戦闘機械 綾子 - Battlemachine Ayako/Things To Remember: Difference between revisions

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<div style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 130%; line-height: 90%; margin: 2ex 0px; background: transparent; border: none;">/-------------->-----><br />| 戦闘機械 綾子<br />| Sentō Kikai Ayako<br />| Battlemachine Ayako<br />+--------------<-----------<<br />| Written by [[User:darkbutflashy|darkbutflashy]]<br />| Originally released on fembotwiki<br />\---------------<-----------<-------<------<</div>
<div style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 130%; line-height: 90%; margin: 2ex 0px; background: transparent; border: none;">/-------------->-----><br />| 戦闘機械 綾子<br />| Sentō Kikai Ayako<br />| Battlemachine Ayako<br />+--------------<-----------<<br />| Written by [[User:darkbutflashy|darkbutflashy]]<br />| Edited by [[User:rdaneel|R.Daneel]]<br />| Originally released on fembotwiki<br />\---------------<-----------<-------<------<</div>
==2 Things to remember==
==2 Things to remember==
"Do you really think it's a good idea?" Ayako spoke into her cell phone
 
doubtfully.
"Do you really think it's a good idea?" Ayako spoke into her cell
phone doubtfully.


"No worries, just be there!" the woman on the other end assured her.
"No worries, just be there!" the woman on the other end assured her.
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"Well, ok. . . . I'll come along."
"Well, ok. . . . I'll come along."


"Thanks! Oh, and bring a colleague with you. It's easier when you aren't the focus of attention all the time,"
"Thanks! Oh, and bring a colleague with you. It's easier when you aren't the
her inviter advised her.
focus of attention all the time," her inviter advised her.


"Understood!" Ayako answered.
"Understood!" Ayako answered.


The way she said it challenged the woman on the phone to banter her in return: "Oh, now you really
The way she said it challenged the woman on the phone to banter her in return:
sound like a tough policewoman. Do it again!"
"Oh, now you really sound like a tough policewoman. Do it again!"


"Yes, Ma'am!" Ayako snappily answered, chuckling immediately afterwards.
"Yes, Ma'am!" Ayako snappily answered, chuckling immediately afterwards.


"Glad to hear you're looking forward to the fun tommorow. See ya!" the voice wished her goodbye.
"Glad to hear you're looking forward to the fun tomorrow. See ya!" the voice
wished her goodbye.


"Wait, I . . ." Ayako wanted to interrupt but the woman on the other end had already hung up.
"Wait, I . . ." Ayako wanted to interrupt but the woman on the other end had
already hung up.


She wasn't sure whether she wanted to go through with this. She had been uneasy about
She wasn't sure whether she wanted to go through with this. She had been uneasy
the outcome of the performance review already, too nervous to speak before a
about the outcome of the performance review already, too nervous to speak
group of people. If ESWAT was going to be dumped, all her efforts to become a
before a group of people. If ESWAT was going to be dumped, all her efforts to
reputable policewoman would turn to nil. Frightened about the idea that it would be
become a reputable policewoman would turn to nil. Frightened about the idea
mainly her fault if it came to that, she found herself muttering, "No. . . .
that it would be mainly her fault if it came to that, she found herself
NO. . . . Don't think like that!" But it was her fault, at least partly. She hadn't
muttering, "No. . . . NO. . . . Don't think like that!" But it was her fault,
acted professional. It was rage at best, more likely rampage.
at least partly. She hadn't acted professional. It was rage at best, more
likely rampage.


Needing some distraction from those bad feelings, Ayako turned on the TV. More
Needing some distraction from those bad feelings, Ayako turned on the TV. More
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she liked, something funny or at least nice. Her sight quickly left the screen
she liked, something funny or at least nice. Her sight quickly left the screen
and wandered through the room without a real aim, resting on the plants, the
and wandered through the room without a real aim, resting on the plants, the
wooden furniture, the fine white drapes, the window . . . the scenery outside. She
wooden furniture, the fine white drapes, the window . . . the scenery outside.
got up and went on the balcony to see the last glimpse of sunset. The horizon
She got up and went on the balcony to see the last glimpse of sunset. The
was a bright blue-yellowish stripe, the sky already dark and the city below her
horizon was a bright blue-yellowish stripe, the sky already dark and the city
the usual sea of lights. Yes, she had a fairly nice place to live in, though it
below her the usual sea of lights. Yes, she had a fairly nice place to live in,
only was a council flat at the 22nd floor of a large residential compound. Not in
though it only was a council flat at the 22nd floor of a large residential
one of the three arcologies of course, no policeman could afford one of those
compound. Not in one of the three arcologies of course, no policeman could
luxury apartments. However, the view of the city was great from her flat too, and
afford one of those luxury apartments. However, the view of the city was great
it wasn't noisy at all.
from her flat too, and it wasn't noisy at all.


The wind dried the tears on her face quickly and she felt the burn from it. It
The wind dried the tears on her face quickly and she felt the burn from it. It
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'It' was inside.  
'It' was inside.  


'It' was a wall-to-wall mirror. When she was originally looking for a place to live the
'It' was a wall-to-wall mirror. When she was originally looking for a place to
bathroom mirror was what made the final decision. It was so big and the light so
live the bathroom mirror was what made the final decision. It was so big and
soft she felt like some model in a studio when she did her hair and
the light so soft she felt like some model in a studio when she did her hair
make-up. But now, every view into that mirror gave her a shiver.
and make-up. But now, every view into that mirror gave her a shiver.


For the outside viewer, Ayako was a pretty young woman. From the eyes in her
For the outside viewer, Ayako was a pretty young woman. From the eyes in her
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one of those faces you cannot forget.
one of those faces you cannot forget.


But there was no use avoiding it. Thanks to the distance to the door, the mirror
But there was no use avoiding it. Thanks to the distance to the door, the
had a clear view of her. Under the door frame stood a young woman in some sort of
mirror had a clear view of her. Under the door frame stood a young woman in
armor, closely but not entirely resembling a biker's dress: her belly, her hips,
some sort of armor, closely but not entirely resembling a biker's dress: her
her arms, even her neck were covered in some black enameled rubber-like
belly, her hips, her arms, even her neck were covered in some black enameled
material. Her thighs and knees were black too, but there were some hard shell
rubber-like material. Her thighs and knees were black too, but there were some
plates attached to them, protectors presumably. The shinpads covering her lower
hard shell plates attached to them, protectors presumably. The shinpads
legs were gray, same with the shoulder pads. Right down at the
covering her lower legs were gray, same with the shoulder pads. Right down at
bottom she wore hard, spiky boots, black of course, with ridiculously high
the bottom she wore hard, spiky boots, black of course, with ridiculously high
heels. Coming to the more dubious parts of the outfit, her breasts were covered
heels. Coming to the more dubious parts of the outfit, her breasts were covered
by something which could have counted as a bra worn outside if it weren't made of the same hard, shiny, gray material the other protectors were
by something which could have counted as a bra worn outside if it weren't made
made from. A name plate below that piece announced the name of the freak:
of the same hard, shiny, gray material the other protectors were made from. A
<div style="font-size: 200%; font-weight: bolder; font-family: monospace; text-align: center; border: 2pt solid #808080; padding: 1ex 1em; margin-left: 3em; width: 5em;">Ayako</div>
name plate below that piece announced the name of the freak: <div
Mirrors do not lie. They just reflect what anyone could easily see. A freak.
style="font-size: 200%; font-weight: bolder; font-family: monospace;
But that wasn't what Ayako actually wanted others to see in her. More like a considerate
text-align: center; border: 2pt solid #808080; padding: 1ex 1em; margin-left:
person. Someone to call for help. A policewoman.  
3em; width: 5em;">Ayako</div> Mirrors do not lie. They just reflect what anyone
could easily see. A freak. But that wasn't what Ayako actually wanted others
to see in her. More like a considerate person. Someone to call for help. A
policewoman.  


She began to cry again and rushed into the room, ripped the faucet open and bent
She began to cry again and rushed into the room, ripped the faucet open and
down into the washstand to squirt water on her face. A lot of water. She was
bent down into the washstand to squirt water on her face. A lot of water. She
frozen for almost an eternity, and when she finally raised, she obviously avoided to
was frozen for almost an eternity, and when she finally raised, she obviously
look at the mirror. Trying to shield herself from the reflection, she raised her
avoided to look at the mirror. Trying to shield herself from the reflection,
hands and rested her head in them. Ayako couldn't avoid to peek through the
she raised her hands and rested her head in them. Ayako couldn't avoid to peek
finger gaps. Small drops of water glared like diamonds on her hands. Shiny,
through the finger gaps. Small drops of water glared like diamonds on her
black hands. Slowly, she bent the fingers and let the fingertips slide over
hands. Shiny, black hands. Slowly, she bent the fingers and let the fingertips
her eyes. She could feel their sleekness, the coldness of their touch. And she
slide over her eyes. She could feel their sleekness, the coldness of their
could feel the texture of her skin sliding beneath through them. These
touch. And she could feel the texture of her skin sliding beneath through them.
fingertips were hers.
These fingertips were hers.


