Day 46: Lunch

[tostepforward.livejournal.com]

The mere fact that she'd been susceptible to whatever hold the Institute had had on her yesterday was sufficient to leave Ayumu both upset and angry - no, not angry, downright furious, both at herself and whoever was responsible for that. But there was also the fact that because of it, she'd lost out on an entire day of work, and in several ways had ruined some of what she'd done already. That little conversation with Himura the day before, for instance, was something she'd sincerely prefer not to remember if she'd had any choice in the matter.

Unless the man was a complete moron, which, unfortunately, was one thing she couldn't believe of him, he had to have realized just who her brother was. After all the effort to keep that fact quiet (not exactly a secret, but certainly not advertised; half the Shinsengumi probably never even realized it because there was no reason to) she'd gone and chatted about it with him. Told him all about it, practically painted a bright target around a weakness that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

She'd spent the shift in the Sun Room pretending to sleep, while in truth forcing herself into calm. After years of practice she could shunt away the useless and distracting emotions, focusing only on what was important and needed to be at the forefront of her mind, and by the time the intercom signaled the lunch period she was feeling considerably calmer. The time to silently observe others had, as well, alerted her to something she probably should have noticed earlier: Mello was back. Would her previous objective be reinstated now? He seemed to have far less of a bulletin presence this time, so perhaps not. Still, though, it bore investigating.

None of her thoughts were visible, of course, as she moved through the line, examining the lunch selection somewhat dubiously. Now with the benefit of Yuuko's memories she might recognize the food, but she certainly didn't share the enthusiasm for it that her imaginary self apparently had. Ayumu skipped past that part and settled for the salad bar and some bread, then positioned herself in a place where she could watch both the door and the rest of the room, setting her journal open in front of herself as though planning to write something. There was far too much that she'd missed, too much work to do now.

[for Okita]

Comments

[runner-up-robot.livejournal.com]

Now that he was being competitive with Sechs and complaining about the institute, Forte felt worlds better and his appetite had returned. Of course, he was making up for lost time now, eating while Sechs spoke. Unfortunately, when he suggested Forte might get 'what Frank deserves' from Sheena, he couldn't suppress a small blush... but quickly moved on.

"No, who knows what they did between knocking us out and the morning. I think they change or take off my bandages, too." He hadn't had a chance to wonder about it, thanks to the brainwashing, but after Raine had healed his arm he simply woke up without the wrappings, and the same with his foot in the beginning.

"I don't know, I don't like thinking about all that stuff too much." It was just creepy, how much control they had over him, just starting with putting him in this body, and the more he talked with other prisoners about how that could have happened the more complicated it sounded. Actually, he realized he'd been worried about healing, then about the brainwashing so much, he hadn't even thought about his original goal in days. "I've asked other guys about finding my original body, and they always say something different... about if it's being held somewhere nearby, or my brain is still there controlling this body by remote, or if I'm just a copy. It's too confusing, so I let them worry about it." Of course, of all the fellow robots he'd met, Sechs was the only one that was trying to figure out how this was happening - save Starscream, who had turned out to be a coward.

[sixth-attack.livejournal.com]

One black eyebrow arched up at the brief sighting of color that emerged on Forte's face. Yeesh, what was that all about? Sechs himself didn't look like that sometimes, did he? Ah crap... He probably did! He quickly shook the awkward thought out of his mind.

"Yeah, the staff here really like to keep us under control without us totally knowing how they do it in the first place. We gotta figure out how this hell hole works, it's bound to be the biggest clue on how to escape!" the Replica growled before gulping down his drink. "I wouldn't be surprised if nanotechnology is involved either, what with the creation of organic bodies and how some people got captured in the first place. I know someone who's good with all that tech stuff. If he were here, I'd bet he'd be able to hack into this place's system..."

Sechs nodded to the theories, but unlike Forte who didn't want to worry about such matters, the last suggestion sent a surge of anxiety riveting throughout his mind. "Wait... A copy?" he stuttered, the look on his face clearly showing his distress over the possibility, "we can't seriously all be copies--!!" Sechs himself was already a "copy" of Alita; he couldn't bare the idea of being a "copy" of himself or something...!

Yet the panic rising inside Sechs was cut short by the speakers announcing the end of lunch and before he knew it, a nurse and an omnipresent orderly arrived to escort the Replica out of the cafeteria. He had no choice but to leave Forte with his question hanging unanswered.

He ignored the nurse's strict announcement over how it was finally time for such an ill-mannered brute like him to get his first visit with a therapist. As he limped off, Sechs called to Forte over his shoulder, "try not to let this place unscrew your head again, you hear me?"

[runner-up-robot.livejournal.com]

Forte was surprised by Sechs's violent reaction to the idea of them being copies. As the guy was being hauled off, he shouted back, "They'll have to take me kicking and screaming!"

There were any number of reasons Sechs would find that idea disturbing, but one jumped out at Forte - Sechs wasn't an 'original model' and they were even more alike than he thought. He made a note to ask Sechs about that later, some time after this therapy he was being lead toward.