As the Trans-Underground Express transport arrived at the receiving dock, the Düsseldorf Quartet looked around at their changing surroundings, with the exception of Johannes of course, who just sat there.
"Where... are we now?" asked Rebekah.
"Wherever it is, it's gotta be good, I guess" replied Johannes, a semi-hopeful smile on her face.
Elizabeth just held her sister's hand tighter as the transport car stopped and locked onto its dock.
Anneke stood first and got out of the transport car. Rebekah followed, then Johannes accompanied by Elizabeth.
"Alright gals" spoke Anneke in a mock-commanding officer's voice. "This is it. This is the big time. We're in a new position of insanity. We're not in Kansas anymore. Hell, we never were in Kansas to begin with!!"
The rest of the Quartet giggled as Anneke gave them a goofy grin, then ascended the stairs to a metal door on the ceiling. She opened the door, and finished ascending the stairs to the outside of what looked to be an office building. She looked around.
"...hot damn, gals" she spoke again. "I don't know where the heehaw we're at."
"Only one way to find out then" answered Elizabeth.
"Of course" retorted Anneke with a smirk. "What, you think I'm refusing to go lurk about? Hell-oo!! I ain't goin' alone, y'know!!"
Johannes giggled as Elizabeth shook her head laughing. "Alright you goofball" the elder sister said. "Lead on like the so-called commanding officer you are."
Anneke stuck her tongue out at Elizabeth, then looked around and started to walk towards the building. Rebekah, Johannes and the elder sister followed Anneke, unaware of who they were about to meet...
Four men emerged out of an office inside the building, dressed in suits, walking in time, their steps synched. Their faces were a bit serious, but they showed in each some distinct personality.
The man coded KW070447 glanced to his fellow cohort to his right, and nodded. His face looked back to what was ahead of him. He said not a word, but kept his pace in time with the others.
His friend, coded KW170747, nodded back and fixed his gaze ahead of him. While at it he brushed off a strand of hair that got in his face. Glancing to his code on his arm, he recalled how he nearly died and became a new person.
To his right, the man coded KW310552 kept his gaze straight ahead, his thoughts rerunning through his head about the mission that they were to undertake. The four men were briefed on who they were assigned to protect on the train back to Düsseldorf before dismissed to meet up with them.
And finally, at his right, the so-called leader of the quartet coded KW200846 took a deep breath, unsure of what would occur at their great adventure. And, miraculously, during their mission briefing, he kept his mouth shut!! But he glanced at his three friends, and then straight ahead, ready for anything. He sang a few lines as they made their way to the doors leading outside...
Wir laden unsere Batterie,
Jetzt sind wir voller Energie...
Wir sind die Roboter.
As the guys exited the building the young women blinked. Rebekah blinked, hiding a bit behind Anneke as Elizabeth let go of her younger sister's hand and stepped forward to meet the men. Her eyes locked on those of KW070447. Meanwhile Anneke walked up to KW310552, her eyes a bit solemn in case he meant trouble.
Rebekah however showed no fear at last, and stood out from behind her friend. KW170747 stood before her, nodding to her. She just stood there and blinked. Geez Rebekah she thought to herself, where's your courage when you need it? Finally she spoke. "Gu-guten tag" she stammered, a bit nervous. But the man just smiled and extended his hand.
"It's okay, Miss" he spoke. "I do not intend to harm you. I am, however, curious as to your name."
"It's Rebekah" she replied, placing her hand in his. "Rebekah Zordenoff."
"I am Wolfgang" the man spoke, "and we will be accompanying you on the Trans-Europa."
Anneke's stern glare at KW310552 turned into a giggly grin when he made a funny face. Suddenly, she no longer felt like she had to be on high alert around him as he extended a hand to her.
"Hallo, my name is Karl" he spoke. "And you are?"
"Anneke Weldenta" she answered, her hand now in his. "Are you going to be with us on the Trans-Europa?"
Karl nodded. "Absolutely, Miss Anneke."
Elizabeth and KW070447 kept their eyes on each other for a while. Finally she spoke. "You know, I'm not one for staring contests."
"Neither am I, liebling," he replied with a polite smile.
"You must be our guardians on the Trans-Europa then" she said. He nodded in reply, took his hand in hers, and kissed it.
"I am Florian" he spoke, his kind gaze now fixed on hers. She smiled.
"Elizabeth Korinn" she introduced herself, then looked to her sister and KW200846. "And over there... my sister Johannes, who was born blind." Florian nodded in acknowledgement, still holding her hand.
KW200846 walked up to Johannes, who was still standing where her older sister had left her. He blinked, waving a hand to her, wondering why she hadn't noticed him yet. Finally, he spoke.
"Hallo there" he said, and she snapped back to.
"Oh--oh my, I'm sorry" she replied. "Just that, I sometimes do not really notice anyone until they're talking to me."
"Are you alright?" he asked sincerely.
"Yes," she replied, nodding hesitantly. "It's just that... I... Ich kann nicht sehen. Ich war geborener Vorhang."
The man's eyes widened in worry. "Meine Güte! Ich bin sehr traurig" he said. "Sind Sie gut?"
She nodded, smiling a bit. "I'll be fine. I'm just wondering if we'll be on the Trans-Europa soon."
"We will be, Miss" he replied. "My friends and I are here to protect your friends. We are programmed just to do anything you want us to, in a sense."
"Are you guys... robots?" she asked.
"Sort of" he answered. "We are mensche-maschinen, to be exact. But we are here to protect you." He took her hand in his and kissed it. "My name is Ralf."
"Ich bin Johannes Korinn" she replied, smiling faintly. "It is very good to meet you, Ralf."
"Es ist als gutes, Sie, Fräulein Johannes zu treffen gerecht" Ralf said, smiling at her cold, lifeless eyes. The rest of the guys and girls looked to the two, wondering what had just happened.
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