Face to Face With The Missing Pages

After dragging two black bodybags into the office, KD-554 lifted her head and sought approval from the cold unimpressed gaze of Doctor Tsujinaka. However, she was once more met with a look of disappointment and pity which undermined her achievement.

[KD-554] - "Mother, I brought in the traitors! I proved myself! I can still be useful! "

Said KD-554 as she desperately sought an ounce of empathy from Tsujinaka.

[Tsujinaka] - "Call me doctor. I'm not your mother, you aren't born like us humans, you are created in a tube. "

Said Tsujinaka in a cold voice.

[KD-554] - "Of course, doctor! See, I brought you the bodies of two traitors! They sought to undermine the empire and you! I killed them without question, I did as you ordered without hesitation! Please, doctor, spare me, I'm still useful... "

Pleaded KD-554 while kneeling in front of Tsujinaka.

Suddenly, a group of five women stepped out of the shadow behind Tsujinaka. Each of the girls looked just like a copy of KD-554 and her sisters however, they lacked any semblance of individuality or emotion on their blank faces.

[KD-554] - "Doctor... "

Said KD-554 as a chill ran down her spine.

[Tsujinaka] - "Now, KD-554, I appreciate your loyalty. However, you lack the convincing human body that makes you more than a machine to anyone's eyes. The new generation of the KD-series, the KD-5.5 generation, is better, faster, more efficient and less prone to betrayal than your generation. When we become old, it's only normal that we retire. It's a simple fact of life that you can't escape from. "

[KD-554] - "Doctor Tsujinaka, I beg of you, spare me! I can still serve, I can still get things done! "

Cried KD-554 as she dropped to the ground.

[Tsujinaka] - "Oh don't be so dramatic, I still have uses for you. You see, Admiral Yuan is in charge of this facility, which makes him my superior. As much as I didn't appreciate him taking KD-552 outside of her intended usage, I didn't have any say in his decisions until now. I recently gained a favour with Judge when KD-555 disposed of a valued imperial target, so I think it's time that I use that favour. "

Said Tsujinaka as she caressed the cheek of one of her new assassins.

[Tsujinaka] - "It disgusts me to see KD-552 being treated like a princess by Yuan. A KD-series assassin should be treated like a machine, a tool for disposing of unwanted competition or opponents of the empire. It's an insult to me when my product is used for carnal pleasure. I produce assassins, not whores and prostitutes. You wouldn't want me to be humiliated and insulted in such a way, wouldn't you, KD-554? "

Ranted Tsujinaka in a frenzied hysteria.

[KD-554] - "Of course not, doctor! So my target is Admiral Yuan? "

[Tsujinaka] - "Kill KD-552 and bring her to me fresh, then I'll consider if I should keep you around. I believe that won't be a problem for you, won't it, KD-554? "

Said Tsujinaka without hesitation.

After a peek at the empty faces of the assassins that surrounded her, KD-554 showed a resolute expression on her face. After one final breath, KD-554 retired all emotion and expression from her face and assumed the same vacant look as her new sisters.

[KD-554] - "Your wishes are my commands, doctor. "

Said KD-554 in a monotone voice.

Inside the empty barrack, Kadyn allowed herself a greater amount of freedom by dressing herself in skimpy clothes and reading her novel while her feet pressed against the wall. As she flipped toward the last page, KD-552 suddenly stepped into the room without warning.

[KD-552] - "Ha! Look at you, these were definitively not imperial-issued clothes. "

Said KD-552 with an amused expression.

[Kadyn] - "We went shopping for some clothes yesterday. So I figured I'd get something more comfortable. "

Said Kadyn as she threw the book onto her pillow before flipping herself upright.

[KD-552] - "I want to know who are you mingling with. When you told me he was a cyberknight, I couldn't seem to pinpoint who you were talking about. I hacked through my husband's archives and only found juniors that matched your description of him. "

Said KD-552 as she sat beside Kadyn.

[Kadyn] - "Well, he's a veteran, so think again. "

Said Kadyn as she showed KD-552 a special phone marked with the cardinal knight's symbol.

