Dayshift 62: Sun Room [Third Shift]

[avengingfists]

Last night had been a nightmare. That had to be what it was, but Ilia couldn't deny reality. In her anguish, Ilia had slept through the first half of the day plagued by nightmares. In her dreams she saw Rose's broken body all over again with Gamzee standing over her, his club raised to strike again. Somewhere, she could hear Martin Landel laughing.

Much like the battle last night, Ilia was overcome by her powerlessness. Was she really so useless? Why did it have to be the children who suffered pain and death? Why was she left alive here? She didn't wish for her own death, but if she could have given up her life to save Rose... But nothing could be done now

Ilia had failed to save an ally in need. If only her Captain could have been here, then just maybe his uncanny luck and drive might have saved them. He had a miraculous touch that could solve anything. Ilia now understood why she would never be on equal footing with him.

Miserably, Ilia roused herself at her nurse's insistence that she come eat. She didn't take a moment to brush her hair or wash her face. She just followed along as directed, trying to ignore the hallow feeling in her chest. Ilia wasn't hungry, but she took one of the bags offered to her and trudged to the bulletin. She addressed a few notes then added one herself. It wasn't the prettiest note, but Ilia couldn't produce the level of prose that Rose deserved. Instead, she wrote it quickly, like ripping off a band-aid. Short. To the point.

Her task done, Ilia found seat in the corner and sunk down into the cushion. Burying her face in her hands, she concentrated on breathing. She couldn't face the sun today.

[For her children Claude and Anise]

Comments

[dividedby]

How...troubling, Nigredo's response was. So humans would continue to live on in some way, through genetic advancements and synthetics - somewhat like what Reploids were starting to become, only with organic brains and organic origins rather than mechanical ones. The only true machines left, the successors to androids, would be mostly stripped of their volition, leaving them to be no better than Mechaniloids. A step backwards in their evolution.

And it all sounded sickeningly offensive to Zero, more so as he tried to think of reasons for why this would happen. There was only one conclusion he could make that made sense to him, and it was that humans simply wouldn't change despite the Resistance's efforts. In the end, they truly only cared for their own survival and what was useful to them. Reploids would simply be forgotten about as result...

Really...? Facing the loss of their planet from the Gnosis, they were simply going to abandon the Reploids they'd struggled to live with for so many centuries and forget they ever existed? Were X's dream of coexistence just a dream? Was everything Zero fighting for...meaningless? There was a noticeable break in the Reploid's composure as he pondered these things, an insecurity that was shown through a grimace and a slight shudder.

... Perhaps...there had been a chance for peace after Zero had left that world. Before the Gnosis came. Perhaps there had been a different, less selfish reason for humans to stop development of Reploids that he was not aware of. Perhaps he was over-thinking this all. Besides, he was here now, in this place. His work was done on Earth for now, possibly forever if there was no way off this planet. His mission was now to help the people trapped here, including himself. Worrying about a place he might never be able to return to was useless...

... But Ciel, and the others...what would they do without him? Would they still be around when the Gnosis...would it matter if he'd...

Zero looked down at his hands. "I see," he replied softly, revealing more insecurity. "I understand." No, he didn't. Not completely. But perhaps he would someday...later...

...This would be a good time to switch subjects. While explaining, Nigredo had mentioned a certain detail about himself that had caught the once-Reploid's attention...before he'd been distracted by something he needed to stop thinking so hard about right now. Retrovirus. Zero had been wondering if Nigredo was related to another who'd also claimed to be a retrovirus...and this was his proof. There was no way he wasn't going to ask about it.

"You say you're a retrovirus," he began again, quickly regaining his composure and eye contact with the boy as he forced himself to stop thinking about Reploid survival for now. "A few days ago, I ran into someone else here who said he was one, too. He looks a lot like you, and I think he said he came from the same time period, too... His name's Albedo. Do you know him?"

he's sorry!!!

[atrabilis]

It bothered him. The potential future registered as negative in Zero's thoughts; Nigredo could not be any more certain of that truth. If the child was anything of a sympathetic creature, if he was kind beneath his rot, he would have offered a form of comfort. However, Nigredo understood. Knew how terrible it could be. To have the future revealed was to accept a potential outcome, and it hurt more than one could say.

Therefore, he did not offer meaningless words nor false hopes. He folded his hands across his lap and remembered a red-haired brother. "I'm sorry," Nigredo murmured. One had to wonder how a simple curiosity had progressed to this.

As he contemplated the development, Zero shifted subjects and mentioned Albedo, a reference that caused no change in Nigredo's demeanor. It felt almost anticlimactic to have that name fall from the lips of a new acquaintance, but he passed the sentiment over in consideration. Now wasn't the time to scowl at being overshadowed.

"Ah, yes," he said. "He's my older brother."

LMAO it's okay, Zero'll get over it...eventually...

[dividedby]

At the boy's murmur, Zero slowly shook his head. "You don't need to apologize..." It wasn't Nigredo's fault. He was simply stating the facts, and Zero had been the one to ask for them in the first place. Neither of them were at fault for the natural course of history. Sometimes it was just the way things went...unfortunately...

