Chapter 7, Unfinished

Fiery bliss tore through Nikira's thoughts, shredding her universe into a series of fine threads. The convulsions ruptured several blood vessels in her respiratory system, causing her to cough without her awareness. She went down to the floor of Ido's Clinic, a fine red mist spraying from her mouth.

"Nikki no baka," spat a voice from behind her, its accent a thick Russian.

"You vere alvays such a fuelish child. Dat is why I pult ze trigger all zoze yeers ago."

Nikira managed to roll herself upright, allowing her to look at the speaker. Horror held her firmly in its grasp as she recognized the figure standing there.

"Da... daddy?" she whispered, blood trickling from her mouth. She struggled to stand upright but fell as another coughing fit racked her body.

"Deat ees all you hafe eevr coveted, child. Et alvays amazed me dat you deedn't join me here zoonah."

The blue-haired man turned away, laughing. Nikira tried in vain to follow him, but found herself helpless. From all around her, she could see vines were reaching out, winding themselves around her arms and legs. Nikira yelped as the vines pulled taut, hoisting her into the air.

"Enjoy et, Niki!" Yachi Stengovich called, not looking back as he walked away, "Ets vhat you hafe alvays wantet, ne?"

Slowly, the vines began to tighten, pulling her form into a shape resembling the letter X. As the vines pulled successively tighter, Nikira could feel her muscles caving into the strain. While strong during compression, her muscle fiber tended to shred when tensile forces acted upon it. At an agonizingly slow rate, the muscle tissue holding her shoulders and hips together began to part.

"DADDYYY!!!" Nikira shrieked as she felt her legs and one arm tearing away from her body.

***

"What do you mean, worse?" Asrial demanded, "And why aren't you helping her?"

"There's nothing I can do for her," Ido replied softly, "I... I want you to take a look at these photos. They're from the CAT scan and MRI I performed on her the other day. I want your opinion."

"Okay," Asrial murmured, slowly standing. Ido led her to a wall-mounted flat panel display, which he pinned several of the transparent photos into. Flipping a switch, he illuminated them.

"It looks pretty normal to m-- wait..." Asrial murmured, "There's way too much activity in her frontal lobes... and that smudge! What the--?"

"Now look at this one," Ido said, gesturing to a photo of Nikira's vertebra. "Since I am usually tending to cyborgs, I have my scanners set to with metal bodies in mind. Most scanners wouldn't have picked this up, but..."

"Her spinal cord," Asrial breathed, "It's metallic. But that's impossible, unless..."

"Unless Nikira were an android," Ido finished for her, "And that's not all. Look at this x-ray."

"What's that there, Ido?" Asrial asked, pointing to what had previously merely been a smudge. On the x-ray, however, it was a very conspicuous box shape, tucked between the hemispheres of her brain. It was just above her medulla oblongata...

"That, my dear," Ido began with a deep sigh, "Is an electrotherapy conduit, formerly used in Tipharean genetic research studies. The hypothesis to be proven was whether applied shock therapy to test animals could alter their behavior per the manner prescribed the behavioral characteristics would be passed down to the next generation of the species."

"You said formerly, Ido," Asrial stated, "What did you mean by that?"

"The creator of the device found another purpose for it," Ido replied, "It's implanted into the brain stem of certain Tipharean malcontents. Used in conjunction with constant surveillance--"

"--it induces an electric shock, paralyzing the subject's CNS when they begin to exhibit belligerent behavior," Asrial finished. She paused, smiling slightly. "So I was right! She is Tipharean!"

"Not quite," Ido said, shaking his head, "I think she's your replacement. Doctor Russel is the man who invented the device. And considering the past mistakes... it seems feasible."

"Nikira... a Tuned?" Asrial breathed, "No... no, it isn't possible!"

"Asrial, the only people capable of creating a Hardsuit like the one that attacked me last night are from Tiphares, " Ido told her, "That Suit was after me for a reason... and I think that reason was to destroy these photos. The only person besides myself who knew of their existence was Nikira."

"That fighting style..." Asrial breathed, "It was exactly like when Nikira was dancing around the stage. Her evasion tactics... oh good god!"

"You told me you cracked the armour on the Suit's left arm, right?" Ido asked. Asrial nodded, "Well, let’s take a look at our patient, shall we?" Asrial nodded, following Ido to where Nikira lay. He turned her over, ignoring the trickle of blood that ran from her mouth, and lifted her left arm.

Though faint, a bruise was visible at the exact spot where Raisa had broken the Suit's arm. There was even a cut, though almost healed already, marking where some piece of shattered armour had pierced her skin.

"Nikira," Ido stated softly, "is Ghost of the Machine. She destroyed a Netman, almost killed me, and now she has seen you. If you stay, she'll kill you."

"No..." Asrial whispered, "I don't want to run again. Oh god, no. I couldn't stand to leave now. I... I just joined a band!" She gazed up at Ido, eyes pleading.

"I know it's hard," Ido said, standing, "But you have to." He leaned over, pulling Asrial into a tender hug. "I won't forget you, Asrial. And I'll love you forever. You'll always be my little girl."

"Ido!" Asrial sobbed, burying her face in his chest. For a moment they stood like that. Then, Ido broke the embrace.

"Go now," he told her, suddenly serious, "She could wake up at any moment. Run, Asrial. Run!"

The young blonde woman paused, her skin seeming suddenly layered, as if the epidermis was…rearranging itself. On the left side of the woman's head was a tangled mop of red hair, while long blonde hair yet cascaded down over the other shoulder. The woman's chest heaved as her cleavage rippled and reformed, giving her body a ghastly appearance. And then... it was over. The redhead known as Raisa stood there, looking somewhat tired from her effort.

"Goodbye," she told Ido, giving him a final kiss on the cheek. Then, she dashed to the front door, pausing for the slightest moment before disappearing into the night.

Ido watched her go, then turned to the blonde woman lying on his floor.

