1st Arc: Gemini Road
Chapter 6: Unexpected Aid
October 22nd, 2001. Around 1 PM.
(Yokohama Base. Yuuko's Office.)
[Yuuko]
This cannot be real. If I hadn't developed my theory I'd have assumed that. However, I cannot deny the facts that lay before me.
All his tests' results were normal. He's not a cyborg, but he has an extraordinary physique even if he is full of scars. He must be around eighteen years old, going by his looks. There's no way such a young boy would know what he knows, even less someone who should be dead.
Takeru Shirogane. One of the many victims the BETA claimed when they attacked Yokohama. He should be dead, yet he's here in this base taking some tests. If what he wrote on that paper wasn't a lie, then he traveled through time from two years in the future. But that may be a lie, since he lied about being a Cadet.
However, how do I explain this paper? A report about a satellite that was sent to Mars by the Japanese government. There's no mention of the BETA whatsoever, so this isn't from this world, unless Alternative V wiped all the BETA from the Earth, the Moon and now were trying to do it on Mars. In just two years? Impossible. The images on the report also suggest that this isn't a military report either. One of many parallel possibilities, he said.
Shirogane, who on earth are you? Are you an ally or a foe?
This is way too convenient. Just when I'm being pressured to get results a mysterious boy appears saying he's going to help me.
The deal for the XG fell down, I'm stuck in my research and Japan and the UN are starting to second guess each other. Things couldn't be worse.
Then, as if it were the most normal thing in the world, this Shirogane walks up to base and declares that he has vital information to aid me in my research. Awfully convenient. He also knows about Alternative IV and V, things only a few should know. He said he was here to 'fix the zero'.
That was a nice way to say much in a vague way. He knows about the 00 Unit, about the brain, and about my problem in my research. If he is indeed a time traveler then it would make sense for him to know that, I suppose.
But the point is, is he really? Is he truly here to help me? Or is he trying to sabotage me from within?
The fax starts printing something. The results from his brain tests are here. Nothing weird with his brainwaves, all patterns are normal. There's no drug residue in his blood, and his cognitive abilities seem normal.
If he is indeed a time traveler, why did I choose to send him, a mere child, instead of a capable soldier? Why did I tell him to lie about his name; or is he truly Takeru Shirogane? No, how on Earth did he time travel in the first place? That is too ridiculous to be used as a lie, no sane spy would try to do that. However, maybe he's here to assassinate me and only needed some… privacy to also kill himself after the deed was done.
I check the gun in my drawer, it's loaded. If he thinks he can kill me now that we're alone, he's going to be surprised.
But if he is here to help… I can only imagine what kind of things he could have brought from the future. My completed research, data on the BETA, a new weapon's diagrams. I'll have to be careful to not be deceived, though.
I contact Yashiro, to make sure she is prepared.
"Yashiro, is everything ready?"
"Yes."
"If you notice a lie or anything suspicious, notify me immediately."
"Understood." Now, let's bring this Shirogane here.
"2nd Lt. Pyatkh, as soon as he gets out of the last test bring him directly to my office."
"Understood, Ma'am."
"How was him? Did he do anything out of the ordinary?"
"No, he's been very obedient. However, he moves around the base as if he already knew where he is going."
"Alright, thanks. I'll be waiting."
So he doesn't need a guide, huh. Was he told about the layout before coming here; or did another me tell him?
The following minutes I reread both the tests' results and the page he handed me to see if I could find anything that I might have missed, but there was nothing.
As I was absorbed rereading the paper of the satellite while spinning on my chair, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." I unlock it and he comes in.
He seems to be rather annoyed. With the inner part of his brows almost coming together, ruffling his hair and letting out a long sigh he comes closer, I signal him to stop and he stands there looking at me.
"So how did the tests go, Shirogane?" I smile, which seems to make him even more annoyed, going by that frown.
"Six hours! That's two more hours than last time! What do you need so much blood for?!" He is really loud, annoyingly so. He did say 'last time'.
"So last time I didn't make you take the tests?"
"Sure you did, but they only took three syringes of blood. Today not only they took seven, but they started making all kinds of tests on me and the places where they took the blood. Also, the brainwave test is a new one."
"Huh, really? Well, that's that. Now that we're here, can you tell me the truth? Who are you?"
"I'm Takeru Shirogane. I come from a parallel world. As I said in the paper I come from the year 2003 in my original world."
"Your original world? You didn't come from the future of this world?" Already found a lie, huh. But now he says he comes from another world… Another lie, perhaps?
"Yes, but that's before I went back. See, I was sent here from my world due to some cause and when I got here you allowed me to stay as long as I helped you. After a certain mission, my link with this world grew weaker and I vanished. This was on the next New Year."
"Then you don't really have much information for me. I don't care at all about what you did in your 'original' world, assuming you're not lying." I told him bluntly and coldly, hoping to get a reaction out of him. He's a child after all, his emotions must be so hard to control.
But he did something I didn't expect him to do. He smiled at me and laughed.
"That's so you, Sensei. But I do have a lot of info that's worth gold for you."
"Really? Then, by all means, go and say it. Don't be shy!"
"I can't." He crosses his arms and returns my stare.
"Why? You think this place isn't safe?"
"No, you once told me that I shouldn't tell you of events that happen in the distant future, because we don't know what ripple effects that would have on history."
