A/N: There is an 11-hour time difference between Brazil and Japan. So 1am in Brazil is 12 noon in Japan. Also, huge shout out to SomebodyLost, who made the fantastic new cover art for this story!
/20.06.98. 103km SW of Goiania, Brazil. Report: Sunrise at 0645 hours local time. Synchrotron radiation emissions at edge of anomaly 0.98% higher than previous reading at 0600 hours. 0700 hours, Alpha-1 unit entered anomaly; Beta-5 unit remained in base camp just outside perimeter. Satcom is nonfunctional, however radio signal is clear. Alpha-1 unit to report every five hours on the hour or as needed./
Kirihara Misaki tapped her pen against her wrist absently. The answer to the problem was staring her in the face, but her brain just couldn't get a grip on it. Maybe she was looking at it from the wrong angle. Her brow furrowed. The key was in the type of car involved, she was sure. Mifune was driving west on Gaien Higashi Dori at eighty kilometers per hour…
Another loud chorus of honks shattered her concentration, and she sighed in frustration. Turning from her desk, she looked out her window and down onto the busy street. It was a solid gridlock, and had been all morning after the announcement that the strange atmospheric shadow would reach Tokyo at noon. Despite government orders to stay where they were, and despite the fact that nearly the entire world had already survived the loss of the stars with no negative effects whatsoever, thousands were still trying to flee the city.
It was stupid. Japan was an island, and all air traffic had been grounded today. And anyway, there was nowhere to go that wasn't already beneath the mysterious shadow.
She returned to her problem. Did it matter whether the car was a manual or automatic? She didn't have that information. Her pen resumed tapping against her wrist as she thought. Distance. Where was Mifune trying to get to? If -
A sudden knock at her door startled her from her thoughts. She looked up to see her father poke his head into her room.
"Misaki, I've got to go into the office - emergency meeting," he said as he finished tying his necktie. "Call me if there's any trouble - well, not that there should be any trouble, everything should be fine - but don't go outside today, just in case. Hopefully I'll see you for dinner tonight. If not, there should still be some frozen meals left, eat without me."
"Alright. Bye," Misaki said, but her father had already left the room. She heard the front door open and shut, and frowned to herself. Emergency meetings at the Organized Crime Department were nothing unusual; and in the past week, there had been deadly riots in the United States and a few other countries, where religious extremists were proclaiming the vanishing stars to be a sign of the end of the world. No doubt the mass panic in Tokyo was causing problems that Chief Kirihara would be needed to deal with. But she'd never seen him looking so harried before.
She pushed her glasses up higher on her nose, and returned to her problem. Or tried to. She sighed; the police should have closed off the streets today, or at least made it illegal to use car horns in traffic. Where was she? That's right, Mifune -
Her cell phone rang, interrupting her thoughts once again. Misaki reached for it blindly, still focused on the papers in front of her, and flipped it open.
"Kirihara."
"Misaki, do you have to answer the phone like that? You sound so impersonal."
"Oh, sorry Kanami," Misaki said. "I didn't look at the caller ID."
"Well, who else is calling you on a Sunday morning? Anyway," her friend continued, "do you want to come over? I've got Miko today, and we're getting bored."
Misaki suppressed a sigh. She'd been too busy to spend much time with Kanami lately, but helping her friend babysit her neighbors' bratty little kid wasn't exactly her idea of a fun Sunday morning. "I don't know, I've got a ton of work to get done today."
"Come on, you can do that later; it'll take you an hour tops."
Misaki doubted that; she'd been working at it since six in the morning and hadn't made any progress at all. "My dad doesn't want me to leave the apartment; he doesn't think it's safe."
"You'll still be in the building," Kanami pointed out. She could rationalize anything. "It won't be any more dangerous in my apartment than in yours."
"Well…"
A little boy's voice in the background said, "She's just afraid I'll beat her at Super Mario Kart again."
"Was that Miko? Did he just -" She tried to tamp down a surge of indignant irritation. "I am not - tell that kid to get ready to have his butt kicked!" Little brat. He'd only beaten her once, and she'd been distracted at the time. It didn't count.
Misaki snapped her phone shut, then straightened the mess of notebook papers on her desk and closed her textbook. It looked like her calculus homework was going to have to wait until tomorrow.
1200 HOURS
Beta-5 this is Alpha-1 come in over.
Copy Alpha-1. Report.
We've advanced one click at a heading of 270 degrees with 180 degree sweeps. Breaking for lunch. No animal life to be seen anywhere not even insects.
All dead?
Negative. No dead. No living. The forest is empty.
The vegetation?
Thriving. Beta-5 it's strange. Plants are larger than outside the anomaly. Colors are more vibrant the sunlight is brighter. Almost unnatural.
Atmospheric readings?
All normal. Synchrotron radiation readings have increased by 50% relative to baseline readings at 0700. That's 50% increase. Any change outside?
Copy 50%. No change in our measurements.
Copy. Techs have collected their samples. We move out again at 1230. Over.
Roger. Next check in at 1700 hours.
1700 hours copy. Over and out.
