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| Chapter
1 |
Part 1: the news
She had been a part of this family for over
sixty years, both as a companion on difficult hunter
missions, and a best friend during those times, and the
peaceful times between quests when they settled into a
normal life. She was built as part of the first series
of female androids code named "RAcaseal", that series
called the "Rio" series. Most of her series had been
sent on Pioneer 1, as the active military force. Their
compliment was a series of HUcasts called "Tranthalas".
This RAcaseal was not sent on Pioneer 1, though, as it
was taken in by the BlackHawk family, to act as a
protector, guardian and confidant for the youngest son
of the family, Michael. She was given the name, "Maya".
She had served her function quite well. Her AI
system, after the first year of her activation, had been
upgraded, giving her human-like emotions. She began to
feel a closeness to the now 9 year-old Michael, as he
had for her. Instead of being child and guardian, Mike
and Maya had become best friends. She watched as the
human boy began sword training under "Great Sword" Zoke.
Watched as he became a man, married Lara Mano, and had a
family of his own. Now, she was also a good friend to
his children, Jessica, Rhiana, and Sera. She also
developed a close bond with another android that had
joined the family after the landing of Pioneer 2, the
prototype HUcast , "Galveris".
This day, Maya
activated from a full, un-eventful night on the
recharging station. Her normal morning diagnostic showed
no abnormalities, but the day was still young, and her
power grid was getting older by the second. The half
life of this system was past thirty years ago, and the
RAcaseal's frame, though upgraded, maintained and
repaired on a normal basis, had taken a great beating
over nearly forty years of being in the Hunter business
with her family.
"Do I tell them?" Maya asks
herself, "Do you think they need to know that my power
grid may fail at a moment's notice?" Her concern is not
shown on her metallic face. "I'll keep my diagnostic
system running, just to be sure."
She went about
her daily business, keeping up her collection of ranger
weapons, helping Lara and the girls with their usual
daily routines, and making sure that Galveris didn't
lose track of his power charge, and forget to get a
recharged power cell. The HUcast was the notice
something wrong with her.
"Is something wrong?"
Galveris asks of his companion.
"Oh, just the
usual," Maya tells him, "Not enough time in the day,
especially with Mike gone on that quest with Nakago, War
Child and Shin Gryph."
"It's more than that, Maya,"
Galveris adds, "You think I don't know how many years
you've been active on that grid of yours?"
"Don't
tell Lara or the girls," she pleads, "I don't think they
need to know just yet."
"You're wrong, Maya. They're
our family. They do care about you, and want to make
sure you're alright."
"I'll go see Dr. Montague
later today," Maya tells Galveris, "I'd appreciate if
you'd come too."
"What are friends for?" the HUcast
responds.
Later that afternoon, Maya lay inside an
examination scanner, while Dr. Montague runs a scan over
her systems.
"Maya, I don't know how to tell you
this," the FOnewm advises her, "But this power grid is
going to have to be replaced. It's on its last legs
already. Your external armor is also not doing too well,
all repairs, maintenance and upgrades aside. The old Rio
series is just not sturdy enough to sustain much more
damage than what you have over the years."
"Most of
my series are already dead," Maya tells him, "You know
when they left."
"Yes, Maya," Montague responds, "I
know you and Elenor are the only two Rio series androids
left. I'm having to completely overhaul Elenor soon,
too."
Galveris stands at Maya's side, hearing all
this. "I think we should have Mike recalled from the
quest, and tell the family everything," he suggests,
"Doctor, what are Maya's options?"
"Well,"
Montague thinks, "There are very few, actually. First,
you can just have your AI grid transferred to a new
android body. I'm working on some new android models
that might do the trick. That's how I'm going to
overhaul Elenor. Second, I could replace her outer
armor, and her internal systems, but there is no
guarantee that if that's done, her AI grid would be
saved to during that time. That sensitive of a repair
job is very tricky. I think you already know the third
option."
Galveris and Maya nod as they walk back to
the house. Galveris uses his internal uplink to the BEE
system to recall Mike back home.