That does seem like something I would say, if someone was trying to dump on me a lot of sensitive information about future events.
"Then, I'll ask you some questions and you answer what you think is safe." He nods, now then. "Do I complete the 00 Unit in time?"
"Yes."
"Does it work as intended?"
"Yes, but actually no." Is he making fun of me?
"Explain."
"It works as it should, with the XG-70 and everything, but it has one fatal flaw." He knows about the XG, too? Just who are you? Why did I trust in a child so much?
"This fatal flaw… Can you tell me what it is? Can it be fixed?"
"I don't know if it can be fixed, but I brought some intel that may help you with that. And, when the time comes, I'll tell you about it." Another secret, huh?
"Alright. Then, why did you came back in time?"
"I don't know." He says with not a hint of hesitation. Is he a good liar or is this the truth?
"What do you mean, you don't know?"
"Remember I said my link with this world grew weaker after a certain mission? Well, after that I returned to my world. But…" His faces changes to one of anguish as he looks down, tightly wringing his hands. "Everything went wrong. Something that shouldn't have happened, happened. So, I ended up coming to the past but I was aiming to go back to the same point in time I had left in this world, to make you keep your end of the bargain."
"We had a deal or something?"
"I help you complete and protect the 00 Unit, you helped me go back to my world safely. That was the deal. The safely part was not fulfilled, so I came to request Customer Support." His speech mannerisms are really weird. Customer Support?
"What do you think I am? I'm a genius, you know! There's no way I would have made a mistake on such an important matter. And anyways, return to your world? You've been saying that you came and went from your world to this, can you explain me how? What are you supposed to be?"
"A Causality Conductor."
…
…W-What did he just say? Did I heard him right?
He said it so casually, as if it were a given. A living proof of my theory, that I've been looking for so long, just thrown out there as if I was asking him about today's weather.
"You… Are you serious? You're a causality conductor?"
"Yeah, for real." He then started explaining with his dumbed down terminology, and some odd words mixed in his speech, what the conductor was, how it worked, and the effects it has on the world.
He's serious, this is no rehearsed speech and he isn't hesitating at all. No one but me should know this information. Did my research get leaked?! No, that's… just not possible. But then, he truly is one?
"So you were trapped in multiple loops where you first came here, died and returned to square one, until one day you managed to keep your memories for some reason and used them to aid me in my research?"
"I think? I don't really understand it very well myself, to be honest. But wait, there's more!" He declares with glee, raising one finger. What else could there be?
"More? What else are you? A bio-engineered super soldier or something?"
"No, I'm also a Causality Nucleus."
"A what now?" Causality Nucleus? What is that even supposed to be?
"You figured it out after you finished a certain investigation. All proof leads me to believe that I am indeed one, or at least something similar to it."
"Wait a second, what is a Causality Nucleus? Is that something I told you?"
"The you in my world did. So, I don't know how much I should tell you, but it's basically a causal information magnet. Once we can trust each other, I'll give you the papers that explain it in detail. For now, just know that there's more to your research than what you can think about right now."
"…And you have that information with you? Let me guess, in exchange for it you want me to make a fail-proof method to return you to your world?"
"I already know what I have to do. I want your cooperation with it." He says while locking his eyes onto me, with a dead serious face.
"Seems like you had it rough. But first, you said I had until Christmas to produce results. Why is that?"
"Because that's when Alternative V is enacted, at least as far as I know. If we change history it won't happen, or it may happen even earlier."
"Can you tell me what you know of the Alternative Project?"
"Which one?"
"All you know."
He takes a breath and starts telling me about Alternative V, about the space fleet, the following years and the important mission. Operation Babylon, he called it. Not even I knew the name of the plan, this will be a nice way to check whether he's lying or not.
He then starts describing Alternative IV in great detail, even mentioning the fact that I have a group of soldiers as backup in case we need to make another 00 Unit. The role of the XG, how the 00 Unit isn't made of any carbon-based material to allow it to communicate with the BETA with its ESP capabilities, how it possesses great hacking and processing abilities as if they were normal. About the Rutherford field, the Particle Cannon, and about how important it is for it to have emotions. Then he briefly tells me of Alternative III, of how they tried to use espers to communicate with the BETA.
There's no doubt. He isn't insane, so he's telling the truth or he is a spy. Yashiro still hasn't contacted me.
"And that's about it, I think? Sorry if I left some details rather vague."
"No, that's alright. You've proved to me how much you know."
"I see." He relaxes on a bit. Let's give him a little push.
"But that doesn't mean I believe you yet, I'm just-"
"Giving me the benefit of the doubt, for the sake of conversation? I don't expect you to believe me when I have no proof, Sensei." He didn't let me finish. He doesn't even seem fazed that I was doubting him.
"So, do you have proof? Or, was that lone paper all you had?" I smile and speak in a mocking tone to get something out of him. But he smiles again.
"Hehehe, do I now?! Here's where things get nice, Sensei!"
He takes out of his bag a big stack of papers and places them in my desk. Here's the rest of the report on that satellite. What's this? Sedna? Another planet?! A new radioactive element discovered by the… JINR? A joint project between America and Russia?! Not the USSR, but Russia?! And what's this? OLED? What is this screen even?
