"All this pain, this punishment cast upon me since birth... How unfair! I was never given a choice, not when my body melted away, not when I became trapped in this robotic shell, not when I lived for one single purpose with no other way around... "
[Krystal] - "But you've made a choice! You chose to punish those who tried to help you! Butchered those who were decent to you even at your worst! And most importantly, ruined lives that clearly didn't matter to you! You kill for sport, for validation, for your selfish worldview! You've always had a choice, even now, you bloody delusional hypocrite! "
Interrupted Krystal, her words bearing a truth KD-554 refused to acknowledge.
[KD-554] - "Liar! I don't have a body like you, nor someone who'd love me unconditionally. You say our sisters accepted me, yet one after another, you left! You left for that supposed better life, you abandoned me! If I had a body, a heart like the rest of you, I'd have made a different decision! "
Yelled KD-554, her eyes burning with hatred.
[Krystal] - "And does this excuse what you did? You feel hatred because you still have a heart and a mind. You're no one's slave, yet you chose to be a slave to your delusion. "
Krystal moved away from her position while the two sisters were still keeping each other at blade's length, ready to strike at any moment.
[KD-554] - "There is no delusion, but yours. You're the one who used to be a violent beast without restraint. Suddenly, when that man showed up in your life, you rejected your past and rejected me. You're the hypocrite here! "
[Krystal] - "Luck didn't magically choose me. Mike didn't start loving me out of the blue. If you were in my position, you would've bloody hated him. He treated me like just any other soldier under him. Even when we were intimate, it was his way of motivating me to work harder. He was cold, just like who we used to be... "
Said Krystal before pausing, her head lowering at the thought of the painful memories.
Kadyn's relationship with Mike, behind closed doors, in the first two years, was always that of a cold and professional one. Mike, being the indoctrinated enforcer of Imperial will, never considered anyone around him, including himself, to be more than just another imperial asset. He kept Kadyn around as nothing more than a fancy secretary and assistant, treating her with the same cold gaze as his other subordinates.
When Kadyn developed enough feelings for him and attempted to enter an intimate relationship with him, he simply played along to keep her productive and efficient. When he kissed her, it was a simple dopamine mechanism for boosting work output. When he made love to her, it was simply a few minutes of inconvenience serving as positive feedback for a week of back-breaking work. He never spoke to her a second more than necessary, nor indulged her needs beyond the baseline.
When Kadyn finally matured emotionally enough to understand this abusive relationship, it threatened to break her. What she thought was true love was nothing but a ploy used by Mike to keep her working at his tireless pace. There's only 10-30 minutes of free time per week, including the weekends and only four to five hours of sleep per day. Even worse, she couldn't quit her position because she knew too many secrets to be let free.
It was a hell most would not endure and break under its chains. It was an existence that left no room for hope or salvation. Yet, she didn't hate Mike, but nor did she accept this as her reality.
[Krystal] - "...Yet, I fought against my circumstances, and I suffered under a man who wouldn't even acknowledge me. In the end, I didn't break like you; I instead inspired someone who was just as cold as a murdering psychopath to be warm. He loves me today because I chose not to look at reality with hatred, but with defiance. I walked, while you stood where you bloody started. "
Continued Krystal, her head abruptly rising with determination.
Mike never had any malicious intentions behind what he did to Kadyn. To him, that's how the world worked in his broken mind. Yet, during the two years Kadyn endured under his unintentional abuse, he had developed a soft spot for her. In his strict life, her presence felt rebellious and liberating, but most importantly, comforting in his solitude. Kadyn, meanwhile, eventually came to understand this fact and her true, unique position in this supposed prison and decided to break free.
So on one fateful day, when Mike handed Kadyn another hundred-page report, she defiantly threw the touchscreen away. As the screen hit the wall and shattered into pieces on the floor, even Mike, the Grand Knight of the National Empire, briefly paused in shock and confusion.
[Kadyn] - "I want to talk... About the deal between us. "
Said Kadyn, her expression stern and determined as she crossed her arms.
[Mike] - "We have more work to accomplish. There will be no time for talks unless they concern the justification for your previous reckless action or your recent drop in productivity quota. "
Said Mike while he stared coldly at Kadyn.
[Kadyn] - "I'm unsatisfied with the work conditions and the relationship between us. So I will offer you two choices. Either you accept my conditions and modify several elements of our relationship, or I will submit my resignation right here and now. "
Said Kadyn boldly as she stared Mike directly in the eyes.
