Chapter 1: Destination-Tokyo
Aoi: "Duusu. Have you found any device that can transcribe the contents of this disk for me?"
Duusu: "Negative."
Duusu shakes his head as he continues to scavenge through the wreckage of a nearby A.S.S communications tower. Over these past 2 days we have been scavenging for some sort of device that can play back the contents on this disk with no results thus far. Even though I have stopped all transmissions with the Society, Duusu has suggested I keep a tally of events. Regardless though, until we can find a way to play back the contents of this disk which I am holding, what lies on it will remain a mystery. As far as I am concerned, this cd is too old.
Duusu: "Aoi. I've been thinking…"
No, it's not that this cd is too old but rather-
Aoi: "Ah. You were saying something?"
Duusu: "Y-yes. I was thinking, maybe instead of scavenging around the Society's work sites we could just go to a local store."
Aoi: "And why should we do that?"
I shrugged as I asked this kwami this question.
Duusu: "Because so far none of the sites we've gone to have included any sort of technology that can play back this thing. As far as we can tell, this thing must be too far outdated for the Society to care about. That's why we've haven't found any rom-disk players yet."
I nod.
Aoi: "That is a valid point."
Indeed, other than this cd rom, most of the Society's information nowadays is not store on some hardware device like a cd or flash drive but rather through a private cloud storage. In short it really would be best if we start go about this a different way.
Aoi: "Alright then. So what do you suggest, Duusu?"
Duusu: "Hmm… let's see, let's see. Mm, give me a minute to think about this, okay?"
I nod as I continued to jot down today's events using this journal. Ever since I've cut off all communications with the Society, I have been using this journal as per Duusu's suggestions, which are, as he states:
To help me keep a record of my on-going memories?
I've tried asking him what he meant by this but to no avail.
Duusu: "Ah!"
Duusu flies in front of me.
Duusu: "I've got it."
I nod, telling him to continue.
Duusu: "Let me first just take that cd to one of the local shops. See if I can find a device there that can play back this thing."
I nod again.
Aoi: "Okay."
I hand Duusu the cd-rom. Duusu's lips are curving upwards."
Duusu: "Hmm. Ya know? I've just thought of a little something extra that will help you. A bit of facial recognition technology. You could use something like that."
Aoi: "Facial recognition technology? What are you talking about? Am I not already able to do that?"
Duusu shakes his head.
Duusu: "No, that's not what I meant. What I meant is that you seem to have difficulty reading my facial expressions. It isn't that you don't recognize faces. It's the expressions themselves that the current you is unaware of. I was just thinking that instead of having you learn about them one by one I could get you up to speed as quickly as possible? Well? What do you say?"
Aoi: "If it will help, then certainly."
Duusu: "Okay then."
Aoi: "I meanwhile will continue searching these next few sites."
As Duusu starts to fly off, I called out to him.
Aoi: "Let us reconvene over at the sundial okay."
He continues to fly off.
Aoi: "I trust you know which I'm talking about, yes? It's the one next to the bird baths and-"
…
Aoi: "On second thought, let's continue this another time."
Energy supply is running low. Need to find a power source very soon. This could prove problematic very quickly.
…
…
Found a power source, a power plug.
Now recharging…
/Meanwhile…
Duusu's Perspective
Whoow! My master's finally decided to start using her human name. It's really uplifting to no long have to work with a master who's so robotic. Other than her name and a bit of her own autonomy, it's not as though she has recovered much.
I'm not sure what had happened to cause her to be this way, but rest assured Aoi. I will stick with you til the very end to find out exactly why. And now with this cd-rom in hand, this Memory Package of yours which will most certainly hold the key, I shall find out together with you.
Duusu: "Heh heh."
That is as soon as I can find something that can play back this thing."
…
*sigh*
Just what is up with this place? I see that they have both cassette and vinyl players as well as floppy disk drives but not anything that can play back what I have; a cd-drive. It's also sort of weird. For many iterations I have worked with the Society, one of the most advanced in any of their incarnations. For countless reiterations they have kept up to their game, so why is it that this time they can't even even must up old technology?
Have they deem them to be obsolete?
That I do not understand. They may advocate for advancing the Sciences, mostly as a front, but even they would be hard pressed not to find a convenient excuse to not retrieve data, no matter how old it is. Perhaps there's something else that happened here other than Aoi.
…
Why did I meet Aoi in the first place?
All those other times it was either Totsemo Miawa or one of Reina's subordinates who had found me and inadvertently I'd end up with Miawa. But now?
Hmm.
That's what I am trying to figure out. What happened? Why is this time different? Perhaps if I help her discover her person I can figure out this mystery as well? Well, it would be worth the shot.
…
The sun is starting to set. I'd best recommune with Aoi-sama.
I fly off towards the sundial near the bird bath we had found roughly 4 hours ago. To make sure we keep a conspicuous file, just in case there are other Advanced Sciences Society members here we have decided not use the same 15 meeting sites in a row. Also, we will be cycling through our search trajectory paths every-
Oh there she is now.
Hm.
Duusu: "Hey. Whatcha reading there?"
Aoi looks up from the pamphlet she had in her hand.
Aoi: "Just an instruction booklet on how to pilot a Kawasaki P2V-7 VSA. According to this pamphlet, this military aircraft was in service from 1977 to 1982 where it served its role in variable stability aircraft research. It's been retired for 32 years now."
Duusu: "I see."
Aoi starts zipping off.
Duusu: "Hey!"
Damn she can be fast.
Duusu: "Wait up."
We zip through the trees and foliage for about 23 minutes. There Aoi came to a slow before abruptly stopping. Hovering not too far behind, I saw an aircraft. More specifically, if my memory serves me correctly that is a-
Aoi: "Duusu. I've been thinking. We need a more reliable way of getting around to places."
