Coile/A for Android: Summertime Sonata
From Handbook of the Union Universe
| A for Android | |
| Author: Coile | |
| Genre: | Drama |
|---|---|
| Age Rating: | 15 |
| Characters Involved: | Coile, Coila, Kitia, Zirgei, ND-1 |
| Date Written: | May 2006 |
| Story Timeline: | Summer 2000 |
| Blurb | |
| ' | |
| IC Accessibility of Article | |
| Very few know of the events | |
| Tags | |
| Coile, Coila, Kitia, ND, Zirgei, origin | |
The origin of Coile, Coila and Kitia.
"Oh when I look back now That summer seemed to last forever And if I had the choice Ya - I'd always wanna be there Those were the best days of my life" -- Bryan Adams: Summer of '69 --
[edit] A for Android: Summertime Sonata
A swallow glided fast over the trees before vanishing into a nest that was built under the roof's edge of a large barn. Kitia watched the bird emerge a minute later going off for another run for food. Her binoculars trembled slightly. She was that excited.
"Look Andrea, look!", she said pointing with her finger but jealously guarding the binoculars even if they weren't hers. "There is goes again!"
Andrea crouched next to Kitia and peered through the few branches that were blocking the full view to their father's robot workshop. "Did it fly away already?", she asked masking her slight disappointment very flimsily. It was her binoculars that Kitia was hoarding. "Yes, I'm afraid it did.", answered Kitia laconically and kept looking at the nest that was sure to house some baby birds.
An annoyed voice spoke from behind them. "Mom says food's ready." Both girls sprung around startled at someone sneaking right behind them. Which had no doubt been the very aim of the boy who now stood before them. "Andre! Don't give me a scare or I'll tell mom!" Andrea was quickly transmuting her fright to anger. Her brother could be such a jerk sometimes!
All Kitia could come up with was a nervous smile and a greeting leaning a bit on the squeaky side. "Hello Andre.", she said gaining no reply. No surprise there. Since his thirteenth birthday Andre hadn't much shown interest in playing with girls even if it was his year younger little sister and the girl next door, the only other children in a few miles. Despite her momentary dizziness she was aware of the funny feeling in the bottom of her stomach. She got it mostly when Andre was around.
They walked in a single file along the short path that took them from the top of the hill to the front yard of the robot farm complex that was a home for two of them. During the two years Kitia had lived in the nearby farm she had grown used to the vast array of various technical gadgets that scourged the Kraftverk Robota, a nickname the local towners had given to this place. When they were still a great many yards away from the front door Andre bellowed on the top of his lungs. "We're here!".
A short robot barely five feet in height and crudely imitating female features appeared by the door frame and looked sternly at the boy. "Young master Andre Kraft, no shouting when it is not needed!" Andrea snickered behind his back just loud enough for him to catch it. And Kitia. Both girls giggled turning to each other to hide their mirth from the robot woman. Andre was fuming,
"And where have you been young lady? I think I made it perfectly clear at what hour the supper would be ready." There was no malice in her voice only firmness that echoed deep caring. Both siblings turned to face her and bowed their heads. "Sorry mom." Kitia smiled from behind them and waved chirpily. "Hey Nadia! We have been watching birds!"
ND-1 nodded in an approving manner. There was no facial expression to enhance her vocal messages for now. Zirgei had removed the somewhat natural head that the kids had grown to call "the Nadia face" for the frequentness of its appearance which set it apart from other head units. Apparently there were some new neural modules he was installing but he rarely shared any specifics of his work with his children even if they related to ND-series revisions. "The table is set. Go and eat while it is still warm."
The meal passed as most did. Andrea bickered with her brother, Kitia stayed out of the most heated arguments, Nadia told everyone to behave as was expected from children of their stature and the family's father remained absent. It was only about once a month that he made an appearance on any meal, counting breakfasts, lunches, suppers or midnight snacks.
"So, what are you kids planning on to do this evening?" Nadia stood almost unmoving just watching the youngsters while making sure they ate healthily including the greens. "Doing, mom.", corrected Andre. "Not to do. Has dad downgraded your grammatical programming?" There was no irritation present when Nadia spoke again. "Your father is experimenting with a new form of speech adaptation routine. I have been stripped of the previously installed pre-formulated language packs and will now learn all the nuances of everyday speak heuristically. But aside of that, my question remains."
