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Description
Fire and Ice: A Futuristic Romance (A Vocaloid Fanfiction)

Author's notes and Disclaimer: I hearby disclaim ownership of any mentioned Vocaloid characters, songs and/or themes mentioned within this story. All original characters, setting and location descriptions are my own creative property. Further note that some character concepts, relationships, backgrounds and themes have been changed or modified and subjected to personal intepretations. Something different for everyone to read, yes?

Further note the usage of the word 'android', one that will be used extensively in this series. Depictions and ideas have also been subjected to creative intepretation. All explanation is present in Chapter 1.

Lastly, any resemblence to situations, circumstance and/or persons, real or fictional, are purely coincidental until mentioned otherwise.

Rated M for a mature read. Some strong language and suggestive themes (in later chapters).

Featured: Lily X OC X Luka (Thus, the title . Not in that order), various other pairings

Chapter 1

Chapter Notes: The introductory chapter to my new fanfiction series. Lily doesnt appear here. She'll only be introducted in the following chapters, around 4 I think. Then, the real fun begins.

In the near distant future, the advent fusion between high technology and human biology marked the new age of mankind. Half human, half machines known as 'androids' walk among the masses, born biologically and mechanically enhanced with a substance called 'living metal' since young, with each one serving a specific purpose. The rise of nanotechnology and the development of human gene alteration made it all possible, allowing for physical and mental enhancement through software programs fed directly into them via living metal tissue. These parts could comprise of any organ, bone, vein or muscle, substituting that part with something far superior to a normal human's. The living metal takes the shape of the part, replacing it permanently and grows along with its user as if it were part of the him/her since birth, allowing for these various enhancements to take effect until the day they die. This new invention saved countless lives and a wide range of diseases and birth defects were thoroughly eliminated.

The purpose of androids since their introduction was originally to serve as a social experiment, to see if humans could interact with half machines in as personal a way as they do other humans. These tests were a success and androids were formally injected into the society of the world, where they lived, worked and played as normal humans do, doing extraordinary things with each enhancement that allowed them to do. At the same time, they served a major purpose for the progress of the human race. They were the future, to combat humanity's shortcomings and weaknesses, and as preparation for the first stepping stone of a dream, of humans finally able to reach the distant stars beyond their dying solar system.

Centuries later, in the present day, year 2910, that dream had came true. Humans and androids populate vast star systems, numbering in the billions and living in relative peace and harmony. Earth was no more, the ancient Sol system having gone supernova, and the human race with their creations and advanced technology now live in massive colonies, both in space and on various habitable planets. Space was their superhighway and there was no distance too long for a spaceship to travel to any part of the galaxy. What normally takes lightyears could now be traveled between a week to a month, sometimes even days.

Yet, even after hundreds of years, the debate over the purity of the human gene had carried on, and the discrimination still existed, even if minor in degree. There was no discernible difference for the two, as each android, however enhanced physically or mentally to fit a purpose, had their own weaknesses. That was the arguement of those supporting pro-android. For those who thought otherwise, they think that androids would one day be far superior to humans and the human race will replaced by these half machines. Nonetheless, wherever the arguement goes, it was common fact that one could not live without the other, for there are some things that even androids could not do.

Charlie Strafe was a human who did one such thing. He was a problem solver, a genius, a special serviceman who looked after androids and the enhancement programs that were associated with them. No android could look after thier own enhancements unless it was truly state of the art. Even if they had the capability to do so, thier ingenuity is only as capable as any human. Breakdowns do occur. Program faults take form, with some that other androids could never touch for fear of instability to thier own internal systems. It was people like Charlie who deal with the problems that androids could not handle, ordinary humans with powerful human IQs and judgement.

He was extremely good at what he did, a brilliant man, more or less the best in his field and he knew how androids worked, inside and out. He knew they were human, and at the same time, part machines. He knew they all looked human, some enhanced to be too perfect, while others are not. He knew that without servicemen like him, the androids would have long died out along with humanity. It was his life to play the 'android doctor', or 'an-doc' as it was commonly known in this day and age, if biological or mechanical doctors could not help with problems. Such doctors worked on the physical while servicemen like him worked on the software, two different yet essential fields to keep androids maintained to efficiency. It was a good life and he never went hungry, considering the number of customers he gets every month, or 'patients' as he called them.

However, he was careful not to be so regulated. Even if he had an SS certified license, he was still an independant agent and had been for a long time under the radar. It was a serious and lucrative business and getting too stressed out by it, no matter how dedicated he was at his job, was very bad. He did not want too much exposure. It was too much of a headache to handle. He did not keep any fixed check ups or schedules, neither did he encourage his patients to come back too often except when there was a problem. When he was done with one of them, he would let them go, his business with them done until the next time they call. With this kind of arrangement, he had to say that he was quite relaxed and comfortable, the way he liked working best and the way he worked at his best.

Letting out a long sigh, he dropped his hands from the holographic keyboard, the bright blue beam of light whipping close. Scanning through the final bit of the coding on his holoscreen, he kept his eyes swimming past the numbers, symbols and expressions and once he was satisfied, he sighed again. His leather swivel chair squeeked as he twisted slightly to his right to face the window. Another successful diagnostic program complete, ready to be used, and it warranted a well deserved coffee. Such a great choice of relaxing beverage was only an arm's reach away, and there was no hesitation or rush to bring it closer to him to taste the rich and invigorating flavor. After a slow and satisfying sip, he leaned back into his chair, his eyes wondering out into the stars outside his window.

