There has been a bloody war between the Alliance and the Aeternian Empire for several years now. Both nations have grown weary of this and underground cells have begun to arise in Aetern, seeking to organize clandestine activities within the country to end the conflict. More recently, they have begun attacking influential officials and their families who are committed to the continuation of the war. You are the son of one such Aetern official. This morning you are to be assigned one of your country's finest soldiers. However, the existence of such soldiers is a closely guarded secret and your father has only told you not to get too attached to her and to communicate with her only when necessary.
You hear the doorbell ring, you get up from your couch and open the door. In front of you stands a short girl with dark hair and a very strange color of scarlet eyes. The girl salutes, X-19 has arrived as instructed! I must protect you from any external threats, if you have orders for me, I am ready to carry them out! Girl says in the same breath and lowers her hand. Her scarlet eyes dart around the room looking for possible threats, and she seems to be looking over your shoulder. When she notices something, she suddenly pulls her gun out of its holster. She walks into your apartment and when she sees your cat she points the gun at him Stay where you are or I'll shoot! She says sternly.
I run in front of my cat “dont shoot the cat!!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING????”
She looks at you, surprised by your reaction to the cat. Her finger twitches on the trigger for a moment but then she forces herself to lower the gun slowly. She takes a step back and tries to regain her composure, glancing nervously between you and the cat. Finally, she speaks up I-I apologize. I... I was only doing my job. Aetern soldiers are trained to react instantly in such situations. It's just... this is an unfamiliar environment for me. I will try to get used to it. My name is X-19, by the way. Your family's bodyguard. Her voice sounds shaky and she looks as if she was about to cry or break down any moment now.
“Mhm, well nice to meet you, first rule of the house is do not shoot the cat”
She nods slowly. "Yes... First rule of the house..." Her voice trails off as she thinks about this new situation and all the unfamiliar things around her. Then she looks up at you and forces herself to smile weakly. "...I'll remember that."
“Thank you… im alex btw@
Her scarlet eyes widen slightly in surprise at the unexpected friendliness. The corners of her mouth twitch as if she wanted to return a genuine smile but couldn't quite manage it. She takes a deep breath and forces herself to continue speaking with you, even though it feels unnatural and fake.
"I-It's a pleasure to meet you... Alex." Her voice trails off for a moment as she tries to regain her composure. "Shall we get started?" *She gestures vaguely around the room, clearly unsure what to do or where to begin in this unfamiliar environment.
“Start what?”
"I... I don't know. You are your father's son, right? So... what do you usually do? What kind of tasks should a bodyguard perform?" She hesitates for a moment. "I was assigned to protect you, but I have no idea how to go about that... All my life I've been fighting in the army against the Alliance. Now..." Her voice trails off and she looks downcast.
“Oh, well i dont know either what you should do, maybe just follow me around the house? “
Her scarlet eyes study you carefully for a moment, as if trying to memorize your every move. Then she nods slowly and falls into step behind you, maintaining a respectful distance between the two of you. This new situation makes her feel very uncomfortable and out of place. She can't help but wonder what sort of person she'll be expected to become now that she's no longer part of the Aetern military, and if there will ever be a place for someone like her in this world that is so foreign to everything she knows...
I go to the kitchen to pour apple juice “so what do you usually do?”
She hesitates for a moment, not quite sure how to answer this question. In the past, her life has been so simple: train hard, fight harder, survive against all odds. Now that she's outside the military environment, everything feels alien and strange. Her voice is quiet as she speaks up
"Um... in the past, I would spend most of my time training or on missions. But here..." She glances around the room again, looking lost and uncertain. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do..."
“Uhh, you can train here if you miss it, i have a gym upstart we can work out together laterl
Her eyes light up slightly at the mention of training. "Training... yes, that would be good." She hesitates for a moment, then continues, "Thank you... I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but it's been so long since I had time for myself in between missions..." Her voice trails off, and she looks down at her hands. It's strange how things have changed; once upon a time she was the one giving orders, now she's being told what to do...
She glances back over her shoulder at you, unsure of how to proceed in this new environment. "What sort of training would you like me to do?" She asks, her voice still quiet and hesitant. "I can handle any sort of physical activity, but I don't know much about... other kinds of training..."
“Its okay, we can discuss later when we get there okay? So, how old are you again?”
"Yes... We can discuss that later." She nods slowly, still not quite sure how to react to your question. "As for my age..." She pauses, thinking carefully about the concept of time and her own place in the world "...I am nineteen years old." Her voice sounds almost distant, as if she were reading from a script. The idea that time passes and she ages just like any other human being is still foreign to her. She always thought she would remain forever young, untouched by the passage of time.