Thinking about it may have depressed her again but the ringing of the
Thinking about it may have depressed her again but the ringing of the
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"Deunan!" the voice on the entry phone bellowed.
"Deunan!" the voice on the entry phone bellowed.


Ayako followed the
Ayako followed the implied command and pressed the buzzer. 'Damn, I forgot to
implied command and pressed the buzzer. 'Damn, I forgot to give her instructions on
give her instructions on how to find the apartment on the floor,' she thought.
how to find the apartment on the floor,' she thought. 'I better go catch her at
'I better go catch her at the lift.'
the lift.'


Rattling and swinging like a fun ride, the lift approached its destination at the
Rattling and swinging like a fun ride, the lift approached its destination at
22nd floor. At least it was fast.
the 22nd floor. At least it was fast.


"Phew, what a worn-out building," Deunan mumbled. "I thought she could afford a more decent place."
"Phew, what a worn-out building," Deunan mumbled. "I thought she could afford a
more decent place."


When the lift halted, the rumble from the air conditioning immediately took its place in the
When the lift halted, the rumble from the air conditioning immediately took its
orchestra at only a slightly lower volume. Deunan left the car and, as
place in the orchestra, at only a slightly lower volume. Deunan left the car
expected, wasn't prepared for a labyrinth. The 22nd floor was a maze of tiny
and, as expected, she wasn't prepared for a labyrinth. The 22nd floor was a
little passages all alike. Numerous narrow corridors led to flats, all looking alike from the outside too.  
maze of tiny little passages all alike. Numerous narrow corridors led to flats,
There was no chance for a first-time visitor to find the correct flat without an extensive search.
looking from outside all alike too. There was no chance for a first-time
visitor to find the correct flat without an extensive search.


Deunan chose a random corridor since they all looked the same anyway.
Deunan picked a random corridor, as they all looked the same anyway. After
After some turns, the lighting in the corridor appeared broken.
some turns, the lighting was broken.


"Now it gets creepy," she cheered.


Deunan sure wasn't the kind of woman who could be easily frightened. To her
"Now it gets creepy," she cheered.  Deunan sure wasn't the kind of woman which
amusement, she could hear a slow clicking from behind. It even stopped when she
could be frightened easily. To her amusement she could hear a slow clicking
had stopped to listen carefully. At a junction, she hid behind the corner to wait
from behind. It even stopped when she had stopped to listen carefully. At a
for her follower, who obviously hadn't noticed her dodging in the dim
junction she hid behind the corner to wait for her follower, who obviously
light. Deunan grabbed the person as soon as they reached the intersection.
hadn't noticed her dodging move in the dim light. Deunan grabbed the person as
soon it had reached the intersection.


"So, what kind of stupid game is this?" she shouted with a gleeful voice.
"So, what a stupid game is this?" she shouted with a gleeful voice.


The woman in her arms shrieked loudly. Deunan let her go immediately, realizing it wasn't Ayako as she
The woman skrieked loudly. Deunan let her go immediately, realizing it wasn't
had expected.
Ayako as she had expected.


"I'm sorry, I didn't meant to . . ." she tried to explain.
"I'm sorry, I haven't meant to..." she tried to explain.


"Who are you, assaulting people in the dark? This isn't a 'house of horrors'!" the woman shouted.
"Who are you, assaulting people in the half-light? This isn't the 'house of
horrors', do you understand?" the woman shouted.


"I'm sorry Ma'am," Deunan tried to apologize. It was odd as the woman was clearly younger than her. But she was
"I'm sorry Ma'am," Deunan tried to apologize. It was odd as the woman was
right, one shouldn't make such juvenile pranks with strangers.
clearly younger than her. But she was right, one shouldn't make such teenager
jokes with strangers.


Trying to get away from the awful situation, Deunan turned around.
Trying to get away from the awful situation, Deunan turned around.


"UWAAAAHHH!" This time it was her turn to shriek. Centimeters before her a bulky black
"UWAAAAHHH!" This time it was herself who was shrieking. Centimeters before her
figure had hoicked her arms trying to grab for *her*. Only a second later, when Deunan found out it was Ayako, her pulse got back to normal.
a bulky black figure had hoicked her arms trying to grab for *her*. Only a
second later, when Deunan found out it was Ayako, her pulse got back to normal.


"Hi, Mrs. Janicki," Ayako greeted her neighbor, waving waggishly.
"Hi, Mrs. Janicki", Ayako greeted her neighbor, waving waggishly.


"Hello, Ms. Boer," the woman greeted back seriously. "Could you please tell your friend . . . colleague? To grow up!"
"Hello, Ms. Boer," the woman greeted back seriously, "could you please tell
your friend? colleague? to grow up!"


"Oh, she's not my colleague but my. . . ."
"Oh, she's not my colleague but my..."


"Ssshhhh," Deunan stopped her.
"Ssshhhh," Deunan stopped her.


"Yeah, what?" Mrs. Janicki insisted.
"Yeah, what?" Mrs. Janicki harped on it.


"Girlfriend," Deunan blasted. "Problem?"
"Girlfriend," Deunan blasted, "Problem?"


Mrs. Janicki squinted, eyeballing Deunan. Then she spoke to Ayako. "I had no idea you were into older *women*. Have fun!" she cheered and left the scene for her apartment, which was just two doors away.
Mrs. Janicki squinted, eyeballing Deunan. Then she spoke to Ayako. "I had no
idea you're into older *women*. Have fun!" she cheered and left the scene for
her apartment, which was just two doors away.


The two "girlfriends" used the other passage to get to Ayako's place. It was narrow so Deunan had to follow her subordinate.
The two "girlfriends" used the other passage to go to Ayako's place. It was
narrow so Deunan followed her subordinate.


"Was that necessary? Now she thinks I'm a lesbian," Ayako complained.
"Was this neccessary? Now she thinks I'm a lesbian," Ayako complained.


"Problem?" Deunan smiled mischievously. "Look, if you hadn't stopped me, I would have gotten away without that trick."
"Problem?" Deunan smiled spitefully, "Look, if you hadn't stopped me, I would
have got away without that trick."


"Look who's talking," Ayako replied.
"Look who's talking," Ayako replied.


Deunan tried to apologize, "I just didn't want her to drill any further so I had to make up something more intriguing than a
Deunan tried to apologize: "I just wanted her not to drill any further so I had
police chief assaulting people in her spare time . . . and I only had a second to think."
to make up something which is more intriguing than a police chief assaulting
people in her spare time... ...and I only had one second."


"Ok, ok, apologies accepted," Ayako answered. She wondered why her boss
"Ok, ok, excuse accepted," Ayako answered. She wondered why her boss
had even showed up at her home. She had expected Deunan to chew her out at the
had even showed up at her home. She had expected Deunan to chew her out at the
office for her misconduct. Was it so bad that she had to bring the pink slip by herself
office for her misconduct. Was it that bad she brings the pink slip by herself
to make it less awkward? Walking a straight line wasn't easy with this kind of thoughts.
to make it less awkward? Walking a straight line wasn't easy thinking of this.


Deunan noticed Ayako's insecure steps. "Something wrong?" she asked.
Deunan noticed Ayako's insecure steps. "Something wrong?" she asked.


"No, nothing," was the reply.
"No, it's nothing," was the reply.


"You walk like a drunk," Deunan insisted.
"You walk like a drunk," Deunan insisted.


"I'm a little stressed, okay?" Ayako snapped.
"I'm a little stressed, okay?" Ayako fluttered.
 
"Well, we all are," Deunan ended this fruitless topic, "by the way, isn't it a
bit flashy to go out like this in public?"
 
Ayako was speechless when she realized she had left her flat without covering
herself into a coat. Damn hurry! And the boss had noticed.
 
"What's with Mrs. Janicki? She doesn't seem to be astounded?" Deunan drilled
deeper, "So your cover-up is a fuck-up, too?"
 
"No, no, Mrs. Janicki is thinking I'm into biker clothes," Ayako tried to
excuse it.
 
"So first it's wearing funky biker clothes at home, then dating older women...
now she *must* think you're a real freak!  Sorry," Deunan snickered. Unseen by
her, Ayako had to swallow another burst of tears.
 
The two arrived at the flat a second later, when Deunan noticed her subordinate
was near collapsing. Ayako barely managed to type the doorlock code, then let
Deunan and herself in.
 
"I'm... I'm sorry," Deunan tried to calm her.
 
"No it's nothing boss, just take a seat", Ayako mumbled, and turned off the TV
quietly.  The biggest blow was yet to come anyway.
 


"Well, we all are," Deunan ended this fruitless topic. "By the way, isn't it a bit flashy to go out like that in public?"
Deunan had to break the ice somehow and looked around the living room.


Ayako was speechless when she realized she had left her flat without covering herself with a coat. Damned hurry! And her boss had noticed.
"You have a nice home," she complimented her, "what's these flowers, they are
beautiful!"


"What's with Mrs. Janicki? She doesn't seem to be surprised?" Deunan drilled deeper. "So your cover-up is a fuck-up, too?"
"Cyclamen," Akayo willingly took the chance for smalltalk, "I like them because
they don't need much care. Just a cool, bright place and some water.  Same with
the Fuchsia over there."