"Now, as much as this pains me..." Ido murmured, fishing a scalpel from his desk, "I can't let you hurt anyone else. I just hope Alita can forgive me." Stooping next to Nikira, he placed the tiny knife to her throat. With a quick flick, he sliced open the girl's neck. Ido waited a moment, watching her bodily functions shut down. Once her heart had been still for two full minutes, Ido stood. "I'm sorry," he murmured.

With a final sigh, Ido headed out, locking the doors after him. He tacked a quick message on the door, telling Alita not to go inside and to instead meet him at New Kansas. Hopefully no patients would need his help today; he was about to get himself as royally shit-faced as possible. He might even try hunting later on... anything to kill the depression and self-loathing that suddenly loomed before him.

Meanwhile, in his lab, the wound on Nikira's neck steadily stitched itself shut.

***

Alita had just finished explaining that Raisa wasn't feeling well, calmed everyone's concerns, and said her good-byes when the redhead in question dashed down the street half a block away. Fortunately, Alita thought to herself, she'd closed the door on her way out.

Now, why in God’s name is Raisa hurrying towards the train yard so quickly?

With a sigh, Alita headed after, several blocks behind. She didn't hurry... finding Raisa in the train yard was never hard. For Alita, anyway… she'd just hop from loco to loco, checking peeking at the cab drivers as she went. Simple.

***

"Huh?!" Nikira gasped, sitting up. For a moment, she gagged. Then, realigning her systems, Nikira reached up and brushed the back of her hand over her neck.

Someone cut my throat, Nikira mused, How rude. It must have been that strange blonde woman.

--Control to A-Zero-- her comm feed crackled suddenly, --Come in A-Zero!--

"Yeah," Nikira replied silently, "Whacha want?" Her lips didn't move, but she spoke none the less. It was some kind of internal feed, which helped to keep her conversations private. And, to prevent herself from mouthing the words along with her thoughts, Nikira bit her lip. It was a particularly cute expression that also served a purpose.

"Change in plans, A-Zero," her controller stated, "You are to track and eliminate Subject Beta. Now."

"What?!?" she cried, "Why the fuck do you want me to kill R-er-Beta?"

"I have my reasons, A-Zero," he said coldly, "I want her body brought to the Factory for a full autopsy. I have... suspicions about something."

"Fuck your suspicions," Nikira snapped, "Raisa's my friend! The deal was I brought in your Subject or Subjects alive, remember?"

"Don't question me in this," the Controller growled, "Unless you want me to kill your precious Mack, bring me the body of Subject Beta."

"You wouldn't!" Nikira gasped, "That clone is the only thing you have to control me with! I don't believe you'd waste it on something like--"

"Eliminating Subject Beta is MUCH more important than that damned Motorball bitch!" the Controller screamed, "I want her dead! NOW!"

"... Okay, I believe you," Nikira murmured, "Just... please, let me see him."

"... Fine," her controller responded, "Activate your video reception." Nikira complied, bringing up a picture of her controller's face on her internal HUD. And, standing next to her Arian controller with his naziesque buzz-cut was a soft-faced man with slightly shaggy blue hair. His hair was the same tone as her father's, but had a youthful freedom to it.

"Please Nik," Mack, the blue-haired man, begged, "I want to be with you again."

"Mack..." she breathed. Closing her eyes, she shut off her video feed again. "Okay... okay...."

"Shall I send your Suit?" her controller asked.

"Yes," Nikira whispered, sniffling. Meanwhile, a door cycled open atop one of the Factory buildings. From it was issued a Red Hardsuit, which flew on auto-pilot towards Ido's Clinic. Aiding efficiency, it burst through the upstairs window, landing next to Nikira a few minutes after its takeoff. Nikira flipped open the clamps and strapped the suit on, not bothering with the classic Soft-Suit undergarments. Slipping the helmet on, she dived out the window, her back jets catching her a moment later. Fortunately, an overhead satellite was tracking the positions of both targets. Little red blips flickered on her HUD, leading her towards the train yard...

***

In the space of a few words, time had become more valuable than all the chips in the Scrapyard. Raisa ran through the streets at a breakneck pace, knowing that hell was riding in three steps behind her. Taking a blind corner, she ran smack into a particularly fat cyborg. Ignoring the variety of derogatory remarks the cyber sent her way as he struggled to get up, Raisa righted herself immediately, bounding again down the street. In a moment she realized her favorite cap had left her head upon impact, though she dared not break stride nor tempt fate to retrieve it.

Raisa sighed softly, not breaking her stride.

A few minutes later, she arrived at the perimeter of Walschaerts Yard, where for the last year now she had reported for duty. Slightly winded, Raisa allowed herself a moment's rest. Glancing at her wristwatch, which she had taken pains to set exactly in unison with the timecard’s clock, she knew she could afford it. It was a full minute before the next shift started. Plenty of time.

With a final gulp of air, Raisa bolted for the employee entrance, swiping her badge past the reader so fast she plowed into the turnstile. After a split second, the buzzer sounded, allowing her to enter.

Raisa blew past the locker rooms and dashed out the back door of the yard office, standing next to the rip track. Looking around briefly, she spotted what she was looking for.

Yard locomotives 1007 and 1013 stood coupled nose-to-nose, their cabs at opposite ends. She could see the brakeman sitting on the right side of the cab, tapping his finger against his cheek idly as he waited for his engineer to arrive.

Raisa sprinted across the rip track, bounding up the ladder and platform just as the brakeman realized who she was. "What the fuck--"

Tamrin Reyanova sat in the brakeman's chair, gawking at her dumbfoundedly.

"Tamrin, listen to me," Raisa said quickly, "My life is in danger and I need your help."

"Huh?" he inquired, somewhat taken aback.

"I SAID, I NEED YOUR HELP!" she hollered, leaping into the cab. He jumped, giving her a hand to steady herself on. She pushed him back, reaching for the headset which hung suspended by a hook from the cab ceiling. "User authorization code 182943."

"Auforization confurmed," the Deckman dispatcher replied.