His apartment on Resident Station Jupiter 9 sported one of the best views of the Cardinal Vectus system. Amidst the starry darkness of space were the three planets, Kaphos, Athos and Aramia, with Aramia, the outer most planet, closest to his vision since Jupiter 9 was in orbit around it. In the distance was the bright yellow sun, much like the Sol system only larger and longer living, far more stable. Its light had provided for the farmers on Kaphos, the solar power stations around Athos and the pleasure sunshine on Aramia for at least 50 or so years since colonization. Human civilization in this system was still young, but already development had turned it into a hub, attracting a lot of different types of people to live here. He moved here from his home system of Anza Paria long ago, when he graduated with high honors and earned his license at age 22, the youngest genius the University of Android Technologies have every produced. Back then, this place seemed like somewhere that he thought was a good place to start small, but before he knew it, 2 years later, he earned his fortune and his name in almost every branch of local business and government here. It wasnt an easy road, but the opportunities that involved android diplomats, trade bosses, industry captains and the like were just too high paying for him to even consider not taking. Besides, there was a shortage of an-docs in this system right now, reliable ones at least. It was something like a sense of duty and ease that kept him here instead of moving on to the larger systems like Magnia Lucius or Taphon Vega, like what most an-docs around here do after they find out that the entertainment business hubs were much higher privileged. He really wondered why. All the metropolitan systems gave were more headaches and confusion.

While he was lost in his contemplation, he did not realize the soft, pulsating bleeping sound coming from his desktop computer, not until the fifth time of it bleeping. Turning once more, he waved his palm at a side panel, the holo keyboard coming back to life. After tapping a few keys, a window opened up.

"Mail." He muttered to himself, "More work, I guess."

The email was addressed from a 'Mr Yukira'. He did not know exactly who that was but the symbol of a very important looking company logo caught his attention more than the name. All in good time. It must be important if he was recieving mail directly and not from his usual broker agents. Opening the mail, he read through its contents thoroughly.

Of course. There was no doubt about it. It was a job, and a very big one. Mr Yukira was part of the music industry, a producer of records for some rather famous people. His studio and their familiar owning company, Yumira Corporation, apparently wanted him to make a house call to the branch on Aramia. There was not much on the details except that it was fairly 'imperitive' that he came by as soon as possible. It did not sound like an emergancy, but he would go by this instruction nonetheless. Being late would not be wise. He had a reputation to keep.

Since it was still morning, it was a good idea to head out right this moment. If time would serve him well, he would reach his destination in a few hours. After planning his route on his computer and uploading it into his personal data pad he kept on his wrist, he got himself dressed in something presentable. This was no ordinary house call, since it was a big wig who wanted him there. Good thing his wardrobe was outfitted for any occasion, from the investments he had been making for a while now. What he needed was something not too official looking, something casual formal, so he picked out a maroon short sleeved shirt, a pair of black trousers, a pair of comfortable black shoes and a stylish black vest. Stepping up to the mirror in his bedroom, he checked himself for any problems. There was no room for any major imperfections, because he knew how big wigs were in this part of the galaxy, especially a massive inter-system trade industry like music. From what he knows of Yumira, they were pretty official at branches. Their studios were slightly more casual. He had been to a few others before and spotting the differences was easy. Combing his short cut brown hair, the image he wanted was clear enough to see. Not overly formal. Not lackluster in any way. Just enough to convince he had official business. Turning to reach for his equipment briefcase and pocketing all his essentials, he made for his door in confident strides. To him, it would be just another day of routine work and he was in a good mood. Maybe he could even use his new diagnostic program if this latest patient allowed it.

The shuttle ride down to the planet was uneventful. Neither was the mag lev cruise nor the high speed bus ride. He got to see the colony again and it has not changed much since his visit last month. It was a semi metro planet, with a vast majority of it dedicated to entertainment and tourism. Aramia was a popular destination for a lot of tourists who come here to gamble, play at the beaches, enjoy the nightlife and even the daylife. It was a place that had nice warm temperatures in the day and cooling breezes at night, with lots of clean ocean and enough land for a good balance of urban, light industry, rural and wilderness. It was a place where the finest goods and most fun games could be found. It was a place where everyone can go to, whether they were rich or poor. It was also a place where many trades open up thier branches. Like Yumira Corp, they liked the idea of a paradise planet like Aramia to be a good place to capitalize upon, with the music industry being the largest piece of the pie. There were a lot of good local talents that they could bring in, and it showed with all the vibrant and fun loving culture the people enjoyed here. Everywhere you looked, there was singing and dancing, in many forms and genres. Charlie had considered taking a vacation here once, but with the work he gets, he had yet to get the chance.

Soon enough, Charlie was in the waiting room of the large branch building in Treble City, the heart of the entertainment sector. All around this building were other branches of other labels and studios, with a good number of the people around were either musicians or management. He figured that this job would involve one of them and it did not trouble him at all. He had a mantra he followed, an arrogant one but it was a notion of proud and confidence: there was literally nothing that he could not fix, for he was the best and there were no others like him. This had kept him going for a long while now and it had yet to fail him.

The elevator doors opened and the tall man in a dark blue suit and grey combed back hair that came out he assumed to be Mr Yukira. He looked like he was in his late 40s but he still looked healthy. From the looks of it, he was human, and a strong one too. No surprise there. A lot of the management was human, as instinct and acumen was still a very human trait. There was one thing androids could not do. They could only make as good a judgement as anybody else. Their enhancements only made them stronger or smarter, not wiser.

"Mr Strafe. Welcome to Yumira Corp, Treble City branch. We were expecting you." The man came forward to shake his hand in a firm grip, a wide grin on his face.
"Please, sir, call me Charlie. Its a pleasure to meet you." He stood up with a smile, reaching out to bow slightly while handshaking.
"Then, if its ok with you, you can call me Kenji." The man laughed, seemingly a very cheerful fellow, "I heard you were the best an-doc in the galaxy and the Corporation called specifically for you. Please, come this way."
"Yumira Corp must have very good contacts to track me down personally. I am not usually easy to reach." Charlie followed Kenji towards the elevator, "What seems to be the problem, Kenji? Is there an issue with the android staff?"
"Hmm, something like that, yes. You will see for yourself once we get upstairs."

