aim--he was unhappy with the amount of time it had taken the bullet to get from the barrel to the target. He would definitely be bringing the issue up with his father in the future. He took a step back and pressed a button on the nearby panel to cause the targets in the distance to move left and right at a medium pace.
He looked around himself just to make sure that none of the non-Variant URTVs (because they were idiots, and one had recently ran right into Rubedo's line of fire and almost got himself killed) were around.
He aimed, he waited for the target to put itself in his aim, and then he clicked.::
... ::Click, click.:: Out of ammo.
::With an irritated huff, he reached for the panel. And then he heard a song. --Piano keys, to be specific. His hair and coat gently lifted in the wind that seemed to be carrying those beautiful notes. What the? Had one of the URTVs learned to play the piano? He shut off the targets, shoved his unloaded gun into his coat pocket, and started to walk in the song's direction.::
[SAKURA] ::One of the notes went sour, but the melody swiftly picked itself back up again, no worse for wear. The keys on this piano were larger than the ones she was used to, since this was her first time playing an actual grand piano! Most of her musical studies had been conducted in white, soundproof rooms with synthesizers that made every tone kind of edgy, but her therapists had decided something more genuine was in order. Sakura concentrated on making sure to mind the new size of the keys as she continued playing this melancholy, and yet pleasant song.::
[ALBEDO] ::Albedo's purple eyes opened and slid to the side.::
[RUBEDO] ::Rubedo stared through the bullet proof window. The Varta Institute of Encephalon Evolution was primarily a caretaking facility for the hundreds of URTVs, but it also included certain wings of guest rooms and facilities. The East Ampitheater was home to a shooting range, a race track (for Vector-funded AGWS and AMWS testing), and similar recreational facilities.
This facility, the Audio Core, was rarely used, because every URTV was considered musically retarded (with Albedo being the exception, although every instructor that had encouraged Albedo to try learning an instrument had failed).
Rubedo stared at the grand piano and the girl that was caressing the keys with her delicate, anxious fingers.::
[JULI] Is this the first time you've seen her? ::Juli approached Rubedo from behind.::
[RUBEDO] ::Rubedo wasn't surprised; with his heightened awareness he knew someone had been coming, and he knew that person was not a threat. He slowly looked to the side and nodded once at Juli.::
Yeah. She looks so.. ::His eyelids and eyes fell.::
[JULI] Normal? ::She smiled.:: I know.
--I'm sorry about what happened. .. during the last Encephalon Dive.
[RUBEDO] It's not your fault. We all want the same thing, don't we? ::He looked back at Sakura.::
[JULI] ::Juli inhaled and looked at her daughter as well.:: I suppose.
[RUBEDO] No one got hurt. That's what matters.
[JULI] You are.. a very wise young boy, Number 666.
[RUBEDO] ::He grinned, faced her again, and scratched the back of his head.:: You can just call me Rubedo, Miss Mizrahi!
[JULI] ::She clutched her arm.:: Rubedo, then.
[ALBEDO] I don't get it.
[NIGREDO] What?
::Nigredo hadn't really been paying attention to anything but the way the trees were casting shadows over the both of them. This gazebo was one of many sprinkled throughout the Institute. It was from here that they had been watching Rubedo practice off and on, as well as watching for any non-Variants that were stupid enough to wander by and get in his line of fire again. Though Yuriev didn't seem to cherish the non-Variants as much, he still didn't want them to get gunned down.
Nigredo followed Albedo's gaze to wherever Rubedo had wandered off too, but he wasn't concerned: at any time he could have spoken to Rubedo if he wanted.::
[ALBEDO] ::Albedo flung his arms into the air.:: I... --don't know.
::He folded them behind his head and leaned back, trying not to feel as miffed as he did.:: It's a half-octave too high, that's what it is..!
[NIGREDO] ::Stare.::
[SAKURA] ::Sakura didn't notice the young boy looking in on her, but that wasn't a surprise: she tended to perceive things one at a time. Right now she was focused on the song she was playing, as well as everything connected to that. Though she could not speak or write, she could express herself in other ways; music was a perfect example. The adagio melody continued.::
[YURIEV] >> URTV 666 and superior, please report to the Lab at once. I repeat, report to the Encephalon Laboratories at once.
