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Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Ami, Maya, and Emelia sat in the living room. Shion came out with a tray. In the tray were a teapot and four mugs. He set it down in front of the table. Shion gave a sigh as he sat down. "I guess it's been pretty selfish of me to hide all of this. I honestly, wanted to protect you Ami." Ami gave a nod. "It's okay, I'm a Guardian, I'll protect myself if needed." Shion pour some tea into his mug and sipped it. "I still think of you from back then. Anyway, the Seedling project..." He took a moment to recollect his thoughts. "I was the co-head of the project, the other person being Emelia's former mentor. Nearly thirty years ago, a Seed-form was found. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, when the team found it, it was already dead. Our boss, he was interested in the form. He wanted to see if we could use it to make it a superhuman. We had found that in it's DNA it had all the characteristics of the other races. The strength of a Beast, the resillence of a Cast and the intelligence of a Newman. If we could harnest that in humans...." Shion stopped speaking.
"So what happened next Dad?" Ami asked. She was getting interested in the story. Shion explained, "Well, we tried many people. Each time failing. Either they became unstable or the Seed-DNA flat out rejected the host. That may be why all those people turn into Seed-forms. For a couple years we were met with failure after failure. But then Megami...." Shion took a moment to keep his emotions in check. Emelia noticed how Shion was tensed up. "He didn't know it until she was already done. My mentor, he used Megami, rather the unborn child in her to test the theory." Ami dropped the mug in her hands. The tea spilled onto the floor with the mug shattering. The headache came in full force. "I couldn't do anything." said Emelia, "In the end, I was just an intern. I told Shion about it and he confronted my mentor. He had said that it was an order from the boss." Shion noticed the hurt on Ami's face. "Megami and I ran. When you were born, with you as well. We finally settled down and for seven years we lived like a normal family. But then I had heard that they were closing in. So I ran. If they only chased after me, then you could have a chance to grow up Ami."
Ami stood up. She slammed her hands down on the table. "And you couldn't tell me this!? You didn't even contact us!" Her hair fell over her face. "For ten years I thought you abandoned Mom and me." Shion resisted to hug Ami. "I know. But I couldn't leave any connection between Megami and I and ultimately you. That's why you have your mother's maiden name. It just wasn't safe. Emelia and I kept this secret for ten years. Your mother understood." "Wait, Mom knew too!" she shouted. Emelia placed a hand on her shoulder. Ami shrugged it off as she left the room. "I was worried about this happening." Shion said, "The DNA is triggered by her emotions right now." Emelia got up. "I'll talk to Ami, maybe she'll calm down." As she left, Shion passed Maya a disc. "That has some of the data I managed to get of the Seedling project. My former supervisor probably has the rest."
Ami leaned against the house. "Ami?" She turned to see Emelia calling her. "Are you okay?" she asked. Ami shook her head. "Finding out I was used as an experiement for some superior race isn't exactly something I can be calm about." Emelia stood beside Ami. "I know." They were silent for minutes. "Are you angry at your father?" "I should...but it wasn't his fault I'm like this." Emelia gave a small smile. "I'm glad you think that." Soon, Maya came out. "I've gotten everything I needed. Ami, you mind after we confirm the completion of the mission coming with me?" She gave a nod. "Sure. I'll help in any way I can to get rid of the Seed-virus."
The shuttle ride back to the headquarters was mainly a quiet ride. Ami was still soaking in all that she was told. There were many feelings and thoughts were racing through her head. She now had to accept the fact that she wasn't entirely human anymore. Ami let out a sigh. "We should be arriving back in a few moments." Maya said.
