Anything even remotely close to Naruto's stance of immortality = immortality.
The Noah/Homunculus/Majin Buu argument works as well.
Erm... What is Naruto's stance?
But yeah, think of them as Noah/Homunculus...
(What's a 'Majin Buu' ?)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightengale
I am aware that they are not THAT strong, as reflected by the numbers, ranks, and all that, but for all that matters, they are a bunch who's in possession of both skills and powers that are extremely powerful and alongside that, are in possession of excuses for their bodies to be chopped up badly, but still ease around with it.
That alone is h4xx enough to be on the playing field. Don't worry, you're not the only one.
I want to be able to place them on the same 'tier' as the main characters, but I also want to bring something slightly different.
But hey, as long as we're all h4xx...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightengale
I haven't finalized it yet, but my still-pending idea of the Final Boss is something that requires at least 20 Arc-en-Ciels from the TSAB fleet, 1 Neo-Cradle's Phase Cannon (( undecided )), plus one final h4xx by the King using the memories of the planet (( Alhazred )) to destroy it.
And of course, all the major characters working together to buy time for the synchronized attack.
Excellent!
That's one way of winning the skies!
Hayate's SLB FTW!!!
And picture? WANT!!!
I'll think about it
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kha
Gungnir Strike is just like Lancer's Noble Illusion!
Gae Bolg? Well, there are similarities...but Gae Bolg inverts the concept of causality, so even before it's thrown, it already has pierced the target (and it always goes for the heart, doesn't it? )
Gungnir is different though, doesn't use that Haxx ability
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kha
And Hayate making a ceremony out of Starlight Breaker? Sure adds a lot of style to an otherwse boring charge-up phase.
Hmm, Hayate's SLB is a modified version of Reinforce I's, that she used in A's
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kha
Time for Resolve! Koji's gonna be the star ne?
Yep, Koji vs Cinque - right in the ION CANON's target zone.
Let's hope Cinque doesn't appear in episode 25, and if she does, let's hope it can use that in my advantage.
But anyway, this next Chapter will be located in episode 23 so...there's still time
Quote:
Originally Posted by LoweGear
Yui/Hayate Combo Attack with Starlight Breaker?!?!
WIN INDEED Now we really need to see a drawing of Hayate carrying Yui
Okay, if you want it that much
*adds to list*
Quote:
Originally Posted by Satty
Yui/Hayate combo? NAISU!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightengale
Quite nice.
But the earlier parts with Quattro felt a little off-hand. She's shown that she's not the type to "NO WAI" even when faced with worse and more powerful shifts of events.
*checks script*
Well, when Hayate did Diabolic Emission, Quattro did go "Uso~"
That's the reaction I inteded to transmit...guess I forgot to edit that part
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liingo
*drops another vote for Hayate and Yui*
Although SLB?????:c onfused:
Since when could Hayate use that..... Considering we haven't seen her use any of Reinforce 1's other attacks...
Oh wait... never mind.. I just saw your comment at the end.
I haven't finalized it yet, but my still-pending idea of the Final Boss is something that requires at least 20 Arc-en-Ciels from the TSAB fleet, 1 Neo-Cradle's Phase Cannon (( undecided )), plus one final h4xx by the King using the memories of the planet (( Alhazred )) to destroy it.
And of course, all the major characters working together to buy time for the synchronized attack.
OUCH
That's a LOT of firepower to be dumping at any one time
I suppose you don't need the help of these guys then?
Spoiler for THESE GUYS:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tk3997
ANYWAY, I suppose it’s time I acutally contributed some content again. The Inspection arc is ongoing, but I’m making progress and with classes done for the week I should get a good chunk (or maybe the whole thing) done by the end of the week. Anyway here’s a teaser for the fight scene, it’s just a bit after the initial clash after Felix has gone to ground and is starting up his strategy in earnest.
Spoiler for Fight Snippet:
===============================
Vita was flying orbits over the area trying to find her target, after the initial clash he’d disappeared in the smoke and not reappeared since. Attempts to scan for his magic signature had proved futile; he was apparently quite good at hiding it. I figured a gutless hired gun like him would be.
Just as she was wondering if the coward might have just run off though she caught sight of several flashes out of the corner of her eye. She weaved past several of the magic missiles that had raced up at her from a nearby building and smacked another aside with Graf Eisen, and she’d seen where that attack came from!
“Schwalbe Fliegen!” The four projectiles raced out and pulverized the roof of the building obscuring it nearly entirely. Not being a total dunce she didn’t simply race in after the attack, but instead hung back expecting to see her target fleeing the building in some direction, but after almost half a minute she’d seen nothing and the smoke was nearly gone. Could that have acutally KOed him or something? She’d ideally hoped he wasn’t that big of a chump as this could have been the most disappointing fight she’d ever been in. She slowly hovered down onto to the roof carefully setting down on it and searching through the debris. She wasn’t seeing anything though not a single sign of him anywhere she paused to scan the area around her again.
================= Closer… Felix muttered as the signature above him slowly moved over the roof, probably searching for him. He’d fired the missiles up top remotely from inside hoping to do just this, lure her down onto the roof for an ambush… The signature above suddenly stopped completely. “Load Cartridge, Flak shot.” He estimated its position above him and fired the blast tore through three floors of the building exploding on target just as it was about to breech the roof. The moment after he fired he quickly began summoning up a swarm of SRMM and positioned them near the windows.
================= Damn it where is he…!!! She felt the spike just in time to get a few feet up before the ground exploded under her feet sending her careering away through the air. She slammed into a building across the street managing to do so feet first thus stabilizing her just in time to see a dozen or so magic missiles racing right at her.
“Panzer Hindernis!” The hastily erected barrier absorbed the impacts as Vita quickly got back into the air and scanned the area expecting more attacks, none seemed forthcoming though and throughout that entire skirmish she hadn’t even seen him nor did she have a clue where the hell he was now. She was starting to get really pissed.
================= She reacts fast, that barrier was pretty tough too I’ll need to hit it with something big to do much. Felix mused to himself as he bounded down the buildings stairwell leaping entire flights of stairs and flaring a small amount of flight magic just before impact to keep from breaking his legs. He was heading for the ground floor. She’d likely expect him to burst out of a window or something and take flight. It was likely she’d wait at least a few seconds for that before she pondered he might still be inside. She’d then most likely begin searching near where the magic missiles had come from. Once she did then he’d slip outside and move into a new piece of cover.
It was tempting to try and ambush her again at the site he’d fired the missiles from, but he didn’t have anyway to be sure she’d start there and getting caught inside the building with her would be bad. Better safe then sorry so he’d slip away and open the range to wait for another chance.
He arrived at the lobby and quickly moved toward the glass doors at a crouched run splaying himself against the wall just to the right of them. He thanked his luck this was a ruined cityscape as the glass on the door was pretty much busted out. He stuck Murru out around the edge pointed upwards; and surveyed his device beamed back his launch site should be nearly directly above him… Bingo He’d spotted her and sure enough she was tentatively moving inside near where he’d attacked from. Once he saw she was fully inside he threw open the buildings door and sprinted to a shop across the street jumping through the broken front window, over the counter, and exiting out the back door.
========================
Vita hovered over the building for nearly 45 seconds waiting for him to either attack again or come out. She considered just leveling it, but disregarded that quickly that would be unlikely to do much besides give him a huge cloud of debris and smoke to slip away under. If he wasn’t going to come out she’d have to go in… She moved in close to the side of the building slowly hovering along it’s façade to the area she thought the attack had come from. Pressing against the building face and leaning her head out she surveyed the room. It looked like a pretty boring rundown office turned over desks, scattered paper, and grime covered walls. Not seeing any threat she moved inside Graf Eisen held ready before her as she moved deep inside.
This fight was getting annoying fast this bastard wasn’t playing by the rules… He wouldn’t fight her head on, in fact she’d barely even SEEN him since the fight began. She wondered if perhaps he had some kind of invisibility spell. It was possible, but she had no way to prove it as nothing he’d done so far would have required that kind of skill. She had to admit though this might not be that bad a thing… Fighting all those brainless drones and other CC specialists recently might have caused her to neglect some aspects of her game… This guy was still a gutless coward of coruse, but at least chasing him down and beating him to a pulp might provide some useful training.
Comments and such are of course more then welcome.
So from a simple Brawl, it became a full-fledged combat exercise/sniping battle? And nice technique and tactics by Felix there, befitting a sniper
__________________
Against all the evil that hell can conjure, all wickedness that mankind can produce... We will send unto them, only you.
I haven't finalized it yet, but my still-pending idea of the Final Boss is something that requires at least 20 Arc-en-Ciels from the TSAB fleet, 1 Neo-Cradle's Phase Cannon (( undecided )), plus one final h4xx by the King using the memories of the planet (( Alhazred )) to destroy it.
And of course, all the major characters working together to buy time for the synchronized attack.
I agree with Lowe, isn't that a bit too much?
Even Behemoth didn't need that much to be taken out (Original Story's Final Boss reference )
I'm still pending it, but it'll be the size of several moons.
Cradle is capable of drawing magic from the 2 moons of Mid-childa, and it's presumably Alhazred-tech in nature. Amplify that several times, add a few more moons, and rather than just drawing magic, completely consumes the magic source...
Plus I'd like to think that Alhazred's moons would be more powerful than Mid-childa's.
And there you have it. A believable extremely powerful final boss using canon materials. Still undecided though.
__________________
Night~and~Gale: ~ The Final Mythology of the Man who Defied Destiny.
The sleeping lion shall awaken beyond the depths of time, crossing ten billion lights, come to Terra.
I'm still pending it, but it'll be the size of several moons.
Cradle is capable of drawing magic from the 2 moons of Mid-childa, and it's presumably Alhazred-tech in nature. Amplify that several times, add a few more moons, and rather than just drawing magic, completely consumes the magic source...
And there you have it. A believable extremely powerful final boss using canon materials. Still undecided though.
...
I think RakaelStahlMut getting an Arc upgrade may not be so H4XX afterall...
*is quite tempted to summon Chou Ginga Dai Gurren Lagann from an alternate dimension*
__________________
Against all the evil that hell can conjure, all wickedness that mankind can produce... We will send unto them, only you.
So from a simple Brawl, it became a full-fledged combat exercise/sniping battle? And nice technique and tactics by Felix there, befitting a sniper
Well Vita wanted a brawl, Felix just wanted to kick her ass, eventually, a brawl with an expert in Belkan magic was never his goal (he’s been on the wrong side of those before, wasn’t fun) so the fight was never going to be a pure head on showdown, it's a grudge match, but not necessarily a brawl. He wants her at arms length and off balance, she wants him in plain sight and close so she can thwack him good. Most of the fight will revolve around their attempts to get in or stay in those comfort zones.
