Face-to-Face (Helen(Gran-Chan))

It had been a while since Oki had come to the other side. In fact, it hadn’t come back since that fateful meeting with Helen a week or so back. It wasn’t that it was avoiding the other worlds, but rather things on the other side had taken some interesting turns that it had not been expecting, but now that all was calm on its side for the moment, it was time to return “home” and to her….Helen.

As worn boots hit the streets of Alternate San Malarus, the tattoo on Oki’s back tingled with life once more, a sign that here the shadow inside of it was at home and could be released if needed; however, where Oki was going the nine-tailed kitsune would not be needed. Green eyes would pass across the streets watching as some people drifted about pausing only slightly to look its way before moving on to their own business with cautious yet hurried steps.

The streets were still quiet, but unlike before there were a few more people out and moving about at least. There was still unrest in the area, but thankfully not the same tension as the first round here. Shoving its hands into its pocket, Oki would make its way from across the street and head towards the lone bar that hung snug between buildings.

Passing under its neon sign and into the cooler interior of the place, Oki would move through the crowds and music before coming to the bar and taking a seat there. The bar tender didn’t seem to mind as she asked what it wanted to drink. For the moment, Oki simply ordered a glass of water that caused the lady to raise her eyebrow, but nothing more. She complied with the order and soon enough slid a glass of water to the being who took a sip of it before looking around to search for the familiar face of Helen in the small crowd.

Oki had made it halfway through its water as its eyes gazed across the surprisingly lively place despite how many occupants it had. The place wasn’t packed, but despite that it remained loud and lively. Everyone seemed to be in their own world with the exception of the bar tender and waitress that attended guests. It should’ve been easy to spot her face in the crowd, but alas Oki did not find her. Sighing lightly inwardly, Oki turned back to its water taking a sip of it as it thought quietly to itself.

When the stranger sat next to it, the being glanced over at the other taking note of the pink hair and half human and half mechanical features the other had. Whether this one was male or female was hard to say and to be honest, Oki didn’t care. After all, its own appearance was confusing enough, so it really didn’t judge a book by its cover. In any case, when the other order a drink, Oki assumed it was jut another bar goer and so was prepared to go back to its water to wait; however, when the stranger entered its space to ask a question, Oki green eyes would slid back over to the other as it took a drink of the water unphased by the closeness of the other.

“Mhmm,” was the response back as Oki finished the water off and sat the empty glass down. It wasn’t sure who this person was, but it did not take a rocket scientist to place two and two together. This stranger worked for her too and as such would simply have to be trusted for now. After Oki confirmed what it was hear for, it watched the other pass a silent message to the bartender with some form of signal and in response, the bar tender messed with something behind the counter that in turned opened a door that revealed some stairs. As Oki saw the entrance way, it looked to the other beside it.

“Thank you, ummm…” it said leaving it open to the other to give a name or not. Regardless of what occurred from that, Oki would slid off its chair and head towards the door alone or with the other if they were accompanying the being. It would go down the stairs to see where it would end up next.

It seemed the person at the bar was not into talking or following. Oki would make its way down the stairs alone going along a hallway before finding a rift in its path. A bit confused at this, Oki approached the rift cautiously before entering and crossing over to its side of San Marlarus once more.

The hallway still appeared more or less the same, but Persephone had once more became still solidifying the fact that it was indeed back on its side of the world. Still moving, Oki would make its way down the hall to the open door to peek into the room where Helen was.

She was fiddling with something...a computer was it? It seemed like one, but way different from what Oki was used to. Whatever she was doing to the computer was beyond the being, but that did not stop it from stepping into the room as its scanned around and occasionally flicked its eyes to Helen and the computer the other was working on. As it settled into a corner of the room a safe distance from the woman, Oki would speak.

"Lady Helen, we are reporting in as requested, but...if I may," Oki hesitated and then with a light breath to steadied itself the being would finish what it started. "What is it that you are working on and how is you can cross rifts?" the being asked, its curiosity outweighing fear, but not its caution.