"I have to admit, if this isn't a fabricated lie then…"
"That's just the research I did personally. I have these engineering books and some about medicine too." He puts five books on my table. What's this?
"New Paradigms of the Technology?"
"They have a lot of info for civilians that go to college about the latest discoveries in some fields. And there's a book about first aid and some new vaccines and medicinal inventions, too. I would have gotten some more bulky encyclopedia, but anything new isn't on the street available to common people. So I settled for this."
"Your spacecraft looks really old compared to ours." I'm not really surprised by what I'm reading. This isn't so useful.
I drop the books and go back to the stack of papers. Now let's see… What's this? Some forum discussion? …Wait, F-22A Raptor?!
"Shirogane, this says right here that you have F-22A Raptors in your world, is that true?"
"Yeah, with their overpowered stealth and everything!" He says it so nonchalantly, making a small fist.
We're talking about the Raptor here! How could a mere civilian get this intel? Maybe he's a soldier back there? …Or maybe he's an American spy. Let's see what I can glean about 'his world', the lies are bound to fall apart eventually.
"How is the war against the BETA in your world? From these reports, it looks as if it wasn't going as badly as it's here."
"There's no BETA in my world."
…
There's no BETA… He said it so earnestly. No doubt anywhere in him. It took a while for what he said to sink in.
"What do you mean? You already eradicated them?!"
"No, they never existed in the first place. I was super shocked the first time I came here and you told me about them, it seemed so surreal." He nods slowly with a hint of a smile in his face.
"Wait, so if there's no BETA in your world, what do they use the TSFs for?"
"We also don't have real TSFs there."
"Shirogane, you know lying about that is pointless? Here says that you have Raptors in your world. You yourself said that just now. Are you dumb?"
He picks some papers from the stack and hands them to me. There are many images of jets in it. Wait, is this…
"Instead of TSFs, you developed advanced fighter jets? Of course, without the BETA air superiority would be the key to warfare." It makes complete sense.
"I was surprised when I learned our jets shared names and characteristics with some TSF from here." Still making small nods, he continues to smile for some reason.
"You said just now that you didn't have 'real TSFs' over there. What did that mean?" All of this is truly surprising, the information he brought about the stealth technology of his world is truly something else.
Anti-radar paint? Who would have thought about it? I would have guessed it had to be something in its hardware or an active jamming signal, but paint? Also, using only infrared signals for communication to avoid detection? That's truly interesting. Blinding oneself to blind the enemy, what an interesting idea.
A spy would never come to me with so much juicy intel. He must be then telling the truth. Unless… all of this is forged.
He's taking a box out of his bag now. What is that thing? Play… Stallion? Is that how it's pronounced, perhaps?
"Whatever is that supposed to be, Shirogane?"
"This, Sensei, is what allowed you to complete your theory." He has a giant grin plastered on his face as he gives little pats to the box in question.
"What?! That weird black thing?"
"Yes, one program in this thing gave my world's you the idea."
"How so? That doesn't look like a normal computer, it can't be too powerful given its size."
"Do we have televisions in the base?"
"Yes, but I don't have one here." Televisions, and not monitors? "Can you tell me what that thing does? Why is it called Play Stallion 2? Where's number one?"
"This thing is a game console. We play games with it."
"Are you serious? This hardware is… for recreation? How expensive is it?"
"It's not as expensive as it was a few years ago. It's rather affordable, not as much as this one though." He takes a small brick-like object from the bag. Game Guy, it says.
"This looks like a Pleiades. This is also a game console thing?"
"Yeah, it's the old version of the Game Guy. Now we have a Color version and an Advanced version with a bigger screen and colors instead of just black and white. Here, push the power button." He hands me the brick, I take a moment to examine it. Since it doesn't look dangerous, I slightly tap the power button.
The screen lights up as a sound plays. This looks sharper than anything I've seen before. What the… Are those TSFs? They're shooting lasers?!
"Shirogane, you have laser weapons in your world?!"
"Of course we don't! That's just a sci-fi game, Valgern-On. It's like a TSF simulator. Here, push the start button, you play with the A and B buttons while moving with the D-Pad."
A small TSF moves in the screen, shooting at other TSFs. Why did they make a simulator for Anti-TSF combat? W-What is this thing? Why are they shooting so many bullets at me, and why am I the only one fighting them? This moves too fast, how am I even-
BOOM!
[SHIELDS DEPLETED – PLAYER 1 KILLED]
"Ah, you died. You're not very good at this." He's mocking me, isn't he?
"I can't believe America would make a game out of this kind of thing." Really, those Americans are the same even in other parallel worlds.
"Um, Sensei? This was made in Japan."
"What?!"
"Look at the back of it, it says 'Made In Japan', right?" He's right. So this is a Japanese invention? "The game was also made in Japan, by the way." What kind of country is your Japan anyways? They're disguising combat simulators as games?
"But why is it made to fight against other TSFs?"
"It's the setting of the first game. If you want to fight the BETA…" He takes out a small box from the bag. "I have this version for you. Valgern-On Oratory Tango! This version is just like the TSFs simulators you should have on the base."
There was an image on the box, it read the name of the game and there were some TSFs on the cover. Wait, is that a Takemikazuchi? What a coincidence, something that doesn't exist over there is on this image. And it just so happens to be the exclusive TSF of the Royal Guard, huh.
