Fanfiction by Alexander Adkins
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By Alexander Adkins, Taxil@aol.com
"Emerald Nights"
A Xenogears Story
Part 1
Author's preface: this is my first Xenogears story so don't flame me too much. Hopefully there will be more to come. This story will try to center on Emeralda and her life [and her take on events around her] a two years after the Destruction of Deus and ramifications there after. This story is entirely from how I believe how life would go on in the Xenogear universe. Otherwise, enjoy this tale, and please tell me what you think about it. I do so love to hear your view on it. The Character's are Square's so please don't sue me.
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There was a gentle rise in warmth and a increasing levels of illumination around her. This normally would not bother her but lately she has been trying to integrate some forms of what other people would say would be quite normal to do now. She simply rolled over and covered her head with the blanket to block out the light. This seemed to do the trick for dealing with the light, so she returned to sleeping mode. A few moments later, the alarm went off.
This wasn't the city defense alarm, for she knew that one all to well from the sporadic reaper and monster attacks. It was the alarm clock she had placed next to her bed. Not to long ago, she would have just used her internal systems to wake her at a set time. But she has recently gotten into the habit (or as Jessie has put it, rubbing off on her from everyone else) of using an external alarm clock to get up by in the morning. She reached out with her arm from under the covers to attempt to turn the alarm clock off. She was beginning to understand and enjoy the act that she knows to be of sleeping. Her first attempt to turn it off failed (all the while she has kept her head under the covers, not seeing the target wasn't helping her a bit), so she just barely concentrated and transformed her hand into a large sledgehammer and pounded the off switch. Emeralda had to accepted the fact that it was time to get up.
It was about two years ago, during the crisis, which Emeralda first had to live with Kim (no it's Fei now, she chided her self) and his friends. She was just about as robotic as a colony of nano machines could get. But as time and her interaction with friends and the town's people, she was slowly gaining true humanity. A little over a year ago she finally earned enough money to buy her own home. Right now, she was even getting use to the idea of resisting the urge to getting up in the morning. (Sigurd believes that she's imitating Bart a little too much on this point) Emeralda did get up. She (literally) poured herself into her clothes, quickly ate a donut from her kitchen to power her body for the rest of the day, and headed off for the Nisan's newly created Head quarters for the reconstruction of civilization. This does not just mean the rebuilding of the cities of the Kislev, Aveh, and strengthening the internal systems as well as repairing damage done to Nisan. But that's not all of it's reason to exist as well. It has a secondary mission as well. It is to complete the excavations that Aveh and Kislev where performing and recovering (and restoring what they could) from the ruins of the old ethos H.Q. and other Technology rich areas. Like Fort Jasper and the dig site at the ancient Zeboim capital for example.
Emeralda didn't even bother to stall to soak in the beautiful view of Nisan, for there is time enough for that. She has an appointment with the new "Great Mother of Nisan", her friend and ally, Elly. Some how, slowly over the year and many heart to heart talks. Emeralda has even truly accepted Elly as her mother and Elly in turn accepted Emeralda as her daughter. Right now was not the time for another mother/daughter chat. A huge ground swell of has placed Elly as a living saint (and the extreme fringe believe that she is a goddess) and the absolute religious leader of the Church of Nisan. This has taken a toll on her free time. From helping to take care of the sick and the wounded, to leading the religious ceremonies has not let her see the rest of her close friends and allies lately these few days. But this wasn't going to stop her from seeing Emeralda in her chambers.
"Oh! It is so good to see you again Emeralda!" Elly said with much joy. They had a quick hug and Elly went to sit behind her large but still Spartan in its function (except for a group picture of the Xeno cast, a few photos of Fei and a lovely photo of Elly and Fei holding each other in a loving embrace). Emeralda took a seat on one of the two chairs in front of the desk. "I hope that the project has been approved. Both me and Billy want to return to the old Ethos headquarters and find out what's left down there." Emeralda said with some unusual amount of anxiety in her voice. Elly picked up on it immediately and rose an accusing eyebrow. "I can understand why Billy would want to go back there and put to rests old ghosts, but why would you want to go along with him?" Emeralda went stiff and felt warmth fill her face. She guessed she was blushing. She knew of and understood the concept of being embarrassed, but this was the first time she could ever remember FEELING the emotion of embarrassment. It was a strange new sensation to her.