Andrea having finished her meal first looked out and estimated the remaining light. "I think me and Kitia will go for a swim to the lake. It's so warm out there." Andre scoffed. ”Good riddance!” ND-1 let out a disapproving sound. ”Young master, mind the attitude.”
Out of the blue Kitia cut in. ”Why not come with us, Andre?” Pure contempt permeated his voice. ”With you girls? Get real!” Nadia took the role of a mediator immediately having a far too extensive experience in these sort of things. "Now now, I think it is a marvelous idea for you three to spend some time together.” Andre threw her a dirty look but lacked the courage to back it up vocally. Instead he gave in. ”Yeah, whatever.”
Kitia looked up hastily spilling some milk. There was dreamy hope in her eyes. "Oh, you will join us?" Andrea took the news much more skeptically. "Yeah, sure, as if he’d play with us so-called-stupid girls any more!" Nadia wouldn’t hear any arguments from anyone. ”Go for a swim but be back before dark. Who knows what wildlife lurks in the twilight shadows of the ethereal reality."
"Yeah will do mom!", said Andrea and swung her feet over the bench, hopped up and dashed out the room. Kitia followed right on her heels. Andre disliked being the last so he stuffed the last meatballs into his mouth, mumbled "cut down on the poetry" and hurried out. Nadia shook her head exactly five and half times from side to side and produced a sound that had some distant resemblance to a sigh. "Kids."
The sun was far on the descent already when they got to the lake. Their father believed a good shape was needed for children and thus his progeny went around mostly by foot. This was the form he used to express his interest in his children – detailed objectives to ND-unit who carried them out without question and mostly without fail. So, no bikes and definitely nothing with motors which could have been seen as an oddity considering how many mechanical devices there were around on the farm. Kitia who loved the nature was in her own element as they trekked through the woods and down the late summer hillsides. Finally the beautifully reflecting currently almost calm lake came into view.
Andrea and Kitia watched after Andre who scurried off around a bush to don his swimming trunks. They giggled a bit at the hastiness and almost tangible desperation of his to get far away from view at the best possible haste. He had grown very secretive and protective about his body. However then they too retreated from sight to change into their own secluded spot.
Andrea put on her dark red one part swimming suit while Kitia slipped into her light green bikini. She had started to develop a figure after the first snow last winter and was shaping into a young woman slowly. Shaping all over Andrea thought somewhat enviously. When they were ready they broke through the bushes to the small two meter wide beach. They climbed up an oak tree and with caution advanced along one particular branch that stretched over the water. It was just deep enough to be jumped into.
The short hour before the sunlight started to decrease significantly went past quickly. For the most part it had been amazingly peaceful to the point of being downright uneventful. For once Andre and Andrea played nicely with each other and Kitia fit in just like they used to. Until Kitia got a playful idea.
She dived under the surface and bopped back half a minute later smiling wryly. Using a tone and note she had learned from television she assumed the best imitation of innocence and shouted letting the last vowel stretch long. “Oh, Andre!” Then she sprang from the water tiny stumps for breasts flashing before she plunged back into water. However that was just enough as Andre had automatically turned his head to the voice and was now flushed with red colour. He tried to fit the event into any known frame of reference he was familiar with but in vain. The truth was that he had not ever seen any actual female breasts in his life. And this was Kitia. He was vaguely aware of there being some significance to it.
A whistle echoed over the water. All three fixed their eyes on the boy leaning casually against the old oak sun glinting from the thick chain around his arm. He was clearly older than them, at least four or five years thought Andrea. Even if he was smiling there was certain coldness in the way he was looking down at the kids in the water. Then he pushed himself away from the tree and stood at ease a cruel smile caressing his hardened leer.
"Show them again, little girl." It took a short while before Kitia realized he meant her. She lowered herself into the water an inch or two more just barely being able to breath without problems. She slid slowly behind Andre terrified to the core. It had been just a joke! The boy lifted his beer bottle to his lips and took a flamboyant swig.
