HOME | DD

Description
Chapter 16:  Glitches (What happy ending?)
*This chapter will continue the flashback from the previous one*
Walking down the street with her mom, Katie was positively ecstatic.  She was wearing her best outfit (Handpicked with the help of her mom).  A sky-blue sun-hat on her head, (Straw-hat, for those of you who don't know what's it's really called) simple tennis shoes, a skirt that wasn't pink, but not quite red (going halfway down from her knee), and a grey t-shirt that had the words 'Star Blazer' on it in a red and gold mix.  (You can already tell she's a bit of a tomboy, though only slightly)
"Mommy?"
"Yes, Katie?"
"What kind of Su…Soul Partner do you think she will be?  I hope it's a bird!"
"Well, now, don't get too excited, sweetie.  She could be a caterpillar, for all you know."
(Katie's Mom- Description: Same hair color as Katie, keeps it short.  Eyes: Same as Katie.  Wearing faux pearl earrings.  Clothes:  Basic white top/shirt (No midriff exposed)…and wearing a blue jacket with two small balls of fire on the cuffs and on the back of her shoulders.  Also wearing long jeans/pants, with VERY slight bell bottom, starting at the ankle.  Also wearing black sandals with crisscrossing red and green stripes.  No nail polish on toenails.  Very faint amount of gold nail polish on fingernails.  No lipstick.  Has white handbag with brick red straps.  *Hope that's enough of a description*)
Rapidly shaking her head, Katie exclaimed, "I wanna bird!  A really pretty bird!  Like a Raven (Raven), or a Quail!"
"You don't always get to decide, Katie.  You can just wish for it to happen.  It was the same way for me and Helen."
"Really?" asked Katie, eyes wide.
Nodding, Katie's mom continued.
"Yep.  When I first got her, I always thought she would be something like a ladybug or maybe a turtle.  Just like you'll be, I was surprised when she turned out to be a mouse." She chuckled. "I can still remember your grandma's reaction when she saw her.  She jumped up on the nearest table and began shrieking like there was no tomorrow!"
Giggling incessantly at the image of her grandma doing that, Katie asked,  "What happened next?"
"Well, after she stopped shrieking, she grabbed the nearest object and tried to squash Helen!  We managed to calm her down after five minutes, fortunately."
Katie burst into laughter at the mental image.
"Now, when we get to the center, I want you to be on your best behavior.  And promise that you'll accept whatever kind of partner you get, okay?"
Nodding her head enthusiastically, Katie picked up the pace, wanting to get there as soon as possible.



"May I help you, Mam?"  Asked an employee as Katie and her mom walked around the center.  He was about 5-6 inches shorter than Katie's mom, who was tall for a 30-something year old woman.  He wore a rather strange lab coat:  White with thin, vertical stripes of black.  It was unbuttoned and he wore a red and yellow shirt underneath.  And he wore standard blue jeans.  His hair was silver (CoughGreyCough), with a  light green skunk stripe, and his skin was somewhat pale, with freckles and his eyes were amber.
"Yes, we're looking for someone to give us a hand with getting a Soul Partner."  Replied Katie's mom.
Smiling and nodding, the Employee bent down and asked Katie "And I assume this young lady here is the one getting her Soul Partner?"
Grinning widely, Katie enthusiastically nodded.
"Uh huh!  My name's Katie!"
Holding out his hand, he said "Hi, Katie!  Name's Oscar.  I'll be helping you today, all right?"  Oscar and Katie shook hands. "After today is done, you'll have with you true friend who'll be with you through thick and thin, for as long as you live."
Katie's eye's light up even further with excitement, and Katie herself seemed to radiate it.
Standing back up, Oscar said to the both of them "Now, if you'll follow me, we'll get you set up, 'Kay?"
Both Katie and her mom nodded and followed Oscar through the building, with Katie skipping ahead of them both.
"Gotta say mam, that's a cute kid you got there."
"Yeah, she's always been a little firecracker.  Thanks for giving us a hand."