[RUBEDO] ::Rubedo glanced up when the announcement blared over the hundreds of intercoms installed throughout the facilities.::
[JULI] I suppose that's you. ::She turned to Rubedo, but he was already out of her line of vision--::
[RUBEDO] ::Rubedo looked over his shoulder at Juli.:: Miss Mizrahi. I would never want to hurt Sakura. --And neither would any of my brothers. ::He continued to walk away without waiting for a response.::
[JULI] ::Juli stood in a mixture of guilt and regret.::
[YURIEV] ::Yuriev paced across the room, but the room was so large that it didn't even look like a pace. The URTV Treatment Facility was incorrectly named, but for good reason: URTVs were not susceptible to human disease. Generally speaking, their lives were only in danger at birth. URTVs who were severely injured on the field or in virtual space were generally simply 'tossed' and replaced via a new URTV. The Variants? Well. The Variants never got injured.
Yuriev's body became wider and taller as he swept behind every tube in the room. Large stickers and forms and important informations were plastered directly onto the tubes, which seemed to somewhat disguise what was beneath them: unfinished (or dead) URTVs. The dead ones were flushed out at the end of every day, via an automated transport system--the Vartas Soylent System. The unfinished ones, assuming they lived to see their birth, would replace the standard URTVs as needed--which was why Yuriev wasn't really concerned about Rubedo's firing range. Murder wasn't murder when the victim didn't have an identity.
Yuriev suddenly stopped and removed his fingers from his aching forehead. His nostrils flared up for a moment, and his eyes led him to Rubedo.::
[RUBEDO] ::Blink.:: What?
[YURIEV] Where are your brothers? --And Citrine.
[CITRINE] I'm here, Sir. ::Citrine finished recording the temperature of one of the giant tubes. She placed her pen beneath the clip of her clipboard and went to stand at Rubedo's side.:: All temperatures are within safety range, Doctor Yuriev. We've found defects in three separate URT--
[YURIEV] Not right now, Citrine. Submit your reports to me after the meeting; I'll have Raziel take care of the rest.
[CITRINE] ::Citrine looked kind of disappointed. She descended from her tippy toes.::
[YURIEV] Where are those two?
[SAKURA] ::The frankly loud announcement didn't disturb Sakura, who kept playing unabated.::
[ALBEDO] ::Albedo had just settled back into a warm, fuzzy doze when their gazebo started to vibrate from the intercom that was installed directly in one of the columns.::
Ourgh. ::He passed his hand over his face, but didn't say anything--or get up, either.::
[NIGREDO] Come on.
[ALBEDO] Tell him I'm sick or something. I thought we were due for some time off.
[NIGREDO] ::Nigredo shook his head as he stood up.:: First of all, the Variants don't get sick. Second of all, do you think Rubedo is going to play hooky with you?
[ALBEDO] ::Albedo SIGHED and got up too, and the scene transitioned to the two of them coming into the creepy, too-cold-for-comfort room full of tubes.::
[NIGREDO] Sorry, Father.
[ALBEDO] ::Albedo opened one eye to look at Citrine, who was something of a rare facet these days. She did all sorts of research and stuff that the rest of the Variants didn't get to, not that Albedo was complaining or anything. He really hated this room and didn't want to be here any longer than absolutely necessary. His heartbeat started to tick up.::
[CITRINE] ::Citrine, who was about a foot taller than the rest of the URTVs, side-eyed Albedo. She--and probably Rubedo and Nigredo as well--felt his heart pick up, but she was the only one who reached out to gently cup and massage Albedo's shoulder. She didn't say anything, because Yuriev was already speaking.::
[YURIEV] We've pinpointed the "error" that occurred during our last Encephalon Dive, and it has been found to be an extension of Sakura's consciousness. --After many tests, we have come to the conclusion that the "error" cannot be avoided, and that it may even be useful to us in our endeavor.
[CITRINE] Doctor Yuriev believes that the error is Sakura's way of attempting to communicate, even though we have already given her an avatar within the Encephalon.
[YURIEV] Yes, Citrine, but please, let me finish. I would like to introduce you to our Encephalon Construction Specialist. I understand that you had some technical difficulties during your last jump, and you were separated from each other.