[Mike] - "Resignation will equate to termination. Your position as my assistant does not make you an exception to the rules, nor are you someone who cannot be replaced. "
Mike's sentence cut deep into Kadyn's heart, as she didn't expect him to be so heartless in his choice of words.
[Kadyn] - "Then go ahead, terminate me! Because I won't take any more of this, Mike! "
Said Kadyn while extending her arms and inviting Mike to strike her down.
To Kadyn's surprise, Mike raised his arm and activated his crystal with the clear intent to kill her. However, as he brought his palm down toward her, she instinctively raised her hand and caught his arm. As Kadyn opened her eyes, she was shaken up by both fear and shock, but the defiance in her only grew as she realized that Mike still hadn't killed her.
[Kadyn] - "Are you hesitating? What's wrong? You have no remorse for abusing me, so what's the holdup now? Huh? "
Yelled Kadyn angrily with tears in her eyes as she slapped Mike's chest.
Maybe she was wrong, maybe this man does lack a heart. Without a word, Mike coldly yanked his arm out of Kadyn's grasp before walking away.
[Mike] - "For your loyal services throughout the two years, I will arrange for your exit with no strings attached. "
However, despite Mike's offer, it only made Kadyn angrier. As Mike turned around, sensing footsteps, he barely had time to react before Kadyn slapped him across the face.
[Kadyn] - "I don't want to leave either! Ugh! Why can't you just be human for once? "
Cried Kadyn while wiping her tears.
[Mike] - "Then what do you want exactly? "
Mumbled Mike with his hand on his bruised cheek.
[Kadyn] - "I... I... I want you! Are you this dumb? You clearly have a part of you that cares about me. I don't mind how much work there is; I just want you to be honest with me. Kissing and sex aren't just activities, you know? Do you go around fucking any of your subordinates? I'm not just another one of your soldiers, Mike, I'm– I'm your partner, someone who loves you more than the others. "
Cried Kadyn while hitting Mike's chest with her fists.
Though Mike remained emotionless and stoic, there was genuinely a shred of empathy in his eyes as Kadyn cried with such pain in her voice.
[Kadyn] - "I don't hate you for what you did to me, because that's not your fault. But I'm tired of enduring it. I want genuine kisses that carry emotions, and sex where you actually say you love me. Is this too much to ask? Are you so dead inside that you can't perceive relationships as more than commander and subordinate? "
Mike knew what Kadyn meant by her words, but expressing himself, his true emotions, was something he was unable to do. Growing up, there was never an 'I ' in anything, as tools such as himself should only give and never take. Though Mike had nothing to express, he could nonetheless give. For the only person dear to him, he could afford to offer her the empty spot meant for himself in his heart.
As Kadyn continued to cry against Mike's chest, she suddenly felt him pull her away. However, unexpectedly, Kadyn abruptly felt a soft pressure on her lips before the warmth of Mike's breath hit her face. Though Kadyn initially wanted to pull away, she slowly felt the difference in this kiss compared to all the others they shared. Though the flame of passion felt like just a tiny spark, it still meant Mike was making an effort.
In response, Kadyn leaned in closer and enjoyed the kiss for as long as she could. When they both finally pulled away and glanced at each other, the way they both perceived each other was altered forever. For Mike, Kadyn shifted away from being just another tool or soldier of the Empire, but a person outside of the system. For Kadyn, Mike became her reason to believe in a happy future and her anchor in this volatile world.
[Mike] - "Okay, fun time's over. Get back to work already; we have wasted enough time. "
Said Mike, back in his usual serious tone as he handed Kadyn another touchscreen.
Kadyn first reacted with frustration, but she nonetheless snatched the screen out of Mike's hand. Mike will still be Mike, and a process is still required for things to change. However, patience and resilience are not virtues Kadyn lacks if the reward is guaranteed. There are opportunities for something beautiful in the future between them, and she could see it even now.
[Kadyn] - "I expect my usual reward tonight for a work well-done, asshole. "
Said Kadyn with a happy smirk.
To Kadyn's sisters, especially KD-554, their relationship seemed to have blossomed out of the blue. Yet, she would never know the struggle, the pain, the emotional turmoil experienced by Kadyn during those years. Kadyn endured and won, not because she was lucky, but because she took charge of her destiny.
KD-554 was left speechless, her teeth gritted in bitterness as Krystal's memory seemingly played like a movie inside her head. At the bottom of her heart, if she were in Kadyn's place, KD-554 would've either fled or taken her hate out on Mike. And this thought frightened her, because it proved how strong Kadyn truly was as a person compared to her.
