Binary Mosaic
As narrated by Viluy
"Excuse me, Bidou Yui-sempai?" came the timid voice from behind me. I turned, finding myself facing a girl from my second period science class. She was bowing to me, her face red. In her hands was a parcel of some sort.
"Yes, Hideo Yatsuka-san, what is it?" I ask her, not understanding my situation.
The girl's blush deepens. "These are some cakes I made at home. Please, take them as a token of my admiration for you!"
I relieve her of the package, not knowing how to react. "Arigato, Hideo Yatsuka-san—" before I can finish, the girl has run off. I stare at the thing in my hands; it is wrapped in a floral handkerchief and a sweet smell drifts from the contents.
I continue on my way to my dorm, which I share with three of my fellow witches. Eudial is in her room, busy with her computer. Mimete is in the main room, along with Tellu. Mimete is scribbling in a tattered notepad she always has with her. Tellu is fussing with a calculator, probably trying to average out her student's grades.
I toss the cakes down on the table. Mimete and Tellu look up and Eudial steps out of her room.
"Here, someone eat these."
I was fourth to join the Witches 5, and the girl who gave Eudial the most grief during training. I was born to wealthy parents, and originally attended a private Christian girls school. I was actually born in Europe, but my parents moved to Japan because of my father's business.
At school, I excelled in all academics, but was often disciplined for my "loose and sharp tongue", as one instructor put it. I always spoke my mind; to my teachers, fellow students, even to my father.
At school, my special forte was computers. I had first learned to use one when I was six, and quickly mastered all functions. By age fourteen, I could bypass the school computer's security codes. Once I was passed them, I could do whatever I wanted. I would change records (especially removing offenses from my own), screw with finances, or make the intercom system do strange things.
I soon became bored with such simple games. I started moving financial assets. The money allocated for advertisement in my father's business somehow ended up in a North American lottery. Any company, or even the government, could be my prey. True, I didn't hit the government as much as I hit private companies or educational institutes, but they were the most fun. Once, I even used the e-mail of a national politician to send libelous messages to other government officials. It was hard to keep from laughing when that came on the news.
Not even my parents suspected me. I made sure that the authorities could never trace the damage back to me. To those around me, I was just that annoying, disobedient schoolgirl.
And then I picked the wrong target.
Mugen Gakuen.
My attack on the college was routine enough. I wiped out a small portion of the grade records and moved large portions of the research funding to my father's private account.
The next morning, I awoke to find a strange message on my computer screen.
You must be very clever, to get past our security like that. However, the damage you did is impressive. Unless you wish to be revealed to the legal authorities concerning your activities, please meet me tonight on the northeast corner of your roof. Do not come armed.
Sincerely,
Arimura Yuuko
I was surprised at being detected, but also intrigued by the message. That night, despite the thunderstorm raging outside, I went up the roof. There I saw a red haired girl wearing normal civilian clothing. However, her impression of normality was ruined by the large gun she carried.
Once I was within five feet of her, she turned the gun on me. I'll admit I was afraid, after all, this woman was smart enough to hack into my home computer.
"Viluy," she said coldly, "You can either come and join me and my fellow Death Busters, or," she pointed the gun at my chest. "The Messiah can sleep sated tonight."
I had no idea at the time what she was talking about, but I certainly wanted to live. So I went with her. She lowered the gun and told me to take her into my house. We crept through the darkened rooms, until we were on the first floor. We then went outside, to where the girl's (Eudial as I now know her) car was waiting.
It only took one ride with her to teach me I never wanted to again. Eudial is an awful driver. I was amazed that by the time we got to the Tomoe Research Labs, she hadn't gotten a single ticket.
It was still raining when she took me inside. We took an elevator down to the lowest levels. On the way, Eudial explained to me the ambitions of the Death Busters, and what would be expected of me once I became a member. The more I heard about it, the more excited I became. After all, my hobby for the last few years had been causing pandemonium and here was a change to wreak even more destruction.
We soon entered a room with a large crystalline structure in the background and a standing pool of water in the foreground. As I approached the natatorium, its surface swirled, clouded and then cleared, revealing an image of myself.
My first instinct was to blink. My reflection was wearing an odd garment composed of a black dress embellished with mosaic-like – at the hips and chest. I also had what appeared to be a lace doily stuck to my head.
I reached out to touch the image, but when I touched the water, a freezing sensation spread over my body. Although the feeling lasted only a minute or two, I came back to consciousness shaking and with Eudial touching my forehead.
Exhausted, I feel asleep quickly in my new room at the college. In the morning I was introduced to my other fellow witch, Mimete. My first impressions of her have never been updated. She is an idiot airhead and I'm glad that she's off touring most of the time.
Later that day I met Kaolinite, who instructed me about the basic uses of my powers. After that day, I rarely saw Kaolinite, as it was Eudial who did most of my teaching. We didn't get along from day one. I would always contradict her, or tease her about her inferior computer skills.
Once, we got so angry with each other, that the fighting became physical. Kaolinite soon showed up to break up the fight. I doubt anyone wants to know how we were punished, except maybe Mimete, who could giggle about it to Tellu.
Tellu was inducted into the Witches 5 about four months after myself. I would say we don't get along, but in a totally different way than the ways I don't get along with Eudial, Mimete, or Kaolinite. Tellu is as quiet as I am outspoken. Once, when I was working in the lab, I turned around and saw Tellu in the doorway. She was just standing there and watching me. I have no idea how long she was there.
She and I are like polar opposites in personality and powers. I her first weeks here, I couldn't help but wonder if she had some kind of crush on me, or was just terrified of my presence. I hate myself for worrying about her so much. She often comes in at night drained of energy, or so full of it I'd wonder if what had happened. If she does like me, I despise myself for returning those feelings.
I never really had any friends when I was smaller, or crushes for that matter. I always have; and still consider my peers to be a worthless lot. Now they are valuable only for the pure heart they might possess.
I wish that Professor Tomoe would allow all of us to begin active duty, and not just Eudial. We would have better chances of defeating the Senshi if we attacked different targets simultaneously. I wish we knew who those damn Sailors were. It would make getting rid of them much easier. Maybe I should work on that . . .
The slightest of noises from behind makes me turn around. Tellu is standing in front of me, holding the package from this afternoon, which is now opened. She eats one cake, and then another, until half of the original eight are left. She then sets them down near me, and leaves silently.
I wonder how they taste.