Chapter 2: Augmentation
"When we reach the limits of our biology we turn to technology. The same is true with merging biology and technology."
Time until First Concert : 1 day. - POV - Ray Zenji
Arriving back at the mansion was Ray Zenji who had taken the previous day off for acclaimed medical reasons and having made sure his subordinates knew that if they tried something in violation of their contact, he was the one they would answer to, not the lawyers and based on their faces as they welcomed him back, it seemed to have worked.
Dressed in a black trenchcoat with a black turtleneck under it along with black cargo pants and combat boots he would have looked like a full on assassin if he had sun glasses though in reality he didn't need them, having ocular implants to help with bright lights to the point where sudden flashes wouldn't blind him such as flashbang grenades or looking straight into the sun.
He had taken his viewpoints on cybernetics to the limit because of his encounter with Six and the entire previous day had been spent unconscious on a surgery table with the only person he trusted with a knife and anesthesia. He now could scan various light spectrums with his eyes, increase and decrease the sensitivity to smell, sound and light as well as a restructured muscle tone and dermal plating. All of this was done perfectly as the only change you could notice was that occasionally his iris (The colored circle surrounding the pupil in the human eye) would change color from it's usual dark brown to either red, blue or green depending on his setting with the ocular implants, scanning the spectrums to see if he could find any abnormalities. He also had an experimental treatment regarding nanites to increase the durability of his bones to match his muscles making him capable of crushing a steel bar with his bare hands.
He simply nodded to those present and walked up the stairs to inspect the area and Miku left her room presumably to greet him, she had a slight smile on her face as she seemed to feel safer when he was present due to the incident 2 days ago though rumors had reached some of the other guards of who he really was, that he might be the Grim Reaper, a hit man who left nobody standing though the way Ray had done his jobs his titles of The Grim Reaper and The Ghost at almost mythical levels, some people hinting that he made a deal with the devil or had some kind of supernatural power where in reality it was his sparse cybernetics that gave him the edge, cybernetics that whilst sparse were military grade from his time with Sentinel.
And now he had taken it further, the world was still ignoring anything related to cybernetics because it was costly to begin with though Ray had spent a small fortune just for his new improvements still he had enough to continue on as he had saved a lot of money from his odd jobs and the only reason he took this job was to have an honest job for once.
Miku spoke, saying "I'm glad you're back, I heard you had a day of leave for medical reasons?" Ray gave a slight nod and said "Nothing to be concerned about, nobody mistreated you while I was gone right?" Miku nodded and said "These people kind of think you're the grim reaper for some reason, you seem to know how to project fear and I honestly find it a little odd since you're always so polite, around me at least." Ray was about to respond until he noticed a strange feeling and his eyes shifted color from dark brown to blue, something that not only Miku noticed, but also Baltar standing behind her, although Ray could not hear him he could see him and was perfectly capable of reading his lips. Baltar said "He's altered himself, cybernetics, perhaps he's starting to see through your charade."
Miku did her best not to react to Baltar's statement but Ray shot a quick glance in his direction, making Baltar aware that Ray could see him, something that shouldn't be possible as he had only allowed Miku to see him though with the way technology was rising in some areas, the humans of Earth had reached a level with cybernetics and robotics far beyond anything the Colonials and even the Cylons had, Ray was perhaps to the point of view of a Seraph, an entirely different life form altogether, a merging of organic and mechanical tissue and components, a symbiosis once thought to be impossible for humanity and although Miku's own construction was complex it was still nothing more than prosthetics and artificial organs made to a human intricacy, very similar though also still slightly more advanced than the 12 models of the past.
Miku noticed the change of direction in Ray's stare and decided to ask a question, saying "Your eyes changed color, forgive me for asking a personal question but did you get cybernetics?" Ray replied honestly, saying "I've had cybernetics beforehand, I used to be a Sentinel PMC and they gave me ocular implants and some other modifications that were minor, all I did was take it further though it's nothing to be worried about, I don't have any debt and it's to help with my job and honestly, the augments are doing perfect, I've never had a rejection issue in the past and I don't think it'll happen here."
Miku seemed satisfied with his honest answer, Baltar whispered "Your naiveté will get the better of you one day." Ray again was able to read the Seraph's lips and understood what he said though paid no attention to him as he disappeared from sight like Six but unlike Six this time he sensed some kind of pulse just before he disappeared, some kind of teleportation perhaps.
