Chapter 10- Consummation
"Jouichirou. Would you please do a quick sweep of the official channels in the area? See if you pick up any chatter about the 'abduction'. Also, access Atlas' internal network. Use my code. I want to see what they are up to." Raven gave Jouichirou instructions as he rose to his feet. Mirei rocked back on her heels, then stood as well.
Jouichirou looked doubtfully at Mirei. "Maybe I should stay here while you talk, you know, as moral support."
"I'll be OK, Jou. Sorry about the scene earlier." Mirei's cheeks burned as she looked down.
"I would have been upset too, after a shock like that." Jouichirou said as he grabbed Mirei's hand, and gave it a squeeze. "I'm just in the next room, if you need me. Remember what I said earlier- you're never alone."
Jouichirou turned, and left the room.
"Let's go out here, and sit. Shall we?" Raven motioned towards the pavilion. "This has always been my favorite place in the house."
"You know this place well?" Mirei asked as they made their way out to the pavilion. There was a stack of colorful silk-covered cushions in one corner, and several traditional paper lanterns hanging from the beams of the ceiling in the otherwise bare room.
"Yes. It's my vacation home. We are about 200 kilometers north and 100 kilometers inland from New Hong Kong. I find the little hill we are on and the valley we overlook very peaceful. While I light these lanterns, why don't you choose a couple of cushions for us."
Mirei picked up two bright red cushions, and sat down on one. She looked out the screened windows as the stars twinkled over the valley. A soft breeze wafted through the screens.
After bringing the lanterns to life, Raven joined Mirei on the other cushion. "Are you ready to talk, or do you want to just sit and enjoy the evening?"
"I'm ready." Mirei resolutely replied.
"After you were injured, many things changed rapidly. I'm sure Jouichirou informed you of the broad outlines. Atlas Corporation quickly emerged as the new power player on the global scene. I decided to attach myself to Atlas in order to keep in check the power of certain individuals who had proven themselves not to be working in the public interest during the Virus episode." Raven began.
"The Hive." Mirei said, as much to herself as Raven.
"Yes. The Hive. They were intent on controlling the damage to their positions by the revelation that they, in fact, had been willing to concede New Hong Kong, and perhaps the rest of the world, to Virus."
"But…" Mirei hesitated a second, then continued. "But you opposed Serge's action, too."
"Yes, but for very different reasons. My commitment to contain Virus never wavered."
Mirei spoke again. "How… how can you have been a part of Atlas all this time without being detected by the Hive?"
"I never tried to conceal my identity. Shin Harata is my given name, though I had not gone by it in many years. I live my life exposed to the light of day. The Hive, however ,is forced to exist in the shadows. Like cockroaches, they must stay on the periphery, scuttling out only at night. They watch me from the shadows, but they cannot move directly against me. In their conceit, they think they know my intentions. They are complacent."
"What are your intentions?" Mirei asked.
Raven turned, and looked at Mirei. "To bring the cockroaches to light. The Hive severely mismanaged LL's response to Virus. With one hand, they gave to STAND, while they secretly prepared for retreat with the other. The blame for Black Valentine rests on my shoulders. The blame for Virus' reign of terror belongs to the Hive. The world deserves to know this. What they do with that knowledge is up to them."
"Where do I fit in to all of this?"
"At first, my goal was to remove you from Atlas as quickly as possible. You are my responsibility, along with the rest of STAND. I have an obligation to keep my team safe. However, as things progressed, I realized I could use the Hive's plans against them. They wanted to use your skills to line their own pockets and increase their standing in the business and technical communities . Again, their hubris worked against them. I let them believe they were using you, while in reality, STAND was using them. The Sonata project provided the perfect opportunity for exposing the Hive. Their record-breaking sales will unwittingly bring them down. Inside each Sonata implant is a special locked code that when activated, will transfer a file to every implant user detailing the Hive's actions to date."
Mirei looked at Raven. "That's what … I kept telling Kenji that some extraneous files had been included… He told me he took care of it… Is Kenji working for you?"