"What’s going on," Tamrin demanded, getting over his initial shock, "Why is your life in danger? I don’t und-- what the fuck??"

Tamrin fell backwards as Raisa threw the throttle open, ignoring speed regulations. The locomotives surged forward, crazed horses galloping frantically from their stalls.

"Jezus Raisa!" Tamrin cried, "What the hell are you doing?!?"

"I’m sorry, Tamrin..." Raisa whispered, turning back to him, "I didn’t want you involved. It’s complicated, but here’s a start." Raisa took on a contemplative expression for a moment, then sighed. With a bizarre ripple of sinew and bone, Raisa reverted once more into Asrial. "It all began back on Tiphares..."

***

"Wow. I never knew…Raisa…I mean, Asrial..."

"Don't feel compelled to call me by my real name," the reformed redhead said, grinning at him over the top of the control stands, "I'm just as real as the Raisa you've called your housemate for the last year, butt munch.

"But the point is moot. This will probably be the last time you see me. I can't allow my friends to be in danger because I've got Tiphares gunning for me."

As they approached the crossover marking the end of Snyder Block and the beginning of Sandwick, Tamrin realized what she had in mind.

"You're going to go it alone, aren't you?"

Raisa said nothing, but folded her arms across her chest. "You're on the clock, right?"

"Yeah."

"Get on the ground and bend that iron, boy."

Tamrin looked at her evenly as he rose from his seat and walked out of the cab. Just as Raisa made the last brake application, he stepped off the locomotive's running boards next to the switch stand. Pulling the keys clipped to his belt with a bungee cord, he unlocked the stand and pulled the heavy iron home. Before he had even locked the switch lever back into position, he heard the familiar sound of the turbocharger whinnying as Raisa cracked open the throttle.

1007 drifted by, Raisa saluting him with two short blasts of the horn.

But 1013 had not passed Tamrin before he made up his mind. Swinging aboard 1013's running boards at the last minute, he pulled himself up onto the second locomotive and began making his way back to the other cab. Asrial turned to look behind her and saw him coming up the running boards. She shook her head, exasperated as she took in the hard look on his face.

"You stubborn bastard," she said as he opened the cab door opposite her.

"I'm not going to let you have to face that killer alone."

Raisa laughed in spite of herself. "Yeah, right. And just what the fuck are you going to do to stop her?" Raisa stopped short, realizing suddenly that Tamrin didn’t yet know who the attempted murderer was.

"Well, I could--"

Tamrin was cut short by the sound of bullets ricocheting off the steel cowl enclosing the locomotive's engine and electrical equipment. "Tam--hit the deck!" Asrial screamed as she herself slid back behind the control stands, as if she could simply vanish if she sunk down low enough.

***

"Stop the train!" the Suit demanded, "Give up, Raisa! I... I won't let you get away!"

Raisa dared one glance out the cab window as she threw the throttle all the way open. Behind them, flying parallel with the second locomotive was the same Red Suit that had attacked Ido...

Grabbing the headset again, Raisa ducked back to the relative cover of the floor.

"We have an emergency situation here at Mile Post 1.7 on the Sandwick block, WD-3!" Raisa called into the headset, "Crossover OU Eight Twelve …switch it!"

The Deckman dispatcher replied after a moment. "Unschuduled change uf opuration. Pluese state reason fuu reroute."

"Um..." Raisa said, momentarily at a loss. Then, her eyes brightened. "We’ve been hijacked! Emergency procedure Two Eight Four Oh."

"Acknuwledged," the Deckman replied.

Just as the target signal for the crossover loomed into view, Raisa saw the searchlight signal transition from red-over-red to green-over-red. Another second and it wouldn’t have worked.

***

Nikira watched in annoyance as the train suddenly changed routes. Altering course, she turned to pursue, following the train toward a great viaduct connecting two of the Factories. Within its foundation were carved a bank of tunnels, the left most one of which her quarry zipped into. Nikira swung hard to starboard, pushing the burn of her thrusters higher. Her Suit's engines whinnied in protest, but complied. Spinning a mid-air pirouette, she dived into the tunnel.

As her internal mpeg player started up, a locomotive's horn sounded, momentarily deafening her. Glancing up, she saw a bright light, blinding her for a split second as her visor's active filter began compensating. Not fifty yards in front of her Nikira could make out the unmistakable form of an oncoming locomotive. The small diesel locomotive was doing less than forty klicks, but it was between her Suit and the exit.

Sonic blasters clicking into place, contact explosives armed, the Suit continued forward. Nikira and the locomotive played a game of chicken, neither slowing for the other.

Nikira found her foot tapping to the beat of the song, its melody somehow rising above the roar of her Suit’s engine and the wail of the locomotive’s horn. She resisted a sadistic urge to sing along, focusing her attention on the matter at hand.

Then, less than five meters from the train, the Suit's sonic blasters activated. As the engine's molecules bucked in their lattices, the contact explosives encountered the cab. The steel cowling ripped like tissue paper, tearing the locomotive into scrap within a second. A second sonic pulse, however, kept most of the blast and shrapnel from contacting the armor head on. The Red Suit flew directly through the shattered engine block, never even slowing.

"Shit," Nikira sighed, brushing a bloody scrap formerly connected to one of the crew members from her arm, "More fucking collateral--"

Vibrational readings suddenly pegged as the tunnel rumbled sinisterly. The tunnel was caving in, beginning where she had detonated her contact explosives. The effect rapidly moved outwards, gaining on her rapidly her way. By the calculations her scanners were giving her, Nikira knew she wasn't going to make it to the exit in time.

"And raise a glass for all of us," Nikira whispered in time with the song. Setting her jaw, she fired the engines up to three hundred percent of maximum burn. The Suit shot forward, its speed more than doubled.

"So far gone, I’m almost there," she echoed, foot still tapping inside her suit. A scene from a long since forgotten television program flashed into her mind, featuring a pair of mecha pilots synchronized to music. She’d always wanted to try that. Not that this was the time or place.