Charlie took his word for it. His mind wondered into the zone, a sort of inner zen that he would usually switch to when nearing his job location. It was a habit that kept him from becoming distracted and helped him concentrate on his work. Being an an-doc, he needed concentration and his mind clear. It was hard when doing it in a factory or out in public where the noise would be so loud, he could not hear himself think, but he pulls it off still. People around him sometimes think he was an android himself, but since he had no serial number or markings to say so, it was easy to prove them wrong.

However much preparation he made mentally while inside the elevator, nothing would prepare him from what he was about to see. When the doors opened into a massive three storey lounge area surrounded by glass windows, he stepped forward after Kenji went first, only to stop short just as he reached the centre of the mass of curved couches and sofas.

"Oh...." That was all he could manage. A surprised exclamation.

He could not believe what he saw. At first, he thought that it was a hallucination or some subconscious delusion but it all seemed far too real. Sitting with one leg crossed over the other on one of the brown leathered couches, flanked by a man and a woman with clipboards, pens and papers, was a woman with long light pinkish hair that flowed down to waist level. She was young, about 20 years of age, short at 5'4" with eyes of a bluish green tinge. Her slim figure allowed her black with gold trim sleeveless outfit to fit her perfectly, a high collar top and long split skirt with black stockings, a thin gold patterned belt, and gold boots that raised to just below her knees. At the throat area of her top was the signature blue sapphire jewel, and just below was the sleek design that combined wood wind and brass instrument concepts, details that he could recognize with familiarity from her many shows. On her forearm was what looked like a wrist computer, with her shoulders strapped with simple cuffs. On her left shoulder was a small tattoo of the numbers zero three, another unforgettable feature. All in all, this stunningly beautiful vision of elegance and style was like a vision of perfection, her skin and form comparable to that of an angel's. This particular angel's name happened to be....

"Charlie Strafe. I would like you to meet Megurine Luka. Luka, this is Charlie Strafe, the best android doctor in the galaxy." Kenji motioned to them respectively as he made the introductions, then towards the two with them, "These are Luka's personal attendants, Sai and Kiyomura. They handle her schedule, among other things."
The pink haired wonder got up to step closer to Charlie with a brilliant smile, reaching out her hand, "A pleasure to finally meet you, Mr Strafe. Ive heard a lot about you."
For a moment, the man was struck dumbfounded by the sound of her husky voice but he found enough composure to shake the woman's hand with a returning smile, "And its a pleasure to meet you too. A great honor. Please, call me Charlie."

Megurine Luka. Charlie never expected to meet the young android star on Aramia. She was famous across the galaxy for her songs and her beauty, simply one of the greatest jewels to have ever been born among the stars, no pun intended. She was part of the Vocaloid crew, a collection of androids put together by a famous android enhancement developer company known as Crypton, based in the Magnia Lucious system. The Vocaloids were specifically born and shaped for the entertainment sector. Their voices were unparalleled and no other singers, android or human, could match their level of perfection, earning them superstar status from the moment of their debut, with recognition and massed fortunes that came within years of thier first appearence. Their faces were everywhere, on billboards, magazines and advertisements. Everybody has heard at least one Vocaloid song in their lifetime. With Luka being here, that would mean that she was probably working with Yumira Corp, probably along with her other android colleagues too. Charlie did not listen to many of their songs but he did enjoy Luka's voice more than the others. It had a certain feel to it that he could do little to explain.

"Well, Charlie. It has been a while since I have last seen an android doctor. Please be gentle with me."
Something in that comment sparked something particularly wrong in him but he brushed it aside as much as he could, trying to avoid any mishaps, "Dont worry. Its part of the job."

Now was not the time to panic and break into an unprofessional stupor, even if he had just shaken hands with a great woman like her. He was here to complete a job and it was obvious that the android he would be checking would be none other than her. This now called for the utmost attention, no longer routine as he had predicted, as it involved a top of the line android, with enhancements created with very sophisticated technology and internal programming. He understood now the reasons why he was called. To service the parts of such an important figure, there was no room for error or misjudgement. There would be very few others who could do any better a job than he can, if not at all.

"Shall we get started?" He nodded at her, motioning towards the couch. "May I call you Luka, if its reasonable with you?"
"Yes. Lets, and yes, you may." She seated herself back where she was before, crossing her legs once more.
Charlie knelt down on one knee before her, placing his briefcase on the coffee table and opening it, "I have to say, this is really quite a surprise. If I had known about this, I could have dressed in something much more appropriate."
"Dont worry, Charlie. You look fine just the way you are. I like the vest. Its very dashing."
"Why, thank you." He reached into his briefcase and tapped at the screen to reveal the computer within, "You look beautiful in that outfit yourself. Ive always admired your style."
"Oh, thank you very much for the compliment."

It seemed like a very normal conversation. Charlie was professionally personal with his patients. It kept them happy and satisfied with his service and talk like this was as much part of the process as any. After all, he was responsible for the maintenance of the enhancements they possess, parts of themselves that were very much like the original human parts. The only thing was that while his face was composed and his words clear, his heart was still jumping out of his chest from the shock and awe. He still could not believe his situation and his inner zen was fighting back to keep his cool intact. Her face was not really helping to calm him down, neither was the presence of Kenji, Sai and Kiyomura, who watched him work silently. At least they knew he did not need interuptions and the talk was just part of doctor patient policy.

Pulling out a pair of cables from his briefcase, he opened the palm of his other hand towards her direction, "May I?"
"Of course." Luka drew her right arm forward, allowing him to plug the cables into her wrist computer, which he professionally assumed was her external input interface as much as it was her own personal computer.

The moment the cables were inserted, his briefcase computer came to life and the screen filled with data in the form of graphics, charts and counters. Everything that was on his screen was related to the health and being of every enhancement that was present on its plugged subject, along with the general health signs of organic parts such as heart rate and body temperature. As Charlie fiddled with his computer, he kept talking.

