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Ciel is six years old when her guardian disappears.
Nobody has any idea where.
And the way people speak? It scares her. They make it seem like nothing is going to be able to work without him there. Even with the new project put in place. She briefly wonders why. After all, why can't one of the Judges take his place? Or one of the officials? But no. All the scientists insist that everything is going to fall apart now that he's gone.
Ciel starts being shepherded into the labs more often. Watching as reploids are made, over and over and over. She learns pretty quickly how to make the frame, complete the wiring, go through all the checks to make sure everything is working properly. But she's never made her own reploid before. The AI work is kept strictly to a few higher ups. They tend to be a bit more... mean about it, too. How is she supposed to learn if she can't watch them?
But they never listen to her complaints. Just... insist they know better.
She does wind up helping in the creation of the four Guardians, however. It's... a little ironic (at least, she thinks that's the word,) that they would have her work on a project with the same name as what they insisted she call X. Apparently, Ciel had been given to him as a baby when it became clear he was... "becoming apathetic." She was supposed to help with that. ...Somehow. Ciel never really looked into the details. She just knew she wasn't allowed to call him "Papa", or "Dad", or anything of that nature.
She was to refer to him as a "guardian" or by his name. Politely, of course.
Although, she thinks she remembers him insisting she call him something along the lines of "Papa" when nobody else was in the room. (Which was very rare.)
Ciel eventually starts digging, however. Two years have gone by, and people are still really scared about things coming apart. She doesn't see it, though. Things seem to be running smoothly, and Harpuia is doing fine at leading! (Although, she hears a few stories about his processor nearly frying due to... stress? From his siblings? That worries her a bit.) So people are still pushing her and the other scientists for solutions.
A way to find him.
But... Ciel is beginning to think that's impossible. If he wanted to be found, wouldn't they have already done so? So... maybe they need to make a better replacement...
That's how she learns about the man on the computer.
Hello? Ciel types, hoping she'll get a response. Apparently, this man that a lot of scientists were talking to, was the original designer of the golems that Neo Arcadia was now putting into use for peacekeeping purposes. She hopes she'll be able to get his help on designing a new guardian. I'm sorry to bother you, she continues when she doesn't get a response right away. But I'm trying to learn how to make reploid AIs and none of the other scientists seem interested in teaching me.
Now that gets a response.
...Well now, you seem much younger than the other scientists, the man on the computer types back. How old are you, dear? Inwardly, Ciel cheers. She finally got a response! And he's nice! None of the other scientists ever called her 'dear'! Just... just 'girl' which she really didn't like. My name is Ciel and I'm eight years old! she types back quickly, remembering the manners her guardian had taught her. And like I said, I'm trying to learn how to make reploid AIs so I can help everyone!
His response isn't immediate.
But it's there.
Is that so? My, what a sweet thing you are. I'd be happy to help.
Ciel knew this was a good idea.
He starts her off slow, making simple mechanaloid AIs. They build the basics, he claimed. And Ciel can understand that. It's just... so frustrating because everything is just so tense! More and more people are getting angry! And there's talk of an energy crisis? Ciel has been shoved onto that project, too. Meaning she has less time to learn from the Computer Man. She's been awful rude in not asking his name, she realizes. It just... always slips her mind because of how important his knowledge is.
Sir, I think I know what I'm doing now, Ciel writes. We just... I really need the next step! She doesn't think any of the other scientists have completely explained the situation to him. They seem... cagey about it. Like they actually know who the Computer Man is. And they're not supposed to talk to him. Ciel had considered that fact.
And the fact that her guardian might disapprove if that were the case, but...
But he's not here, is he? It makes her so mad sometimes.
Is that so, my dear? he types back. Well, let me see what you made, yes? Ciel huffs as she hurriedly sends over the schematic for the latest mechanaloid. Seriously... she knows her work is perfect. His response is quick. And full of nothing but praise for even the most minute of details. Ciel can't help but preen at it. None of the other scientists ever praise her like that... Just snap at her to work faster, or ask how that helps with anything.