[RUBEDO] We couldn't find Albedo.
[YURIEV] That's right. Perhaps if you met the man responsible for the Encephalon reconstruction, you will feel more at ease during the dives. Mr. Nomura?
[NOMURA] ::Clack, clack. Smooth black shoes tapped against the plastic staircase. Nomura descended, and he was well-dressed for the occasion: a strict black business suit with several sharp and intricate tools sticking out of the breast pocket. These tools were rarely used, but Nomura always kept them on his person for safety reasons: in the event of a "bad" Encephalon dive, he could go direct with the computer and manually sever connections, for example.
He had been working with the UMN for a very long time. He was the best of the best. He was standing in front of Albedo. He looked down.::
It's very nice to meet you. ::He extended his pale hand in Albedo's direction. How strange--this man's eyes were almost slits. His hair was jet black, and a messy bowl cut--perhaps the only messy thing about him.::
I am Tetsuya Nomura.
[YURIEV] Now, if you have any questions--any questions at all--I want you to confide in Mr. Nomura. He was recommended by the CEO of Vector, and he has been working with the UMN his entire life. I don't want any of you to hesitate.
[CITRINE] ::Citrine smiled lightly and took a step back. She had met Nomura previously, so she did not have anything to ask.::
[RUBEDO] ::Rubedo had felt this man before. He was there during the first Encephalon Dive. He didn't say anything, but he wondered why Nomura had approached Albedo first. Usually, everyone was immediately attracted to Nigredo. That's just how it had always worked.::
[YURIEV] The program is still in session, and we will begin our next dive a week from today. I suggest you all be ready. --Even you, Citrine, in the event of an emergency.
[CITRINE] Yes, Doctor.
[ALBEDO] ::Albedo hated to acknowledge it, but Citrine was just as much a Variant as he was, and also his sister. All she was was one of their chromosomes turned inside out. The reaction was the same, regardless of whether it were her, Rubedo, or Nigredo grabbing his shoulder: he relaxed. His heartbeat went back down to normal, even though normal for him was still on the higher end of the spectrum for their age group. It was just something that had happened despite all of the precautions taken to preserve the mechanical stability of his heart. A great deal of it was artificial along the back--you could even say that Rubedo still had most of his heart, since it had been grafted together in such an awkward way.
When Nomura made his appearance, Albedo lifted his eyebrows and then they came crashing down in confusion at being approached first. Yeah, Nigredo was the star child of this trio, despite being the youngest of all of them. All of Yuriev's many business associates and aquaintances from Hyams Group or wherever else coddled Nigredo as much as Yuriev himself did. It wasn't weird anymore, but still.::
Uhm.. ::He took Nomura's hand and shook it.:: Why couldn't I feel my brothers in there? I couldn't even talk to them. ::URTV telepathy wasn't a mystery at this point. The URTVs all functioned on the same wavelength, while the Variants had their own branch that they played on.::
[NIGREDO] ::Nigredo wasn't offended or anything, but he hadn't been expecting Nomura's initial interest in Albedo. Huh.::
If you've given Sakura an avatar, then why did she try to communicate like that? As a man, I mean? I couldn't place the city at all, either. ::He peered up at Nomura's slitted eyes. Huh.::
[ALBEDO] ::Can he even see like that?::
[NIGREDO] ::Don't be rude.::
[NOMURA] A 'man'?
[RUBEDO] Albedo said that one of the Standard URTVs was talking to him. Wasn't that the error?
::Shut up, you guys.::
[NOMURA] ::Nomura looked at Yuriev, but Yuriev didn't show any insight on his face.::
Well, you have to understand that the Encephalon was unstable as a result of multiple elements being affected in a certain amount of ways. Therefore, just because you saw a 'man', doesn't mean that it wasn't actually 'something other than a man'. Do you understand?
[RUBEDO] ::Are we sure he isn't the error?::
[CITRINE] ::Hush, Rubedo!::
[NOMURA] As for your communications issues--it was likely the result of interference from U-DO.
[RUBEDO] ::U-DO, the codename for the "thing" that was inside Sakura's mind. A complete theory that Yuriev had come up with. No one--not even Juli Mizrahi--knew why Sakura had simply "shut off" one day. When she was 7 years old, Sakura had simply come home from the Miltia Park one day, completely unable to speak. It was as if Sakura's personality and memories had instantly been ripped away.