It looks like Maya?s
running out of options. Her choices are few, but she
needs to make a decision quickly. What will she choose?
Only time will tell.
|
Chapter 2
|
The Crash
Over the next two
or three days, the android known as Maya spent her time
in quiet thought, going over the few options she had
before her. Watching over her, in his usual manner, was
her close friend, Galveris. The rest of the BlackHawk
family had been told of Maya?s situation, and had told
her that she has their full support in whatever has to
be done. As she stays close to the recharging station,
keeping an eye on her reserves, Maya goes over the new
body models that Montague gave her to look over.
"Galveris," she called, "Look at this design.
It's temporarily labeled caseal-X502."
"Elenor
showed me this one," the HUcast responded, "Apparently,
what Montague is working on with this model is a female
equivalent of my hunter design. Only this model is more
streamlined and stealthy than my frame. What's on your
mind?"
"Well, I was going over this model's specs,"
the RAcaseal answered, "And thought that maybe I could
get my core transferred into that body. It should work.
After all, I?ll be able to use the skills I learned from
watching Mike train under Zoke, and from watching Mike
train Jessica."
"Oh, I see. You watched two
generations of sword users coming up, and were able to
learn their technique by saving the image data to your
memory. It might just work."
Maya gives Galveris a
nod as the two make the necessary preparations for the
transfer.
The next day, Maya receives a
communication from Montague. She opens up the mail and
looks over the printed words..
Maya;
I am pleased that
you chose to have your core transferred into a new
frame. Your Rio series frame won?t withstand much more
punishment. I will be keeping in contact to keep tabs on
the status of your
current power core. I am working
on a caseal-X502 frame for you now. It should be
finished in a few
days. Take care. Dr. Jean-Carlo
Montague II.
"I don't know if
I'll last a few more days on this core," Maya thinks to
herself, "I'd better stay close to the recharging
station. If I don't, and lose power." Maya stops herself
in mid thought.
Lara catches up to the android.
"Maya," she begins, "If there's any way we can help you,
we will."
"I know, Lara," Maya answers, "I never
thought that I'd become obsolete, though." What looks
like a tear comes to the eyes of the RAcaseal.
"Maya," Lara BlackHawk tells her friend, "You're not
obsolete. You're the best friend I think I've ever had.
We know you're always here for us, and we'll be here for
you too." Lara then hugs the dimenuative android.
The next few days go by as one would expect.
While staying somewhat active, Maya continues to stay
close to the power station, hoping to keep her grid up
as much as possible. Jessica BlackHawk, the eldest of
the two children in the BlackHawk house, finds her
cleaning the photon charger in her Justy 23ST.
"Aunt
Maya," Jessie calls out, "There's a message from the
doctor for you."
"It must be about that new frame,"
Maya answers, "Tell Galveris. I'll want him to go with
me."
"Of course," Jessie replies as she runs off to
find the HUcast.
Maya looks over the message, in
quiet solitude. The news was favorable.
Maya
I've completed the
caseal X-502 body, and we are ready for the transfer.
I'll be at my lab waiting for you.
Dr.
Jean-Carlo Montague II.
"Welcome news indeed," she thinks as Galveris walks
into the room.
"It's ready?" he asks.
"And not a
moment too soon," Maya answers, "I think my grid is on
its last legs. I need to get there quickly. If I crash
on the way, carry me there. There should be enough time
to transfer my AI system to the new body before my
current grid goes."
"I understand," Galveris
replies, nodding, "Well, let's go."
The family waves
to Maya as she and her HUcast companion head off to
Montague?s laboratory in Yellowboze sector. The walk
does Maya quite a bit of good, helping to shake off the
nervousness of awaiting the transfer. Galveris was doing
his best to help in that respect too. She always did
feel a bond to this HUcast, and while no one ever knew
how this bond started, its existence was ever more
apparent. Keeping a close eye on her power grid?s
status, she starts to notice several messages showing up
in her optics.
Error:
Main Power grid function to cease in 15 beats
Error:
Secondary grid not
operational.