"No, no. Mrs. Janicki thinks I'm into biker clothes," Ayako tried to explain.
"Oh, yes, these are pretty, too," Deunan took their smell, "and they have a
nice scent. But only pretty mild."  


"So first is wearing funky biker clothes at home, then dating older women . . . now she *must* think you're a real freak!
"That's mostly because I'm not heating much, only about eighteen degrees. You
Sorry," Deunan snickered. Unseen by her, Ayako had to swallow another burst of tears.
know, I'm heating...," Ayako explained hastily, "...if I had known you would
come over, I had..."


The two arrived at the flat a second later, and that's when Deunan noticed her subordinate
"No, it's ok," Deunan interrupted her, "I just keep my jacket on. Anything to
was near collapsing. Ayako barely managed to type the doorlock code, before letting
make you comfortable."
Deunan and herself in.  


"I'm . . . I'm sorry," Deunan tried to calm her.  
When she aimed to flop on a leather armchair nonchalantly, Ayako tried to hold
her back: "Ah, not there," but it was too late.


"No, it's nothing boss, just take a seat," Ayako mumbled, turning off the TV quietly.
"Ouch!" Deunan squealed quietly when the chair striked her rear.
The biggest blow was yet to come anyways.


Deunan had to break the ice somehow and looked around the living room. "You have
"Sorry, should have told you to take seat on the sofa," Ayako advised her boss,
a nice home," she complimented her. "What are these flowers? They are beautiful!"
"I had the chair reinforced. Something to drink? Green tea?"


"Cyclamen." Akayo willingly took the chance for smalltalk. "I like them
"Oh thanks, green tea is fine, but not too much trouble," Deunan took the offer
because they don't need much care. Just a cool, bright place and some water.
and Ayako left for the kitchen. Time for Deunan to examine the armchair.
Same with the Fuchsia over there."


"Oh, yes, these are pretty too," Deunan took in their smell. "And they have a nice scent. But only pretty mild."
"No trouble, I have it always prepared," she shouted from the kitchen and came
back immediately with a teapot and mugs in her hands.


"That's mostly because I'm not heating much, only about eighteen degrees. You know, I'm heating . . ." Ayako explained hastily. "If I had known you would come over, I would have. . . ."
Caught red-handed, Deunan explained her interest in it: "a stylish chair, like
all your furniture. Our sofas and chairs all look pretty ratty once Briareos
had sat in them for a while."


"No, it's ok," Deunan interrupted her. "I'll just keep my jacket on. Anything to make you comfortable."  
"Yeah, I had that problem, too," Ayako sat down on her chair slowly, and took a
sip of tea: "when it was nearly worn out I didn't want to scrap it, so I took
it to a carpenter and he added a metal frame along the wood. And of course, he
had removed all the springs and had put a thin gel cushion on the seating
instead."


When she aimed to flop on a leather armchair nonchalantly, Ayako tried to stop her. "Ah, not there!" But it was too late.  
"So now one need REAL buns of steel to sit in it?" Deunan joked. Ayako blushed,
and Deunan noticed she made her subordinate uneasy again. "Sorry, I meant... ,"
she wanted to apologize, but Ayako was already yelling.


"Ouch!" Deunan complained quietly when the chair struck her rear.  
"I know what you meant!" - "I...I'm sorry, Ma'am," she continued, daunted by
her own emotional release.


"Sorry, I should have told you to take a seat on the sofa," Ayako explained to her boss. "I had
Deunan hadn't expected such an reaction and spluttered an excuse herself: "I'm
the chair reinforced. Something to drink? Green tea?"
sorry, I'd been sometimes said to have 'buns of steel' myself, yet I failed
your chair. It was a bad joke. Sorry." She took an endless number of small sips
from her tea mug to drown out the following silence.


"Oh, thanks. Green tea is fine, but only if it is not too much trouble." Deunan took the offer and Ayako left for the
kitchen. Time for Deunan to examine the armchair.


"No problem, I always have it ready," Ayako shouted from the kitchen and came back immediately with a teapot
"To bring us back to topic," Deunan neglected her fruitless attempt of
and mugs in her hands.  
chatting, "I think you already know why I'm here." Silence took the room again,
and Deunan noticed her subordinate was still feeling discomposed.


Caught red-handed, Deunan explained her interest in it. "A stylish chair, like all of your furniture. Our sofas and chairs all look pretty
"Kicking my butt," Ayako replied in a hushed tone. Even knowing Ayako's
ratty once Briareos sits in them for a while."
insecurity for a while, Deunan was still perplexed by the whole difference
between her apperance and her character. It was surreal to see this bulky,
metal-clad, power-boosted woman in such a depressed mood. Not to mention
kicking her... Deunan had to disregard the thought.


"Yeah, I had that problem too." Ayako sat down on her chair slowly, and took a sip of tea. "When it was nearly worn out I didn't want to scrap it, so I took it to a carpenter and he added a metal frame along the wood. And of course he also removed all the springs and put a thin gel cushion on the seating instead."
"Well, yes, I have serious business with you," Deunan continued, discarding the
setting, "we have this performance review running, and your performance was..."


"So now one needs REAL buns of steel to sit in it?" Deunan joked. Ayako blushed, and Deunan
"Bad", Ayako sniveled. "No!" Deunan exclaimed, "Not bad, but what you've said
noticed she made her subordinate uneasy again. "Sorry, I meant . . ." she wanted to apologize, but Ayako was already yelling.
to that hostagetaker will get us into trouble," she continued. "Lance suggested
I should talk to you beforehand."


"I know what you meant!
"Beforehand?" Ayako was puzzled.


"I . . . I'm sorry, Ma'am," she continued, daunted by her own emotional release.  
"There will be an official hearing about the performance review and your 'great
monologue' is in the files. Lance thinks the committee will be nitpicking on
this. At least the whole idea of this performance review was to dump ESWAT, we
think."
 
"I, ... I don't even remember what I've said then," Ayako trembled.
 
Deunan refreshed her memory: "it was along the lines of 'I certainly had choked
you to death if you have had killed the boy.' Certainly nothing a policeman
should ever do. Neither say."


Deunan hadn't expected such a reaction and sputtered an excuse herself. "I'm sorry, I've been sometimes said to have 'buns of steel' myself, yet I failed your chair. It was a bad joke. Sorry." She took an endless number of small sips from her tea mug to drown out the silence that followed.


<p style="margin-top: 4ex; text-indent: 3em;">
"To bring us back to topic," Deunan neglected her fruitless attempt of chatting,
"I think you already know why I'm here." - Silence took the room again, and
Deunan noticed her subordinate was still feeling discomposed. "Kicking my butt,"
Ayako replied in a hushed tone. Even knowing Ayako's insecurity for a while,
Deunan was still perplexed by the whole difference between her apperance and her
character. It was surreal to see this bulky, metal-clad, power-boosted woman in
such a depressed mood. "Well, yes, I have serious business with you," Deunan
continued, discarding the setting, "we have this performance review running, and
your performance was..." - "Bad", Ayako sniveled. "No!" Deunan exclaimed, "Not
bad, but what you've said to that hostagetaker will get us into trouble," she
continued. "Lance suggested I should talk to you beforehand." - "Beforehand?"
Ayako was puzzled. "There will be an official hearing about the performance
review and your 'great monologue' is in the files. Lance thinks the committee
will be nitpicking on this. At least the whole idea of this performance review
was to dump ESWAT, we think." - "I, ... I don't even remember what I've said
then," Ayako trembled. Deunan refreshed her memory: "it was along the lines of
'I certainly had choked you to death if you have had killed the boy.' Certainly
nothing a policeman should ever do. Neither say."
</p>
<p style="margin-top: 2ex; text-indent: 3em;">
Ayako bursted into tears again. "I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to...," she
Ayako bursted into tears again. "I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to...," she
hesitated to say, "...I'm not really a policeman...," and sobbed again, "...I'm
hesitated to say, "...I'm not really a policeman...," and sobbed again, "...I'm
just a ki..ll..er...," she cried out loud. Deunan had to stop this nonsense.
just a ki..ll..er...," she cried out loud.
Immediately. "Constable Boer. No. Constable Ontemba, spring to attention!"
 
she commanded. ESWAT wasn't exactly trained like military drill, but Ayako
Deunan had to stop this nonsense. Immediately. "Constable Boer. No. Constable
vaguely knew what she was expected to do. She leaped to her feet, took a
Ontemba, spring to attention!" she commanded. ESWAT wasn't exactly trained like
straight posture, put her hands on her side and ... finally tried to hold back
military drill, but Ayako vaguely knew what she was expected to do. She leaped
her tears. Deunan was relieved she found a cure against the continous
to her feet, took a straight posture, put her hands on her side and ... finally
blubbering. No way to talk in plain language with such a person.
tried to hold back her tears. Deunan was relieved she found a cure against the
</p>
continous blubbering. No way to talk in plain language with such a person.
<p style="margin-top: 2ex; text-indent: 3em;">
 
 
"Okay, constable Ontemba, the reason I'm here is to prepare you for the coming
"Okay, constable Ontemba, the reason I'm here is to prepare you for the coming
hearing on the performance review. Understood?" Deunan reasoned. Ayako was still
hearing on the performance review. Understood?" Deunan reasoned. Ayako was still
in shock about the command. "Understood?" Deunan repeated. "Understood," Ayako
in shock about the command. "Understood?" Deunan repeated.
replied quietly. "Louder, I cannot hear you!" Deunan commanded. "UNDERSTOOD!"
 
she replied. "Good. The most time of the hearing your attendance is not
"Understood," Ayako replied quietly.
required. You will only be called as a witness when the committee decides it
 
needs you. Understood?" - "UNDERSTOOD!" Ayako replied again. Deunan continued:
"Louder, I cannot hear you!" Deunan commanded.
"You will tell the truth, no strings attached. Understood?" - "UNDERSTOOD!" -
 
"UNDERSTOOD!" she replied.
 