Besides we get so many battles that are just balls to walls rush in and start thwacking or blasting and that can be cool, but I wanted to try something different a bit slower with more focus on the thought processes and tactics then raw power and simple battle prowess. Besides forcing poor old Vita to think if she wants to bash is fun (), and I hope to make her not look like a total dummy either, maybe not a tactical genius but quick to adapt and not ragingly incompetent.
Also the ending well feature plenty of carnage, fireworks, and brawling so don't worry…
Well Vita wanted a brawl, Felix just wanted to kick her ass, eventually, a brawl with an expert in Belkan magic was never his goal (he’s been on the wrong side of those before, wasn’t fun) so the fight was never going to be a pure head on showdown, it's a grudge match, but not necessarily a brawl. He wants her at arms length and off balance, she wants him in plain sight and close so she can thwack him good. Most of the fight will revolve around their attempts to get in or stay in those comfort zones.
Besides we get so many battles that are just balls to walls rush in and start thwacking or blasting and that can be cool, but I wanted to try something different a bit slower with more focus on the thought processes and tactics then raw power and simple battle prowess. Besides forcing poor old Vita to think if she wants to bash is fun (), and I hope to make her not look like a total dummy either, maybe not a tactical genius but quick to adapt and not ragingly incompetent.
Also the ending well feature plenty of carnage, fireworks, and brawling so don't worry…
Basically just a cat and mouse game of hide and seek for Felix, with Vita trying snuff him out from his hiding place
As long as there's sufficient carnage from both of them, it's AOK
Quote:
Originally Posted by USB500
[B]
Updates on Magical Girl Lyrical Cinderella are 75%. I know this is off-topic, but I see if I can post the ultimate grand finale this weekend.
Yes, Lowe, we're going to have a sunset finale here.
*Plays Trombe*
__________________
Against all the evil that hell can conjure, all wickedness that mankind can produce... We will send unto them, only you.
I think Naruto's stance of immortality is the Kyuubi regeneration, cause while he's using the Kyuubi's powers, his regeneration becomes h4xxx and i don't think he'll be affected by any poison (naruto movie 3) and genjutsu (not sure)
Majin Buu is a DBZ character whose most powerful form is Kid Buu. It's regeneration prowress is h4xx as well, he can get blown to bits and then the bits will join together, regenerating him for more info, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majin_Buu
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy C
Frankly, I would advise against making a distinction between offensive and defensive spells. A creative mage can use offensive spells defensively and defensive spells offensively.
Think on the following:
An offensive spell that can shoot down incoming attacks can be considered defensive.
A high-powered shield spell plus a speed boost spell allows the caster to plow though obstacles like a bullldozer, an offensive maneuver.
If you want two books regardless, I suggest one for dealing with attacks, either offense or defense; and another for support spells that do not directly attack or defend against attacks.
Hmm... good point there, still considering though
__________________
Long Live Lelouch! Waiting for Tales of the World:RM2 USA release
And the King's only because of his utmost mastery of barrier magic for both Mid-style and the Alhazred-style. And the Final Boss because Final Boss is HUEG and Son Gan Long h4xx.
M-masaka...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightengale
I haven't finalized it yet, but my still-pending idea of the Final Boss is something that requires at least 20 Arc-en-Ciels from the TSAB fleet, 1 Neo-Cradle's Phase Cannon (( undecided )), plus one final h4xx by the King using the memories of the planet (( Alhazred )) to destroy it.
And of course, all the major characters working together to buy time for the synchronized attack.
Sounds plausible...
Well... ***** Regissuer is the size of a moon, anyway.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tk3997
ANYWAY, I suppose it’s time I acutally contributed some content again. The Inspection arc is ongoing, but I’m making progress and with classes done for the week I should get a good chunk (or maybe the whole thing) done by the end of the week. Anyway here’s a teaser for the fight scene, it’s just a bit after the initial clash after Felix has gone to ground and is starting up his strategy in earnest.
Spoiler for Fight Snippet:
===============================
Vita was flying orbits over the area trying to find her target, after the initial clash he’d disappeared in the smoke and not reappeared since. Attempts to scan for his magic signature had proved futile; he was apparently quite good at hiding it. I figured a gutless hired gun like him would be.
Just as she was wondering if the coward might have just run off though she caught sight of several flashes out of the corner of her eye. She weaved past several of the magic missiles that had raced up at her from a nearby building and smacked another aside with Graf Eisen, and she’d seen where that attack came from!
“Schwalbe Fliegen!” The four projectiles raced out and pulverized the roof of the building obscuring it nearly entirely. Not being a total dunce she didn’t simply race in after the attack, but instead hung back expecting to see her target fleeing the building in some direction, but after almost half a minute she’d seen nothing and the smoke was nearly gone. Could that have acutally KOed him or something? She’d ideally hoped he wasn’t that big of a chump as this could have been the most disappointing fight she’d ever been in. She slowly hovered down onto to the roof carefully setting down on it and searching through the debris. She wasn’t seeing anything though not a single sign of him anywhere she paused to scan the area around her again.
================= Closer… Felix muttered as the signature above him slowly moved over the roof, probably searching for him. He’d fired the missiles up top remotely from inside hoping to do just this, lure her down onto the roof for an ambush… The signature above suddenly stopped completely. “Load Cartridge, Flak shot.” He estimated its position above him and fired the blast tore through three floors of the building exploding on target just as it was about to breech the roof. The moment after he fired he quickly began summoning up a swarm of SRMM and positioned them near the windows.
================= Damn it where is he…!!! She felt the spike just in time to get a few feet up before the ground exploded under her feet sending her careering away through the air. She slammed into a building across the street managing to do so feet first thus stabilizing her just in time to see a dozen or so magic missiles racing right at her.
“Panzer Hindernis!” The hastily erected barrier absorbed the impacts as Vita quickly got back into the air and scanned the area expecting more attacks, none seemed forthcoming though and throughout that entire skirmish she hadn’t even seen him nor did she have a clue where the hell he was now. She was starting to get really pissed.
================= She reacts fast, that barrier was pretty tough too I’ll need to hit it with something big to do much. Felix mused to himself as he bounded down the buildings stairwell leaping entire flights of stairs and flaring a small amount of flight magic just before impact to keep from breaking his legs. He was heading for the ground floor. She’d likely expect him to burst out of a window or something and take flight. It was likely she’d wait at least a few seconds for that before she pondered he might still be inside. She’d then most likely begin searching near where the magic missiles had come from. Once she did then he’d slip outside and move into a new piece of cover.
It was tempting to try and ambush her again at the site he’d fired the missiles from, but he didn’t have anyway to be sure she’d start there and getting caught inside the building with her would be bad. Better safe then sorry so he’d slip away and open the range to wait for another chance.
He arrived at the lobby and quickly moved toward the glass doors at a crouched run splaying himself against the wall just to the right of them. He thanked his luck this was a ruined cityscape as the glass on the door was pretty much busted out. He stuck Murru out around the edge pointed upwards; and surveyed his device beamed back his launch site should be nearly directly above him… Bingo He’d spotted her and sure enough she was tentatively moving inside near where he’d attacked from. Once he saw she was fully inside he threw open the buildings door and sprinted to a shop across the street jumping through the broken front window, over the counter, and exiting out the back door.
========================
Vita hovered over the building for nearly 45 seconds waiting for him to either attack again or come out. She considered just leveling it, but disregarded that quickly that would be unlikely to do much besides give him a huge cloud of debris and smoke to slip away under. If he wasn’t going to come out she’d have to go in… She moved in close to the side of the building slowly hovering along it’s façade to the area she thought the attack had come from. Pressing against the building face and leaning her head out she surveyed the room. It looked like a pretty boring rundown office turned over desks, scattered paper, and grime covered walls. Not seeing any threat she moved inside Graf Eisen held ready before her as she moved deep inside.
This fight was getting annoying fast this bastard wasn’t playing by the rules… He wouldn’t fight her head on, in fact she’d barely even SEEN him since the fight began. She wondered if perhaps he had some kind of invisibility spell. It was possible, but she had no way to prove it as nothing he’d done so far would have required that kind of skill. She had to admit though this might not be that bad a thing… Fighting all those brainless drones and other CC specialists recently might have caused her to neglect some aspects of her game… This guy was still a gutless coward of coruse, but at least chasing him down and beating him to a pulp might provide some useful training.
Comments and such are of course more then welcome.
You can really see the contrast of their preferred tactics.
Both seem to be doing realtively well. Felix sure knows how to play hida and seek while Vita's reaction time and thinking is suitable.
APPROVED!!!
Toning down on Sweetcheesium on this one... since it has been taken over by rabid BlueCheesium. In fact, I think this is my longest single scenario for all of my OC's
Spoiler for Waiting:
“Thank You, and enjoy your meal!”
“I will thanks!”
The young girl cheerfully replied to the male clerk behind the counter as she took the take-out paper bag and the large black and white Styrofoam cup in front of her, placing them on the basket mounted in front of the touring bike she was riding on. With a kick of her legs by the pedals she rode out of the fast food joint’s drive-through lane, and into the adjacent three-lane street heading northward.
She pedaled past the primarily unoccupied streets, with most of the traffic held at bay by the all-important lunch hour. She was in high spirits today, this young vibrant woman of seventeen cruising along 66th Street, despite the high noon sun heating the dry tropical air to a sweltering 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Faster she pedaled, impatient as she was to get to her destination. For the day was good, with the bright deep blue cloudless sky above, and the dry gentle breeze that kept her cool as it blew past. And just for this day she dressed to look her best, wearing a simple, yet elegant white, single piece sleeveless frilly dress that gently swayed in the wind; and a white frilled Easter bonnet with a red ribbon on its crown she wore on her head.
For the rest of the citizens of Pinellas Park, and the counties, and states, countries and the world beyond it, it was a day like any other, another in the planet’s cycle of light and dark. A day that many would rather spend waiting for tomorrow.
It might have been the same for her too, a day filled with humdrum and the drudgery of chores. She recalled how the phone rang in her room, in the still dark wee hours of the morning only hours before. The previous day had been a stressful one for her, for reasons only she can disclose, and she had gone to bed wishing to just dream her way to the morning. Already she felt grumpy, angry even, when she sourly awakened from her dream which she clearly enjoyed, and the persistent metallic ringing was an evil nuisance. Only the need to shut up the vile device forced her to attend to whatever message it begged to deliver.
She was majorly pissed, and whoever fool had called her this early was going to taste a piece of her mind. “Matsuri Miyama here, thanks for calling so early, now bug off ass-”
“Gomen gomen! Guess I’ll call la-.”
Cancel that.
“SHINJI!!!! GOOD MORNING!!!!”
