Kikyo/Lore
Transporter Side: K
Kikyo, the jack of all trades, receives a request for a certain "transportation" job. The job is a lucrative opportunity, but what does it entail?
We start the quest with Aldo and Kikyo walking together in Elzion, talking about her job. Kikyo mentions now that she's no longer seeking vengeance for her father, she's got to figure out what she's going to do from now on, but that it's not so easy to find something to devote her life to. Aldo mentions that since she's a jack of all trades, there must be plenty of opportunities out there, to which she reluctantly agrees. She gets a phone call for another job, which she accepts before hanging up. She explains to Aldo that it was a job referral from an information broker she knows, and that the job must be pretty dangerous to reward such a high amount. A jack-of-all-trades doesn't have much say in the jobs being offered - they're constantly building their skills to face whatever comes their way and keep an eye out for dangerous situations. Aldo asks to tag along, as he's concerned about this mission and she agrees. They head to Iota District to meet the client.
Inside the Auction House, Kikyo walks in with a new outfit, and explains that she's equipped herself to deliver a package. A hooded figure walks up to them, and Kikyo notes how overly cautious they appear to be, and that she sees some red hair but doesn't recognize him. The client discusses the special auction being held to sell a child with a strong psychic ability. The client wants to hire Kikyo to secure the girl before she gets sold and bring her to him. Kikyo takes on the job, while Aldo is displeased. The client leaves, and Aldo explains that while he wants to rescue the child, he doesn't agree with treating her like a product or package, and he doesn't trust the client. Kikyo says she cannot say no to rescuing the child, and she's in no place to reject the mission. She asks if Aldo will still help, and he agrees.
In a hallway within the Auction House, we see a male guard (Hardy AS) and his dog (Gray) with a maiden. He goes on a monologue, saying that someone who only relies on others and lost the will to resist can never be saved in any real sense. She struggles to respond, only saying she can't do anything. We hear a crash, and Kikyo falls down in front of the maiden, asking her to come with him. The male guard is upset, wondering what happened to the guards outside, and Kikyo says her companion is taking care of them. She takes the girl and uses a smokescreen to escape, yelling out "so long, sharp-dressed man!". They disappear, and the male guard yells to his dog to track them down.
The screens jumps to Aldo fighting 4 guards outside the Auction House. Kikyo runs out the front entrance with the maiden. The exhausted and confused maiden asks if Kikyo will set her free. Kikyo says she is, but that she'll explain more when they're at the airport. Kikyo tells Aldo that she'll escape first and that he should meet her afterwards. Aldo keeps the guards away while the girls make their escape on Kikyo's motorcycle. Aldo's concerned about Kikyo's safety, and runs to catch up with her while the guards follow him.
At the airport, Kikyo fills up her tank while the maiden thanks her. She asks if she can trust Kikyo, and Kikyo apologizes, saying it's best not to trust anyone so easily. She tells the maiden that she's delivering her to another client, and is unsure if she was better off in the prior situation or now. The maiden is shocked, but says she can trust Kikyo due to her honesty. Unfortunately for them, the male guard and his dog sidekick catch up to them. The male guard asks for the maiden, and Kikyo refuses. They start to fight each other, and he mentions he's glad he isn't fighting her at her usual self, deducing that Kikyo normally uses a short sword or twin daggers. Kikyo is surprised, and after pausing, says that her client is waiting on her and asks if he'll let her go. The male guard would consider if if she reveals her client's identity, but she doesn't. Even so, the male guard gets an idea of who her client is and decides to let them go. He explains that while it's not widely known, there are more and more kids with unique abilities (possibly alluding to the Lost Lab), and it might affect business if they're all free to do they please. The male guard continues to explain, saying that the leaders of Elzion's underworld came up with a grading standard. Those connected with the darker side of KMS commissions the creation of those bindings. All this resulted in a standardization of production, and the maiden on the other hand, was remarkable and had the potential to take revenge on the "red-headed jerk" who sold her. It comes in the open that the person who sold the maiden at the auction is the same person as Kikyo's client, and he orchestrated this whole thing to undermine the value of the male guard's organization. The male guard explains that he and the client have a long history, and it will also benefit him if Kikyo and the maiden go to see the client. The maiden (having a small crush on the male guard) hugs him one last time as he departs. The client contacts Kikyo with the drop-off location, and they head to Route 99.
While they wait, the maiden shares her story of how she lived in the slums with her kind parents, and that one day she separated from them and taken off to a separate facility. Kikyo also shares how she was separated from her father in the last few years and moved to Angal. The maiden notes that the male guard told her a similar story about how he grew up in the slums, and was going to save her because they're both from the same place. Conversation turns to how the maiden is frustrated that she cannot decide anything for herself, and wants to make the next decision for herself. Aldo comes running up, upset that Kikyo left him behind to get away from all those guards. Kikyo apologizes and says she's going to make contact with the client, concerning Aldo. Kikyo states that whatever happens next is on the maiden, who paused in thought. The client walks up to the group, overhearing that last bit and saying that there's no choice but to hand the maiden over. Kikyo tells the maiden to go to the client. The maiden walks over to the client, who points his weapon at her and tells Kikyo that since she was delivered, he'll send over his payment later. The maiden suddenly yells out to Kikyo, asking for Kikyo to help her escape in exchange for everything she owns. The client laughs, stating that Kikyo is still under contract with him and won't listen, but she ends up accepting the maiden's deal stating she's already completed her work for him, and is free to take on other commissions. The client sends out elimination machines, which Kikyo and Aldo defeat. The client escapes, intent on revenge for later. They decide to head to Laula Dome.
In Laula Dome, the three talk about what just happened. The maiden hugs Kikyo, thanking her for her help. The maiden wants to go back home to her parents, but says she's being followed and isn't sure if they'll ever stop coming for her. She asks Kikyo to take her on as her apprentice, as she's been inspired by Kikyo and wants to pay her back for saving her life. Kikyo is unable to accept her request as she feels she isn't qualified, but suggests that she knows someplace in Eeza that the maiden could go to. She contacts her connection and they head over to meet him.
In Eeza, the maiden continues to ask why she cannot be with Kikyo. A group approaches, and Aldo recognizes them as Mildy and Clughorn of the Chrono Clan, and also longtime business partners of Kikyo. Clughorn senses a strong energy from the maiden similar to their ESP. Kikyo proposes that the maiden could help the Chrono Clan, but the maiden has become attached to Kikyo and is sad to part from her. Kikyo explains further that she isn't qualified to teach her because by helping someone is the wrong thing to do as a professional, and by helping the maiden escape, Kikyo broke her agreement with her previous client. Kikyo plans to start again from scratch and doesn't think the maiden will be happy with her. The maiden continues to cry while Aldo asks her what she thinks now that she's heard Kikyo's side. The maiden says her feelings haven't changed, but respects her decision and knows Kikyo has her best interests in mind. She agrees to join the Chrono Clan to become powerful, and makes Kikyo promise to visit her. The maiden leaves with Mildy and Clughorn. Kikyo shares with Aldo that she can now see her own path opening up. Kikyo promised her father that she'd take a "new path" instead of vengeance, and while she says that she failed as a jack-of-all-trades, she chose a path she wanted to choose in saving the maiden. Kikyo says this is a sign to her new path.