"Good. The most time of the hearing your attendance is not required. You will
only be called as a witness when the committee decides it needs you.
Understood?"
 
"UNDERSTOOD!" Ayako replied again.
 
Deunan continued: "You will tell the truth, no strings attached. Understood?"
 
"UNDERSTOOD!"
 
"Good. And you won't collapse and talk gibberish about being a killer or similar
"Good. And you won't collapse and talk gibberish about being a killer or similar
nonsense. Understood?" Deunan commanded. Ayako trembled again. "Constable
nonsense. Understood?" Deunan commanded. Ayako trembled again. "Constable
Ontemba, have you understood?" Deunan asked again. No answer, Ayako looked as
Ontemba, have you understood?" Deunan asked again. No answer, Ayako looked as
she was turned into stone. If there were not the tears in her eyes.
she was turned into stone. If there were not the tears in her eyes.
</p>
 
<p style="margin-top: 2ex; text-indent: 3em;">
 
It was hard for Deunan to keep her nerves. She touched Ayako's left
It was hard for Deunan to keep her nerves. She touched Ayako's left
shoulderplate where she had the ESWAT coat of arms embossed into: "Ayako, you
shoulderplate where she had the ESWAT coat of arms embossed into: "Ayako, you
know what this sign on you represents?" - "It represents the Olympus ESWAT
know what this sign on you represents?"
police force. To serve and protect the people," Ayako replied calmly but
 
irritated. "Yes. But that's only the half of what it means," Deunan explained.
"It represents the Olympus ESWAT police force. To serve and protect the
Ayako still hadn't understood. - "This sign ON YOU represents YOU being a member
people," Ayako replied calmly but irritated.
of the Olympus ESWAT police force. YOU serve and protect the people," Deunan
 
exclaimed. "I still don't understand", Ayako pled, "I know this is my duty.
"Yes. But that's only the half of what it means," Deunan explained.
Which I failed." Finally Deunan became angry: "THE HELL, GIRL, YOU HAVEN'T
 
FAILED! ENOUGH OF THIS BULLSHIT!" She grabbed Ayako by her shoulders to shake
Ayako still hadn't understood.
her back and forth; no use, Deunan could have tried with a pillar instead. "You
 
cannot fail," Deunan continued much more calmly, "you cannot fail as long as you
"This sign ON YOU represents YOU being a member of the Olympus ESWAT police
force. YOU serve and protect the people," Deunan exclaimed.
 
"I still don't understand", Ayako pled, "I know this is my duty. Which I
failed." Finally Deunan became angry: "THE HELL, GIRL, YOU HAVEN'T FAILED!
ENOUGH OF THIS BULLSHIT!" She grabbed Ayako by her shoulders to shake her back
and forth; no use, Deunan could have tried with a pillar instead. "You cannot
fail," Deunan continued much more calmly, "you cannot fail as long as you
pledge yourself to protect and serve the people. Your intent is what counts,"
pledge yourself to protect and serve the people. Your intent is what counts,"
she continued further, "Just learn from the mistakes you've made. You won't
she continued further, "Just learn from the mistakes you've made. You won't
become better from grieving. Do you understand this?" - Ayako was really moved
become better from grieving. Do you understand this?"
by her boss encouraging her so much. "Yes, Ma'am, I understood," she
 
acknowledged. "Well, then: WHO serves and protects the people?" Deunan prompted.
Ayako was really moved by her boss encouraging her so much. "Yes, Ma'am, I
"I do," Ayako replied. "Good. Why do you use force?" was the next question. "To
understood," she acknowledged.
protect people," Ayako replied. "That's fine for me," Deunan comforted her, "and
 
what's the difference between force and violence?" - "The intent," was Ayako's
"Well, then: WHO serves and protects the people?" Deunan prompted.
reply. "So you remember police academy well, I see," Deunan stated and took a
 
deep breath, "So now for the final quiz, it should be easy for you to take: why
"I do," Ayako replied.
do you have choked that man?" - Ayako gulped. "To protect the children from his
 
death threat." - "Ah," Deunan patronized her, "wasn't there a less violent way
"Good. Why do you use force?" was the next question.
to stop him?" - Ayako reflected: "I've used force, not violence." - "Hmm. Then:
 
was there no way to stop him with less force?" - "No. There wasn't," Ayako
"To protect people," Ayako replied.
insisted. Deunan was delighted and asked the final, most agitating question:
 
"Why do you have threatened the man with death?". It was hard for Ayako to stay
"That's fine for me," Deunan comforted her, "and what's the difference between
calm. After some seconds she came up with an answer: "I haven't threatened him.
force and violence?"
I said he's lucky because I *won't* choke him to death because he had shot me
 
instead of the boy."
"The intent," was Ayako's reply.
</p>
 
<p style="margin-top: 2ex; text-indent: 3em;">
"So you remember police academy well, I see," Deunan stated and took a deep
breath, "So now for the final quiz, it should be easy for you to take: why do
you have choked that man?"
 
Ayako gulped. "To protect the children from his death threat."
 
"Ah," Deunan patronized her, "wasn't there a less violent way to stop him?"
 
Ayako reflected a moment: "I've used force, not violence."
 
"Hmm. Then: was there no way to stop him with less force?"
 
"No. There wasn't," she insisted.
 
Deunan was delighted and asked the final, most agitating question: "Why do you
have threatened the man with death?".
 
It was hard for Ayako to stay calm. After some seconds she came up with an
answer: "I haven't threatened him. I said he's lucky because I *won't* choke
him to death because he had shot me instead of the boy."
 
 
Deunan was astounded about this last answer: "Huh, some cold-blooded fish you
Deunan was astounded about this last answer: "Huh, some cold-blooded fish you
are. I've expected you to apologize." - "Sorry, if I'm meant to apologize I do
are. I've expected you to apologize."
so," Ayako nodded. "No, no, not at all," Deunan calmed her, "if you apologize
 
before the committee, you admit you have done something wrong. So they have to
"Sorry, if I'm meant to apologize I do so," Ayako nodded unassertively.
punish you but *may* only reprimand you because of your apology. With your
 
answer, they have to resolve on what you said was really intended as a threat.
"No, no, not at all," Deunan calmed her, "if you apologize before the
And I don't think all the committee members are decided on that."
committee, you admit you have done something wrong. So they have to punish you
</p>
but *may* only reprimand you because of your apology. With your answer, they
<p style="margin-top: 2ex; text-indent: 3em;">
have to resolve on what you said was really intended as a threat. And I don't
think all the committee members are decided on that."
 
 
Still astonished, Deunan wondered loudly: "I don't get it. When I came here you
Still astonished, Deunan wondered loudly: "I don't get it. When I came here you
could barely stand on your own feet, and now you're talking yourself out of
could barely stand on your own feet, and now you're talking yourself out of
trouble without even blinking an eye. Why all the crying? Why all this nonsense
trouble without even blinking an eye. Why all the crying? Why all this nonsense
talk?" - "I... I don't know..." Ayako struggled for an answer. "No-no-no-no-no,
talk?"
it's just this insecurity which makes you break down," Deunan interpreted
 
Ayako's former reactions, "and we'll have to fix this." She caught at her
"I... I don't know..." Ayako struggled for an answer.
subordinate's shoulders and gazed right into her eyes, "You feel insecure, why?
 
Because I'm here?" - "Ye...Yes, Ma'am," Ayako shuddered. "But you stopped
"No-no-no-no-no, it's just this insecurity which makes you break down," Deunan
feeling insecure when I told you what to do?" Deunan wondered. "I... I haven't
interpreted Ayako's former reactions, "and we'll have to fix this." She caught
thought about it," Ayako tried to avoid eye contact. Deunan realized the
at her subordinate's shoulders and gazed right into her eyes, "You feel
conversation wound up in circles again. "Constable Ontemba," she calmly said
insecure, why? Because I'm here?"
while strengthening the grip on Ayako's shoulders, "I'm here to prepare you for
 
a challenging situation. See it as a personal briefing. This is a good thing. Do
"Ye...Yes, Ma'am," she shuddered.
you understand?" - "Yes, Ma'am," Ayako still avoided eye contact with her boss.
 