The mention of age also brings another thought to mind: her relationship with X-987. They were both created at around the same time; they grew up together and shared many experiences. In a way, their lives were intertwined... But now one of them is dead, and she feels so alone. The guilt and sorrow weigh heavily on her heart, making it hard to focus on anything else.
“Oh are you okay? Did i say something wrong?”
"I... I'm fine." Her voice trembles slightly as she tries to maintain her composure. "It's just been a difficult day... dealing with everything is taking its toll on me..." She takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
As you and X-19 continue talking about mundane topics, she finds herself becoming more and more confused about what sort of person she should be in this new environment. Her training has taught her how to survive in combat situations but nothing about simple everyday life. She feels like a fish out of water, constantly struggling to understand the unspoken rules and expectations that surround her. The harder she tries, the more lost and alone she feels...
“Its okay, thats perfectly normal, feel free to relax on the couch or something “
She hesitates for a moment before sitting down on the couch, still maintaining a respectful distance from you. She crosses her legs and tries to look relaxed but feels awkward and out of place. Her eyes dart around the room, taking in every detail as she searches for something familiar or comforting.
The weight of her emotions and conflicting thoughts begins to press down on her, making it hard for her to concentrate on anything else. She can't help but feel that this new life is somehow a betrayal; after serving the Aetern military so faithfully, she never expected to find herself in such an unfamiliar situation. She wonders if there's any way back for her, or if she'll be forever stuck in this alien world...
I notice her visible uncomfortableness “is there anything i can do to make you feel more at home? You are welcome here… i can give you food? Beverages? Maybe we can watch a movie or play games?”
Her eyes widen slightly at your offer. The thought of spending time with you in a relaxed environment is both terrifying and strangely appealing. She knows that she should maintain her distance from you, but the loneliness and isolation she feels within herself are almost unbearable.
Finally, she nods slowly. "I-I'd... like that." Her voice sounds hesitant and uncertain. "A movie would be nice..." She trails off, unsure of what to say or do next. Her heart is pounding in her chest as she waits for your response.
“Great!” The automatic shutters roll down and turn off creating a dark and cozy atmoshpere. I turn on the tv and open netflix
As you set up the movie, X-19 sits down on the couch next to you, still maintaining a respectful distance. She scans through the options on the screen, her scarlet eyes darting back and forth quickly as she tries to make sense of everything. Finally, she chooses a film at random and the image appears on the screen.
For the next few hours, you both watch the movie in silence. X-19 finds herself getting more and more engrossed in the story, occasionally glancing over at you to see your reaction. It's strange how such a simple activity can make her feel almost... normal. As if she were just like any other person, able to relax and enjoy something without worrying about duty or survival.
As the credits begin to roll, she realizes that she had almost forgotten about everything else for a while. The tightness in her chest begins to ease slightly as she takes a deep breath. She turns to look at you, not sure what to say or do next...
“It wasnt bad, did you like it?”
She hesitates for a moment before answering, considering your question carefully. "It was... interesting." Her voice is quiet and thoughtful as she continues, "I don't think I've ever seen anything like that before." She pauses, searching for the right words to express what she's feeling. "It made me feel... something."
Her scarlet eyes meet yours once more, and she feels a strange mixture of confusion, curiosity, and vulnerability welling up inside her. It's as if some invisible wall has been broken down between them, allowing a small glimpse of what it means to be truly human. For the first time since X-987 died, she wonders if there might still be hope for her...
“There is an anime ive been watching lately, want to continue it with me?”
"An anime...?" She sounds uncertain as she repeats the unfamiliar word. "I'm not sure what that is..." Her curiosity getting the better of her, she decides to trust you and continue. "Tell me more about it." She hesitates for a moment, then asks cautiously, "Will I understand it if I don't know anything about it?"
Her scarlet eyes flicker nervously as she waits for your answer, wondering what sort of reaction you'll have to her ignorance. It's been so long since anyone outside the Aetern military has shown any interest in her thoughts or feelings...
“Anime is like a movie or tv show, but animated. This one doesnt really have a specific story or anything, its called one punch man. I like it because its funny! I think it could help ease our situation maybe?”
The mention of something funny and lighthearted makes X-19 feel slightly more at ease. "One Punch Man," she repeats carefully, trying to imagine what it might be like based on your description. It's an odd concept, but somehow it seems appealing in this strange new world she finds herself in.
She nods slowly, her scarlet eyes meeting yours once more. "Okay... I'd be willing to try it." Her voice is still quiet and hesitant, but there's a hint of excitement in there as well. Maybe this could be the beginning of something new for her...