Bang Boom Zish! - Underground Lab!

A lovely and large mansion, appearing to belong to some rich family - at least such was what anyone who saw it would think. Not a blip on a military radar, not a peep from a pesquisa, and certainly not a spot on a shinigami sensor in 12th division or out of it. The owner was smarter than that, and had certainly been an interesting inventor enough to hide the place from anyone looking for anything that would be out of the ordinary to begin with. The upperground held a lovely and large garden, with an equally large house that housed many...'abnormal' humans capable of seeing strange sights without truly being crazy. A beautiful sight to someone who'd only just arrived - seeing as she'd had to dash off before showing up some odd days ago. But a place where she wasn't so different....not the time for it.

A wine red dinosaur landed in the back of the mansion, eyes glowing bright jeweled jade as it searched the area over and found what it wanted: the back door. One person slid off his back, walking next to him as they headed into the mansion from the back. On his back was one of the first people either could claim as a 'friend' but both were worried over recent events and the seeming change in her condition into a more weakened state. A conveniently hidden elevator behind an expansive, hanging cloth allowed them to go down without using the spiral staircase located and hidden behind a large striking tiger statue.

Few minutes later found the doors opening into quite the stocked lower basement: stocked with technology that is. The equipment varied in use and the girl next to the dinosaur's eyes glowed as mentally she connected to each machine and not only turned them on, but was discovering the purpose of each and every one. Some were research based, some for data and records holding, and some others were based on medical needs. Some refused to turn on due to electrical problems or some shortages or damange but any and all scrapped machines had been shoved off to sit near a corner.

The dinosaur ambled towards an examination table and the girl helped to move the second girl to lay down on it, complete with a pillow for her head, "Just relax a bit Pakse...I'll try and get you looked over and make sure everything's all right." A large screen was the last thing to boot up and helped to illuminate the room with its glow as applications, links to the other machines, and files that were unlock able only through passwords, hacking, or her own abilities. Above the table a machine lowered and began a full body scan and immediately a program popped up on the screen and the girl's eyes flowed swiftly over the data presented.

"What's going on with you Pakse?" the worried Fallon muttered under her breath as she continued reading over the charts and data talking about her friend's physical and power states - both seeming to fluctuate wildly.

Paks dosed, her mind floating in and out of the realm of reality. When it floated out, the monsters came back. Creeping, clawing, trying to sink their fangs into her mind. But Paks had long ago learned how to throw them off, push them away even thought they brought with them the darkness, and the hot hot presence that was always too familiar. Too hungry. Paks never knew what for though. Unlike the other ones, this presence never called out in the brim stone voice, it merely waited and waited and waited, until she had forgotten about it, or had pushed it away and pretended it wasn't there, or had relaxed her guard.

And then it crept, slithering into her head until she could feel him filling her mind up. But Paks didn't want him there, he was bad no matter what everyone else had said. And her mother wasn't here any longer, to push and prod and try to cajole Paks. There was no reason to allow this intrusion anymore, and her mother wasn't here to know about it. To look at her with those sad disappointed eyes when she pushed him away. And He wasn't there anymore to stare and then shake his head, before launching into a sermon on responsibility or duty the next day, that Paks always knew was directed at her. But they weren't there. Not right now.

And so Paks called up the glorious black, watching as it shimmered and glowed and danced through her veins. She shoved it at him, pushing the heat and the anger and the slithery slither away. She didn't want him here, and so he had to leave. She didn't want him coming back, but he always did. But for now, she could make him go away, make him wait for another time another day. Behind the dark curtains, she knew he lurked. But that was okay, because at least then she knew where he was.

The other monsters curled into smaller balls, trying to remain unseen. But Paks saw them. She tried to call up the black again, the glorious rushing black. But it wouldn't come, and she was just so tired right now. And would they wait until it came back? But the monsters didn't want to wait, they wanted to keep creeping. So they continued creeping and clawing and sinking their fangs in.

And then she was floating away from them, on the backs of wine colored dinosaurs and soft voices. And Paks had floated between the barrier once again, passing the gossamer drapes and falling back into reality. The nice thing about the real world, was that there was always light. The glow of a computer screen, the multicolored spots of light coming from different machines. Fuzzily, Paks looked around, unsure of where she was except that she was. Which was a good thing, and perhaps where didn't matter after that. Looking down, she saw the back of the dinosaur named Ambiance. Smiling softly, Paks moved to pet him, only to look down at her arm as it refused to move. Trying again with the same results, she decided to float off somewhere else.