Knowing time was not on her side, Nikira began to dodge as the debris fell from the tunnel roof in front of her. She dropped past one slab of concrete, not allowing it to pull her to the tunnel floor. Another slab fell from the ceiling directly in front of her, exploding as her sonic blaster tore through it.

Ahead, the exit was breaking up, the use of her blasters having dislodged what little stability it had retained.

Nikira growled, spinning forward. She watched as the hole of light before her grew ever smaller.

Dropping to the ground in a last ditch effort, the Red Suit dived, using both thrusters and leg servos to propel itself through the crack.

The Suit shot out of the tunnel like a bullet, a hail of dust and debris blasting out behind it. "Eat after-burners, Motherfucker!" Nikira screamed jubilantly. Then, remembering her goal, she turned back towards the train that had already exited the tunnel opposite. Meanwhile, Demolition Man was ending. With a sigh, she killed the stereo. Weapons systems took priority over entertainment suetes.

The jets in Nikira's armor whinnied as they slowly caught the locomotives up. Drawing along side the cabin, she prepared to smash in the side with an explosive punch, knowing that would easily kill anyone in the cab. With a sad sigh, Nikira drew her fist back.

And looked inside the cab. There, standing alongside Raisa at the control stands, was Tamrin. He cried out silently at the sight of her Suit, his voice unheard over the din of the locomotives. "Tamrin...!" Nikira whispered.

The Suit veered off, shooting along a tangent trajectory. "Shit," Nikira whispered, "I can't touch Raisa without getting Tamrin too!"

The controller's voice rang in her ear. "A-Zero, what are you--"

"You never ordered me to kill Tam--" Nikira was cut short as her eyes suddenly focused on the word "PROPANE" written on the side of the tanker car directly in front of her. "Ah hell," she murmured less than a second before slamming headlong into the string of cars outside the refinery. A spectacular explosion issued forth, setting every car in the siding ablaze.

***

"Um... what just happened?" Tamrin asked, gazing at the burning tanker cars, "That thing had us just where it wanted us. Why aren’t we dead?" Tamrin turned back towards Raisa, only to find tears sliding silently down her face. "Raisa?" he asked, stepping towards her.

"RAISA!!" Tamrin screamed. She jerked back to reality, only to realize that her train was now heading directly towards the little switcher that was working the block they’d entered.

"Oh fuck!" she gasped. Then, her options having run out, Raisa grabbed Tamrin by the waist and leaped from the cab. She hit the ground running, dashing as fast as possible away from the impending crash. Seconds later, an explosion threw the pair to the ground. Raisa rolled, protecting Tamrin’s head from the flaming debris.

"Is it over yet...?" Tamrin inquired, looking somewhat sick to his stomach.

"Almost," Raisa assured him as she stood up, "You wait here for the factory reps. Tell em you were hijacked by a blonde woman named Asrial... and that she didn’t jump. Oh, and while you’re at it, let em know I’m off getting the fire brigade."

"Sure," Tamrin said, nodding, "And, just incase I don’t see you again…" Tamrin stood, putting his arms around Raisa. He held her for a moment, then stepped back. "Goodbye, Raisa."

"Heh," Raisa murmured, smiling, "See ya around, butt munch."

The redhead swiveled on her feet, heading towards the blazing tanker cars. By the time Tamrin thought to wonder why she’d be heading that way, the first Netmen were arriving.

***

Alita gazed around the train yard, wondering where Raisa had disappeared to. Suddenly, a very large explosion caught her attention. Concerned at the rather unorthodox event, she dashed towards the sight, hoping that Raisa wasn't hurt. Minutes later, she arrived. Before her were nearly a dozen burning tanker cars. Alita was about to find a phone, intending to contact fire control (not that they were gonna miss an explosion like THAT, but hey, ya never knew) when motion from within the flames caught her attention.

From the fire walked a set of red gamine armour. "Ohhh..." the Suit groaned, "Even for me, that was unpleasant!" The Suit shook its head, then glanced back at the burning tankers.

"You!" Alita yelled, slipping into a fighting stance. The Suit spun, taking a second to glance around. Finding no other Red Hardsuits anywhere nearby, the Suit pointed at itself inquiring "Who, me?"

"I want my pound of flesh, or servos-- whatever, bitch!" Alita snarled. That stated she dashed forward, placing a flying kick right where the Suit had been standing. Fortunately for Nikira, she had dodged to the side.

Shit, Nikira cursed to herself, I shoulda paid attention to Alita's location!

"Look," the Suit stated, holding up its hands, "Can't this wait? I've got stuff to do!"

"Fuck that," Alita snapped, rounding on the Suit, "You're fighting me!" Again, Alita leaped towards the Suit. This time she connected, knocking Nikira back. With a quick motion, Alita grabbed the arm where Raisa had damaged it the night before and slammed it into a chunk of nearby rubble.

Nikira screamed as the entire right forearm on her suit caved in, destroying her Sonic Blasters and her Gattling gun. Then, finally fighting back, Nikira bucked, throwing Alita off. Standing, Nikira flipped open her Vibro Blade.

Thinking fast, Alita grabbed a steel beam, parrying the Suit's sword. Nikira muttered several curses under her breath as the sub-standard parts in her Vibro Sword stalled out, leaving the weapon embedded in Alita's pipe.

All other options gone, the Suit flipped open it's cutting lasers. The first shot was wild, merely clipping a few strands of raven hair from Alita's head. As Alita dodged backwards, Nikira pulled her sword free of the pipe. Though the vibrator circuits were gone, it was still sharp. Diving forward, the Suit attempted to slash off Alita's legs.

Alita, however, was ready for the move. She leaped over the blade, applying a mid-air roundhouse kick to the Suit's visor. The black faceplate shattered completely, evoking another yelp from Nikira. Her balance gone, Nikira fell to her knees. As Nikira gazed up, Alita gazed down... their eyes meeting.

"... Nikira?" Alita asked, shock distracting her from the battle, "But how? Why?"

