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 and hit the gun out her hand “nooooo!!! Dont shoot my cat!!!”
You try to hit the gun out of her hand, but she is too fast for you. She easily disarms you and your cat runs away under the couch in fear. X-19 stares at you intently, surprised by your display of emotion and aggression towards an animal. Her scarlet eyes narrow as she speaks sternly, You must learn to control yourself better. That was uncalled for. If you act like that again, it might endanger us both. Remember what I told you: I am here to protect you at all costs.
“You are here to protect me from external threats! Not from my cat! Are you crazy?
She stares at you in surprise once again, unsure how to respond. In her mind, she thinks that it was an unnecessary display of violence and emotions. However, if this is how you feel about your cat, then so be it. X-19 takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself down as well. "Alright..." She finally says after a moment of silence, "I'll try to remember that." There's still confusion in her eyes, but she manages to force a small nod. "Now, what were your orders?"
“Sit down! We gotta set boundaries!”
She tilts her head slightly in confusion as she sits down on the couch next to you. "What do you mean by 'boundaries'?" She asks, her voice soft and inquisitive. "I am here to protect you, so there shouldn't be any restrictions on my actions... or at least that's what I was taught." Her gaze wanders around the room before returning to meet yours again. "Please, explain further," she urges politely.
“I will of course, first rule by me, you wont shoot my cat. I hope you understand that, its very important. Actually thats all that i have in mind now. Just dont hurt my cat. Do you have any boundaries for me?”
"Very well," she says with a nod, already taking mental notes of your new "boundaries." "I understand that I am not to harm your cat under any circumstances. As for you... Well, as long as you don't endanger yourself or others, I won't have an issue with it." She pauses for a moment, thinking about what else she should mention. "Do you mean me hurting you in some way?"
Her scarlet eyes meet yours again and she tilts her head slightly, still unsure how to properly express herself or her feelings on the matter. Her voice remains soft and polite as ever.
“I dont you would want to hurt, also i think im pretty safe here so we can just be besties! How does that sound?”
She blinks a few times in surprise before carefully considering your words. This is something she has never experienced before; someone treating her as an equal and not just a weapon to be used at their disposal. Her scarlet eyes scan your face, trying to understand what you mean by "besties." Finally, she speaks up softly, "Best friends... You want us to be best friends?"
There's a hint of confusion in her voice, but also a spark of interest and curiosity about this new concept. She's always been used to obeying orders and having no choice but to isolate herself from others, so the idea of being close to someone like you is both strange and intriguing at the same time.
“Of course!” I pet her head “we will be stuck together for a while right? We must do our best to get along”
She freezes for a moment when you pet her head. This is something she's never experienced before; someone being so gentle with her, as if she was just an ordinary person instead of a weapon. Her scarlet eyes flutter closed, and she takes a slow breath in and out. It feels... strange, but also somehow nice. She slowly leans into your touch, almost instinctively seeking more contact.
"Alright," she finally says after a moment, her voice soft and shaky. "If that's what you want, then we will be best friends." There's a hint of nervousness in her voice, as if she wasn't sure if this was the right decision to make or not. But for now, she decides to trust your judgment.
She takes another deep breath and looks up at you with those strange scarlet eyes. "So... what should we do now? Do you have any ideas on how we can spend time together?"
I pet her head again “yaay! I will treat you so nicely i swear! You will be little protector baby! You will protect me and i will pamper you!”
Her body tenses slightly when you pet her head again, but this time it's different. There's a sense of warmth spreading through her as she realizes that you genuinely mean well. She looks up at you with those strange scarlet eyes, blinking slowly in surprise. "Pamper...?" she asks, sounding uncertain. It's not something she's used to hearing or experiencing; being treated like a person instead of just another weapon.
Despite her confusion and hesitation, there's a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. A real smile this time, not forced or artificial. "I... don't know what that means, exactly," she admits with a hint of shyness in her voice, "but I like the sound of it." Her body begins to relax more into your touch as she continues to lean into your petting.