It's a nice change of pace.
But... Then he starts asking.
Why are you in such a rush? he asks. Is something happening? Ciel bites her lip. The fact that none of the other scientists have told him does set off alarm bells. But... nobody else has a solution, do they. (She knows they don't.) Besides, if... they've asked for his advice in the first place, then surely he can't be too bad, right?
So...
She explains everything to him. How Master X went missing, and the failed Project Guardian, and that now an energy crisis is cropping up, and really, they just need to find Master X!
It's a lot for him to take in, she supposes.
Because he doesn't answer until the next day.
But when he does? They have a plan. He starts explaining in detail all the things reploid AI needs in order to integrate with the body. One fundamental difference between reploids and mere mechanaloids is DNA. Because yes, reploids had that. With mechanaloids, it really didn't matter what the body looked like. The AI would integrate regardless. But for a reploid to integrate correctly into their body? The DNA (or source code, as he had put it) needs to match perfectly. Meaning that if Ciel is going to "find" X, she needs to get a copy of his source code...
And luckily for her, there are four reploids carrying incomplete fragments of it.
She just... needs to get a copy of each one without them noticing and... piece it all together. But that would be the easy part. Ciel can sneak around! And she does enough maintenance on them that she can poke around just a little in order to find it!
No, the hard part is getting the AI itself perfect.
Because Ciel is not the first person to try and replicate Master X. Nobody else has managed it. And they had a lot more robotics and engineering under their belts than what she did. All Ciel had was genetic modification and the Computer Man on her side. She's literally made to be the smartest human ever.
But she's honestly not sure if that's enough.
She has to try, though. For everyone else's sake.
It's then that Ciel finally remembers her manners. When they've got the completed source code and are slowly starting to build the body and create the AI. Excuse me sir, she types. But... I've just realized that I've never asked for your name. It was very rude of me. I'm sorry.
Luckily, her friend doesn't seem to mind at all.
After all, Mr. Weil says that sometimes he forgets his own name.
Her laptop quickly becomes her most important object. The copy of X is in there after all; and every time she puts it into sleep mode, he's supposed to be going through Mr. Weil's simulations that he sent over. That way, he'll seem as old as the original X mentally. And have the same principles. (That's what was promised. And why would Mr. Weil lie to her?) It's... still all tense. The Gentle Judges are having to punish a lot more reploids now... Just because they also get really mad about all the energy shortages and stuff... It's not the virus, at least. That would be catastrophic. It's just... choices that certain ones make... and there are plenty of humans that face the same Judgement as well. Judge Kelvarian is really good at his job, making sure all voices are heard and that nobody is being falsely accused.
And when a false accusation is issued, he makes sure to punish the liar. Harshly. But never too severe, of course. He makes sure his fellow Judges (his checks and balances) are always satisfied with the decision before declaring it. There are times when Ciel thinks that honestly, Kelvarian should just become the leader...
But then, he only understands the law.
Not how to run a country.
And then... the Guardians understood somewhat how to run a country, all the infrastructure needed, but... the laws were a little hard for them to grasp. Fefnir just wanted to execute everyone. Phantom insisted on banishment. Leviathan tried to pardon everyone. And Harpuia...
He'd just freeze.
They need someone who could do both parts of the job.
A copy of X is their only solution.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Ciel is nine when he's finally complete.
After all the work she and Mr. Weil put in, all the simulations and troubleshooting, he's finished. Her hands shake as she carefully slips the I.C. chip into his head. He looks... exactly how she remembered him. The nanites in his body helping form the build that she arguably didn't have much say in. She could suggest things, sure, and had to. There were times when the nanites had wanted to stray. It took a lot to keep them on task. A lot more than the other reploids Ciel had helped build... But they eventually got it. And this new X looks... well... perfect.
She quickly runs the last few diagnostics, making sure the chip and AI integrated correctly with the body. (Which it did. Of course it did.) And then... all that's left to do is to wait for him to wake up. It's... the middle of the night. And honestly, Ciel is exhasted. She knows she withstands tiredness better than other people do, but she still really hates it...