"No prob!  I remember when my Partner was created.  It was one of the happiest moments in my life, and it's always nice to see that look of excitement on a kids face when they get a Partner."
"Hmmm, yes, it's truly a great moment.  By the way, where is your Partner, anyway?"
"Eh, he's working at the water treatment facility downtown.  Ability to control bacteria really has its uses."  Stopping at a door, he asked, "Say, can you call your kid?  She ran ahead of us without even knowing where the room was."
Sighing, Katie's mom went and got Katie as she was about to round a corner.
"Sorry about that.  Sometimes she just gets overexcited!" explained Katie's mom, back at the right room entrance with Katie, Oscar still there.
"Aw, no sweat!  Just glad she didn't run into one of the research labs.  That might have been a problem."  Oscar said, unlocking the door.  Entering the room, Oscar asked both of them to sit tight for a bit while he got a set up things up and got a specialist.
"You're not the person who does this stuff?"  Asked Katie, clearly confused.
"Oh, no.  I'm his assistant.  SO. Takashi is one of the people here who does the Soul Partner creating stuff."
"S.O?  What's that?" asked Katie.
" 'S.O' stands for 'Soul Operator'.  They're the head honcho's here, and are the ones who create Soul Partners, as well as the 'Doctors' for them.  Once your Soul Partner is created, it'll be his job to keep him or her healthy, as well as give you updates on keeping them healthy."  Oscar explained.
"Okay!"  Katie said, smiling and nodding in understanding.
"Well, I'll be back with him in a sec-."
"That won't be necessary, Oscar." Said a voice behind him.
Turning around, Oscar exclaimed "Mr. Takashi!  When did you-?"
"Not important Oscar.  Now be go get the machine ready!  Or do I have to do everything for you?"  Growled Takashi.  Takeshi wore what Oscar did, with one key difference:  his coat was silver and black instead of white and black.  His hair, white, was nearly gone, with the exception of sideburns and some hair on the back of his head.  His black and brown shoes were surprisingly small.  His skin was somewhat tan, and his hands were fairly skinny.  His grey eyes just screamed "I'm too old for this", and he appeared to be missing an eyebrow.  Finally, the back of his lab coat had the words "Bite me!" on it in black.
"Y-yes sir!"   Stammered Oscar, rushing over to the machine to begin setting it up.
Turning to Katie and her mom, both whom were slightly wide-eyed after seeing that little display before them.
Sighing, Takashi muttered, "Geez, this is what I get for attending that blasted seminar last night; Practically no sleep, and a migraine to boot.  All right, sorry about that little display folks.  Feeling just a tad frustrated today."
"Yeah, right.  He's always this nasty."  Muttered Oscar, as he set up the machine.
"You SAY something, Mr. Tunner?" asked Takashi, suddenly an ominous, loaming figure behind Oscar.  Terrified, Oscar rapidly replied "N-N-NO, Mr. T-TAKASHI, NOTHING!"
"THEN HOOK HER UP, ALREADY!!"
"Y-YES S-SIR!!"
Oscar, still frightened, fitted a high-tech looking helmet/cap on Katie's head, after sitting her down on a chair.
"Tunner!  I'll take it from here!  And that was an order!  Don't bother responding!"  Takashi barked, seeing Oscar about to respond.  Bending down to Katie's level, Takashi rapidly began making adjustments to the helmet.
"Before either of you two ask, No, I don't need any information from you to input into the helmet.  But you'll need to fill out some forms that my assistant will give you-GET THE BLASTED FORMS, OSCAR!!"  Takashi told Katie and her mom before barking the order at Oscar.  Stumbling over himself, Oscar hastily reached into a drawer at a corner of the room and handed Katie's mom the papers.  Barely keeping up with what was happening, she blinked in surprise, and then took them and began to fill them out.
"All right, you're set up, kid."  Stated Takashi, inserting a long wire into the helmet.  "Just sit back, REMAIN AS STILL AS POSSIBLE-I cannot tell you how important that part is-and close your eyes."