"So what brings you to Aramia?"
"A contract. I will be working on a new album with Yumira Corporation during my time here."
"I see. You seem to be very busy. Last I heard on the news, you recently finished a tour in the Gemini System, yes?"
"Yes. I only just arrived here several days ago."
"And how were you feeling after the trip? Anything strange or out of place?"
"No, but I am still a little tired."
"Hmm, not to worry." He turned slightly to nod at her, "With a bit of rest and maybe some sunshine, you will feel much better. You will get plenty of both if you go to the right places. Theres plenty to go to here in Aramia."
She hummed an affirmative before cocking her head to one side, her face bright, "You are a very pleasant android doctor."
"Its part of the job, and my own policy. I like my patients to be comfortable. Are you?"
Luka let out a giggle, "Very much so, yes."

After talking so much, he felt like he could focus a little better. Nothing like a bit of social interaction to get him back to work. Now that he was in his game, his attentions went to working on the diagnostic. As he suspected, her enhancements were high class. Only the richest would be able to afford the kind of parts she had. Everything to do with voice control, speech pattern and breath control has been modified and amplified, resulting in that insanely sexy and husky voice she had. This was the reason behind the voice that melts even the heaviest of hearts and he had to admit that it was an an-docs blessed dream to witness such a powerful and rare system work right before him. With this enhancement combination, she would have an expert control over her voice, almost superhumanly so.

"Well then. Your signs are normal for the most part. Now is the time for me to ask. What seems to be the problem?" He turned his head slightly, inquisitive.
"Its my voice. I think it may seem a little strange." She seemed worried.
"Really?" Charlie went back to his computer to start another program.
Kenji spoke up, concern in his jolly face, "There were times in the studio when Luka's pitch seem to change unexpectedly, which was really quite shocking. Throughout her career, she's never made that mistake. We've tried with biological doctors but they say her body was fine. That was one of the reasons why Yumira Corp called you."
"Hmm.... Is that so?"

It seemed like a minor case. With voice enhancements like hers, there were bound to be bugs appearing every now and then. The internal program in her voice box should be able to auto adjust for a smooth sound and if all goes well, it would be like nothing happened. From what he was hearing from Kenji and Luka, he suspected one thing. The program he wanted opened, his new diagnostic software. After changing a few settings, a number of bars appeared on the screen. Turning around, he faced Luka directly.

"Luka, would you mind singing for me, please?"
"Ah, of course I wouldnt mind."

The young star settled in to her seat and sat upright. She took a deep breath, her pretty eyes closing, preparing her voice for the demonstration. The next moment her lips parted, Charlie could hear the most melodious and angelic of voices slip out of them. For the half minute that seemed like a slow motion countdown, every word and every note that filled the air reached his ears and he could not help but stare and listen. It was a song he recognized as the introduction verses of Dragonheart, one of her older songs he had heard on certain times on the airways. She had a very human voice, not mechanical or grungy like what older enhancement models had, but one of incredible softness and deep personality. He had heard Luka sing before on the tv screens and speaker sets but those times were nothing compared to this moment. To hear her voice in person rather than through a speaker was so much more real and alive, and he had to admit, it touched his soul. Like a flowing river from beginning to end, it was perfectly executed, flawless, fluid and smooth. There was no indication of a pitch change. If there was, it was barely audible.

When she seemed to have finished, he took a moment to collect himself once more, "Thank you, Luka."
"You're most welcome. Consider it reward for being so nice." She smiled at him.
"Well, then thank you all the more. It was greatly appreciated." He could not help but smile widely back. He really liked her personality.

Turning back to his computer, the program had analyzed the collected audio data and the results showed on the screen. After a few seconds of reviewing the data, he came to a simple conclusion.

"Just as I thought." He turned back to look at them, "I will be frank. It appears that your voice box enhancement is suffering from integrity loss."
"Integrity loss?" Her eyes grew wide, her right hand clutching her throat lightly, "Am I losing my voice?"
"Slightly, but its no cause for major concern. See this here?" He motioned to a bar on his computer that was almost full. "This is the overall health integrity of your voice box in a percentage. Its at 95% when it should be at 100%. Its no big issue, really."
"What does it mean?" Kenji leaned forward to look at the screen.
"It means that Luka's voice box enhancement has suffered some strain, possibly from the tour and the long journey here. Not to worry. With the model she has, it should self repair within a week. Ive already checked the software and there should be no problems. The pitch changing is normal, along with other symptoms that might change her voice. Its caused by the self repair mechanism working through its peak cycles." He paused as he closed his briefcase computer, "Though I must admit. You must have sang a lot to have your enhancement damaged like this. Please be more careful."

A great sense of relief washed over everyone present. It was a good sign. Everyone in the room knew how important Luka's voice was, in their own way. To Charlie, he definately did not want her to lose that magical voice. It was her life. It was her soul. It would not be like losing an arm or a leg. In this day and age, either could be replaced, but if she lost her voice....

"Thank you so much for your help, Charlie." Kenji spoke as Charlie stood up and shook his hand.
"You are a great android doctor." Luka took her turn, shaking his hand with both of hers. For some reason, she did not let go as he replied to them.
"Not a problem at all, Kenji, Luka. If you dont mind, I can always come back in a couple of days to do another check up. Just to be sure."
"That would be very kind of you." She nodded toward him, "I will definately look forward to your next visit."
"And I will be sure to let you know if there are any changes to time and place." Kenji added.
"Much appreciated. It was an honor to be of some help. Take care and good afternoon, Luka. See you in a few days time."
"See you, Charlie."

Luka finally let go of his hand and Kenji escorted him back to the elevator. Before the doors closed, Charlie took one last look at Luka's smiling face. He did not know why he made that promise to come back so soon. It was not like him to ask for follow ups unless absolutely necessary, like major long term cases. For a case like Luka's, he really did not have to come back at all. Maybe it was just a strange feeling in his gut... or maybe it was because something seemed too strange to ignore.