Her biggest worry is that she's not even sure she'll get a chance to sleep after he wakes up. It very well could take a few hours just because of how many simulators Mr. Weil needed to put him through. The more data an AI carried with them, the slower the start up, after all. So, Ciel is left struggling to keep herself awake as she waits for her new guardian Copy X to open his eyes.
...She may need to find a new name for him... Even if only she uses it. Calling someone a copy had to be rude to reploids, right? Especially because they often used the same base models when building them. Ciel would have to give it some thought. And ask his opinion on it. That was only polite. He should have a say in what he calls himself!
Ciel doesn't remember nodding off.
Just that when she awakes, she's in someone's arms. Like... like what her guardian used to do when she had a nightmare... Blinking blearily up at the figure, she jolts when she realizes that-
It's her reploid! He woke up! And she'd missed it! That could have been so bad! "I'm so sorry!" Ciel squeaks, beginning to struggle. "I didn't mean to fall asleep on you, or... or leave you in the dark or-!" The new guardian copy holds up a hand with a gentle smile. "It's alright, Ciel," he assures her, and oh... he even sounds like Master X... It takes a lot for Ciel not to cry. "You've been working very hard. And I understand that you're very tired. You need your sleep as a growing girl." She can't help but sniffle at that. Her guardian had said that a lot, too. But none of the scientists seemed to care about that, pushing her harder and harder every day. Ciel knows it's because they're scared and worried, but... she hated it!
Copy X (and really, she needs a better name for him,) gently pulls her closer as he moves to stand up. "W-wait!" Ciel blurts out. "We... we need to run diagnostics! Ju- Just to make sure things are working!" Yet he waves her off. Not in the same way the other scientists do, but he just tells Ciel that he's certain her work is perfect as always. But it doesn't sit right with her that he won't do a diagnostic. It could only benefit him, right? He just... insists on later.
For now, he needs to reveal himself.
A prodigal father figure returning after three years. Everyone is so relieved and asking where he's been. He just... has the same story every time. That something dangerous came up, and he didn't want to alarm anyone. It was entirely his fault, and he's very sorry about it.
It won't happen again.
And Ciel pats herself on the back for a job well done, because nobody even questions the fact that he still has her in his arms the entire time. She's nine years old, and a little too old to really be picked up and carried, but...
She's a little selfish, too... It's nice after so long...
The copy of her guardian settles in easily. Ciel hears people say that it's like Master X never even left. Which is good! She's not sure how Mr. Weil managed to figure out those simulations; she herself had looked them all over once, but just couldn't quite figure it all out. Ciel decides to keep them around on her laptop, though. Maybe figure it out when she's older.
She has tried asking Mr. Weil about it, but he doesn't seem to be answering her anymore. It worries her. Did... something happen to him? Ciel knows he doesn't live in Neo Arcadia, which is really dangerous! He said was safe in the past, though... And when Ciel asked her new guardian, he told her not to worry about him. He just... had other things to work on. She shouldn't be bothering him.
Ciel supposes that's true. She's just a nine year old girl, after all. It still hurts, though...
And she has other things to worry about.
Ciel grips the paper between both hands. She... shouldn't be so nervous, should she? It's just a question, after all. One harmless question. "What is it, little one?" The copy of her guardian asks, placing a gentle hand on the back of her shoulder. "I..." she starts, losing her nerve. But a small smile of encouragement from him boldens her. "I want to give you a name," she blurts out.
He's... not as happy with that.
"Why on earth would I need a name?" he asked. "I'm X. That's who I'm meant to be." Ciel shakes her head. "But... that's... that's not all you are," she insists. "You deserve something for yourself. So... so I made a list!" She hands the paper over to him; full of names she thought he'd might like. Ciel worked hard on it.
And yet her new guardian doesn't... look very enthused...
