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

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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.]

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[Gat shakes his head in response to Dakki's introspection, but her question distracts him from responding to it. Instead, he glances at his hand. The bite marks where her teeth broke through the nanocarbon bodysuit are still there, but it looks like the pale white synthetic flesh underneath has mostly healed.]

Seems like it's doin' fine. If I got any of that virus in my system it probably disappeared with th' rest of th' outbreak.

[That's what he hopes, at least. He'd hate to find out that he's become a carrier for the infection otherwise.]

... Wonder if I should see about gettin' that confirmed at th' hospital, jus' in case.

You might just get a normal infection, if something gets in it. I...

[She bit his hand and tried to eat him. The memory of the taste was coming back to her, very much unbidden and unwanted. Her nose wrinkles, and her fingertips drag lightly across his hand as her hand curls into a fist. Then it drops into her lap.]

...bit pretty deeply.

[~~At least Dakki doesn't have the digestive system of a Partner Machine.~~]

... Listen, Dakki. You can't beat yourself up over what happened. That kinda thing ... even with all we've experienced on Ragol an' in Gurhal, we ain't never come across somethin' so vicious that it subsumes folks at th' slightest touch.

[At least, not until PSU Episode 2's end, that is.]

Jus' about anybody tryin' to take those on in a hand-to-hand fight prolly wound up th' same way. You weren't in th' wrong for fightin' th' way you knew best. We had no idea what that outbreak could do.

[It's an awkward approach to consoling someone, but Gat is looking at the facts of the situation.]

[CASTs can appreciate facts. It's not a bad tactic. Still, Dakki is resisting comfort.]

I've been set on fire by half a dozen varieties of giant lizard. I've been smashed into the ground by too many creatures to count. I have been electrocuted by Canadines and Ghoma-whatevers and Grinna Betes. I have been so badly damaged that I have had almost all of my original parts replaced.

[Her fists are clenched so tightly that her knuckles are white and her arms are shaking with the tension.]

And after that rebuild? After thinking back on it? "At least I didn't wind up like Rico. At least I have that."

[Is that a laugh, or is she crying?]

[... Ouch. That certainly makes Gat recall the stories he'd heard from other Hunters who crossed worlds, the ones who confronted Dark Falz themselves. What they saw of Rico ... was not pretty.]

[Gat gently squeezes Dakki's shoulder in consolation. He can't find the words that might comfort her, so the most he can do is just be there for her.]

[Whether it's laughing or crying, that moment of intense, shaking emotion passes quickly. Her fists unclench. She actually... relaxes, somewhat, leaning towards Gat.

Then she tips her head to look up at him. Her eyes are rimmed with red.]

...it's not really about me. If I fail myself, I only hurt myself. I hurt you.

I hurt Aurica. She... she hasn't been right.

[Gat sounds solemn.]

... Yeah. She ain't been treatin' us th' same ever since.

[He might not be finding the right words to ease Dakki's anguish, but it's pretty clear from his body language that he's feeling sympathy.]

We're all going to need to talk. None of us have, since we came back.

[She sighs deeply and closes her eyes, head still tilted back.]

How long can we keep this up for?

[While Dakki's saying that the "family" needs to have a talk, Gat nods and briefly, making a brief "Mmm" of assent—and when she asks how long they can withstand Mayfield's antics:]

For as long as we need to. We can't let this town break us. It's like you tol' me a while back—we've done this dance before.

I'm not sure that this is the same dance.

[There's a hint of a smile on her face, but it's a bitter one.]

It may be a new world, and there may be new bodies to adjust to... but isn't a fair simulation. We're going to have to learn to dance a lot faster.

And right now? My feet hurt.

[Gat chuckles some, trying to follow on Dakki's slight smile.]

Well, I ain't much of a masseur ...

It's a metaphor.

[Still, now he has her laughing! None of that funny emotionally-held-back stuff from before. She relaxes, hangs her head, and sighs deeply.]

I'll be alright. I think I feel a little better. It'll all work itself out.

[Gat nods in affirmation. All they can do is brave the next thing Mayfield throws, and not let it break them. ~~At least they have a talking cat for therapeutic purposes now.~~]

There anything you need?

[~~The talking cat is pretty damn theraputic.~~ Dakki shakes her head.]

No. I'm fine. I'll make something more ambitious for supper tomorrow night. Alright?

[Gat nods, but he says something else:]

Don't think you gotta shoulder that burden all by yourself. We still got th' drone here, an' you've got Aurica an' me to help with cookin'.

You don't gotta act like a Partner Machine.

[A funny look passes over Dakki's face. Gat is offering to help cook, too?

Why had she considered that so impossible? Or at least non-optimal?]

...maybe we should make a rotation of who cooks dinner each night.

[She smiles at that, the odd look still on her face. Were her core CASEAL processes so... so stereotypically feminine, that's why she had been charging headlong at the "housewife" thing despite complaining all the while?]

I'd make a lousy Partner Machine. Hah, I don't have the appetite.

[Gat gives a nod.]

Though I'd have to learn how to cook in th' first place. Them sandwiches don't look too hard, but other things—ya'll'd have to teach me.

Isn't there a saying? The blind leading the blind?

[Dakki's laughter is very genuine now. And she... gasp... actually gets up from her seat, to properly face Gat.]

Tomorrow night, then. Let's make supper together tomorrow night. We'll pick something from the books, and try it.

[She laughs again. And then, impulsively, with relief, she gives Gat a hug, holding tightly.]

[Gat chuckles slightly in response to Dakki's own joke. Then, when Dakki gets up to look at Gat, he'll nod.]

Sounds like a plan to me.

[He returns Dakki's hug, as gently as he'd done with Aurica the day he got his body back.]

[She holds the hug for almost a minute, letting the last of that tension leave her. How'd she get so lucky to wind up with a clear-headed friend like him?]

Thank you, Gat...

[The hug is finally broken off with a little sigh.]

...I'd like to keep watching the sunset.

[Gat nods a bit, though his voice is still as gentle as it has been.]

Weren't no thing, Dakki.

[Gat glances up toward the sunset, before looking over to Dakki.]

If'n you need anythin', you be sure to let me know, alright?

Yeah. I'll let you know, Gat. I mean it.

[This whole effort was a team thing! He was as much a part of the team as the rest of them! She should think of it like that from now on.]

I'll be in later, don't worry.

[Gat nods again. He better go check up on Aurica and Chen, so, unless Dakki has something else she wants to say, he'll head on back into the house.]

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Chapter 4 - Can I Still See The Light?

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