Chapter 2: The Foreboding
At the gentle grace of the trickling new day sun, Ai realized somewhere in his conscious that morning had come at last… though how even that knew so much was questionable in itself.
For the young man had spent the entire after-sleep in a state of wandering reverie… a prisoner to his drifting thoughts. Thoughts of times past mainly, for there was little thought towards that of the future, because it was the past that held his heart. A past that more often than not, refused to let him go.
Even so… it was ironic that his very mission was for the future. A future without Mew…
Was such a future? He had thought about this often enough, surely somehow and in some way, he had already forgiven himself. Surely he had been comforted in the continuation of their memories, even after death… but… even then, he was riding the ever uncertainties of the dream. The dream… not even his, as he was just an aspect of it. And as such, it wasn't really comforting at all.
Enough… it was enough. If the sun had shown its face, then he should check upon his brother. After all, he seemed to need less sleep that Ai did, and as of lately, neither of them rested much given the fact they were always moving.
With that thought in mind, he removed himself from the railing on which he had rested as he observed the haunting darkness of the mountain. A darkness that only came from the absence of light, for what mountain with such soul calming qualities could possibly emanate something against its very nature? There was no such.
Feeling dejected by his own thoughts and blaming his retreat on curiosity of his brother's whereabouts, he excused himself from the outside and returned to the room before. However, upon entry into the room, he found it no different than he had left it. It was odd that Zero would still sleep, but that was just as well.
They had a lot to do today.
Without a care of returning willingly to the ghosts of his past, he sat upon his futon and rested against the wall behind him. If anything, just a touch of silence wouldn't hurt.
After all, there was still time.
A.D.C. Pacific Research Center
Code Sequencing and Genetic Manipulation
Facility D-7
Just as with the loading bay and the code deciphering rooms from below, the core room of Facility D-7 was a bustle of activity.
All around, technicians and coordinators were swarming about the room in a dizzying kaleidoscopic pattern of white, blues, and other various colors designations, flitting about the different technical stations and machinery.
Much like the code room, the core of the CSGM was a pillar of technological significance, where crowned by an interwoven mass of cutting edge equipment, sat that of an open containment unit. A containment unit typical of ones used to test fusional energies. A chamber that at the moment, sat empty.
However, around it was everything but empty, as hordes of people made every attempt to ready it for whatever purpose it would undertake.
Meanwhile, on the far end of the room, the sealed box from the loading bay had arrived oh the freight elevator. As opposed to earlier, only a loose handful of people accompanied it upon the transport unit. Two of which were firmly intent upon the container's content.
One, a man in his thirties, seemed particularly invested, from his firm facial expression and his professional stature. The other, an able bodied assistant, who seemed to be in her late twenties, with her trailing black her secured away from her face and her eyes that were hidden behind a specialized visor. As it was, she seemed to be staring past the metal container and into the contents itself.
"I've established a data fixation upon the object in question, Doctor." She stated calmly as she adjusted the settings on the visor. "Beginning in-depth analysis on networking and system functionality in three, two, one… now."
"Excellent. Start a sequential frame diagnostic sweep first, then a more thorough working of the interior." He lifted his eyes from the numbers of his notebook computer and addressed her directly. "Miss nothing. If the data appears flawed in any nature, do not hold your tongue."
"Yes Akira Sens- er… Doctor."
"Emiko… concentrate."
"Yes sir…" Apparently having about to have said something in error, she let slip the slightest of a sigh while compounding the analysis. As the silence was awkward, she decided to change the topic. "What of Doctor Watabe? Why isn't he here? I thought of anybody, surely the Doctor…"
"That man isn't our worry…" replied Doctor Akira coldly. "He has an agenda to fulfill. Besides, if he is not here to oversee that which he initiated, then it is not his concern of the moment.
"Now continue with a clear vision. There's no time for error."
Dr. Watabe watched the helicopter until it was distant in the horizon before making his way back to the facility. If things were progressing as they should, it was only a matter of time before the container was readied for submersion. Of course, before that, the integration of its faculties into the spinal network of D-7's core was essential.
Given the amount of time it took in the trials, it would still be another twenty minutes before synchronization between the system and the delivery. Even then, twenty minutes seemed excessive, especially when perfection was a must.
Still… it was best if he was there to supervise. There was no telling how truly capable his understudies, even if they were at the top.
