Wooh! A new story. That means I've actually motivated myself to get some writing done. High fives all around.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gunslinger Girl.
Life After Death
Chapter I: Reborn
A singular light shone in the dark room. On an operating table lay the body of a girl. Her long blonde hair held a dried red tinge of color to it. The cause of death was quite obvious. A large hole remained where her right eye once was. In a small room connected to the operating room, two men observed from behind a two-way mirror.
"You can't be serious about this Gilliani. This isn't saving some poor girl from the brink of death. You're playing God here."
"Come on Bianchi. I figured that you of all people would understand what I'm trying to accomplish here."
"You're trying to bring back the dead! Need I remind you that Elsa was already mentally unstable? Even if you succeed, you could drive her even further insane!"
Dr. Gilliani just laughed at his companions words. "That's not my problem to worry about now is it Bianchi? Besides, Chief Lorenzo and Jean have given me full authority to conduct this little experiment."
Dr. Bianchi growled. "Look, I don't know how you got them to agree to this, but this isn't a game."
"Hah, it's all in the name of science my friend. You see, when a person receives a transplant, they may start to take on the personality traits of the person who held the body part before them. I've seen it with my own two eyes. If we graft the remaining parts of Elsa's brain onto a substitute brain, place it in her body, and give her enough conditioning, we should be able to revive her. Besides, you have your part in this too. After all, you are the head doctor in charge of surgery and conditioning."
Dr. Bianchi turned away from Gilliani. "This is mad. Frankenstein had more sense then this."
Gilliani laughed. "Maybe so, but I hold something over that mad doc. I'm a real doctor, and people will remember me for my contributions to medicine."
Bianchi was ready to protest when his beeper went off. Soon after, Gilliani's beeper joined in. "Heh, showtime. Let's go Bianchi, they're waiting."
Lorenzo sat in his office with a tall, brown haired man. "Giovanni La Russa, you've come highly recommended. Please, have a seat."
"Yes sir." The man named Giovanni La Russa held a very professional aura about him. His black suit was free of any wrinkles and his golden colored tie was neatly folded. He pulled up a chair and sat down. "What does this job entail sir?" he asked politely.
"I'll tell you right now; this isn't your average military job. There will be days you won't like your job or yourself. If that doesn't feel like your cup of tea, then I will ask you to leave now."
Giovanni narrowed his brown eyes. "What is that supposed to mean? If everyone hates their job, then why would anyone be willing to take such a position?"
"The answer is simple. Are you willing to give up everything you have to help better Italy? If the answer is yes, then I'm sure you will do just fine here." A blonde haired girl in a maid outfit entered the room with a tray of cups. She set them down before bowing. "Thank you. Now as I was saying, do you think you have what it takes to work for us?"
Giovanni smiled. "I'm sure I could handle it."
Lorenzo took a sip of his tea. "Good. You're hired. Now let me explain your job."
There was a rhythmic beeping from the machines in the operating room as the doctors stood back from their latest achievement. "What did I say Bianchi? I told you it would be a success. Now we just need to wait for her to wake up."
Dr. Bianchi stared at the newly revived cyborg girl. For once, her hair wasn't in its trademark braids that had become synonymous with her. It truly showed just how long her hair really was. God help us for what we've just done.
The girl known as Elsa de Sica rustled slightly in her new room. She opened her eyes briefly before quickly shutting them. "Agh, bright," she complained before slowly opening them again to allow her pupils to adjust to the light. Her room was plain and white, and on a table next to her was a single white rose in a vase. Somebody likes white too much.
She raised her hand to her right eye, feeling in lightly. She blinked it a few times, and looked at the mirror next to her. Blonde hair hung from her head, gathering on the bed, and bright green eyes stared back at her. Something felt off, but for the life of her, she couldn't figure it out. Think Elsa, where were you before here... I don't remember. I don't remember anything.
She started to panic. Where am I? What's going on? There was a light knock at the door and she looked up at it. "Who is it?"
The door opened slowly and a dark haired man in a white lab coat stepped in. He was carrying some files and a book. "Hello, it's nice to see you awake. My name is Doctor Bianchi. I'm a doctor with the Social Welfare Agency. That's where you are right now. How are you feeling?"
Elsa narrowed her eyes. "I'm fine. Why am I here?"
"You were... sick. We made you healthy again." He opened one of the files. "Would you mind if I asked you some questions?" Elsa shook her head. "Good. I'll start off easy. What is your name?"
"Elsa de Sica," she answered without batting an eye.
Bianchi smiled as he jotted some notes on the file. "Good, do you remember me?" She shook her head. "Okay. Next," he pulled out the book and opened it to a page in the middle, "do you remember anyone in these pictures?"
Elsa took a look at all of the pictures, letting her gaze hover over everyone before moving on. One picture struck a chord with her. In it was a girl with short brunette hair. Just looking at her made her blood boil. "This girl," she said harshly, pointing her out, "she looks familiar. Who is she?"
"It's just a little test," he chuckled nervously, "don't get so worked up over it." He took the photo album back from her and jotted down some more notes before he turned to leave. "I'll be going now. I'll be back to give you a checkup soon." He opened the door and stepped out, leaving it ajar. "You're up."
She watched with interest as another man walked into the room. He laughed a little as he looked at her. "So you're the famous Elsa de Sica. I've heard a lot about you. It's nice to finally meet you. My name is Giovanni La Russa." He chuckled some more. "That's some long hair you have there. My sister had hair like that. It looked really nice, but then she cut it."
Elsa ran her fingers through her golden locks. "Yeah..." she mumbled. She had never thought about her hair before, but now that he brought it up to her, she felt as if it needed a little change. "Um, could you please braid my hair?"
Giovanni smiled. "My sister really would love you." Elsa returned the man's smile.
That's chapter 1. The best way I can explain how Elsa still thinks she's Elsa despite having a new brain is that her body has "infected" her mind so to speak. Essentially, it's a bunch of sci-fi style medical mumbo jumbo. Think Liquid Snake taking over Ocelot's body through his hand.