However, accepting Krystal's words would label her as a hypocrite, a murderous hypocrite who had killed her own sisters just to prove her own worldview when she clearly had an easier path than Kadyn at her lowest. Unfortunately for KD-554, she was always the kind to accept a comfortable lie rather than face an uncomfortable truth.
[KD-554] - "Bullshit... It's pure utter bullshit! You have a flesh-and-blood body, and you have a future to look forward to. Not me! I could never have a child, nor could I ever feel the wind on my skin. "
Retorted KD-554 in a fit of rage.
Krystal smirked, knowing KD-554 had just admitted that she had lost the debate.
[Krystal] - "Now you're just posturing, sister. It's not like cloning and gene techs aren't advanced enough to rebuild you a flesh body. It's not the circumstances that held you back; it's your own mind. "
Said Krystal confidently, her smile a direct taunt at KD-554.
KD-554's eyes widened with rage as her limbs began to tremble in her anger. Krystal had completely and utterly defeated her on every avenue of reason and bolted her head securely under the hat of hypocrisy. With the battle of words at a checkmate, KD-554 responded in the only other way she knew.
[KD-554] - "I'll feed you your fucking tongue, you bitch! I'll cut off your fucking head and boil it into stew that I'll feed to your retarded boyfriend! "
Yelled KD-554, her eyes full of murderous rage.
[Krystal] - "There it is, resorting to plan B already. An abortion 17 years too late. "
Said Krystal as she invited KD-554 to strike first.
With an enraged yell, KD-554 leaped toward Krystal and activated her spinal accelerator. Responding in kind, Krystal clashed her blade against KD-554's with a big mocking smile on her face. From the outside view, their motions were a blur of colours without distinct shape. Meanwhile, in the accelerated movement and perspectives, the two sisters exchanged violent and relentless blows without pause.
No matter how fast or how precise each of KD-554's strikes toward Krystal was, she easily dodged her opponent's attacks. Unlike Kadyn, Krystal fought like a dedicated warrior who could match KD-554's savage combat style blow for blow. As fast and agile strikes didn't work, KD-554 switched to her more violent and brutal combat style. However, within the first strike, in which KD-554 finally managed to slice off a few strands of hair on her opponent's cheek, her overextension was immediately noticed by Krystal.
Punishing her enemy's recklessness, Krystal abruptly blocked KD-554's other blade, leaving her abdomen exposed for a strike she instantly exploited with a knee kick. Being as relentless as she is, KD-554 immediately responded by gliding her blade across Krystal's face. However, while KD-554 barely drew a drop of blood on her nose, Krystal's counterstrike came like a freight train. In one decisive strike, Krystal slashed through half of KD-554's face and brought down a massive strand of her synthetic hair.
However, since KD-554 couldn't feel pain, she simply braced through the damage and retreated. As Krystal pursued her into the living room, KD-554 abruptly threw a chair at her opponent before following in for a strike. Just as Krystal raised her blade to slice the chair apart, KD-554 used this opportunity to land a strike directly into Krystal's left collarbone. However, Krystal responded in her own aggressive way by drilling through the chair instead of slicing it, impaling KD-554 in the chest with her blade.
With one violent thrust, Krystal slammed KD-554 onto the floor before her hand dug into the wound she drilled in her enemy's chest. Then, with one brutal strike, Krystal embedded one of the chair's legs into KD-554's right eye. This time, having actually hurt something that was part of KD-554's remaining organs, the monster screamed in pain as blood poured out of her socket. Yet, Krystal was indifferent to the violence she inflicted before she humiliated KD-554 with a slap in the face, before hurling her across the room.
[Krystal] - "Pay for all the lives you have taken in Trump City! "
Muttered Krystal as she approached KD-554.
As KD-554 clumsily stood up, she attempted to stab at Krystal, only for her opponent to grab her by the arm when she missed. Then, grabbing KD-554's other arm, Krystal head-bumped the monster before pushing her backward toward the kitchen. With a kick on the stove's control, a burst of fire ignited from one of the gas burners. With one final shove, Krystal pushed KD-554's head onto the fire, where her hair immediately caught fire and began to burn like a human torch.
[Krystal] - "Pay for the lives lost in Light City! "
Yelled Krystal while KD-554 screamed in panic and pain.