Rubedo understood why Juli was so tortured: for a short time, she had had the perfect daughter. All that had been taken away from her in an instant, for no reason at all. It would have probably been less of a burden if Sakura had been born that way..::
[NOMURA] The city is simply my Encephalon UI. You see, Sakura's mind--as it currently is--does not make sense to humans. My job is to reconstruct her mind in a way so that it makes some kind of sense. Otherwise, you would dive into the Encephalon, and you would fall. There would be no ground. There would be no order. Nothing would make sense, and we would be unable to accomplish anything at all! Do you understand?
[RUBEDO] But how do you know that's not hurting her..?
[NOMURA] There is no solid proof that it does not cause mental distress during the reconstruction, but her circuitry is reset completely after every Dive, even if a 'bad' Dive takes place. There is never any risk of permanent injury or change to the mind.
::He released Albedo's hand and took a step back.:: Until we actually decide to change it, of course. When the time comes, we believe that we can rid Sakura of her ailment and make her a real girl.
[RUBEDO] ::Real girl..? Ack-- Rubedo shut himself off from his brothers.::
It is definitely not an issue within Raziel. I ordered Ramsus to do a series of tests within a mock-up unit, and the phenomena did not reappear. We cannot recreate it. --Which means it lies within Sakura's own perception of the Encephalon. Regardless, ... ::He noticed the holographic chessboard get brighter. He side-eyed the Compass of Order, which had cast an ominous glow upon the board.::
I believe it would have been fine if Juli Mizrahi had not interfered. ::He studied the board, and finally made a decision. He grasped his black horse by its head and moved it two squares up, and one square left.
A small, but still anxious smile crossed Yuriev's face. He exhaled softly as if he couldn't believe it.::
Is that a checkmate?
[WILHELM] ::Wilhelm was leaning on one elbow, fingers curled and cradling his jaw along perfect pale knuckles. His posture was very relaxed despite the war that was raging on the chessboard in front of him, a war that he had been commanding with the same scary and precise prowess he had Hyams, Vector, the Federation, and numerous other organizations that had formed from him or flourished because of him.
One of his holographic computer monitors was still on too, though the news feed remained muted. This combined with the Compass' functioning ring produced a pale green glow that oscillated over everything. In the background, Wagner was playing.::
That's very interesting. ::Wilhelm made his next move, not hesitating, and then waited for Yuriev's.:: It's not unheard of, is it? Perhaps the UMN's impressions reached her before you realized it, creating a "deja vu" sort of effect. Perhaps something else lies beneath her subconscious domain that your previous tests were completely unaware of, and the introduction of your children's waveforms were enough to bring it to the surface.
::Wilhelm blinked--actually, really blinked. Hard. Yuriev probably derived some satisfaction from the nearly panicked way Wilhelm was looking over the chessboard.::
... yes. ::The other hand, still hovering over the board, gently grabbed onto his white king and laid it on its side.:: Checkmate.
I assume Juli Mizrahi's trust was--shaken. Is it that much of a setback?
[YURIEV] ::He pushed Wilhelm's "panic" aside with another grin.::
You let me win. ::That had to be it. He had never beaten Wilhelm before--he had always come close, but then Wilhelm would reveal the plot he had had all along and utterly destroy Yuriev every time. The game returned to the back of Yuriev's mind with the advent of Wilhelm's new question.::
Actually, that's why I'm here. Juli Mizrahi--I haven't received any formal communications with her, but I am certain that she intends on taking Sakura out of the program. It's a real shame. Our therapists were able to take Sakura so far; she can play the piano, she's been gardening a lot lately. She's showed incredible progress in her math and music skills. --Of course, she is still unable to speak or write.
::He licked his lips, prepared to make another move with his chess pieces, and then realized that the game was over. .. he had won. A fluke at best.::
But I know that Mizrahi is afraid of Phase 2 of the program. --It may be untested, but she has to realize that if it can cure Sakura, it can also cure millions of other people throughout the star cluster. It's selfish for her to put a halt to scientific evolution like this.
--And she can break the contract at any time. She's from money, after all. .. though I hear her husband has already given up hope. He's constructing some kind of android to replace the child.
