Chapter Eight: A Walk in A City
"Ready James?"
Shinos eyes were scanning the street around them as were her subordinate's PC Wilson whose eyes were on stalks.
"As ready as I'll ever be Sarge."
On hearing the English accent despite seeing a red Southern Cross on a blue background on his jacket Shino had to remind herself that the constable had been brought up here as a kid although his family had moved to New Zealand when he was thirteen.
"What are we doing with these guys though, giving them a magical mystery tour?"
The Sergeant straightened up.
"It's a good idea to orientate them about where we are. Besides we're not going too far from our usual route, are we?"
No, it's a short ten-minute walk to the station and given that the city centre's easy to get to by train it's worth doing. Besides although the threat level's heightened around here, it's not critical. So, everyone should be ok provided that we don't do anything stupid.
The officer shook his head
"I guess not Ma'am. It just feels… funny I guess."
Shino gave James a small sad smile.
Which is totally understandable. Even though you volunteered to be policing your own city. Even though your family went to the other side of the planet to get away from all of this it's still strange.
Anyway, those three are here and Kirito's got his armoured jacket on. Good, Time to go to the centre. Pity we couldn't just stick them in the consulate but that's complicated given the project. So let's get things moving…
"Ready guys?"
Asuna nodded and Shino turned her head in front of them.
"Then let's go."
The group walked alongside each other down the long street towards the station. It looked eerily normal shops were still open, people were still walking around but…
"Why does this city feel so strange Mummy?"
Asuna looked around and gripped her daughters' hand.
"Really good question Yui and you're right it feels odd."
The distance different people keep from each other.
The fact that all the police here now carry firearms after my dad told her British police had once prided themselves on policing mainly without them.
And there are other signs too as Kirito's just seen.
"What's that Asuna?"
Asunas eyes narrowed as she saw a shattered green sign with white and yellow lettering. At its doors was a plaque with a Department of Work and Pensions logo that had been scratched at.
"That's a job centre or what used to be one. It seems shut now."
"What happened here?"
James looked up and stepped forward
"A relative of a person who had died through having their benefits stopped for six months went inside with a couple of petrol bombs, had the courtesy to evacuate the building then set fire to the damn place. Caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage to the point where the government still hasn't decided what to do with the place."
Asuna's eyes flashed some recognition
"Part of the welfare war, right?"
James gave a sigh
"Yes ma'am…"
Asuna shook her head.
"I understand, in fact I may have heard about this incident…"
The question is how do I explain it to Kazuto and Yui?
After the battles over Brexit had turned bloody tensions over Universal Credit had exploded with government buildings such as jobcentres and assessment centres bearing the brunt of furious attacks by former claimants as well as their loved ones. The government had responded by tightening the system and threatening to abolish all working age benefits if more attacks happened… which had led to more trouble.
After all, to be honest that's what these New Troubles are, aren't they?
They're not just one fight but a series of different ones whether over Brexit, over welfare reforms, over the National Health Service, over so many issues that formed into one and when given an opportunity exploded spreading destruction and division all over the damn place.
Like a monstrous "social, economic and political carbuncle" as a veteran politician in "exile" put it. One giant boil made up of different ones formed together which exploded and it's still leaving behind scars. By any other name it's a cu-
Shino rolled her eyes and stepped forward nudging Asuna.
"Let's keep on going."
At least we're not in an apocalypse though and it isn't a ghost town either, just a damn fractured city.
And here's another example which Kirito is staring at right now. A boarded-up shopfront with a lot of graffiti on it.
Kirito had trouble understanding the words but he could understand some of the curses and slogans such as "Remoaner Scum" or "Sod off you fooking Gammon." sprayed on to the hardboard.
Shino watched on unimpressed
People still trying to outdo each other in hurling insults? Typical but they're mostly tame apart from this one which is an old faded piece and Kirito's reading it out aloud, ignoring its exclamation mark:
"We're not bringing nail clippers to a gunfight anymore."
Shino saw her subordinate wince and turn away trying to avoid clenching his fists or anything else that would be unprofessional. But inside…
No, you didn't.