.... It was good to hear the boy was willing to change subjects so abruptly. And, it was also a little good to hear that Zero's assumption was correct. "I see the resemblance," he commented. It wasn't like the similarities between Lana and Ema Skye, where it was different, but still noticeable. This was so similar that Nigredo looked just like Albedo, ignoring hair and eye color differences. Like twins, almost.

"I was wondering if that was true ever since our last conversation... I didn't get to talk to your brother for very long, though, so I didn't learn much about him besides that he comes from your year and he's a retrovirus, too." The once-Reploid paused, contemplating. "Actually, I'm curious to know more about retroviruses...I've never heard of them before coming here. I was thinking they were something similar to a Cyber-Elf, but Albedo told me that wasn't the case..."

Would Nigredo know what a Cyber-Elf was? Most likely not, but Zero wouldn't bother explaining unless he was asked to. He also wasn't aware of whether his curiosity was too intrusive or not; at this point, it was something he couldn't help.

[atrabilis]

The reference to resemblance brought a pink tinge to Nigredo's cheeks, and the child briefly glanced to the side, as though embarrassed. It was an odd development. He never held an ounce of unease for being a practical clone of his brothers, only exasperation at never escaping the association. Fortunately, the color vanished almost immediately, leaving Nigredo to address the subsequent comments.

"Oh, that makes sense." An act of deduction as opposed to outright tells--it was at least better than other scenarios. Although, now there was a term he was entirely unfamiliar with. "Cyber-Elf?" he echoed, giving a contemplative tilt of the head. A kind of human/humanoid, perhaps, given the initial hypothesis. He was curious, but another subject needed addressing first.

"Er, though, I can answer any questions you have about retroviruses," continued Nigredo. "How much did Albedo tell you?"

[dividedby]

...Yeah, not surprised that Nigredo didn't know what a Cyber-Elf was. Zero decided he would explain, but only briefly, as he admittedly didn't want to linger on the topic very long. Hearing about Nigredo's own world was of far greater interest to him than explaining his own was. "Cyber-Elves are...something kind of common in my era. They're living programs created to help Reploids in different ways, like granting them certain abilities or healing their injuries."

There, that was a good, basic definition. The only important things he left out were that older-type Cyber-Elves died after use, and that Cyber-Elves had other abilities beyond assisting Reploids. For instance, they had been used more extensively in history for...certain unethical purposes.

...But digressing. "He didn't explain much," the once-Reploid went on, back to the topic he would much rather be on right now. "Only that retroviruses were made to combat the universe's ills, and that they are not like Cyber-Elves." But then again, Zero hadn't told Albedo what a Cyber-Elf was...so perhaps the boy had been wrong in saying living retroviruses weren't like them? Hm... Hopefully Nigredo would be able to clear this up now that he knew what they were.

[atrabilis]

The phrase living programs served to remind Nigredo of support Realians. Although, further consideration had Cyber-Elves ring closer to nanomachines and their role in Ether, or Especial Theory of Rudimentary. Placing the term in this light helped Nigredo gain a small insight into the subject. He wished to pursue it further; however, as stated, there was another to address first.

The child nodded instead. "He is correct: we're not like Cyber-Elves." At the thought of Albedo, he pursed his lips. "Not necessarily because of differences in function, only structure. A retrovirus simply refers to a virus that has ribonucleic acid as opposed to deoxyribonucleic acid as its genetic material. It technically doesn't exist for a specific purpose. A retrovirus could cause tumors, be used in gene delivery systems, and so forth. I suppose it's more correct to say a retrovirus is a separate entity from humans. Our taxonomic classification would be entirely different, for instance."

It was funny how no one else understood this simple fact of biology. Even some of the scientists who had a hand in their creation had trouble accepting the truth.

Their loss, he supposed. "My brother and I are genetically engineered retroviruses," continued Nigredo, "created to house a power to combat a dangerous phenomenon." A fact that was more complicated than he was willing to let on. It would be wiser to keep this to himself. "We're biological weapons, more or less. They just happened to make us look like humans."

Monsters in the guise of children.

[dividedby]

... Perhaps it all sounded simple to the boy, but to someone with little knowledge of biology (like Zero), Nigredo's initial explanation sounded like a foreign language. The once-Reploid stared quietly, unsure of what ribonucleic acid and deoxyri...(?) acid were; he was only sure that retroviruses could do a multitude of things and were a different class from humans.

Which was good enough to be able to understand what Nigredo was trying to say about them, he supposed.

The rest of the explanation did make sense, though, and it sounded like retroviruses were similar to Cyber-Elves in function and reason for creation after all. Zero could draw some parallels between the two to help him understand retroviruses further, then. "Biological weapons," he repeated to himself, closing his eyes for a moment to think. There were so many questions he wanted to ask about this topic, but the biggest one on his mind at the moment had to do with Nigredo's last sentence spoken. Actually, it was less a question and more of something that somewhat troubled and confused him...

"Humans created you, right?" Zero opened his eyes again and stared questioningly at the boy. "It didn't bother them to make biological weapons look like their young?"