[KD-552] - "You are either lying about his age or he wasn't a cyberknight at all. "

[Kadyn] - "No lies were spoken here. No, ma'am. "

Said Kadyn in a playful voice.

[KD-552] - "Any ranks higher than a regular cyberknight would be impossible for you to approach. "

Said KD-552 as she suddenly noticed something hidden beneath Kadyn's blanket.

With one swift swoop, KD-552 lifted the blanket and revealed a white shirt and a military cap. Before Kadyn could stop her, she took the two items and analyzed them.

[Kadyn] - "No! Don't look through my stuff! "

Yelled Kadyn as she yanked the two items away from KD-552.

[KD-552] - "That rank... How did you get a general's shirt and cap? "

Kadyn blushed as she remembered yesterday night when she dressed in some of Mike's clothes while in his room.

[KD-552] - "Geez, and how horny were you, little sis? "

Said KD-552 as she teased Kadyn by pinching her nose.

The flashback of how she was still in Mike's cap and shirt as she was drowning in a sea of pleasure hit Kadyn like a freight train.

[Kadyn] - "That's none of your business! "

Yelled Kadyn as she covered her burning red face.

[KD-552] - "Sigh... so you were sleeping with an old soggy man. It's ok, I'm not judging after all. You did what you needed to do to get out of this hellhole. "

Said KD-552 while showing Kadyn a look of compassion.

This greatly pissed off Kadyn who didn't want her sister to believe she also sold her body.

[Kadyn] - "That's not who he is, that's only his alternate identity! He is the Grand- "

Kadyn immediately stopped herself from uttering the rest of her sentence. However, KD-552 was already eying Kadyn with a shocked expression on her face.

[KD-552] - "The Grand Knight?! You are fucking with the Grand Knight?! "

Screamed KD-552 as she almost fell from Kadyn's bed.

[Kadyn] - "No, that's not what I... Alright, yeah, I like him, so what? I genuinely love him and he loves me too. Please, just don't tell anyone! No one can know the truth or else we will be in serious trouble. "

[KD-552] - "I don't believe you. I was ready to believe you even if you said a cardinal knight but you are just bullshitting at this point. "

[Kadyn] - "I know it's insane to think that the Grand Knight is a seventeen-year-old who is also working as an imperial general while messing with a KD-assassin behind people's backs but you have to believe me! "

[KD-552] - "Look, if you can call the Grand Knight and kiss him right in front of me, then I'll believe you. "

[Kadyn] - "Deal! Also, why are you here? "

Said Kadyn as she shoved Mike's clothes below her pillow.

[KD-552] - "I just want to come see you. Can't a big sister visit her little sis from time to time? "

Said KD-552 as she laid back on Kadyn's bed.

[Kadyn] - "It would be normal if we were a regular family, living a regular life with regular jobs. "

[KD-552] - "Good point. However, it gets lonely up there. I miss the days when we used to talk and play every night. Ever since KD-551 died, I learned to appreciate the only family members I have more. It just goes to show how the ones we treasure can often vanish in the next moment. "

KD-552 raised her head and observed the empty barrack.

[KD-552] - "No chance to say goodbye or let them know how much we love them. I never got to talk to KD-551 before she left this world. That is something I regretted with every fibre of my being. That's why I always come down here from time to time to check up on you. "

[Kadyn] - "I never thought it this way... "

Said Kadyn as she now viewed KD-552 in a different light.

[KD-552] - "We tend to realize things as we grow. Especially now, Yuan talked about having a baby with me. If I did that, I would get to spend even less time with you. "

Said KD-552 as she looked depressingly toward the floor.

[Kadyn] - "Hey, don't be like that. If one day Mike gets me out of this place, I can even come to help you with raising your child. "

[KD-552] - "Each has their own life to live. You just focus on not getting yourself killed and I'll be happy. "

After giving Kadyn a long hug, KD-552 passed a small box to her sister.

