Disclaimer: Gunnm, and most of the characters in the story are created by Yukito Kashiro, and 
trademarked to Business Jump Weekly in Japan, and Viz Select Comics in the US as Battle Angel: 
Alita. I'm not making any money off of this story, it is merely fanfiction. If you send me money for 
this story, I will use it to hire an assassin to kill you. ;) So don't sue me, after all, the highest form of 
flattery is imitation. 
Note: This story takes place between the events of Gunnm Vol. 2 and 3, and Battle Angel: Alita 
volume 1 and 2. In other words, she's defeated Maikaku, but hasn't met Yugo yet. As such, she is 
still young, still getting use to her cyborg body, kicking ass and taking heads, and not even thinking 
about love. And neither have met that nasty Nova yet (nasty in a lovable way, of course)
Gunnm: Gun Dream (Note: That's what it means, literally. But the name fits for the story)
Chapter 2
At first there was a feeling of disorientation. A vague, floating feeling, as if he were floating on 
water. There was a faint, buzzing in his head, and his eyes itched. After what seemed like years, Ido 
slowly cracked a single eye open, and was staring into a soft light, which seemed blinding, and yet 
all consuming to him. He squinted to limit the amount of light entering his eye, then felt a 
disturbing shifting sensation, like he was falling. It was then that he noticed his head hurt like hell, 
and the room was spinning. A shadow loomed over him, and Ido noticed something had changed... 
a vibration in the air. It took some concentration to remember that it was sound... he was hearing 
words. He couldn't make out the words... it was like someone was saying something about a riot? 
Ido blinked several times, and the light entering his eyes was like a dagger into his brain. He 
groaned, and closed his eyes tightly. He could hear words again... he still couldn't make them out, 
but they were very comforting. He finally managed to open his eyes again, after a herculean effort, 
and after a rapid series of blinks, and forcing his eye lids to stretch, Ido was able to bring his eyes 
into focus. His eyes immediately fastened on the one object which made sense to him, another 
person. It was a beautiful young girl, with jet black hair fanning out from her head, and dark eyes, 
with flecks of violet in them. Ido was gazing into the face of an angel, whose look of concern made 
him feel like everything was going to be alright. It was the most comforting sight of his life, and he 
couldn't even explain why. He tried to speak, but he couldn't remember how to. The girl spoke 
again, softer and slower than before, but the words were still garbled. A tiny place in the back of his 
mind put the symtoms together, and he vaguely realized he had a massive concussion. But yet, that 
conclusion was quite worthless to him, for he couldn't remember what a concussion was.
The girl placed a cool, comforting hand to the side of Ido's face, and that brought a small, content 
smile to his face. She spoke again... did she say something about a killing? No... reeling? How am I 
reeling? That's not right... Ido forced his mind to think logically, he knew he was mishearing, and he 
tried to get his mind to put together what the girl, whose name he couldn't even recall, was saying. 
Like a flash his mind had it, she asked him how he was feeling. He tried to respond, but it came out 
a long, low groan, ending with a choked cough. Ido could feel his eyes growing heavier, and he tried 
valiently to keep them open, but they dropped as if they had a mind of their own. Somewhere in the 
deep recesses of his mind he was thinking it was a very bad idea to go to sleep with a concussion, 
that a coma could result. But at the time, he couldn't remember what a concussion, or a coma were. 
In fact, most words didn't make much sense... and his mind was already slowing into the slumber 
that his injuries, and exhaustion forced on him. He could vaguely make out words again, yelling 
something, and distantly a cold feeling on his cheek, someone slapping his face? That didn't make 
any sense... then all thoughts were gone as slumber overtook Ido.
Gonzu looked over Gally's shoulder at the prone form of Ido, and wrung his hands nervously. " He 
didn't fall asleep, did he Gally? "
Gally looked up, and for a moment Gonzu could see a tiny flame of rage, and hatred in her eyes. 
Gonzu felt his bladder strain, and he had to stop himself from releasing it's contents. Then as quick 
as it was there, it was replaced by concern, and fear. Gonzu blinked, thinking his eyes were playing 
tricks on him. She couldn't have hostile feelings towards him... could she? He was like an uncle to 
her, wasn't he? Maybe it was the stress... or she was so intent on Ido his distraction startled her? 