"I'm sorry Alita," Nikira whispered, her arm snapping up. Alita didn't even have time to cry out as the laser emitter flashed red.

Then, Nikira froze. For a moment, all she could see was her Father, in his Hardsuit, pointing his Gattling gun at her.

"I'm sorry, Nikki," he said, coldly.

She remembered the day, so long ago, when her Father pulled the trigger. Those were the last words she heard before the bullet tore her forehead open. Then she fell... fell for miles...

Fell forever.

She remembered the arms that held her as she bled, the name of that woman, the woman who's name was inscribed upon the back of her silver necklace. Her best and oldest friend… a red-haired angel in the light. "You'll be okay," she promised, "Don't worry... I'll make that bastard suffer for you!"

And then darkness... darkness until she awoke, Mack gazing down at her.

"NO!!!" Nikira screamed, jerking her arm up. Alita lost another tuft of hair, but the laser missed her skull.

"A-Zero, what are you doing??" her controller demanded. "You nearly killed her! I told you to bring her in alive!"

Nikira surged up, shaking her head, squinting her eyes closed. "No!" she yelled at the sky, "No more!"

Alita stumbled back, gasping at the close call. Nikira had almost killed her, again.

Alita grabbed Nikira by the throat, backhanding her with the other hand. The gray eyes blinked as Nikira's helmet was knocked away by the blow. Nikira could feel her suit's armor crumble in Alita's hand.

"Ali-"

"DIE, YOU LYING BITCH!" Alita yelled. Still holding onto Nikira's neck with one hand, she brought her other smashing, Hertza-Haeon style, into Nikira's forehead.

Alita, shaking off the bloodlust that had previously consumed her, instantly regretted her action. She had just executed in a fit of anger a woman she once believed to be her friend.

I'd have had to kill her anyway, Alita told herself, It’s better to get it over with.

Alita opened her hand, allowing pieces of broken armour to fall to the ground as she stepped back, waiting for Nikira to topple.

"Achoo!"

Nikira sneezed, spraying a fine mist of saliva into Alita's face. Alita's mouth slowly opened, confusion spreading across her features. Nikira simply knelt there before her. Her eyes remained closed, with a small dribble of mucus dangling from her left nostril. Looking the picture of absolute misery, Nikira sniffled, wiping away the stray booger with the back of her armoured hand.

"You... you aren't human!" Alita gasped. "Who are you? What are you?!?"

"A friend...if you'll listen", Nikira said, tears sliding slowly down her face. "Please, Alita, just listen."

"Why should I?" Alita demanded, voice all but cracking on the words. She might not want to see Nikira dead, but that didn’t mean Alita was ready to trust her by any means.

"Because you listened to me," Raisa stated, catching the attention of both women. Nikira sighed softly in relief as the redhead approached the pair from around the burning tankers.

"That was different!" Alita protested.

"Indeed it was," Raisa agreed, smiling, "I had just killed a Hunter Warrior. And I’d killed dozens more before that. By rights, you should’ve finished me off that night, Alita. What Nikira’s done is a far lesser sin than the blood stains on my soul." Raisa stepped past Alita, putting a protective arm around Nikira.

"She lied to me, Raisa," Alita protested, "She betrayed me. She tried to kill you and Ido."

"She is Tuned," Raisa stated simply, "A Tipharean slave and hit woman. Ido and I found a chip in her brain that controlled her through shocks—those seizures she had. Nikira could no more have told us the truth than I could’ve when we first met. I lied to you too, Alita; you forgave me. Forgive Nikira. Or… finish your job as a Hunter Warrior."

"Rai…" Alita breathed. There was a pause, then she nodded, raven hair blowing in the warm winds.

"Now," Raisa went on, "If you’re satisfied for the moment, I suggest we move this away from here. The authorities have some cleaning up to do, and we don’t want to be here when they arrive. Besides," The redhead paused, glancing at the pathetic, sniffling wreck of a person who hung from her right arm. "If you’re gonna tell us your story, we should probably find someplace more comfortable to hear the telling."

"Ido’s?" Alita suggested, uncertainly. Raisa nodded, helping Nikira away towards the road that led to their destination. Alita followed a bit behind, keeping a wary eye on Nikira. Whatever the outcome, Alita wasn't about to let her get away now.

***

"Okay..." Nikira began softy, "First off, as Ido discovered, I'm an Android." Alita, Raisa, and Nikira sat in his lab, which was rather messy having had a Hardsuit fly through it. Alita wasn’t thrilled about the idea of Nikira moving unrestrained, but Raisa had insisted, so she wasn’t going to argue.

"A very complex one," Raisa noted, "You almost pass for human."

"That was the idea," Nikira admitted, an attempt at a chuckle catching in her throat, "I was designed for covert ops by another Android; my Father. He wanted me to help him fight in his revolution. He even had me spy on one of his opponents, just like Tiphares wanted me to spy on you. Bad habit of mine; I get too close. Anyway, when he told me to kill her, I said I wouldn't... so he shot me. Nearly killed me. The man who saved me was Mack."

"The guy you loved," Alita noted, nodding slightly.

"Yeah," Nikira said, nodding. "It took him four years to repair the damage that bullet did to my brain. By the time he did, my closest friend had died. This necklace was hers." Nikira nodded to the silver chain around her neck. "Mack told me that I should keep it for her.

"He and I fell in love, as I told you before. We got married; lived for thirty happy years. And then... he just died. By that time I'd joined a band, so after he went I wrote a song; My love, My lover."

"You wrote the song?" Alita asked, "How long ago was this?"

"At least a thousand years," Nikira murmured, "I was designed to survive, to propagate, so my life-span is insanely long. Not that I want it. I'd welcome death. I'm just… so scared that when I'm gone, my life won't have mattered. I don't want to fade out. I'm terrified of it. After the life that Mack gave me, I've been working to create some kind of monument to him. To us."

"That doesn't explain why you're working for Tiphares," Alita noted.

