Chapter 40 - The talk

Washington D.C.

The limousine halts outside the hotel. Kari has been staring outside the window the whole trip, fascinated by the most mundane things. Everything is alien and wonderful to her.

Torn has fallen asleep a couple of times.

Noriko orders, stepping outside the car.

When she does, Kari is already by her side, pointing at the Capitol clearly visible at the end of the road.

she asks.

Noriko answers

Kari says, confused.

The original Kari waves from the car. Noriko shrugs, knowing there's no reasoning with the Myridian girl. Despite being seven years younger, Noriko acts like her big sister most of the time.

She doesn't say anything, covering her silver eyes with a pair of sunglasses. She can't help but think that there's some credit to Quantum's idea to have a secret identity: when you're one of the most recognizable faces on the planet, it's hard to go unnoticed.

The leather jacket of a horrible shade of green is still dead giveaway this is the real Null, though.

The Secret Service has orders to screen all visitors; luckily, Noriko and Kari have papers personally signed by the President.

Kari asks.

Noriko hesitates before answering, leading the purple-haired girl to apologize.

She taps the tiny purple earring with her finger. It's a miniaturized version of the N-Phone translator…it receives words in English and immediately translates them into Kari's natural Myridian. Working through bone conduction, only Kari can hear the translation.

When she talks in Myridian, the other earring translates her words into English; the Sound Nullifier in her belt makes sure people hear only the earring's voice.

It's a little jarring for people when they notice that her words don't match the movement of her lips.

Noriko realizes.

Noriko answers, pointing at her head.

Kari asks. On Myridia, you're lucky to have one parent caring for you long enough before they're recruited as soldiers or breeders of soldiers.

Noriko is about to knock on the door, but Kari stops her. She's not very tall, but she towers over the teenage girl.

she answers, her silver eyes briefly shining.

Noriko says, knocking.

A few seconds later, the door opens. Revealing a naked blonde woman covering herself with a white towel.

Kari says.

the blonde shouts, trying to take Noriko's hand.

The teenage genius takes a step back at the speed of sound.

The woman runs back inside, leaving Noriko to scratch her head.

Someone else comes out of the room. A man who reaches Noriko so fast that neither her or Kari have the time to do anything. He puts his arms around her and holds her so tight that has trouble breathing for a second.

she manages to say.

Bob Null is hugging his daughter for the first time in six weeks; his voice is broken, like he's holding back the tears. She doesn't hug him back: she just stands there, uncomfortable.

Kari says, taking a good look at Bob.

Bob answers, recovering the towel from the floor to cover himself. Once he's adjusted it around his waist, he places his arm around Kari's shoulders.

Noriko's death stare would be frightening even without the shining silver eyes.

Bob asks, well used to his daughter's disapproval of all of his partners.

she concedes.

answers a new female voice from the room.

There's a brunette in her underwear standing near the door, holding back the blonde woman which now has a pen and a magazine in her hands.

Kari understands.

A few minutes later, Noriko and Bob are alone. Deena didn't have much to say, while the blonde was a little too excited to have Noriko's autograph…even though it was dedicated to "GO AWAY". Kari wanted to stay, but preferred to let Noriko some time alone with her family.

Bob has finally put on some clothes, failing miserably to hide under the bed the undergarments left behind by his latest conquests.

Bob asks, then he quickly covers his mouth and looks around suspiciously.

Noriko explains, showing the N-Watch at her wrist.

Bob asks.

There's something strange in her voice. A trembling emotion, a sliver of frightened humanity.

Bob reacts, sitting down on the bed.

Noriko waves her hands to get his attention back, frantically explaining:

Noriko asks, blushing.

Noriko says, slapping her forehead. She takes a deep breath to find the strength; of all the ways she predicted how the conversation would pan out, this wasn't on the list.

Bob Null hasn't heard his daughter call him "dad" in months. He walks towards her, with a small warm smile on his face, and places a hand on her shoulder. She's holding back the tears.

Noriko answers, sniffing.

Nobody is ready to hear these words from a crying teenage girl. Bob simply hugs her and strokes her hair, offering a shoulder to cry on.

she explains, sobbing. She's really crying now, hugging back.

A cold chill goes through Bob's spine. She's not just hugging; she's clinging to him like her life depended on it, and her voice becomes more passionate and angry.

The unnatural voice startles both father and daughter, who break off the hug. Bob is doing his best not to look afraid, but he's failing miserably. Noriko's mask of detachment has melted completely: she's crying, and her eyes are completely black for a second. Two empty holes.

They turn back to white and silver. She's still trembling, terrified.

Bob clenches his fists. Nobody does something like this to his daughter and gets away with it. He recovers a suitcase from under the bed and frantically puts some clothes inside it.

Noriko sniffs, wiping off the tears – I am Null. But why?

The following words are some of the most difficult Bob has ever pronounced.