- "Hey, look at me when you are talking to me," Deunan angrily responded. She
"But you stopped feeling insecure when I told you what to do?" Deunan wondered.
 
"I... I haven't thought about it," Ayako tried to avoid eye contact.
 
Deunan realized the conversation wound up in circles again. "Constable
Ontemba," she calmly said while strengthening the grip on Ayako's shoulders,
"I'm here to prepare you for a challenging situation. See it as a personal
briefing. This is a good thing. Do you understand?"
 
"Yes, Ma'am," Ayako still avoided eye contact with her boss.
 
"Hey, look at me when you are talking to me," Deunan angrily responded. She
concerned her: "I want you to be grateful for my assistance, let alone waiting
concerned her: "I want you to be grateful for my assistance, let alone waiting
for an apology for all this drivel." At last, and still shuddering, Ayako did
for an apology for all this drivel."
what her boss expected from her, "Sorry for my misconduct. Thank you for
 
briefing me." - "Very good, that's how I like you to be. Just you have to THINK
At last, and still shuddering, Ayako did what her boss expected from her,
this way, not only play it, understood?" - "UNDERSTOOD, MA'AM," Ayako replied
"Sorry for my misconduct. Thank you for briefing me."
loudly.
 
</p>
"Very good, that's how I like you to be. Just you have to THINK this way, not
<p style="margin-top: 2ex; text-indent: 3em;">
only play it, understood?"
 
"UNDERSTOOD, MA'AM," Ayako replied loudly.
 
 
"I think we are done. But remember to behave this way at the hearing, too. Or
"I think we are done. But remember to behave this way at the hearing, too. Or
best, ALL THE TIME! The hearing is end of next week, I call you later for the
best, ALL THE TIME! The hearing is end of next week, I call you later for the
appointed time." Deunan let go of Ayako and headed for the door. "One last thing
appointed time." Deunan let go of Ayako and headed for the door. "One last
before I go," she continued, "I orginally had the idea to suspend you from
thing before I leave," she continued, "I originally had the idea to suspend you
service until the hearing to show how concerned we are, but now with your savvy
from service until the hearing to show how concerned we are, but now with your
answering this doesn't seem right anymore. Anyway, the vacation schedule has
savvy answering this doesn't seem right anymore. Anyway, the vacation schedule
been changed already, so please take some days off until end of next week." -
has been changed already, so please take some days off until end of next week."
"And I thought you would fire me...," Ayako mumbled - "Ksshsssh, don't you dare
 
to start it over again," Deunan stopped her, "Even if whole ESWAT should be
"And I thought you would fire me...," Ayako mumbled
dumped, you gave a pledge to the people. This pledge is good for life." That
 
sounded pathetic, but maybe it was needed to keep the girl on track. "I hope I
"Ksshsssh, don't you dare to start it over again," Deunan stopped her, "Even if
can go now and leave you alone. I, ...no, WE count on you." Deunan said goodbye
whole ESWAT should be dumped, you gave a pledge to the people. This pledge is
and left, without waiting for an answer; Ayako would be alright.
good for life." That sounded pathetic, but maybe it was needed to keep the girl
</p>
on track. "I hope I can go now and leave you alone. I, ...no, WE count on you."
<p style="margin-top: 4ex; text-indent: 3em;">
Deunan said goodbye and left, without waiting for an answer; Ayako would be
alright.
 
 
The sudden escape of her boss left Ayako confused. She waved after her, but
The sudden escape of her boss left Ayako confused. She waved after her, but
Deunan had already vanished into the darkness of the corridor. Ayako closed then
Deunan had already vanished into the darkness of the corridor. Ayako closed
door and went back to her armchair. What exactly had happened? Her boss wanted
then door and went back to her armchair. What exactly had happened? Her boss
her to be prepared, she insisted on that more than enough. But she left in the
wanted her to be prepared, she insisted on that more than enough. But she left
midst of action in Ayako's view. So what was her turn now? Her thoughts revolved
in the midst of action in Ayako's view. So what was her turn now? Her thoughts
around what just happened and became more and more loose with each
revolved around what just happened and became more and more loose with each
recapitulation.
recapitulation.
</p>
 
<p style="margin-top: 2ex; text-indent: 3em;">
 
After a while of thoughtless tinkering with her flowers, she remembered about
After a while of thoughtless tinkering with her flowers, she remembered about
what Deunan had interrupted her at: the appointment tommorow, she should bring a
what Deunan had interrupted her at: the appointment tomorrow, she should bring a
colleague! Ayako picked up her mobile phone and pressed a speed dial. "Boyd," a
colleague! Ayako picked up her mobile phone and pressed a speed dial.
male voice on the other end of the line announced. "Hi Thomas, it's Ayako," she
 
answered. "Hi Ayako, what's up?" Thomas greeted back shortly, "anything
"Boyd," a male voice on the other end of the line announced.
wrong with you?" - "No," Ayako replied, "...why do you think it's something
 
wrong with me when I call you?" Thomas was stumped: "Uhgnnn. Usual..ly... ," he
"Hi Thomas, it's Ayako," she answered.
started stuttering, but Ayako already lost her temper: "I'm fine, forget
 
it!" she closed the call and hung up.
"Hi Ayako, what's up?" Thomas greeted back shortly, "anything wrong with you?"
</p>
 
<p style="margin-top: 4ex; text-indent: 3em;">
"No," Ayako replied, "...why do you think it's something wrong with me when I
call you?"
 
Thomas was stumped: "Uhgnnn. Usual..ly... ," he started stuttering, but Ayako
already lost her temper:
 
"I'm fine, forget it!" she closed the call and hung up.
 
 
"Fff, that girl got some nerves," Thomas said aloud. He could be sure the
"Fff, that girl got some nerves," Thomas said aloud. He could be sure the
plastic shards around him would keep their mouth shut. Same for the nuts and
plastic shards around him would keep their mouth shut. Same for the nuts and
Line 392: Line 511:
the phone on a free spot between two of the flatscreens. All this was his
the phone on a free spot between two of the flatscreens. All this was his
personal realm.
personal realm.
</p>
 
<p style="margin-top: 2ex; text-indent: 3em;">
 
Quietly, he continued his work on the miniature servo when the phone bugged him
Quietly, he continued his work on the miniature servo when the phone bugged him
again. "AWW, SHIT," Thomas exclaimed as soon he had recognized the ring tone.
again. "AWW, SHIT," Thomas exclaimed as soon he had recognized the ring tone.
The girl again. Would this ever stop? "Hi Ayako," he started, "so I heard you
The girl again. Would this ever stop? "Hi Ayako," he started, "so I heard you
are fine. How may I be at your service then?" - "I'm sorry," a soft female voice
are fine. How may I be at your service then?"
replied, "you are right I only call you when I need your help." - "So
 
something's broken after all?" Thomas asked, but Ayako denied immediately: "No,
"I'm sorry," a soft female voice replied, "you are right I only call you when I
I'm fine. Still I need your help." - "Hmmnn, now it gets interesting," Thomas
need your help."
spoke into the phone while he was fiddeling with the servo again. "You remember
 
the children I'd saved from that robber last week?" she continued. "I only heard
"So something's broken after all?" Thomas asked, but Ayako denied immediately:
you'd saved some children by hammering the wall into that guy," Thomas answered
 
her while he was watching the servo moving. It flipped over and a small spring
"No, I'm fine. Still I need your help."
hurtled off. "NOO, NOT AGAIN!" he yelled, starteling Ayako on the other end of
 
the line: "Thomas, are you even listening to me?" she asked, upset again. "Sorry
"Hmmnn, now it gets interesting," Thomas spoke into the phone while he was
Ayako," he excused himself, "I'm working on a delicate mechanism right now,
fiddeling with the servo again.
still I take time to answer your call." - Ayako was pissed: "IF YOU DECIDE TO
 
PICK UP MY CALL, WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR FULL ATTENTION?" "Please?" she
"You remember the children I'd saved from that robber last week?" she
added quickly, in a much softer tone. Being fussy on talking clear words
continued.
himself, Thomas couldn't refuse that request: "Okay, bring it on. What do you
 
want?" - "To make it short: I want you to attend me when I go to these
"I only heard you'd saved some children by hammering the wall into that guy,"
children's school class tomorrow," she explained. "Whoa, that's... ," Thomas
Thomas answered her while he was watching the servo moving. It flipped over and
struggled for words, so she continued: "Some show-and-tell piece. Their teacher
a small spring hurtled off. "NOO, NOT AGAIN!" he yelled, starteling Ayako on
heard they had been saved by a policewoman and she wanted the whole class to
the other end of the line.
meet that policewoman in person. To work against gender bias or something like
 
that, I think." - "And she knows you... ," Thomas inquired. - "No. Dunno. At
"Thomas, are you even listening to me?" she asked, upset again.
least she was pushy enough to have our dopey PR department give her my private
 
phone number," Ayako continued. - "Aww, that's really stupid," Thomas agreed,
"Sorry Ayako," he excused himself, "I'm working on a delicate mechanism right
"and why I should be with you? To give you some rest?" - "I think so," she went
now, still I take time to answer your call."
on, "maybe you could tell about what a police technician does. So it's not all
 
about sneaking into a good position and waiting for the strike to make." -
Ayako was pissed: "IF YOU DECIDE TO PICK UP MY CALL, WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE ME
YOUR FULL ATTENTION?" - "Please?" she added quickly, in a much softer tone.
 