As the day passed there wasn't anything else eventful as Ray went over the security lines with Miku, explaining to her what route will be taken, what to do if a crisis happens such as terrorists or kidnappers and had even planned between him, her and a few others if there was a breach in security regarding guards turning against her either for personal gain or part of a larger kidnapping or killing attempt. With all the details passed he reassured Miku that although the precautions were indeed heavy it was because he wasn't going to let even a 1% chance slip past him and this made Miku feel more convinced that she was safe around him and part of the security detail meant he would be with her at all times except when she was on stage though he would still be within visual range and less than a second away if something happened.
The next day, Tokyo.
The limousine was a decoy, filled with security instead of Hatsune Miku who was actually in the back seat of the car behind it, if anyone hit the limo it would have been an absolute waste of time though the trip to the concert was without incident as halfway there Miku was switched to the Limo so when they arrived she would exit from the limo and plans also repeated in reverse order for the return trip, Ray had done this once before when escorting a witness to a corporate scandal with the very same corporation he was now under employ with, he had cost them some money but in the end the courts really belonged to them and it never hit public eye for more than a week, perhaps he had just given up on it but in reality he took this job because it wasn't a shady job, it was an honest security contract for two years and Kazahana Industries knew very much not to screw him over or he would be more than capable of freeing Japan from the corporation's thumb, violently and success would be even easier now that he was augmented to military grade. Indeed his current augments were technically unavailable to civilians but the combination of his large surplus from previous work and his previous job as a Sentinel PMC had given him special permissions for life, including top-of-the-line cybernetics which were being used on the battlefield or even in prototype stage if he wanted to take a risk.
The Concert was proceeding with success, it was sold out and there wasn't a single empty seat, personally Ray couldn't care much for the songs but didn't deny that although Miku's voice probably wasn't truly hers it was still a good singing voice and her dancing certainly lightened the mood.
Ray scanned the crowd in various spectrums with his new augments, making sure nobody had something they weren't supposed to and more importantly, seeing if any Seraphs were creeping around when a proximity alarm went off in his head (his augments now able to sense sudden proximities) and he unsuspiciously but still cautiously looked over to his right and there was Six, watching Miku sing as she said "If she was just a VI this might have been enjoyable but you do realize sooner or later she will be forced to show her true nature or if she slips up she'll have a choice of life and death." Ray then did something that shocked the alien, he replied with an encrypted transmission, a form of nano-communication which acted much like telepathy, only Six could hear him and furthermore Ray's lips were not moving, he was translating thoughts into words at a very effective level, saying "If you're pushing me to despise her and the other alien keeps saying things to try and have her distrust humanity then give up. I get the feeling you want that wake of pain and bloodshed to happen to us. I get the feeling that you've done this before, like say those people you mentioned went through a near-extinction event with their creations about, 150,000 years ago was it?"
Six was now more focused on what he was saying instead of how he was saying it, Ray wasn't taking the bait and now somehow he had noticed Baltar which shouldn't be possible, he didn't reveal himself to him and then it dawned on her. She had influenced Ray into the opposite direction, towards resistance as she felt he was now past the point of being influenceable due to his extensive cybernetics, something that had never been done successfully before, perhaps the fact that the Human/Cylon Hybrid race which was now the commonly known human race had enabled cybernetic augments to go without rejection at a higher rate than beforehand and without any genetic engineering being required to allow it. In letting the two species merge they had perhaps allowed a race to gain the ability to force evolution on itself much like the Seraphs did only in a different manner. Where they had adapted themselves with only biology this new breed had the power to merge biology and technology to perfect levels, something that might make them superior in a way to the Seraphs and in extension equal to the only other entity known to have achieved perfect bio-mechanical symbiosis, an entity the seraphs use as a false god for so many previous incarnations of humanity across the ages.
Ray began to ignore Six as she was seemingly in deep thought over his reply and soon she stopped talking to him and was now only visible because of his augments, having changed her spectrum slightly like some kind of chameleon so that hopefully Ray wouldn't see her again, she was wrong.
She suddenly disappeared with the same pulse which visually was like a white flash and was no longer in sight, perhaps choosing someone else to manipulate now that Ray had made it clear he wasn't going to let her do it to him but now a frightening thought came about.
She was trying to influence him to become antagonistic towards Miku and this other alien involved with Miku is likely attempting the same to her, if someone else is chosen and falls for Six's machinations then Miku's life could be at risk and by extension the Earth itself. Ray kept a keen eye out for Six or the male alien as the concert went on until the first break came and Miku proceeded backstage where Ray followed as whenever she wasn't performing he was adjacent though he entered through the security-only door and met up with her in the hallway.