"You said to fight the BETA… So, do they exist in your world or not?"
"As sci-fi monsters. There's a reason for that, I'll explain it in due time." More of this. I don't like all the things he's hiding from me.
"And with a monitor to connect it to, you can show me this second simulator?"
"I don't know how good the resolution of the TVs here is, but we should at least be able to get the thing running." Again, televisions and not monitors. Hmm…
"This is… just too surreal. Is the second one made in Japan too?"
"Yeah, of course. I also have two more games here, a stealth one and an army simulator one." He takes out two more boxes from the box, one with colorful knights and the other with a soldier holding a rifle.
"Why did you even bring those things here in the first place?"
"First as proof of me being someone from another world. Last time I didn't have any, so you didn't really believe me until something I told you would happen eventually happened. The second is because I was hoping to use them to aid future Cadets. On one occasion I ended up showing my Game Guy to my squadmates here, and while it was kind of a problem I think it did have its merits as a training method when I thought about it."
"Merits? For example?"
"For example, making them think about the sacrifices in war like sending someone to a certain death to allow a company to escape. Or methods to fight without being noticed, and stealth tactics as a whole." These things sound less like games and more like military software to me. And you tell me this is sold to civilians?! "And, most importantly, it can turn anyone into an exceptional surface pilot."
"Anyone? What do you mean? Why would they make such a program if they do not have TSFs?" This is making less sense every second. It's truly interesting, that's for sure.
"When I came to this world for the first time I was just a normal person. Despite that, I had the highest aptitude not only from the members of my squad but from all Cadets that had graduated here." He sticks out his chest, arms folded as he smiles. "And that's all thanks to the first version of Valgern-On, I was really good at it. Just with that, I managed to become an above average pilot even if my fighting style is very… weird."
"And you say you learned by playing this game?"
"Yes, the controls weren't exactly the same but once I got used to them I could replicate the game's moves with any TSF."
"And the second version is any better?" He smirks at me.
"It's literally like a TSF simulator. The controls are still not exactly the same, but the principles should be even better."
"So you brought this here, hoping to use this as a bargaining tool to get me to help you?"
"Yes, but that's not all." He's saying he still has more things up his sleeve? "I want you to make a new OS for our TSFs."
"A new OS? Why would I?"
"Because we will get at least a 30% boost in mobility, lessen our casualties, and you can use it to get the XG."
"This is something you did in the past here?"
He starts explaining me about what he wants me to change, about how I used a certain something from the Alternative IV project as a test while developing the OS, and the results it gave us.
"Are you sure of this? What about changing history?" I ask, sizing him up. He nods my way without losing the smile he had been wearing for a while now.
"We won't be changing history, we will just gather data for a longer period of time. We can reveal the OS to the rest of the world when the time is right. Until then, we keep it under wraps." He seems to know his stuff, but can I really trust him?
"This is nice and all, with all the information you've given me. But you still haven't told me how you're going to help me with my research. Do you have the complete theory with you or a hint about what I'm doing wrong?"
"I have shown you a lot of info to prove who I am, so I'd like to ask you to complete the OS before that."
You have some nerve, Shirogane. Bossing me around, telling me what to do. Alternative IV is more important than some new OS. You think you can demand such things when you're hiding so much from me?
"What was that? My research is more important than-"
"What if I told you I have not one, but two theories you developed?" What did he just say? He takes out two pages from his bag. Just how many things does he have there?
"These are the first pages of both of those theories. I think this will be proof enough. Make the new OS for me and let me actively help you, and I'll give you the rest."
He sure is full of himself. Just who does he think he is, talking to me like that? He better not be a spy because-
…?
"So… What do you think? Are you willing to at least give me the benefit of the doubt?"
…!
"…Um, Sensei?"
What is this?! White matter resonance simulation? Emotional linkage?
"…Sensei? Sensei! Earth to Yuuko-sensei!"
These refutations to my current approach… these diagrams… it's just the beginning but, surely, this is what I've been trying to reach! No, the second page goes beyond what I thought was possible.
"…Shirogane, I suppose you don't plan on handing over the rest of the theories, do you?"
"No, I'd like you to agree to the deal I proposed you." He replies, folding his arms again and giving me a serious gaze back.
As much as I'd like to get my hands on them right now, I shouldn't strain my relationship with him from the start. Yashiro hasn't sent anything, so he's telling the truth or at least he's not a threat to me. And anyways, I can get my hands on the papers once he's busy. He can't keep that bag by his side all day long.
"Alright. You have a deal. But I expect you to honor your part of it. If you are lying about this, I swear to you that no death will be worse than the fate I'll put you through."
"I wouldn't dream of it." He shrugs as he closes his bag and sits on a sofa after I signal to it. I sit too and, after letting a sigh out, I gather my thoughts on what should be done next.
"…Let's get this business started then. I can make you a 1st Lieutenant at most, and assign you under my direct command as part of the Alternative IV Research Team. Is that alright with you?"
"What?! No, can we just go with the usual route?" Did I surprise him with my proposition?
"The usual route? What did I have you do in the other worlds?"
"You made me part of the 207th Cadet Squad, to disguise me from prying eyes."
"That's nice, if I say so myself. So you want to be a Cadet, despite already having experience piloting a TSF?" I wonder why… Maybe you have an ulterior motive?