With a kick, KD-554 knocked Krystal away from her. However, Krystal quickly regained control and charged back at her enemy. Grabbing the boiling soup still cooking on the stove, KD-554 emptied its contents toward Krystal, using the same move that took down Julia. However, Krystal immediately shielded herself using Mike's coat, the burning soup being harmlessly spread around without touching her.
[Krystal] - "Pay for Oltevin's death! "
Yelled Krystal as she charged with the coat still raised like a shield toward KD-554.
As KD-554 stabbed forward through the fabric, Krystal swiftly dodged before cutting off her enemy's arm.
[Krystal] - "Pay for Michalis and for Christos! For Voss! "
Yelled Krystal, her fury burning bright inside her eyes.
As Krystal flung the coat around, her blade glided along, striking KD-554 through the neck. While blood spilled from the massive gap in KD-554's neck, she still tried to attack Krystal. However, due to her severe injury, Krystal simply watched without flinching as KD-554 expectingly missed her strike before falling to her knees.
[Krystal] - "You're much weaker than I expected without your bullshit liquid metal body. "
Mocked Krystal while staring down at KD-554.
[KD-554] - "What– What... the hell... are you... talking... about? "
Gasped KD-554 while blood kept flowing uncontrollably out of her neck.
[Krystal] - "Oh, right, I forgot you don't know what you did in the future yet. "
Said Krystal before stomping onto KD-554's charred head, pinning her to the floor.
[KD-554] - "Hah... Let... Go! "
Gargled KD-554 while drowning in her own blood.
[Krystal] - "I didn't expect you to even have any blood. Guess someone's a true hypocrite when they said you didn't have flesh. "
[KD-554] - "Fuuck... You! Arg! "
Muttered KD-554 before Krystal put more weight into her foot.
[Krystal] - "Pay for the pain you caused Ari... "
Said Krystal with gritted teeth.
Reaching down, Krystal grabbed KD-554 by the scalp, the smell of charred flesh spreading through the air. KD-554 screamed and thrashed in agony, but Krystal ignored the noise and held tight where it hurt for her enemy. Dragging KD-554 across the living room, Krystal threw her defeated monster of a sister onto the exact spot Julia died.
[Krystal] - "Pay for Julia's death, you pathetic bastard. "
Said Krystal with a look of disgust in her eyes.
[KD-554] - "Go... To... Hell! Go ahead... Kill... me... be just... like... me! "
Whispered KD-554 through broken words.
[Krystal] - "Bitch please, don't hit me with that bloody cliche. You're lucky I'm not a fucking psychopath because some pieces of shit like you need even harsher punishment. "
Said Krystal before giving KD-554's head another stomp.
As her left eye popped out of her skull and her consciousness began to fade, Krystal bent down and stared into KD-554's eyes. When the gaze that stared back at her still carried burning hatred and not even an ounce of fear, Krystal slammed KD-554's head down in disappointment.
[Krystal] - "I made a promise after all, that I'll break you in every way that exists. Looks like twice isn't enough. Not to mention, you still have one more debt to pay. "
KD-554 smirked mockingly, not understanding what Krystal was capable of doing and thinking she could escape her punishment through death.
[Krystal] - "Why are you smiling, haha? You really think it's over? "
Said Krystal while smiling back.
As KD-554's head fell limp and her red eyes stopped glowing, Krystal simply raised her hand and activated her crystal.
[Krystal] - "Nuh uh! You're not going anywhere until we're done here. "
In a flash, time and reality began to shift again. On the wall, the clock moved back about an hour, before even when KD-554 fought Julia, before KD-554 even had the chance to stab Amelia in the back. This time, however, Krystal infused KD-554's mind with a limited amount of future information, enough to make her somewhat aware of what happened not long ago.
Now, back in that moment, that exact moment when KD-554 was about to stab Amelia in the back, Krystal moved into position and waited for the event to occur. When KD-554 materialized and struck forward as history replayed itself, she only found air where her target used to be. Suddenly, KD-554's mind registered the information Krystal infused it with. However, before KD-554 could even react, she felt a hand on her shoulder and the quiet humming of Krystal's wrist blade right beside her ear.
[Krystal] - "Who were you trying to stab, you piece of shit? "
Said Krystal as she stood ominously behind KD-554.
For the first time in her life, KD-554 jolted in fright as she realized just how fucked she is if Krystal had destroyed her twice so far and even death couldn't save her.
[Krystal] - "Ah, is that a jolt I feel? Looks like we're making progress. "
Whispered Krystal as her red iris glowed in KD-554's periphery.
To be continued...