He then flipped a switch on the side the helmet, starting it up.  Electricity immediately shot from the helmet through a series of wires into two separate devices, one on the floor, and one on the ceiling.  These devices were circular in shape, around 5 inches thick, and were incredibly wide, around 6 feet.  In the center of both of them was a hole about 5 inches wide, with the Soul Mark around it.  Sticking out of the holes were small rods, parallel to the surface of the device.  The devices lit up, illuminating the room greatly, as the sound of electricity whirring began to make itself more and more apparent.  A rod suddenly came out from the top of the helmet, blooming like a flower after reaching up about 5 inches.  A scarlet light rained from underneath the rods "peddles", enveloping Katie in brilliant red light.  Then, in between the two devices, a small, shapeless mass of light began to form, just as the red light surrounding Katie became almost blinding.
"Times like this makes me GLAD we take precautions."  Remarked Takashi, having handed out extra-protective sunglasses before hand to everyone in the room.
Except for Oscar, who was holding his arms out in front of him, trying to prevent his eyes from being over-exposed, only to cry out in pain when that didn't block the light.
"Oops, looks like Oscar didn't get his pair."  Remarked Takashi again, not even attempting to sound sorry.  By now, the formless mass had started to take shape, although it remained fairly small in size, and the light had started to die down.  (Oscar was now writhing on the ground in pain)
"Looks to be of the avian variety, most likely an urban bird."  Stated Takashi.  Then, just as the light had almost vanished, sparks danced on the upper device for an instant before stopping.  Takashi's eyes widened slightly at the sight, anxiety already welling up inside of him.
'Don't tell me…!' Takashi thought.
By now, the ball of light was a small, white dove.
(Ladies and Gentlemen, how the Soul Partner is formed)
"Oscar!" barked Takashi, causing Oscar jump in alarm and then look at him.
"Wha-?"
"Don't just stand there like a moron with his feet in cement!  Get the helmet off her!  I need to check something."
Nodding dumbly, Oscar walked over to Katie and unloaded the helmet from her head.
"Can I open my eyes yet?  I'm starting to feel like I've melted into the chair."  Katies asked.  (This can actually happen.  Sit on a chair and relax long enough, and you'll feel like your melting into the chair or something.  Happened to me when I did yoga.)
"Yep, it's all done."  Replied Oscar.
Opening her eyes, Katie looked around the room spotted the dove.  Her eyes lighting up brightly, and a very excited/happy grin appearing on her face, Katie ran from the chair over to the bird.
"Mommy!  She's a bird!  Just like I wanted!"  Katie exclaimed, practically bouncing with joy.
Smiling down at Katie, her mom replied "Not just any bird, Katie.  This kind of bird is called a dove.  Their beautiful birds, and represent peace."
Mouth agape, Katie reached out to pet the dove, which had opened her eyes and was looking at Katie happily.  Suddenly, Takashi lifted up the dove and began examining it.
"Mr. Takashi?" Katie's mom asked him, a little confused
Not taking his eyes off the dove, Takashi replied "Just checking to make sure nothing's wrong with her."
Feeling a tug at her side, Katie's mom looked down to find her daughter urgently trying to get her attention, an excited look again in her eyes.
"Yes, sweetie?" she asked, bending down.
"I though of a name for her!"
"What is it?"
"Well, since birds fly in the air, and I've heard other people say the name, her name is Ariel!"
"That's a fine name.  I'm sure she'll love it!"
"Hate to interrupt this conversation, but I'm done examining 'Ariel'" Stated Takashi, as both Katie and her mom turned and looked and him.  He was carrying Ariel in his hands
"So far I've found nothing outwardly physically wrong with her, so I think we best make sure nothing is wrong with her in terms of state of mind.  Talk to her- Katie, was it? - And let's see if all checks out okay."
Reaching out, Katie gestured to Takashi, who lowered his hands enough so that she could hold Ariel.  Taking Ariel in both her hands, after glancing at her mom to see how to hold Ariel, Katie said "Hi!  My name's Katie!  Pleased to meet you."  Ariel nodded her head in response.