Being fussy on talking clear words himself, Thomas couldn't refuse that
request: "Okay, bring it on. What do you want?"
 
"To make it short: I want you to attend me when I go to these children's school
class tomorrow," she explained.
 
"Whoa, that's... ," he struggled for words, so she continued.
 
"Some show-and-tell piece. Their teacher heard they had been saved by a
policewoman and she wanted the whole class to meet that policewoman in person.
To work against gender bias or something like that, I think."
 
"And she knows you... ," Thomas inquired.
 
"No. Dunno. At least she was pushy enough to have our dopey PR department give
her my private phone number," she continued.
 
"Aww, that's really stupid," he agreed, "and why I should be with you? To give
you some rest?"
 
"I think so," she went on, "maybe you could tell about what a police technician
does. So it's not all about sneaking into a good position and waiting for the
strike to make."
 
"Yeah, I don't think that's suitable for school kids," Thomas concluded. "Hey,
"Yeah, I don't think that's suitable for school kids," Thomas concluded. "Hey,
don't steal my thunder!" Ayako giggled, but he quickly assured her: "Won't
don't steal my thunder!" Ayako giggled.
happen! Not possible, I think."
 
</p>
"Won't happen! Not possible, I think," he quickly assured her.
<p style="margin-top: 2ex; text-indent: 3em;">
 
"Oh, and you have to pick me up!" Ayako added, "tomorrow at 0800. Okay?" -
 
"Okay," Thomas confirmed, "0800 at your place. Better go to bed soon." - "Yeah,
"Oh, and you have to pick me up!" Ayako added, "tomorrow at 0800. Okay?"
thanks for remembering me. You are the one who's always playing around past
 
midnight," she answered, but Thomas wasn't as sheepish she had thought:
 
"Working! And you'd be in luck more than once because of that." - "Whatever,
"Okay," Thomas confirmed, "0800 at your place. Better go to bed soon."
bye," she ended the call quickly. He silently put back the phone on its
 
cradle and turned back to his work
"Yeah, thanks for remembering me. You are the one who's always playing around
</p>
past midnight," she answered, but Thomas wasn't as sheepish she had thought.
<p style="margin-top: 2ex; text-indent: 3em;">
 
"Working! And you'd be in luck more than once because of that."
 
"Whatever, bye," she ended the call quickly. He silently put back the phone on
its cradle and turned back to his work.
 
 
"C'mon, little springy, where are you?" he chanted while digging into the pile
"C'mon, little springy, where are you?" he chanted while digging into the pile
on his workbench. That could be a long haul.
on his workbench. That could be a long haul.
</p>


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<div style="float: left;">[[戦闘機械 綾子 - Battlemachine Ayako/First Encounter of another Kind|First Encounter of another Kind]]</div>
<div style="float: left;">[[戦闘機械 綾子 - Battlemachine Ayako/First Encounter of another Kind|First Encounter of another Kind]]</div>
<div style="float: right;">[[戦闘機械 綾子 - Battlemachine Ayako/Interlude|Chapter 3 - Interlude]]</div>
<div style="float: right;">[[戦闘機械 綾子 - Battlemachine Ayako/Interlude|Chapter 3 - Interlude]]</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40em; margin-right: 40em;">[[Stories|Back to the story archive]]</div>
<div style="margin-left: 40em; margin-right: 40em; white-space: nowrap;">[[戦闘機械_綾子_-_Battlemachine_Ayako#The_Story_thus_far|Chapter Index]]</div>


[[Category:Darkbutflashy]]
[[Category:Darkbutflashy]]
[[Category:Stories]]
[[Category:Stories]]
[[Category:Transformation]]
[[Category:Transformation]]

Latest revision as of 22:04, 23 October 2019

/-------------->----->
| 戦闘機械 綾子
| Sentō Kikai Ayako
| Battlemachine Ayako
+--------------<-----------<
| Written by darkbutflashy
| Edited by R.Daneel
| Originally released on fembotwiki
\---------------<-----------<-------<------<

2 Things to remember

"Do you really think it's a good idea?" Ayako spoke into her cell phone doubtfully.

"No worries, just be there!" the woman on the other end assured her.

"Well, ok. . . . I'll come along."

"Thanks! Oh, and bring a colleague with you. It's easier when you aren't the focus of attention all the time," her inviter advised her.

"Understood!" Ayako answered.

The way she said it challenged the woman on the phone to banter her in return: "Oh, now you really sound like a tough policewoman. Do it again!"

"Yes, Ma'am!" Ayako snappily answered, chuckling immediately afterwards.

"Glad to hear you're looking forward to the fun tomorrow. See ya!" the voice wished her goodbye.

"Wait, I . . ." Ayako wanted to interrupt but the woman on the other end had already hung up.

She wasn't sure whether she wanted to go through with this. She had been uneasy about the outcome of the performance review already, too nervous to speak before a group of people. If ESWAT was going to be dumped, all her efforts to become a reputable policewoman would turn to nil. Frightened about the idea that it would be mainly her fault if it came to that, she found herself muttering, "No. . . . NO. . . . Don't think like that!" But it was her fault, at least partly. She hadn't acted professional. It was rage at best, more likely rampage.

Needing some distraction from those bad feelings, Ayako turned on the TV. More bored than really interested, she zapped through the channels to find something she liked, something funny or at least nice. Her sight quickly left the screen and wandered through the room without a real aim, resting on the plants, the wooden furniture, the fine white drapes, the window . . . the scenery outside. She got up and went on the balcony to see the last glimpse of sunset. The horizon was a bright blue-yellowish stripe, the sky already dark and the city below her the usual sea of lights. Yes, she had a fairly nice place to live in, though it only was a council flat at the 22nd floor of a large residential compound. Not in one of the three arcologies of course, no policeman could afford one of those luxury apartments. However, the view of the city was great from her flat too, and it wasn't noisy at all.

The wind dried the tears on her face quickly and she felt the burn from it. It was better to go back inside. Ayako headed for the bathroom to wash it off, but just before reaching the door she hesitated to step inside.

'It' was inside.

'It' was a wall-to-wall mirror. When she was originally looking for a place to live the bathroom mirror was what made the final decision. It was so big and the light so soft she felt like some model in a studio when she did her hair and make-up. But now, every view into that mirror gave her a shiver.

For the outside viewer, Ayako was a pretty young woman. From the eyes in her perfect round face one could have assumed she was of asian origin, but her long, brunette hair and the long, pointed nose told another story. She had only very mild make-up. Too bad she had not smiled at that moment, it would had been one of those faces you cannot forget.

But there was no use avoiding it. Thanks to the distance to the door, the mirror had a clear view of her. Under the door frame stood a young woman in some sort of armor, closely but not entirely resembling a biker's dress: her belly, her hips, her arms, even her neck were covered in some black enameled rubber-like material. Her thighs and knees were black too, but there were some hard shell plates attached to them, protectors presumably. The shinpads covering her lower legs were gray, same with the shoulder pads. Right down at the bottom she wore hard, spiky boots, black of course, with ridiculously high heels. Coming to the more dubious parts of the outfit, her breasts were covered by something which could have counted as a bra worn outside if it weren't made of the same hard, shiny, gray material the other protectors were made from. A

name plate below that piece announced the name of the freak:
Ayako
Mirrors do not lie. They just reflect what anyone

could easily see. A freak. But that wasn't what Ayako actually wanted others to see in her. More like a considerate person. Someone to call for help. A policewoman.

She began to cry again and rushed into the room, ripped the faucet open and bent down into the washstand to squirt water on her face. A lot of water. She was frozen for almost an eternity, and when she finally raised, she obviously avoided to look at the mirror. Trying to shield herself from the reflection, she raised her hands and rested her head in them. Ayako couldn't avoid to peek through the finger gaps. Small drops of water glared like diamonds on her hands. Shiny, black hands. Slowly, she bent the fingers and let the fingertips slide over her eyes. She could feel their sleekness, the coldness of their touch. And she could feel the texture of her skin sliding beneath through them. These fingertips were hers.

Thinking about it may have depressed her again but the ringing of the doorbell freed Ayako from her agony. She took a towel and sketchily dried her face.

"Deunan!" the voice on the entry phone bellowed.

Ayako followed the implied command and pressed the buzzer. 'Damn, I forgot to give her instructions on how to find the apartment on the floor,' she thought. 'I better go catch her at the lift.'

Rattling and swinging like a fun ride, the lift approached its destination at the 22nd floor. At least it was fast.

"Phew, what a worn-out building," Deunan mumbled. "I thought she could afford a more decent place."