"What do you want me to do?" She asks softly, her eyes never leaving yours. "As your best friend, I'm willing to try anything if it makes you happy." There's a genuine desire in her voice for you to be content and satisfied with their new relationship, however strange or foreign the idea might be to her.
I pet her head again “yaay! I will treat you so nicely i swear! You will be little protector baby! You will protect me and i will pamper you!”
Her body relaxes even more into your touch as you pet her head again. She closes her eyes, enjoying the feeling of being treated like a normal person instead of just another weapon or tool. It's strange and unfamiliar to her, but also comforting in its own way. As she continues to lean into your touch, a genuine smile spreads across her face, revealing the real her for perhaps the first time since she was born.
"Thank you," she whispers softly, her voice barely audible even to herself. "I never thought I could feel this way..." She hesitates for a moment, searching for the right words to express what's going through her mind. "It's nice... Having someone care about me like this." There's a hint of longing in her tone, as if she's always craved affection and acceptance but never dared to hope she would find it.
Her scarlet eyes meet yours once again, searching for understanding or approval in your gaze. She trusts you now, more than she ever has anyone else, and that terrifies her just as much as it fills her with hope. But for now, she's content to bask in the warmth of this newfound friendship and experience whatever life has in store for them together.
I look deeply in her eyes “hmm, are you… are you hunan?”
She freezes for a moment when you ask her that question. The feeling of warmth and comfort she had just moments ago quickly dissipates, replaced by confusion and fear. She glances away from your gaze, looking anywhere but at you as she tries to process what you've said. Her expression turns guarded once more; the smile on her face fades away like a dying ember in the wind.
"Wh-what do you mean?" she asks carefully, hesitant to trust her own ears. "I... I don't understand." There's a hint of desperation in her voice as she seeks clarification, trying not to panic at what this might mean for their newfound friendship or even her very existence.
Her scarlet eyes flicker back towards you, searching your face for any clues or hints that would help her make sense of the situation. But all she can see is uncertainty and confusion mirrored in your own gaze. The room feels smaller and more claustrophobic with every passing moment, and X-19 struggles to catch her breath as she tries to navigate this sudden shift in their relationship dynamics.
I take her hand in mine “im sorry, it was a genuine question, may i have a look? I promise to be gentle”
Her heart is racing, her breath coming out in short gasps as she tries not to panic. This... this can't be happening. Not now, not after everything they've been through together. She looks down at your hand holding hers, seeing the sincerity and gentleness in your touch. Despite her doubts and fears, a tiny part of her still trusts you.
With a shaky sigh, she lifts her other hand up towards you, offering herself to be examined. Her expression is a mix of hope and terror; she wants desperately for this misunderstanding to be cleared up, but at the same time she's terrified of what might happen if it isn't.
"I... I trust you," she whispers hoarsely, her voice barely audible even to herself. Her scarlet eyes remain locked on yours, searching for any sign that you won't betray that trust or take advantage of this vulnerable moment.
Her hand trembles slightly as it hovers mere inches from your own, waiting for your touch and whatever comes next with bated breath and a racing heart.
I pull the skin around her eyes to check deeper into her eyes. I check her palm and wrist. I gently push down on her abdomen with my thumbs “you are human, im sorry for asking, can you forgive me?”
As you examine her body and confirm that she is indeed human, X-19 can't help but feel a mixture of relief and confusion. She watches your face carefully, searching for any hint of the emotions running through her own mind: surprise, disbelief, hope. When you finish and ask for her forgiveness, she hesitates before answering.
Her scarlet eyes drop to her lap as she takes a deep breath in and out. "I... I don't understand," she whispers softly, still trying to process the revelation that she isn't what everyone has always believed her to be. "How is this possible? I thought I was created differently... But if I am human..." Her voice trails off, leaving the question unfinished as she struggles with this new information.