'Nothing wrong…so far.'  Though Takashi. 'But that spark from earlier… Whenever that sort of thing happens, something always goes wrong with the Soul Partner, whether they're missing a limb or blind in one eye.
"Okay, what do you think of the name I've picked out for you?  Does 'Ariel' sound nice?"
After pausing for a moment and thinking, Ariel again nodded an affirmative, it's eyes closed as if it was smiling.  Then, Ariel opened her beak, as if to say something.
No words, however, came from her open beak.  Startled, Ariel tried to say what she wanted to say again, with the same result.
Takashi, now alerted as to the nature of the glitch, took Ariel and put her on the table, taking out a small machine from his pocket.
"Ariel, what's wrong?  Can't you talk?" asked Katie worriedly.
As Katie's mom put a hand on Katie's shoulder, trying to reassure her, although she herself was worried, Takashi thought 'Strange…the readings make it seem like there's something else wrong, in addition to the bird being mute.'  He shifted his gaze to Ariel and Katie, the latter trying, in vain, to get Ariel to talk, and the former trying to do so and failing.
"Ariel, why aren't you talking?" asked Katie, now crying a little.
'Hmmm…it is possible?' Takashi thought, as an idea came into his mind.
"Kid- Katie, was it? –Can't you hear her thoughts?"
Looking up at Takashi in confusion, and still tearing a little, Katie asked "Hear her thoughts?...What are you talking about, mister?"
Deciding against giving his assistant a death glare for not explaining to them earlier, Takashi replied, "Hear her thoughts.  Isn't there another voice in your head, coming from the direction of 'Ariel'?"
Seeing Katie shake her head, Takashi sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, then sat down.
"Miss…Glyinson, was it?"  Seeing her nod, he continued, "You and your kid might want to sit down for this one.  Oscar, get some spar chairs, the "Glitches" pamphlet, and some tissues and sweets."  He finished turning to Oscar to give him the directions.  After Oscar left to retrieve the items, he addressed Miss Glyinson and Katie directly.
"There's no easy way to present this, so I'll be as straightforward as possible.  You see, every so often in the creation process of a Soul Partner, a malfunction in the S.O.O.R., the machine you see, occurs.  It can range in time from being there for as long as a blink, to happen for over 5 minutes, without anyone noticing.  Unfortunately, these malfunctions can cause adverse effects in the Soul Partner, resulting in a disability of some kind." he stated with a saddened, yet wise, tone, just as his assistant came back with the chairs and others items.  Katie and her mom sat down on said chairs, still listening to Takashi.
"Unfortunately," he continued in that same tone, "that is precisely what ails your Soul Partner, Ariel.  During the creation process, I managed to glimpse a few sparks of electricity dancing on the ceiling part of the Soul Animator.  Due to this malfunction, it appears as though Ariel has lost her ability to communicate, both ways."  Takashi finished on a grim note.  Looking down at her daughter, Miss Glyinson whispered "…Katie….".  Katie herself was starting to cry, not quite understanding what Takashi meant, but understanding that it was very bad news.
"W-what's wrong, mister?  W-what's wrong w-with Ariel??"  Katie asked, now getting somewhat hysterical with her question, tears actually streaming down her eyes.
Looking down at Katie with sad eyes, Takashi sighed and said "Kid, Ariel…will never be able to talk as long as she lives.  Nor will she ever be able to talk to you in your mind."  As the words echoed in Katie's mind, everything around her faded to black.
(Flash forward, with 6-year old Katie becoming an 9-year old)
An 9-year old Katie was sitting in her chair at school, Ariel at her side.  Next to her, a couple of kids, their Soul Partners with them, whispered to each other "Isn't she the new kid everyone's been talking about?  Do ya think the rumors true, the one about her soul Partner?"
"Yeah, I overheard a couple of teachers talking about it.  She can't talk to her Soul Partner either way!  Can you believe it's possible?"  "Yeah, from what I heard, getting one Glitch in a Partner is one thing, pretty rare in itself, but TWO Glitches?  Talk about one in a billion chance!"  Pity and curiosity were practically leaking from them, Katie could tell; it had been that way for years now.  Seeing the other kids looking at her at the corner of her eye, Katie began clenching her fist in frustration.
