Eternal Guardians
Introduction
Eternal Guardians is the story of an epic battle to save
the future from an evil computer and its robotic minions. It's
also the story of some schoolgirls having fun, though. Imagine a
strange cross between the Terminator and Kodomo no Omocha, and
you're starting to get at what Eternal Guardians is about. It
takes place in a generic city in Northern California, which
might as well be my home of San Jose.
Episode 1
Characters
Kurumi: A 12-year old Japanese-American girl, Kurumi is nearly
always cheerful and optimistic, if a tad scatterbrained. She has
brown hair with bangs parted to either side that reach down past
her chin, and a long, poofy ponytail. Her eyes are brown as
well, and she typically wears a pink shirt and a blue denim
overall/dress type thing, along with white Converse. When
invoking her powers, she grows ears like a bunny rabbit's, her
hair turns pink, and her eyes turn purple.
Yumi: Kurumi's more worldly friend, who also lives in Japantown,
Yumi wears a t-shirt and shorts, and has her dark hair tied into
two poofy pigtails.
Case: A mysterious genetically engineered warrior from the
future, Case is an expert at battle, but very naive and tends to
have a great deal of difficulty with social situations. He
appears to be part European and part Chinese, but has blue and
eyes and slicked back blue hair to match. He typically wears a
blue trench coat over a black dress shirt and slacks. He keeps a
Kinetic Energy Pulse (K.E.P.) pistol on him (think of the one
the guy had in the Tekwar TV series).
KSHI-3/Kei: This killer android appears as a caucasian woman in
her mid-twenties. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, and wears a
nearly skintight red jumpsuit.
Mrs. Hayashi: An eccentric and very Japanese housewife, Mrs.
Hayashi nearly always wears a kimono with Japanese cartoon
characters on it (from "Doraemon" and "Kuma no Pu-taro", to be
specific).
HyCom: The central computer intelligence in the future. In
netspace, it uses an icon which is simply a massive dark sphere,
with millions of motes of light inside.
Chronos 1.0: HyCom's temporal operations program, Chronos 1.0's
icon is simply a smaller glowing blue sphere.
[Kurumi and Yumi are waking along, on their way home from
school.]
Kurumi: Why does English class have to be so hard?
Yumi: <sigh> If you'd actually read the assignments, it wouldn't
be, you know.
Kurumi: ...But the teacher keeps picking on me!
Yumi: He only does that because you hardly ever read the book.
[They come to a corner, and Yumi turns left, walking away.]
Yumi: See you tomorrow!
Kurumi: Bye Yumi!
[Kurumi stands on the corner, waiting for the light. Cut to a
view from overhead. Suddenly, it descends to her head. Cut to a
side view as Case picks her up and leaps across the
intersection.]
Case: Don't worry. You're safe now.
Kurumi: <piku> ...From what?
Case: <piku> Um... well...
Kurumi: Can you please put me down? People are starting to
stare.
[Case reluctantly sets her down on her feet.]
Case: Sorry. I got a little carried away.
Kurumi: Um, okay. But who are you?
Case: It's... a long story. But my name is Case.
Kurumi: Case? That's a funny name. What do your friends call
you?
Case: Um. Case.
Kurumi: Oh. I'm Kurumi Hayashi. [she starts walking] So, what do
you want to do with me? [sweat drop] You're not some kind of
pervert, are you?
Case: [following, irritated] No! Look, it's a little
complicated.
Kurumi: And?
Case: Alright. In the future and evil computer will try to take
over the world--
Kurumi: [walking faster] And mom says *I* watch too many
cartoons.
Case: It may sound a little strange, but it's all true! You
_have_ to believe me -- the future is at stake!
Kurumi: Definitely too many cartoons.
Case: Look, the computer's robots were wiping out mankind, so a
scientist, Dr. Cypher, engineered a series of Advanced Humans
who could defeat the computer. One of those was you.
Kurumi: No way!
Case: [nods] Yes! You were sent back in time, in embryo form,
into your mother's womb.
Kurumi: [incredulous] So, you're saying my parent's aren't
really my parents, and I was made to fight an evil computer?
Case: Well, I mean, they're still the ones who raised and loved
you, even if your DNA isn't theirs.
Kurumi: [rolls eyes] Suuure. And how do you fit into all this?
Case: My purpose is to protect you and the others until you
realize the full extent of your powers.
Kurumi: <piku> Powers? You mean like, "Moon Prism--!"
Case: NOT... quite. Although there is a physical transformation
involved.
Kurumi: So, when are these evil robots gonna' attack?
Case: Well...
Kurumi: Well what?
Case: I don't know.
Kurumi: [face-faults] What kind of time traveler are you?!