With the sound of her beloved’s voice, she leapt out of bed, her disposition turning a drastic 180, acutely cheerful and energetic, her sleepiness and grumpiness vanishing like they never existed.
“I’m sorry for that! I didn’t know it was you!” Her simple apology went, nervous embarrassment filling her voice.
On his side, he accepted her apology with a chuckle, much like his chipper self. “I should apologize as well, didn’t know it was still so early at your place. Guess I woke you up huh?”
She shook her head.
“I don’t mind now! Why are you calling so early?”
“Right, about that…”
It was his words that morning that compelled the smile she wore today, the radiant smile that drew the eyes of those on the sidewalks she happened to pass by. And she returned their attentions with a warm smile and a welcome greeting, and they responded with their own curious, yet grateful cheers. She was undeniably happy, she knew it, and she wanted to spread it around.
Turning right now upon 94th Avenue, and nearly half a mile onward to the left, was her final destination, the entrance to the Helen Howarth Community Park.
The memories came back to her as she came upon the avenue, the still vivid memories of a fateful day. Passing by the shoulder at the right of the road, she glanced at the space, in between the trees, where she reflected, and questioned the very meaning of the emotions she carried. Where despair and darkness had consumed her very being, driving her to madness. And when all seemed lost within her bottomless well of agony and pain, she found the light that brought her back from the darkness. For the first time in her life, where she felt true hope in the embrace of another, one who never gave up on her, on THEM.
Six months had passed now since then. Six long months since that bittersweet day. Since she last saw him in person. Since she last felt the embrace that saved her. His embrace, that saved her from the unbearable pain. A pain she had brought upon herself, by her stubborn and ignorant words.
Even now, the sting of her own words pained her deeply. Pain that cut deeper as she thought of the person who received them, the very person who gave his trust, hope, and love to her.
It was a contradiction she still could not explain to this day. But long ago, she had vowed never to let her logic interfere with her caring heart. To never hurt him again. He had trusted her once again through all their pain, and it was only right that she returned the favor with her heart.
Through these six longs months they had talked only thirty times, most via instant messaging and sometimes only for a few minutes, separated by their own necessary personal agendas and schedules. But she cherished them all, those thirty times spent with him, remembered every word he said to her, his words that never fail to catch her heart.
And now, with the words he gave to her this day, all she can do now was wait.
Left now she turned upon the park trail, weaving through its gently winding contours lined by the thick forest canopies. Until at last the reached her destination at the end of the trail: a very small low-lying wooden cottage, no larger than one of the nearby public park restrooms, hidden behind the trees.
She disembarked from her touring bike, securing it by chain to one of the cottage’s outer posts. Take-out bags and the large Styrofoam cup in hand, she pushed the inward swinging door open and went inside.
Visibly, there was nothing inside the cottage, just an empty space between four wooden walls, laterally arranged floor planks and ceiling. The very first time she was led here, this unusual absence of substance within had been a source of inexplicable confusion. This time, she knew better, tapping her feet twice successively on the floor planks, and then tapping once more after two seconds, then looked to her right.
Several of the interlocking floor planks in front of her seemed to sink an inch into the ground, then silently retracted outwards under the stationary planks. After seconds of shifting, the floor now revealed a large three by three meter hole, dominated by a large metal staircase leading underground.
Though she had seen the sight before, to see such a complex mechanical system in operation still left quite the impression, and also bemusement at the reason behind its sophistication. She shrugged off her thoughts on the matter as she quickly descended on the staircase, in what seem to be a bottomless descent. An imposing steel door finally met her at the bottom of the steps.
“Uncle Turing, open up! It’s me!”
The door slid open upon her request.
A spacious white windowless room lay before her, its immaculately clean matte walls and floor seemingly made from an unknown plastic polymer. The entire ceiling, several meters up, seemed to be made out of white light, providing illumination and accentuating the cleanliness of the room. For an underground facility, the air itself was refreshingly air-conditioned, maintaining a cool that nonetheless didn’t chill one’s self. After the heat that was the outside, it was certainly a welcome feeling.
At the far end of the room was a stepped platform, and by the wall was circular design engraved in its center, a smaller ring inside a much larger circle. Between them, four smaller circles lay equidistant from each other along the length of the ring in a diamond formation, each one bearing a different Greek symbol, representing Pi, Delta, Omega and Nu. In the circular space inside the array were interlocking squares, forming an octagram in the shape of the Star of Lakshmi, and another set of smaller rings lay at the middle of the array. The insides of both sets of rings were adorned with a seemingly haphazard yet elegant written script, which further added to the mystique of the array. Supposedly called a ‘Midchilda style array’, it was the core of this entire room.
And to her left, over by a far corner of the room, surrounded by a semicircular desk filled with all sorts of desktop computers, monitors, and other electronic equipment, hidden from sight yet with an unmistakable presence of someone busily working to the cacophony of keyboard strokes, was the person she was looking for. A dark skinned man around his forties, with a thin grey stubble and accompanying beard, flat top grey hair and looking at her with expectant eyes.
“Oh, Miyama, finally! You have no idea how long I’ve waited for your graces! Got what I ordered?” he spoke in a soft, yet gruff voice, of someone who had waited impatiently while still restraining his zeal.
“I got you your Big Buford, chips, - “
“And my large Banana Vanilla milkshake?“
“AND your large Banana Vanilla milkshake. Here.” She gently placed all the items on an empty spot on the desk, and watched in amusement as her uncle took out his meal, wrapped in silver foil, and made short work of his bulky double-patty hamburger, and let out a long, loud burp of satisfaction. Not that he ate like a pig – he ate quite cleanly in fact - but his extremely fast eating habit was still something she couldn’t quite stomach yet.
“Nothing like Checkers after a good day of progress!” he declared loudly, then burping one more time, much to her annoyance.
“Manners please uncle?”
“Manners? What are these, ‘manners’ you speak of Miyama?”
She sighed in hopeless frustration at her uncle. Nothing she could do about it though, she thought. Her Uncle Allen Turing had long been one to not care about most anything except his work, and his food. And speaking of his work, there was a question she wanted to ask him.
“How is it Uncle?”
For his credit, Turing knew what she was asking for. “Oh, their Matrix Projections? They’ll be up in time, don’t you sweat. I’m just debugging the software again. Even for one like myself who can’t make mistakes, you can’t be too certain!” He whimsically replied in reassurance, before returning his attention to the monitor in front of him.
The Solid Matrix Projections. Despite her mind that can easily digest and process complex scientific facts, she still had difficulty understanding the mechanics of this unusual technology. Ever since she learned the existence of this so-called 'Techno-magic' six months ago, her curious mind had tried to grasp the concepts and science of the subject, her wish to expand her horizons beyond the academics to which she had been taught.
She pondered these thoughts as she looked at the engraved array inside the room. Magic. An energy formed from transdimensional sources beyond the extent of the 11 theoretical dimensions that made up this reality. This was not the magic that she knew from fairy tales, incredibly simple, naïve and unexplainable, and from conmen, tricksters and artists that relied on slight-of-hand, and the methods of deception and misdirection to inspire awe to the unknowledgeable. This was a tangible force, an energy she could class in the same manner as light, electrical, thermal, kinetic, nuclear, and other energies known to science. Yet this was no simple manifestation of a simple force; An energy with strong links to one’s mental faculties and abilities, it was energy with near unlimited potential, seemingly able to break the various laws of thermodynamics, entropy, and even logic.
Long ago she never would have believed in the existence of such an anomaly, in fact she outright denounced the possibility of its existence. She took great comfort and pride in the absoluteness of her knowledge, in their infallibility. That she would be able to explain everything that ever happened, is happening, and will happen. Uncertainty would be a distant nightmare, and no more would she fear that which others dared not question. In the comfort of her theories, she would no longer be alone.
It was that same pride that nearly destroyed the person she loved and cherished. And she nearly lost the one more important to her than herself. For she could not understand the world in which he had inhabited, a world that was beyond the closed borders of her scientific mind.
The truth of his existence brought uncertainty in her orderly world, and she thought it was an unbelievable lie, an absurdity. She could not handle the presence of such an inconsistency, and strove to drive it out with her logical mind. And she succeeded.
But all she got for her victory was a hollow void. A chasm in her heart that tore at her soul. It brought her only great misery and suffering.
She had forsaken the warm, and tender love of someone who had cared for her, for the cold hard assurance of fact. For her own selfishness that had been her only friend, until he came along, and became her light in the darkness.
Between her cage of assurance, in the certainty of logic and the bars of limit; and the embrace of fragile emotion, she had to make a choice.
Back then, swallowed by the evening darkness, she chose the latter. And on that day, she found something greater than the bounds of her logical mind. She had discovered the unbound and unlimited tenderness, forgiveness and compassion of the loving heart. And even if he wasn’t there physically, her loneliness would never return, for he was there where it mattered. Her fragile, yet caring heart.
For this reason, she took it upon herself to learn the idiosyncrasies and methodologies of his world. But she did so not out of the need to further her own knowledge. Her need was no longer of quenching her own thirst for minor trivial figures, calculations and formulations. Her need was that of the one value she thought she had.
Understanding.
“Would you like to see him?”
Her reverie was interrupted by her uncle’s words, which confused her greatly.
“Him?”
“Shinji. At least the body I’ve prepared for him. We have lots of undeserving time to kill.”
“Oh.” Was all she could utter. It wouldn’t for her curiosity to see it though. Even if Shinji’s self was not around, his physical body was currently in her Uncle’s possession, as the one contracted to develop and build them in the first place. “I'd like to very much."
Her reply brought a sly smile to the old man’s face. “I knew you’d want to. Stand back a moment now, this could get ugly.”
A key was pressed, and suddenly the room was filled with a bright yellow flash emanating from a bright pillar of light. In less than a second, the pillar faded, to reveal an unconscious young adolescent male of around 5’2”, fair-skinned, medium-build with short black clean cut hair. He was floating an inch above the ground with his arms tucked to his side.
And naked.
Several seconds passed in silence.
“Like what you see Miyama?”
It suddenly felt very, very hot.
“Uncle!!!!! Please put some clothes on him!!!” She finally cried out as she turned her head away, her face flushed red like a tomato. Another flash of light, and slowly she turned to look. The body was now clothed a white polo shirt, denim pants and running shoes. She sighed in relief… though what was this tinge of disappointment she felt? The thought was quelled mercilessly before it could contaminate her any further.
“And here I thought you liked it.”
“UNCLE!!!”
“I give. What do you think of it then?”
For her, it was a simple question with an equally simple and honest answer.
“He’s perfect!”
The old man tried chuckling in his gruff voice, but came out more like a cough.
“Perfect? Of course he is. I am God.”