Once they arrived, Emelia gave a short wave. "I'll be in contact if you need me." she said. After she left, Maya and Ami mad their way to the reception desk. The two gave their license to Mina, who updated them. "I'm glad to see you two are safe." she said. The two gave a nod. "Come on." said Maya. She led Ami to an unused lab. "You can have a seat if you want." Ami shook her head. "No I'm okay." Maya gave a nod. Then, a doctor came in. "Ah, you're back Miss Shidow." he said. Maya gave a small smile. "Yes, the mission went better than I thought. I'll be going over the data I've acquired later." He passed her some papers. "This is the report of the Hive mission." Ami looked at the two. "Hive?" she asked while having one head cocked to the side. Maya took the papers. "Thank you, and they have been examined correct?" "We are in the midst of compling the results right now." "Thank you." Maya said, "Oh and tell this one..." Maya pointed to something on the paper. "I would like to meet them here afterwards." The doctor gave a nod. "Of course." After he left, Maya turned to Ami. "It's a secret but there are other Hives out there. One by one we, in conjuction with the AMF are shutting down the A-photon reactors there." 'Maybe that's where he was going...' she thought. She stopped mid thought as the door opened.
On the other side was a female Beast. She had tanned toned skin and long blond hair, styled in pigtails. She looked at Maya and let out a sigh. "Maya! You tricked me!" Maya gave a devious smile. " 'Trick' is such a nasty sounding word. It's been a long while Laia. I heard you were here so I wanted to talk." The female Beast, Laia, looked over at Ami. "Who's she?" "Ami Satomora, I just was accompanying Maya on a mission previously." Laia gave a nod in recognion. "Laia Martinez." she said back.
Laia and Maya made small chit-chat while Ami was staring out of the window. "I heard Leo was in the hospital." Laia gave a nod. "Right..." "How about we go visit him." At the mention, Laia's face turned red. "Well...okay. But Ami doesn't have to come." Ami got up to leave. "Oh nonsense." Maya said, stopping Ami. "Good time for the two of you to know each other." "If I'm not imposing, then I don't mind." Ami replied. Maya got up. "Then it's settled."
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When the three girls arrived at the hospital, Leo was already there. "Leo!" exclaimed Maya, "I'm glad to see that you are alright." He gave a nod. "Laia was just so anxious to see you, I couldn't say no." Laia turned to Maya, astonished. "I did not!" Ami smiled a bit at the two. Maya nudged Laia up front. "Go on." Laia shot a quick glare before looked at Leo. "Thanks." he said. "N-no problem..." "No really," he said, "If you didn't come at that moment. I probably would be dead." "Oh! I didn't see you there."
Ami turned towards the voice to see that it was Hyuga. "What?" she asked. "Hello everyone." he said, a tone lower than usual, "It seems like I'll be hospitalized for a while." Ami rushed up to him, startling him. "What for? Are you okay?" He laughed a bit. "Your concern is noted Ami. But it's just for some tests." Maya and Leo looked at him a bit more seriously. "Have you experienced any symptoms?" Maya asked. "If I had, I would have checked in myself." Ami looked at her own feet. "Anyway," he said, "I must get going." "Wait." Ami said. Her face was getting red. She then hugged him. "Be careful okay?" "I'll be fine. Contact you soon alright?" As soon as Hyuga left, Laia turned to Maya and Leo. "Could it be..you know the virus?" They looked at each other, a silent exchange. "How come he's not okay and I am. We both were in there." Ami began to question that herself too. Of course she knew she would come back with having some Seed-virus strain because of the project. "He already told me what happened with Professor Taragi." Maya's eyes widened. Then lowered a bit in remorse. "Alright then. I'll explain. Ami, come with me. You need to know this too."
The three females made their way back to the unused lab eariler. "You remember the missing professors?" Maya asked. The two nodded. "Hyuga and I went to the Hive because we had retrieved a signal from them there. We ended up getting captured ourselves. During that time, we were exposed to the virus. Along with the other professors." Laia stood up. "But you don't look like it." Maya gave a small smile. "I still go in every three days for exams. But it's hard to tell when the incubation phase starts. The sample data is still too small for a fundamental cure." "I understand." said Laia, "I thought it was weird that you, who is in R&D decided to take up something like this. You're doing it to avenge Kou." Maya looked away. "No need to say anymore." Then the alarms blared. The doctor from eariler rushed into the lab. "Please evacuate! The sample creatures have escaped." Ami got up. "You think it was deliberate?" "Possible." Laia said. "I'll come with." Maya said, " I know the layout better." Once Laia gave a nod, the three went off.
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Now we are officially into Episode 2 of PSU. Some of the missions will be in a different view point, fair warning. Until next time ~ o^y