Another boy stepped into view from the deepening shadows that the tree cast. He was marginally taller than the first one and he too was sporting a tightly wrapped chain around his right arm. With clear disdain he spoke or rather commanded. "You do as my mate Tom tells you to or you'll regret it bitch." Andre realized that despite quantities they had just been outnumbered. And with that insight the uncomfortable situation changed to dangerous.
Kitia shrunk even further. Not physically as she was at her limits but inside she curled up like a cat. Not in relaxation but feeling like dying. Two more boys appeared nearby both sporting similar metallic ornaments around their arms. Ornaments that could turn into weapons with a flick of a hand. One of the newer boys, the one with thin and chiseled face held something in his hand.
Kitia tensed. She was suddenly painfully aware of a tiny spark of life in her vicinity, a life in mortal distress. Without seeing exactly she was sure that the boy had a tiny bird in his hand. He was squeezing it. The bones were at the breaking point. Kitia pushed herself around Andre and forward, rising standing to her full height which was not all that much.
”Let that bird go. Now.” There was an unexpected sharp tinge of authority in her demeanor very uncharacteristic of the shy girl Andre and Andrea had gotten to know these past two years. The boys cheered as Kitia’s top was still missing. They kept laughing and goading as Kitia walked from the water to the shore her eyes never leaving the fist that held the little spark of life that was just the tiniest of efforts away from being snuffed out. ”She wants you, Edgy!”, roared Tom and clasped his hands onto his groin in a distantly obscene manner.
The boy holding the bird stretched out his hand still clasped into a fist. From it protruded a head of a bird. Kitia looked pleadingly at him. ”Please let it go, it hasn’t done any harm to you!” Edgy looked at his hand, then at Kitia. ”You want it? Here.” The movement was not really that big. Just a turn of the hand, some pressure from the thumb and the fragile bones of an avian neck were snapped with a barely audible crack in the otherwise still evening scene. Then he offered the small feathered thing on his open palm.
Immediately as the echoes of the existence just ended were still ricocheting in her mind Kitia felt sad. All things in nature die. She had known that for an unyielding fact ever since her father had died. Things in nature killed other things. That was the Way. But this kind pointless killing was beyond her capability of comprehending. She felt connected to the very Earth she was standing on. And it was coursing through her. It welled inside her. And found release.
The lightning wasn’t big. It started from her hand and struck the boy into the chest knocking him down. He let out a yelp and looked frantically at his friends to gain confirmation of this just happening. Kitia didn’t even notice. Her whole attention was on the bird that she scooped up and held gently. She had taken care of small injured animals all her life nursing them back to health with love and care. This bird wasn’t dead. It was just massively injured. It would be her greatest challenge so far.
Calling for her inner light she focused all her will at the task. Death was an illusion! She could combat it and prevail. She would bring this little thing back from the gaping maw of the blackest abyss. There was no alternative. She found the ember of a spark within. Now just to sustain it, grow it bigger, feed it with her own might. The ember felt brighter. Kitia felt immeasurable joy. Then the next instant the light went out completely. The natural order was unforgiving. There were limits beyond which the nature would not bend. To ask for it would be to pervert the Way. The numbness overcame her. Then she spun around. This time she wasn’t sad. She was angry. She felt beyond angry. She was enraged. Her fingertips spew sparks.
What separates mankind from animals is a flimsy thing and so very easily forgotten. When faced by anything but the most mundane the primary reaction type is primal. The one called Tom moved his arm in a fast small spiral and then in a wide arc. The freed chain slammed to the side of Kitia’s head but by sheer luck only with a glancing blow. Nevertheless Kitia fell over.
This launched Andre into furious action. Fueled by an intoxicating cocktail of testosterone and adrenaline he ran from the water. All that echoed through his distraught mind was that Kitia was dead. Kitia! The loss was incredible. His sorrow and anguish were drowned only by his mad lust for vengeance. With a huge leap he was standing next to Tom. He wanted to hit that boy with all of his strength. His hand was already moving when he felt something building up quickly. It came from every fiber of his being but it was directed all of it concentrating in one spot in his body. The moving fist.