Elly gave Emeralda a sly look. "Don't tell me that the gossip is true now?" Emeralda bushed even more, she thought that even her hair was turning a deeper shade of green. She quickly shook her head in defense of her self. "No,no,no,no! Billy is just a good friend of mine! Nothing more!" This wasn't working, and she knew it when Elly just gave her a grin and said in a harmlessly teasing way, "My, oh my, it seems my daughter has got herself a boyfriend!" Emeralda looked away and said with some difficulty, "Mother, PLEASE! I, I don't know what to think now. This is all so strange to me." Elly stood up, she opened a drawer in her desk and took out a file and walked over to Emeralda with it in her hands. As she drew closer to Emeralda, she stood up and Elly opened the file so that both of them could read it easily. "Take it easy little one, I do not mean anything accusing from it. But what ever choice you make in life, I will do all I can to help you." Elly gave her a caring smile and in return Emeralda tried to give a smile of happiness as well. Elly continued and pointed to some documents and pictures in the file. "Also, I did approve and have the manpower and resources diverted to your project. I do believe that there is some technology that would definitely help all of civilization to rebuild from the destruction that has happened during Dues's resurrection." Emeralda looked it over and smiled. "This will be fine." She said.
After spending a half-hour talking about technical details of the project and some personal things that has happened lately. Emeralda knew it was time to go. "It is about time for me to go and you have many others that need to see you today Elly." "Yes, yes, I know, I know all to well" Elly said with a tired expression. "I do hope that you can make the victory anniversary celebration party next weekend." Emeralda mentioned with an unusual grin. "I heard that Bart will be the MC [Elly rolled her eyes and smiled when she heard that] and that Fei is also planing some surprise announcement or event at the party. [Elly arced and eyebrow at this] Even I don't know what it is."
"Yes," said Elly. "I admit that Fei and I have gotten even closer these last several months, but I don't know if Fei wants to, to." She sighed, turned and looked out a window. Emeralda placed her and on Elly's shoulder. She didn't have a lot of ability empathize with people, but she tried anyway. "He doesn't seem to want to commit to settling down with me now that Dues is gone. He's been so busy with helping repair the cities and dealing with the loose monsters and Wels. But he's been gone hunting for bounties this whole week with Jessie, Dan, and Yosho." Emeralda looked confused for a moment when Elly mentioned Yosho, until she reminded her that Yosho is Fei's #1 fan and student after he rescued him from a pack of hobgoblins a few months ago. She quietly chided herself for not recalling him fast enough. "I wonder why he is earning so much money now? We have all we ever going to use for a very long time. Some times I don't understand him." Elly closes her eyes and lowers her head. Emeralda was stunned by Elly's confession. She had a hard time to bury her jealousy of Elly due to her attention to Fei. But now, she understands that she truly loves him. And now, she's worried that he's slipping away. Handling these strange things called emotions were never easy for Emeralda, but she was beginning to understand her feelings now.
"Even I don't what Kim is, (she catches herself) what Fei is planing or doing now, but please. Don't worry any more Elly. I, I have trust in him that he knows what he is doing and that it's the right thing as well." That seems to have gotten though to Elly and she lightened her expression. "Yes, I trust Fei with all my heart as well." Elly said. Emeralda checked her internal clock and it was time for her to go and get ready for her exploration of the old Ethos H.Q. with Billy. "I will see you again before I leave Elly." Emeralda said in the best way she could with out jostling her much in her present emotional condition. They hugged one more time before she left.
Emeralda spent the next few hours shopping and organizing her supplies for this excursion, for she was planing to spend several days down there. Herself, some extra hands, and Billy, to her this wasn't just a recovering/ investigation project, but a "nice" vacation with Billy. On that note, she decided to pack some extra Omegasols, just in case something went wrong to ruin it. That old base would most likely still have some monsters loose in it's halls that need to be killed before the analyzing and inspections of the base can be started. Well, she also packed a nice swimsuit in her suitcase (no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't generate clothing for herself). There IS a nice sandy beach not to far from the front door of the H.Q. They just couldn't just spend all the time there underground she convinced herself. She smiled, as she was busy readying her possessions and going over the supply lists. Maybe Elly was right, she was falling in love with Billy.
Soon enough, the time was ready to go, the gear was stowed away in the hull of the Yggdrasil and the crew was in their rooms. Everything was going smoothly, Emeralda thought as she stood on the bridge with Billy and Sigurd at the wheel. That is until Sigurd cleared for landing and docking for Seibzehn. If Seibzehn is coming aboard, then Maria won't be far behind. She felt her hope sink for having a nice peaceful jaunt out with Billy. She couldn't really say that Maria was a rival for Billy's affections because. Well, even though Billy openly admits that Maria is a good friend of his, but he never had any romantic feelings to her (besides she was still too young, she wasn't even close to a legal age yet). But her presence will make this whole exploration uneasy.