Fallon was speaking, and Paks caught a few of the words in between her daze. "Oh. It's okay Fallon-san. The monsters came back, but don't worry. I'll make them go away again," she smiled a bright smile at her friend, glad that she was there. Hopefully Fallon wouldn't worry, Paks didn't want her worrying. Because everything was alright. She would make them go away when she wasn't so tired. And she wouldn't be tired for ever, although she didn't want to sleep. Because if she fell into that dark embrace, Paks did not want to see what would slip in. And sleep was ever so hard to escape from, when the fatigue was tugging at your limbs and turning your head into cotton.

So quiet was the room, and the machines' hums so easy to drown out that Fallon heard Pakse try to reassure her. Her head whipped around so fast that she winced at the couple of audible 'cracks' caused by the action. The reassurance...wasn't so reassuring. Where the monsters the hollows or arrancars? Or were they something else, something not even visible or noticeable to Fallon or most other humans? A beeping from the main computer recalled her attention as it made notes on the desires of Pakse's mind to make physical movements...and the inability of her body to respond. So quickly...what had happened to cause such a drastic change in health? Was it the strain of her powers? They were...strong and abnormal for most to be able to do.

There was so little knowledge and data though on how such powers could affect the human body...that went for about everyone who lived here for that matter. For all she knew there were great strains on the man they met earlier's body...Shiro...or...well who knows what at this point! The computer screen flashed and up came as many documents on the resident as were stored away. Powers, abilities, any data on what each could do - Fallon was ignoring all else - and not a damn thing was helpful. They were apparently understaffed when it came to medical-type abilities or even much of a team, which had pretty much been comprised of Paksennarion herself. It stood then to reason that possibly just the effort of healing everyone and taking care of health issues herself might have attributed then to Pakse's current instability.

The machine above her continued to scan her body over and Fallon took in the new data: her mental and physical were splitting. Could such a thing happen? Taking in the knowledge of her ability to connect to other's minds and emotions not wholly impossible for such a girl with strong and sensitive mental capabilities then. A lump formed in her throat as the computer pulled up some possibilities of what might happen, and soon if nothing was done. They were all equivalent to basically the same thing with only different lengths of time. A low hiss sound mixed with a rolling "r" sound brought Fallon from the deep and dark depths of her thoughts and she turned to stare at Ambiance. His eye lights flickered and a 'blip' sounded on the monitor behind her.

Shock registered and Fallon felt her spirits falling even further as she watched the screen and what had appeared on it. Her mind worked so fluidly at times and so efficiently that it actually took her a moment to catch up with herself. Machines didn't have such problems and her eyes flickered over the images as the computer began to alter and repair it - mostly a straightening out of lines and refitting parts of the design due to human error and pure imagination. Such thoughts though...it worked, it'd work easily...as Ambiance had...but she couldn't pretend that Ambiance was the same, dying shinigami she'd met: he'd changed drastically due to the body-form change as well as being mentally connected to her. There were...other things she could do, involving preservation...no, she'd gain Pakse's permission, or at least hear her voice her choice first before doing anything.

The distraught technopathic witch walked to the examination table and took one of Paksennarion's hands in hers. "Pakse...I...I need you to make a choice...your mental connection to your body is becoming increasingly unstable. Either...either I freeze it until I can find a way to prevent the break...or...or...I...create another...body for you. Like Ambiance..." a low, hum growl was heard from said dinosaur, "But I don't want to do anything without your permission." Anytime she'd look back on this memory she would wonder honestly how she managed to choke out these words, though none were said easily physically or emotionally.

Paks floated again, soft and warm like the clouds. Everything was gray and fluffy, and it made her head feel better to be swathed. Closing her eyes she let her focus drift off, buoyed by the warm haze. She never got to relax, because there was always things to be watching out for. Or things that needed to be done to protect herself or others, and her mind always needed to be kept in order. Constantly watched to ensure that nothing bad happened, or that her powers didn't escape the rigid control she exerted over them.

But right now, while she floated peacefully Paks couldn't bring herself to care about that. She didn't have the energy to draw back the razor edged focus. Or the will to draw herself up and reenter the fight. She didn't want to fight anymore. And it was just so much easier to float here, and allow these corporeal things to pass her by. To play out as they would. Because she was just so tired, too tired to care.

Around the room flickers of black energy appeared. Small objects were enveloped, before rising into the air and floating. Tendrils of inky blackness reached out to touch Paks' skin, caressing that which functioned as its container. The energy was benign, flickering in and out of existence as her mind became more and more chaotic.