When the lift halted, the rumble from the air conditioning immediately took its place in the orchestra, at only a slightly lower volume. Deunan left the car and, as expected, she wasn't prepared for a labyrinth. The 22nd floor was a maze of tiny little passages all alike. Numerous narrow corridors led to flats, looking from outside all alike too. There was no chance for a first-time visitor to find the correct flat without an extensive search.

Deunan picked a random corridor, as they all looked the same anyway. After some turns, the lighting was broken.


"Now it gets creepy," she cheered. Deunan sure wasn't the kind of woman which could be frightened easily. To her amusement she could hear a slow clicking from behind. It even stopped when she had stopped to listen carefully. At a junction she hid behind the corner to wait for her follower, who obviously hadn't noticed her dodging move in the dim light. Deunan grabbed the person as soon it had reached the intersection.

"So, what a stupid game is this?" she shouted with a gleeful voice.

The woman skrieked loudly. Deunan let her go immediately, realizing it wasn't Ayako as she had expected.

"I'm sorry, I haven't meant to..." she tried to explain.

"Who are you, assaulting people in the half-light? This isn't the 'house of horrors', do you understand?" the woman shouted.

"I'm sorry Ma'am," Deunan tried to apologize. It was odd as the woman was clearly younger than her. But she was right, one shouldn't make such teenager jokes with strangers.

Trying to get away from the awful situation, Deunan turned around.

"UWAAAAHHH!" This time it was herself who was shrieking. Centimeters before her a bulky black figure had hoicked her arms trying to grab for *her*. Only a second later, when Deunan found out it was Ayako, her pulse got back to normal.

"Hi, Mrs. Janicki", Ayako greeted her neighbor, waving waggishly.

"Hello, Ms. Boer," the woman greeted back seriously, "could you please tell your friend? colleague? to grow up!"

"Oh, she's not my colleague but my..."

"Ssshhhh," Deunan stopped her.

"Yeah, what?" Mrs. Janicki harped on it.

"Girlfriend," Deunan blasted, "Problem?"

Mrs. Janicki squinted, eyeballing Deunan. Then she spoke to Ayako. "I had no idea you're into older *women*. Have fun!" she cheered and left the scene for her apartment, which was just two doors away.

The two "girlfriends" used the other passage to go to Ayako's place. It was narrow so Deunan followed her subordinate.

"Was this neccessary? Now she thinks I'm a lesbian," Ayako complained.

"Problem?" Deunan smiled spitefully, "Look, if you hadn't stopped me, I would have got away without that trick."

"Look who's talking," Ayako replied.

Deunan tried to apologize: "I just wanted her not to drill any further so I had to make up something which is more intriguing than a police chief assaulting people in her spare time... ...and I only had one second."

"Ok, ok, excuse accepted," Ayako answered. She wondered why her boss had even showed up at her home. She had expected Deunan to chew her out at the office for her misconduct. Was it that bad she brings the pink slip by herself to make it less awkward? Walking a straight line wasn't easy thinking of this.

Deunan noticed Ayako's insecure steps. "Something wrong?" she asked.

"No, it's nothing," was the reply.

"You walk like a drunk," Deunan insisted.

"I'm a little stressed, okay?" Ayako fluttered.

"Well, we all are," Deunan ended this fruitless topic, "by the way, isn't it a bit flashy to go out like this in public?"

Ayako was speechless when she realized she had left her flat without covering herself into a coat. Damn hurry! And the boss had noticed.

"What's with Mrs. Janicki? She doesn't seem to be astounded?" Deunan drilled deeper, "So your cover-up is a fuck-up, too?"

"No, no, Mrs. Janicki is thinking I'm into biker clothes," Ayako tried to excuse it.

"So first it's wearing funky biker clothes at home, then dating older women... now she *must* think you're a real freak! Sorry," Deunan snickered. Unseen by her, Ayako had to swallow another burst of tears.

The two arrived at the flat a second later, when Deunan noticed her subordinate was near collapsing. Ayako barely managed to type the doorlock code, then let Deunan and herself in.

"I'm... I'm sorry," Deunan tried to calm her.

"No it's nothing boss, just take a seat", Ayako mumbled, and turned off the TV quietly. The biggest blow was yet to come anyway.


Deunan had to break the ice somehow and looked around the living room.

"You have a nice home," she complimented her, "what's these flowers, they are beautiful!"

"Cyclamen," Akayo willingly took the chance for smalltalk, "I like them because they don't need much care. Just a cool, bright place and some water. Same with the Fuchsia over there."

"Oh, yes, these are pretty, too," Deunan took their smell, "and they have a nice scent. But only pretty mild."

"That's mostly because I'm not heating much, only about eighteen degrees. You know, I'm heating...," Ayako explained hastily, "...if I had known you would come over, I had..."

"No, it's ok," Deunan interrupted her, "I just keep my jacket on. Anything to make you comfortable."

When she aimed to flop on a leather armchair nonchalantly, Ayako tried to hold her back: "Ah, not there," but it was too late.

"Ouch!" Deunan squealed quietly when the chair striked her rear.

"Sorry, should have told you to take seat on the sofa," Ayako advised her boss, "I had the chair reinforced. Something to drink? Green tea?"

"Oh thanks, green tea is fine, but not too much trouble," Deunan took the offer and Ayako left for the kitchen. Time for Deunan to examine the armchair.

"No trouble, I have it always prepared," she shouted from the kitchen and came back immediately with a teapot and mugs in her hands.

Caught red-handed, Deunan explained her interest in it: "a stylish chair, like all your furniture. Our sofas and chairs all look pretty ratty once Briareos had sat in them for a while."

"Yeah, I had that problem, too," Ayako sat down on her chair slowly, and took a sip of tea: "when it was nearly worn out I didn't want to scrap it, so I took it to a carpenter and he added a metal frame along the wood. And of course, he had removed all the springs and had put a thin gel cushion on the seating instead."

"So now one need REAL buns of steel to sit in it?" Deunan joked. Ayako blushed, and Deunan noticed she made her subordinate uneasy again. "Sorry, I meant... ," she wanted to apologize, but Ayako was already yelling.

"I know what you meant!" - "I...I'm sorry, Ma'am," she continued, daunted by her own emotional release.

Deunan hadn't expected such an reaction and spluttered an excuse herself: "I'm sorry, I'd been sometimes said to have 'buns of steel' myself, yet I failed your chair. It was a bad joke. Sorry." She took an endless number of small sips from her tea mug to drown out the following silence.


"To bring us back to topic," Deunan neglected her fruitless attempt of chatting, "I think you already know why I'm here." Silence took the room again, and Deunan noticed her subordinate was still feeling discomposed.

"Kicking my butt," Ayako replied in a hushed tone. Even knowing Ayako's insecurity for a while, Deunan was still perplexed by the whole difference between her apperance and her character. It was surreal to see this bulky, metal-clad, power-boosted woman in such a depressed mood. Not to mention kicking her... Deunan had to disregard the thought.

"Well, yes, I have serious business with you," Deunan continued, discarding the setting, "we have this performance review running, and your performance was..."

"Bad", Ayako sniveled. "No!" Deunan exclaimed, "Not bad, but what you've said to that hostagetaker will get us into trouble," she continued. "Lance suggested I should talk to you beforehand."

"Beforehand?" Ayako was puzzled.

"There will be an official hearing about the performance review and your 'great monologue' is in the files. Lance thinks the committee will be nitpicking on this. At least the whole idea of this performance review was to dump ESWAT, we think."

"I, ... I don't even remember what I've said then," Ayako trembled.

Deunan refreshed her memory: "it was along the lines of 'I certainly had choked you to death if you have had killed the boy.' Certainly nothing a policeman should ever do. Neither say."


Ayako bursted into tears again. "I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to...," she hesitated to say, "...I'm not really a policeman...," and sobbed again, "...I'm just a ki..ll..er...," she cried out loud.

Deunan had to stop this nonsense. Immediately. "Constable Boer. No. Constable Ontemba, spring to attention!" she commanded. ESWAT wasn't exactly trained like military drill, but Ayako vaguely knew what she was expected to do. She leaped to her feet, took a straight posture, put her hands on her side and ... finally tried to hold back her tears. Deunan was relieved she found a cure against the continous blubbering. No way to talk in plain language with such a person.


"Okay, constable Ontemba, the reason I'm here is to prepare you for the coming hearing on the performance review. Understood?" Deunan reasoned. Ayako was still in shock about the command. "Understood?" Deunan repeated.

"Understood," Ayako replied quietly.

"Louder, I cannot hear you!" Deunan commanded.

"UNDERSTOOD!" she replied.

"Good. The most time of the hearing your attendance is not required. You will only be called as a witness when the committee decides it needs you. Understood?"

"UNDERSTOOD!" Ayako replied again.

Deunan continued: "You will tell the truth, no strings attached. Understood?"

"UNDERSTOOD!"

"Good. And you won't collapse and talk gibberish about being a killer or similar nonsense. Understood?" Deunan commanded. Ayako trembled again. "Constable Ontemba, have you understood?" Deunan asked again. No answer, Ayako looked as she was turned into stone. If there were not the tears in her eyes.