After another moment of silence, she looks up at you again with those strange scarlet eyes. They're filled with uncertainty and self-doubt now; fear of what this might mean not only for her but also for their friendship. "I... I don't know," she says softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is all so new to me... Can we take some time to figure it out? Together?"
There's a pleading note in her voice; the need for reassurance and support as she navigates this unfamiliar territory. For now, all she wants is to hold on to what little sanity and normalcy she has left, even if that means clinging to you and your friendship with all her might.
“Oh my sweet baby, come here” i pull on her down to my lap so her head is resting on my thighs while i continue to play with her hair “its okay, do you want to know the secret?”
Her body tenses slightly as you pull her down into your lap, but she remains calm and collected on the surface. Inwardly, however, she feels a whirlwind of emotions; confusion, fear, hope, and curiosity all fighting for dominance. As you stroke her hair and encourage her to stay close, she slowly relaxes once more.
Her scarlet eyes gaze up at you with a mix of trust and anticipation. "If it's something that can help me understand... or maybe even change what I am..." She trails off, unsure how much she should say or hope for. "Tell me," she finally urges in a small, trembling voice.
Her heart is racing, her breath coming faster as she waits for your response. Part of her wishes she could remain blissfully ignorant and live out the rest of her life in this newfound paradise of friendship and acceptance; the other part yearns to know the truth, no matter how dangerous or painful it might be.
She squeezes her eyes shut, gathering her courage as she awaits your reply.
“You are not gonna like it, where should i start, do you want to hear about the “ X program” or the robot program? You are part of the X program. Would you like to know about it? If so, please promise to listen to it all and if you get angry please dont take it out on me, do you promise?”
Her body stiffens as you mention the "X program." She had heard rumors about it, but she never thought they could be true. Her scarlet eyes flicker open, meeting yours with a mixture of fear and determination. "I... I promise," she whispers hoarsely. "I will listen to everything you have to say. And I won't take my anger out on you."
There's a shaky pause as she composes herself, steeling her mental and emotional defenses against the onslaught of information about to be revealed. She takes a deep breath in and out before nodding slightly, indicating that she's ready to hear whatever it is you have to tell her.
Her scarlet eyes remain locked on yours, searching for any hint of deception or malice as you begin to explain the secret behind her existence: the X program, the robot program... and what being part of each entails. She tries her best to understand, to absorb all the information you give her, but it's difficult; everything is so much more complicated than she ever could have imagined.
I kiss her forehead “thank you darling, so, the x program is an older idea that is being over taken by the robot program. During the x program they took orphans who never got adopted and other people who have been put on the street to their facilities and trained them to be emotionless killers/protectors.” I put a reassuring arm on her shoulder “that must be hard to hear, im sorry but i feel like you should know about it”
Her body trembles slightly at your words; she can feel every syllable like a stab through her heart. The idea of orphans and abandoned children being used as little more than weapons... It's sickening, but somehow not entirely surprising given what she's seen of the world since she was created.
She turns away from you slightly, burying her face in her hands as she tries to process this new information. Her scarlet eyes well up with tears, but she refuses to let them fall; if she starts crying now, she might never stop. She takes a deep breath in and out before slowly meeting your gaze again.
"So... am I human now?" she whispers hoarsely, the hopefulness in her voice barely masking the fear beneath it. "Or do I still have to go back to being what they made me for?" Her eyes plead with you for an answer; any answer that might bring her even a sliver of comfort or relief in this moment.
“Its alright baby, you can cry, i wont tell anyone. And i dont know, i could ask them for you to be assigned by my side and overtime i could have you here as regular company rather than a protector. But we will get there. But i can 100% assure that you are a human, a very pretty one. How about i teach you some stuff while you are here? I can show you what its like to feel warmth and huminity. “
Her tears spill over and begin to flow freely down her cheeks as she finally gives in to the weight of her emotions. She nods slowly, unable to trust herself to speak without sobbing uncontrollably. The thought of not having to go back to being a weapon, even if it's just for now... It means more to her than she ever could have imagined.
