Ricky went to her a computer in the end, just out of her previous habit to have a look at it. She had yet to actually turn it on, but it felt...weird. Just sitting and looking at it. Her small fingers touched the keyboard, and it felt really odd to feel keys she once could tell blindfolded (and one handed). Not only that but it felt like a waste of time. Maybe it was because she was now always under a time pressure? Time and actions were precious to her, if she wanted to avoid always having to be wound up by someone or 'sleep'. Did she really want to spend time sitting at the computer aimlessly browsing? There had to be something more productive to do.
The little clockwork girl shook her head. What could she do though? She had inspected her body a little more, in particular the strange curves that seemed to signify her as 'female.' While the breasts were the most obvious, there were other 'little' things. Like the way her waist pinched in, as well as the softness of her face, and general petiteness. She... did kind of like the face- even if it wasn't 'hers' exactly. Even if it wasn't... real? It kind of reminded her of a CGI image, where you could sort of tell it wasn't real... yet here it was. This was her.
Tick- she moved her head to the left, seeing her hair a curious purple. Tick- she moved her head right, as, her hair changed pale white. This would take some getting used to.
She was still bored, so spent some time reading a newspaper, a magazine, and whatever else she could find. The clockwork girl felt a little happier to be doing something, but she was still quite anxious about going to school. How would students react to her?
Finally she went to the corner of a room, and closed her eyes, feeling her gears slowly, gently, almost soothingly slow down. It was all done so delicately inside. Not once did it feel like a gear 'grind' as it stopped. She felt her hands go limp, and arched her body at a downward tilt to maintain balance. Her expression became locked into its 'default' setting, a kind of curious slightly open mouth, as if hoping someone might talk to her.
Her main key started slowing as it did before, gently stopping... then going backwards. It was comfortable to be like this. She could exist like this for... for how long? Hours? days? Years? Who knew? Well... she might as well see what happens if she stopped thinkin-
tick.... tick.... tick.... tick
There was a knock on the door of the Collin's residence. Mr Collins glanced out the window a little startled. They were not expecting any more visitors. But then he thought it might be one of his daughter's new friends. He really hoped that was the case. His wife seemed to be really concerned, and he wasn't really sure what to offer in terms of help, except to find something for her to do.
He paused a little glancing to the window. There seemed to be some strange flashing lights and what he could hear was a small number of people. Had something happened? A little confused, he very warily opened the door, only to have a flash of a camera hit him right in the eyes, and a microphone put to him.
"Channel 3 news- Is Anderson Collins residing with you now?" Said a reporter very briskly.
Mr Collins blinked to get the daze out of his eyes at the small crowd. It appeared to be a group of about six reporters. Some of them had cameras and he became rather self conscious that he wasn't really dressed that smartly. Finally the elderly man found his voice. "Huh? What? Why are all you people doing here?" The interest they had in his son confused him.
"Is the footage evidence of Anderson conceding guilt?" asked another reporter.
"What footage? What are you talking about?" This was getting more surreal as time went by. Why were they making his son some kind of 'celebrity?' Why?
The reporter paused a moment. "The one where she went near the sun? Could you explain why she was crying in space? Is she admitting her wrong-doing? Could you tell us what things she saw in space?" The reporter continued the questions.
"Did she see any UFOs?" Called out another.
"Uh-" Mr Collins glanced startled not sure what question to answer. "I-"
"What are her plans for the future? How does she react to being replaced by Warner? Does this mean she will not enter politics?" A young man asked holding a camera on his shoulder.
He was quickly pushed aside by another. "Will Anderson offer any compensation for loss of earnings to the changed if she concedes guilt for keeping them away from key jobs roles?" Asked a changed, which appeared to be some kind of gynoid. No doubt her optics were recording everything.
Mr Collins Shut the door quickly. The elderly man sighed. That... was... well very difficult. For a while he stood there, wondering what to do. Clearly they wanted to interview his daughter, but it was possible they didn't know she couldn't speak English any more.
Mrs Collins held Anneza for a long time, before finally letting go. The young looking girl looked to her with a forlorn expression. She then gestured to the dress, as a kind of explanation of why she sounded so angry in the bathroom.
"Oh... I see. You didn't quite put the sanitary pad on right?" she said with a sigh. Anneza's strange clothing had been stained a little. It was pitted inside by red spots. "It isn't your fault Anneza. They were designed with walking in mind, not flying around as you do. Accidents like this are bound to happen- even with 'normal' people."
Anneza wasn't sure what her mother was saying. She felt ashamed and helpless. These things were incomprehensible. How did women deal with this? It can't be like this normally. Or was this body just designed to make her suffer as much as possible? She was putting on a diaper! That's what it felt like. She hated it. The pain was only part of it, this was also humiliation. She cried softly into her mother's shoulder.
"There there honey... it's okay," She said softly.
Anneza continued to cry, feeling just a little better at the warmth of her mother.
"Now I'll get this dress cleaned up, okay? You can wear something else for now right?"
The goddess Venus, sighed a little and shook her head. "I promise you sister, I am not going hard on her either."
"Well she did throw rocks at you," said Selena. "Is this not somewhat poetic?"
"Simply coincidence. This was going to happen to her eventually. I can not take her pain away, much as I wish I could," she said softly. "She is my child." she explained with nothing but kindness in her words. "What of Lilly's fate sister?"
"Ah..." Selena's eyes sparkled with a faint smile. "Come... you should see this."
The two goddesses held each other's hand, and for a moment Venus was aware of what it was like to see the earth, in the passage of time. The dance spanning aeons. Even Venus felt a sense of overwhelming pride. "Lucas... did it?"
"Possibly. The fate of Lilly and Jenny has achieved absolute balance."
"How?" Asked Venus curiously. It didn't seem possible...
The moon-goddess waved her hand to the Earth. "Lilly might never be as powerful a magic girl as Jenny... indeed, Jenny's importance to the future is why this decision was made. however, Lilly's perseverance has the potential to inspire others. Indeed... there is a very strong potential now, for an entire line of magic girls to come from her- indirectly- or... just maybe, directly."
Venus blinked. The two goddesses were now in the Room of Fate, with the scale in the middle of the room symbolising the two souls. Balance had indeed been achieved. Two souls... entwined and in balance. Both important, even to the unfeeling beyond. To the statues, this was essentially 'checkmate'. "Yet, this does not take away the battle from them, does it..."
Selena shook her head. "No... but now it is not so certain, what can... what 'should'... what 'must' happen... the first magical death might now be completely out of our hands. Our ministrations of their fate has gone as far as they can... the rest is up to them."
Venus frowned a little. "I am unsure, I can simply let it go..." she whispered softly. A great mirror was in the room, and she saw her daughter greeting her unborn sibling. The soul certainly felt it was female, because it identified itself with Lilly... but when it became material, especially in an unchanged, who knew what it would be? Indeed, nothing was certain.
"You must let it go sister... the price for direct intervention is too great." Selena cautiously reminded.
Venus sighed but nodded. "Keep Lucas close though... in case Fate decides to... find another way. I think Lilly may yet surprise us with her own power... the favour seems to be... doing things I would not have expected."