Face met palm at his words.
“But I imagined you had wanted to change a few things here and there…”
Somehow, for reasons she could not fathom in that moment, his words unnerved her deeply, more than the meaning they implied.
“Uncle what are you saying?” She asked, her question laced with great confusion.
“With a few program commands I can shape him to be your ideal man. Yes, the man of your dreams. I could design him to be as tall as you want, or shorter. Bulging muscles, or fat as a pig.”
It was incredulous. She could not believe a word of what she was hearing. What were these demented ideas her uncle was suggesting? What were these despicable suggestions he was spouting? How could he say these insidious thoughts with his nonchalance?
“We could make him more Caucasian, or even African American, like yours truly, and just as handsome wouldn’t you say? You could style his hair anyway you like. If you like, we can even manipulate his whole persona-“
WHAM!
“SHUT UP!!!!!”
The hands she had slammed on the desk shook uncontrollably, her furious cry muting all other sounds in the room.
“I won’t change a thing about him Uncle!!! None!!!”
Her fury threatened to erupt from the depths of her soul, fuming with unbridled disgust and burning anger. As she trembled her shaky voice reeked with indomitable outrage.
“I can’t believe this Uncle! Asking me to toy around with Shinji as if he was someone without his own will and his own heart! His body may have been your creation, but it will be HIS decision, and HIS will, to whether he wants to change!!
He may have his share of flaws, and he may not be the most handsome person in the entire Earth, or universe, or Ordered Space or whatever else may be out there!! But I would rather have the Shinji with his flaws than someone I molded! It would no longer be him if I changed him, it would just be a fantasy!!!
Who do you think he is?! Shinji is Shinji! He is himself, and that’s all I want from him!!”
Lightheadedness. Exhaustion. She felt herself out of breath after her fervent outburst, deflated even. Venting out the last of her anger, she inhaled deeply, the fresh air cooling her passionate soul if for only a moment. And then she looked at the recipient of her resentment.
What met her was a smug man amused, like someone who had just watched a much-loved circus. Who watched her with
“You done yet Miyama?” he asked coolly, an act that totally bewildered the infuriated young girl. He then stood up, revealing his rather tall stature, and walked over to her.
“I was just messing with you, no worry. Your little outburst was certainly more than I had expected. But you know, there are lots of females – and especially married ones - who would kill to have the means to change their significant others like I can with Shinji.”
The girl’s anger now drowned in the flood of confusion that took over, finding her head filled with the most ridiculous questions about this uncle of hers. Even her mind could not comprehend the workings of this brain. And she was too drained to even bother on the subject.
Then she heard his question.
“Miyama. Do you mean to tell me that no matter his nature, that you have accepted Shinji for what he is?”
Acceptance. It was the second value she had pursued alongside her quest of understanding. It was not enough that one claimed to have understood a concept. To truly acknowledge and encompass the meaning behind it, one must accept, no matter how outlandish, no matter how foreign or alien. But the acceptance she strove for was one far simpler than that. It was her acceptance of his being, no matter what. No, no matter who he may be. Acceptance, borne from her love for him. For her Shinji.
And so she answered in her soft voice filled with unwavering confidence, through her gentle smile.
“I do. I do accept him. I accept him for all that he is, and all that he is not. Even if I cannot always explain or understand his being, all I know is that I love him, no matter what.”
Turing simply smiled at her reply, his smile of a man content.
“And Shinji, do you accept Matsuri Miyama as your lawfully wedded wife?”
“UNCLE TURING!!!!!”
The old man laughed boisterously at his fidgeting niece’s flushed face, then patted her shoulder a couple of times before laying his hand on her.
“A year ago, or even half year ago, I never would have imagined you answering like you did now. It is a change I cannot explain, and I probably wouldn’t attempt to do so, but I do know this. Shinji is a good man, and I am secure in the knowledge that my little niece is in good hands. And with your unquestioning acceptance of him, I finally know that he will be cared for by your hands.
I’m very proud of you Miyama, I really am.”
She could only nod back, mouthing her thanks as she looked on at Shinji’s floating body. She touched its right hand with both their own. It was warm. But it was an artificial warmth, it felt lifeless and cold. For he was still not here, the soul of the one who would inhabit this body soon. The soul she cherished above all else.
A high-pitched beep from the desktop computers demanded their immediate attention, and Turing returned to his desk to heed. It was the sound he had been waiting for. And for the young girl, it was the sound she had been patiently and eagerly awaited, her anticipation growing as she watched the array by the platform glow in a bright orange hue.
“Transfer is almost complete. Here we go.”
Within the pillar of orange light on the platform, a dark silhouette began to appear. Slowly, its shape morphed into a recognizably slender female form. And emerging from the pillar, a pony-tailed woman dressed in her sand brown unbuttoned long sleeved denim shirt, wearing white crop-top undershirt underneath, and a matching denim miniskirt. With her confident eyes staring at the young Matsuri through clear orange visors, raising a finger to the sky in one swift motion, she proudly declared:
“Bushin Souko no Musume!! KENZAN!!”
Only to be struck down cold by a supersonic flying chalk to the forehead, courtesy of the good old doctor behind the desk.
“Behave yourself. Nobody can proclaim themselves so highly in the domain of your God, young one.”
Matsuri could only sigh and look on in resignation at the absolute randomness that was her uncle. Beside the fallen woman three adolescents materialized out of thin air, leaning at their friend on the floor with their translucent bodies. Two women, a long haired redhead, scratching her head at what just transpired; and another with short blue hair, who was trying her best to wake the woman up without success.
And the third... was the reason for this young girl’s patience today. The reason she had waited so long. Why her welcoming eyes were slowly filling with tears. The young holographic boy in front of her, with his jet black hair. Though he was yet composed of holographic streams of light, as he slowly grabbed her hands she could feel his gentle warmth spread through her. The warmth that dispelled the dark bitter cold long ago, and now filled her heart with much joy. She could not help but smile at the one she loved.
And he smiled in return.
“You’re looking nice Matsuri.”
Her wait was over.
“Thank you Shinji. Welcome back!”
Late Edit:
Couldn't describe it well in the chapter, but here's an image of what Matsuri was wearing
Spoiler for Dress:
EPIC ROMANCE FTMFW!!!!
Freeman wins so much here! "I am God."? Self-esteem seems to be quite high...
The facility is run by him. Since it was project directly funded by his boss, there's no need to go through a middle man.
Jeno first met him when he came to inspect the new in-take of subjects.
Wait, so Jeno was the one who tied, gagged and experimented on him in chapter 9?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron008R
DOES NOT COMPUTE!!!
For me, at least
Hoh, clashing opinions much? It's still a WIP though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightengale
Potential drama?
Now that I think of it... wasn't Tesla the only Wolkie Saga never met?
INSPIRATION!
*runs*
The only time you could say they 'met' was when Saga reflected Gungnir back at Tesla.
And since Tesla used that attack from a long range, no, not really.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron008R
B-but-BUT! Tesla's supposed to look like a teenager with a ponytail, right?!
Not a ponytail, it's a low tail that runs down her back. Hair is not the problem, though. It's her eyes. Reinforce I's eyes are a bit emotionless.
Still, it's not going be the exact same picture with a bit of recolloring. Give me some credit at least. Ore wo dare da omote aru?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tk3997
ANYWAY, I suppose it’s time I acutally contributed some content again. The Inspection arc is ongoing, but I’m making progress and with classes done for the week I should get a good chunk (or maybe the whole thing) done by the end of the week. Anyway here’s a teaser for the fight scene, it’s just a bit after the initial clash after Felix has gone to ground and is starting up his strategy in earnest.
Spoiler for Fight Snippet:
===============================
Vita was flying orbits over the area trying to find her target, after the initial clash he’d disappeared in the smoke and not reappeared since. Attempts to scan for his magic signature had proved futile; he was apparently quite good at hiding it. I figured a gutless hired gun like him would be.
Just as she was wondering if the coward might have just run off though she caught sight of several flashes out of the corner of her eye. She weaved past several of the magic missiles that had raced up at her from a nearby building and smacked another aside with Graf Eisen, and she’d seen where that attack came from!
“Schwalbe Fliegen!” The four projectiles raced out and pulverized the roof of the building obscuring it nearly entirely. Not being a total dunce she didn’t simply race in after the attack, but instead hung back expecting to see her target fleeing the building in some direction, but after almost half a minute she’d seen nothing and the smoke was nearly gone. Could that have acutally KOed him or something? She’d ideally hoped he wasn’t that big of a chump as this could have been the most disappointing fight she’d ever been in. She slowly hovered down onto to the roof carefully setting down on it and searching through the debris. She wasn’t seeing anything though not a single sign of him anywhere she paused to scan the area around her again.
================= Closer… Felix muttered as the signature above him slowly moved over the roof, probably searching for him. He’d fired the missiles up top remotely from inside hoping to do just this, lure her down onto the roof for an ambush… The signature above suddenly stopped completely. “Load Cartridge, Flak shot.” He estimated its position above him and fired the blast tore through three floors of the building exploding on target just as it was about to breech the roof. The moment after he fired he quickly began summoning up a swarm of SRMM and positioned them near the windows.
================= Damn it where is he…!!! She felt the spike just in time to get a few feet up before the ground exploded under her feet sending her careering away through the air. She slammed into a building across the street managing to do so feet first thus stabilizing her just in time to see a dozen or so magic missiles racing right at her.
“Panzer Hindernis!” The hastily erected barrier absorbed the impacts as Vita quickly got back into the air and scanned the area expecting more attacks, none seemed forthcoming though and throughout that entire skirmish she hadn’t even seen him nor did she have a clue where the hell he was now. She was starting to get really pissed.
================= She reacts fast, that barrier was pretty tough too I’ll need to hit it with something big to do much. Felix mused to himself as he bounded down the buildings stairwell leaping entire flights of stairs and flaring a small amount of flight magic just before impact to keep from breaking his legs. He was heading for the ground floor. She’d likely expect him to burst out of a window or something and take flight. It was likely she’d wait at least a few seconds for that before she pondered he might still be inside. She’d then most likely begin searching near where the magic missiles had come from. Once she did then he’d slip outside and move into a new piece of cover.
It was tempting to try and ambush her again at the site he’d fired the missiles from, but he didn’t have anyway to be sure she’d start there and getting caught inside the building with her would be bad. Better safe then sorry so he’d slip away and open the range to wait for another chance.
He arrived at the lobby and quickly moved toward the glass doors at a crouched run splaying himself against the wall just to the right of them. He thanked his luck this was a ruined cityscape as the glass on the door was pretty much busted out. He stuck Murru out around the edge pointed upwards; and surveyed his device beamed back his launch site should be nearly directly above him… Bingo He’d spotted her and sure enough she was tentatively moving inside near where he’d attacked from. Once he saw she was fully inside he threw open the buildings door and sprinted to a shop across the street jumping through the broken front window, over the counter, and exiting out the back door.