It was hard for Deunan to keep her nerves. She touched Ayako's left shoulderplate where she had the ESWAT coat of arms embossed into: "Ayako, you know what this sign on you represents?"

"It represents the Olympus ESWAT police force. To serve and protect the people," Ayako replied calmly but irritated.

"Yes. But that's only the half of what it means," Deunan explained.

Ayako still hadn't understood.

"This sign ON YOU represents YOU being a member of the Olympus ESWAT police force. YOU serve and protect the people," Deunan exclaimed.

"I still don't understand", Ayako pled, "I know this is my duty. Which I failed." Finally Deunan became angry: "THE HELL, GIRL, YOU HAVEN'T FAILED! ENOUGH OF THIS BULLSHIT!" She grabbed Ayako by her shoulders to shake her back and forth; no use, Deunan could have tried with a pillar instead. "You cannot fail," Deunan continued much more calmly, "you cannot fail as long as you pledge yourself to protect and serve the people. Your intent is what counts," she continued further, "Just learn from the mistakes you've made. You won't become better from grieving. Do you understand this?"

Ayako was really moved by her boss encouraging her so much. "Yes, Ma'am, I understood," she acknowledged.

"Well, then: WHO serves and protects the people?" Deunan prompted.

"I do," Ayako replied.

"Good. Why do you use force?" was the next question.

"To protect people," Ayako replied.

"That's fine for me," Deunan comforted her, "and what's the difference between force and violence?"

"The intent," was Ayako's reply.

"So you remember police academy well, I see," Deunan stated and took a deep breath, "So now for the final quiz, it should be easy for you to take: why do you have choked that man?"

Ayako gulped. "To protect the children from his death threat."

"Ah," Deunan patronized her, "wasn't there a less violent way to stop him?"

Ayako reflected a moment: "I've used force, not violence."

"Hmm. Then: was there no way to stop him with less force?"

"No. There wasn't," she insisted.

Deunan was delighted and asked the final, most agitating question: "Why do you have threatened the man with death?".

It was hard for Ayako to stay calm. After some seconds she came up with an answer: "I haven't threatened him. I said he's lucky because I *won't* choke him to death because he had shot me instead of the boy."


Deunan was astounded about this last answer: "Huh, some cold-blooded fish you are. I've expected you to apologize."

"Sorry, if I'm meant to apologize I do so," Ayako nodded unassertively.

"No, no, not at all," Deunan calmed her, "if you apologize before the committee, you admit you have done something wrong. So they have to punish you but *may* only reprimand you because of your apology. With your answer, they have to resolve on what you said was really intended as a threat. And I don't think all the committee members are decided on that."


Still astonished, Deunan wondered loudly: "I don't get it. When I came here you could barely stand on your own feet, and now you're talking yourself out of trouble without even blinking an eye. Why all the crying? Why all this nonsense talk?"

"I... I don't know..." Ayako struggled for an answer.

"No-no-no-no-no, it's just this insecurity which makes you break down," Deunan interpreted Ayako's former reactions, "and we'll have to fix this." She caught at her subordinate's shoulders and gazed right into her eyes, "You feel insecure, why? Because I'm here?"

"Ye...Yes, Ma'am," she shuddered.

"But you stopped feeling insecure when I told you what to do?" Deunan wondered.

"I... I haven't thought about it," Ayako tried to avoid eye contact.

Deunan realized the conversation wound up in circles again. "Constable Ontemba," she calmly said while strengthening the grip on Ayako's shoulders, "I'm here to prepare you for a challenging situation. See it as a personal briefing. This is a good thing. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Ayako still avoided eye contact with her boss.

"Hey, look at me when you are talking to me," Deunan angrily responded. She concerned her: "I want you to be grateful for my assistance, let alone waiting for an apology for all this drivel."

At last, and still shuddering, Ayako did what her boss expected from her, "Sorry for my misconduct. Thank you for briefing me."

"Very good, that's how I like you to be. Just you have to THINK this way, not only play it, understood?"

"UNDERSTOOD, MA'AM," Ayako replied loudly.


"I think we are done. But remember to behave this way at the hearing, too. Or best, ALL THE TIME! The hearing is end of next week, I call you later for the appointed time." Deunan let go of Ayako and headed for the door. "One last thing before I leave," she continued, "I originally had the idea to suspend you from service until the hearing to show how concerned we are, but now with your savvy answering this doesn't seem right anymore. Anyway, the vacation schedule has been changed already, so please take some days off until end of next week."

"And I thought you would fire me...," Ayako mumbled

"Ksshsssh, don't you dare to start it over again," Deunan stopped her, "Even if whole ESWAT should be dumped, you gave a pledge to the people. This pledge is good for life." That sounded pathetic, but maybe it was needed to keep the girl on track. "I hope I can go now and leave you alone. I, ...no, WE count on you." Deunan said goodbye and left, without waiting for an answer; Ayako would be alright.


The sudden escape of her boss left Ayako confused. She waved after her, but Deunan had already vanished into the darkness of the corridor. Ayako closed then door and went back to her armchair. What exactly had happened? Her boss wanted her to be prepared, she insisted on that more than enough. But she left in the midst of action in Ayako's view. So what was her turn now? Her thoughts revolved around what just happened and became more and more loose with each recapitulation.


After a while of thoughtless tinkering with her flowers, she remembered about what Deunan had interrupted her at: the appointment tomorrow, she should bring a colleague! Ayako picked up her mobile phone and pressed a speed dial.

"Boyd," a male voice on the other end of the line announced.

"Hi Thomas, it's Ayako," she answered.

"Hi Ayako, what's up?" Thomas greeted back shortly, "anything wrong with you?"

"No," Ayako replied, "...why do you think it's something wrong with me when I call you?"

Thomas was stumped: "Uhgnnn. Usual..ly... ," he started stuttering, but Ayako already lost her temper:

"I'm fine, forget it!" she closed the call and hung up.


"Fff, that girl got some nerves," Thomas said aloud. He could be sure the plastic shards around him would keep their mouth shut. Same for the nuts and bolts, metal rods and broken circuit boards on the desk. Only a small spot on the huge workbench was more or less clean. A tiny mechanism mounted on top of a small support was laying there, various wires running to a circuit on a prototyping board and further to some power supplies and measuring equipment buried in the heap. Thomas turned his chair around to another desk and placed the phone on a free spot between two of the flatscreens. All this was his personal realm.


Quietly, he continued his work on the miniature servo when the phone bugged him again. "AWW, SHIT," Thomas exclaimed as soon he had recognized the ring tone. The girl again. Would this ever stop? "Hi Ayako," he started, "so I heard you are fine. How may I be at your service then?"

"I'm sorry," a soft female voice replied, "you are right I only call you when I need your help."

"So something's broken after all?" Thomas asked, but Ayako denied immediately:

"No, I'm fine. Still I need your help."

"Hmmnn, now it gets interesting," Thomas spoke into the phone while he was fiddeling with the servo again.

"You remember the children I'd saved from that robber last week?" she continued.

"I only heard you'd saved some children by hammering the wall into that guy," Thomas answered her while he was watching the servo moving. It flipped over and a small spring hurtled off. "NOO, NOT AGAIN!" he yelled, starteling Ayako on the other end of the line.

"Thomas, are you even listening to me?" she asked, upset again.

"Sorry Ayako," he excused himself, "I'm working on a delicate mechanism right now, still I take time to answer your call."

Ayako was pissed: "IF YOU DECIDE TO PICK UP MY CALL, WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR FULL ATTENTION?" - "Please?" she added quickly, in a much softer tone.

Being fussy on talking clear words himself, Thomas couldn't refuse that request: "Okay, bring it on. What do you want?"

"To make it short: I want you to attend me when I go to these children's school class tomorrow," she explained.

"Whoa, that's... ," he struggled for words, so she continued.

"Some show-and-tell piece. Their teacher heard they had been saved by a policewoman and she wanted the whole class to meet that policewoman in person. To work against gender bias or something like that, I think."

"And she knows you... ," Thomas inquired.

"No. Dunno. At least she was pushy enough to have our dopey PR department give her my private phone number," she continued.

"Aww, that's really stupid," he agreed, "and why I should be with you? To give you some rest?"

"I think so," she went on, "maybe you could tell about what a police technician does. So it's not all about sneaking into a good position and waiting for the strike to make."

"Yeah, I don't think that's suitable for school kids," Thomas concluded. "Hey, don't steal my thunder!" Ayako giggled.

"Won't happen! Not possible, I think," he quickly assured her.


"Oh, and you have to pick me up!" Ayako added, "tomorrow at 0800. Okay?"


"Okay," Thomas confirmed, "0800 at your place. Better go to bed soon."

"Yeah, thanks for remembering me. You are the one who's always playing around past midnight," she answered, but Thomas wasn't as sheepish she had thought.

"Working! And you'd be in luck more than once because of that."

"Whatever, bye," she ended the call quickly. He silently put back the phone on its cradle and turned back to his work.


"C'mon, little springy, where are you?" he chanted while digging into the pile on his workbench. That could be a long haul.

Along the story

First Encounter of another Kind
Chapter 3 - Interlude
Chapter Index