[KD-552] - "Here, that's some Chinese candy from Yuan's hometown. I thought I would come to share some with you. "

[Kadyn] - "Oh, thank you! "

Said Kadyn with excitement as she immediately pushed one into her mouth.

[KD-552] - "Geez, eat it sparingly alright? They are hard to come by. "

Said KD-552 with a smile.

Slowly KD-552 walked toward the exit and opened the door.

[KD-552] - "Guess it's time to say goodbye. I'll reserve more time for us to hang out next time. Maybe you can show me your idealized guy who's probably not who you said he was. "

Kadyn smiled joyfully as she waved goodbye to KD-552. At that time, Kadyn did not realize it was the last time she ever saw her last sister. As KD-552 walked down the hallway, KD-554 was already waiting to ambush her inside an electric room. As KD-552 passed by the dark electric room, KD-554 abruptly jumped out of the shadow before mercilessly stabbing her sister in the throat with her wrist blade.

With one swift pull, KD-554 dragged KD-552 into the electric room and shut the door behind her. With a deranged look on her face, KD-554 kept slashing and stabbing until KD-552 fell completely silent.

[KD-554] - "Remember when you said you were going to ruin your face in combat until you had to wear a mask just like me? Look at you now, a coward who fled the killing fields while leaving us behind to suffer. "

With a wet splash, KD-554 threw KD-552's body against the ground before switching on the lights. There was no humanity left in KD-554's empty soul as she simply stared at her work before a sadistic smile appeared on her face. On the ground, emptiness was all that remained as the brutalized shell of a person with hopes and dreams spilled its warm lifeforce onto a floor of cold and rough concrete.

The same empty expression on KD-552's face was mirrored by KD-553, KD-551 and those new assassins along with KD-554. As KD-554 dragged a new bodybag into Tsujinaka's office, the doctor was this time a little more intrigued than the last time. However, as soon as KD-554 unzipped the bag open, disappointment immediately filled Tsujinaka's face.

[Tsujinaka] - "What is... that? "

Said Tsujinaka as she waved her hands around KD-552's body.

[KD-554] - "I brought you my sister just as you asked of me, doctor. "

Said KD-554 as she kneeled in front of Tsujinaka.

[Tsujinaka] - "Sloppy work... I wanted to use her body to replace yours but... "

Said Tsujinaka as she waved her hand at the mangled corpse.

Without a word, one of the new assassins moved forward and zipped the bag shut.

[KD-554] - "Doctor, you can get me a new body, no? I didn't know you had intended for her to- "

Tsujinaka suddenly cut off KD-554 by letting out a loud laugh.

[Tsujinaka] - "You think I would waste my precious resources just to get you a new body? Quit dreaming, Jeffrey Dalmer. "

Said Tsujinaka in a mocking tone.

KD-554 stood in shock before a blade suddenly stabbed through her chest.

[Tsujinaka] - "I build assassins with an emphasis on efficiency and precision, not sadists and psychopaths with a thrill for gore and torture. Throw her in with the metal scraps for recycling. "

Without a word, two assassins began to drag KD-554 toward a garbage chute. As much as KD-554 wanted to fight back, her damaged power core meant she couldn't even raise her mechanical arm. All the dirty work she did and yet she was still disposed of as less than trash in the end, just like the freaks she killed years earlier.

[KD-554] - "Please don't kill me! Don't kill me, I beg you! "

Cried KD-554 as the assassins pushed her toward the mouth of the chute.

[Assassin] - "Happy retirement, KD-554. "

Said one of the assassins in a cold voice before dumping KD-554 down the dark abyss.

Meanwhile, Kadyn unboxed a small music box Mike had bought for her, unaware of all the events that had occurred simultaneously. With the turn of a small handle on the side, the box started to emit a beautiful chime that made Kadyn smile. Suddenly, a sudden pressure appeared on the side of her bed. As Kadyn jumped up in surprise, she suddenly saw Mike reaching for his cap and shirt under her blanket.

[Mike] - "Don't mind me, keep cranking the handle. "

Said Mike as he put on his cap and folded his shirt.

Kadyn suddenly reached forward and took Mike's cap before putting it on her head.