Misaki took the corner on two wheels, mentally urging the little go-kart to speed up. Miko's kart was right on her tail; the boy was leaning forward, eyes fixed on the screen. He whipped his controller to the right as if that would somehow translate to the game, but his kart skidded out of control and right off the edge of the floating track. Misaki sped across the finish line.
"Ha!" She pumped her fist into the air.
Miko dropped his controller despondently. "Aw, man. You cheat."
"What? How do I cheat?" The kid was such a sore loser.
"You never skid around the corners."
Misaki sighed. "That's because I pick the drivers that corner well," she explained, again. "Sometimes it pays to trade speed for precision."
"Bowser's faster, he should win every time," Miko huffed.
She was about to tell him why he was wrong when Kanami's foot poked her in the back. "Miko, why don't you do some time trials, practice the courses some more," Kanami suggested. "Misaki and I will get lunch ready."
Misaki passed her controller over to Miko, who stuck his tongue out at her; she stuck her tongue out back.
"You should go easy on the kid," Kanami said once they were in the kitchen. "He's only seven. Let him win once or twice."
Misaki crossed her arms. "What? So he can learn to expect to win without having to work for it?"
Kanami just snorted. "Turn on the rice cooker, will you?"
The two girls set about making donburri bowls for lunch. Misaki was hopeless at any kind of cooking beyond boiling water, so Kanami did most of the work.
"So your dad really thinks that something's going to happen today?" Kanami asked.
Misaki shrugged. "I think he's just worried about riots. Even in the most well-organized cities, as soon as people lose their faith in authority, they lose their respect for law and order. Something as huge as the stars disappearing - I'm surprised things haven't already gotten out of hand."
"You sound like a cop already," Kanami said with a smile. "You sure you still want to join the police, if things do end up getting worse?"
"Of course! That'll just mean that I'm needed more." Misaki had never even considered another sort of career. Her mother hadn't exactly approved of her interest in police work, and maybe if she'd still been alive the decision would have been harder; but her father thought it was a good idea, and for the past several years Misaki had been working towards that one goal. "Anyway, it might just be a temporary thing; who knows. Tomorrow everything could go right back to normal."
"I hope so," Kanami said wistfully. "Not much point in becoming an astronomer if I can't even see the stars anymore."
"Astronomer? I thought you wanted to be a biologist - when did you change your mind?"
The timer on the rice cooker dinged, and Kanami went to check on it. "I don't know, a couple of weeks ago I guess." Before biology, Kanami had wanted to study medicine; before that, physics. Misaki hoped that she would at least be able to settle on something once they started college.
"Well, just because we can't see the stars doesn't mean that they aren't still there," Misaki pointed out. "Actually, this would be a great time to go into astronomy, with something unknown to study." She picked up the plate of chopped vegetables to help Kanami assemble the donburri bowls.
"That's true. I'm kind of bummed that the shadow is arriving in the middle of the day - have you seen those videos of the stars disappearing? It looks so cool."
Misaki glanced at the clock on the stove. "Almost time."
1700 HOURS
Beta-5 this is Alpha-1 come in over.
Copy Alpha-1 report.
For the last five hours we have continued on a heading of 270 degrees with 180 degree sweeps. Collecting samples and making observations. According to the map, we have traveled 1.5 clicks due west. Twenty minutes ago we arrived…resting point. Three times.
Alpha-1 we lost you for a second there. Please say again.
We have arrived at our 1200 hours resting point. A clearing with a…tree stump. Our blaze marks are on the trees leading west, but are absent…path comping from the east. We have left on the same heading…keep finding ourselves here. Landmarks change each time but site is the same.
Are you having trouble with your compass?
Negative. Compass is in good order; the sun is where it should be…life.
Alpha-1 you are breaking up. Say again.
There is still no sign of life. Synchrotron…levels are now 200% higher…previous reading.
Copy. Synchrotron radiation levels 200% higher. Readings here have not changed.
Rodriguez has noticed what seems…trail of increased…radiation…north…Want to try following…
Alpha-1 you have less than one hour of daylight remaining. Return to perimeter. Please acknowledge.
Roger. 05 degrees 15 seconds north. Will map our route.
Alpha-1 return to perimeter immediately over.
…
Alpha-1 please acknowledge over.
…
…
Kirihara Naoya kept his hands resolutely on the surface of the conference table to prevent himself from fidgeting. This meeting was a waste of time. They'd spent most of the past week planning for the coming of the anomaly, and things were well in hand. He wasn't even sure why he was needed today; he ought to be at home with his daughter. But all of the National Police Agency's directors and chiefs were here, and it would look odd if he was missing. The man sitting across from him apparently didn't want to be there either. He'd been fidgeting absently with the wedding ring on his finger all morning.
"Chief Kirihara," Director Ito said, and Kirihara snapped his mind to attention. "Anything to report from your division?"
Kirihara shook his head. "No, sir. Things are quiet; it seems that most of the criminal organizations are waiting to see what will happen after today."
"Very good. I believe that we're now ready to hear the report from Public Security. Director Hourai, if you would." The NPA director gestured to the man across from Kirihara. Kirihara had met him once or twice; a very hard worker, earnest.