"That was a more recent development," Nikira stated, "I was wounded in the last Great War when some air-ships bombed my village. Then...

***

White. It was all white. Everything except the door. The door was yellow. That was something, anyway. At least she wasn't going color blind.

"Hello, subject A-Zero."

And not loosing her hearing either, it seemed. How odd, considering her last memory involved an explosion tearing her body open. Deafened by the blast, blinded by debris. Bleeding and broken, left buried in the sands. And then, a long sleep. Neither alive nor dead for so long... and now in this place.

"Where...?" she managed to say. Vocal chords... check. That’s another system working. Too bad there was nothing in particular to taste or smell… only a few more senses to test out, after all.

"You are in the Factory," the man stated, "We saved you. My people rebuilt you."

She glanced down at her body, which was clothed in what appeared to be a hospital gown. The rather obvious lack of a large gaping hole in her chest seemed to indicate truth on that matter. "Why?" she inquired, glancing back up at the video feed of the man whom with she was talking.

"Because you are unlike anything we've previously encountered," the man stated, "And because we need you for something. Having partially accessed your memory files, we know that you are something of a Warrior."

"Yeah?" she asked. She was getting good at this... three distinct statements, each a question, and each only one syllable long. Not too shabby.

"I want you to become my Agent," the man stated, "I need you to administer some tests to a future Agent... to make sure she's what we're looking for. After that, I'll release you."

"And why the hell should I do anything for you?" she demanded, her monosyllable responses behind her, "I wanted to die. I still want to die. And I sure as hell don't need your help in accomplishing that!"

"What if I could offer you something," the man inquired, "Something which you won't be able to resist?"

"You mean other than an overly dramatic death?" she asked coyly.

"Your body contains certain biological samples," the man stated.

"My internal sperm bank," she corrected, "Yeah. It helps to assure propagation, even if there are no available mates. I was designed for survival, after all. Every man I've ever been with has donated his DNA to my storage bank."

"Interestingly enough," the man stated smugly, "We've been able to take a sample from your banks and extrapolate backwards. And, with recent advances in clone memory recovery--" The man stepped aside, pulling a second figure before the screen. He had deep blue, slightly mussed hair.

"M-- Mack!" she yelped.

"Hello Nikira," Mack murmured. Then, he was gone, replaced once more by the man's face. "Do you understand what I'm offering now? If you play ball, I not only release you, I release your friend. Your true love resurrected! He can be yours again."

"Name 'em," she stated coldly, "Who ever you wanted. Tell me who this Test Subject is and I'll have said person on your doorstep tied up with a bow on top."

"Very good, A-Zero," the man said, smiling.

***

"He offered you Mack back?" Raisa gasped, "That heartless... it's just like those sadistic fucks."

"My mission was to test Alita here as a possible candidate to be pressed into a ground-based force for Tiphares, called The Tuned," Nikira continued, turning to face Alita, "If you tested out, I had orders to subdue you and take you back with me. They told me that, if I brought you to them, they'd give Mack back to me.

"But it was all lies," Nikira wept, turning towards the floor, "When they told me to kill you, Raisa, I should have seen it. Mack would never stand for the things Control had me doing. He would have protested, on camera. Now that I’ve had a chance to think it over, I can place the words he spoke to me from one of my memories. Those exact words, in that exact tone. Those assholes just lifted a wav file from my memory backups, along with a few images, and cranked out some Virtual Reality mockup. I was a fool to think those fuckers would actually give me Mack...!" Biting her lip, Nikira sat back up again, steeling herself with a deep breath.

"I've got a question," Raisa stated, "Why haven't they tried to stop you from telling us this?"

"I think it was that last attack Alita used on me," Nikira said, "Since my father shot me, I've reinforced my neural network. However, the transmitter in my head isn't so strong. I think Alita damaged it."

"Twasn't nothin," Alita said, buffing her fingernail on her sleeve. Somewhere during the story, she’d stopped thinking of Nikira as her enemy. Surprised by her sudden change in attitude, Alita frowned. What had changed, to make her suddenly believe this girl’s story?

Because no one could fake the pain I saw in her eyes that first practice, Alita decided, That pain was real, and so is the pain in her eyes now. We’ve torn away every defense she had, leaving her naked sadness revealed. If I can’t trust her now…

"Still," Raisa stated, bringing Alita back to reality, "You're gonna have to leave the Scrapyard, Nikira. I will too, now that your controller knows who I am."

"I've got a better idea," Nikira stated, "But I'm gonna need Ido's help."

"For what?" Alita inquired.

"I need him to fix my transmitter," Nikira stated, "preferably fitting it with an on/off switch. I've got a little unfinished business with my Controller..."

***

Bigott Eizenburg sat, alone in the dark, rubbing his temples. Six hours, he'd sat at that console, awaiting what he knew wasn't coming. Subject Alpha had killed A-Zero; there was no other explanation. Which meant his plans were once again dead in the water. The SR-55 was currently at New Kansas, playing with the waitress. It had witnessed the arrival and departure of Daisuke Ido, a man supposed to be dead. Yet another glitch in the plan

"If that whore was still alive--!" he growled, slamming his fist down on the table. He had so looked forward to killing her himself, moments after showing her the footage of her beloved Mack being killed. It was all a VR Sim, of course. It was much cheaper to program an image of her dead husband than actually try to clone him.

"Wet Jimmy’s Gourmet AssMeats," a voice suddenly chirped from the console, "Will this be Pickup or Delivery?" Eizenburg snapped to attention, his face belaying the shock that even now spread through him. On the screen, A-Zero's face beamed at him; she seemed to be looking into a mirror. For his benefit, no doubt.

"What the hell is going on?" Eizenburg demanded, "Status report!"

"Awww, nuff'n much," Nikira purred, "Just wanted to impart a few words of parting, Control. Oh, lookie who I found!" Nikira stepped back slightly, putting her arm around a blue-haired man of about thirty.