Andre felt the hit connect. He had always been on the skinny side and shorter than his sister for years. By all accounts his hit should have packed a punch but only to a degree. Tom went flying. He was flung from where he had stood in a low but long arc into the lake. Andrea noticed even in her state of mind that the body was twisted in sickeningly weird way. Even so she didn’t have the time to think any further of it as she waded towards the shore. The two remaining boys released their chains. Andre seemed somehow dazed and made no effort to dodge the incoming blow. There was a spray of red as he fell over. Andrea screamed.
The red haired boy who had struck her brother down nodded to the boy with a sleeveless vest who produced a gun from behind his back aiming at the unmoving Andre. Andrea dashed through the now shallow water towards him. A shot rang.
Andrea threw her hands forward reflexively. It was as if she was trying to catch the bullet but that was a foolish attempt at best. Too far, too slow and utterly inadequate. She knew it but she could not do anything else. She cared immensely about her brother and deep down knew it went both ways, despite him behaving recently like a complete git. She wanted to protect him in any and all ways both possible and necessary. She reached out even further, from within.
A shimmering green hue seemed to emanate from Andre. It encased him caressing his still form and then almost as if deciding the boy was safe it expanded violently. It caught the bullet in mid-air as an afterthought and kept going. It slammed against both boys standing near and knocked them off their feet. Redhead smacked against the tree and the vest wearing boy crashed through bushes.
Andrea’s knees buckled. She wobbled over to Andre and crouched over him. There was blood all over. Frantic panic started to kick in. She hurried to Kitia and embraced her. Kitia grunted and moved slightly. Andrea grabbed her and spoke in level but firm voice. ”Kitia, I have seen you make squirrels better when they have hurt themselves. Please help Andre. He’s bleeding. Lots”
Kitia more crawled than walked to Andre. The delicate balance she possessed was countered by a disturbing thundering inside her head that distracted her focus in a major way. Gently she placed her hands on Andre’s forehead and began to concentrate. She fell into a trance that was so deep she became oblivious to anything else around her. It was left for Andrea to stand vigil.
In a few minutes the three boys had left. Andrea just watched them go unwilling and perhaps incapable of stopping them. Besides, when she actively didn’t pay too much mind to them she could avoid thinking the numbers. Only three had left. She didn’t look at the lake. She just stared at Kitia hunched over the body of her brother and fought the growing nausea in her gut. He looked so restful. So much in peace. So dead.
The chilly breeze around the lake had turned cold. The last rays of daylight had gone and died. Under an oak tree sat three kids huddled together for warmth, safety and to not be completely alone in the world. They trembled every time a gush of night air blew past them. They clenched at each other tightly in complete silence. Bloodstained faces riddled with already dried tears were blank.
Now they were spent, muscles aching and flaring with pain for channeling the energies they were still unaccustomed of handling. Kitia was exhausted to the point of feeling thin, almost eerie. She took comfort from Andre being there. Andre was barely conscious. Andrea had her hands around them both shielding them against the terrible reality.
Arrays of red laser beams penetrated the dark. They swept over the children, the motorcycle tracks and the slight anomaly on the dead calm surface of the lake. Andrea flinched as one beam hit her eye for a fraction of a second. Something huge came to her and helped her to wrap a blanket around herself. Slowly she realized it was Nadia who was sporting a two meter high combat geared exo-skeleton with a retro-fitted jetpack. Battlestation protocols had been declared on the farm.
After they all were shielded for travel Nadia pulled them all close. The massive arms extended and wrapped around them multiple times. When they were secured Nadia launched upwards and homed towards the farm.
The morning light found them awake by the breakfast table. Andre had his head wrapped in bandages. He was nibbling on a toast a cup of tea losing its heat forgotten next to his elbow. Kitia had trouble holding an apple in her hands. They had been treated for light burns. Andrea had finished her porridge without noticing eating anything and was now swirling juice in her glass slowly around mesmerized by the liquid’s solemn motion.
The silence dragged on for the longest of time. Finally a disruption occurred to shatter the status quo. The door opened. A robot strode in. Slowly all heads turned to stare at it.
