Precision Parts
Chapter 1
Following the "incident" a few weeks prior, Bijou had felt increasingly upset about her inability to reassemble Cecilia, particularly after some ridiculing from Kaela. Seeing her frustration, Gigi offered to help her learn the ins and outs of their ornery automaton companion. Using a model version of an Immerheim automaton Gigi pilfered from the Bloodflame estate, she embarked on a "CCCC" (CC Crash Course).
Finally after a week of hardcore learning and fingers pinched by joints (and runs to the pharmacy to pick up more bandages), Bijou was awarded the "Official Automaton Engineer Certificate" (which was a piece of paper with a pretty looking medal Gigi had also pilfered from Elizabeth’s estate). Proudly armed with her knowledge and credentials, Bijou strode forward to put her skills to the test the best way she knew how: by capturing Cecilia and performing unnecessary maintenance on her.
After trading a week's worth of John Cat photos (and John Cat himself for a few hours) to Shiori for one of her shrink spell papers, Bijou lay in wait for her green quarry to return.
As Cecilia walked by with an armful of used computer parts for her next upgrade, the spell activated. Cecilia squealed in shock as she shrunk to the size of a standee, her precious computer parts plummeting to the ground all around her. "NOOOOO! My fifty 1 MB RAM sticks! Okay, who the hell did this?! Gigi?! Get out here I know it's you!"
"Ku. Ku. Ku..." Bijou cackled as she peeked around the corner, her purple eyes gleaming with joy at the sight of Cece's tiny form.
"Biboo?! Listen, if this is about your credit card, I already told you I don't know how to change the payment method so -EEEEEP!"
Soft, pudgy fingers wrapped around Cecilia, gripping her tight. A hand that Cecilia had often teased as looking more like a baby's than a grown woman's now was capable of enveloping her entire body, Bijou's plushy, delicate skin smelling of baby powder and catnip.
"Oh dooooon't worry~" the gem giggled in a sing-songy voice. "You're not in trouble...yet. No we're going to just...fix you up a little!"
"...fix me up?"
Bijou held up her certificate with pride. "See...I'm now a certified mechanic of Immerheim Automata~"
"... you're a what? HURK!"
Bijou's mighty digits squeezed Cecilia tight, the automaton's "human simulation" sensors going into overdrive to give her the proper sensation of being crushed by the giant gem princess. Bijou for her part was already elated by the feeling of her tiny friend in her hand, this time in an environment where she had all the time in the world...or at least as long as the spell lasted. Rubbing Cecilia's head affectionately, Bijou laughed twinklingly. "Dooooon't worry, you're in good hands! Let's just...step into my office!"
Bijou brought Cecilia over to a work station, a variety of strange and very antique looking tools spread around its surface. Gently plopping the automaton down on her treasured Kaela work mat, the little gem girl began rummaging through a large work box she had brought with her.
“L-Listen Biboo, whatever Gigi said, it's a lie. Whatever she's paying you, I'll double it! No triple! Let's just talk this out, there's no need to -” A chubby finger pressed against the doll's lips. “Shhhh…” Bijou whispered gently, “I told you, I'm a professional! Just sit still and relax~”
The gem pulled out a variety of brushes, tiny screwdrivers, and wrenches, all of exquisite Immerheim craftsmanship. Laying them down next to her work mat, Bijou plucked Cece off the table with extraordinary care and began looking all over her body, turning her over and poking and prodding her. “Hey…quit it, that tickles!” Cecilia objected, her cheeks turning flush.
Ignoring the doll's demands, Bijou gently unfastened Cecilia’s skirt and placed it aside. “Oh god, Gigi really did put you up to this! Y-You lecherous dirtclod, don't you dare think about…!” Bijou gently placed a piece of duct tape over Cecilia's mouth as the doll continued to object bitterly. Then, plucking her up again, Bijou nodded vigorously. “Alright, let's start…here!” Bijou gently gripped Cece's right arm and jostled it a bit. Then with deft skill, her plush stubby fingers meticulously began turning the arm, and after listening for three distinct clicks gingerly removed it. Compared to before where she resembled a monkey ripping the limbs off its favorite plush toy, Bijou clearly demonstrated care and skill that frankly flabbergasted the captive Cecilia. Taking out an airduster and brush, Bijou cleaned and polished the miniature arm. After ensuring it was able to articulate properly, the gem inserted it back into its socket and twisted it. “How's that?” Bijou asked, her face extremely satisfied.