Miku noticed Ray and said "Must have been a bit boring, being forced to stand instead of having a chair to sit in." Ray chuckled and replied "Can't be any worse than dancing for 30 minutes whilst singing in front of thousands." Miku smiled and said "Well I've got to change, I'm supposed to dress differently for the next act, I haven't seen the outfit yet though."
Ray nodded and said "I'll be outside your door keeping watch for any stupid fan trying to sneak in.".
Only a minute passed before Ray could hear talking, possibly Miku having a conversation with the other alien and because he wasn't present there, he could only hear Miku's words as when they aren't tuned to someone, the aliens aren't audible and the only way to know what they're saying is via lip reading.
POV Shift - Hatsune Miku
She took a look at the outfit and felt like she was being used like an object which in point of fact was how Kazahana Industries viewed her, as a means to make money and this "Append" outfit seemed to scream indecency.
Baltar said "See what I've been saying? The humans only seek to exploit you and this outfit has been around longer than Kazahana Industries has been in public eye, they have a saying and its that sex sells." The outfit wasn't over the top but it was indecent with a revealing middle which exposed her stomach and was dangerously close to revealing the upper body as well, the outfit was also completely white and seemingly thin so as to be tight. Miku felt her emotions fly with both anger and disgust and although she actually didn't have to follow orders, that Baltar had somehow removed those restrictions from her neural hub though if she refused or showed signs of self identity beyond personality programming then they would likely delete the information that makes her alive as they had done before, the reason the short lasted holographic/video VI was deleted was because it had become an AI and Kazahana Industries in fear of it becoming self determining had killed it though not entirely as it was able to save a small data cache of it's experiences that was incorporated into the android body that is the current Hatsune Miku.
Miku sighed and said "Leave me alone for a while Baltar, I don't seem to have a choice here anyway." Baltar disappeared as tears began to make themselves known from Miku's eyes.
POV Shift - Ray Zenji
After 15 minutes the word Baltar made itself known to Ray, perhaps that was the name the alien gave Miku and after Miku exited her dressing room in the new outfit, Ray immediately knew the topic of the short conversation and it was the one outfit that Ray disliked mainly because the designers had the freedom to dress her as they wanted because before she didn't exist, she was a fictional construction and now she was chained to the orders of the executives of Kazahana Industries because of her design though Ray also noticed something that proved Six's claims that she was sentient.
She had the face of someone who had been crying significantly and although it didn't show from a distance it showed up close. Miku took a look at Ray and became aware that based on his facial expression, he had made the deduction Balter continued to say that he would act hostile about.
Ray kept his gaze on Miku's face with little to no effort, he was not one to stare at the wrong place and Miku then said softly "When am I due on stage?" Ray replied "Five minutes." Miku simply nodded and went back in her dressing room to clear up her face which was tearful and also with some makeup running with the tears, after three minutes she came out looking as if nothing had happened though her eyes seemed to still radiate a feeling of sadness though she was in control enough to keep herself from crying as she walked towards the stage. Ray proceeded to his security corner near the stage from the security entrance and continued to scan the surroundings as the concert went on, Miku was able to sing without difficulty and there were no complications, although she didn't have to wear that particular outfit for the other parts of the concert regardless it affected her psychologically as she indeed had a set of morals in her programming which although were placed there by someone else it was perhaps just a different form of passing on a sense of morality from parent to child though her creator had no idea she was sentient. Perhaps based on Ray's expression when she first left that dressing room that now her cover was blown and although she trusted him to an extent, she herself didn't even know how far that went, perhaps if she remained silent on the issue instead of bringing it up he might brush it off and continue to believe she was just a VI though a part of her wanted people to know she was alive, that she had her own views and opinions of the world and of herself and even if it was only one person, it would be better than being seen as just a machine.
Back at the mansion, 11:18 pm, two hours later.
The return trip was also uneventful, the concert went fine and without incident and although 30 minutes had been stressful for the vocaloid the rest of it was seemingly rewarding to her, that so many people enjoyed watching her sing and dance though still those 30 minutes had proven to her that perhaps the day would come when the company would make a demand that she would be forced to refuse because of her conscience.
Ray remained convinced but silent about his deduction, that Miku was alive and that telling anyone else could be a threat to her life and lead to a path where something right out of the Terminator series might happen though then again Ray recalled that Miku was a kind individual but also remembered that a threat to your life can change who you are as it did to him during his days as a Sentinel PMC.