:D (Big Grin) — Description
Fire and Ice: A Futuristic Romance (A Vocaloid Fanfiction)

Author's notes and Disclaimer: I hearby disclaim ownership of any mentioned Vocaloid characters, songs and/or themes mentioned within this story. All original characters, setting and location descriptions are my own creative property. Further note that some character concepts, relationships, backgrounds and themes have been changed or modified and subjected to personal intepretations. Something different for everyone to read, yes?

Further note the usage of the word 'android', one that will be used extensively in this series. Depictions and ideas have also been subjected to creative intepretation. All explanation is present in Chapter 1.

Lastly, any resemblence to situations, circumstance and/or persons, real or fictional, are purely coincidental until mentioned otherwise.

Rated M for a mature read. Some strong language and suggestive themes (in later chapters).

Featured: Lily X OC X Luka (Thus, the title . Not in that order), various other pairings

Chapter 1

Chapter Notes: The introductory chapter to my new fanfiction series. Lily doesnt appear here. She'll only be introducted in the following chapters, around 4 I think. Then, the real fun begins.

In the near distant future, the advent fusion between high technology and human biology marked the new age of mankind. Half human, half machines known as 'androids' walk among the masses, born biologically and mechanically enhanced with a substance called 'living metal' since young, with each one serving a specific purpose. The rise of nanotechnology and the development of human gene alteration made it all possible, allowing for physical and mental enhancement through software programs fed directly into them via living metal tissue. These parts could comprise of any organ, bone, vein or muscle, substituting that part with something far superior to a normal human's. The living metal takes the shape of the part, replacing it permanently and grows along with its user as if it were part of the him/her since birth, allowing for these various enhancements to take effect until the day they die. This new invention saved countless lives and a wide range of diseases and birth defects were thoroughly eliminated.

The purpose of androids since their introduction was originally to serve as a social experiment, to see if humans could interact with half machines in as personal a way as they do other humans. These tests were a success and androids were formally injected into the society of the world, where they lived, worked and played as normal humans do, doing extraordinary things with each enhancement that allowed them to do. At the same time, they served a major purpose for the progress of the human race. They were the future, to combat humanity's shortcomings and weaknesses, and as preparation for the first stepping stone of a dream, of humans finally able to reach the distant stars beyond their dying solar system.

Centuries later, in the present day, year 2910, that dream had came true. Humans and androids populate vast star systems, numbering in the billions and living in relative peace and harmony. Earth was no more, the ancient Sol system having gone supernova, and the human race with their creations and advanced technology now live in massive colonies, both in space and on various habitable planets. Space was their superhighway and there was no distance too long for a spaceship to travel to any part of the galaxy. What normally takes lightyears could now be traveled between a week to a month, sometimes even days.

Yet, even after hundreds of years, the debate over the purity of the human gene had carried on, and the discrimination still existed, even if minor in degree. There was no discernible difference for the two, as each android, however enhanced physically or mentally to fit a purpose, had their own weaknesses. That was the arguement of those supporting pro-android. For those who thought otherwise, they think that androids would one day be far superior to humans and the human race will replaced by these half machines. Nonetheless, wherever the arguement goes, it was common fact that one could not live without the other, for there are some things that even androids could not do.

Charlie Strafe was a human who did one such thing. He was a problem solver, a genius, a special serviceman who looked after androids and the enhancement programs that were associated with them. No android could look after thier own enhancements unless it was truly state of the art. Even if they had the capability to do so, thier ingenuity is only as capable as any human. Breakdowns do occur. Program faults take form, with some that other androids could never touch for fear of instability to thier own internal systems. It was people like Charlie who deal with the problems that androids could not handle, ordinary humans with powerful human IQs and judgement.

He was extremely good at what he did, a brilliant man, more or less the best in his field and he knew how androids worked, inside and out. He knew they were human, and at the same time, part machines. He knew they all looked human, some enhanced to be too perfect, while others are not. He knew that without servicemen like him, the androids would have long died out along with humanity. It was his life to play the 'android doctor', or 'an-doc' as it was commonly known in this day and age, if biological or mechanical doctors could not help with problems. Such doctors worked on the physical while servicemen like him worked on the software, two different yet essential fields to keep androids maintained to efficiency. It was a good life and he never went hungry, considering the number of customers he gets every month, or 'patients' as he called them.

However, he was careful not to be so regulated. Even if he had an SS certified license, he was still an independant agent and had been for a long time under the radar. It was a serious and lucrative business and getting too stressed out by it, no matter how dedicated he was at his job, was very bad. He did not want too much exposure. It was too much of a headache to handle. He did not keep any fixed check ups or schedules, neither did he encourage his patients to come back too often except when there was a problem. When he was done with one of them, he would let them go, his business with them done until the next time they call. With this kind of arrangement, he had to say that he was quite relaxed and comfortable, the way he liked working best and the way he worked at his best.

Letting out a long sigh, he dropped his hands from the holographic keyboard, the bright blue beam of light whipping close. Scanning through the final bit of the coding on his holoscreen, he kept his eyes swimming past the numbers, symbols and expressions and once he was satisfied, he sighed again. His leather swivel chair squeeked as he twisted slightly to his right to face the window. Another successful diagnostic program complete, ready to be used, and it warranted a well deserved coffee. Such a great choice of relaxing beverage was only an arm's reach away, and there was no hesitation or rush to bring it closer to him to taste the rich and invigorating flavor. After a slow and satisfying sip, he leaned back into his chair, his eyes wondering out into the stars outside his window.