The trip to the base was, thankfully, uneventful. Emeralda tried to busy herself and attempt to talk to Billy about anything important about this mission as she could think of. But the way Maria looked at him and, to a point, even followed him around the ship. Emeralda had to think about just how did Maria got into this state of mind. She remembered how Doctor Citen's wife Yui attempted to explain to her what a "crush" was, after she pointed out to her the unusual actions of Dan around Citen and Yui's daughter Midori. With that in mind, she combined it with what she remembered hearing about Maria's tragic past and lonely stay up in (what use to be) the flying city of Shevat. Again, Emeralda's new emotions stirred with in her. Some how she could feel sorry for Maria in how she feeling now. She guessed that this was her first attempt at love. Then a small amount fear and concerned passed over her as well. This was her first attempt a love too! Was this love she felt for Billy a crush as well? Emeralda tried to remove that thought from her mind. She wanted a love that when both ways. Like what Elly has with Fei, something that she could believe in. Some thing that would ensure some peace for her young soul to live on and thrive off of.
As the ship landed near the H.Q., Emeralda made her move and approached Billy in the lower half of the gunroom. "Billy? Do you have a moment? I want to talk to you." She said uneasily. "Sure," said Billy, "What is troubling you Emeralda?" "Well, do you remember when we had our talk about if I had a soul?" She said with uncertainty in her voice. "Yes, I do remember it. And if you have any uncertainty about it now, I'm still here to help you." Billy replied. "Well, it's not exactly that. It's something else about being human that has been bugging me." She paused for a second to look directly into his eyes. Her face changed to one of pure concern and worry, the likes of which that she has never shown to anyone before. "I guess that to have true emotions does also make a person human. But there has been one emotion that has eluded me for so long." Billy tilted his head and gave the look of being a bit puzzled. "It's that emotion of love that I'm lacking. I see it in so many other people that I see and know." Emeralda steps up next to Billy and wraps her (deceptively) strong arms around him. Billy was taken a bit by surprise by this but didn't try to break free of her embrace. "I think I can feel it building in me when…. " she rested her head on Billy's shoulder. "When you are near me."
To put it mildly, Billy was quite shocked at Emeralda confession to him. Surprised? Yes. Confused as to what to say? You better believe it. But he wasn't angered or repelled by what she said. In fact, he returned her embrace. She leaned her head to Billy's head. She felt a warmth pass over her. Emeralda had that feeling again that she's blushing. No wonder she thought that the feeling of love is kind of awkward. She felt so embarrassed about admitting her feelings that she was quite surprised that she did so in the first place. She just wasn't thinking before hand, she just did it.
They held each other for several moments until Billy broke the silence. "Emeralda…." He said quietly. She turned to look at him in the eyes. "I do love you. Maybe not as much as you love me." Billy said with nervous uncertainty of saying something that you where afraid to say. "But I want to love you more. I have been alone for so long with my studies, my job, and everything else." He pauses to brush aside a strand of Emeralda's green hair. "Every time there was trouble, you where there to help me." (Flash back of Emeralda blocking attacks that was aimed at Billy from a wels raiding party on the orphanage. He was fumbling in a rush to reload his handgun and shotgun and she ran in front of him and formed a huge shield from her hands and blocked the explosion from a detonating wels. Another memory of when they helped Fei invaded the final form of the Dues system base in rescuing Elly. Billy is directing his gear to lay down a covering fire that is keeping the angels back while Emeralda is recharging her gear. While she is doing that, she is totally defenseless.)
Billy leaned forward and kissed Emeralda, on her lips. Her eyes widened out of surprise, but then she just rolled with this and closed her eyes and kissed back. Emeralda knew about kissing, she saw it happen all the time in town and Elly and Fei have been doing this the most. Just as they wrap their arms around each other to enjoy their kissing, both Billy and Emeralda had to let go and try to hold onto the ship as it shuttered and quickly slowed down. The Yggdrasil's speaker system turned on and Sigurd came on. "We are nearing the landing zone for the project's site. Everyone to their stations, we may have some unwanted welcoming committee down there. Billy, Emeralda, Maria, please come to the bridge." "(Sigh), just when it became enjoyable…" Emeralda said. "Well, we can't keep Mr. Sigurd waiting now can we?" Billy said with a look of a mix of disappointment and amusement.