========================
Vita hovered over the building for nearly 45 seconds waiting for him to either attack again or come out. She considered just leveling it, but disregarded that quickly that would be unlikely to do much besides give him a huge cloud of debris and smoke to slip away under. If he wasn’t going to come out she’d have to go in… She moved in close to the side of the building slowly hovering along it’s façade to the area she thought the attack had come from. Pressing against the building face and leaning her head out she surveyed the room. It looked like a pretty boring rundown office turned over desks, scattered paper, and grime covered walls. Not seeing any threat she moved inside Graf Eisen held ready before her as she moved deep inside.
This fight was getting annoying fast this bastard wasn’t playing by the rules… He wouldn’t fight her head on, in fact she’d barely even SEEN him since the fight began. She wondered if perhaps he had some kind of invisibility spell. It was possible, but she had no way to prove it as nothing he’d done so far would have required that kind of skill. She had to admit though this might not be that bad a thing… Fighting all those brainless drones and other CC specialists recently might have caused her to neglect some aspects of her game… This guy was still a gutless coward of coruse, but at least chasing him down and beating him to a pulp might provide some useful training.
Comments and such are of course more then welcome.
Gutless coward... well, I supose that would be no-subtlety Vita's opinion. Not to mention a smart move on Felix part.
Toning down on Sweetcheesium on this one... since it has been taken over by rabid BlueCheesium. In fact, I think this is my longest single scenario for all of my OC's
Spoiler for Waiting:
“Thank You, and enjoy your meal!”
“I will thanks!”
The young girl cheerfully replied to the male clerk behind the counter as she took the take-out paper bag and the large black and white Styrofoam cup in front of her, placing them on the basket mounted in front of the touring bike she was riding on. With a kick of her legs by the pedals she rode out of the fast food joint’s drive-through lane, and into the adjacent three-lane street heading northward.
She pedaled past the primarily unoccupied streets, with most of the traffic held at bay by the all-important lunch hour. She was in high spirits today, this young vibrant woman of seventeen cruising along 66th Street, despite the high noon sun heating the dry tropical air to a sweltering 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Faster she pedaled, impatient as she was to get to her destination. For the day was good, with the bright deep blue cloudless sky above, and the dry gentle breeze that kept her cool as it blew past. And just for this day she dressed to look her best, wearing a simple, yet elegant white, single piece sleeveless frilly dress that gently swayed in the wind; and a white frilled Easter bonnet with a red ribbon on its crown she wore on her head.
For the rest of the citizens of Pinellas Park, and the counties, and states, countries and the world beyond it, it was a day like any other, another in the planet’s cycle of light and dark. A day that many would rather spend waiting for tomorrow.
It might have been the same for her too, a day filled with humdrum and the drudgery of chores. She recalled how the phone rang in her room, in the still dark wee hours of the morning only hours before. The previous day had been a stressful one for her, for reasons only she can disclose, and she had gone to bed wishing to just dream her way to the morning. Already she felt grumpy, angry even, when she sourly awakened from her dream which she clearly enjoyed, and the persistent metallic ringing was an evil nuisance. Only the need to shut up the vile device forced her to attend to whatever message it begged to deliver.
She was majorly pissed, and whoever fool had called her this early was going to taste a piece of her mind. “Matsuri Miyama here, thanks for calling so early, now bug off ass-”
“Gomen gomen! Guess I’ll call la-.”
Cancel that.
“SHINJI!!!! GOOD MORNING!!!!”
With the sound of her beloved’s voice, she leapt out of bed, her disposition turning a drastic 180, acutely cheerful and energetic, her sleepiness and grumpiness vanishing like they never existed.
“I’m sorry for that! I didn’t know it was you!” Her simple apology went, nervous embarrassment filling her voice.
On his side, he accepted her apology with a chuckle, much like his chipper self. “I should apologize as well, didn’t know it was still so early at your place. Guess I woke you up huh?”
She shook her head.
“I don’t mind now! Why are you calling so early?”
“Right, about that…”
It was his words that morning that compelled the smile she wore today, the radiant smile that drew the eyes of those on the sidewalks she happened to pass by. And she returned their attentions with a warm smile and a welcome greeting, and they responded with their own curious, yet grateful cheers. She was undeniably happy, she knew it, and she wanted to spread it around.
Turning right now upon 94th Avenue, and nearly half a mile onward to the left, was her final destination, the entrance to the Helen Howarth Community Park.
The memories came back to her as she came upon the avenue, the still vivid memories of a fateful day. Passing by the shoulder at the right of the road, she glanced at the space, in between the trees, where she reflected, and questioned the very meaning of the emotions she carried. Where despair and darkness had consumed her very being, driving her to madness. And when all seemed lost within her bottomless well of agony and pain, she found the light that brought her back from the darkness. For the first time in her life, where she felt true hope in the embrace of another, one who never gave up on her, on THEM.
Six months had passed now since then. Six long months since that bittersweet day. Since she last saw him in person. Since she last felt the embrace that saved her. His embrace, that saved her from the unbearable pain. A pain she had brought upon herself, by her stubborn and ignorant words.
Even now, the sting of her own words pained her deeply. Pain that cut deeper as she thought of the person who received them, the very person who gave his trust, hope, and love to her.
It was a contradiction she still could not explain to this day. But long ago, she had vowed never to let her logic interfere with her caring heart. To never hurt him again. He had trusted her once again through all their pain, and it was only right that she returned the favor with her heart.
Through these six longs months they had talked only thirty times, most via instant messaging and sometimes only for a few minutes, separated by their own necessary personal agendas and schedules. But she cherished them all, those thirty times spent with him, remembered every word he said to her, his words that never fail to catch her heart.
And now, with the words he gave to her this day, all she can do now was wait.
Left now she turned upon the park trail, weaving through its gently winding contours lined by the thick forest canopies. Until at last the reached her destination at the end of the trail: a very small low-lying wooden cottage, no larger than one of the nearby public park restrooms, hidden behind the trees.
She disembarked from her touring bike, securing it by chain to one of the cottage’s outer posts. Take-out bags and the large Styrofoam cup in hand, she pushed the inward swinging door open and went inside.
Visibly, there was nothing inside the cottage, just an empty space between four wooden walls, laterally arranged floor planks and ceiling. The very first time she was led here, this unusual absence of substance within had been a source of inexplicable confusion. This time, she knew better, tapping her feet twice successively on the floor planks, and then tapping once more after two seconds, then looked to her right.
Several of the interlocking floor planks in front of her seemed to sink an inch into the ground, then silently retracted outwards under the stationary planks. After seconds of shifting, the floor now revealed a large three by three meter hole, dominated by a large metal staircase leading underground.
Though she had seen the sight before, to see such a complex mechanical system in operation still left quite the impression, and also bemusement at the reason behind its sophistication. She shrugged off her thoughts on the matter as she quickly descended on the staircase, in what seem to be a bottomless descent. An imposing steel door finally met her at the bottom of the steps.
“Uncle Turing, open up! It’s me!”
The door slid open upon her request.
A spacious white windowless room lay before her, its immaculately clean matte walls and floor seemingly made from an unknown plastic polymer. The entire ceiling, several meters up, seemed to be made out of white light, providing illumination and accentuating the cleanliness of the room. For an underground facility, the air itself was refreshingly air-conditioned, maintaining a cool that nonetheless didn’t chill one’s self. After the heat that was the outside, it was certainly a welcome feeling.
At the far end of the room was a stepped platform, and by the wall was circular design engraved in its center, a smaller ring inside a much larger circle. Between them, four smaller circles lay equidistant from each other along the length of the ring in a diamond formation, each one bearing a different Greek symbol, representing Pi, Delta, Omega and Nu. In the circular space inside the array were interlocking squares, forming an octagram in the shape of the Star of Lakshmi, and another set of smaller rings lay at the middle of the array. The insides of both sets of rings were adorned with a seemingly haphazard yet elegant written script, which further added to the mystique of the array. Supposedly called a ‘Midchilda style array’, it was the core of this entire room.
And to her left, over by a far corner of the room, surrounded by a semicircular desk filled with all sorts of desktop computers, monitors, and other electronic equipment, hidden from sight yet with an unmistakable presence of someone busily working to the cacophony of keyboard strokes, was the person she was looking for. A dark skinned man around his forties, with a thin grey stubble and accompanying beard, flat top grey hair and looking at her with expectant eyes.
“Oh, Miyama, finally! You have no idea how long I’ve waited for your graces! Got what I ordered?” he spoke in a soft, yet gruff voice, of someone who had waited impatiently while still restraining his zeal.
“I got you your Big Buford, chips, - “
“And my large Banana Vanilla milkshake?“
“AND your large Banana Vanilla milkshake. Here.” She gently placed all the items on an empty spot on the desk, and watched in amusement as her uncle took out his meal, wrapped in silver foil, and made short work of his bulky double-patty hamburger, and let out a long, loud burp of satisfaction. Not that he ate like a pig – he ate quite cleanly in fact - but his extremely fast eating habit was still something she couldn’t quite stomach yet.
“Nothing like Checkers after a good day of progress!” he declared loudly, then burping one more time, much to her annoyance.
“Manners please uncle?”
“Manners? What are these, ‘manners’ you speak of Miyama?”
She sighed in hopeless frustration at her uncle. Nothing she could do about it though, she thought. Her Uncle Allen Turing had long been one to not care about most anything except his work, and his food. And speaking of his work, there was a question she wanted to ask him.
“How is it Uncle?”
For his credit, Turing knew what she was asking for. “Oh, their Matrix Projections? They’ll be up in time, don’t you sweat. I’m just debugging the software again. Even for one like myself who can’t make mistakes, you can’t be too certain!” He whimsically replied in reassurance, before returning his attention to the monitor in front of him.
The Solid Matrix Projections. Despite her mind that can easily digest and process complex scientific facts, she still had difficulty understanding the mechanics of this unusual technology. Ever since she learned the existence of this so-called 'Techno-magic' six months ago, her curious mind had tried to grasp the concepts and science of the subject, her wish to expand her horizons beyond the academics to which she had been taught.
She pondered these thoughts as she looked at the engraved array inside the room. Magic. An energy formed from transdimensional sources beyond the extent of the 11 theoretical dimensions that made up this reality. This was not the magic that she knew from fairy tales, incredibly simple, naïve and unexplainable, and from conmen, tricksters and artists that relied on slight-of-hand, and the methods of deception and misdirection to inspire awe to the unknowledgeable. This was a tangible force, an energy she could class in the same manner as light, electrical, thermal, kinetic, nuclear, and other energies known to science. Yet this was no simple manifestation of a simple force; An energy with strong links to one’s mental faculties and abilities, it was energy with near unlimited potential, seemingly able to break the various laws of thermodynamics, entropy, and even logic.