And besides. You know as well as I do what lies in the deepest depths of that girl.
[WILHELM] ::Wilhelm didn't confirm or deny Yuriev's accusation. This was one of countless games they had played over these very many, very long years, Yuriev with different hands and Wilhelm always with the same. He was still studying the board, reviewing the game one move at a time, searching for where he had somehow let his guard down and allowed Yuriev to do that. When he did or didn't find what he was looking for, he reached forward with both hands to set the pieces back in their default positions as he spoke.::
We do, but this is something that your sciences will be unable to verify. It's something that those monitoring will demand an explanation to, should they see it in the first place.
::Blood red eyes flicked up to Yuriev as he set the last black pawn in place.:: You have only heard half the story, then. It's not that he has given up hope--on the contrary, actually. You see, I've provided in the case of this eventuality.
::He glanced to the Compass sitting next to him. Though it was only half-functional, it had been an incredible ally in charting just what Juli and Joachim were planning to do, were going to do. He smiled.::
Directly or not, I know how best to tug at a mother's heartstrings. If nothing else, your rehabilitation of Sakura Mizrahi will not only help her mind, but also provide irreplaceable information for Joachim's "android." At my suggestion, he intends to link Sakura with his creation, such that she will be able to experience the world despite her... autism, if that's what you've defined it as?
Mrs. Mizrahi will see reason. I assure you, and I promise you, that aggrieved parents are the easiest to manipulate of them all.
::Well, Wilhelm would know, wouldn't he?::
[YURIEV] That's.. a relief. ::A relief Yuriev had not expected to see coming.
Did that mean that Sakura's consciousness could be transferred to this android? Did that mean that even in the event of Sakura's death--a real threat as of late--they would not lose contact with the entity?::
Thank you, Wilhelm. You always make things so convenient. This gives me some opportunities to push them a little harder--Sakura and her parents both.
::He leaned back in his seat, which had been summoned up specially for Yuriev. Wilhelm would have made any other man stand, but Yuriev had even been offered some shallow glasses of wine--none of which he had touched.::
And the Designer Children, as well..
::He closed his eyes and contemplated.:: UUUUUUU-DOOOO...
[WILHELM] ::Wilhelm's smile somehow got softer, sweeter. It was an expression that only a handful of people had ever seen on Wilhelm's face. The cold reality was that most of those people were long since dead.::
You're welcome, my beloved Dr. Yuriev. ::He reached for his own wine glass, which he had no regrets about quaffing, if only to get rid of this useless sentimentalism. For a long time now, he had provided for Yuriev's every eventuality, up to and including the complete and total funding of the Salvator Faction and thus the Yuriev Institute. To be honest, when Yuriev came to meet him in person, Wilhelm had been expecting a request for more money or something.
Someone once said that a child needed your presence more than your presents, but Wilhelm had decided presents were just as good.::
[NARRATOR] ~ Some Time Later ~
[RUBEDO] ::Another bullet flung right off of the bull's eye and into the ammunition trench beneath it. Rubedo wasn't unhappy with his aim--he was unhappy with the amount of time it had taken the bullet to get from the barrel to the target. He would definitely be bringing the issue up with his father in the future. He took a step back and pressed a button on the nearby panel to cause the targets in the distance to move left and right at a medium pace.
He looked around himself just to make sure that none of the non-Variant URTVs (because they were idiots, and one had recently ran right into Rubedo's line of fire and almost got himself killed) were around.
He aimed, he waited for the target to put itself in his aim, and then he clicked.::
... ::Click, click.:: Out of ammo.
::With an irritated huff, he reached for the panel. And then he heard a song. --Piano keys, to be specific. His hair and coat gently lifted in the wind that seemed to be carrying those beautiful notes. What the? Had one of the URTVs learned to play the piano? He shut off the targets, shoved his unloaded gun into his coat pocket, and started to walk in the song's direction.::
[SAKURA] ::One of the notes went sour, but the melody swiftly picked itself back up again, no worse for wear. The keys on this piano were larger than the ones she was used to, since this was her first time playing an actual grand piano! Most of her musical studies had been conducted in white, soundproof rooms with synthesizers that made every tone kind of edgy, but her therapists had decided something more genuine was in order. Sakura concentrated on making sure to mind the new size of the keys as she continued playing this melancholy, and yet pleasant song.::
[ALBEDO] ::Albedo's purple eyes opened and slid to the side.::
[RUBEDO] ::Rubedo stared through the bullet proof window. The Varta Institute of Encephalon Evolution was primarily a caretaking facility for the hundreds of URTVs, but it also included certain wings of guest rooms and facilities. The East Ampitheater was home to a shooting range, a race track (for Vector-funded AGWS and AMWS testing), and similar recreational facilities.