Case: Timeshifting is highly experimental in my time! Not even
the computer fully understands it.
[They walk through a thick crowd of people on the street.]
Kurumi: Okay. Whatever.
[KSHI-3 can be seen in the crowd; she briefly makes eye contact
with Case, and starts following them.]
Case: [taking Kurumi by the hand] Hurry.
Kurumi: What? Why?
[They turn down an alley, and KSHI-3 follows.]
Case: [standing in front of Kurumi, reaching into his coat] Who
the hell are you?
KSHI-3: [chuckles] I am designated K.S.H.I. Three. My purpose is
to stop you from meddling in the past.
Case: You'll have to defeat _me_ first.
KSHI-3: I am quite prepared to do that. [she makes her hands
into fists and glowing blue energy crackles around them]
Case: Oh really? [he pulls out his force gun and fires; a burst
of kinetic energy impacts on KSHI-3, throwing her to the ground]
I was born to fight your kind. You haven't got a chance.
[KSHI-3 rolls, comes up, and leaps forward at Case. He tries to
dodge, but she grabs his coat and pulls him to the ground. They
grapple, and he is almost instantly pinned.]
KSHI-3: What was that? It looks like, having ten times your
strength, I'm winning.
Case: You may be strong, but you're also light.
KSHI-3: What?
[Case flings her backwards, so that she lands on her back, then
stands up and telekinetically pulls his gun to his hand.]
Kurumi: [shocked] How'd you do that?!
Case: [drawing a bead on KSHI-3] Not now. I need to take out the
trash.
[Case pulls the trigger; KSHI-3 pushes off the ground, avoiding
the force bolt by mere inches, and descends, producing metal
claws from her knuckles and elbows. Her eyes glow an angry red
color.]
KSHI-3: I will KILL you!
[Case narrowly dodges as her claws slice into the pavement he
was standing on.]
Case: Don't be so sure. [he makes his free hand into a fist; his
eyes glow blue, and he hurls a sphere of green energy at KSHI-3;
she barely dodges, but it turns around and hits her in the
back.]
KSHI-3: Wha--?! HOW--?!
Case: Funny thing about bio-energy based attacks; you get _so_
much more control.
KSHI-3: [grinning maniacally] Oh?! Let me show you a conrolled
attack! [she hunches over and a missile launcher pops out of her
back] Special Ordinance Volley FIRE!!!
[ALL of the missiles fire, Macross style; case does a wild take
and bolts. As he runs, he fires off a total of three blasts,
obliterating several of the missiles with each shot, but there's
still more coming.]
KSHI-3: You'll nver be able to avoid my missiles! They always
home in on the nearest heat source!
[Suddenly, Case leaps, landing just behind KSHI-3. The missiles
impact on her. Singed, she falls down face first on the ground.]
Case: Guess you're almost as dumb as your missiles.
KSHI-3: [voice muffled] Bastard.
Kurumi: Did you win?
[Suddenly, KSHI-3's hand darts out, gripping Case by the throat.
KSHI-3 comes to her feet, and slams Case up against a wall.]
Case: You had to ask!
KSHI-3: I shall enjoy crushing your windpipe.
Kurumi: Stop! Why are you doing this!?
KSHI-3: I am a machine. To destroy him -- and you -- is my sole
purpose, what I am programmed to do.
Kurumi: But you're not just a machine! You have feelings!
KSHI-3: My positronic matrix does allows for the anomalies known
as Spontaneous Emotional Response, but I only express hatred of
my foes and the thrill of battle.
Kurumi: But there's so many nicer things to feel! Friendship and
happienss and--
[Case it turning blue.]
KSHI-3: Now he dies!
Kurumi: STOP!
[Kurumi is surrounded by a blue glow, and transforms, now
sporting pink hair and bunny ears.]
KSHI-3: [looking on in shock] Her power index is skyrocketing!
What is it? How?!
Kurumi: I won't let you hurt people! [he brings her hands
forward and hurls a pink, heart-shaped energy blast, which
strikes KSHI-3's arm, freeing Case.]
KSHI-3: [staggering back] What?! Fine then! [rectangular pieces
of metal emerge from her forearms, shoulders, lower legs, and
waist] ELECTRO-STORM!!!!!!
[KSHI-3 creates an electrical field, and Kurumi and Case are
wracked by electricity. Case drops to his knees and clenches his
teeth, while Kurumi screams.]
KSHI-3: That's it! Cry out! Your suffering screams are music to
my ears!! [laighs maiancally; after a few more seconds, the
electricity just stops] ... Oops. Guess my capacitors ran out.
[Kurumi picks herself up; a reddish-pink aura forms around her.]
