CHAPTER 6:
"Raye Penber"
Oculus, "The Old Man", as some called him—although in the grand scheme of things, he wasn't that old—was the creator of Quindecim, a system of soul arbitration. He was also known to play a good game of Galaxy Pool-a game where the planets of a galaxy were the balls and they were hit across the universe, scattering like shooting stars. For fun. But were then returned back to their original place after the game had concluded, time reverted back to before the game began, and there were no ill-effects across the cosmos.
Clavis was no match for him. Almost immediately from the beginning, Oculus had Clavis dead to rights to lose. But Clavis didn't expect anything less from Oculus's ability for the game.
"You seem on top of your game today, sir," Clavis remarked, holding a cue stick.
"Or, you're simply out of practise, my boy," the Old Man jeered.
"You may be right. We elevator operators do have our ups and downs."
For a moment, there was silence. Clavis's joke was so dry, it wasn't delivered as a joke. More like an occupational result. But then the Old Man laughed. "That was so bad, my boy, so bad," Oculus said, and laughed again.
Clavis produced a smile, but it took next to nothing to make the old man smile or laugh. He was always in a happy mood. If the average person looked at him, they would say that his head look like a turnip, donned with mini circle bifocals that bridged the top of his nose. A wise, looking man. But no one would ever call him a vegetable to his face.
Oculus leaned over the table to take another shot, then sunk two balls in one flick of the cue. "So what do you think about the new Arbiter: Light Yagami?"
"The guy who thought he was a God by using a Death Note to murder thousands of people in the Human World? I haven't drummed up an opinion of the other guy yet." And yet the tone of Clavis's voice said otherwise. "All I know is that he can't be reincarnated or enter the Void. But now he's judging people…Decim undertaking his training. I hope he won't be instinctively bias? You know how humans are." He just finished taking two guests to Floor Twelve where Light Yagami was beginning his training.
"We've never seen anything like him since the conception of this place, where souls are judged on merit," Oculus said. "This place helps with the heavenly backlog, nothing more. More than once you've been asked to become an Arbiter or an Information Officer, even an associate with Administration. I think you would be good in either department. I think it would be a wise career choice."
"Nah, I'm nothing but an elevator operator, and I wouldn't want to, forgive me saying, soil my hands with any information regarding that murderous bastard, or of the like, sir."
Oculus looked at him. "Murderous bastard, eh? My boy, it looks like you have formed an opinion about Light Yagami, after all."
"If I may speak openly, sir?" Oculus told him to go ahead. "While the premise of this place is sound, the delivery system is not."
"Explain." Oculus voice took on a serious tone.
"I mean no disrespect, sir, but using a book to kill people…Who would have thought of that the Shinigami were such a vicious race? In antiquity, the forces of light and dark have been at each other's throats since the birth of the universe. Every once in a while, a Death Note finds itself in the Human World and creates untold havoc, IE, 'the Kira Affair', as Info calls it. Light Yagami should have immediately been locked away. He's dangerous, amnesiac or not."
"You should reconsider your application to the Information Bureau, cataloging the dead is actually a good career choice. And you could learn a lot." Oculus said is with a conviction that it actually make it sound like a directive than a suggestion. "However to get back to your previous inquiry. The Shinigami King has a job to do, although he has been quite lax in his duties as of late, and the Shinigami are a lazy bunch. Ryuk, the rogue Shinigami—from what information that has been passed my way through sources—actually helped others in his realm with information he took back with him, during and after 'the Kira Affair'. He took back with him information that created an emotional stir and sparked an excitement about humans that the Shinigami Realm had been lacking."
Oculus continued, "While it did create a cosmic disruption, it actually made people sit up and take notice. Sometimes boredom inspires invention and creativity. Despite the increase that the Death Note caused in the way of our volume and soul arbitration, things have settled down now since Light Yagami is dead. As you said before, he can neither be resurrected or go to the void, or as the Death Note has it he can either go to Heaven or Hell. Since the death of Light Yagami, one other Shinigami has dropped his Death Note into the Human World in an attempt to recreate the excitement, but it flopped out. The user got scared and decided to write his own name in the Death Note. He's here, too, somewhere. But he's of no consequence."
"Killing one race to save another? Sounds like bad practice to me."
"No, the Shinigami King has put a stop to it. And they'll be no more excessive killing. Shinigami are strictly forbidden to go down to the Human World without approval. They can kill from a far using the Observation Obs on their world, then go down to collect the remaining lifespan, but everything is under strict regulation now. Or, so I have been told by Ryu, their representative, here."