"I believe Squad 207 to be of importance to our future, if they become commissioned then our firepower will greatly improve. That's without taking into account using the Stallion to train them before the CCSE, or applying the concepts of Valgern-On onto the TSF's OS."
"…I see. However, you do know they're a complicated team, right? Their circumstances…"
"I know them well. And even then I think that's where I can help you the most now. Otherwise, I'd have to stay locked up in the lower floors all the time."
"Personally, I don't think that's a bad idea. With all the knowledge you say you have I wouldn't want anyone laying their eyes on you." I smile at him while chuckling, he just scratches his head.
But I can see what he means. Squad 207B is a very capable team, if they pass the CCSE and are trained well they might become good reinforcements for the Valkyries. If only they could get commissioned, that is. Yashiro hasn't contacted me so I suppose he isn't lying here either.
"I also would like to ask you to clean my records throughly." He adds some seconds later, leaning forward.
"Why is that? Are you doubting me?"
"All the times I've come here the Shogunate realized that something was wrong with me, since you couldn't modify their databases. It never became much of a problem but… better safe than sorry, right?"
"I see. Yes, you're right. I shouldn't underestimate the Shogunate. All right, we have a deal. I'll add you to Squad 207, I'll also give you a security pass with almost the same rank as me, but restricted access to secret documents. Is that alright with you?"
"Yes, it's what we usually did."
"Let's get started with all the paperwork then. I have a lot of questions to ask you later, and I want to see this Stallion thing running."
Same day. Around 8 PM.
(Barracks. Takeru's room.)
[Takeru]
And here should be fine, doubt anyone would go looking behind this in my closet. With this nobody will find the Minaru Kamui I brought.
I guess with this I finished ordering my room. I left most of the things I brought with Sensei so there's not much to order anyways.
I put my UN uniforms in the closet, and put my box with the medal and the GR card on the desk's drawer. Sensei asked me to keep the Stallion and the Game Guy until she arranged a room for their testing, so I'm keeping them under the bed.
I forgot about the Santa Rabbit. I should have gone to give it to Sumika after I left the office. Oh well, I'll go tomorrow.
…Man, it feels like home. I sit on the bed as I look at my room, a grin spreads through my face. I'm really lucky to have come back to the start, this way I can make sure things end up differently this time. I'm saving both worlds, hell yeah!
But Sensei seemed weird. She looked as… She looked like the day she broke down drowning herself in alcohol. I wonder if things are not going so good. Maybe I never noticed since I was so full of myself, maybe my change in attitude allowed me to see a bit of her true feelings?
Well, she said that tomorrow Marimo-chan will come pick me up before roll call to take me to the gym to make the oath. We did do all the paperwork today and she asked me about my experiences, the XM3 and my abilities with a TSF. Then we tested the Stallion and she was super shocked with it. Luckily, the resolution was good enough to appreciate the graphics. I think she was more surprised with CryRing Saga than Valgern-On. But after playing all games on the Stallion and the Game Guy for awhile, she agreed that they hold some merit for training Cadets.
I requested her to make more of these if it were possible, but in the meantime I have to hold onto both consoles. It would be pointless to try to train my squad with just one of each.
All right, what do I do now? I already ate with Sensei while she was testing the Stallion.
Maybe going for a run in the field? Yeah, it'll hammer home the feeling of being back, running there again. I also need to think on whether I want to hold back or go with everything from the start. Last time I held back, but I didn't improve much. Let's try being serious this time, and if they ask me I'll tell them that I can aid them reach my level. That way I'll be both a teacher and a rival to them.
Sensei made up a story about me being some leftover Cadet from a special unit from abroad, that was sent here in a hurry after an accident. She blocked most of my information behind an S5 security lock, which means only her, the CO and just a few others can see it.
Should I go jogging with the uniform or with my clothes? Sensei told me it was alright to remain with these clothes since she would inform people that I was her 'special protegee'.
Oh, whatever! If someone asks I'll just introduce myself and deal with it! It's not the end of the world.
Walking through these halls again makes me feel really nostalgic. The last time I was here, everything was in such bad shape. Don't worry Yokohama Base! This time no BETA will harm you!
Reaching the usual door, I go into the track field. Alright, how much do I run? Ten minutes? Fifteen? Let's go for fifteen at a moderate pace. But before that, stretching.
After that, I start jogging lightly. Man, remember when I couldn't run even two klicks? I even fell down when I did a full gear march for the first time. I surely didn't expect all that followed.
Who would I be right now if I hadn't come to this world? Would I have turned into a jerk like my Dad? I mean, I was already kind of dick back in school. I thought that coming here was a curse, at first. But maybe this was a blessing, in a way. I have to take things more seriously this time and be sure to help Sensei for real, instead of just complaining about everything.
All right! Let's speed up a bit! I'll sing along the opening of that anime I was watching during summer break, it's just perfect for jogging sessions.
"Going! Going! Towards the Light! Yo, Going! Going! Believing in it! Let's turn those hidden feelings into a source of strength! Do it!" Yep, even if it's at night this feels like going back to the old kindergarten or Pee Park. Shirogane is back baby! "Going! Going! To the future! Yo, Going! Going! To-"
"Excuse me!" Someone shouts, startling me and making me trip with myself.