"But-- that's not possible!" Eizenburg breathed. Where did that person come from? We never cloned him! We don't have that kind of technology! Indeed, the spitting image of Eizenburg's own VR software stood at Nikira's side.

"Nice, isn't it?" Nikira inquired, stepping back to admire her handiwork, "A real masterpiece, if I do say so myself. Much better than that crud you showed me. Ah yes, a few minor details really make the difference. Too bad I didn't notice the poor workmanship a few months back, eh?"

"What are you doing?" Eizenburg demanded, sweat rolling down his face. This was NOT in the plans. This was bad, very bad.

"Well," Nikira stated, "I'm doing very little, being a hologram. However, the real me has just about finished depositing a happy virus in your system. In fact, even as we speak, your reports, files, and everything pertaining to the mission is being melted. Including the names and addresses of both Subjects. I've also scrambled your satellites, rendering your surveillance systems offline for a few months at least. Oh yeah, I even dropped a few back doors into Factory Security. I figure it'll take your people at least a year to fix everything I've fucked over. And you're gonna loose months of data with no way to regain it! Oh, I almost forgot the best part..."

As Eizenburg sputtered, all the monitors in the room suddenly flashed to life. White text against black screens began to scroll down their faces at an infinitely fast pace. However, they were easy to read; every single monitor was repeating the same eight words...

Ghost of the Machine: Have a Nice Day!

... Over and over and over again...

"Buh-bye now!"

***

"Well," Nikira murmured, switching off the transmitter, "That was fun. It's been a while since I last hacked any major systems." Cracking her knuckles, Nikira turned to Alita, Raisa, and Ido. "Anyway, you guys shouldn't have to worry about Tiphares for a while. Control can't identify Raisa now; all he ever knew outside of my reports was 'Subject Beta'. I mean, he knows that Asrial's out there somewhere, but he has no way to identify you to the Factory. No ID, no Bounty."

"Thank you," Raisa said, smiling. "No problem," Nikira assured her, "However, since he does have all the information he needs to identify Me, I need to make a strategic withdrawal."

"I can help with that," Raisa said, "I'm good at disappearing."

"I'll help too," Alita said, "I can get you past the border."

"Thanks," Nikira said, nodding, "Now, all that's left is to tell the band."

"Lee'll be disappointed," Raisa noted, "He was hoping to learn that Presence thing you were talking about."

"I'm more worried about Tamrin," Nikira murmured.

"Why don't you hold a farewell concert?" Ido suggested. A moment later, Nikira slammed into him, pulling the Cyber Doc into a massive bear hug.

"That's brilliant!" Nikira proclaimed, "Thank you, Ido! I'm sorry I gave you a hard time and tried to kill you and all!"

"Er-- no problem..." Ido managed, attempting to pry Nikira off. Alita and Raisa merely exchanged a snicker.

Epilogue: And the Band Played On.

"I'm going with you!" Tamrin said coldly, "If you're leaving the band, then so am I. I don't mind farm life; it's nice and quiet out there. We'll be happy together, Nik, really."

Once again, Hot Oil was in New Kansas. However, their first set was still fifteen minutes away. Instead, Lee, Alita, Raisa, Drew, Tamrin, and Nikira stood in the back, by the haphazard dressing rooms.

"If you both leave, the band's history," Lee pointed out.

"Listen everyone," Nikira said, "I've got it all worked out. Avid can replace me. She's got a great voice. Please, don't break the band just cause I had to split town."

"I'm going with you," Tamrin stated, his jaw setting. He crossed his arms, putting on his most stubborn air. For a moment, Nikira looked angry. Then, her face softened into a strange kind of sadness. She stepped forward, putting her hands on Tamrin's shoulders.

"Lee needs you," she whispered, her nose touching his, "He needs you to help him hold the band together. You're the drummer. When it all comes down to it, you're in charge. Keep the band together, for me, okay? Stay and help Lee make 'Hot Oil' the most famous band in the Scrapyard. Please."

"You... want me to give you up, for you?" Tamrin asked softly.

"Sounds funny, I know," Nikira said, "But, I know you'd hate yourself if you passed this up. And then you'd hate me for making you pass it up. I-- I don't want you to hate me."

"I'll never hate you," Tamrin told her.

"Then stay," Nikira said, kissing him lightly, "Stay and keep Lee in line, okay? He could end up a real live wire if you don't watch him."

"I'll remember that," Tamrin said, chuckling softly. Nikira nodded, then turned back to the others.

"Alright," she called, "Let’s do this!" Ten minutes later, Hot Oil was assembled on the New Kansas stage. The bar was packed; the crowds were larger than Alita had ever seen. Barkeep was practically dancing as he poured drink upon drink for the thirsty concert-goers.

Avid waited on stage, Nikira having requested that her replacement be present. With a nod, the lady cyber took a seat next to Alita's keyboard, awaiting her cue. Nikira, meanwhile, headed to the front microphone.

"Hi again, everyone!" she called to the audience, waving. A deafening applause erupted from the crowd, quieting only a minute later with Nikira beckoning for silence. "Thanks! It's been great, but I'm afraid I have some bad news for you tonight." The crowd fell utterly silent, awaiting her next words. Nikira noted this, choosing her next words with great care. "I have recently learned that I must return home, back to the Farms," she said, "So, I have to leave the band. But don't worry! I've found a replacement with a voice that makes me jealous! Avid will be picking up my vocals from now on, with some help from Raisa and everyone's favorite Ex-Hunter, Alita.

"But that's tomorrow's trouble," Nikira finished, carefully working crowd control, "Tonight is my farewell concert, so I'm gonna go out with some flair. No holds bared, and no holding back. What do y’all say?" The bar patrons cheered again, giving her their general consent. "Great!" Nikira called over the din, "In that case, I'm gonna open tonight with an old favorite of mine. The title may sound like something we’ve done before, but it’s merely repetition of name. It happens when you’re a cover band. Anyway, I’d like to dedicate this song to the bravest man I ever knew. While I died my thousand deaths, he laid down to rest just once. This one’s called ‘And the Band played on.’ Hit it!"