Blinking blearily, she tried to concentrate on Fallon, but the older girl's face kept swimming in and out of focus. Violet blurs merging with the concerned blue until they twirled together. Her words swam through her mind, while several took detours and got lost on the way. Like a school of fish, they darted past her, glinting so beautifully in the light. Except when she went to reach for them, to pull them in and to understand, the school scattered, flicking their silvery tails and darting away.

Following her elusive quarry, Paks followed after them. Unwilling to allow the glints of silver to disappear from view, and to leave her alone with the clouds. Reaching out she drew them towards her, slowly absorbing the words that Fallon spoke. Slowly, she glanced at her friend. This time her face didn't blur, and Paks could see clearly the worry and distress. She frowned, before quickly trying to hide the expression with another smile. She didn't want Fallon to worry, and look what was happening. Friends weren't supposed to worry one another.

"Fallon-san, it's okay," her voice was annoyingly raw, like she was rubbing pieces of sandpaper together. Somehow the effect ruined the comfort she was trying to project. The words from earlier floated back through her mind, and Paks realized what was bothering her friend. But it was simple enough, and there was a way to make Fallon stop worrying.

Smiling again, she went on, "Oh. Don't worry Fallon-san, I like Ambiance-san. And, I've never really liked this body. It's sort of annoying you see, it keeps trying to interfere with things. Or I forget about eating and then it gets mad. I'd be better off without it really. And then I wouldn't have to worry about taking care of it," she watched her friend, smiling as brightly as possible. Because it was simple.

She had never needed this body, it was more of a nuisance than anything else. Perhaps that was another area in which she differed from a normal human. She held no ties to her mortal coil, it was simply an ends to a means. And perhaps now it had outlived its use. Shucking the body which had acted as a chain her whole life, was not something to mourn. If anything, Paks was grateful for the opportunity.

Trying to share this inner peace with Fallon, for she knew the other girl would most likely not understand, she met her eyes solidly. Paks reached out, lifting her fingers so that she could grip the other girl's hand. Turning her head just enough so that she could see Ambiance without having to move, Paks smiled kindly at the dinosaur. She couldn't express herself with words, so she would remain silent. But whatever happened in this room, would be fine in the end. Because nothing bad could happen when Paks was with Fallon and Ambiance. She knew it. It was an irrefutable fact. She trusted them both, and whatever the outcome she willingly put her future in Fallon's hands, without any doubts or regrets.

Freeing one of the many walls she kept in her mind, Paks opened the connection between herself and Fallon. Unlocking the dam which had kept it closed, or at the very least contained. She was too exhausted to explain her emotions, and too drained to send them to her, so instead she allowed her feelings to flood through the connection born between her and Fallon. So that her friend would understand. So that any regrets she had would be washed away in the flood of truth.

A chill ran down her spine, cool fingers gripping the bone with a vengeance. Now that she wasn't hidden amongst the clouds she could feel the pull again. The creeping as the demons continued their assault. She should do something. Stop them. Soon they would break through her barriers, and then the bad things would happen. Paks wearily closed her eyes, trying to make them go away. But her weak nudges seemed to have no effect, and they hissed as they renewed their attack. She could hear them now, whispering near her ears with their sneaky words that burrowed deep within and festered.

Her voice was so raw, like someone who was near death of dehydration or had a severe sore throat. So grating...was her body shutting down? Or so drained that things such as speech were becoming draining or difficult tasks? Hearing it caused Fallon's heart to fluctuate strangely and she recognized a second later it was worry and extreme grief. The kind one felt when they had to stare at family in a hospital bed. It had been so long since Fallon had even felt such an emotion since so few bothered to become attached to Fallon or even speak in her general direction. She listened further, only a hint of a smile appearing as she heard of Pakse talk so distantly of her body...but still. Something about it hurt at the same time, if only because she knew that this would change Pakse and there were just some types of change Fallon didn't like - amazingly enough.

"All right then Pakse...I'll build you a body you'll never have to worry about silly human needs for...or really any for that matter," any needs would likely be repairs made by Fallon if the body even somehow dared to become damaged. Not that Fallon would allow it. Then feelings of...sureness fell over Fallon and she understood where they were coming from. Pakse. Pakse was all right with this decision, this change, and would embrace it: wanted it even. Well, it at least seemed to be perfectly fine with her at the very least. And the unwavering trust...Fallon felt so much strength enter her from that alone and gave Pakse's hand a loving squeeze before gently pulling it away.

The screen had edited the image to perfection, and absolute design in place of the partially haphazard one her mind could imagine, and irrefutably perfect for Pakse's style of powers and abilities. Non-fighting for sure, and already ideas were coming into mind of how to change and allow her powers to function not only efficiently within this new body, but possibly more so. Behind her she could hear the quiet wisp of moving metal as it was gently pulled apart from the corner, some beginning to form into shapes while some of the inner technology floated out to place its self before Fallon.