Hourai stood. "First off, I suppose you are all wondering why we're meeting here at the Shinjuku branch office rather than at headquarters in Chiyoda." There was a silent chorus of nods. Kirihara had been wondering that himself.
"The PSB has been exchanging intelligence on this anomaly with the United States and Britain, among others. The origin of the anomaly has been localized to a point seventeen degrees, thirty-four minutes, twenty-two seconds south and forty-nine degrees, eighteen minutes, twenty-nine seconds west. This point is the exact antipode of Chiyoda, Tokyo.*"
Silence greeted this announcement.
"So?" the director of the Traffic Bureau said at last.
"A ground team has been sent to investigate the anomaly in South America," Hourai continued. "They describe a region approximately ten kilometers in diameter where the laws of physics no longer seem to apply. Top physicists are already researching the phenomenon. One, a German by the name of Schroeder, is convinced that a similar anomaly will form at the antipode here in Tokyo when the shadow reaches the city at noon. Specifically, in Chiyoda and the prefectures to the north and east. We are meeting here as a precaution."
There was another round of nods at the table, but Kirihara couldn't hold his voice in check. "And what about the people who live and work in Chiyoda? Shouldn't they be notified and required to evacuate?"
"That would just cause panic to spread," Director Ito said. "While it's not known if this anomaly is in any way dangerous, we must take measures to keep the populace in hand. And that includes preventing panic."
"But what if it is dangerous?" Kirihara persisted. "What then?"
"Then all attempts to aid the people affected will be made. The Imperial family has of course been moved to a secure location. Director Hourai, please keep us apprised of anything new that you learn regarding the investigation in South America. Next I would like the report from Info-Communications…"
As the director of Info-Communications stood to give his report, the teacups on the table began to rattle in their saucers.
0100 HOURS
Command this is Beta-5 come in over.
Copy Beta-5 go ahead.
We lost radio contact with Alpha-1 at 1700 hours. Major Basto indicated intent to continue on a heading of 05 degrees 15 seconds north. It's unknown whether my instructions to return to the perimeter camp were received. Hourly attempts to contact Alpha-1 have all failed. Please advise.
Is there any indication that Alpha-1 is in distress or need of extraction?
Negative. Radio appears to be dead or disconnected on their end. We have eyes out for flares but without moonlight smoke signals will be impossible to see.
Copy that Beta-5. Stay in position and watch for contact from Alpha-1. We will reassess the situation at first light. Radio if seismic activity increases any further.
Command please say again. Seismic activity?
For the past hour we have been detecting steady levels of seismic activity ranging from 3.6 to 4.1 on the Richter scale. Focus is in the vicinity of your location.
Everything is calm here. Not so much as a puff of wind. Synchrotron radiation levels have decreased to nearly undetectable levels.
Roger Beta-5. Continue to monitor the situation.
Roger. Over - wait. Are you seeing this at HQ?
Seeing what.
The light. Like a bright blue beacon shining straight up into the sky from the center of the anomaly. It's….
/end of transmission/
"Did you feel something?"
"Feel what -" Misaki started to ask; then she felt it too. A slight tremor in the floor. The bowls on the counter began rattling.
"Earthquake!" Kanami dropped the rice paddle into the pot and dashed out of the kitchen. "Miko! Turn off the game, get under the table!"
Misaki quickly switched off the stove then followed her friend into the living room. The rumbling was steady now, strong enough to rattle the windows but not so strong that things were falling from shelves. A chorus of car alarms was rising from the street outside. Miko and Kanami were crouched underneath the dining table, Kanami's arms around the boy.
"Is it an earthquake, for real?" Miko asked, eyes shining with excitement. "Will the building fall down?"
Kanami shushed him. "Don't say things like that, we don't want the building to fall! Misaki, come on, there's room for you too!"
But Misaki had paused by a window. "Whoa," she breathed.
The window faced east; she gazed out across Shinjuku, towards the prefecture of Chiyoda in the far distance. Clouds of smoke and dust were rising into the air over Chiyoda, though she couldn't see any fires. There seemed to be an eerie blue glow on the horizon, arcing like a huge dome over a portion of the city. It must have been exceptionally bright to be seen so clearly in the harsh summer daylight. As the trembling of the building began to subside, the glow grew even brighter.
"Misaki, it's not safe, come on!" Kanami begged from under the table.
But she was captivated by the sight. "Come look at this," she said, motioning for Kanami to come over.
"Fine, if it'll get you away from that window. Miko, don't you dare move!" Kanami came up to Misaki's side and gripped her arm tightly. "Here," she said, "I'm looking. Now let's - whoa."
Both girls stared out of the window. As if someone had focused a lens, the strange blue light suddenly snapped into a tight vertical column, like a beacon shining into the heavens.
"What is it?" Kanami asked, her grip on Misaki's arm so tight that she was losing feeling in her fingers.
Misaki could only shake her head. She had no idea.
*A/N: According to the anime, Heaven's gate and Hell's gate are at opposite points on the globe. Actually, the antipode of Tokyo is in the South Atlantic ocean, not in Brazil. But since this isn't DtB: Waterworld, I'll follow the show's lead and fudge the coordinates a bit.