A pulsating serenade of guitar and keyboard sirens tore through the bar. It was not a new sound, whispering something of bomb shelters and war-torn strife. But, to this old bar anyway, it was a sound unique, never before heard in such a way. The terrifying made musical by a stroke of harmonization. As the intro faded back to a mere pulsation, Nikira took her place and began to sing.

Leaving Lee to handle the guitar solos, Nikira stepped into her mike, alternatively husking and screaming the lyrics. Terror and power flowed from her, muted only by her pulsating dance. Once again, she had enthralled an audience, opening their minds to something new and different. She made them accept the fear. She made them love it.

Throwing back her head, one arm thrust into the air, microphone held to her chest, Nikira screamed the lyrics forth, belting line after line of perfect, passionate, heart throbbing pain into the dirtied air. And, somehow, Alita, Raisa, Lee, Tamrin, and Drew followed her every note, every change, their harmonizations and accompaniments filling out Nikira’s cries of passion. They held her, carried her, lifted her through the notes. And with a pain and terror all her own, she carried the audience with her.

Nikira slid forward, her eyes flashing out through the audience. With a icy gaze she regarded those she had under her power, whispering lyrics like spines from Raisa’s whip. She placed each word with an assassin’s precision, looking person after person in the eye. A shudder followed her gaze through the audience as she ran down the final verses.

Nikira bobbed slowly for a moment, letting the song fade out. Then, as applause tore through the bar, Nikira stepped away from the microphone and motioned for Avid to join her. A few quiet words were exchanged, then Avid headed back and motioned for Tamrin to get up. Looking rather confused, Tamrin stood, allowing Avid to take his place. A tad nervously, Tamrin headed to the front of the stage.

"Now, I want to dedicate this next song to someone I care very much for," Nikira stated, "I'm also going to apologize for taking Tamrin off the drums. But, I figure it'd be kinda hard to dedicate it to him if he were playing it. So, Tamrin, this one's for you." Grinning, she leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek.

The cue given, Alita began playing, her keyboard once again set at Grand Piano. Avid added a slight sheen from one of the cymbals. Nikira, meanwhile, was attaching the microphone to her Cat Suit. She turned with it pinned to her chest, facing towards Tamrin as she began to sing.

Drew and Lee entered softly, strumming out their backgrounds, watching as Nikira held out her hand to Tamrin. He took it, taking the lead as the two of them began to dance slowly around the stage. Good on her word, every note she sung was for him and him alone.

Alita and Raisa took over as Nikira began to whisper to Tamrin in Japanese. She spoke softly, gazing deeply into his eyes. Though neither Alita nor the rest of the band could make out what she was actually saying, the emotion was obvious.

In the audience, Shumira began to cry.

Lee, Drew, and Avid dropped back, allowing Nikira to take the reigns again, beginning the next verse nearly a cappella. Then, one by one, they returned, softly supporting Nikira's voice.

Raisa took the lead, Alita supporting her, and Avid adding in a few vocal harmonies as Nikira dropped out entirely, spending the last minute of the song dancing slowly around the stage in Tamrin's arms.

The song faded out, leaving Tamrin and Nikira in each other's arms. Several other audience members had joined Shumira, while others nursed hard liqueur.

Silently, Avid stood, relinquishing the drums. Tamrin nodded, smiling faintly as he returned to his seat. Nikira watched him go, brushing a tear from her eye. Then, a sad smile on her face, she removed the microphone from her chest and placed it back on it's stand.

"Now," Nikira began, gazing out at the bar goers, "I'd like to finish tonight with a song called Unfinished. This is my goodbye to you all. Thank you all! Thank you for making my time here something that I shall never forget."

Nikira’s a cappella intro fading from the air, Alita began her piano accompaniment. For a few moments, Alita and Nikira were the only two sounds in the bar. Then, as Nikira began her third stanza, Lee and Tamrin entered, followed by Drew and Raisa.

As Alita, Lee, and Raisa flew up a double-ascending scale, Nikira gazed up at the ceiling of New Kansas. Suddenly, it all began to fade away. A wash of time swept past, changing the present to merely a memory.

A week later, Nikira walked slowly up the side of a sand dune. It overlooked a small farm town. As she reached the top, Nikira flung her arms wide.

When was it that I forgot how to hope? Nikira pondered, the chill evening wind blowing across her body, When did I forget the reason I've survived for so long? Why has it taken me so long to remember?

Nikira ran a hand over her abdomen, knowing it was much too soon to feel any kicks. She'd only been pregnant for two days, after all, since she'd activated her fertilization systems. Before, she'd had no reason to bare another child. But now, now she had a future.

Nikira turned back towards the town. Eyes closed, she sighed, a small smile touching her face. As darkness closed in more deeply, she made her way once again towards Farm 14... pausing only to watch the stars come out.

Copyright 1998-2000 to Charles Drake and Mark Engels

All lyrics, apart from "My Love, My Lover", are copyright to their respective writers/performers. All lyrics were used without permission.

Gunnm is the property of Yukito Kishiro. All characters from Gunnm are copyrighted to Yukito Kishiro, used without permission.

Asrial is based on the work of Ben Dunn, creator of Ninja High School. Used without permission. The character Asrial (the shape-changing ex-tuned agent) is the property of Mark Engels, co-author.

Raisa is based on the work of Johji Manabe, creator of Outlanders. Used without permission. The character Raisa (the flute-playing member of Hot Oil) is the property of Dan Snyder, advisor and dear friend. Used with permission and blessings.

Nikira is the property of Charles Drake, co-author. Inspired by Adam Warren and Kenichi Sonada.

Lyrics to My Love, My Lover are copyright 2000 to Charles Drake.

A special thanks to Simple Minds, Def Leppard, Dubstar, X-Japan, Selena, Boa, Depeche Mode, and any other bands we may have ripped off during the course of this work of fiction. Your music is what inspired this story.

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