A swift turn and a gun pointed directly at them. The action was not exactly expected, but not surprising either as Oki stood its ground despite how its body tensed. She mentioned she had figured someone was around, so that explained her jumpiness and even though she could’ve very well shot Oki, the being did not hold a grudge against her. She was keeping herself safe. Nothing more and nothing less. Besides even if they were allies, perhaps there were some trust issues still around, but the fact she had hesitated made Oki think perhaps things could get better. Only time could tell.

In any case, with the gun lowered once more, Oki watched the other turn to her work briefly before looking back at itself and explaining what she was doing. Well somewhat. She said she was organizing documents and working on something she wouldn’t exactly share the details on due to tension all around. Understandable, so the being didn’t pry as the other hid her work before asking her question.

“Negative on the angel front. I have not gone deep enough to run into them personally; however, there are others like myself that can cross to the other side that have met at least one of the angels. It is in the world of Alternate Zela Academy. The encounter for this individual and their team was…unfortunate as one was eliminated in the process. I am not sure if the survivors of this event can be beneficial to our cause or not. I am currently gathering information regarding that. Outside of that…my own side of the world has been running into a bit of trouble.

Already three areas on my side have been attacked and at least one Alternate World is causing trouble of its own according to what I hear. I and some others were barely able to drive off a being called Ananke from an island where two people awoke to their personas. However, the whereabouts of Ananke or the other causing havoc is currently unknown. I am working on investigating that and other minor issues floating about. That is all I have to report,” the being said keeping its words calm and honest to the other.

Yes it had been assigned to kill, but…but it had not…could not, but how would Helen react to that or any of what it said?

Well at least she listened to what was said without getting too angry. Still the issue did come up about killing…

Oki knew this was going to come up regardless, but if they were going to work together then it was best to get this one out on the table, even it might cause strain, but honesty was the only thing Oki was going to give the other.

“It wasn’t that I couldn’t find a chance to strike, but rather I cannot strike. These people you want me to strike down are close to me and allies. I cannot strike them down and the ones that have just awoken or have been awoken for a long time, they are more useful alive than dead. I do not kill…unless the thing is trying to kill me. As for turning them into you...I unfortunately care too much for the ones you want erased. While I am not certain what you may do, I do not wish to see them harmed or killed by you either. As for angels, I much rather find and judge them to see if their deaths are justified rather than strike them out without question. I seek usefulness in gaining goals. The more helping and on our side the easier it will be,” Oki responded to her easily enough. “I am afraid while our goals may be the same in the end, our views conflict heavily on what is to be done. I am quite stuck between you and them. I wish to see neither damaged. I want to keep peace and achieve this goal of ours.”

And so that was that. Depending on how Helen handle that would determine what Oki did next. It honestly wasn’t betraying her, but it wouldn’t allow her to hurt friends just as it wouldn’t allow its friends to hurt her or Deva. It was a painful spot, but one Oki would remain in until it broke, It was not a machine…and so was stuck in this strange limbo trying to find more peaceful ways to bring the world a calm. Sure it knew it had to fight, but not friends and allies. No it could not do that.

The being figured she’d be displeased. After all, it had done something that was completely against her way of going about this whole process. She seemed like she wanted to get rid of them and yet she did not. Instead she asked questions. To her words, Oki sighed lightly as it looked at the ground in thought before speaking.

“I understood what I was getting myself into the moment I agreed to help you; however, being back home for just a little while reminded me just what got me to where I am in the first place. I understand the risks and I understand others may be with the other angels and against us. I understand the dangers of putting trust in others, but I also understand the danger of simply eliminating without reason. …I was conditioned to be merciless once and it almost destroyed me. It closed me off to things made my vision narrow, but…” Oki looked back up at her with a even gaze.

“I was taught how to be kind and take chances also . It is the only way I can see the world better than alone and knowing there is a chance that others can stand behind us with my own power or greater, well that makes the dream that much closer to being real to me. My heart tells me this is the right way and yet you see differently. What is it about others that make you want to close them out so? Helen, what happened to make you like this?” Oki asked the last words gentle despite their prodding nature, but Oki wanted to know. Wanted to understand this woman that had such different views than itself. Understand her and find ways to work with her rather than against her, but if she kept her secrets…how could this ever change?

It would give her time to answer if she wanted to before folding its arms lightly as it frowned at her next question.