(at recess that day)
"Miss Glyinson, why don't you and Ariel go play over there, instead?  I don't think either of you are quite ready for the upper area."  Katie's teacher said, trying to dissuade her from joining other kids at the training area
"Why can't I go there?!  Everyone else in the class is allowed to!  The other area is for little kids!"  Katie exclaimed, frustrated that she couldn't join her classmates in the schools Mock-Arena.
"Look, I think you and Ariel would be much better off playing at the playground.  The arena's not quite in your class." The teacher said again, trying to avoid angering Katie.
"WHY?  Just because Ariel has a couple of glitches?!  We want to become Soul fighters, and the only way we can get there is to train, glitches or not!"
Trying to be as nice as possible, the teacher said, "I'm really sorry, but I just can't let you go in the arena!   You and Ariel have a much higher chance of getting hurt than the other kids because you two can't communicate!"  Growing ever angrier, Katie saw the same look she had seen for years in his eyes.
Pity.
Everything around her faded to black again.
(fast-forward 1 more year)
"Too slow!"
The clawed paw of Ariel's opponent, a mountain lion, slashed Ariel from behind, making her crash into the ground.
"Ariel!"  Cried out Katie, as Ariel struggled to get up, only for a large paw to stomp on her wing.  "Get off Ariel, Jen!"
"Not a chance!" Said the Mountain Lion
"Sorry, Kat." said Veronica, Jenny's human counterpart, clearly not sorry at all.  "But it's not my fault you just don't know when to quit!  Face it!  Ariel and you can never be as good as real Fighters, since you can't talk to each other in any way.  You'll just never be able to keep up, nor will you ever be able to stop telling plans to Ariel without the opponent overhearing."  Jen then slashed Ariel's back sending blood into the air and causing her to revert back to her dove form.  Laughing, both Jen and Veronica walked away from them, their cruel laughter echoing in the air.  This had been just one of Katie and Ariels many defeats at the hands of the non-glitched Fighters.  The few they had managed to win were lucky wins.
Tears streaming from her eyes, and fists clenched at her sides, Katie shouted at their retreating forms "Shut Up!  One of these days…We'll show you all!  Glitches or not…WE'LL SHOW YOU ALL!!!"
"Yeah, right!  Stay out of the REAL leagues, losers!"  Shouted Veronica back at her, almost out of sight.
Running over and picking up Ariel from the ground, Katie whispered "We'll get 'em next time, Ariel.  Just you wait…." To Ariel, stroking her feathers and cradling her in one arm.  Feeling a tap at her shoulder, Katie turned around and saw one of her semi-friends from school, Helen, some hot chocolate in her hand.
Offering Katie a smile, Helen said "Sah' right, Katie.  I saw the fight and the way Veronica was acting towards Ariel and you, so I thought you two could use a pick-me-up." She finished, the hot chocolate with one hand and a couple of bird treats in the other.
"Thanks, He-" started Katie, stopping in mid sentence, hand midway to the cup.  She saw that same look in Helens eyes that she had seen countless times before.
Pity.
Letting her arm fall to her side, Katie's lowered her head until her expression was unreadable. (See Tv Tropes "Hidden Eyes")
"Katie?" inquired Helen, concern in her voice  "Is something wrong?"
Trembling slightly, with hands now clenched into fists Katie whispered, with frustration in her tone, "…Don't give me that look."
"I'm sorry, what?" asked Helen, not having fully heard her.
"I said…don't you DARE give me that look!!!"  Exclaimed Katie in anger, her hand smacking the hot chocolate out of Helen's hand, her other arm still holding Ariel.