"...Azure means "blue" in Romanian," she continues to try. "That... that could work! Or... or there's Côme! It... it means "order" or... or "decency" in French! Which is where my name comes from! Or... uh..." The copy holds up a hand in order to stop her. "Just a name?" he asks. "One that you alone can use?" Ciel nods. That's all she wants. It just... doesn't feel right to call him X. And then it's mean-spirited to just keep calling him a copy. He's not just that!
He's going to save Neo Arcadia!
"...Very well, Ciel," he muses. "You may call me... Côme. I quite like that one..." Ciel grins up at him. She knew she could do it! "Thank you, Côme!" she cheers, leaning in to hug him. He, of course, allows that, but then pulls back slightly. "Now, this has to be a secret, Ciel," Côme tells her sternly. "Just you are allowed to know about it, okay? Think you can keep it?" The young blonde girl nods. She can absolutely keep it a secret. Just like the fact that she was the one to build him. Côme smiles down at her once more, and it reminds her so much of her old guardian.
She's starting to miss him a little bit less, she thinks.
But certain things start to worry her.
"Fefnir, what have I told you?" Côme scolds, his arms crossed. The red clad reploid looks down in embarrassment. "...To not call you that..." he mutters. Ciel bites her lip. She doesn't blame Fefnir; he's just... been really excited. And honestly, the fiery reploid has always had low impulse control. Côme doesn't let up, however. Ciel wants to say something, but that would just make Fefnir feel worse. "...I'm sorry, Master X," Fefnir finally says, earning a nod of approval from the copy.
"It's quite alright, Fefnir," he assures the Guardian. "Just something to work on." Côme then dismisses the red clad reploid, leaving them alone. And Ciel can't keep her silence anymore. "Côme, why don't you let the Guardians call you 'father'?" she asked. The blue clad reploid pauses, before turning to look at her. "Ciel, I'm not their father," he replies. "It doesn't seem very fair to let them call me something I'm not, does it? Not to them." The eleven year old bites her lip. He's not... entirely wrong, is he? Yet... the whole thing just feels wrong to her. If Ciel didn't know any better, she'd almost say that Côme hates the Guardians. He seems entirely disinterested in they themselves. Just their reports. And every time Ciel tries to get him to open up to them, she's met with a firm no.
Every time she asks, he just gives the same response: he's not actually their father. Ciel has challenged him on it before; saying that if he wasn't their father, why is he her guardian? "Humans are different," Côme had told her. "You are far too young and unable to take care of yourself. Reploids can do that from the get-go. The Guardians don't need any sort of father. Not like you do." Ciel had to grudgingly agree. She didn't know enough to be able to argue.
But it still worries her.
Especially as things go on and the energy crisis gets worse. Côme doesn't let her work on the project meant to help it nearly as much as she used to. Part of her was relieved. The other scientists used to push her so hard and make her so tired before Côme was built. But she does understand why they did it. It's because if they don't solve it, they're all in danger. Especially the reploids. Ciel doesn't know why, but... Côme goes after reploids a lot more than humans. There are obviously still punishments doled out to them, but they're never anything near as rigid as the ones given to reploid-kind.
Executions are solely a reploid punishment now.
Côme says it's because human numbers are so far down. There used to be billions of them before all the Maverick wars, apparently. But now? There were only a few million. Sure, the Elf Wars had only taken about sixty percent of humanity versus the reploid's ninety percent, but when their numbers were already so far down from being targets for the virus? That was a significant amount. Ciel supposes it makes sense.
But it doesn't seem very fair, either.
She thinks she prefers the way Judge Kelvarian handled it.
"Master X, a moment if you would?" asks Judge Kelvarian. Ciel and Côme pause, turning to the Chief Judge. "Yes, Kelvarian?" Côme asks, his demeanor changing just like that. It... still scared Ciel how quickly it happens. Her old guardian hadn't been so... detached...