[atrabilis]

Zero appeared to have gotten the gist of his explanation. Whether the Reploid understood the details was sketchy at best (though, one would think an android would hold some biological knowledge), but Nigredo supposed they were not important overall. Not like the basics, at least.

Not like this topic.

The flinch ran through the mask Nigredo wore, and the boy didn't know why. This was a common theme, nothing so shattering as to cause this reaction, but there it was. "Yes, that's right," he answered with an uneasy tone. "I believe some of the scientists had ethical conflicts, but they... It was normal enough for them to eventually adjust to the idea."

[dividedby]

"Normal?" The once-Reploid's eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice took on a tone of mild disbelief and disgust - although the latter was only a hint and therefore almost unnoticeable. Almost. "How is that normal?" Making weapons look like children, something meant to be nurtured and protected? Why would humans willingly do that and then consider it 'normal enough' to adjust to? It didn't make sense at all.

And now Zero was beyond noticing (or caring) if this sudden turn in the conversation was too intrusive, or if his questioning and dislike of the whole thing would offend the boy and any possible feelings he had on the subject himself. Zero had seen Nigredo's slight break in composure, yes, but that didn't stop him from wanting to express his opinion about this. It just didn't sound right, or natural...

Were humans really going to become so...uncaring in the future?

[atrabilis]

How?

It was so strange to hear the disbelief, the lingering scent of doubt. Nigredo remembered Klavier in the question, and though this entity lacked the human's extremes, the effect remained. Nigredo felt afraid, and it showed in the pallor of his flushed skin and the absence in his eyes. He feared for reasons having nothing to do with an offended Reploid and everything to do with an existence that shouldn't be.

That was what he was, was it not? The ways and methods that composed Nigredo were entirely wrong. Of course, a weapon should never be in the form of a child. They should have conceived them to an age when ethics mattered to no one, should have bestowed numbers instead of identities, should have broken apart their fragile bonds-- They should have taken the knife away so Nigredo could never dream of hurting them.

Yet, here was his reality. Whether or not another approved, he had nothing else. Thus, unlike before, Nigredo did not shy away. He did not apologize for what he was, even as he understood how much he owed others for simply breathing.

The child spoke quietly, calm despite the strain pulsing underneath. "...It's not normal. Not in the slightest." Not where it mattered, Nigredo supposed. He stifled a shudder and angled his eyes upward to meet Zero's. "But it is what they decided. I can't do anything about that."

[dividedby]

Although he still didn't care whether this topic was too intrusive or not, Zero was at least aware that his opinion had bothered the boy in some way. Nigredo didn't need to say anything out loud to show that he was bothered; his expression was proof enough. Somewhat subtle proof, but still proof nonetheless.

However... Whether he was aware of this reaction or not, it wouldn't change the once-Reploid's opinion at all. He didn't blame Nigredo for being what he was...it wasn't like he had a choice in a matter. No, the blame rested solely on his human creators; they were the ones Zero couldn't forgive. There was no reason he could think of that could ever justify creating a weapon in the form of something so innocent. No reason whatsoever.

"I can't understand that." ...Well. Actually, no. That wasn't completely true. He could partially understand it. It wasn't that hard to believe that certain humans could be so careless and cold toward their own kind... Monsters could be born in any form. But as far as this conversation was concerned, Zero refused to understand the concept. "...No. It's your creators I don't understand. I know you had nothing to do with it... But I don't understand the reasoning at all."

sorry for the lateness!

[atrabilis]

A saner self might have justified the reasons his creators set forth. He might have established an explanation that allowed for the U.R.T.V. to have their place in understanding. The purpose, however, was lacking, and this Nigredo found himself coming up short in desires. Anything said would reek of overcompensation, and Zero...

He touched on things buried deep beneath the surface, past the rationale and the ego's prejudices, to where Nigredo kept his quiet wants. Of how they never should have existed.

Therefore, Nigredo abandoned the strain, instead taking up a bland approach. He murmured a noncommittal noise, wondering what should be done next. They should move on. From this, they should consider less damning concepts. "Did you have any other questions about us?" he asked softly.

no worries!

[dividedby]

Zero refused to answer the boy's question at first, preferring instead to stare a little hard at him. He did not blame Nigredo for feeling uncomfortable, or for trying to switch subjects if the current one was bothering him. But just because Zero didn't fault him for those things didn't mean he really cared that this was making Nigredo feel that way. He was too busy trying to understand this reasoning, the apparent careless reasoning of humanity in the future. If all humans were going to become heartless enough to be fine with using biological weapons in the form of their children, if public opinion had changed so much, or if Nigredo's creators were only a select few and most humans hadn't changed at all...

...But as much as he wanted to understand, Zero wouldn't continue this. Nor would he continue to ask questions in general. Not that he didn't have any - there were countless things he could ask - but Nigredo's response made the once-Reploid recognize that pushing the topic further, against the boy's wishes, would not be the right (or smart) thing to do.

"...No," he answered at last, continuing to stare. No, not right now. Some other time, he would continue to question and understand. But for the moment, he was done.