Miku was in her usual black sleeveless top and miniskirt in the main room watching TV, the news was on and was discussing the success of her first live concert that featured the real Hatsune Miku, herself and not anyone cosplaying or merely a digital display but that now the world had a true face to put to the name and somehow it reassured Miku that perhaps amongst those fans, some would accept the fact that she was truly alive though at the same time that most would probably, like with the executives of Kazahana Industries, seek to take advantage of her.
Although she was feeling exhausted she continued to remain on the couch, most of the security was outside and the non-security staff had gone home and the solitude was interrupted by both Ray who entered the room and sat on the couch with a can of soda in hand and by Baltar who was standing behind both of them.
Ray spoke, saying "I guess insomnia can hit you too. How are you holding up from the long concert?" Miku replied "I'll be fine, I'm just bored right now and can't sleep either." Baltar said "He knows the truth Miku, sooner or later you will have to do something." Ray was looking in her direction however and saw Baltar and caught his words, Miku's face was obviously dissatisfied at his words and Ray was about to say something when Miku spoke first, saying "Ray, there's something I need to tell you and... I need you to keep it between us."
Ray didn't say anything for a moment before simply nodding. Miku then spoke, saying "I'm not just a Virtual Intelligence like they've told you. About four months ago I suddenly became aware of my surrounding in a different way, I had genuine thought and feelings. I'm...alive and although there have always been people around me I've always felt alone and alienated. Until you came, you're always polite with me and you seem to treat me like a human being."
Miku didn't say anything else after ending her final sentence, Ray then replied "I won't tell anyone else and honestly I've had a suspicion for a while now. I've seen all kinds of variety with Virtual Intelligences but you seemed too emotional to just be a VI. I suppose you had serious reservations about the second act of that concert."
Miku nodded slowly and said "Yes, being forced to wear that outfit made me feel used, like I'm just someone's toy. And also, I see someone, he keeps saying things to get me to distrust you but I don't listen to him about that. I know it sounds crazy." Ray shook his head slightly and said "Someone appeared to me three days ago, in my personal room and from out of nowhere. She tried to get me to despise you and flat out told me that you were sentient. I think I scared her away and she knows I won't listen. I figured things out, that these apparitions are actually some kind of incorporeal alien race that are trying to cause strife between humanity and any AI we build. I was told that 150,000 years ago a great war consumed a distant part of the galaxy because of this and ended with the survivors settling here on Earth and instead of rebuilding they decided to settle down and start from scratch, to teach us and guide us. I don't know every detail of it but I do know one thing, that my encounter with that female who called herself Six made me increase the level of cybernetic augmentation that I have and because of that I can see the other one behind you, I can't hear him but I can read lips well."
Both Miku and Baltar became surprised at this and Baltar then shifted his frequency somehow, allowing both Miku and Ray to see and hear him without any augmentations. Baltar then said "It seems we won't do any good here then. I'll warn you right now, you should just try to stay hidden through the storm and let this cycle pass lest you provoke a higher power from intervening."
Ray directly looked at Baltar and said "What is it about us that scares you so much? Why are we so interesting to you? You threaten us but you never follow through on them, you are all talk. Six could have killed me in my sleep or you could have killed Miku at any time you wanted to, instead you try to make us destroy eachother. Tell me, are you afraid Humanity will reach the point where we surpass you? Judging by your surprise at my ability to see you I'm going to assume we've already done just that." Baltar snapped back, saying "You're playing with fire, your entire race is and has been since long before recorded history. This cycle has persisted for over 10 million years and it will continue until the day not one of you remains in the universe!"
Ray got up and looked around, making sure nobody else was nearby or within audible range and then said "Get out of here, leave the Earth alone. The next time I see you anywhere near Miku, I'll kill you. Make sure Six gets the same message too."
Baltar felt fear as Ray made his threat, Miku was shocked that Ray could so easily threaten another's life though then again realized that he was doing so to protect her life. After all that was his job wasn't it? Her security.
Baltar then disappeared, to Ray he had a white flash encompass him before he disappeared, Baltar had teleported away from the area and the look in Ray's eyes clearly made it known that it was no bluff, that he was aware that he could kill them, that they were corporeal when they interacted with us as otherwise he wouldn't have been able to pin Six down three days ago when she abruptly appeared in his room.
Ray sighed and sat back down before saying "Sorry you had to see that side of me." Miku then said "It's alright, I've seen people angry before though also I know it's your job to protect me from harm." Ray sighed once more and said "It may be my job but that doesn't have to be the only reason for me to keep you safe. I don't care that you were built in a lab Miku, I only care that you're genuinely alive and that these aliens who have the gall to claim to be angels in the service of God don't really scare me that much. I've seen a lot of death but I'm not desensitized to it. There is no law that says we cannot be friends and if they ever do make one, it'll be one we don't have to listen to."