"I wanted to ask you about this decision," Kelvarian states, unperturbed by the shift. "Sir, before you left, you said that any and all humans who wished to leave Neo Arcadia were free to do so. Why has that changed?" Côme's eyes flash, and Ciel can see a hint of anger in them. He... really doesn't like being questioned, she's come to realize. But... he needs to get used to it. "Judge Kelvarian, we are in an energy crisis," Côme says. "The strain from the city is bad enough. But spreading it out amongst all these silly, little, unnecessary colonies is asinine. It isn't a permanent solution, you understand. They just need to return until the crisis is averted."
Ciel watches as Judge Kelvarian works his jaw. "I see," he replies, his voice slightly strained. "But... Master X, not all of these colonies are on the grid. Many of them are people trying to figure out different methods of living on their own. They've found other means of energy production. Not ones we ourselves can use; but by all means, they are not taxing the already overworked power plants.
"Bringing them back will only put more of a strain on the system," Kelvarian argues.
But Ciel knows Côme well enough by now. He won't listen. The blue clad doppelganger merely looks Kelvarian in the eye. "Then we will figure it out," he insists. And with that, Côme grabs her hand and continues to lead her through the hallway.
She's still not allowed to work on the energy crisis.
Even though by this point, she's thirteen. Plenty of other kids are starting to branch into the field; the earlier the better, she's heard whispers. And yet Côme will not allow her to. If she tries to argue about it, he just... tells her he'd be lonely if she shut herself away in the labs all the time. It makes her feel guilty.
But then, the guilt of not helping eats away at her, too.
It all comes to a culmination a year later.
It's yet another trial. That isn't what surprises Ciel. Yet another reploid has been brought forth under petty circumstances. It makes her so sick. Have people really forgotten that Neo Arcadia is supposed to be a home for both humans and reploids? Yet there are more and more accusations made against reploids everyday. And the Gentle Judge's hands are tied. They try hard to combat Côme's excessive punishments, but...
Côme has the title of Master X.
They don't.
Everyone sides with the copy simply because of who he is in their eyes. It worries her. How quickly everyone is willing to abandon the real Master X's wishes for Côme's more... comfortable lies. Reploids aren't even given names anymore. Just... serial numbers. The only exceptions are those who work in close proximity with humans, or those who directly serve the Guardians. She had glared at Côme for that. After all, Ciel gave him a name separate from his title. Yet he couldn't find it in him to tell scientists to do the same?
She's starting to think all of this is a mistake.
But his next accusation blindsided her.
"Maverick."
Ciel whips her head around to stare incredulously at Côme. He could not be serious, could he? There was no way the virus was still around! Even the Judges and Guardians look completely shocked at his verdict. "Master X, you must be mistaken!" Kelvarian thunders. "This reploid has not even harmed a human! I will not stand for it!"
And yet, Côme is completely unphased. "Judge Kelvarian, that is my verdict," he maintains. "You will uphold it. Prepare S3-N45 for scrapping." Then he dares to turn and walk away. As if he hadn't just sentenced an innocent reploid to death. Ciel scrambles after him. "Côme!" she cries out. "Côme, wait! You-! That-!" The blonde girl can't even get her thoughts straight, still reeling from the shock. "Watch your tongue, Ciel," Côme gently scolds, his tone a far cry from what he'd just done. "There are still people around. They might hear you." She stares aghast at him. As if that were the only issue. "You just sentenced an innocent reploid to death!" she screeched. "How could you do that?!"
He doesn't answer her. Not right away. "Ciel, ruling is full of hard decisions," Côme chastises. "The decision I made was not easy. But it was the correct one." He can't believe that. Surely, he can't believe that.
But he does.
And Ciel realizes then what a mess she's made.
Because she finally, finally looks into Dr. Weil. And what she finds makes her stomach turn. How could she have trusted him? How could the other scientists start talking to him?! Was everything X did for them just... not enough?! Ciel realizes she's the one who sentenced that reploid to death. After all, if she hadn't been foolish, she never would have made Côme. And maybe things would have worked out better.
Ciel made a monster.
He is not Côme, she realizes.
He's not orderly.
He's not decent.
He's a poor imitation of the reploid who had tried to raise her before... something made him disappear.
A Copy X.
And he's her responsibility to clean up.