"What if Light Yagami gets his memories back? What do we do about him then? I'd send him to the Void, and be damned. He was given special provisions, and now he is in an Arbiter? In my opinion, that's too good for him, and he should be punished!"
Oculus had a curious look on his face. "I've never seen you like this before, my boy. You sound frightened by him. Nevertheless, I can understand your trepidation, and your concerns are valid. That is why you and I have a special relationship, and I allow you to speak so openly in my company. I value your opinion. It has helped me more than once to make a decision on Quindecim affairs and policy. Even after the Special Council has made a decision, and sometimes I have vetoed it on your advise, it was a warranted to do so. You're a smart, Clavis. And this is why I am reassigning you, albeit temporarily."
Clavis stood shocked. "What, why me?"
"I want Light Yagami to be watched and I want you to be his watcher, or in other words, his handler. I don't trust Ryu."
"That job would be best suited for someone else like Nona or even Ginti, sir."
"No, I think you are the best man for the job, and starting at this point, on you will be reassigned as his Guardian. You'll watch him as he learns to be an Arbiter along side Decim. Yagami is a tricky one, watch he closely."
"How so?"
"Light yagami is a perfected actor. He's already aware of his past and Ryu has not told me. There's little that happens in Quindecim of that I don't know about. Some things do slip by me, but I eventually I learn of them through simple observation of habits."
"Then why don't you just arrest him and put them on trial or judge him, since he knows—"
"And then what? He cannot be resurrected or enter the Void. Jailing him would serve no purpose and it would only assign resources unnecessarily. He is better off where he is at the moment, and we will pretend that we don't know that he has regained his memories. Understood?"
"Yes sir."
"But if things do get out of control, you must use that special talent of yours. You know the one, and it has a 100% successful rate, when it comes to getting the information that is necessary. You have my authorization to use it. And use it to its full extent."
Clavis frowned. "You know I don't like using that, Oculus, it's too invasive, and it creates an instability with the other person that once made me feel very uncomfortable. And you wonder why I remain an elevator operator…"
"Sometimes a little personal sacrifice is needed to get results. Are you say no to my request?"
"You are my Superior. If I must, then I must. But I will need to gather more information before I proceed."
"By all means visit the Information Bureau, or even Administration, and see Castra" —he winked— "but be careful not to mention anything to our newest recruit. I have given the department's special instructions that he must not be made aware that Light Yagami is in Quindecim. If Raye Penber ever found out, all hell will brake loose. He can neither be resurrected or enter the Void either, because he used a Death Note. He was tricked in using it, but rules are rules. He is angry that he cannot get retribution for what was done to him, and this is what I want to avoid. I do not want internal conflict between two employees, or I may have to do something quite unpleasant, and you know what that would entail?"
Clavis nodded. Nothing more needed to be said.
When Clavis got to Administration, he immediately visited Castra, who was sitting up high in one of the data stations. She was head of the department and was responsible for the accumulation of all soul data and memory engrams. Each life was downloaded, filed away, compressed, and properly catalogued for, if need be, later review, and for when the Arbiter's needed it.
There were other stations, all with their personal apertures, and high chairs, attached to boom cranes, that gave them personal space off the main floor. It was a large department. And on the main floor, workers busied away at other informational business, all wearing white coats, surrounded by more computers and bio-technology that kept changing with the times.
Her fingers danced over a computer board, and a wireless, touch screen, that she worked on like a magician, her face hidden behind a skull-mask that also doubled as an interface with a data system.
He watched as information flowed onto a larger screen and then separated into labeled sub-routes for proper detail gathering. It went so quickly that he missed quite a bit of it, but what he did catch, confounded him, as most of the data was in abbreviation and code for security purposes, and he was unfamiliar with the code-system they used at the current time. It always changed.
He knew once data was collected and souls were either reincarnated or sent the void, their body was turned into a doll and then deposited in the repository known as the Vault of the Dolls. And that was one of his responsibilities to retrieve the dolls and store them for later use.
On a computer flat-screen on the floor, that seemed to give a real-time view of the Human World, that he could walk on without breaking, he watched an event that was taking place that involved a war in the Middle East. Everywhere around the world something violent was occurring. Wars, pestilence, fires, floods, weather phenomenon, and death of every kind. It all seemed a consistent theme in the Human World. And all Man made. He was so glad to be out of that place.
When he first came to Quindecim, it was not like it was now. It was not orderly. Only when Oculus took over and re-developed it, did it become so. The soul collection was raw, and it was under the construction. Only in the last 200 years had Quindecim become a place of respectability and adeptness. And he was proud to call it home.