[Kadyn] - "There is no way! I'm at least keeping the cap. "

Said Kadyn as she backed off.

[Mike] - "Come on now, I need that for my duty tomorrow. "

Said Mike as he reached his hand toward Kadyn.

[Kadyn] - "No! You barely visit me these days. I need something from you that can keep me company. "

Said Kadyn as she held the cap tightly against her skull.

[Mike] - "Alright, alright, look, I'll trade you something for that. "

Said Mike as he took off his coat.

[Kadyn] - "Your coat? "

[Mike] - "Do we have a deal? "

Said Mike with a charming smile.

Hesitantly, Kadyn reached forward and snatched the coat out of Mike's hand before running away.

[Kadyn] - "Haha! You fool, I'm keeping both of them! "

Said Kadyn with confidence as she wore Mike's coat on her back.

[Mike] - "Nice making business with you, my little fox. "

Said Mike as he tipped his cap to Kadyn.

Kadyn suddenly noticed how the cap on her head was gone.

[Kadyn] - "Hey! "

Yelled Kadyn as she rushed up to Mike and launched herself against him.

Using his slight height advantage, Mike kept his cap just above Kadyn's reach while she desperately tried reaching for his hand. At first, it was a playful struggle but Kadyn quickly gave up before simply just enjoying the moment pressed against Mike's chest. As the couple shared a quiet moment in each other's embrace, the silence was suddenly broken when the new five assassins intruded into the room.

[KD-551(new)] - "KD-555, under orders of Doctor Tsujinaka, you are now forced to retire from active duty. Do not resist or we'll resort to use force if necessary. "

Said the new placeholder for KD-551 as she and the rest of her sisters extended their blades.

Immediately sensing the hostile intentions behind the new KD units, Kadyn extended her wrist blade in response. However, before any fight erupted, Mike placed his helmet over his head and stood before Kadyn with his hand raised.

[Mike] - "As per imperial hierarchy, I, the Grand Knight, shall declare a new set of rules which you must follow above any orders or rules set by Doctor Tsujinaka past, present or future. "

The assassins immediately obeyed Mike and kneeled in front of him as if by instinct.

[KD-551] - "We are at your command, Grand Knight. Please give us your new instructions. "

Said KD-551 in a monotone voice.

[Mike] - "You shall not harm KD-555 under any circumstances even if ordered by a different authority than Doctor Tsujinaka. Secondly, KD-555 will be your new leader and you will follow her command without question. Finally, you will not speak of my presence here or my involvement in the setting of these rules to anyone even if ordered by a figure of authority in the empire. "

[KD-551] - "We understand, Grand Knight. Your rules will be our eternal law. "

Satisfied with the result, Mike turned to Kadyn and kissed her on the cheek.

[Mike] - "Alright, gotta go now. I'll come find you another time. "

[Kadyn] - "Thank you, Mike, for being here for me all the time despite not being with me all the time. "

[Mike] - "My pleasure, my little fox. "

Said Mike as he saluted Kadyn before flying through the wall and leaving no trace of his presence here.

Later, Doctor Tsujinaka moved toward her computer screen with a cup of coffee, expecting Kadyn to be nothing but a stain on the floor. However, she saw that none of her new assassins even dared to interact with Kadyn as she slept soundly in her bed. Infuriated and puzzled, Tsujinaka immediately rushed out of her office and headed toward the barrack. Soon, Tsujinaka barged into the barrack and stepped toward her assassins with fire in her eyes.

[Tsujinaka] - "Which part of disposing of KD-555 didn't you understand, you incompetent bitches! Get to work and kill her! "

Yelled Tsujinaka.

Despite all the shouting and anger, none of the new assassins moved from where to stood or responded to Tsujinaka. With rage boiling inside her blood, Tsujinaka unholstered and pointed her pocket pistol toward Kadyn.