Quite startled, Helen stammered "W-what are you talking about?  I'm not doing anyth-"
"Oh, don't even!" exclaimed Katie angrily.  "You think that just because Ariel has a few problems, we're not as good as anyone else?!  I'm sick and tired of it all!  We're not weak and defenseless!  So don't you EVER give us that look!  Don't you EVER pity us!" Tears of anger had formed in Katie's eyes my now, and her words were practically being shouted.  Ariel by now had opened her yes and was staring at Helen with an unreadable, yet somehow cold and angered expression.  Helen had actually backed up several feet, eyes wide, arms in an alarmed position and knees bent
Seconds passed by without a word from either of them, almost daring them either one of them to speak.  Then, getting over the outburst, Helen began to clench her teeth and straighten up, her hands clenching into fists as well.
"You think that's what this is about?"  Helen then asked, hurt and anger in her tone.  "You think that I'm doing this out of PITY?  Is that what you think this is about?  You honestly think I'm like those other idiots in school who hear about Ariel's glitches and assume she and you are weak as heck?  Is that what you really think of me?"  Helen demanded.
Although slightly taken aback, Katie quickly retorted "What else should I assume?! Everyone in the whole stinkin' school fells like that about us, teachers included!" (Note: anyone who interprets this in an innuendo way is an utter moron who needs to not only get their minds out of the gutter, but to grab a bar of soap and start cleaning.  I'm talking only about those who actually see this as an innuendo and snicker uncontrollably)
"Oh, don't give me that!  Sure, I feel a little sorry for you and Ariel, but that's because you two actually have to deal with all that bull!  I could care less about something minor like having a glitch or two!  But, apparently, you don't get that!  I try to be nice and offer you some hot chocolate and maybe a little friendship, but that kind of thing seems to have become a foreign concept to you, so you just assume I feel completely sorry for you and think you're some sad little girl!  Well, that's what I get for being nice!  Hot chocolate all over my shoes and the most rude response to some kindness I've ever seen!"  Helen finished, sending Katie a look of severe disappointment and hurt.
Katie was completely speechless, mouth agape, and felt her legs buckle, her butt meeting the ground.
"You know what?  You're right. I do pity you.  Right now, I really do."  Helen said turning around swiftly and walking away, leaving Katie to herself.  (Brownies to whoever can guess correctly what she meant by that)  Realizing what had just happened, and the full impact of Helens words hitting her full force, Katie put Ariel on the ground, got on all fours and began to pound the ground with her fist, tears streaming down her eyes.
(Slowly, the camera/panel beings to zoom out, and Katie gets smaller and smaller, still pounding away at the ground.)
(Flashback ends)
"Well, that certainly explains things."  Said Niko.  "But don't think Toshiro and I will think much of it.  Toshiro's got a somewhat larger mental disorder himself."
"Seriously?  What is it?"
"He…is a giant worry-wart."
After a moment of the statement settling in, both Katie and Niko burst into laughter.
(Still laughing at Toshiro's unwitting expense) "Th-thanks, I needed that!"
(Done laughing)  "No problem.  Now if you'll excuse me, Toshiro's calling.  He just heard my remark."  Niko said, already starting back towards the roof entrance.
"Heard your-?  Oh, right, that whole 'No privacy' consequence of getting a non-glitched Soul Partner."
"Regrettably, yes.  What one thinks the other automatically knows the other thought.  Somewhat annoying, and embarrassing, depending on what you thought, but, I suppose the pro's outweigh the cons."  Niko said, at the roofs entrance.
"Wait," Katie started, now noticing Lances absence.  "Where's Lance?"
"Him?  Oh, he heard most of your explanation, got bored, and headed back down.  Don't take it the wrong way, though.  His attention span's not exactly great when something is spoken without any visuals.  I'm actually surprised he stayed here as long as he did.  He probably understands.  Trust me on that one, I've been in the same house as him for the past, oh, four, maybe five years or so."  Niko finished, his tail the only thing visible as he descended back into the bus/RV.  Shrugging, Katie lay down on her back and watched the stars for some time, Ariel sitting in the edge of the roof.  Tonight, things were pretty peaceful.
"Easy, easy, it's extremely sensitive-NO, WAIT!" came Roy's voice from the inside the RV.
BOOM!
Sighing, Katie went back to the roof's entrance and went back inside, Ariel behind her.
'Well, the peace was nice while it lasted'

End Chapter