It was a clearly female build, the chassis had curves and bumps and the minute movements it made did a very good job of mimicking casual human demeanor. Height measured almost seven feet and the face, it was the Nadia face. The kids had seen Nadia in various special forms but it had always been with exo-skeletons. Now it was not the case.
Nadia cleared her throat which was a previously unseen feature and spoke in a tender tone. The ring of it carried a rich palette on nuances. ”Good morning children. I am ND-2 but you can keep calling me Nadia. This chassis a complete reconstruct with more advanced principles than the previous model and my intellectual and interactive capabilities have been greatly enhanced. I retain the memories of my predecessor so for all practical intents and purposes you can treat the personality continuity as unbroken.”
ND-2 swung her head from side to side slowly and changing the pace to fit the logical reasons of the movement. The silence threatened to spill on the side of uncomfortable as Andrea forced a question out. ”Where is ND-1?” ND-2 bowed her head in a sad manner and lowered the note of speech. ”I am afraid she is unavailable now and for the times to come.”
Kitia placed a half eaten apple on the table and gave form to the horrible uncertainty that was shared by her friends. ”What happened to us and how did we end up in the medical room? How did we get these injuries? I can’t remember. Why?” She kept a small pause and summed it up. ”What happened?”
The robot pulled a chair and sat down. Not very smoothly but still. ”Tell me children what do you remember of it? This is important. We have constructed a scenario describing a possible chain of events but it needs facts to be confirmed to be correct.”
This time it was Andre who spoke. He seemed the most anxious of them all to get the questions settled. ”I was in the water. There were some boys on the shore.” Then he kept a pause, struggling to bring some order to the chaos that was his mind. ”They had lasers. One of them flew. Over the lake. Kitia was angry. I-”, he paused again obviously scared of the truth and eyes watering up. He looked at Kitia with all the regret in the world gathered into his gaze. ”Did I hit you?” Kitia smiled warmly her own worries quenched for the moment. ”I’m sure you didn’t. You could never intentionally hurt me. And neither could I hurt you.” ND-2 tilted her head. ”And what do you remember?”
The apple found its way to her again and provided a nice distraction in her hands while she let her mind drift freely. ”Andre was injured. I helped him to connect to mother nature so he could heal.” Then she fell quiet and spoke nothing more. ND-2 kept her visual sensory arrays on her. ”Nothing else, nothing at all?”
”Death!”, exclaimed Kitia dropping the apple and burst into tears. There was a tight coil of fear and terror in the pit of her stomach that now had sprung open. She held her hands in front of her mouth and stared at ND-2 wide-eyed. ND-2 bowed her head. Hadn’t the dosage of memory scramblers been enough, after all?
Andrea reached with her hand laying it on Kitia’s arm, comforting her with physical proximity. ”I know. I mean, I actually don’t, but-”. ND-2 cut in having accessed the mission logs. ”Yes, there was a corpse of a little bird.” Kitia wailed but calmed down soon having depleted her grief for now.
The strain from trying to access the chemically buried memories was highly visible on Andrea’s frown. ND-2 observed her with indistinct interest allowing the girl to make her best effort. It was crucial to see how much she would recall as she was the only one without any great initial trauma. Then the expression of accomplishment gave way for that of defeat. ”There were some boys but I can’t remember what it was about.” Nadia let out an almost human sounding sigh. ”Four members of the Chain Gang from Andros City. Apparently they came to the lake to spend some time, ran across of you, for an unknown reason attacked you and then left the scene. Evidence points at highly aggravated state as their two motorcycles collided at high speed on the mountains and skidded out of the road. They were crushed, especially one on top of whom a vehicle landed.”
A fragment of innocence was swept away. They stood face to face with not only death but their own mortality. The siblings looked shocked. Kitia only nodded as she had worked on the subject for some time now but nonetheless it was a moment of revelation. ND-2 added a soothing tone, continuing her speech.
This had to be done in a fast manner. Keep their minds in disarray and let the fragmented memories coagulate with the fiction and subtle untruths. Now that their brains were again performing their duties the corrective measures taken by them would cement the confusion as facts and rationalize the discrepancies away. It was doubtful if the correct patterns would ever form again, even during sleep, and if so, it was years away.
