File 2.9 - Broken Family

On a highway tube from the airport, some of the crew of the Niphliheim rode into town. Shizuka sat in the front seat with Sheila driving. Behind them Captain Fin and Edgar sat in the back seats. They borrowed a rental car rather than taking the truck for a couple of reasons, making a good impression being the top one.

Out of the window Shizuka saw the array of domed districts that made up Antarctica City. The newer and larger domes crowded out the older districts near the center. Numerous highways stretched out to wind between the domes connecting travel. Some sealed off while others left to the open environment. However, the open air highways usually ended up used less and restricted to specific types of vehicles. While inside the tube highway she watched the snow blow over the transparent material. ‘It’s been six years and the place hasn’t changed a bit… It’s all so…stagnant…’

Their destination came up quickly in one of the outer domes. The H.O.P.E. Organization held the entire dome for their research and military base. Large buildings spread across the surface as well as a housing complex for the employees and soldiers. The east edge of the dome held several runways that had special exits in the dome built for them.

Passage into the dome came smoothly for them and directed towards the military complex. The building marked out on the map that Sheila kept referencing came quickly upon them. Shizuka felt the developing unease in her stomach knowing she soon had to face her father. She never said goodbye to him when she left. It made her wonder how he would react seeing her. A bit of hope that he would be a normal father and be relieved dwelled in her still. ‘…father…’

“Looks like the place!” Sheila declared upon stopping the car. Captain Fin and Edgar stepped out of the car taking in the view of a very large building with thick gates that ran up the entire length of the side of the building. It had an exit out into a road making it seem more like a hangar than the standard building around the base. Sheila looked over at Shizuka detecting the apprehension. “Time to go. Can’t keep puttin’ it off!”

“…yeah…” Shizuka opened the door and searched around the area for anyone that might be meeting them. She seemed about to give up when doors from the building in front of them opened revealing two figures.

Fin and Sheila escorted Shizuka out to meet with the approaching people while Edgar stuck by the car. As they closed distance the two individuals became a man and woman appearing to be about in their thirties. The man wore a suit while the woman dressed in a white lab coat covering up her skirt and blouse. She kept her blonde hair tied up leaving only a few strains of hair to fall against her face. Sheila motioned over to Shizuka to stand in front of them.

Captain Fin carefully scrutinized them as they came to a stop a meter away. “Where’s the doc? I thought we were supposed to be meetin’ him for the exchange?”

“Dr. Kitawara is inside. He sent me to handle your payment.”

“I see.” He glanced over at Sheila, picking up her attention quickly. “Ya stay with the girl until I confirm the payment.”

The man lifted his hand up to deny him. “I’m afraid no unauthorized personnel are allowed inside.”

Fin and the man in the suit stared at each other. They measured off their opponent, determining the seriousness of the other. But the woman stepped up between them. “Is the teenage boy by the car with you?”

“Yes?”

“He may enter. If that works for you.”

“Huh?” Sheila and Fin said, staring back at Edgar. They knew less of what was going on than they realized. It made them a little suspicious. Fin motioned over for Ed deciding that if they wanted the money it was their only option. A military base surrounded them with armed guards everywhere. They didn’t have much room to maneuver. “Yer goin’ with the girl, Ed. Don’t let her out of yer sight until I confirm the payment. Alright?”

“What?! Why me?”

“Didn’t I say she was yer responsibility?!”

“…fine…” Ed looked over at Shizuka, annoyed that he still had to escort her around even after giving her over. He didn’t like having to waste time with her knowing that he had to finish matters with the Niph before leaving. His last mission lasted far longer than he wished.

The man escorted Sheila and Fin off to a separate building while the woman smiled politely at the two of them. “Hello Shizuka!” the woman greeted. She leaned over and bent down to meet her at eye level. “You probably don’t remember me, but I was a friend of your mother’s. I’m Karen Stein!”

“…hi…” Shizuka didn’t like the way that she acted familiar with her. The name seemed a little familiar to her, but it felt like the woman treated her like a child. She turned her head to look forward to the large building.

Karen gave a bit of a perplexed expression to the reaction that Shizuka gave her. She tried a more cheerful voice than before. “You don’t have to be shy, Shizuka. Everything’s alright!”

A cross expression came over Shizuka when she glared back at Karen. “Just because you introduce yourself as a friend of my mother doesn’t put us on friendly terms. You’re my mother’s friend, not mine.”

The woman pulled back realizing how unwelcome her presence was for Shizuka. She hid her confusion at the response and started to escort them to the building. “I’ll take you to your father inside.”

Ed stayed close to Shizuka following behind the woman a safe enough distance to keep her from hearing him talk. He tilted his head over to Shizuka to whisper towards her. “Do ya have to bite everyones ‘ead off?”

Shizuka narrowed her features a little seeing that Ed didn’t understand anything. “When you get kidnapped, tell me how you’d act towards the people that ordered it.”

“It’s not kidnappin’ if it’s your father!”

“It’s against my will. So yes it is!”

“Whatever…”

Once they entered the building it became evident to them that the building was a hangar. The entire structure ran for more than thirty meters high and expanded well beyond. The interior was massive to behold with machines attached to the ceiling for lifting and machinery work. Up against the far wall stood two giants that made all of the people working around at their feet seem like children. No one came up past the height of the top of the foot.

As Shizuka stared closer in confusion she realized that robots stood before her. Much of the metal frame remained exposed with only a little metal plating covering up legs and arms. The robots appeared to look almost human from what she saw. “What’s all of this?”

“The prototype ARMs AESIR Freya and Od,” a familiar voice declared from a distance. The man stepped out from the shadows of the machines and approached Shizuka. He glanced down at her quickly and over to Ed.

Shizuka felt her arms shaking a little as she fought to control her emotions. She didn’t expect to see him in such a place or so suddenly. She wasn’t prepared for it. “…father…”

Kitawara turned back to gaze with a pleased expression upon the two ARMs. He stretched out his arms pointing at the machines specifically. “These will be yours. You’ll pilot Freya, Shizuka and Edgar Dubois the Od is yours.”

“What?!” yelled Shizuka and Ed, together before looking at each other. They glanced at each other quickly. The expressions on their faces changed as they realized the meaning of her father’s words.