This facility, the Audio Core, was rarely used, because every URTV was considered musically retarded (with Albedo being the exception, although every instructor that had encouraged Albedo to try learning an instrument had failed).
Rubedo stared at the grand piano and the girl that was caressing the keys with her delicate, anxious fingers.::
[JULI] Is this the first time you've seen her? ::Juli approached Rubedo from behind.::
[RUBEDO] ::Rubedo wasn't surprised; with his heightened awareness he knew someone had been coming, and he knew that person was not a threat. He slowly looked to the side and nodded once at Juli.::
Yeah. She looks so.. ::His eyelids and eyes fell.::
[JULI] Normal? ::She smiled.:: I know.
--I'm sorry about what happened. .. during the last Encephalon Dive.
[RUBEDO] It's not your fault. We all want the same thing, don't we? ::He looked back at Sakura.::
[JULI] ::Juli inhaled and looked at her daughter as well.:: I suppose.
[RUBEDO] No one got hurt. That's what matters.
[JULI] You are.. a very wise young boy, Number 666.
[RUBEDO] ::He grinned, faced her again, and scratched the back of his head.:: You can just call me Rubedo, Miss Mizrahi!
[JULI] ::She clutched her arm.:: Rubedo, then.
[ALBEDO] I don't get it.
[NIGREDO] What?
::Nigredo hadn't really been paying attention to anything but the way the trees were casting shadows over the both of them. This gazebo was one of many sprinkled throughout the Institute. It was from here that they had been watching Rubedo practice off and on, as well as watching for any non-Variants that were stupid enough to wander by and get in his line of fire again. Though Yuriev didn't seem to cherish the non-Variants as much, he still didn't want them to get gunned down.
Nigredo followed Albedo's gaze to wherever Rubedo had wandered off too, but he wasn't concerned: at any time he could have spoken to Rubedo if he wanted.::
[ALBEDO] ::Albedo flung his arms into the air.:: I... --don't know.
::He folded them behind his head and leaned back, trying not to feel as miffed as he did.:: It's a half-octave too high, that's what it is..!
[NIGREDO] ::Stare.::
[SAKURA] ::Sakura didn't notice the young boy looking in on her, but that wasn't a surprise: she tended to perceive things one at a time. Right now she was focused on the song she was playing, as well as everything connected to that. Though she could not speak or write, she could express herself in other ways; music was a perfect example. The adagio melody continued.::
[YURIEV] >> URTV 666 and superior, please report to the Lab at once. I repeat, report to the Encephalon Laboratories at once.
[RUBEDO] ::Rubedo glanced up when the announcement blared over the hundreds of intercoms installed throughout the facilities.::
[JULI] I suppose that's you. ::She turned to Rubedo, but he was already out of her line of vision--::
[RUBEDO] ::Rubedo looked over his shoulder at Juli.:: Miss Mizrahi. I would never want to hurt Sakura. --And neither would any of my brothers. ::He continued to walk away without waiting for a response.::
[JULI] ::Juli stood in a mixture of guilt and regret.::
[YURIEV] ::Yuriev paced across the room, but the room was so large that it didn't even look like a pace. The URTV Treatment Facility was incorrectly named, but for good reason: URTVs were not susceptible to human disease. Generally speaking, their lives were only in danger at birth. URTVs who were severely injured on the field or in virtual space were generally simply 'tossed' and replaced via a new URTV. The Variants? Well. The Variants never got injured.
Yuriev's body became wider and taller as he swept behind every tube in the room. Large stickers and forms and important informations were plastered directly onto the tubes, which seemed to somewhat disguise what was beneath them: unfinished (or dead) URTVs. The dead ones were flushed out at the end of every day, via an automated transport system--the Vartas Soylent System. The unfinished ones, assuming they lived to see their birth, would replace the standard URTVs as needed--which was why Yuriev wasn't really concerned about Rubedo's firing range. Murder wasn't murder when the victim didn't have an identity.