Gonzu put these thoughts out of his head, as she was speaking. " Yes... I tried to keep him 
coherant... he's too far gone. I've only learned a little bit about medicine from Ido... I can't tell the 
extent of his injuries... Gonzu, you're a doctor, aren't you? Can you look at him? "
" Well... not really a doctor, darling. A cyber-veterinarian. A retired one at that... still, I did ok with 
your Berserker body, with Ido's help... I can look at him, I'm no expert though... we might want to 
call a real doctor... " Gonzu examined the wound to the side of Ido's head, lifting away Ido's hair, 
and shining a light onto the area. " Well... as far as I can tell, it's a massive concussion... his ear 
took some damage, there might be damage to his temporal lobe... possibly even his parietal lobe... 
hmm... I can't really tell what his chances are of waking up... he's probably going to sleep for quite 
a while while his body knits... hand me some morphine for his pain... oh and doesn't he have 
something to speed healing? Yeah... that'll work... now if I can only remember how much to give... " 
Gonzu considered for a moment, then injected some fluids into an IV already in Ido's arm. " We 
just have to let him rest now, and hope. Do you want me to look at you, as well? "
Gonzu saw it plainly this time... it wasn't very apparent, most wouldn't have even noticed it, but 
Gonzu knew Gally well enough to see it. She moved slightly back away from him, her hands 
twitched, and her face grew darker. " No, I'm ok... just leave me alone. " The implications of what 
she had just said must have dawned on her, because she quickly looked up and added, " I mean... 
I'll be ok. I've had worse. I just need some rest... will you watch Ido? "
Gonzu nodded, " Of course, Gally. Why don't you go up, and get some rest? I'm an old man, I don't 
need much. And I'm retired, not like I have much to do these days. "
Gally nodded quickly, waved absently, and walked upstairs. She mumbled something, which she 
didn't think Gonzu heard. Unfortunately for him, he did and it made him very sad. She had said, " 
Don't call me darling. " Gonzu settled wearily into his seat. Something was bothering her, and he 
didn't know if it was directed at him, or he was just catching someone else's hell. Gonzu checked 
Ido's vital signs, then pulled out a book, flipped it to his bookmark, and started reading. However he 
found himself on the same page for an hour, his mind on what could be bothering young Gally. 
The words blurred, and lost meaning, as his mind was entirely somewhere else.
There was a floating, disconnected feeling again. Ido felt like he was swimming... it was an amazing 
sensation, one in which Ido was reluctant to relinquish. Much of his life played slowly through his 
mind, memories with a clarity he hadn't had in years. He saw his life in Zalem, his research and 
friends there. He remembered becoming disgusted with the Zalem way of life, and leaving it, and his 
friends behind. In fact, he hesitated to call them friends, for when he told them of his discontent, 
they scoffed at him for turning on their Utopian way of life. When he left Zalem, they all turned 
their backs on him, and didn't even watch his descent. Ido was pretty sure they never mentioned him 
again. 
Memories of his arrival in Scrap Iron City flooded his mind now, how he came with no money, no 
clue what to do next, and a remarkable innocence towards the rough way of life that existed on the 
surface. Ido looked for work, but all he could find were factory jobs. One day at a bar, a cyborg was 
complaining about his arm, saying it wasn't working right. His friends were telling him to buy a 
new arm, but he said he couldn't afford it yet. Ido was silent for a while, then he decided to help. He 
offered to repair the man's arm for about half what a replacement would cost. The cyborg blinked, 
and nodded his head, and watched in wonder as Ido pulled out repair tools, and began to open up, 
and work on the damaged arm. When he was done, Ido replaced the arm cover, and asked the 
cyborg to flex his arm and see how it worked. The arm moved slowly at first, then quicker, and in 
wide circles. " Damn... this arm is working better than when I first bought it! Hey... I get paid in a 
week, can you tune up the rest of my body then? "
Ido shrugged his shoulders. " Sure, I could use the money. " The cyborg visited Ido's house, and 
brought some of his friends with him, and one by one Ido made small repairs, and tuned up the 
cybernetics. They were all very happy with his work, and made appointments in a few months for 
another routine tuning. More and more cyborgs visited him for repairs, and tunings, and Ido finally 
left his factory job, and devoted more time to the repairs. Finally, Ido turned his house into a cyber-
hospital, and got better tools, and work stations. Ido made a good living this way, and it was very 
therapeudic for him as well.
Months later, Ido was walking late at night from the home of a patient who was unable to come to 
the repair shop because of damaged servos in his legs. Ido whistled to himself, and watched the 
night intently for attackers, now not so innocent to the crime of the city. He was suddenly tripped, 
and fell on his face. He turned over quickly to face his attacker, and saw a man with one cybernetic 
arm, and a replaced eye. The attacker growled, and grabbed Ido, beating him with the cybernetic 
arm, then searching Ido's pockets looking for money. Ido kicked the man in the groin as hard as he 
could, and in the heat of the moment, grabbed the man's head, and savagely twisted it, snapping the 
neck with a dry, hollow sound.