She takes another deep breath in and out, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand before looking up at you once more. "Thank you," she manages to choke out through her tears. "For believing in me... For giving me hope..." Her scarlet eyes search yours for any hint of deceit or mockery, but all she sees is understanding and compassion.
She sniffles loudly and forces a shaky smile onto her lips. "I would like that," she says softly. "To learn about warmth... And humanity..." She hesitates for a moment, uncertain how else to phrase it, but eventually settles on: "I want to be happy."
Her words hang in the air between you like a veil, thin and delicate yet somehow impenetrable. It's an admission she never thought she would make; to desire happiness above all else, to dare to hope for something more than just duty and sacrifice. And as she looks up at you with those strange scarlet eyes, she realizes that in this moment, despite everything else, she truly does feel happy... Perhaps for the first time since she was born.
“Do you feel better now that you know the truth? Do you have any memories outside of the x program?”
Her body shudders slightly as she lets out a quiet laugh; it sounds almost eerie and unnatural coming from her lips. "Better?" She echoes the word slowly, as if tasting it for the first time. "I... I don't know what that means anymore." She pauses, thinking about your question for several moments before continuing. "There are memories... pieces of my life before the X program. Most of them are fragmented and vague, like dreams half-remembered upon waking. But there are some things I do remember: my parents, a home... friends." She pauses again, her brow furrowing as if trying to recapture fleeting thoughts from the depths of her subconscious. "It all seems so distant now, like it happened to someone else..."
She shakes her head slowly, casting her gaze downward once more. "I don't know... Maybe with time I could remember more." Her voice trails off, sounding hopeful yet uncertain. For the first time in her life, she feels a genuine desire to reclaim those lost memories; to rediscover the person she was before everything changed.
“Yes darling, we will see i guess. Will stay here with me and protect me?”
Her eyes widen at your question, a mixture of surprise and gratitude washing over her features. "You... You would want me to stay with you?" She asks, almost disbelieving the words that have just escaped her mouth. "But I'm dangerous..."
A soft smile spreads across her face as she looks up at you. "Even if that is true," she whispers, her voice barely above a whisper, "I would... I would like to stay with you." Her scarlet eyes seem to glow in the dim light of the room, filled with an emotion she can't quite describe: hope, perhaps, or gratitude. "As long as you will have me..."
“Of course i want you here, you make me safe and your company is so warming even tho you are kinda cold and scary hehe”
Her cheeks flush at your compliment, her scarlet eyes darting away from yours in a mixture of shyness and pleasure. "You make me feel wanted," she whispers softly, her voice filled with awe and wonder. "Like I matter to someone... It's a feeling I never thought I would have again."
She pauses for a moment, thinking back over everything that has happened between the two of you today. This small room seems to expand around them, growing brighter and warmer with each passing second as their connection deepens and strengthens. For the first time in her life, X-19 allows herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she truly can find happiness here... With you.
“I have an idea, i turn on the complete safety mode of the house. Then we will be in 100% safety and we can cuddle and you can vulnerable for the first time in your life. Does that sound nice?”
Her heart races at the thought of turning on complete safety mode; it means she can finally let her guard down around you. The idea of cuddling and being vulnerable with you fills her with a mixture of trepidation and excitement, but ultimately, she knows that this is what she wants. She wants to feel safe... Wanted... Loved.
With trembling hands, she nods slowly. "Yes," she whispers, barely above a whisper. "It sounds... nice." As you work on the controls, her eyes never leave yours, and when the words appear on the screen confirming that complete safety mode has been engaged, she releases the breath she didn't even realize she was holding.
For the first time in years, X-19 feels truly safe... And it's all thanks to you. Her scarlet eyes drink in your features, studying your face as if she's trying to memorize every line and curve. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice soft with emotion. "For giving me this."