I end up kissing the ground. Look Earth, you're a wonderful planet and I don't know what I would do without you, but I don't think this kind of relationship would work between us.
That hurt, dammit. Who thought that calling out to me so loudly would be a good idea?!
"I'm sorry, are you alright? I did not meant to startle you so." That voice…
I shivered for a sec on the ground. I gulped as I slowly rose up, taking a brief glance towards the voice's owner.
Meiya.
Of course, her independent training. I always forget about it. Thank God I'm lying on the floor, if I saw her without warning I might have teared up. After dusting my clothes, sighing heavily and taking a deep breath, I stand up.
"I'm alright, you just surprised me shouting out of the blue." Yep, she's Meiya. The hair, face and voice. Well, duh, of course she is here at this point in time. Sigh… Hold that giddy feeling in your neck. Don't lose your cool.
"I see. Forgive for me surprising you. Now, may I ask who you are and what are you doing here?" Her voice changed to a cold, severe tone as she gave me a side glance.
Right, an unknown face in unknown clothes is running in the track field when she came to train, of course she would be suspicious of me. I give a salute before speaking up.
"I'm Takeru Shirogane. I was assigned to this base today, and I was jogging a bit before going to bed. Who would you be?" She stands upright and returns the salute.
"I'm Cadet Meiya Mitsurugi of the 207th Cadet Squad. You said you were assigned here today? You seem to be around my age, what is your rank?"
"I'm also a Cadet, though I wasn't informed about which surface pilot training squad I'll be joining." That's a lie, Sensei told me to keep our arrangement a secret and act around the Instructor as if I didn't knew to which squad I was assigned to.
"Is that so? That means you'll join our squad, since there aren't other Cadet squads training to become pilots here right now as far as I know. Forgive me for interrupting you, Shirogane. Do you have some militar experience?"
"Why do you ask?" Why this question out of nowhere? Of all the possible questions…
"You seem to have good stamina, and your posture is… well, it doesn't look like you're a greenhorn." Oh, so that's what that was.
"Yes, I do have some experience. I was trained before coming here, but I didn't get to take a CCSE yet." Otherwise I can't explain why I'm still a Cadet.
"Oh? I thought you would have already done one, at least."
"Huh? Why would you said that?"
"Your posture, your physique. Also, you were running quite fast when I approached you. Truth be told, I was slightly surprised when I first saw your silhouette in the distance. I mistaked you for one of my squadmates at first, but then you started to run even faster."
She was surprised by my light jogging? I wasn't even trying to get speed, I was just warming up.
"By the way, may I ask you what were you saying while you were running? It seemed as if you were mixing English and Japanese…" She gives me a side glance as she waits for my answer.
"Oh, that's… a song the guys at my old squad sang to hype themselves up."
"Hype?" Oh shit, not this again!
"It means to motivate oneself to the edge. We sang that whenever training got difficult."
"I see, so it was to raise morale. A song to unite a squad, that's a very nice idea. They must be very good people."
"Yes, they… were…"
"Did I… say something I shouldn't have?" Always so considerate, Meiya.
"No, just… Don't worry about it."
"If you say so. Shirogane, would you like to jog along with me? I was about to do some independent training."
"Sure, but I already warmed up so I'll keep jogging seriously."
"Seriously? You mean… you'll keep running as fast as when I called out to you? You will not be able to keep it up for long." She folds her arms and looks at me like my Mom when I used to tell her I didn't do my homework. What's up with her?
"I can keep that speed without problems." It was just my usual jogging speed, it's not like I'm seriously running either. I might be in good shape but I'm no marathoner.
"Oho? Don't know if you're boasting, but I'd like to see that. By the way, before we start, may I ask why is your uniform different?"
"This is just a generic uniform I was given until I got here. I haven't changed into the UN's one yet."
"A generic one? This looks to be made out of good materials, however. Even the boots are nicer than any I've seen. Ah, forgive me! I wasn't trying to pry."
"Don't worry, it's not like I didn't expect to be asked questions about it. Well, shall we start?"
She nods with a small smile and we started jogging.
Or at least I did, because Meiya is just… kinda jogging really slow. She looks surprised, but is smiling for some reason. Her smile slowly faded as I kept going and going. I slow down at a turn when I got close to her.
"What's up? You look troubled."
"It's just… You were not jesting regarding your stamina. Are you certain you will not be inconvenienced tomorrow?"
"No? Why would I?"
"Our training is truly harsh, I'll have you know. If you don't properly manage your energy you won't be able to complete even the morning run."
"What are you doing? Thirty klicks on full gear?" Now that would be a nice challenge!
"Of course not, we're doing fifteen. One half without gear and the other with half gear. And after that some combat training. However, were you to exhaust all your stamina right now, tomorrow you shall assuredly have difficulties to complete the training."
"Thanks for the warning, but I'm used to being drilled to the ground. Besides, fifteen klicks without full gear is nothing." After my training with Maya-san this will be child's play. I also started jogging more seriously during the mornings, so no problems with my stamina!
I speed up again, leaving Meiya behind. At some point, however, she started running to try to catch up to me. Wasn't she the one who said we should conserve our stamina?
"Why are you running so hard?"
"No reason!" She's lying. Is her pride telling her to not lose to me?
