Mardock Scramble полностью

“He means that the chips we’re going after just happen to be worth four million dollars, and that’s what we’re calling them, but they’re really just chips to us. It’s not as if we’re actually going in there to try and win their cash from them. That’s why we might be able to breach their defenses, and it’s also why I feel that I can help with this plan. Also, even if our plan fails, as long as you’ve worked out the location of the chips, we could always try stealing them at a later date—although if Shell figures out what we’re up to we’ll struggle to find them before the trial is over. So we’re taking a big gamble before we even set foot in the casino. In other words, the time is now. This is our last real chance, and also our best,” said the Doctor.

Balot looked at the Doctor’s face as she answered,

–I understand. If the two of you think that we can do it, then I do too.

She was speaking the truth.

The Doctor smiled affectionately and opened up his PDA. “Right, time to get this plan on the road.” Much to Balot’s surprise he erased the memory on his PDA as he spoke. It was supposed to have contained all sorts of vital data. Who worked where, what they did, how the money came in, everything. Balot was shocked to see that all this had now been reduced to a blank screen.

“If we have all the info on us at the point that the casino starts taking an interest in us, we’d be thrown out the moment they discovered it. Not only that, they’d contact all the other casinos in the city on the spot. With our photographs. We’d never be able to set foot inside a casino again.” The Doctor’s face revealed that he considered this to be a fate worse than death.

–Will we be all right without it?

“If it comes to the crunch, all the data is still inside Oeufcoque. There’s no cause for concern.”

Suddenly the Doctor’s brow creased. “By the way, have you decided what you’ll call me?” he asked.

Balot looked a little troubled and shook her head.

“Well, why not try something out.”

–Brother?

She burst out laughing even before she finished the word.

“No good, I suppose,” the Doctor said, his face most serious. “How about Daddy?”

This time it was Balot who furrowed her brow.

–That doesn’t feel natural. No good.

“Hmm.”

–Uncle.

“You mean…?”

–It’ll be fine. I don’t thing there will be any misunderstandings.

“Fine. Henceforth I shall be known as your Uncle Easter.”

Balot couldn’t stop herself from bursting out laughing again, her shoulders shaking. She saw the Doctor looking discouraged and nodded her assent through her wordless laughter.

–Uncle Easter.

She repeated. The Doctor nodded too.

“It’s decided, then.”

Balot laughed again. But actually the term didn’t feel all that out of place. She looked at the Doctor and mimed combing her hair down. As if to say Sort yourself out.

–Could you at least dye all your hair the same color?

The Doctor shrugged, but he seemed to acquiesce.

–I’ve wanted to ask you for a long time, actually. Why do you dye your hair like that, anyway?

“One of the Three Magi—the professor whose brainchild Mardock Scramble was—seemed to favor that sort of hairstyle,” Oeufcoque butted in to explain.

“A complex layer of different hues. A hairstyle based authentically on chaos theory,” the Doctor explained, brushing his hair back.

–You must have really respected him.

“He was the one and only master I ever recognized, and he was also responsible for designing Oeufcoque. I would have liked you to meet him.”

Balot gave a small nod. She didn’t press them for the details of how this person that they held in such high regard was killed by OctoberCorp. It would be an impudent intrusion into a sacred place in their hearts. But something did suddenly occur to her, and she asked it.

–Did your professor like to gamble?

“He was invincible!” the Doctor replied without hesitation.

That’s what I thought. Balot nodded.

≡

After Balot returned to her room she took another, thorough, shower, then dressed up.

This time the choker was still a Made by Oeufcoque, but it was just an ordinary electronic voice box. Lastly, Balot took Oeufcoque in her hands and brought an image to mind. A soft pair of gloves to cover both my hands. Oeufcoque’s body distorted with a squish, and in a flash he was wrapped around her fingers. The gloves extended up her arms and met behind her shoulders.