“I have run into Dani a couple of times. He had changed his look. Cut his hair, changed his outfit and seemed to be walking out into the world with a new attitude. Perhaps to continue his mission of peace he stated to you upon our first encounter, but then he simply made himself invisible. I am not sure where he went. He hasn’t answered any text of late or even a call or two,” Oki told her honestly. What happened to that guy anyway? He had been so sure of himself before so why just vanish without a word?

A sneer at its words was all Oki needed to see to know that they would probably never see eye-to-eye. It wasn’t trying to be a therapist or even play mind games. It simply wanted to understand the other so they could somehow move forward and work together despite being different. And maybe that was why her words stung so much. They were harsh and cruel like the icy winds of lands that not many walk through to another day.

They stung, but Oki took them watching the other with a neutral expression as it listened to her words.

“The world is only what we make of it. It is never kind or cruel. Just itself much like us. Your world has shaped you to show you to live off of instincts while mine has shaped me to be more judging and watchful of what is before me. We are opposites and while you have charged me with a task, I am afraid I can no longer perform such task so easily,” Oki said quietly before looking up at the other. “To follow such an order without question…that is just as bad as blindly trusting and I cannot do that…not anymore,” Oki said the last words a whisper as it looked at the ground its fist balling at its side as bad memories began to crop up. The reason it changed in the first place.

The being would become silent leaving the woman to her own thoughts as it sunk into its own. Sure it wasn’t the strong or the bravest of being, but at the same time, it knew it was better working with others than alone. It was unfortunate Helen would not at least open her mind to such a notion. So…

Why did you choose to put such opposites together, goddess? Oki wondered as it pondered this strange situation of one who chose death vs another that chose life. It would remain in its thoughts until Helen spoke again this time regarding Dani. To her words, Oki nodded.

“Alright then. I’ll let you know the status of that,” Oki said before watching her turn away and go back to looking at the wall. It wanted to help her and yet it was not sure how it could do anything if their methods were so different. What to do? What to say? Was there anything left to say or do? Heh…probably not.
Giving the woman a light bow, Oki would turn its back to her and prepare to leave….

Oki had turned its back on the other not sure what else to say. She had her way of seeing things and it didn’t seem that she was willing to bow to any other view. It was a bit frustrating to think she would not listen so as the being took a step towards the door to leave, it found itself quite shocked at the other when she next spoke. Keeping its back turned to her for a moment, the being listened to her words before looking over its shoulder at her for a moment.

Was she…really trying to understand or was she just after information? Oki would study her for a while longer before fully facing her once more as it took a step back into the room. She really wanted an answer, huh? Well…

“I…was conditioned to follow commands by my masters. I was taught that when I obeyed I remained safe and when I disobeyed I was punished. My life was black and white, I had no room to question my masters back then. When I was free and close to death, I was saved by another quite different from my previous masters. At first, I was scared of her believing like my former masters she would punish me if I did not obey, but she never did. It took a long time, but she taught me I was not some pet or machine to be commanded about doing others’ wills just because they said hop. I was simply me. Nothing more or less. She taught me that there was good out there and trusting in that good helped us bond with others and in turn become stronger,” Oki looked down at the ground as it rubbed its left arm uncomfortably.

“I…did not want to believe this at first. After all, alone meant you survived, There was no one there to worry about eliminating or competing against, but alone is also very painful. I didn’t realize it until I lost the one that taught me so much. It took many years, but through studying life and learning to cherish it rather than simply toss it away, I healed and found there was no need for that kill or be killed attitude. Humans are not shadows. They can be reasoned with and changed with work. So I decided to start approaching life with an open mind leaving myself open to pain and danger, so I could learn and grow from what I experienced. If I remained alone…I would never have gotten here. I would the being the machine my masters made me never wondering if there were other ways of completing the same tasks handed to me,” Oki looked up at Helen with a small sheepish smile.

“That’s why I cannot obey without reason. Even if we fight for a bigger cause and have tasks to do, I know deep down, there are other ways to achieve the goals without erasing all in our path,” Oki told her before falling silent with a small frown of contemplation. It had answered her question, but how well it wasn’t sure. But what else could it say to explain its motives in life than the ones it had already stated?