Chapter 32 Dream
What is the difference between a normal human being and an artificial clone? As science progresses throughout the centuries, this question still remained unanswered. There are many methods of differentiating between the two, and most of them includes some sort of comparison between the conversation contents for the human and the clone. The problem with such experimental procedures, in essence, is subjectivity.
Do we know enough about ourselves to set the standards of humanity? There exists so many mysteries in our brains that we cannot answer. From where Hei came, humanity is a very interesting topic. Supposedly, contractors were not supposed to be classified as humans, but many contractors have displayed human judgements that involve an important aspect of ourselves – emotion. What about dolls? If contractors cannot even be labeled as human, then dolls can certainly not be any closer.
Some say that contractors are just incomplete dolls, which is reasonable to a certain degree, because the loss of emphasis on emotion during the transformation from humans to contractors do show the gradual evolvement toward the characteristics of dolls.
However, a number of dolls have undergone the processes of human evolution, which is very unnatural for the people of Hei's original world. Can dolls have desires? Some examples do support this argument. Are those subjective goals learned? Or do they exist from the very beginning? If they do exist from the very beginning, then what can be used to trigger them?
Hei has been thinking about the subject of humanity for quite a while now. Since his creation, the imperfect clone was well-informed on what humanity is. This is rather preposterous, it is just like explaining colors to blind men. Of course, it is possible for a blind man to understand all of the physical properties of colors – their electromagnetic wavelengths, their connotations in societies, and their reactions with outer objects, but do they really know what red looks like?
"Memory databank contains records of evolution in imperfect humans – dolls and contractors included." Talking to himself, Hei continues to work on the chemical tubes on his experimental table, "despite such successful conditions, the subjects do possess complete human brains."
"My mind is incomplete, and such a case do not contain any previous records."
Cleaning the last tube on the desk, Hei sets down his work, and notices the moonlight from the outside of his laboratory.
"But why does my subconsciousness hold stars precious?"
…
This is a day of many accomplishments for the members of Night Raid. To begin with, the large amount of food supplies Hei gathered in the morning will last for quite a while. More importantly, Hei has transformed the small pond next to the main base into a fish-farming facility. Even though there were protests from some of the girls about their usage of the pond previously, these arguments were taken down by Hei's lecture of artificial mutualism.
There are currently no assassination missions for the young group, which makes tonight a peaceful resting time for any upcoming missions.
By all means, the assassins should rest for any potential mission ahead of them.
And this is exactly what is happening.
Glancing at her katana again, Akame carefully places it within the reaching radius from her bed. From the large amount of fish storage, she has consumed another one of her large meals tonight. It is rather weird for a young girl to consume so much meat products, but Akame can be the exception.
Looking through her window, she can make out the outline of Hei's mysterious laboratory under the silver moonlight.
Reflecting on her own actions during the day, Akame's curiosity cannot be simply diminished by the works of time. Even though she wants to observe the Black Reaper's operations, Hei has made it clear during the day that he does not want to be disturbed during his experiments.
Lying down on her back, Akame gradually lets her mind lower its functionality – sleeping is mandatory for everyone, not even the deadliest assassin in the empire can deny this fact.
…
"Hei."
Waking up by a small calling from an unknown source, Akame suddenly sits up from her bed, only to discover that she is not in her room anymore. Instincts immediately takes over the young assassin as she searches quickly for the Murasame.
It isn't here.
She is lying on a colorful field – a grass field covered with flowers of all kinds.
The grassland seems to stretch into infinity itself, because the young maiden cannot discover any limit of its boundaries.
But that is not the only thing here.
Looking up at the dark sky, the view can only be described as an ocean of stars.
Shining silver stars.
Normally, Akame would not even care for the stars of the night sky, but something about those particular stars is different.
They appear to express… individual personalities?
Is that even possible?
Something about this scene is reminding her of somebody. That person who speaks fondly of nothing but stars.
"Hei?"
"Hei."
Turning her head swiftly, a glimpse of a strong light source shines into her crimson eyes.
Blinded by the sudden change of light, Akame tries fiercely to refocus on this shining author of light.
In the middle of the grass field, there sits a person.
Silver hair.
Violet eyes.