Ido stood over the man, breathing heavily, and feeling the sickening head rush of the disappating 
adrenalin. Ido blinked, and realized he enjoyed killing this man... it felt good to kill an evil man like 
this... and it also made Ido feel more powerful, and perhaps a little less guilty about leaving Zalem, 
and his friends. But Ido then felt guilty, and wondered what would happen to him. So he dragged 
the body into the nearest factory, and showed the body to one of the deckmen. The deckman put the 
body in a waste disposal unit, and the head was removed, and examined. " Bounty of five thousand 
cwedits. " Ido was stunned... not only was he not going to be punished, they were paying him for 
killing the man!? So he inquired about bounty hunting. After several days of consideration, Ido 
registered as a hunter-warrior.
And so Ido spent his time this way, a doctor saving lives during the day, and a hunter-warrior at 
night, taking lives. Each time he saw the face of someone who had called him friend, yet turned their 
backs on him. One time, he came across a woman, who was wanted for savagely killing men, and 
cutting out their eyes. Before Ido could make the killing strike, he saw a familiar face in hers, a 
woman he had left behind. A woman who had understood his discontent for Zalem, but even though 
she realized it wasn't the Utopia it boasted to be, even though she knew the society was just as sick 
and twisted as the more honest surface world, she chose to stay. She chose a twisted, corrupt city of 
stifling rules, and self-righteous bigots over him. She watched him descend for a few moments, then 
she turned away, and never looked back. From his vantage point, he never saw the tear in her eye, 
nor the troubled gaze at the city she loved, even for it's faults. This moment of hesitation allowed the 
woman to slash Ido... a grazing cut to his upper arm, but painful nonetheless. Ido snapped out of 
his reverie in time to bring his rocket hammer across the woman's neck. The face staring up at him 
was his lost love, Chiren. Not literally, but the resemblance was horrifying, and Ido went home, 
leaving the body in the alley. His guilt at leaving the city of his birth was at an all time high.
It was around this time that Ido met Gonzu. At first Ido didn't like Gonzu, he thought him an oaf, 
and a drunkard. But as Ido hung out in the bar Kansas, a hang-out for hunter-warriors, and listened 
to Gonzu, he realized the man wasn't half bad. What was amazing was Gonzu himself was never a 
hunter-warrior, but apparently the hunters liked him, and invited him to hang out in Kansas, and 
have drinks with them. Ido began talking with Gonzu, and gradually they formed a friendship, 
something Ido had not had since his time in Zalem. Upon realizing that Gonzu had previously been 
a cyber doctor <veternarian... it didn't matter to Ido, he had medical knowledge, that was all that 
mattered he asked Gonzu to assist him in his cyber-hospital. Gonzu readily agreed, he had nothing 
else to do with his time now that he was retired. So Gonzu assisted in surgeries, and took care of 
the patients when Ido was busy, or away. It gave Gonzu something to do, and Ido more time to 
himself. But, with more time, came time to reflect on his life. Ido was very depressed at this point... 
only hunting gave him any pleasure anymore, the surgeries became routine and uninteresting... but 
the hunt was a thrill, and the kill a sinful pleasure. Ido came to depend on the kill as a way to feel 
better about himself, and make it through the day. It was very like the adrenalyn dependancy that 
Gally developed later on in her life.
And speaking of Gally... it was years later when Ido was walking through the junk drop, as it was 
called, the area where Zalem dumped their garbage and scrap, that Ido found Gally's head. He 
remembered how it felt... it was a pleasure that actually made him laugh with joy... finding her alive, 
and in need of help was like a rebirth for Ido. He devoted all his energy into repairing the damage to 
the head, and bringing it back to life. Ido felt a joy he had rarely, if ever felt when Gally opened up 
her eyes, and gazed upon him for the first time. Ido thought that this is what a parent must feel like 
when they bring life into the world. For the first time in years, Ido's practice brought him pleasure. 
Needless to say, Gally was his angel of salvation... she turned his life around. He was on an 
incredible high as he gave her a body, and helped her adjust to it. The best part was that she had no 
memory. She was a clean slate, she had no past sins, no loves gained, or lost. No blood on her 
hands, no friends turning their backs on her, no parents refusing to speak with her since she went 
into cybernetics, no lover choosing a decadent city over her. <Sidenote: If you think about it, all this 
happened to Gally in her lifetime. A lot of blood on her hands, , friends turning their backs on her 
and giving her up to Zapan, Ido turned his back on Gally for a time both after she became a hunter-
warrior, and a motorball compeditor, and Yugo chose Zalem over staying with Gally, up until the 
last moment before his death.
Ido felt crushed when Gally saved his life, and first tainted her hands with blood. He was infuriated 
when she registered as a hunter-warrior, confused that she might think that she had to work to 
support her own way in Ido's house. He couldn't understand why she had a need to hunt, when she 
had no memories to haunt her. It didn't occur to him that sometimes a lack of memory was worse 
than bad memories. At least he had good memories as well, to balance the bad memories. Gally had 
nothing. Only a fury, a fighting skill that proved she had fought numerous times before, and 
demons hidden even from her own self-probing thoughts. Ido finally accepted that she had the right 
to live her own life... it was the hardest thing he had ever decided... even harder than leaving Zalem. 