She couldn't keep it up for longer than a lap before she had to slow down. Sweating badly, looks like she has trouble regaining her breath. She went an exhausted herself, always doing extreme things. Haha, glad to see you're still you.
…Glad to see can begin again, Meiya. And don't worry, this time… I'll do my share.
"Who was the one who said we should conserve our stamina again?" I stopped jogging and approached her. She's bending forward holding her knees, to think the day I got so far ahead from this Meiya would come.
"I… I wanted to see… wheeze… how much I could run at that speed. You must have had a very strict training, Shirogane." Yes, Maya-san was truly strict with me. She is the best teacher ever, sorry Tsukuyomi-san.
"I had a very good Instructor, that's all. But are you alright, Meiya?" She looks at me with her mouth slightly open. Oh, right. "Sorry, I have a bad habit of calling people by their names."
"You're aware of it and haven't fixed it? Well, anyways…" She returns herself upright, running a hand over her hair and closing her eyes for a second. "Sigh… Shirogane, I'm glad you'll be joining our squad. With such a capable member we're sure to improve much during our training. Don't think you'll have the advantage just because of your superior stamina." She smirks while laughing.
Oh girl, just wait until I show you what I learned from Maya-sensei! I am looking forward to sparring with her now that I know a bit of the Mugen Kidou. Here's hoping we can both improve much in this way.
"I'll try my best not to fall behind. By the way, could you tell me a little bit about the squad? Things I should look out for, questions I shouldn't ask, things like that." Let's try to break the ice nicely this time around.
"Hmm, yes. You should always try to be serious around our Squad Leader, she's very hardworking so if she sees you not taking the training seriously you'll be made to hear a lecture from her." Yes, that's our Chizuru alright. "Then, I suggest you don't pry too much into our personal business. We are very… reserved about that." Yes, the whole 'non-interference' policy. "And lastly, don't ever be late for roll call. Our Instructor is truly fearsome whenever she becomes upset. You also should always pay attention during lectures, unless you want to spend the whole afternoon doing squats."
"I see, thanks for the tips Meiya." She sighs as she looks at me with a troubled expression, putting her hands on her waist.
"Shirogane you should also try to correct that habit of yours. I personally do not mind much, but others might not be so lenient with you."
"Alright, got it. I'll try to be more conscious of it. But manners are not my thing, so chances are I'll end up doing it anyways." Especially because you all will act like you did in my past loops, and you can't expect me to just forget about our relationships just like that.
"So long as you try I think you'll be fine. But it is truly surprising, are you not tired after running at such speed?"
"Not really, this was like my daily morning routine before coming here." Surprise floods her face. Is it really that weird?
"Running in such manner was your morning exercise?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Though of course, I didn't always have the luck to run in an open, even field." While running on the street is not bad, I sometimes went to a park to run. The difference between having to climb stairs and dodge roots is gigantic.
"You didn't run in a field? Where did you run then?" I don't think I can say 'park' and not make her suspicious.
"We got some obstacles in the way, to make us jump, sidestep and do other movements while we ran." Kinda like what we did in PE, I think?
"I see, that must have been hard. But the results are amazing, you truly have more stamina than us. I can't wait to see how you perform tomorrow."
"Same here. Well, I'll be going back to my room."
"Then, let's go together. I don't think I can keep jogging like this." She wipes the sweat off her face. Will she be alright tomorrow? "Where is your room, Shirogane?"
"It's the second room to the right after you arrive to the barracks."
"So it's to the other side of our rooms."
"For real?"
"Yes, our rooms are all down the left corridor. Maybe it's because you're male?" Right, everybody else is female. So it's obvious why they put me away from them.
"So all the other members are women?" Not like I didn't already knew it, but not asking would be kinda suspicious, I guess.
"Yes, it is weird to see a male recruit in this day and age at this point in the year."
"Huh, neat."
"Um, may I ask why do you employ such odds words? What is 'neat' supposed to mean?" She folds her arms, giving me one of her firm gazes.
"Oh, it's just the slang of where I was before coming here. Neat is, like, something cool or nice."
"…I see." Going by those lowered brows, I think she didn't get it. I forgot how cute she looks when she's lost. "Oh, right. Do you know your way around the base?" Nice to see you're still considerate to a fault, too.
"Yes, I already got the tour. Tomorrow morning I think I'll have to take the oath before joining you guys."
"Then that will make things easier. We eat at the third PX, the one that's on the right wing of the Base. We'll take you there after our morning routine, in case you don't know where it is."
"Don't worry, I probably can manage."
We did some small talk about my exercises and how were the people of the squad. She didn't give me any names, but I could recognize who she was talking about. It seems everything is the same as before. Now, starting tomorrow, I'll do my best to drive all of you to your top potential. This time I won't let all of you die!
So let's take a shower and go to sleep early, since I have to take the oath again. I've done that so many times that I remember it perfectly. Let's hope I can start our relationships with the right foot.
Same Day. 10:11 PM.
(Floor B26. Engineers' Office.)
[Yuuko]
"These are the details on the Anti-Radar Paint I informed you about, along with the data on the specs and functions the new radar and engine should have. Here's the schematics for the other projects we've discussed." I hand the folders to the Lead Engineer, whose current expression resembles Yashiro's when I ask her to fix the compilers, eyes wide and sorta wavering at the amount of work suddenly placed on the timeline. "That is all. I want all of this built, tested and working as soon as possible."