Dr. Akira stepped back as the large container was lifted from the back of the transport by the large restrainer unit that was just one of the many aspects of the central control network pillar known simply as the core. As such, this machine's purpose was to raise the container carefully to a height roughly ten meters high, to prepare it for the unsealing process.
Once it had ascended to the predetermined height, all needed was final systems confirmation.
"Emiko… run core diagnostics and check seal composition of the tank walls."
"Yes, Doctor…"
After several minutes longer, she raised her visor and stepped back from the edge of a half ellipse groove resting around the middle of the front part of the core base.
"All data of the system and the containment structure checks normal. The restrainer appears to be readying for submersion protocol. Shall we proceed to fluid preparation? Lift walls and seal members are engaged, we're ready for the containment wall."
"Then by all means," they turned to see Dr. Watabe crossing over towards them, "let's not dally further, and elevate the containment structure." Watabe smiled at Akira's bitter scoff and replied in a higher spirit. "You disappoint me doctor… I had almost expected this to be finished prior to my arrival. It seems as though you're not up to the task at hand."
"Hm…" started Dr. Akira with restrained animosity and a professional composure, "Perhaps if you had delayed your own obligations longer, then we would have accomplished that much."
"Yes, but to be late to the key start of my own project… I'd rather not. For you to get the glory of the moment would be unfortunate… to say the least."
"It pleases me that you think of your partner as so dependable." said Akira with a frown. "But too much false flattery may result in others thinking the less of me."
"Yes, such would be a sin." Dr. Watabe adjusted his glasses and looked at the core device and the large metal box that had elevated to its predetermined height. "Since we'll leave it as that, you may ready submersion protocol 1679."
Dr. Akira gave a curt nod in Watabe's general direction and stepped forward. As it was, the various technicians had already receded back as Emiko had attached her visor to the main system of the core. At this point, it was already pointless to tell her to begin, so he just made the gesture for confirmation.
Emiko nodded. "Acknowledged… doctor."
At that, the area at the front of the core began to shudder as the ground within the half-ellipse parted and rose. Much at the same time, an electric whirl of gears and machinery sounded to life, and began to lift that of a transparent polymer shield of the same shape at a hand's width thickness. Likewise to the gears coming to life, ports in the front of the core that was to be closed off began to open, and a gentle rushing echo resounded from within.
Once in its place as a sealed enclosure, only then did the echo reveal itself as a rushing fluid that rapidly began to flood the enclosure.
"Now then," spoke Dr. Akira with a hint of a smile, "cease the jets, and begin the unsealing process." Then under his breath, "Let's see if our hassle pays off."
At the stop of the fluid jets, the restrainer began to lower the container into the liquid below, which immediately began attacking the metal seals as would acid to foil.
Mere milliseconds later, with its seals compromised, the container broke open, flooding the yellowish pallor of the liquid with a dark red billow of conflicting liquids that obscured all eyes.
And as the cast metal casing was pulled from the murky waters, the conflict began to clear as well, resulting in a smile on Dr. Watabe's face.
"Magnificent."
"It is magnificent, isn't it?" Ai looked to his brother standing further away. "This tree…"
Zero nodded as Ai patted the tree, the greatest of the relics of the mountain. Despite his brother letting him sleep longer, the rest he got didn't help abate the fatigue. Though, at this point… it seemed less physical, and more of something else… something a feeling? Whatever, it was something he just couldn't shake himself free of.
"Yeah." He replied distractedly.
"Brother?"
"Ah…" Zero seemed to regain his composure to his normal smiling self. "It's nothing Ai-chan. Just a stray thought of sorts."
Zero receded under the stare of inquiry he got in return, but held his mental ground as best he could. With any luck, his little brother would simply ignore him as usual. When Ai sighed and looked elsewhere, Zero felt a hint of relief.
Whatever this feeling, he didn't want it to affect their mission in the slightest. "So then… ready Ai-chan?"
"Are you?"
"What?"
Ai shook his head. "It's nothing I guess. Just you being weird I suppose."
"I guess so," Zero replied laughing a bit before sobering up. "Then let's get started."
Ai said nothing but retreated to the far side of the tree and closed his eyes. If this was to work, he needed absolute unity with his powers, despite the level of control he already possessed; even one flaw in their efforts may affect the entire outcome. It was something they couldn't risk… error. Especially considering…
Ai closed his mind off from the world to better his focus. After all, it was his job to form the barrier for stabilization, while his brother manipulated his steel Aura into that of a structural frame-networking about the tree in its entirety. And as for what he was shielding against, only that which struck the fear into that of the world unaware: Aura Radiation.