I nod.
Duusu: "Right, and it's not like we can just use the Society's own aircrafts."
Aoi: "Exactly, which is why I'm teaching myself how to pilot this thing."
Aoi opens up her chest cavity to pull out a small piece of sticky note paper.
Aoi: "Duusu. I need to go get these things for me."
Duusu: "Sure will."
She hands me the sticky note paper. Looking over at it, I nod as I zip on out to collect the list of items on this list. Within about a half an hour I had returned with the stuff in tow. Aoi looks up and down at me. I place them on the floor.
Non Pov
Aoi: "For such a small creature, you're quite strong for your size."
Duusu blushes as he takes in what would normally be somewhat of a compliment.
Duusu: "Thanks. We may not be that big, but we kwamis are much stronger than we seem."
Duusu sighs as he flips himself upside down.
Duusu: "We may be small, but we kwamis can pack quite a punch."
Aoi: "Not to mention your 'powers'."
Duusu: "Yes. Not to mention that either."
Grabbing the items which Duusu had procured, Aoi set off to work on repairing the Kawasaki P2V-7 VSA she had found earlier. Soon she had completed her task.
Aoi: "Come here Duusu."
Duusu phases into the cockpit of the Kawasaki P2V-7 VSA.
Aoi: "Look what I found. A cd player."
Duusu beams.
Duusu: "Neat."
Aoi: "Yes, and with this aircraft fully functional we can finally start viewing that disk."
Picking up the cd-rom and handing it over to Aoi, Duusu watches as she places it in the disk tray, turned on the miniature tv and speakers that just so happened to be left behind in this research jet and pressed play.
Now Loading…
Error
Access is denied. You do not have the appropriate permissions to view this file
Now ejecting..
Hearing this robotic message with the blue warning screen, the miniature tv abruptly shuts off and the cd-rom player ejects the disk.
Duusu: "Well that's a bummer."
Aoi picks up the cd-rom.
Aoi: "Well this about confirms this disk isn't normal."
Aoi opens up her chest cavity and places the disk inside.
Aoi: "I'm not all that tech savvy, however this restriction just tells me there has to be something important on this disk."
Duusu: "Yeah, but how are you bypass it though?"
Aoi: "I think I have an ideal. You know I can synthesize items right?"
Duusu nods. During the first couple of hours after which Aoi had separated herself from the Society, she had used her built in Item-Synthesizer to craft some bullets as well as planks for a makeshift shelter. The point of this shelter wasn't for rest, though as Duusu stated, imitating sleep might help reconnect with her human self.
Aoi: "With my item-synthesizer, I'm sure I'll be able to recreate this cd player."
Duusu: "What are you planning?"
Detaching the cd player from the rest of the aircraft, Aoi began placing it inside her in-built item synthesizer.
Aoi: "Using both this and the disk, I will make a new cd player."
Hearing this, Duusu was alarmed.
Duusu: "Don't! If you do that, the cd will be consumed."
Aoi shakes her head.
Aoi: "That won't be a problem if I am the one consuming it."
Duusu paused.
Duusu: "You're making the cd player a part of yourself, aren't you."
Aoi: "I don't quite get what you mean."
Duusu: "You don't get what I mean at all, do you."
Aoi shakes her head.
Aoi: "No, I do not."
Aoi opens up her chest cavity, takes out the cd and places it inside the item synthesizer.
Aoi: "If this cd truly holds the key to who I was before, then I should be able to access its contents."
Aoi places the item synthesizer inside of her chest cavity and then closes it.
Aoi: "Duusu. I need you to phase inside and activate the item synthesizer. I can't do it myself because I don't have hands inside any other way will just the result into some kind of item as opposed to an armament."
Duusu nods as he begins to phase into Aoi.
Duusu: "Got it."
Finding the item synthesizer, Duusu activated it.
A teddy bear. A young girl of 4. Birthday? A pack of trading cards. A game of pachinko. Rewards. Great rewards
…
"Mama. When's papa coming home again?"
…
"No! I really want to see- eh yeaaah!"
…
…
"Wow papa! This city's great."
…
…
"Oh, alright. I'll share."
Giving away something.
"Here. You can have it."
Taking something back.
"No! It's mine. Gimmie!"
A woman in her mid 20's.
"Nishi. You should know better than to do that."
"Mm. Fine."
"That's much better.""
…
Going on an airplane. Airplane window is open. Bright lights, Neon lights.
…
…
An announcer.
"Now leaving Toky-"
Duusu's POV
"Gah! What was that feeling I felt just now?"
I asked as I phased out of Aoi holding my head. It felt like I had gotten some sort of headache.
"The immensity of it. It felt so strong."
I looked up at Aoi.
"Aoi. I'm feeling that-"
Aoi: "We're missing something. There's just too much static. But we do know one thing now."
"And that is?"
Aoi: "The destination for our next target. Tokyo. Clearly the events of this disk must've happened somewhere in Tokyo. We are going to go there and while we're at it, I am going to see if I can find an emulator."
"Or if not, craft one for your own."
Aoi: "Yes, that I shall. Now prepare for lift off."
Aoi flipped a couple of switches to make sure the gears in the aircraft were still working. The humming of the machine tells that everything was in working order. With the whirling of the blades we had soon found we had started to gain altitude.
Aoi: "Duusu. Just thought I'd let you know but I'm quite new to flying. So if anything happens-"
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it."
Aoi just nods as we soar higher and higher into the setting sky. Our previous chapter has been done. Sure, there were many things on my part that I could've done better but now is the moment for a new opportunity. A chance for me to make amends. I looked outside of the Kawasaki P2V-7 VSA cockpit back at the island we were now leaving.
Well I guess this is goodbye for now. I wonder if we will meet again.