The light that usually filled her optics dimmed, and
suddenly went out as Maya started to collapse. Galveris
caught her and carried her the rest of the way to the
lab, as fast as he could.
Back at the BlackHawk
home, Mike and Lara had received a message from the
Hunter?s Guild. An emergency quest had been handed down
and they were suggested to receive the commission, due
to their track record in these types of assignments. The
pair got their weapons together, and headed down into
the mining complex.
Maya's life hangs in the
balance. If Galveris can get her to the lab in time, her
AI grid can be saved. Also, what will come of Mike and
Lara on this emergency quest of theirs? No one knows,
and only time will tell.
|
Chapter 3
|
Starting
Anew
It didn't take long
for Galveris, running at full speed, to reach the lab of
Dr. Jean Carlo Montague II. The HUcast raced through the
door, as it opened automatically. Montague and his
assistant, the RAcaseal Elenor 2, met him at the door.
"She crashed on the way here?" Montague asked,
"There may still be time to save her. Take her to the
lab and we'll begin the transfer process." Galveris nods
and makes his way to the lab, where the caseal X-502
body is waiting on a table beside an empty one. The
android lies Maya down as Montague gets to work.
Elsewhere, in the forests of Ragol, Mike and
Lara BlackHawk were joined by their daughters, Jessica
and Rhiana, on their emergency quest. They were to
search for the remnants of the A.D.S.S.F., who were
thought to have been destroyed in battle by the
BlackHawks, Mortimer Kirk, Severance 7, and BWS-1 just 2
years ago. Apparently, several of the androids had
escaped and were now causing trouble again.
"So
they?re supposedly out here in the forest?" Rhiana
asked, "Doesn't seem very practical for a bunch of
androids to be based out here in the forest, unless
they're in the old central dome from Pioneer 1."
"That's what the guild thinks too," Lara answered,
"Our quest is to check it out. If we find the
A.D.S.S.F., we're to destroy them, and report our
findings back to the hunter's guild, and to Tyrell."
"How does he stay in office," Jessica wondered out
loud, "as incompetent as he is. Every time he screwed
up, it's been the hunters to save his tail."
"Public
opinion, Jessie," Mike told her, "When your tenure is
decided by a poll of public opinion, you can stay in
office as long as you want, if you keep the masses
happy."
"There's the central dome," Lara said,
pointing, "get ready."
Back at Montague's lab,
Maya's AI grids and other necessary systems were kept
alive and powered by an external power supply, while the
transfer of her AI systems to the new body was taking
place. Galveris watched over her, making sure to keep an
eye on the transfer process, to see how it was coming
along. So far, about half of her system information has
been transferred, including her memory.
At the
Central Dome of Pioneer 1, the BlackHawk family did
their best to not alert the A.D.S.S.F. to their presence
in the compound. Peering around the corner, Mike
motioned for Lara to take Rhiana and take the point,
while he and Jessica backed them up. The family moved
quickly through the central dome, avoiding capture at
each corner, until they reached the room which served as
the dome's command center.
"Transfer 75%
complete," Elenor Mk. II remarked as she watched the
status display, "At this rate, we should be able to save
Maya."
"I hope so," Galveris told his friend, "I
have a bad feeling about this quest of Mike and Lara's."
"Is something wrong?" Montague asked.
"Mike,
Lara and the girls went on an emergency quest," the
HUcast answered, "Apparently, several members of the
A.D.S.S.F. survived, and are starting to cause trouble
again. They were sent to deal with it."
"I see," the
doctor commented, "Then let's keep our fingers crossed."
"Computers operational," Jessica told her
father, "Apparently, they've modified the dome's systems
to act as a new A.D.S.S.F. base. Master may not be
alive, but you can tell that he wrote this programming."
"Just activate the dome's self destruct and let's
get out of here," Mike told his daughter, "Set a
telepipe for the house and we'll be gone before this
place blows."
"Uh, Dad," Rhiana began, "I don?t
think we have that much time. Look behind us."