Circuitry and wiring and so many other things...all ready for her manipulation. Had any government scientist gotten hold of Ambiance and opened him up they could have sworn of 'alien technology' due to the style and sheer difference in structure compared to average human technology. More had to be salvaged and another machine opened up to allow its innards to float freely towards the conductor as the very technology in front of her flowed like water into an evolved state of its former self. Behind her the metal from the machines was achingly being shifted and molded to become the outer skeleton, bits of the floor coming up as well as holes forming in the floor as harder alloys were summoned from the very crust and some from the mantle.

She'd be out like a light after this.

The core was nearly done forming, and she was now working on connecting the motor functioning system to it as well as the higher sensory system that would connect onto Paksennarion's mind and allow for greater ranges of radar as well as monitoring of others. So many other compartments to be created too for varying purposes only known to Fallon...and Paksennarion due to the mental connection they were sharing at the moment. The body was coming along nicely as the harder alloys meshed with the current metal structures and pieces as well as absorbing parts of Fallon's energy to further cement it into a metal beyond the periodic table. Minutes were flying off the clock as it was all going on.

Next to Paksennarion, Ambiance continued to stand, and miraculously to anyone a single tear fell from each eye in reaction to the inner sadness Fallon had felt.

-------

It was about an hour later and the inner mainframe had been completed a while ago and it was only parts of the body that had yet to be fully completed. More and more of Pakse’s soul was leaking out of her body, breaking off connections to it much like a dying person would be. Yet to Fallon this didn’t seem so much as an act of dying as just disconnecting, but disheartening all the same. The only consolation was in knowing that Pakse was whole-heartedly fine with the change in situation.

Ghostly tendrils crept over Fallon’s skin as she worked furiously in forcing the metal to meld together and cut and bend and form the desired design of frame. More and more she was feeling Pakse’s soul leaving and filling the room with its presence. Finishing was becoming more and more necessary as time passed by but completion was close at hand. Fallon opened her mind, allowing the design to flow fully from the computer and be…well…downloaded into her mind and so she turned away from the project, controlling it to finish but doing so in a more autopilot type manner. Walking over to the table she beheld the sight of her friend’s nearly lifeless body on the examination table, her own face blank as she kept up her concentration and allowed her emotions to feed into Ambiance to save sanity while she performed this task.

Eyes glowed as she saw through Ambiance and located the main core of the soul, more than halfway out of Pakse’s body with a thick layer of energy-based mist spreading out throughout the lab. Had to be cautious, as souls were delicate things more often than naught, and she didn’t want anything to happen in the transference process. Delicately she took hold of it, drawing it away from her body and the thin chain keeping it connected. This part would hurt Fallon the most: severing the final chain. Summoning one of her guns it flew to her hand and the glowing blade formed. The cut was quick and painless, and Pakse’s body gave one final breath before becoming still and permanently silent. It was finished now, she could feel it, sense it, and knew it without a doubt and without needing to turn around.

Still, turning around she was able to behold the latest of her technological creations. Sleek and agile looking, she was quite proud of it…and the wings had seemed fitting to add in – as well as giving her some more maneuverability and agility since it wasn’t built for battle like Ambiance. Perfect then since she had no plans for using it for fights, especially since they’d lost their main healing forces. Holding the soul in front of her, Fallon opened her palm, though her grip had been light, and blue on the orb that was the core. Floating along towards the body a vacuum of sorts absorbed it through the skull of the dinosaur-like creature and she could feel as it came to life. Eyes glowed a light shade of lavender and its body creaked at first before its tail gave a sharp wag and scratched the hard floor due to the hardness. The wings gave a jagged wave and then more smoothly flapped to test mobility. Side to side the head turned, movement becoming more fluid with the passing second. The perfect synchronization didn’t take too long according to normal standards, but it felt so achingly slow to Fallon, like hours passing before it finished. There she stood, complete and newly reformed…

Pakse was no more beyond her soul: it was a total and complete rebirth beyond powers. No memories: no knowledge of previously held emotions, no recollection of people in her past, and no ability to dredge up her own past. Unfortunately, even any memory concerning her name had disappeared…but that would at least be one of the few things she would keep besides her powers.

“You will now answer to the name ‘Paksennarion’ to all, and in addition ‘Pakse’ when called by me,” the name would be programmed in permanently, as well as the commands. The new Paksennarion was thusly born.

[Topic Fini]