[Tsujinaka] - "I'll fucking do it myself, you useless idiots! The next thing I'll do is replacing you bunch of stoned piles of scraps with newer models capable of following simple commands. "

In an instant, a splash of red tainted Tsujinaka's clothes as her severed arm fell to the ground. The doctor took a moment before she processed that her arm was missing. That was when fear suddenly gripped Tsujinaka's heart as she stared into Kadyn's glowing red eyes. She had been sitting too comfortably for too long in her cushioned chair to realize that she was dealing with killers who could make lions and bears look like weak little puppies.

[Tsujinaka] - "AAAAAH! My arm! Oh my god, my arm! "

Screamed Tsujinaka as she backed off from Kadyn.

Without taking her eyes off Tsujinaka, Kadyn got up from her bed and advanced toward her target. Meanwhile, the five assassin sisters simply stared at Tsujinaka and Kadyn without a single reaction or action.

[Tsujinaka] - "Help me, my children, help your mother! Get rid of this beast in front of me, please, my lovely children. "

Pleaded Tsujinaka toward her assassins.

Unsurprisingly, KD-551 and her sisters lacked any form of empathy to care about Tsujinaka on a deeper personal level. The desperate words were nothing but random noises in their minds and Tsujinaka's predicament was nothing more than a casual event to their eyes.

[Tsujinaka] - "Hey, KD-555, look, Mommy is sorry for this misunderstanding. I didn't mean you any harm, I was just testing the new batch. "

[Kadyn] - "You sent this batch after me and later my sisters. I'm not designed to be complacent and stupid like your new batch! Happy early retirement, bitch! "

Said Kadyn before she abruptly stabbed Tsujinaka through the skull.

There was barely any blood as Kadyn's strike was swift, precise and efficient. It took Kadyn no more than a single stab to deliver the sweet release of death. Immediately after Tsujinaka's limp corpse slipped down the wall, Kadyn threw a gaze toward the assassins' direction. With brutal efficiency, the five sisters immediately cleaned up the scene and made it look like nothing had happened.

It wasn't days later before Kadyn learned of what had happened to the rest of her sisters. Through the new assassins, Kadyn discovered all the atrocities KD-554 had committed against her own sisters. The news devastated Kadyn as she suddenly realized that she was the last one left with no one dear to her still alive besides Mike. Every so often in Kadyn's life, she would remember her last conversation with KD-552 where she mentioned how every person might be gone in the next moment.

[Kadyn] - "We might be taking what we have too much for granted. Me, who thought Mike was invincible and would always come back to me... how naive I was... "

Said Kadyn as she wrote these very words on a new page of blank paper.

[Mike] - "I might not be invincible but I did come back to you, didn't I? "

Said Mike as he brought Kadyn a new pile of paper.

[Kadyn] - "No, silly, we are both dead, aren't we? It's more like I joined you here. "

[Mike] - "Well, I disagree. "

Said Mike as he sat beside Kadyn.

[Mike] - "This book here should've ended but you are still adding pages to it. This means we are both not dead. All that because... "

Mike leaned forward and showed Kadyn the middle of the book she was holding.

[Mike] - "...You ripped the bottom of the first book off and glued it to a new book filled with blank pages. I don't know how the bloody hell you did that but that's quite creative of you. "

[Kadyn] - "I did what? "

Said Kadyn in surprise as she flipped through the pages which flashed her past memories in her face like a film.

[Mike] - "I told you before that you bloody rewrote the damn thing. You did the impossible. "

[Kadyn] - "Does that mean I can also rewrite the past too? "

Said Kadyn as she flipped toward the beginning of her book.

[Mike] - "Give it a try. You might be able to. "

As soon as Kadyn's pen touched the page which she had her eyes on, the world around her suddenly went dark. When she woke up, she was transported into her younger self that night where KD-552 was murdered. Surprisingly, Kadyn possessed all the memories until the present alongside memories that she wasn't even supposed to possess like the details of KD-554's murder of KD-551 and KD-553.

At that moment, it's like Kadyn was given a second chance to change to past. After looking at the time and noticing the box of Chinese candy in her hands, she knew that she still had time to stop whatever was going to happen that night. All the while, she failed to notice that the dark crystal on her chest glowed brightly.

To be continued...