"Hail, green-haired stranger, long time no see," Castra's voice came with a whisk of her boom crane, as lowered to ground level. She removed her skull-mask, and Clavis smiled. The tall, slim, dark skinned, white-hair beauty, was enough to take his breath away. But Death had a way of rendering the need for oxygen inert. They had a special relationship, one based on if only we could. He had asked her multiple times for dates, but she declined; policy forbid relations amongst workers unless their grades equalled, which Clavis was low on the totem pole. "You added more facial jewelry, I see. Another nose ring and another upper ear-ring. Nice."
They looked at the other with a longing stare. But then stopped, fearing others may be watching them.
She handed him a computer slug. He asked what it was, other than the obvious.
"Oculus informed me before you came here that you wanted to know everything about our new Arbiter: Light Yagami. I managed to recrystallize what I could about his life and format everything here."
"Kinda small, I thought it would be larger?"
She arched an eyebrow. "I wouldn't say that too loud Clavis, people will talk," she smirked, and winked.
"My nose and ears aren't the only place I have rings," he said, winking. "Too bad you can't see where I placed them."
"You're wicked, Clavis." She cleared her throat, someone was looking at them. "Anyway, you're smart, Clavis. And you of all people should be here. Then we could…What's stopping you from taking the test and joining me here? Why remain an elevator operator?"
"Less pressure, Castra. And I like the solitude. If you knew what my life was like before I came here, you'd appreciate it, too." Then he smiled large. He brought his voice down a whisper. "Nothing stopping us from a quickie? I know all the blind spots in Quindecim."
"Oculus would find out. You know he knows everything in Quindecim. He has some secret ESP ability. Remember when he found out about those other two…do you see them around anymore? Neither do I." She answered for him. "They were reassigned to disposal deep in the bowels of Quindecim. And I'm not talking about the Vault of the Dolls."
"I wouldn't worry." Clavis gripped the slug. "I'll look this over and then bring it back, much like a library book. What little information there is, I may still get something useful out of it."
"Light Yagami's memories of his time as Kira have not returned, or according to the updated information."
Clavis knew better, but kept it a secret. Oculus wanted it such. "It's said, if you give up ownership of a Death Note, you lose all knowledge of its deeds done with it, that includes knowledge and the name of the Shinigami who possess it/you…"
Just then, a man emerged from behind a computer console. He was tall and handsome. Clavis recognized him immediately: it was Raye Penber, the man who could never know Light Yagami was in Quindecim.
Raye approached them with data pad in hand. "Castra, I've finished that report for you," he said. He looked Clavis up and down. "Interesting look…Oh, I remember you—the elevator operator. Clitorus, right? You all have weird names here."
Castra put a hand to her mouth to stop a laugh, but was unsuccessful.
"That's Clavis," he corrected Raye.
Castra turned, to chuckle some more, taking the pad with her. Clearing her throat, she then turned back, obviously a quick reader. "This is great work, Raye. I'm glad you're here with us."
"I used to be a law clerk before I enrolled in police foundations, so I know a lot about administrative work. Plus, I had to file a lot of reports as a detective for the FBI. I've finished all my work for the day. So, do you have anything else for me to do? I'm kind of interested to know who this new Arbiter is. I heard talk he's in a situation much like myself. But I was told my situation is unique."
Both Clavis and Castra shared a concerned glance. They knew that Light Yagami and Raye Penber could never met each other. If they ever did, things would explode, and Oculus would not like it.
Just then two other workers walked by the trio speaking to each other a little ways off having a conversation about the new Arbiter, and one of them mentioned his name. Raye Penber eyes widened with shock. He then ran to the pair, and grabbed one by the shoulders, gripping him hard. Clavis was too late to prevent it.
"Say that again! Say that again! Did you say Light Yagami?"
The worker was a little confused, but he nodded. "Yeah, yeah, that's his name…why? What's it to you?"
Raye looked at both Castra and Clavis. "And you kept this from me? You bastards! Where is he? I'm going to make Yagami pay for what he's done! For what's he's done to all of humanity! He made me kill twelve, no thirteen, of my fellow FBI agents! And I still don't know what happened to Naomi. Did Light Yagami kill her?"
"Settle down, Penber," Clavis said, trying to calm him, hands up. "You two are in the same boat here."
Ray bolted for the door. But then Clavis pounced on him, pinning him to the ground. "Oh no, you don't! I was told if you ever found out he was here that you would do something like this. You and I are going to have a little talk. Now settle down and let me explain."
"No!" Raye struggled. "Who the hell are you? You're no simple elevator operator."
"Someone who can be your friend or your greatest enemy, your decision. Pick wisely, or I'll make it for you."
To be continued...