The
HUmar swordsman looked behind him to see a large group
of black androids closing in fast, weapons at the ready.
He and his family wielded their own weaponry, ready to
defend themselves. Rhiana, began casting protective
techniques, all the while sending a message to Galveris,
calling for help.
"Incoming BEE message,"
Galveris thought out loud, "They're in trouble, at
Pioneer 1's Central dome. Is Maya ready?"
"We're
ready to reactivate her," Montague told his creation,
"Her power grid is somewhat similar to your friend,
Severance 7's, so it shouldn't run out like the one on
her old frame." The genius FOnewm flipped a switch on
Maya's neck and her eyes flashed to life.
Initializing systems: OK
AI system: Operational
Main power Status: OK
Memory load: Complete
All systems:
operational.
Maya sat up,
looking around. She looked at the empty RAcaseal frame
beside her, then over to the HUcast at her side. "It
worked," she said in a new voice, a soprano, "I've been
loaded into the new body."
"Yes," Galveris told his
best friend, "And not a moment too soon. Mike and the
others are in trouble, at Pioneer 2's Central dome. The
remnants of the A.D.S.S.F. have set up a new base
there."
"Then we've got to get there quickly," Maya
noted, "Time is running out. Do you have a weapon I can
use?"
"Only Lara's old S-Beat blades," the HUcast
mentioned, "I couldn?t get a saber or katana for you,
since Mike and Jessica took them with them."
"It's
ok. The S-Beats will work fine. Just get us a telepipe
to the central dome."
Galveris dropped a telepipe,
which took him and Maya to the dome. They stepped from
the teleportation device to find a group of black
androids defending a doorway.
"Time to test this new
body," Maya thought as she rushed the black droids. She
slashed the two in half with the blades in the time it
took her to think up the attack.
"Impressive,"
Galveris told her, "Looks like you'll take to being a
hunter quite well." The two androids quickly made their
way to the central computer room.
"We're not
going to last much longer under this attack," Lara told
her husband, "The girls have just about reached their
limits, and I can't hold these guys off forever."
"I
know," Mike commented, "These androids just keep coming.
They must be mass producing them lower in the dome." Not
long after that comment, Mike and Lara are overwhelmed
by the assault of the androids. Just as a black HUcast
is about to deliver a death blow to Mike's head, a flash
rushes by and slices off the android's arm, then slices
it into 5 other smaller pieces. Several other androids
seem to fall apart just as quickly.
Lara looks up to
see the androids falling to some unseen power. She then
notices that an android is causing this, an unknown
female android, at that. The android then stops over
Jessica and speaks to the A.D.S.S.F. Lara notices she's
carrying a pair of S-Beat blades
"You're not
touching these people," the female android tells her
opponents, ?Not while I'm operational." The android then
is joined by Galveris, with his Soul Banish, which
slashed through a good number of black androids.
"Maya?" Lara asked, "That's you?"
"It is," The
female android answers, "I got a new lease on life with
this new frame."
"Leave these guys to us," the blue
HUcast told his human and newman friends, "We've got
more than enough power to stop them. Jessie, just get
ready to set that self destruct. We?ll cover you.
Rhiana, a Ryuker back home would be helpful."
The
two girls nod as Galveris and Maya lunge into combat
again. Jessica then starts the Self Destruct sequence,
setting it for only a few minutes, just long enough for
her family, Galveris and Maya to escape. Rhiana then
cast Ryuker, setting a teleportation circle for their
home. The whole family escapes through the teleport
circle, which disappears as soon as Galveris and Maya
are through.
A few days later, Maya receives
another message from Montague, whch read:
Maya, I'm glad your transfer
was a smashing success. Do take care of yourself,
Galveris and your family. I will keep in touch. Also,
another bit of good news. I have decided to name the
Caseal X-502 series of android, the Rio II
series, in honor of you and your original Rio
series.
Maya just smiled a
bit, and went on about her daily routine. Her new life
has just begun. She may have a new frame, but
thankfully, she's still the same old Maya.
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