Maverick

Five Years

It has been five years since hell broke loose in Abel City. Sigma, not long after the death of Dr Yoshiya Cain, went Maverick and orchestrated the most obscene breach in Reploid history- and we have only been active for a year at the time. Humans are now wary to trust us- but there are still some who would trust Reploids with their lives. But there is another problem than the ones that Sigma has a control over- something that they call the Maverick Virus. Not exactly deadly in a classical sense, but it goes about a Reploid like naegleria fowleri in humans with the results being just as horrifying. Contrary to popular belief after the death of Yoshiya Cain, this virus is not able to infect humans- only Reploids.... or... anything inorganic. I have heard that it can spread to a robotic appendage in a human, but it is nothing I would discuss around Alia for some rather... grotesque (and therefore obvious) reasons.

It's... it's also been about five years since I first met Alia. Today was the exact day, actually. I've discussed this with Nana before, and we both agree it's time to tell Alia the truth. Or the truth that we know, for the most part. She does age- but she is not human... however, I'm not entirely sure if she should be placed under the definition of 'Reploid' either. My 'daughter' is a walking paradox, and the more I learn about her, the more paradoxical she seems to become. Alia is...

I must do all that I can to protect her because this... creature is truly a marvel to behold...

. . .

“Are we going to make magnesium based fireworks again this year? That was so cool! I bet they saw them all the way in Abel City!”

“You don't even know where we're going.”

“So we are going to make them!”

“I did not say that...”

Gate had to hand it to the young Reploid- she sure didn't know when to shut up. Although he had found her five years ago to the date when she appeared to be a common three year old human, she stood high enough to stare straight at his chest when he measured her every week. He figured, cognitively, she must have been in her early teen years by now- not only because that was how she acted, it was also how she looked. The reason behind this blew Gate's mind, and he hoped it would amaze her too when he told her. But they had to do something first...

When they were close to their destination, Gate covered Alia's eyes with his hands with no warning beforehand.

“Hey!” Alia said in surprise as she stretched her arms out to feel where she was going.

“Where we're going is a surprise- you don't want to ruin it, do you?”

Alia folded her arms in an act of pouting, but her mouth was stretched to a smile.

“Fine.” she agreed, pretending to be angry.

After some careful navigating, Gate led Alia to their destination safely before he uncovered her eyes. At first, Alia thought she should be happy- but her real reaction was mixed. Gate had led her to a house that was half way crumbled and by no means livable. Gate looked at her expression and felt a bit disappointed that she did not see the potential inside the old home.

“Anything you find, you can keep.” Gate hold her.

“You're kidding.” Alia said, still unsure of how to react.

“Anything you find, you can keep.” Gate repeated. “I even chose a spot for you to pick at too.”

“So you've been here before?” Alia asked as she started to follow Gate.

“About five years ago, give or take.” Gate agreed.

Alia nodded to show that she understood as her artificial mind drew conclusions from past experiences. Seeing her make this thought process made Gate beam even more. Taking her by the hand, Gate led her to the side of the old home and carefully pried open a pair of bilco doors then descending into the basement. Gate got out a flashlight and gave it to Alia, then got another flashlight for himself.

“This place...” Alia said uncertainly, “I... I know this place...”

Gate looked at her and smiled before walking to something in a corner of the basement.

“Come here for a moment.” Gate told her, motioning for her to come closer to where he stood. Without being told twice, Alia came over and stared at what Gate wanted to show her.

“It's...” she started to say, but the words were lost in thought.

“This is the capsule we found you in five years ago.” Gate told her, running his hand over the status pod carefully. Alia looked at him, then she looked at the capsule. Out of curiosity, she got closer to it and started to sit on it. Gate watched on with interest as Alia found that she could not fit if she laid down.

“There's no way you found me in that thing- it's too small.” Alia concluded as she got up again.

“We did, because you were a lot smaller when we first found you.” Gate said, his smile growing wider with anticipation. Alia looked at him as if he were high and speaking nonsense. In a way, she was beginning to think he was.

“Alia, you are a Reploid that can age.” Gate finally said. Alia shook her head in disbelief, but Gate took her shoulders and squeezed them.

“Alia, you have a brain that is able to absorb information and store it- the more information your brain stores, the more it grows. When your brain grows, it forms connections to the rest of your body allowing it to grow as well. You are aging as you learn more about the world- you are the only Reploid in existence to do so. You are invaluable.”

Alia looked at Gate in the eye and only became more uncomfortable the longer she looked at him. She wanted to take a step back- but he was holding onto too tightly.

“You... you're hurting me.” she finally said. Upon her saying this, Gate realized that he was holding her a bit too tightly and let go of her. Alia backed away from him- a certain look of new found fear nearly made Gate's heart break into two.

“Would you like to explore the area a little before we leave?” Gate asked her softly. Alia did not say anything- but she nodded as she gave a weak little smile.