His apartment on Resident Station Jupiter 9 sported one of the best views of the Cardinal Vectus system. Amidst the starry darkness of space were the three planets, Kaphos, Athos and Aramia, with Aramia, the outer most planet, closest to his vision since Jupiter 9 was in orbit around it. In the distance was the bright yellow sun, much like the Sol system only larger and longer living, far more stable. Its light had provided for the farmers on Kaphos, the solar power stations around Athos and the pleasure sunshine on Aramia for at least 50 or so years since colonization. Human civilization in this system was still young, but already development had turned it into a hub, attracting a lot of different types of people to live here. He moved here from his home system of Anza Paria long ago, when he graduated with high honors and earned his license at age 22, the youngest genius the University of Android Technologies have every produced. Back then, this place seemed like somewhere that he thought was a good place to start small, but before he knew it, 2 years later, he earned his fortune and his name in almost every branch of local business and government here. It wasnt an easy road, but the opportunities that involved android diplomats, trade bosses, industry captains and the like were just too high paying for him to even consider not taking. Besides, there was a shortage of an-docs in this system right now, reliable ones at least. It was something like a sense of duty and ease that kept him here instead of moving on to the larger systems like Magnia Lucius or Taphon Vega, like what most an-docs around here do after they find out that the entertainment business hubs were much higher privileged. He really wondered why. All the metropolitan systems gave were more headaches and confusion.

While he was lost in his contemplation, he did not realize the soft, pulsating bleeping sound coming from his desktop computer, not until the fifth time of it bleeping. Turning once more, he waved his palm at a side panel, the holo keyboard coming back to life. After tapping a few keys, a window opened up.

"Mail." He muttered to himself, "More work, I guess."

The email was addressed from a 'Mr Yukira'. He did not know exactly who that was but the symbol of a very important looking company logo caught his attention more than the name. All in good time. It must be important if he was recieving mail directly and not from his usual broker agents. Opening the mail, he read through its contents thoroughly.

Of course. There was no doubt about it. It was a job, and a very big one. Mr Yukira was part of the music industry, a producer of records for some rather famous people. His studio and their familiar owning company, Yumira Corporation, apparently wanted him to make a house call to the branch on Aramia. There was not much on the details except that it was fairly 'imperitive' that he came by as soon as possible. It did not sound like an emergancy, but he would go by this instruction nonetheless. Being late would not be wise. He had a reputation to keep.

Since it was still morning, it was a good idea to head out right this moment. If time would serve him well, he would reach his destination in a few hours. After planning his route on his computer and uploading it into his personal data pad he kept on his wrist, he got himself dressed in something presentable. This was no ordinary house call, since it was a big wig who wanted him there. Good thing his wardrobe was outfitted for any occasion, from the investments he had been making for a while now. What he needed was something not too official looking, something casual formal, so he picked out a maroon short sleeved shirt, a pair of black trousers, a pair of comfortable black shoes and a stylish black vest. Stepping up to the mirror in his bedroom, he checked himself for any problems. There was no room for any major imperfections, because he knew how big wigs were in this part of the galaxy, especially a massive inter-system trade industry like music. From what he knows of Yumira, they were pretty official at branches. Their studios were slightly more casual. He had been to a few others before and spotting the differences was easy. Combing his short cut brown hair, the image he wanted was clear enough to see. Not overly formal. Not lackluster in any way. Just enough to convince he had official business. Turning to reach for his equipment briefcase and pocketing all his essentials, he made for his door in confident strides. To him, it would be just another day of routine work and he was in a good mood. Maybe he could even use his new diagnostic program if this latest patient allowed it.

The shuttle ride down to the planet was uneventful. Neither was the mag lev cruise nor the high speed bus ride. He got to see the colony again and it has not changed much since his visit last month. It was a semi metro planet, with a vast majority of it dedicated to entertainment and tourism. Aramia was a popular destination for a lot of tourists who come here to gamble, play at the beaches, enjoy the nightlife and even the daylife. It was a place that had nice warm temperatures in the day and cooling breezes at night, with lots of clean ocean and enough land for a good balance of urban, light industry, rural and wilderness. It was a place where the finest goods and most fun games could be found. It was a place where everyone can go to, whether they were rich or poor. It was also a place where many trades open up thier branches. Like Yumira Corp, they liked the idea of a paradise planet like Aramia to be a good place to capitalize upon, with the music industry being the largest piece of the pie. There were a lot of good local talents that they could bring in, and it showed with all the vibrant and fun loving culture the people enjoyed here. Everywhere you looked, there was singing and dancing, in many forms and genres. Charlie had considered taking a vacation here once, but with the work he gets, he had yet to get the chance.

Soon enough, Charlie was in the waiting room of the large branch building in Treble City, the heart of the entertainment sector. All around this building were other branches of other labels and studios, with a good number of the people around were either musicians or management. He figured that this job would involve one of them and it did not trouble him at all. He had a mantra he followed, an arrogant one but it was a notion of proud and confidence: there was literally nothing that he could not fix, for he was the best and there were no others like him. This had kept him going for a long while now and it had yet to fail him.

The elevator doors opened and the tall man in a dark blue suit and grey combed back hair that came out he assumed to be Mr Yukira. He looked like he was in his late 40s but he still looked healthy. From the looks of it, he was human, and a strong one too. No surprise there. A lot of the management was human, as instinct and acumen was still a very human trait. There was one thing androids could not do. They could only make as good a judgement as anybody else. Their enhancements only made them stronger or smarter, not wiser.

"Mr Strafe. Welcome to Yumira Corp, Treble City branch. We were expecting you." The man came forward to shake his hand in a firm grip, a wide grin on his face.
"Please, sir, call me Charlie. Its a pleasure to meet you." He stood up with a smile, reaching out to bow slightly while handshaking.
"Then, if its ok with you, you can call me Kenji." The man laughed, seemingly a very cheerful fellow, "I heard you were the best an-doc in the galaxy and the Corporation called specifically for you. Please, come this way."
"Yumira Corp must have very good contacts to track me down personally. I am not usually easy to reach." Charlie followed Kenji towards the elevator, "What seems to be the problem, Kenji? Is there an issue with the android staff?"
"Hmm, something like that, yes. You will see for yourself once we get upstairs."