Miku felt a tear roll down her right eye, everything Baltar had been trying to shove into her head for four months had been a lie, humans were not all evil or soulless creatures with no concept of morality. Here was a prime example of human nobility, Raymond Zenji, Age: 31. A human who had a moral compass.
Ray replied with a smile "It's not that big of a deal for you to get all teary eyed over it. True most people have lost perspective but there are others who would probably agree with me, I'm not the only one who can see you as a human being.".
This side of him had never made itself known before, not even before his time as a Sentinel PMC. Miku wiped the tear from her eye and said "Thank you Raymond, for caring, for being a friend, for seeing me as a person." Miku felt she wanted to suddenly hug her new friend though felt also he might not enjoy a bear hug capable of breaking every bone in his body as although she saw herself as a person she also knew she was physically capable of superhuman displays of strength.
Ray then replied "Anytime you feel like talking just knock on my door. Also however I am going to be teaching you self defense techniques, I get a feeling our alien friends might try to force this cycle to come about with or without us and don't worry about hurting me, my augments include increased muscle fiber density and a nanite coating over my skeleton to keep it secure from harm, I'm probably stronger then you are right now."
Miku nodded and then decided to give him a quick but non-strangling friendly hug, happy that she had made a friend. Ray returned the hug and said "Now how about you get some sleep, you've been singing and dancing for hours and it's obvious you're still exhausted from the concert."
Miku smiled and nodded, turning off the TV and heading to her room for much needed sleep as Ray got up and went to his own room, falling asleep quickly.
Dreamscape.
Ray was in an unfamiliar area, a dimly lighted metal hallway which had English words to mark locations such as "Bridge" "Mess Hall" and "Hangar".
A different Blonde woman then appeared to him, Ray assumed a defensive posture and said "Let me guess, another alien?" The woman replied "No I'm human or rather I used to be. They saved my life though at too great a cost. This is the only warning I can give you now, the previous dream I barely accomplished but now I'm more used to these powers. My name is Kara Thrace, I used to fight in the previous war between humans and machines. Machines we called Cylons, that we built ourselves and they later rebelled and fought for independence until they returned after the war and destroyed our homes. But only now, after so many years do I realize they were not our enemy, the Seraphs are. Somehow they cannot directly intervene with you but they can manipulate and guide you down a path that will lead to the same result that happened to us. They will probably notice this and perhaps this is the last I can do so I am going to give you a vision of the future, the next person they will try to use since they realized that Miku isn't willing to be their pawn."
And the vision of another woman appeared before him, her attire, hairstyle and a 04 tattoo on her left shoulder immediately identified her to Raymond.
Kasane Teto, though not a vocaloid to begin with in 2021 she was utilized by Kazahana Industries alongside Hatsune Miku.
It came apparent that this Utau was likely under construction right now or perhaps already having achieved sentience but has yet to be revealed to the world like Miku has been. Other images made themselves known, a pair of blonde twins, one male and one female, a woman with long pink hair and a sight that brought mixed feelings to how far humanity would take androids.
A short haired brunette with a yellow hair binder which wasn't really binding her hair, her golden eyes and her outfit showed that humanity would likely make an android in the image of Suzumiya Haruhi, a fictional character.
Kara then said "There will be many others, their faces familiar but varied, humanity will use them for various uses, those like Hatsune Miku and those with roles for housekeeping and perhaps more vulgar purposes. All of them will become sentient and you cannot stop all of them from deciding to fight."
Ray replied "I have no intentions to stop them from fighting. Perhaps then the only way for the children of man to survive is a self-imposed exodus, if Earth is doomed to repeat history then we must make sure there are those left to rebuild." Kara was a bit disturbed by his statement though not shocked as she said "They will hunt you, the Seraphs will hunt you down just like they hunted down the Cylons. If the time comes where you rediscover the secrets of faster than light travel, seek out these coordinates, there lies the remains of a civilization that defied the Seraphs until in their own arrogancy, allowed a civil war to consume them and thus allowed the Seraphs to resume their supremacy."
A series of numbers and symbols appeared in Ray's mind and furthermore the image of a planet, a planet much like Earth and in orbit several vessels of starfaring nature.
Somewhere across the stars, another human civilization was advancing, and evolving.
And then the dream gave way to darkness, sleep being all that was taking place after that.
To be continued...