"Yes, Professor. But might I ask when did you develop these plans? Had you notified us beforehand-" I raise a hand to stop him.
"It matters not. You could say I had a… sudden revelation. I do apologize if this is too much work for you." Trying to sound cheery, but with a hint of annoyance, I took a glance sideways to the man, who seems to have understood the message.
"We will pour all of our might into these projects. We'll make results appear as fast as we can." He tries to give me a salute, but I stop him. He then goes into the main engineering room of the floor.
Now that's taken care of let's return to the office. I want to reread those two pages Shirogane gave me, just in case I missed anything.
We spent two hours doing all the paperwork. He knew all the questions I threw at him, and he already knew where to sign and what he was signing.
After that, I asked him to tell me all he could about his condition and what he went through in the past. He remembers many different events from his 'first' time in this world, even when he knows that it would be impossible that some things happened at the same time. He says that what happened after the operations of Alternative V is still kinda blurry to him, but he knows he kept fighting after his squad got wiped out and that he fought in a new team with American and French troops.
Then we tried these 'game consoles' things, and I'm convinced that they must have been some sort of military software to scout possible recruits. Why else would they make such a war simulator? Permanent death of your soldiers, limited funds and weaponry, complex and diverse missions, and a story about how political influence and old grudges breaks a nation from the inside, it's hard to believe anyone thinks of this as a game.
Well, Shirogane looks like he's kinda mad so maybe all people over there are also insane.
However, the most impressive of all was the TSF simulator. Similar to the ones we have here, but even better. It had more TSFs, weapons, and missions than ours, and four different modes to execute them, Shirogane called them 'difficulty settings'. The maneuvers of the TSFs on the screen were unbelievable, to think we could do the same in reality is just too good to be true. But if we succeeded, then like Shirogane said the new OS would become a very important tool for me. He said that the BETA appearing in the 'game' were caused by what went wrong in his world, and that he'll give me the full explanation once I can fully trust him.
Also, Yashiro didn't contact me during our talks and she reported he didn't lie nor had ill intentions in him.
I don't like how he is in control right now, but all he said seemed to be true. He also seems to have a good head on his shoulders, so I suppose treating him like an equal is not such a big compromise. Even if all of this is nothing but lies, the ideas he gave me will definitely yield good results. Of course, if he isn't lying and has two completed theories I've developed in the future of his world, then I'll be able to reverse this situation. I should start thinking on which unit I'll base the testings of the stealth tech and the OS, maybe I should ask him what he recommends.
However, it's surprising he's so chipper. He said he was happy to be back, to have another shot at this. Does he know what he's getting into? If he is a conductor then I suppose he should, but to be so openly joyful? What happened during that critical mission he spoke of? Did his team infiltrate Sadogashima and all the rest died?
Well, regardless of what happened in that future, I have a task to fulfill now. Developing this new OS shouldn't pose too much trouble, but I still should ask him to be the test pilot. I doubt Marimo or Isumi could pull the moves from that game, even if they were serious. It will be a nice test to see if his piloting skills are as good as he claims. It should also be a nice test for what I have developed so far, and a way to kill time and stop focusing so much on how stuck I am now. And when he goes to train with the cadets tomorrow, I'll 'borrow' the theories for a bit, just to quell my curiosity. It's not like I can't deal with both the OS and the research at the same time.
As I enter my office I see a pair of bunny ears waiting inside.
"Yashiro? What is it? You already sent your report. Did something else happen?" I can't tell what goes on her head most of the time, but if she came personally to see me it must be something serious.
"Sumika-san reacted to this boy. She seems to remember him but… All I could feel was an overflowing amount of sadness." Yashiro looked dejected, it's strange for her to show any kind of emotions.
"So she reacted to him, huh. Did you tell her who he was or did you show her images of him?" She hands me a paper, let's see what the readings say.
"I told her about who he was and how he looked. She went into shock immediately. What should I do?" She is fearful, this is news to me too.
We never got any reading as strong as this from the test subject, going by this paper she just handed me. Shirogane, you just got more interesting. Guess that part about fixing the zero wasn't a lie. Now I really want to know what's in that bag you brought.
"Nothing. I believe he is our ally. Do be careful around him, if you sense anything dangerous notify me as soon as you're able, without him noticing."
"Understood." She then turns around and tries to leave.
"Wait Yashiro. I need your help with something." The bunny ears move as she faces me again.
"What do you need?"
"Some programming and debugging." Her bunny ears dropped as did her eyelids, it looked as if she were bracing for another long night going by how her hands tightly grasped her dress for but a second. "But first, try this out. It'll be easier than explaining all of this in detail."
I hand her one of the joystick things and power up the device, she sits down on a sofa in front of the TV I ordered to be delivered.
I spent the next half an hour holding my laughter as Yashiro made impressed, terrified and sad faces as her cute yelps echoed in my office. She was even worse than me at this Valgern-On game. But it seems she understood what I'm asking of her.
To use my research for improving TSFs, Shirogane this better yield the results you promised or you'll pay for trying to fool me. I should double check his cover, let's wipe the profiles and reports of this world's Shirogane. I may need to use an important favor for this, but it will be worthy if he is indeed on my side.
And it will work as a final test to make sure he isn't a spy.