Charlie took his word for it. His mind wondered into the zone, a sort of inner zen that he would usually switch to when nearing his job location. It was a habit that kept him from becoming distracted and helped him concentrate on his work. Being an an-doc, he needed concentration and his mind clear. It was hard when doing it in a factory or out in public where the noise would be so loud, he could not hear himself think, but he pulls it off still. People around him sometimes think he was an android himself, but since he had no serial number or markings to say so, it was easy to prove them wrong.

However much preparation he made mentally while inside the elevator, nothing would prepare him from what he was about to see. When the doors opened into a massive three storey lounge area surrounded by glass windows, he stepped forward after Kenji went first, only to stop short just as he reached the centre of the mass of curved couches and sofas.

"Oh...." That was all he could manage. A surprised exclamation.

He could not believe what he saw. At first, he thought that it was a hallucination or some subconscious delusion but it all seemed far too real. Sitting with one leg crossed over the other on one of the brown leathered couches, flanked by a man and a woman with clipboards, pens and papers, was a woman with long light pinkish hair that flowed down to waist level. She was young, about 20 years of age, short at 5'4" with eyes of a bluish green tinge. Her slim figure allowed her black with gold trim sleeveless outfit to fit her perfectly, a high collar top and long split skirt with black stockings, a thin gold patterned belt, and gold boots that raised to just below her knees. At the throat area of her top was the signature blue sapphire jewel, and just below was the sleek design that combined wood wind and brass instrument concepts, details that he could recognize with familiarity from her many shows. On her forearm was what looked like a wrist computer, with her shoulders strapped with simple cuffs. On her left shoulder was a small tattoo of the numbers zero three, another unforgettable feature. All in all, this stunningly beautiful vision of elegance and style was like a vision of perfection, her skin and form comparable to that of an angel's. This particular angel's name happened to be....

"Charlie Strafe. I would like you to meet Megurine Luka. Luka, this is Charlie Strafe, the best android doctor in the galaxy." Kenji motioned to them respectively as he made the introductions, then towards the two with them, "These are Luka's personal attendants, Sai and Kiyomura. They handle her schedule, among other things."
The pink haired wonder got up to step closer to Charlie with a brilliant smile, reaching out her hand, "A pleasure to finally meet you, Mr Strafe. Ive heard a lot about you."
For a moment, the man was struck dumbfounded by the sound of her husky voice but he found enough composure to shake the woman's hand with a returning smile, "And its a pleasure to meet you too. A great honor. Please, call me Charlie."

Megurine Luka. Charlie never expected to meet the young android star on Aramia. She was famous across the galaxy for her songs and her beauty, simply one of the greatest jewels to have ever been born among the stars, no pun intended. She was part of the Vocaloid crew, a collection of androids put together by a famous android enhancement developer company known as Crypton, based in the Magnia Lucious system. The Vocaloids were specifically born and shaped for the entertainment sector. Their voices were unparalleled and no other singers, android or human, could match their level of perfection, earning them superstar status from the moment of their debut, with recognition and massed fortunes that came within years of thier first appearence. Their faces were everywhere, on billboards, magazines and advertisements. Everybody has heard at least one Vocaloid song in their lifetime. With Luka being here, that would mean that she was probably working with Yumira Corp, probably along with her other android colleagues too. Charlie did not listen to many of their songs but he did enjoy Luka's voice more than the others. It had a certain feel to it that he could do little to explain.

"Well, Charlie. It has been a while since I have last seen an android doctor. Please be gentle with me."
Something in that comment sparked something particularly wrong in him but he brushed it aside as much as he could, trying to avoid any mishaps, "Dont worry. Its part of the job."

Now was not the time to panic and break into an unprofessional stupor, even if he had just shaken hands with a great woman like her. He was here to complete a job and it was obvious that the android he would be checking would be none other than her. This now called for the utmost attention, no longer routine as he had predicted, as it involved a top of the line android, with enhancements created with very sophisticated technology and internal programming. He understood now the reasons why he was called. To service the parts of such an important figure, there was no room for error or misjudgement. There would be very few others who could do any better a job than he can, if not at all.

"Shall we get started?" He nodded at her, motioning towards the couch. "May I call you Luka, if its reasonable with you?"
"Yes. Lets, and yes, you may." She seated herself back where she was before, crossing her legs once more.
Charlie knelt down on one knee before her, placing his briefcase on the coffee table and opening it, "I have to say, this is really quite a surprise. If I had known about this, I could have dressed in something much more appropriate."
"Dont worry, Charlie. You look fine just the way you are. I like the vest. Its very dashing."
"Why, thank you." He reached into his briefcase and tapped at the screen to reveal the computer within, "You look beautiful in that outfit yourself. Ive always admired your style."
"Oh, thank you very much for the compliment."

It seemed like a very normal conversation. Charlie was professionally personal with his patients. It kept them happy and satisfied with his service and talk like this was as much part of the process as any. After all, he was responsible for the maintenance of the enhancements they possess, parts of themselves that were very much like the original human parts. The only thing was that while his face was composed and his words clear, his heart was still jumping out of his chest from the shock and awe. He still could not believe his situation and his inner zen was fighting back to keep his cool intact. Her face was not really helping to calm him down, neither was the presence of Kenji, Sai and Kiyomura, who watched him work silently. At least they knew he did not need interuptions and the talk was just part of doctor patient policy.

Pulling out a pair of cables from his briefcase, he opened the palm of his other hand towards her direction, "May I?"
"Of course." Luka drew her right arm forward, allowing him to plug the cables into her wrist computer, which he professionally assumed was her external input interface as much as it was her own personal computer.

The moment the cables were inserted, his briefcase computer came to life and the screen filled with data in the form of graphics, charts and counters. Everything that was on his screen was related to the health and being of every enhancement that was present on its plugged subject, along with the general health signs of organic parts such as heart rate and body temperature. As Charlie fiddled with his computer, he kept talking.