Yuriev suddenly stopped and removed his fingers from his aching forehead. His nostrils flared up for a moment, and his eyes led him to Rubedo.::
[RUBEDO] ::Blink.:: What?
[YURIEV] Where are your brothers? --And Citrine.
[CITRINE] I'm here, Sir. ::Citrine finished recording the temperature of one of the giant tubes. She placed her pen beneath the clip of her clipboard and went to stand at Rubedo's side.:: All temperatures are within safety range, Doctor Yuriev. We've found defects in three separate URT--
[YURIEV] Not right now, Citrine. Submit your reports to me after the meeting; I'll have Raziel take care of the rest.
[CITRINE] ::Citrine looked kind of disappointed. She descended from her tippy toes.::
[YURIEV] Where are those two?
[SAKURA] ::The frankly loud announcement didn't disturb Sakura, who kept playing unabated.::
[ALBEDO] ::Albedo had just settled back into a warm, fuzzy doze when their gazebo started to vibrate from the intercom that was installed directly in one of the columns.::
Ourgh. ::He passed his hand over his face, but didn't say anything--or get up, either.::
[NIGREDO] Come on.
[ALBEDO] Tell him I'm sick or something. I thought we were due for some time off.
[NIGREDO] ::Nigredo shook his head as he stood up.:: First of all, the Variants don't get sick. Second of all, do you think Rubedo is going to play hooky with you?
[ALBEDO] ::Albedo SIGHED and got up too, and the scene transitioned to the two of them coming into the creepy, too-cold-for-comfort room full of tubes.::
[NIGREDO] Sorry, Father.
[ALBEDO] ::Albedo opened one eye to look at Citrine, who was something of a rare facet these days. She did all sorts of research and stuff that the rest of the Variants didn't get to, not that Albedo was complaining or anything. He really hated this room and didn't want to be here any longer than absolutely necessary. His heartbeat started to tick up.::
[CITRINE] ::Citrine, who was about a foot taller than the rest of the URTVs, side-eyed Albedo. She--and probably Rubedo and Nigredo as well--felt his heart pick up, but she was the only one who reached out to gently cup and massage Albedo's shoulder. She didn't say anything, because Yuriev was already speaking.::
[YURIEV] We've pinpointed the "error" that occurred during our last Encephalon Dive, and it has been found to be an extension of Sakura's consciousness. --After many tests, we have come to the conclusion that the "error" cannot be avoided, and that it may even be useful to us in our endeavor.
[CITRINE] Doctor Yuriev believes that the error is Sakura's way of attempting to communicate, even though we have already given her an avatar within the Encephalon.
[YURIEV] Yes, Citrine, but please, let me finish. I would like to introduce you to our Encephalon Construction Specialist. I understand that you had some technical difficulties during your last jump, and you were separated from each other.
[RUBEDO] We couldn't find Albedo.
[YURIEV] That's right. Perhaps if you met the man responsible for the Encephalon reconstruction, you will feel more at ease during the dives. Mr. Nomura?
[NOMURA] ::Clack, clack. Smooth black shoes tapped against the plastic staircase. Nomura descended, and he was well-dressed for the occasion: a strict black business suit with several sharp and intricate tools sticking out of the breast pocket. These tools were rarely used, but Nomura always kept them on his person for safety reasons: in the event of a "bad" Encephalon dive, he could go direct with the computer and manually sever connections, for example.
He had been working with the UMN for a very long time. He was the best of the best. He was standing in front of Albedo. He looked down.::
It's very nice to meet you. ::He extended his pale hand in Albedo's direction. How strange--this man's eyes were almost slits. His hair was jet black, and a messy bowl cut--perhaps the only messy thing about him.::
I am Tetsuya Nomura.
[YURIEV] Now, if you have any questions--any questions at all--I want you to confide in Mr. Nomura. He was recommended by the CEO of Vector, and he has been working with the UMN his entire life. I don't want any of you to hesitate.