"Yes. He was my person inside the project. His job was twofold- he was responsible for inserting the code, and for making sure nothing happened to you."
Mirei shook her head. "I should have guessed. He was always so eager. Did you give me the old data files on purpose, so that I would find the STAND data and regain my memory?"
"Yes. It was a calculated risk. I felt you were ready, but I wasn't sure."
I figured. It was too convenient, finding those STAND quads."
" That was your own ingenuity, Mirei. I knew they were there, I didn't know if you would find them, or follow up the data if you did."
Mirei shook her head. "I still don't see how I fit in to the plan."
"You were Sonata, Mirei. It was your brilliance that insured the Sonata would break all records, and be dispersed widely around the world. The sales figures are off the charts, and it's because you designed such a superb product. I was counting on that every bit as much as the Hive was- perhaps even more."
"So now what?" Mirei asked.
"So now, we wait. We wait until the Sonata fulfills its promise. We wait until it has widest market acceptance. And then, if you agree, you activate it, Mirei. And you go public, as team leader, verifying the truth of the file, so the Hive can't spin it as a prank or a malicious program."
"What about the rest of STAND? What has become of them?" Mirei questioned.
"They are in Oceania right now. They are providing support for this project. Macus is continuing to look for his brother. The others have various side projects as well. After this, who knows? All I know, Mirei, is that your time in STAND, the Sonata project- those were the crucibles that formed you. Your potential is only limited by your imagination. "
Raven stood, and looked out the window at the warm night. "I've left you with a lot to think about. I know Jouichirou has things he wants to say to you as well. You are welcome to stay here as long as you wish- I will see to it that you are not disturbed. If you want to see through the plan with me, contact me. We are probably at least six months from maximum market penetration, so you have time to decide. I will be returning to Tokyo tonight. Good bye, Mirei."
"Good bye, Raven."
In a couple of minutes, Jouichirou entered the pavilion. "Hey. It's just me." He sat down on the cushion beside Mirei. He could see tears streaming down her cheeks in the flickering lantern light.
He reached over, and wiped at the tears with the back of his hand. "Hell of a day, huh?"
"Jouichirou. Did you know that my other key assistant on Sonata wasn't really working for me, either? He was Raven's man. Every single thing about the last five years was a lie. Top to bottom. Oh. I need to get in contact with Macus Yu, the Atlas Head Archivist. He's our Macus' cousin, and he'd really like to know what's going on. That is, if Atlas hasn't all ready taken him out for passing files to me." Mirei said as she shook her head.
"Done. I talked to Big Mac right after you left the archives. He may not look it, but he's actually a pretty resourceful guy. He'll be fine." Jouichirou said with a chuckle. "Apparently, you made quite an impression on him. I sort of had to insist that he not consider pursuing a relationship with you. I…hope that was OK." Jouichirou ended lamely.
Mirei turned, and looked at Jouichirou. "That's fine… No. That's more than fine. That's exactly what I would have said, too."
Jouichirou turned, and looked at Mirei. "I… wow. Maybe this isn't the time. As a matter of fact, I'm sure it isn't. You've had too much dumped in your lap today. I'll just wait. I can…"
Mirei grabbed Jouichirou's hands, leaned in, and kissed him hard on the mouth. She leaned further into him as they kissed, and they fell back across one of the silk cushions on the floor. Mirei reached between Jouichirou's legs and rubbed the part of him that was responding to her presence. Jouichirou placed his hands under Mirei's shirt, and moaned slightly under her kiss. Mirei explored every crevice of his mouth, lightly teasing the tip of his tongue with her own. When she was done, she sat back on her heels. "What you have to tell me is the only thing I want to hear, Jou. It's the thing I've been waiting to hear. For five years, to be exact. I remember that day in the park. Before we were interrupted, I wanted to tell you that I was ready to be with you. I was, and I am. If you still want me, that is."
Jouichirou's cheeks flushed, as he scrambled to sit back up. He stammered his reply. " I… want you, Mirei. I want to be with you."
"Then what are you waiting for?" Mirei asked, smiling coyly. "tonight isn't the beginning of the end, it's the end of the beginning."