That… or in other words, enabling a pathway for Para-energy to flow freely into this world… something that once stopped by force became legendary. And that a person, even if an Aura user, to use, was truly a frightening thing.
What's more… that it was due to the 13th code segment, otherwise known by most as the Aura code's free radical. A code portion that enables the use of a frightening abilities not hindered by anything but the control of the person wielding them. A control factor that had the A.D.C. so desperate for the light code, or so one could speculate.
But thankfully, they were not of concern at the moment.
Or at least that was his hope.
Whatever, he wasn't concentrating enough.
Come to that realization, he screwed his eyes shut further, and let the light of time wash over him and the surrounding wilderness, quieting the breeze and hushing the forest inhabitants with timeless hibernation. For it was necessary, that should just a drop of Para-natural bleed into the surroundings, that not one innocent life form intercept… for just that simple an interaction could spell its undoing.
That… and the balance was crucial.
However… they knew that much… yet were willing to approach saturation with a living Aura. Why did just that much seem so wrong? But then, without saturation, the chances of establishing a bio-rhythm restoration locus were just that much further away.
By now, if his energies were like this, Zero's should be just about ready. And if it was that way, they the structuring was just about complete… as was all preparations for radiation.
And if it was like this, then it was more than likely they would do it right on the first try. And just that alone, was more than enough cause for hope in a positive future.
Watabe pushed his way through the doors to the control center/observation deck to the core below, flashing lights and klaxons heralding his arrival.
"What is this Aura spike? The containment unit-?"
An unnamed technician turned in his chair from a flashing computer monitor with direct response. "Negative sir! Containment normalized! But we are detecting a large Aura surge in mainland Japan."
"Where? And what of the unit, aren't these alarms connected to 'it'!" Watabe came out violently.
"The unit is not harmed… all panels support this!"
"But," started another scientist on hand. "It's likely that the spike caused tremors in the Aura plane… possibly with connection to the Para-natural world. Possibly… Aura radiation?"
A sudden calming realization crossed Watabe's face.
"Zerodyme… I see." He rubbed his hand subconsciously across the stubble on his cheek. "Then he has presented his hand… both he and that brother of his."
"Want that I should increase shielding to unit containment, sir?"
"No…" Watabe stated with a distant look. "You've finished implementation of the three codes, right?" The scientist nodded. "Then initiate sequencing within the unit."
"Within the unit? But that's-"
"Just do it. Even if it isn't ready, we can't let the Auras manipulate what they wish." He smiled. "And just maybe… we can establish ourselves this way. Do it!"
"Yes sir…"
Watabe looked at the screen for which the containment tank was displayed, where despite bubbles rising in the tank, nothing else could be seen.
"…implementing code designate "fusion"…"
There was a sudden shudder in the fluid, as the bubbles' flow became erratic.
"…Now!"
With that, a hand flew forth from the bubbles and pressed itself hard against the glass wall, as a set of eyes belonging to a face masked behind the bubbles jolted open.
Ai watched as his brother's Aura radiation meshed with that of the tree's energies… creating synchronous harmony between that of the tree's Aura, the Earth's rhythm, and that of the Para-natural world. In fact, it was-!
Without warning, the synchronization shredded as a spike in the working Aura fields caused both Ai and Zero to fall to their knees, both their structure and stabilization pitched to utter ruin. Leaving Zero less than enough warning to successfully prevent unnecessary radiation leakage into the unfrozen forest around them.
But luckily… for now, it was stopped.
As were their hopes… and their success.
"Dr. Watabe…" Started an assistant as he approached carefully. "Both the interference Aura pulse and the unit within D-7's core containment have cancelled out. Status abroad is unknown. However, the unit, appears to have re-entered stasis hibernation."
"I see. Then it was still too early."
"Yes… but the success of the experiment is irrefutable."
"Yes… it was." Watabe smiled as he looked down on the now silent containment unit. "Wasn't it?"
"Ai…chan…"
"B-brother…"
"Are you alright?"
Ai held his shoulder and rose to his knees. Nothing felt too bad.
"I should be."
"That's good…" said Zero as he pushed his back up against one of the trees on the forest edge.
"And you?"
"I'm not sure…"
At that, both fell silent momentarily as they attempted to come to terms with the situation mentally.
It was a while before either spoke.
"Brother…" Ai started tentatively. "What… what was that?"
Zero shook his head.
"I don't know. But for some reason, I just can't shake… the foreboding."