You brought your own guns instead after getting scared once too often by Brexiters or Conservatives. Then the situation escalated to the point where thousands of people have died as a result of all these fractures with tens perhaps hundreds of thousands either injured or displaced through the violence and insecurity including my own family.
Shino turned her head, being in the British Isles for a couple of years she'd seen this kind of graffiti a lot.
There's less of it in Scotland although it's not all entirely "Sunshine in Leith" up there either.
"Come on guys let's keep on moving."
But far worse was to come.
As they came past a street on their left Asuna saw a green barrier at the end of it fixed into place. Reaching to the second floor of the surrounding buildings it was crowned by a coil of dull barbed wire.
The Flash covered her mouth as she paced towards it.
"Oh no, is that what I think it is?"
Kirito walked beside her not seeing Shino roll her eyes.
"A peace wall? Yeah one of their not so nice little imports from Northern Ireland"
Shite…
They stopped at the wall seeing houses on both their left and their right.
"Why was this barrier built?"
Shino turned her head back.
"What do you think happened a few streets away?"
Good question…
Asuna looked at the metal plates of the wall deep in thought but was jolted by Shino.
"Who was the MP for here Asuna?"
Think Asuna! You wrote one of your essays about this very subject "The First Fifteen Day Crisis". This is Birmingham Erdington…
Of course, you fool!
Asuna could have kicked herself as Yui drew closer to her.
"Anna McManus, this was near where she got killed in that hit and run incident. Isn't it?"
Shino turned her head back towards the opposite end of the street.
"Hai. A couple of days fighting on and around this street between Leavers and Remainers ensued afterwards. Tens of people got injured on both sides with one person ending up in a coma. In fact, there were proposals to put peace walls along the wards entire dividing line given just how bad things got…"
Shino paused and cocked her head
"You shouldn't be so surprised though. There were reports of walls going up long before the Sword Art Online Incident."
Asuna turned around placing a hand on the corrugated metal as Kirito put an arm round her shoulder.
"I'm not. When I was in Scotland there were news stories about barriers like this one being built in certain towns and cities with even villages being considered."
She paused
"But I am sad for you, all of you that all of your disagreements and all of your divisions have come to this."
PC Wilson stepped forward again.
"Ma'am I cried when I first saw videos of this wall being installed and it's not on an ethnic dividing line either it's a political one. But the way things are it's just as bad. At least It's not concrete yet though. Although there have been votes in my city council to make it permanent all of them have been defeated by resounding margins. The main reason being that it would be a sticking plaster and not a final solution."
It's no accident that we went this way-
Asuna was interrupted by her phone vibrating. Bringing it out of her pocket she saw a message from Agil with the picture that she'd sent him earlier with a question:
"Hi Agil, Any ideas why I'd go to this town on Floor 5?"
His response was longer and direct.
"Hi Asuna. You and Kirito wouldn't go there. But quite a few crafters and a lot of Internationals would, including Muldar who frequented the place. It was one of our early staging points and a lot of us still hang out there even now. In fact, I saw Muldar and another player in a pub there once which was funny because it was a day after a certain incident on Floor 39. Hope this helps- Agil"
Floor 39? That argument that I had to break up before we took on the floor boss?
Asuna snapped her fingers as she stepped away from the wall and drew herself bolt upright.
"I'm a fool."
How COULD I have forgotten THAT?!
Kazuto looked at her.
"Was Agil helpful?"
Asuna looked at Kirito and Yui realisation dawning on her.
"Hai, in fact I think I'm beginning to have an idea of what all of this is about."
She put her arms around the pair of them.
"Right now, though we play on and when one of us sees Yoshida-sama making another bolt for it we tail him like a swarm of hornets!"
The group resumed the rest of the walk with memories flooding through Asunas head.
Until we're out of Birmingham and in to safer territory we may not have a chance to get that proof. So, we play on. Anyway, the first pre-season match is going to take place tomorrow and never mind here, I hope we're all ready for that!
She shuddered
Including me.