Long ago she never would have believed in the existence of such an anomaly, in fact she outright denounced the possibility of its existence. She took great comfort and pride in the absoluteness of her knowledge, in their infallibility. That she would be able to explain everything that ever happened, is happening, and will happen. Uncertainty would be a distant nightmare, and no more would she fear that which others dared not question. In the comfort of her theories, she would no longer be alone.
It was that same pride that nearly destroyed the person she loved and cherished. And she nearly lost the one more important to her than herself. For she could not understand the world in which he had inhabited, a world that was beyond the closed borders of her scientific mind.
The truth of his existence brought uncertainty in her orderly world, and she thought it was an unbelievable lie, an absurdity. She could not handle the presence of such an inconsistency, and strove to drive it out with her logical mind. And she succeeded.
But all she got for her victory was a hollow void. A chasm in her heart that tore at her soul. It brought her only great misery and suffering.
She had forsaken the warm, and tender love of someone who had cared for her, for the cold hard assurance of fact. For her own selfishness that had been her only friend, until he came along, and became her light in the darkness.
Between her cage of assurance, in the certainty of logic and the bars of limit; and the embrace of fragile emotion, she had to make a choice.
Back then, swallowed by the evening darkness, she chose the latter. And on that day, she found something greater than the bounds of her logical mind. She had discovered the unbound and unlimited tenderness, forgiveness and compassion of the loving heart. And even if he wasn’t there physically, her loneliness would never return, for he was there where it mattered. Her fragile, yet caring heart.
For this reason, she took it upon herself to learn the idiosyncrasies and methodologies of his world. But she did so not out of the need to further her own knowledge. Her need was no longer of quenching her own thirst for minor trivial figures, calculations and formulations. Her need was that of the one value she thought she had.
Understanding.
“Would you like to see him?”
Her reverie was interrupted by her uncle’s words, which confused her greatly.
“Him?”
“Shinji. At least the body I’ve prepared for him. We have lots of undeserving time to kill.”
“Oh.” Was all she could utter. It wouldn’t for her curiosity to see it though. Even if Shinji’s self was not around, his physical body was currently in her Uncle’s possession, as the one contracted to develop and build them in the first place. “I'd like to very much."
Her reply brought a sly smile to the old man’s face. “I knew you’d want to. Stand back a moment now, this could get ugly.”
A key was pressed, and suddenly the room was filled with a bright yellow flash emanating from a bright pillar of light. In less than a second, the pillar faded, to reveal an unconscious young adolescent male of around 5’2”, fair-skinned, medium-build with short black clean cut hair. He was floating an inch above the ground with his arms tucked to his side.
And naked.
Several seconds passed in silence.
“Like what you see Miyama?”
It suddenly felt very, very hot.
“Uncle!!!!! Please put some clothes on him!!!” She finally cried out as she turned her head away, her face flushed red like a tomato. Another flash of light, and slowly she turned to look. The body was now clothed a white polo shirt, denim pants and running shoes. She sighed in relief… though what was this tinge of disappointment she felt? The thought was quelled mercilessly before it could contaminate her any further.
“And here I thought you liked it.”
“UNCLE!!!”
“I give. What do you think of it then?”
For her, it was a simple question with an equally simple and honest answer.
“He’s perfect!”
The old man tried chuckling in his gruff voice, but came out more like a cough.
“Perfect? Of course he is. I am God.”
Face met palm at his words.
“But I imagined you had wanted to change a few things here and there…”
Somehow, for reasons she could not fathom in that moment, his words unnerved her deeply, more than the meaning they implied.
“Uncle what are you saying?” She asked, her question laced with great confusion.
“With a few program commands I can shape him to be your ideal man. Yes, the man of your dreams. I could design him to be as tall as you want, or shorter. Bulging muscles, or fat as a pig.”
It was incredulous. She could not believe a word of what she was hearing. What were these demented ideas her uncle was suggesting? What were these despicable suggestions he was spouting? How could he say these insidious thoughts with his nonchalance?
“We could make him more Caucasian, or even African American, like yours truly, and just as handsome wouldn’t you say? You could style his hair anyway you like. If you like, we can even manipulate his whole persona-“
WHAM!
“SHUT UP!!!!!”
The hands she had slammed on the desk shook uncontrollably, her furious cry muting all other sounds in the room.
“I won’t change a thing about him Uncle!!! None!!!”
Her fury threatened to erupt from the depths of her soul, fuming with unbridled disgust and burning anger. As she trembled her shaky voice reeked with indomitable outrage.
“I can’t believe this Uncle! Asking me to toy around with Shinji as if he was someone without his own will and his own heart! His body may have been your creation, but it will be HIS decision, and HIS will, to whether he wants to change!!
He may have his share of flaws, and he may not be the most handsome person in the entire Earth, or universe, or Ordered Space or whatever else may be out there!! But I would rather have the Shinji with his flaws than someone I molded! It would no longer be him if I changed him, it would just be a fantasy!!!
Who do you think he is?! Shinji is Shinji! He is himself, and that’s all I want from him!!”
Lightheadedness. Exhaustion. She felt herself out of breath after her fervent outburst, deflated even. Venting out the last of her anger, she inhaled deeply, the fresh air cooling her passionate soul if for only a moment. And then she looked at the recipient of her resentment.
What met her was a smug man amused, like someone who had just watched a much-loved circus. Who watched her with
“You done yet Miyama?” he asked coolly, an act that totally bewildered the infuriated young girl. He then stood up, revealing his rather tall stature, and walked over to her.
“I was just messing with you, no worry. Your little outburst was certainly more than I had expected. But you know, there are lots of females – and especially married ones - who would kill to have the means to change their significant others like I can with Shinji.”
The girl’s anger now drowned in the flood of confusion that took over, finding her head filled with the most ridiculous questions about this uncle of hers. Even her mind could not comprehend the workings of this brain. And she was too drained to even bother on the subject.
Then she heard his question.
“Miyama. Do you mean to tell me that no matter his nature, that you have accepted Shinji for what he is?”
Acceptance. It was the second value she had pursued alongside her quest of understanding. It was not enough that one claimed to have understood a concept. To truly acknowledge and encompass the meaning behind it, one must accept, no matter how outlandish, no matter how foreign or alien. But the acceptance she strove for was one far simpler than that. It was her acceptance of his being, no matter what. No, no matter who he may be. Acceptance, borne from her love for him. For her Shinji.
And so she answered in her soft voice filled with unwavering confidence, through her gentle smile.
“I do. I do accept him. I accept him for all that he is, and all that he is not. Even if I cannot always explain or understand his being, all I know is that I love him, no matter what.”
Turing simply smiled at her reply, his smile of a man content.
“And Shinji, do you accept Matsuri Miyama as your lawfully wedded wife?”
“UNCLE TURING!!!!!”
The old man laughed boisterously at his fidgeting niece’s flushed face, then patted her shoulder a couple of times before laying his hand on her.
“A year ago, or even half year ago, I never would have imagined you answering like you did now. It is a change I cannot explain, and I probably wouldn’t attempt to do so, but I do know this. Shinji is a good man, and I am secure in the knowledge that my little niece is in good hands. And with your unquestioning acceptance of him, I finally know that he will be cared for by your hands.
I’m very proud of you Miyama, I really am.”
She could only nod back, mouthing her thanks as she looked on at Shinji’s floating body. She touched its right hand with both their own. It was warm. But it was an artificial warmth, it felt lifeless and cold. For he was still not here, the soul of the one who would inhabit this body soon. The soul she cherished above all else.
A high-pitched beep from the desktop computers demanded their immediate attention, and Turing returned to his desk to heed. It was the sound he had been waiting for. And for the young girl, it was the sound she had been patiently and eagerly awaited, her anticipation growing as she watched the array by the platform glow in a bright orange hue.
“Transfer is almost complete. Here we go.”
Within the pillar of orange light on the platform, a dark silhouette began to appear. Slowly, its shape morphed into a recognizably slender female form. And emerging from the pillar, a pony-tailed woman dressed in her sand brown unbuttoned long sleeved denim shirt, wearing white crop-top undershirt underneath, and a matching denim miniskirt. With her confident eyes staring at the young Matsuri through clear orange visors, raising a finger to the sky in one swift motion, she proudly declared:
“Bushin Souko no Musume!! KENZAN!!”
Only to be struck down cold by a supersonic flying chalk to the forehead, courtesy of the good old doctor behind the desk.
“Behave yourself. Nobody can proclaim themselves so highly in the domain of your God, young one.”
Matsuri could only sigh and look on in resignation at the absolute randomness that was her uncle. Beside the fallen woman three adolescents materialized out of thin air, leaning at their friend on the floor with their translucent bodies. Two women, a long haired redhead, scratching her head at what just transpired; and another with short blue hair, who was trying her best to wake the woman up without success.
And the third... was the reason for this young girl’s patience today. The reason she had waited so long. Why her welcoming eyes were slowly filling with tears. The young holographic boy in front of her, with his jet black hair. Though he was yet composed of holographic streams of light, as he slowly grabbed her hands she could feel his gentle warmth spread through her. The warmth that dispelled the dark bitter cold long ago, and now filled her heart with much joy. She could not help but smile at the one she loved.
And he smiled in return.
“You’re looking nice Matsuri.”
Her wait was over.
“Thank you Shinji. Welcome back!”
Late Edit:
Couldn't describe it well in the chapter, but here's an image of what Matsuri was wearing
Spoiler for Dress:
There's still quite a bit of sweetcheesium in this one, though. But a good mix between Bluecheesium and Sweetcheesium is never a bad thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FlameSparkZ
Gae Bolg? Well, there are similarities...but Gae Bolg inverts the concept of causality, so even before it's thrown, it already has pierced the target (and it always goes for the heart, doesn't it? )
Gungnir is different though, doesn't use that Haxx ability
Speaking of Gungnir, does this mean that Yui actually summons Tesla's device? I might be able to incorporate this into the first Tesla piece I'll be writing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightengale
I call it proportionality to size.
I'm still pending it, but it'll be the size of several moons.
... You do know that this just screams for a Star Wars joke when the thing will be anounced, right?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron008R
@Keroko: I think these might fit as Tesla's pic.
*tilts head* Hmm, her eyes are still a bit emotionless, though, but since this is Maria, I think finding a bit more 'happy' art shouldn't be too difficult. Or we can simply asume she is in serious mode. The armor will require quite a bit of editing, either on the picture's side or Tesla's.