Just as they were heading up the spiral staircase, Emeralda heard (with her greater than normal hearing) the faint foot steps of some one walking out of the gun room above her. She thought to herself that she was sure that no one was above them during her talk to Billy. As she got to the top of the stairs, she saw the door sliding shut, but did she see a bit of Maria's curly dark grayish hair move away from the door? Emeralda bit her lip in anxiety (another habit of hers that she picked up from god knows where). She wondered if Maria saw her making out with Billy? She quickly looked over to Billy and she could tell that he didn't see Maria leaving. In her advanced nero-net for her mind, she balanced the out comes of telling him about Maria's possible spying, or keeping it to herself.
"Well, let's get going. We have a job to do." Billy said, and he walked up to Emeralda and took her left hand in his right. He turned to look at her and smiled. She turned to look at him and she saw his face. His bright, shiny yet deep blue eyes looked right back into her own golden red eyes. Her heart was doing flip-flops inside her chest, and she felt like she would melt into a puddle from seeing his oh so hansom eyes. She even had to mentally strengthen her atomic structure just to prevent herself from literally melting right there. Emeralda smiled back and said, "Yes. The sooner we get the area cleared, the better." She decided to keep quiet about Maria and deal with her later.
As both Billy and Emeralda were in the elevator to the bridge, it shook very hard and the red emergency lights kicked in. Billy gave her a concerned look. "No one is crazy enough to fire on the Yggdrasil!" Emeralda said in a somewhat confused state. Billy's expression changed too, but he was more serious and looked like he was ready to fight. This rallied Emeralda too. By the time the elevator opened to the bridge, both of them where feeling ready for anything. Anything but what was on the main viewer both of them saw.
Sigurd was howling orders to the bridge crew over the red alert sirens. Billy and Emeralda just about dropped their jaws from what they saw. There was a pack of giant Wels that pounding on the outside hull. "This is impossible! I knew that we exterminated the last of those giant Wels over a year ago!" Billy yelled in surprise. Emeralda remember those hunts. To everybody's surprise after the destruction of Dues, the Solarien secret bases that housed these giant monstrosities (they always kept spares) had released them via the lack of attention and the Wels themselves breaking free. Those where indeed, difficult fights to destroy them.
"Well, it looks like you missed a few of them!" Sigurd said adrenaline charged rush. Sigurd then turned to the helm and spun it to the starboard side to dodge a rushing Wel. Billy quickly reached over and grabbed a pipe on the side of the wall and Emeralda wrapped her arms around his waist as the ship lurched over with a massive shudder. There was a young girl's yell of surprise off to her right. Emeralda looked and saw Maria hanging onto the railing. She prayed that Maria wouldn't confront her about Billy now, especially now! "Looks like our meeting is postponed for now! Maria, Billy, Emeralda! Get to your gears! Our cannons can't keep them away for long!" Sigurd said, as righted the ship and barked the fire orders to the missile command.
The threesome ran back into the elevator and hit the button to the Gear hanger floor. Billy, Emeralda, and Maria rode down in silence. Maria gave Emeralda a dirty look. It was right then and there, Emeralda knew she was busted. But thankfully Maria didn't say anything about it. Maria then walked over to Billy and hugged his arm. He was taken by surprised from Maria's action and he too bewildered to say or do anything. He looked at Emeralda for help, but she had her attention focused on returning Maria's dirty look. "So that is the way it's going to be." Emeralda whispered very quietly. Maria took her finger and gently pulled down her lower eyelid and stuck out her tongue at Emeralda. That was the last straw for her! Her fingers converted to claws, her teeth sharpened into fangs, the ends of her hair converted into blades and spears, and her eyes started to glow red in pure anger!
Billy saw her and Maria growling at each other. Billy spoke up by saying, "Um, ladies, we DO have a job to do. (He looks between Emeralda and Maria as best he could with out provoking the situation) We have to kill those Giant Wels or this whole mission will be ruined. (The ladies huffed and turn their backs to each other, Emeralda turned back to normal) Look, I don't know what the problem is here, but can we talk about this AFTER the landing zone is clear?" The elevator stops and the door opens near the Gear bay. The three of them stepped out of the elevator. Emeralda and Maria immediately turned away from each other and walked to their Gears with out saying a word. Billy could defiantly feel the air chill by 50 degrees when the ladies walked away. He shook his head in confusion. "What has gotten into those two?" Billy pauses for a second. "I know Emeralda loves me…. But why would she become so jealous now? Hum…. Something is going here, (Billy starts running to his gear as the ship shakes again) and I want to find out!"
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