Kurumi: I can't let you keep doing this. Please, don't make me
hurt you.
KSHI-3: And what do you intend to do?
Case: Kurumi! Be careful!
Kurumi: I don't know. I don't understand my powers yet, but...
KSHI-3: [amused] Hm?
Kurumi: [determined] But I'll find a way to stop you!
[Suddenly, Kurumi vanishes.]
KSHI-3: WHAT?! Is the capable of psychoportation?! [Kurumi
materializes, clinging to her back] Where could she have gone?
Scanning... Range... ZERO?! [she turns around just enough to see
Kurumi] What are you hoping to accomplish?!
Kurumi: [worried; her ears droop] Um, well...
[Kurumi looks at KSHI-3's neck, and sees a rocker switch. One
side (depressed) says "EVIL", while the other says "GOOD".]
KSHI-3: NO! DON'T--!
[Kurumi presses the switch and hops off. KSHI-3 stops moving
completely, then starts up again. Her voice is noticably more
pleasant in tone.]
KSHI-3: Oh my! What happened!
Case: [standing up] What _did_ happen?
Kurumi: Well, there was this switch that said good and evil, so
I picked good.
KSHI-3: [puts her hands against her cheeks] You... you reversed
my moral polarity selector?
Case: [rolls eyes] I don't believe it.
KSHI-3: Oh! And I've done such terrible things to you both!
Naturally I'll commit suicide immediately!
Kurumi: No! It wasn't your fault! You said yourself it's what
you were programmed to do!
KSHI-3: But... what will I do? My directives are to kill, but I
can't do that anymore.
Kurumi: Then you'll just have to get some new directives. From
now on, you'll be our friend and have fun with us.
KSHI-3: [teary-eyed] R-really?
Case: AND protect Kurumi.
KSHI-3: I-- I want to, but I can't override my directives.
Kurumi: [taking KSHI-3's hand] Will you please try, for me?
KSHI-3: [closes her eyes momentarily, then opens them again]
It... worked! From now on, I'll be your friend!
Kurumi: Yay! I'm Kurumi, what's your name again?
KSHI-3: K.S.H.I. Three; Killer Simulated Humanoid Insurgent
Three.
Kurumi: Hmm... You need a nicer name like... Kei! That'll be
your name from now on. Come on, let's go home.
[Cut to a background of swirling CG polygons, flowing along
unseen highways. On the botton of the screen it says "NETSPACE
SECTOR 00-00-00 TIME INDEX 09-02-2210/51.64.91". Pan over to a
large sphere. A smaller one approaches it.]
HyCom: Report requested.
Chronos 1.0: Timeshift of KSHI series unit was successful, but
unit's mission was not.
HyCom: Explain causes and suggest remedy.
Chronos 1.0: KSHI Unit 3 engaged targets in battle. Although
ill-prepared, Unit 3's performance was well within program
parameters. Until the primary target reverse Unit 3's moral
polarity selector. Unit 3 has been further reprogrammed by means
unknown, and is now allied with targets, and should be
considered a secondary target. Query: Why is Moral Polarity
Selector included in units?
HyCom: [veins bulge in the sphere] That is not your concern.
Chronos 1.0: [sweat drop] Understood. Remedy suggested is as
follows. Successive operative units should have combat
programming upgraded, and moral polarity selector concealed.
HyCom: Suggestions will be impletemented. Begin preparations for
next timeshift operation. End of Line.
[The screen goes black. Cut to Mrs. Hayashi sitting opposite
Kurumi, Case, and Kei.]
Mrs. Hayashi: [sips some green tea] You seriously expect me to
believe all of this?
Kurumi: But mom! It's all true!
Mrs. Hayashi: Evil robots from the future want to kill you. Kei
is one of those robots, only you pressed her good/evil switch to
good, so now she's your friend?
Kei: That's right! Watch. [she grasps her left forearm with her
right hand, and twists, pulling it off, revealing the
electronics inside.] See! I told you I'm a robot.
Mrs. Hayashi: Alright, I believe you. And I suppose as you go
around saving the future you'll want to stay here, right?
Case: Well actually...
Mrs. Hayashi: Well, I suppose I should let you stay here.
Kei: Thank you so very--
Mrs. Hayashi: But only if you pay rent and help clean up around
the house!
Case: But--
Mrs. Hayashi: Understood?!
Case and Kei: Yes ma'am!
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ewen "Blackbird" Cluney blk_bird@yahoo.com
Blackbird's Domain http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/6127/
Knight Kevlar of the Immortal Frog Silver Knight of Mihoshi
"Be nice to me; I might just develop
psychokinetic powers and destroy Tokyo!"
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