*taps chin* I'll finish the picture I'm working on first, then see what I can make of this one before comparing the two.
I think Naruto's stance of immortality is the Kyuubi regeneration, cause while he's using the Kyuubi's powers, his regeneration becomes h4xxx and i don't think he'll be affected by any poison (naruto movie 3) and genjutsu (not sure)
Ah, okay okay...
Quote:
Originally Posted by haiz123321
Majin Buu is a DBZ character whose most powerful form is Kid Buu. It's regeneration prowress is h4xx as well, he can get blown to bits and then the bits will join together, regenerating him for more info, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majin_Buu
Ah, I see I see...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron008R
@Keroko: I think these might fit as Tesla's pic.
I'm impressed, where is this image from?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keroko
Wait, so Jeno was the one who tied, gagged and experimented on him in chapter 9?
Erm, no...
Firstly, I don't know what happened in chapter 9 Secondly, Jeno doesn't do manual labor like that, he's the boss after all
Lastly... I still have no idea what happened in chapter 9 so I don't know what to say
Toning down on Sweetcheesium on this one... since it has been taken over by rabid BlueCheesium. In fact, I think this is my longest single scenario for all of my OC's
Spoiler for Waiting:
“Thank You, and enjoy your meal!”
“I will thanks!”
The young girl cheerfully replied to the male clerk behind the counter as she took the take-out paper bag and the large black and white Styrofoam cup in front of her, placing them on the basket mounted in front of the touring bike she was riding on. With a kick of her legs by the pedals she rode out of the fast food joint’s drive-through lane, and into the adjacent three-lane street heading northward.
She pedaled past the primarily unoccupied streets, with most of the traffic held at bay by the all-important lunch hour. She was in high spirits today, this young vibrant woman of seventeen cruising along 66th Street, despite the high noon sun heating the dry tropical air to a sweltering 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Faster she pedaled, impatient as she was to get to her destination. For the day was good, with the bright deep blue cloudless sky above, and the dry gentle breeze that kept her cool as it blew past. And just for this day she dressed to look her best, wearing a simple, yet elegant white, single piece sleeveless frilly dress that gently swayed in the wind; and a white frilled Easter bonnet with a red ribbon on its crown she wore on her head.
For the rest of the citizens of Pinellas Park, and the counties, and states, countries and the world beyond it, it was a day like any other, another in the planet’s cycle of light and dark. A day that many would rather spend waiting for tomorrow.
It might have been the same for her too, a day filled with humdrum and the drudgery of chores. She recalled how the phone rang in her room, in the still dark wee hours of the morning only hours before. The previous day had been a stressful one for her, for reasons only she can disclose, and she had gone to bed wishing to just dream her way to the morning. Already she felt grumpy, angry even, when she sourly awakened from her dream which she clearly enjoyed, and the persistent metallic ringing was an evil nuisance. Only the need to shut up the vile device forced her to attend to whatever message it begged to deliver.
She was majorly pissed, and whoever fool had called her this early was going to taste a piece of her mind. “Matsuri Miyama here, thanks for calling so early, now bug off ass-”
“Gomen gomen! Guess I’ll call la-.”
Cancel that.
“SHINJI!!!! GOOD MORNING!!!!”
With the sound of her beloved’s voice, she leapt out of bed, her disposition turning a drastic 180, acutely cheerful and energetic, her sleepiness and grumpiness vanishing like they never existed.
“I’m sorry for that! I didn’t know it was you!” Her simple apology went, nervous embarrassment filling her voice.
On his side, he accepted her apology with a chuckle, much like his chipper self. “I should apologize as well, didn’t know it was still so early at your place. Guess I woke you up huh?”
She shook her head.
“I don’t mind now! Why are you calling so early?”
“Right, about that…”
It was his words that morning that compelled the smile she wore today, the radiant smile that drew the eyes of those on the sidewalks she happened to pass by. And she returned their attentions with a warm smile and a welcome greeting, and they responded with their own curious, yet grateful cheers. She was undeniably happy, she knew it, and she wanted to spread it around.
Turning right now upon 94th Avenue, and nearly half a mile onward to the left, was her final destination, the entrance to the Helen Howarth Community Park.
The memories came back to her as she came upon the avenue, the still vivid memories of a fateful day. Passing by the shoulder at the right of the road, she glanced at the space, in between the trees, where she reflected, and questioned the very meaning of the emotions she carried. Where despair and darkness had consumed her very being, driving her to madness. And when all seemed lost within her bottomless well of agony and pain, she found the light that brought her back from the darkness. For the first time in her life, where she felt true hope in the embrace of another, one who never gave up on her, on THEM.
Six months had passed now since then. Six long months since that bittersweet day. Since she last saw him in person. Since she last felt the embrace that saved her. His embrace, that saved her from the unbearable pain. A pain she had brought upon herself, by her stubborn and ignorant words.
Even now, the sting of her own words pained her deeply. Pain that cut deeper as she thought of the person who received them, the very person who gave his trust, hope, and love to her.
It was a contradiction she still could not explain to this day. But long ago, she had vowed never to let her logic interfere with her caring heart. To never hurt him again. He had trusted her once again through all their pain, and it was only right that she returned the favor with her heart.
Through these six longs months they had talked only thirty times, most via instant messaging and sometimes only for a few minutes, separated by their own necessary personal agendas and schedules. But she cherished them all, those thirty times spent with him, remembered every word he said to her, his words that never fail to catch her heart.
And now, with the words he gave to her this day, all she can do now was wait.
Left now she turned upon the park trail, weaving through its gently winding contours lined by the thick forest canopies. Until at last the reached her destination at the end of the trail: a very small low-lying wooden cottage, no larger than one of the nearby public park restrooms, hidden behind the trees.
She disembarked from her touring bike, securing it by chain to one of the cottage’s outer posts. Take-out bags and the large Styrofoam cup in hand, she pushed the inward swinging door open and went inside.
Visibly, there was nothing inside the cottage, just an empty space between four wooden walls, laterally arranged floor planks and ceiling. The very first time she was led here, this unusual absence of substance within had been a source of inexplicable confusion. This time, she knew better, tapping her feet twice successively on the floor planks, and then tapping once more after two seconds, then looked to her right.
Several of the interlocking floor planks in front of her seemed to sink an inch into the ground, then silently retracted outwards under the stationary planks. After seconds of shifting, the floor now revealed a large three by three meter hole, dominated by a large metal staircase leading underground.
Though she had seen the sight before, to see such a complex mechanical system in operation still left quite the impression, and also bemusement at the reason behind its sophistication. She shrugged off her thoughts on the matter as she quickly descended on the staircase, in what seem to be a bottomless descent. An imposing steel door finally met her at the bottom of the steps.
“Uncle Turing, open up! It’s me!”
The door slid open upon her request.
A spacious white windowless room lay before her, its immaculately clean matte walls and floor seemingly made from an unknown plastic polymer. The entire ceiling, several meters up, seemed to be made out of white light, providing illumination and accentuating the cleanliness of the room. For an underground facility, the air itself was refreshingly air-conditioned, maintaining a cool that nonetheless didn’t chill one’s self. After the heat that was the outside, it was certainly a welcome feeling.
At the far end of the room was a stepped platform, and by the wall was circular design engraved in its center, a smaller ring inside a much larger circle. Between them, four smaller circles lay equidistant from each other along the length of the ring in a diamond formation, each one bearing a different Greek symbol, representing Pi, Delta, Omega and Nu. In the circular space inside the array were interlocking squares, forming an octagram in the shape of the Star of Lakshmi, and another set of smaller rings lay at the middle of the array. The insides of both sets of rings were adorned with a seemingly haphazard yet elegant written script, which further added to the mystique of the array. Supposedly called a ‘Midchilda style array’, it was the core of this entire room.
And to her left, over by a far corner of the room, surrounded by a semicircular desk filled with all sorts of desktop computers, monitors, and other electronic equipment, hidden from sight yet with an unmistakable presence of someone busily working to the cacophony of keyboard strokes, was the person she was looking for. A dark skinned man around his forties, with a thin grey stubble and accompanying beard, flat top grey hair and looking at her with expectant eyes.
“Oh, Miyama, finally! You have no idea how long I’ve waited for your graces! Got what I ordered?” he spoke in a soft, yet gruff voice, of someone who had waited impatiently while still restraining his zeal.
“I got you your Big Buford, chips, - “
“And my large Banana Vanilla milkshake?“
“AND your large Banana Vanilla milkshake. Here.” She gently placed all the items on an empty spot on the desk, and watched in amusement as her uncle took out his meal, wrapped in silver foil, and made short work of his bulky double-patty hamburger, and let out a long, loud burp of satisfaction. Not that he ate like a pig – he ate quite cleanly in fact - but his extremely fast eating habit was still something she couldn’t quite stomach yet.
“Nothing like Checkers after a good day of progress!” he declared loudly, then burping one more time, much to her annoyance.
“Manners please uncle?”
“Manners? What are these, ‘manners’ you speak of Miyama?”
She sighed in hopeless frustration at her uncle. Nothing she could do about it though, she thought. Her Uncle Allen Turing had long been one to not care about most anything except his work, and his food. And speaking of his work, there was a question she wanted to ask him.
“How is it Uncle?”
For his credit, Turing knew what she was asking for. “Oh, their Matrix Projections? They’ll be up in time, don’t you sweat. I’m just debugging the software again. Even for one like myself who can’t make mistakes, you can’t be too certain!” He whimsically replied in reassurance, before returning his attention to the monitor in front of him.
The Solid Matrix Projections. Despite her mind that can easily digest and process complex scientific facts, she still had difficulty understanding the mechanics of this unusual technology. Ever since she learned the existence of this so-called 'Techno-magic' six months ago, her curious mind had tried to grasp the concepts and science of the subject, her wish to expand her horizons beyond the academics to which she had been taught.
She pondered these thoughts as she looked at the engraved array inside the room. Magic. An energy formed from transdimensional sources beyond the extent of the 11 theoretical dimensions that made up this reality. This was not the magic that she knew from fairy tales, incredibly simple, naïve and unexplainable, and from conmen, tricksters and artists that relied on slight-of-hand, and the methods of deception and misdirection to inspire awe to the unknowledgeable. This was a tangible force, an energy she could class in the same manner as light, electrical, thermal, kinetic, nuclear, and other energies known to science. Yet this was no simple manifestation of a simple force; An energy with strong links to one’s mental faculties and abilities, it was energy with near unlimited potential, seemingly able to break the various laws of thermodynamics, entropy, and even logic.