With the tape still affixed to her mouth, Cecilia could only nod repeatedly. She had to admit, her arm DID feel much smoother and more tactile now. Just where did Gigi learn how to do this, and how did she teach it to Bijou? The gem girl on the other hand was ecstatic and clapped gleefully, her signature laugh rumbling across the room. “BEEP YEAH! You didn't believe me, but I told you I was an expert now! Sensei, I hope you're watching me!” Cecilia rolled her eyes as Bijou gave her an affectionate pat. “Okay, how about we do the other one…”
For the next hour or so Bijou meticulously calibrated, tightened, and cleaned all of the automaton’s parts. Cecilia’s disbelief only continued to intensify. Was she dreaming? This couldn't be the same Bijou, that Bijou had tried to screw her right arm into her left socket six times before realizing it wasn’t going to work . Finishing with a thorough polish of Cecilia’s wind up key, Bijou sat her diminutive friend up on the table and removed the duct tape. “There we go! Allllll done!”
Cecilia sat in flabbergasted silence for several seconds, testing her limbs and head. Even the fastening was done with great precision.
“Uhhh…are you okay?” Bijou began flipping through the cheat sheets Gigi had given her. “I didn't forget your voice box did I?”
“N-No!” the doll protested waving her arms, “I'm just really impressed is all! You ummm…you actually ARE really good at this!”
“Oooh?” Bijou's concerned expression morphed into one of utter satisfaction and smugness. As Cecilia continued to fiddle with her parts, she suddenly felt a heavy, smooth object bump against her. Turning, she was met with the massive head of her friend turned mechanic. “Homete homete! Praise Biboo! Hee hee hee!”
Scoffing and rolling her eyes, the miniature automaton began vigorously rubbing and patting Bijou's head. “Who's my big cute hunk of rock?!”
Bijou beamed proudly. “ME! I am!”
Hopping to her feet, Cecilia turned to leave. “Well Biboo, this was…shockingly eye opening. If I ever need a tune up in the future, you'll be the first one I'll call! Now if you'll just turn me back I'll be on my way…”
Suddenly Bijou's massive hand slammed down behind Cecilia. High above, her smug smirk only intensified. “What's the ruuuuuuush? We still need to give you your upgrades!”
“Up…grades?” the doll squeaked. Bijou plopped a huge black box on the table, its packaging decorated with several sleek, intimidating robots emitting all kinds of lasers, rockets, and rocket powered limbs. Sifting through her cheat sheet, Bijou held up a power drill. “Let's start with the auto-targeting arm cannon!”
Chapter 2
"Hiiiiiiya!" With a mighty punch, Gigi sent the king of rats scurrying for safety, the oversized vermin dropping its prize: Shiori's lost earbud. "Huzzah!" Hopping up and down in triumph, Gigi grabbed the treasure just as a rumbling voice spoke. "Hey G! Everything alright down there?"
"I gooooooot it!" Gigi yelled back, a giddy smile plastering her face. "OH WOW!!! That was really fast! I guess they don't call ya the Chaser for nuthin! Okay one sec, Imma pull you out~"
Gigi plopped herself down on her butt as she felt a tug on the string wrapped around her waist. Skidding along the floor, Gigi was pulled out from under the couch and hoisted into the air, where she hung upside down in front of the colossal face of Shiori. Gigi's pigtails and actual tail dangled downward as the gremlin swayed back in forth, completely unfazed by the colossal pair of glowing golden eyes that were now staring at her. In fact, seeing them sent a surge of pride through her as she held out the earbud. "Here ya go! Those hairy fiends didn't know who they were messing with!"
Gently taking the earbud from Gigi and giving her an upside down headpat, Shiori smiled and nodded. "Yep! This is the one! You're a freaking lifesaver G, thanks for volunteering like that, none of the other girls would ever have agreed to do this of their own accord.
"Ehehe..." Gigi blushed and rubbed the back of her head, "it was nothing! You can always count on me to...hmmm?" Gigi's phone began vibrating like crazy, and as the gremlin scanned her messages she became more agitated. "Aw shoot...Biboo really needs my help with something. Is it okay if I left early? I'll make up my time later!"
"Oh no sweat!" Shiori chirped, "just say hi to Beebs for me and remind her of the 'meeting' we have in a few hours. Ready to go back to normal?"