Ido felt helpless... he couldn't protect her, he couldn't show her the path to avoid heartache... all he 
could do was offer advice when she asked it, and offer his love and comfort when she didn't. And 
Ido loved her deeply... much more deeply than he ever told her, or himself. She was the daughter he 
never had, and perhaps his truest, and best friend, as well.
Another memory came to Ido... his attack from Bahka. The memory made him feel so helpless... all 
his years of hunting, but it took a man less than a second to nearly kill him. Ido suddenly had a 
thought... perhaps he was already dead? Wasn't your life supposed to flash before your eyes when 
you died? Ido had been reliving his memories... both good and bad. Then he was faced with a 
choice... he could pass away into the night, and rest. Or he could fight for his life, and awaken to the 
world... perhaps with brain damage, or any number of neural conditions. Ido gazed into the night, 
the cold, yet comforting realm of death. It was very tempting, until Ido remembered a promise: 
<" I thought I lost you Ido... don't ever leave me again. I couldn't stand losing you again, I think I 
would go insane. "
Ido smiled tiredly, and felt his eyes drooping. " I promise Gally, I will never leave you. I'm going to 
sleep now... I'm so tired... " 
Those words repeated in his mind... I promise Gally, I will never leave you. I promise... I will never 
leave you... will never leave you Gally. I promise. Ido focused his mind on Gally... suddenly afraid 
to leave her alone in this world. He turned to the light, and found himself cracking his eyes once 
more to a piercing, blinding light. After several minutes, his eyes adjusted to see Gonzu checking 
his vitals. Noticing the brain wave spikes, Gonzu looked at Ido to find his gaze returned. " Ido, 
thank god! You've been asleep for nearly two weeks... I was getting worried. " Gonzu cried, 
grasping Ido's hand.
" You're not getting rid of me that easily, old friend... you still owe me 2000 credits for those 
candies you had me buy you. " Ido smiled, and laughed at Gonzu's guilty expression. Ido looked 
around, and asked in a hoarse voice, " Where's Gally? Is she here? Is she alright? " Ido could feel 
his throat dry, and sore from lack of use.
" No... she's out. She's been spending a lot of time outdoors lately. I think she found it too hard to 
look at you while you were hurt... god knows where she's been going... I haven't seen any 
bloodstains, so I doubt she's hunting. Maybe she's hanging out at Kansas? " Gonzu said, wringing 
his hands nervously. Gonzu did not mention that Gally was avoiding HIM like the plague... ever 
since Ido was hurt, she was so hostile to him... and growing more hateful by the day. Gonzu prayed 
it was just stress from Ido's injuries, but he couldn't convince himself of that possibility.
Ido rubbed his eyes, and stretched. " So how am I? " He asked.
Gonzu shrugged. " Your head is probably still sore... it's almost completely healed. You managed to 
avoid brain damage... a bone in your ear is cracked, but it should be healed in a few days also... 
mainly you just need some more rest. "
Ido nodded, and settled his head back. A few minutes later, the sound of the door shutting 
resounded through the house. The sounds of quick footsteps to the stairs were heard next, and 
Gonzu cried out for Gally. " Gally! Ido woke up! Come see him! " The steps stopped, then more 
quietly were heard heading up the stairs. Gonzu sighed, and rubbed his sore eyes. About 10 
minutes later, Gally came into the room. Her hair was wet, and combed back, and her face was a 
little pink, as if she had just scrubbed it. Her eyes teared up when she saw Ido sit up slightly, and 
she wrapped him up in her arms, and cried on his shoulder. Ido patted her hair, and whispered how 
he meant to keep his promise. Gonzu smiled as he saw the two, thinking how they so looked like 
father and daughter, and knowing they both needed each other desperately.
Gonzu walked around, and lowered the med-flow to Ido, and adjusted some knobs on the 
diagnostics table. Gonzu looked up, and saw Ido gently rocking Gally, and it warmed his heart to 
see the look of content on Gally's face, her eyes closed, savoring the love from Ido. Gally opened 
her eyes for a moment, and saw Gonzu. Her eyes became hard and cold, her lip raised slightly, 
almost in a sneer. Then Gally closed her eyes again, and the look reverted back to the happy one 
that had been there before. Gonzu felt his heart break, and now he knew it wasn't stress. A very real 
distance was now between Gally and Gonzu, and only Gally knew why. Gonzu walked out of the 
room, and took one more glance back. The cold, hateful look was still there as she watched him 
leave. It didn't turn normal again until Gonzu had left the house. Then Gally's eyes closed again, 
and holding each other, Gally and Ido both fell asleep, emotionally exhausted.
End of Chapter 2.