"So what brings you to Aramia?"
"A contract. I will be working on a new album with Yumira Corporation during my time here."
"I see. You seem to be very busy. Last I heard on the news, you recently finished a tour in the Gemini System, yes?"
"Yes. I only just arrived here several days ago."
"And how were you feeling after the trip? Anything strange or out of place?"
"No, but I am still a little tired."
"Hmm, not to worry." He turned slightly to nod at her, "With a bit of rest and maybe some sunshine, you will feel much better. You will get plenty of both if you go to the right places. Theres plenty to go to here in Aramia."
She hummed an affirmative before cocking her head to one side, her face bright, "You are a very pleasant android doctor."
"Its part of the job, and my own policy. I like my patients to be comfortable. Are you?"
Luka let out a giggle, "Very much so, yes."

After talking so much, he felt like he could focus a little better. Nothing like a bit of social interaction to get him back to work. Now that he was in his game, his attentions went to working on the diagnostic. As he suspected, her enhancements were high class. Only the richest would be able to afford the kind of parts she had. Everything to do with voice control, speech pattern and breath control has been modified and amplified, resulting in that insanely sexy and husky voice she had. This was the reason behind the voice that melts even the heaviest of hearts and he had to admit that it was an an-docs blessed dream to witness such a powerful and rare system work right before him. With this enhancement combination, she would have an expert control over her voice, almost superhumanly so.

"Well then. Your signs are normal for the most part. Now is the time for me to ask. What seems to be the problem?" He turned his head slightly, inquisitive.
"Its my voice. I think it may seem a little strange." She seemed worried.
"Really?" Charlie went back to his computer to start another program.
Kenji spoke up, concern in his jolly face, "There were times in the studio when Luka's pitch seem to change unexpectedly, which was really quite shocking. Throughout her career, she's never made that mistake. We've tried with biological doctors but they say her body was fine. That was one of the reasons why Yumira Corp called you."
"Hmm.... Is that so?"

It seemed like a minor case. With voice enhancements like hers, there were bound to be bugs appearing every now and then. The internal program in her voice box should be able to auto adjust for a smooth sound and if all goes well, it would be like nothing happened. From what he was hearing from Kenji and Luka, he suspected one thing. The program he wanted opened, his new diagnostic software. After changing a few settings, a number of bars appeared on the screen. Turning around, he faced Luka directly.

"Luka, would you mind singing for me, please?"
"Ah, of course I wouldnt mind."

The young star settled in to her seat and sat upright. She took a deep breath, her pretty eyes closing, preparing her voice for the demonstration. The next moment her lips parted, Charlie could hear the most melodious and angelic of voices slip out of them. For the half minute that seemed like a slow motion countdown, every word and every note that filled the air reached his ears and he could not help but stare and listen. It was a song he recognized as the introduction verses of Dragonheart, one of her older songs he had heard on certain times on the airways. She had a very human voice, not mechanical or grungy like what older enhancement models had, but one of incredible softness and deep personality. He had heard Luka sing before on the tv screens and speaker sets but those times were nothing compared to this moment. To hear her voice in person rather than through a speaker was so much more real and alive, and he had to admit, it touched his soul. Like a flowing river from beginning to end, it was perfectly executed, flawless, fluid and smooth. There was no indication of a pitch change. If there was, it was barely audible.

When she seemed to have finished, he took a moment to collect himself once more, "Thank you, Luka."
"You're most welcome. Consider it reward for being so nice." She smiled at him.
"Well, then thank you all the more. It was greatly appreciated." He could not help but smile widely back. He really liked her personality.

Turning back to his computer, the program had analyzed the collected audio data and the results showed on the screen. After a few seconds of reviewing the data, he came to a simple conclusion.

"Just as I thought." He turned back to look at them, "I will be frank. It appears that your voice box enhancement is suffering from integrity loss."
"Integrity loss?" Her eyes grew wide, her right hand clutching her throat lightly, "Am I losing my voice?"
"Slightly, but its no cause for major concern. See this here?" He motioned to a bar on his computer that was almost full. "This is the overall health integrity of your voice box in a percentage. Its at 95% when it should be at 100%. Its no big issue, really."
"What does it mean?" Kenji leaned forward to look at the screen.
"It means that Luka's voice box enhancement has suffered some strain, possibly from the tour and the long journey here. Not to worry. With the model she has, it should self repair within a week. Ive already checked the software and there should be no problems. The pitch changing is normal, along with other symptoms that might change her voice. Its caused by the self repair mechanism working through its peak cycles." He paused as he closed his briefcase computer, "Though I must admit. You must have sang a lot to have your enhancement damaged like this. Please be more careful."

A great sense of relief washed over everyone present. It was a good sign. Everyone in the room knew how important Luka's voice was, in their own way. To Charlie, he definately did not want her to lose that magical voice. It was her life. It was her soul. It would not be like losing an arm or a leg. In this day and age, either could be replaced, but if she lost her voice....

"Thank you so much for your help, Charlie." Kenji spoke as Charlie stood up and shook his hand.
"You are a great android doctor." Luka took her turn, shaking his hand with both of hers. For some reason, she did not let go as he replied to them.
"Not a problem at all, Kenji, Luka. If you dont mind, I can always come back in a couple of days to do another check up. Just to be sure."
"That would be very kind of you." She nodded toward him, "I will definately look forward to your next visit."
"And I will be sure to let you know if there are any changes to time and place." Kenji added.
"Much appreciated. It was an honor to be of some help. Take care and good afternoon, Luka. See you in a few days time."
"See you, Charlie."

Luka finally let go of his hand and Kenji escorted him back to the elevator. Before the doors closed, Charlie took one last look at Luka's smiling face. He did not know why he made that promise to come back so soon. It was not like him to ask for follow ups unless absolutely necessary, like major long term cases. For a case like Luka's, he really did not have to come back at all. Maybe it was just a strange feeling in his gut... or maybe it was because something seemed too strange to ignore.