"Ready!" Gigi flashed a thumbs up, which she quickly rotated to be right side up to Shiori. The archiver leaned in and placed a cordial smooch on the gremlin's head before flipping her into the air. Gigi quickly resized and landed with a dramatic pose before quickly running off. "Thanks boss! I'll see ya later!"
"See ya G, don't get your tail stuck in the door on the way out!"
Chapter 3
“Heyo Biboo, what's up?!” Gigi slammed the door to the Advent workshop open and sauntered in, her hands on her hips.
“G-Giiigiiii….” Bijou whimpered. Turning around, she held out the deactivated form of Cecilia, who was now missing her left leg, right arm, and had her head screwed on backwards. Scattered on the work table behind her were a myriad of parts and tools, including Cecilia's detached limbs, several types of rocket legs, a gatling gun arm, and even a RirikaTek Mk V “Skull Gun” cranial expansion. “I…I…”
Pulling Bijou close for a reassuring hug, Gigi flashed a confident smile. “Don't worry! Let's just put this stinker back together and you can tell me all about it!”
“I dunno if I can…I…OW!” Bijou yelped as Gigi slapped her gently on the cheek. “Get a hold of yourself!” the gremlin barked, “You're my top student! I know you can do it!”
“O-Ogey…if you believe in me sensei…” As Bijou deftly reassembled Cecilia, she explained to Gigi the trouble she had faced with installing the upgrades. “I just don't get it, nothing would fit properly and everything kept exploding. And Cece just kept screaming the entire time. I finally switched her off after she kept eating the duct tape I put on her mouth.”
“Hehe…classic Cece…okay I think we're good! Let's start her up!”
“Do you think she'll be mad?” Bijou quivered, hiding behind Gigi.
“Nah I'm sure she'll understand. Now let's speeen to win!” As Gigi turned Cecilia’s wind up key, the automaton's eyes fluttered open, the rage still boiling inside them. “I HATE YOU I HATE YOU! I'LL KILL YOU JUST WAIT TILL I GET OFF THIS TABLE I'LL…oh Gigi…WHAT THE HECK DID YOU TEACH BIJOU YOU STUPID JERK! I'LL KILL YOU TOO! I HATE YOU HATE YOU BOTH!!!”
As Cecilia continued to scream vehemently, Gigi tightened her grip around the doll as she studied the parts Bijou had bought. “Ooooh, I see the problem!” she announced triumphantly.
“Is she broken?” Bijou whimpered.
“Naaaaah, these parts are just too new. WAY too new! They're not compatible at all with Cece's body.”
“What…” Cecilia muttered.
“Ooooh, so like computer parts?” Bijou asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.
“Exactly! Trying to put these parts into Cece would be like trying to fit a 5090 into an Etch-E-Sketch!” Gigi declared, nodding her head in satisfaction
“WHAT?! That's not even a..!” Cecilia was quickly silenced as Gigi placed her finger over the doll's mouth. The automaton began violently biting her gremlin captor, but getting through both her glove and skin was a fool's errand.
“Doesn't that hurt?” Bijou inquired, tapping Cece's head, the doll hissing at the gem before returning to her gnawing.
“Nah, she can't actually do anything. Plus she'll get tired out really quickly.” Gigi answered as she and Bijou began affectionately petting Cecilia's head.
“Ooooh, okay! Wait…why does Cece even get tired? Isn't she an automaton?” Bijou tilted her head inquisitively.
“She is! But her designers intentionally inserted flaws into her to make her more human! You see my sparkly apprentice even if Cece is old…and decrepit…and mean…and lazy…and…
“Alright, she gets it!” Cecilia groaned, pouting furiously as her friends stroked and pampered her.
“She's still very unique! So even if she can't get any cool upgrades or learn anything and breaks down a lot, she's still the one and only Cecilia Immergreen!”
“Yeah!” Bijou cheered. She and Gigi leaned close and gave their automaton friend a kiss on both cheeks. “Awww, you guys..I didn't know you felt that way,” Cecilia muttered, her cheeks blushing softly, “you know, I feel the same way about you and…” SLURP! Gigi's slobbery tongue was dragged across the doll’s entire body. SLURP! As Bijou joined in, Cecilia's mood soured again. “Whatever, just…get it over with.”
“Hey Bijou, how about we get some ice cream, my treat! Did you know that the Immerheimans designed their automata to double as spoons?”
“Really?! I wanna try!” As the trio of friends departed, Cecilia sighed wearily. They may be a pair of bumbling nimrods, but they were HER bumbling nimrods.