#end chapter 1

Hearing that Snow was having a hard time, Lara came to visit her mother, giving her comfort in her grief. She was also there just in time to celebrate Zach's birthday.

A few days later it was Vincent's birthday, he grew into a fine handsome young man and was eager to head out to make his own way. He gave Cinderella a last hug, he would miss his sister. Then he was off.

Original work

Subject: Space, Space family, Conflict introduction

Word Count: 469

Author’s Note: This is the last part of Chapter one for Metal! If you like it or have questions please let me know by reblogging or coming into my ask box and saying so!! I do hope to keep up with this more, so if you want to know when it’s updated again, let me know if you want to be added to the tag list! Thanks again for reading!

As soon as Charlotte got off the public transit she fast walked to the apartment she and her brother shared and rushed to her room. She had been given a project by Tom, and was eager to work on it. She had just shoved on her gloves and picked up her probe when Chris called from the living room.

“ Hey Char, could you come here?”

“ Little busy Chris, can it wait?”

“ It’s important.” Charlotte groaned. Chris was always getting invited to ‘important’ government parties, and Charlotte dreaded the day when she would have to attend another ladies’ tea. Nevertheless, she pushed herself away from her desk and trudged into the living room.

She found Chris massaging his temples, and immediately became remorseful. She knew that rubbing elbows with the government was hard for him too.

“ What’s wrong?” She asked, giving him a concerned look as she crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. Chris took a deep breath, not meeting Charlotte’s eyes as he answered.

“They want - they want to vacate Metal.”

“The government? They can govern from another ship, right? That’s not that big of a -” Chris held up his hand to stop her.

“As far as I understand,” he said slowly, measuring his words as if he were still processing them. “They intend to move everyone off the ship. They start making trips tomorrow for those who are ready.” A myriad of questions tumbled into Charlotte’s mind, but she made the most important get in line.

“Where are we going?”

“The new ship is called The Allegiance.”

“How long have they been planning this?”

“Two to three years now.” Chris sighed, sinking deeper into his chair. Charlotte nodded, ruminating on the information.

“We leave when everyone is off, including the crew.” Chris added. Charlotte exhaled slowly before saying,

“ I don’t like it. Metal was the first, the fleet’s pride and joy, our first home. Why would they just leave it?” Chris shrugged.

“ I don’t know Char. I don’t know. Hardware is harder to fix than software. She might be falling apart. Either way, I’m addressing everyone about it tomorrow so they know.” Charlotte chewed her lip, but finally nodded.

“Alright. Not saying I like it, but fine. I’ll start packing.” As she turned to leave the room, one more question popped into her head.

“What exactly do they plan to do with Metal once everybody moves? What happens to the software?” Chris just shook his head.

“ I don’t know, but I expect they plan to scrap it. Allegiance probably has its own AI.” Charlotte narrowed her eyes, but nodded at Chris before stomping back into her room. She heard Chris sigh as she closed her door; he could always tell when she was frustrated. Damn sibling super-sense.

But to scrap Metal’s software?

Over her dead body.

Mineko rải bước trên một con đường lạ. Trời đang vào tiết hoa anh đào nở, cô nhớ lại câu nói của một người từng nói với mình: Mineko luôn cho chị cảm giác như mình đang ngắm những cánh hoa anh đào rơi phảng phất trong gió. Khung cảnh đó thật khiến cho người ta phải vỡ oà lên thổn thức, đẹp đến ngưỡng mộ, nhưng cũng để lại những sự nuối tiếc khôn nguôi. Mineko hỏỉ lại người ấy, tại sao lại tiếc nuối? Hama đáp, bởi cảnh tượng đó xảy ra rất nhanh, chỉ đến và đi trong chớp mắt mà thôi…

Cho đến bây giờ, Mineko vẫn chưa thể hiểu được tại sao Hama lại có cảm giác như vậy với cô, tại sao cô lại giống cái cảnh tượng đẹp dịu dàng đến ngỡ ngàng đó. Mineko rải bước thong dong mong chờ một cơn gió bất chợt, đủ mạnh để được tận mắt chứng kiến cái cảnh tượng trong mơ, cho lần đầu tiên trong đời này.

.

Some of the students in the halls buzzed with excitement and gossip as they all rushed off in the direction of the auditorium. Peko felt a sickening pang in the pit of her stomach as she got closer and closer to her destination in the sea of students. There was such a crowd that she could not locate the young master at all... she certainly hoped he was doing as he was told. She wasn't quite sure why... but something seemed awfully strange about that announcement. Call it intuition, perhaps... But with the strange occurrences lately and the sound of the headmaster's voice over the intercom. This wasn't something to be giggling and gossiping about. 

She clenched and unclenched her fists in attempt to soothe her unease, pausing in the area in front of the auditorium. She sent her ruby pair of eyes over the crowd, skimming the faces for her young master. She wanted to discuss this with him... she wanted to make sure he'd be safe, no matter what happened inside.

"Hey four-eyes, why don't you move along now?"

"What the hell's your problem, don't stop in the middle of the hallway!"

It was only when she was shoved roughly and cussed at a few times before she complied with the growing crowd of students and started to amble into the auditorium. She meandered through all of the students already gathered, searching blindly. Alarm bells were going off in her head and a cold sweat began to break out on her forehead. Some people asked her if she was feeling sick as she passed, but she ignored them. These people didn't matter. They didn't matter at all. There was only one person she wanted to have by her side right now, and she couldn't find him. 

And then... a chloroform-like scent engulfed the room. There were a few gasps. Peko immediately held her breath, on instinct. She knew this scent rather well... having been taken captive a few times when she was young. She only had time to watch the other students around her dropping like flies before she herself collapsed to the ground along with them. No time to even grab the shinai on her back...

Useless... Should've investigated more, should've known...

You are to be your young master's sword, his possession. You are bound to take the lives he wishes to be taken, to be his shield. Before you are a human being, you are a tool. That is the sole purpose of your existence--

The words she'd heard repeated over and over again since birth droned through her head like a mantra. Not a person. A tool... a tool... a tool is a thing, a thing that cannot afford to experience fear. Swallow your fear, focus. 

Darkness. Peko couldn't stop the light whimper that escaped her lips, her hand reaching up to her throbbing forehead. So dark... that she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. Her glasses weren't there... she patted the ground around her and found them quickly. But even with the lenses over her eyes, she still couldn't see. She couldn't see anything. She refused to speak or make her presence known, lying where she was, unmoving. She felt heavy with defeat and exhaustion, her head throbbing and her eyes threatening to close once again. 

So with what strength she had left, she listened. Listened for one voice that she knew so well. 

Bocchan...

Let Porter, Porter Robinson that is, open the gate and take your baggage.

With the hassle of the daily skies

Why lie instead of pass the passerby?

Nearby lets alight the fire sprite.

Spit up the spitfire, for your mouth burns my friends.

Smile and ask why, which depends

Not on your fire. Do you not ever tire? 

Passion yes, but with a seductive crier

The electric lights of the nearby wire

Is far more feeling and appealing than

your spite, you liar! What right

Do you have to imbue upon me?

Is it love? Or can you even see

That the beauty nearby makes us surely sigh?

For asking why a passerby passes by

Is like asking the stone of heart to feel