photonicfighter | Chapter 4 - Can I Still See The Light?

[A - Action, downtown, mid-morning/afternoon]

[It's important for a housewife to go grocery shopping. The household had to eat, didn't it? Even the nanoceran-plated member of the family wasn't exempt. Dakki's heart really wasn't into it today, though. You might find her staring off into space and leaning on her cart, can in hand, lost in thought.]

[B - Action, Rec Center, afternoon]

[With her shopping done and safely tossed in nano-storage, Dakki is off to take care of the next part of her plans for the day. She had to take a look at that "Rec Center" that Quinn had told her about! she wanted to assess the size of the facilities, equipment, and just how she'd go about getting use of a big room for a few hours each week.

Fitness and self-defense classes need to be held somewhere. Preferably somewhere indoors. Wasn't winter coming? Putting it in her backyard wouldn't do.]

[C - Action, Closed to 458 Stone Street, evening]

[Supper tonight at the Gatt household was... not really supper at all. Dakki had left out a loaf of fresh sliced bread and fillings for sandwiches, and had announced a weak "serve yourselves", before retreating to the backyard.

She had unfolded a lawn chair and sunk back into it, staring bleakly up at the sky. Tonight was as good a night as any to get her mope on. Aurica had become so distant. This body was only continuing to fail her. For the first time in a long time, she was not an expert and did not know the absolute best thing to do. She didn't even know the worst thing to do. She was utterly at a loss... but not ready to admit it and seek help.

Sunset was nice. Even a fake sunset in an alien sky was something pretty to watch. She'd do that. Watch the sunset and wait for this to pass.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It does. I'm supposed to be more like Gat, you know. [While she pauses, she scratches Chen gently behind the ears.] Not... as bulky as he is. But the same kind of being. They changed me, too.

[She sighs.]

I don't know. I really don't. I'm ready to go home, now...

You're a CAST, too? But...if this town turned you human, then how come Gat's still shiny and made of metal? If he got his back, then you can get your body back too, right?

(Oh no, the scratching! It's going t-yup, purring kitty. It's a reflex of hers that she can't help. She could only wonder how everyone knew where behind her ears to scratch. It's not that obvious, is it?)

This town is a worst kind of illusion I've seen, but if Gat can be a CAST again, then it must be possible to beat it. I can't leave until I get my powers back, but when I do get them back, I'll use them to help you get yours.

It turned Gat human, too. But... the town sometimes gives you something back, after its been terrible enough to you. It gave him back his body. It just gave me back my.... [Did she really want to explain a Nano Transformer to Chen? No.] ...an item of mine.

[Oh, the purring is so nice. The ear-scratches continue, accompanied by a little bit of tickling under the chin.]

Maybe the town will give it back to me. Or maybe it never will, because it knows I want it. I... I don't know. Maybe you'll get yours back soon, too. You'd really help me? Thank you, Chen.

[She really means it. Her voice may be sad and tired, but yeah, she means it.]

(Good thing the explanation was saved; all it might've gotten Dakki was a mew of confusion. It's no offense to Dakki, but Chen's not exactly smart enough to understand that level of technology.)

So the town and everyone running it must love toying with all of us. Even if it has its way and gives us back tiny bits of ourselves to drive people insane, it'll all add up, won't it? Playing the town's game at least shows you have the need to break out; it wants people to give up and get brainwashed permanently.

I'll be fighting this town as much as I can, but it'll be easier if we all keep fighting it. Besides, you're probably stronger than I am; I can't handle drones or cook near as well as you can. It's times like these when everyone has to pull together, right?

(Though this is much more explaining and speaking than she's accustomed to, the ear scratching manages to keep her relaxed and speak so freely. All the while, she'll be nuzzling Dakki's hand and leaning against her chest, so it's not easy to say that this speech of hers is completely serious. Still, she means every word of it.)

The game isn't over until everyone stops playing, isn't it...?

[Maybe what they say is true. Maybe fuzzy kitties DO make things better. She's feeling much less hopeless, with an optimistic and cuddly new friend on her lap.]

We're a team. Ever since we woke up here, Gat and I, we've treated this household like a team. I'm glad to have you on our team, Chen! [There is a chin-tickle to punctuate that statement.]

...you really think my cooking is alright?

[So far, all that Dakki had mastered was toast, sandwiches, and pancakes. Everything else was highly variable, undercooked or overdone, and oddly seasoned. But if someone liked her efforts...]

Glad to be on the team!

(Now that Dakki's mood seemed to have picked up, Chen gave a tiny sigh of relief. It felt nice to be able to do for others what Ran was always able to do for her: provide comfort. Her tails sway lightly and flick a little for victory, all while she giggles from the tickling of her chin.)

Yes! No matter what you're preparing in the kitchen, you're always do your best to make it right. I was always told that the most important thing is to do your best!

The second most important thing is not to poison anyone...

[Dakki laughs. It's a joke. She has yet to put anyone up for a risk of food poisoning, but some of the things she has prepared were a little hard to swallow.

I'll keep trying my best.

[At everything. One failure should not be the end of her efforts, inside and outside the kitchen.]

Chapter 4 - Can I Still See The Light?

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