”Each of you three display certain parahuman abilities. They manifested themselves last night which accounts for the mental shock and trauma you suffered along with the physical abuse. Now, those powers are something that we must now discuss. Your father has devised certain means that allow you to gain control and hone those powers. You must learn to channel your bodily energies at will in order to master the variety of capabilities now suddenly at your disposal. I think you all agree that for now these powers have to remain a secret from the wider population. Despite the frequency of superhuman depicted in news articles they are locally somewhat of a rarity and could lead to unfortunate backlash effects. This is why you will not be returning to your school for the time being. You will be tutored at home where it is safe.” Nadia turned her full attention to Kitia. ”While these plans primarily apply to master’s own progeny he is more than willing to extend this offer to include you as he has noticed your continuing companionship with his children. Do you accept?”
Her ears were simply ringing. She knew that given time she could go over the facts again, think them over and then form an opinion, but right now she was just overwhelmed. She grasped for meaningful points of view. No school. Stay close to Andre and Andrea. Stay close to Andre. She smiled cautiously. That was something she could understand. That was what she wanted. Flashing a nervous smile she replied. “I do.”
ND-2 rose up, put her hands on her hips and scanned around finally nodding in an approving manner. ”Good. Now, go out and relax. Empty your minds. We will start your training this afternoon. And, whatever you do, do not leave the farm. Under any circumstances.” Then she swung around and headed back into the inner house.
Having had enough of pretending to eat the children left the table and waded out. They settled down under an apple tree and looked warily at each other. They were all painfully aware of their lives having been altered irrevocably. Andrea sat gloomily hugging her knees. She closed her eyes and focused on breathing levelly just to ease the anxiety in her chest. Someone wrapped arms around her from behind.
Andrea rested her head against the arm and let out a sigh feeling marginally better already. She parted her eyelids slightly and saw Kitia sitting close by in front of her. Andre spoke softly as he kept his sister in his gentle hold. ”No need to worry sis. I’ll watch your back, always. No matter what happens I’ll be there for you. You’re not alone and you’ll never be.” Andrea contemplated briefly pulling free. Then she let go marked by a soundless sigh and leaned against her brother. She was so tired. Andre was the big brother. Let him carry the weight. For now. Maybe forever.
Kitia edged closer. She might be the most mature and experienced of them but right now she was just a young girl feeling terribly alone in a suddenly frightening world. Uncertain but thirsting for closeness she got next to Andrea. Kitia reached her hand and put it softly on Andre’s arm squeezing very lightly. Tightening his grasp around Andrea Andre reached with his hand and put it on Kitia’s hand. It was now the three of them, and them alone.
Dimly Andre more felt than knew that Andrea had saved him, rushed to his defense in a dangerous situation. Even if he had treated her so harshly and with contempt for months. It was a reminder that they were brother and sister no matter what happened or how bad it got. When it counted they would be there for each other and now he was going to see his sister safe no matter the cost. He knew that he had meant his promise.
His mind was still haunted by doubts. They gnawed and whispered unrelenting in their quest for inner chaos. Andre licked his lips and almost whispered. ”What do you think really happened there?” Slowly Kitia withdrew her hand. Andrea turned around while pulling away. They both stared at him and then lowered their gaze. It was, however, enough.
What Andre saw in their eyes reflected his state of mind. There were unspoken fears. Some deep terror that did not want to be discovered. He could not bring himself to recall the events from last night but he knew inside that there was something important he did not know. It was what was haunting him. But the reaction guarding against gaining that knowledge was rooted deep. A mechanism protecting his already fragile self. It was the same with the girls. Even a mere mention pushed them away. Talking about it or pursuing it even one bit further would risk blowing them apart.
An hour later they were still sitting under that same tree huddled closer together. Not in embrace, just barely enough for mental warmth, their need for companionship fulfilled. Pushed slightly apart by their now common history, bound together forever by ties that had formed the previous day. In the sky there were clouds gathered, blocking the sun.
From underneath the barn roof a small head took a suspicious peek. Baby swallows were learning to fly.