Long ago she never would have believed in the existence of such an anomaly, in fact she outright denounced the possibility of its existence. She took great comfort and pride in the absoluteness of her knowledge, in their infallibility. That she would be able to explain everything that ever happened, is happening, and will happen. Uncertainty would be a distant nightmare, and no more would she fear that which others dared not question. In the comfort of her theories, she would no longer be alone.
It was that same pride that nearly destroyed the person she loved and cherished. And she nearly lost the one more important to her than herself. For she could not understand the world in which he had inhabited, a world that was beyond the closed borders of her scientific mind.
The truth of his existence brought uncertainty in her orderly world, and she thought it was an unbelievable lie, an absurdity. She could not handle the presence of such an inconsistency, and strove to drive it out with her logical mind. And she succeeded.
But all she got for her victory was a hollow void. A chasm in her heart that tore at her soul. It brought her only great misery and suffering.
She had forsaken the warm, and tender love of someone who had cared for her, for the cold hard assurance of fact. For her own selfishness that had been her only friend, until he came along, and became her light in the darkness.
Between her cage of assurance, in the certainty of logic and the bars of limit; and the embrace of fragile emotion, she had to make a choice.
Back then, swallowed by the evening darkness, she chose the latter. And on that day, she found something greater than the bounds of her logical mind. She had discovered the unbound and unlimited tenderness, forgiveness and compassion of the loving heart. And even if he wasn’t there physically, her loneliness would never return, for he was there where it mattered. Her fragile, yet caring heart.
For this reason, she took it upon herself to learn the idiosyncrasies and methodologies of his world. But she did so not out of the need to further her own knowledge. Her need was no longer of quenching her own thirst for minor trivial figures, calculations and formulations. Her need was that of the one value she thought she had.
Understanding.
“Would you like to see him?”
Her reverie was interrupted by her uncle’s words, which confused her greatly.
“Him?”
“Shinji. At least the body I’ve prepared for him. We have lots of undeserving time to kill.”
“Oh.” Was all she could utter. It wouldn’t for her curiosity to see it though. Even if Shinji’s self was not around, his physical body was currently in her Uncle’s possession, as the one contracted to develop and build them in the first place. “I'd like to very much."
Her reply brought a sly smile to the old man’s face. “I knew you’d want to. Stand back a moment now, this could get ugly.”
A key was pressed, and suddenly the room was filled with a bright yellow flash emanating from a bright pillar of light. In less than a second, the pillar faded, to reveal an unconscious young adolescent male of around 5’2”, fair-skinned, medium-build with short black clean cut hair. He was floating an inch above the ground with his arms tucked to his side.
And naked.
Several seconds passed in silence.
“Like what you see Miyama?”
It suddenly felt very, very hot.
“Uncle!!!!! Please put some clothes on him!!!” She finally cried out as she turned her head away, her face flushed red like a tomato. Another flash of light, and slowly she turned to look. The body was now clothed a white polo shirt, denim pants and running shoes. She sighed in relief… though what was this tinge of disappointment she felt? The thought was quelled mercilessly before it could contaminate her any further.
“And here I thought you liked it.”
“UNCLE!!!”
“I give. What do you think of it then?”
For her, it was a simple question with an equally simple and honest answer.
“He’s perfect!”
The old man tried chuckling in his gruff voice, but came out more like a cough.
“Perfect? Of course he is. I am God.”
Face met palm at his words.
“But I imagined you had wanted to change a few things here and there…”
Somehow, for reasons she could not fathom in that moment, his words unnerved her deeply, more than the meaning they implied.
“Uncle what are you saying?” She asked, her question laced with great confusion.
“With a few program commands I can shape him to be your ideal man. Yes, the man of your dreams. I could design him to be as tall as you want, or shorter. Bulging muscles, or fat as a pig.”
It was incredulous. She could not believe a word of what she was hearing. What were these demented ideas her uncle was suggesting? What were these despicable suggestions he was spouting? How could he say these insidious thoughts with his nonchalance?
“We could make him more Caucasian, or even African American, like yours truly, and just as handsome wouldn’t you say? You could style his hair anyway you like. If you like, we can even manipulate his whole persona-“
WHAM!
“SHUT UP!!!!!”
The hands she had slammed on the desk shook uncontrollably, her furious cry muting all other sounds in the room.
“I won’t change a thing about him Uncle!!! None!!!”
Her fury threatened to erupt from the depths of her soul, fuming with unbridled disgust and burning anger. As she trembled her shaky voice reeked with indomitable outrage.
“I can’t believe this Uncle! Asking me to toy around with Shinji as if he was someone without his own will and his own heart! His body may have been your creation, but it will be HIS decision, and HIS will, to whether he wants to change!!
He may have his share of flaws, and he may not be the most handsome person in the entire Earth, or universe, or Ordered Space or whatever else may be out there!! But I would rather have the Shinji with his flaws than someone I molded! It would no longer be him if I changed him, it would just be a fantasy!!!
Who do you think he is?! Shinji is Shinji! He is himself, and that’s all I want from him!!”
Lightheadedness. Exhaustion. She felt herself out of breath after her fervent outburst, deflated even. Venting out the last of her anger, she inhaled deeply, the fresh air cooling her passionate soul if for only a moment. And then she looked at the recipient of her resentment.
What met her was a smug man amused, like someone who had just watched a much-loved circus.
“You done yet Miyama?” he asked coolly, an act that totally bewildered the infuriated young girl. He then stood up, revealing his rather tall stature, and walked over to her.
“I was just messing with you, no worry. Your little outburst was certainly more than I had expected. But you know, there are lots of females – and especially married ones - who would kill to have the means to change their significant others like I can with Shinji.”
The girl’s anger now drowned in the flood of confusion that took over, finding her head filled with the most ridiculous questions about this uncle of hers. Even her mind could not comprehend the workings of this brain. And she was too drained to even bother on the subject.
Then she heard his question.
“Miyama. Do you mean to tell me that no matter his nature, that you have accepted Shinji for what he is?”
Acceptance. It was the second value she had pursued alongside her quest of understanding. It was not enough that one claimed to have understood a concept. To truly acknowledge and encompass the meaning behind it, one must accept, no matter how outlandish, no matter how foreign or alien. But the acceptance she strove for was one far simpler than that. It was her acceptance of his being, no matter what. No, no matter who he may be. Acceptance, borne from her love for him. For her Shinji.
And so she answered in her soft voice filled with unwavering confidence, through her gentle smile.
“I do. I do accept him. I accept him for all that he is, and all that he is not. Even if I cannot always explain or understand his being, all I know is that I love him, no matter what.”
Turing simply smiled at her reply, his smile of a man content.
“And Shinji, do you accept Matsuri Miyama as your lawfully wedded wife?”
“UNCLE TURING!!!!!”
The old man laughed boisterously at his fidgeting niece’s flushed face, then patted her shoulder a couple of times before laying his hand on her.
“A year ago, or even half year ago, I never would have imagined you answering like you did now. It is a change I cannot explain, and I probably wouldn’t attempt to do so, but I do know this. Shinji is a good man, and I am secure in the knowledge that my little niece is in good hands. And with your unquestioning acceptance of him, I finally know that he will be cared for by your hands.
I’m very proud of you Miyama, I really am.”
She could only nod back, mouthing her thanks as she looked on at Shinji’s floating body. She touched its right hand with both their own. It was warm. But it was an artificial warmth, it felt lifeless and cold. For he was still not here, the soul of the one who would inhabit this body soon. The soul she cherished above all else.
A high-pitched beep from the desktop computers demanded their immediate attention, and Turing returned to his desk to heed. It was the sound he had been waiting for. And for the young girl, it was the sound she had been patiently and eagerly awaited, her anticipation growing as she watched the array by the platform glow in a bright orange hue.
“Transfer is almost complete. Here we go.”
Within the pillar of orange light on the platform, a dark silhouette began to appear. Slowly, its shape morphed into a recognizably slender female form. And emerging from the pillar, a pony-tailed woman dressed in her sand brown unbuttoned long sleeved denim shirt, wearing white crop-top undershirt underneath, and a matching denim miniskirt. With her confident eyes staring at the young Matsuri through clear orange visors, raising a finger to the sky in one swift motion, she proudly declared:
“Bushin Souko no Musume!! KENZAN!!”
Only to be struck down cold by a supersonic flying chalk to the forehead, courtesy of the good old doctor behind the desk.
“Behave yourself. Nobody can proclaim themselves so highly in the domain of your God, young one.”
Matsuri could only sigh and look on in resignation at the absolute randomness that was her uncle. Beside the fallen woman three adolescents materialized out of thin air, leaning at their friend on the floor with their translucent bodies. Two women, a long haired redhead, scratching her head at what just transpired; and another with short blue hair, who was trying her best to wake the woman up without success.
And the third... was the reason for this young girl’s patience today. The reason she had waited so long. Why her welcoming eyes were slowly filling with tears. The young holographic boy in front of her, with his jet black hair. Though he was yet composed of holographic streams of light, as he slowly grabbed her hands she could feel his gentle warmth spread through her. The warmth that dispelled the dark bitter cold long ago, and now filled her heart with much joy. She could not help but smile at the one she loved.
And he smiled in return.
“You’re looking nice Matsuri.”
Her wait was over.
“Thank you Shinji. Welcome back!”
Late Edit:
Couldn't describe it well in the chapter, but here's an image of what Matsuri was wearing
Spoiler for Dress:
EPICSIUM!
A very well-done piece! I especially like the way you portrayed Turing- so he does have similarities to his film self after all...
@Gale: Well, I did read your statement regarding the segment I posted- I did try to go by using Cinque's usually stoic nature and I'm pretty sure she isn't the one to delve into a conversation. Her acting out of character could be attributed to her want for retribution, though...I'll think about this.
@Liingo: Well, you've proved a point, and you've also helped me- indeed, killing in cold blood is entirely different from killing in combat. Killing Zest was a job for her, facing against V is a turnabout in the sense of killing outside of combat. I'm sure even the Numbers, despite them following the Doctor's orders to the letter, would find it hard- even cyborgs have to have some sense of hesitation or even guilt, after all.
Once more, I thank you.
@Tk:
Alas, a simple scuffle turns into a full-fledged face-off...and evidently Felix is something of a coward or a lazy being in combat, isn't he? Always running, after all...unless it's a tactic of his.
But, in seriousness, it looks good so far. I'm awaiting the second half.
@Aaron:
A nice duo of pictures posted there! Ironically, since I haven't read much on Tesla, I'm sure if they suit her.
But, rest assured, I'll read up on her soonish.
And now, for something random. A possible appearance description for...
Spoiler for Hm?:
..."The Fiddler"?
*Runs.*
I think I'm going too far with the referencing here.
2007-09-14, 02:36
Graphic Designer
SRW: Divine Wars ep6 is made of win. 