[CITRINE] ::Citrine smiled lightly and took a step back. She had met Nomura previously, so she did not have anything to ask.::
[RUBEDO] ::Rubedo had felt this man before. He was there during the first Encephalon Dive. He didn't say anything, but he wondered why Nomura had approached Albedo first. Usually, everyone was immediately attracted to Nigredo. That's just how it had always worked.::
[YURIEV] The program is still in session, and we will begin our next dive a week from today. I suggest you all be ready. --Even you, Citrine, in the event of an emergency.
[CITRINE] Yes, Doctor.
[ALBEDO] ::Albedo hated to acknowledge it, but Citrine was just as much a Variant as he was, and also his sister. All she was was one of their chromosomes turned inside out. The reaction was the same, regardless of whether it were her, Rubedo, or Nigredo grabbing his shoulder: he relaxed. His heartbeat went back down to normal, even though normal for him was still on the higher end of the spectrum for their age group. It was just something that had happened despite all of the precautions taken to preserve the mechanical stability of his heart. A great deal of it was artificial along the back--you could even say that Rubedo still had most of his heart, since it had been grafted together in such an awkward way.
When Nomura made his appearance, Albedo lifted his eyebrows and then they came crashing down in confusion at being approached first. Yeah, Nigredo was the star child of this trio, despite being the youngest of all of them. All of Yuriev's many business associates and aquaintances from Hyams Group or wherever else coddled Nigredo as much as Yuriev himself did. It wasn't weird anymore, but still.::
Uhm.. ::He took Nomura's hand and shook it.:: Why couldn't I feel my brothers in there? I couldn't even talk to them. ::URTV telepathy wasn't a mystery at this point. The URTVs all functioned on the same wavelength, while the Variants had their own branch that they played on.::
[NIGREDO] ::Nigredo wasn't offended or anything, but he hadn't been expecting Nomura's initial interest in Albedo. Huh.::
If you've given Sakura an avatar, then why did she try to communicate like that? As a man, I mean? I couldn't place the city at all, either. ::He peered up at Nomura's slitted eyes. Huh.::
[ALBEDO] ::Can he even see like that?::
[NIGREDO] ::Don't be rude.::
[NOMURA] A 'man'?
[RUBEDO] Albedo said that one of the Standard URTVs was talking to him. Wasn't that the error?
::Shut up, you guys.::
[NOMURA] ::Nomura looked at Yuriev, but Yuriev didn't show any insight on his face.::
Well, you have to understand that the Encephalon was unstable as a result of multiple elements being affected in a certain amount of ways. Therefore, just because you saw a 'man', doesn't mean that it wasn't actually 'something other than a man'. Do you understand?
[RUBEDO] ::Are we sure he isn't the error?::
[CITRINE] ::Hush, Rubedo!::
[NOMURA] As for your communications issues--it was likely the result of interference from U-DO.
[RUBEDO] ::U-DO, the codename for the "thing" that was inside Sakura's mind. A complete theory that Yuriev had come up with. No one--not even Juli Mizrahi--knew why Sakura had simply "shut off" one day. When she was 7 years old, Sakura had simply come home from the Miltia Park one day, completely unable to speak. It was as if Sakura's personality and memories had instantly been ripped away.
Rubedo understood why Juli was so tortured: for a short time, she had had the perfect daughter. All that had been taken away from her in an instant, for no reason at all. It would have probably been less of a burden if Sakura had been born that way..::
[NOMURA] The city is simply my Encephalon UI. You see, Sakura's mind--as it currently is--does not make sense to humans. My job is to reconstruct her mind in a way so that it makes some kind of sense. Otherwise, you would dive into the Encephalon, and you would fall. There would be no ground. There would be no order. Nothing would make sense, and we would be unable to accomplish anything at all! Do you understand?
[RUBEDO] But how do you know that's not hurting her..?
[NOMURA] There is no solid proof that it does not cause mental distress during the reconstruction, but her circuitry is reset completely after every Dive, even if a 'bad' Dive takes place. There is never any risk of permanent injury or change to the mind.
::He released Albedo's hand and took a step back.:: Until we actually decide to change it, of course. When the time comes, we believe that we can rid Sakura of her ailment and make her a real girl.
[RUBEDO] ::Real girl..? Ack-- Rubedo shut himself off from his brothers.::