Arc One: Doppelgangers
Chapter 1:
Drawing the Fool
October 21st, 2001.
(Yokohama Base)
[Recommended Music: Deck Construction, Kaiba The Revenge.]
"No dice," Kouzuki Motoko sighs, rubbing her glasses before putting them on again, "there was no reaction whatsoever in the subject."
"None at all?" Yuuko asks, rereading her papers.
"No. According to the system checks, it's another thermal issue," the older sister sighs, shrugging.
"Sigh… So not even using multiple chips worked out, huh…"
"Yuu- XO, is there a reason to rush our hand? A few units are bound to come with their faults, after all. With the next shipment, I think-"
"There won't be a next shipment, Motoko-nee," she admits, throwing the papers to the desk, going for a slow spin on her chair.
Leaving Motoko gaping, taking a step back. "What? You're kidding… They're cutting us off?!"
"Faster than we expected, eh? Well, it's been more than two years since Lucifer," she says, rubbing her temple. "The G-Bombs have only grown more stable, while my plans remain as just that. HC was clear on their stance, we've gotta show something with what we've got now. Otherwise…" halting the spin, she veers back to the desk, interlocks her hand soft; "In any case, did your parts show some promise?"
"O-Oh, yes," Motoko says, shrugging yet not raising back the slumped shoulders, "your new designs really made a difference, I think that if… we get an extension I'll get to the point of requesting official testing to HC."
"Hmm, impressive. How much of an improvement are we speaking of?"
"Suzumiya would be able to partake in a marathon, maybe?"
"Come on, Motoko-nee…"
"Hahaha… But, really, I can't say for sure. What I do know is that there's no way I'm going to be squeezing all that extra processing strength those new chips have," she admits, messing with her hair and lab coat, eyes remaining on the floor. "Not as long as Subject R remains unresponsive."
"…We shall see on that. Speaking of, has Usuki displayed any improvements?"
Sighing while messing with her hair, Motoko too leans back onto her chair for a spin. "I don't have to speak as slowly to communicate with her, and she's beginning to answer back some of my queries. Sometimes."
"Well, I'll take what I can get, I suppose."
"Any further reports you want?"
"No, Yashiro should have already uploaded whatever was worth of note. I'll review it next morning. Chief Kouzuki, you are to stress test the new units for the following days. And report any advancements in the prosthetics or cyborg tech immediately," she states, receiving a sharp salute and a nod.
As her sister stands and departs while taking out a pack of cigarettes, Yuuko does the same and grabs her cup, starts up her coffee machine. While she waits, a round of checking mails in the PDA begins.
"Another failure to reach the Reactor of Yokohama in the simulations… And Hayase is again taking point in front of the spearhead, not making it to half the mission. The greenhorns are not progressing fast enough. If all we get are some more months, maybe half a year, we'll have to assault Sadogashima in due time…"
Parks and cars flashed in her mind, not yet bent, before a flicker of purple took reign of the sky, devouring the sun, the neighborhood by the hill this base had been built on. Shivering in place before the beeps of the expresso force Yuuko to return to Earth, expression and posture remain in a downwards tilt, staring at her reflection in the blackness of the coffee she pours.
"Going from these numbers to pilots that could infiltrate a Phase 4 Hive in only a few months seems almost impossible, even if Marimo were to draw her scythe out again… At least it seems Usuki is fitting in fine as their support."
Slowly setting her lips on the rim, slower are her hands when returning to the keyboard. Where certainty had to bloom, red messages kept popping up and stalling her gulps. Roots ingrained and not wishing to depart, yet there was no longer anything under the air they were clinging on for dear life. At times, reviewing her calcs and reports felt as such for the Vice Commander. That last ten percent, the last review to polish it all to a mirror sheen keeps backhanding her to the cliff, as if she were an ant trying to climb the babel towers of papers pervading her office.
She'd far easily convince her assistant to eat carrots than squeeze that little edge missing from her devised plan. At least the image of the little bunny gets a small rise, a chuckle out of Kouzuki before sinking back to work and clicks and reviews.
The small roads, interconnected with each other, that megalopolis of lanes and shocks known as circuits could indeed hold more currents and traffic than the streets of Tokyo as is. It means little if every morning there's a fatal car crash in the highway connecting roads, isn't it.
So after some minutes or hours or who knows how long she slumps face first into the keyboard, causing another error pop up through the keymash, clutching the back of her head with both hands as if bracing for the whip of a belt. "Just what on Earth am I missing? Theoretically speaking, they should fit in the palm of my hand… Everything points to that yet with every test… Siiigh."
For a moment, she remains quiet atop her desk. Graphs and numbers dancing in the jungle of her mind. Until a small knock hits the door. Raising and fixing her uniform, she taps her laptop, seeing who was waiting and opening it immediately.
"It's earlier than usual, Yashiro," she says, nodding at the girl.
Who slowly, very slowly, walks up to the desk, nods and remains staring for a moment. "Should I return at a latter time?"
"No, it's fine. Need to change the gears a bit. Take a seat, I'll pour you your cocoa," she waves at the sofas, standing to the brewing machines again.
After a small moment to drink passes, young Yashiro coughs as she sets her black cup atop her lap. "It seems she used to enjoy cooking."
"Hmm. Any new names came up?"
"I've checked the databases, all have perished already."
"Is that so… Has she been easier to reach?"
Yashiro nods, bunny ears flapping. "For some moments at a time, yes. It is still arduous to maintain a link. Unlike deeper memories of other people, hers are fully vivid. Merely hearing is enough as is to force me to stop my scans…" she admits, sighing short before going for a sip, bunny ears withering.
"Nothing we can do, do not force yourself. If you do end up exhausted, we can-"
"I-I can control my output, Professor. Please do not concern yourself, I will not be out of commission again," she states, holding Yuuko's gaze. Too hard the gaze, equally so the grip onto her cup.
"…I see," is all Kouzuki relents, going for another spin. "Anything you could garner about the BETA?"
"Nothing new, no."
"Siiigh… Well, if you've nothing else to report, feel free to retire to your chambers for the night," she nods back, still spinning the gloom away.
"Are you sure? I could aid you with any paperwork you-"
"It's fine, I can handle what's left for today. You must be tired, aren't you?" she asks, receiving a delayed nod, downcast eyes.
"If you say so, then," with one sharp gulp Yashiro finishes her cocoa, standing from the sofa.
And despite the repining from Kouzuki, she washes and dries the cup, leaving it right besides the coffee machine. And flapping her bunny ears when noticing said machine had been used shortly before, being half-full.
"…Please do not stay up late, Professor."
"Yes, yes, I know," she rolls her eyes, petting the silverish hair. "Take your leave. I need you up and about early tomorrow."
"Because you'll stay late and I'll have to rouse you again?" she protests, eyelids half closing, lips shrugging.
"Wh- Alright, I get it. Come on, off you go," Yuuko insists, lightly pushing the assistant's shoulders towards the door.
Sighing long after Yashiro relents the accusing stare and takes her leave, Kouzuki turns to her left, to old and brownish labels. Destination: VOID, Neuromancer, The Real Robot, all those novels she had once read, had once dreamed of imitating. Even lesser known stories many would consider of lower quality, names not worth remembering.
It was always in these moments, when the alcohol in the coffee numbed and massaged her scalp at the same time along the quiet embers in her throat. It was always when spinning slow but constant, as she used to when she was even smaller than young Yashiro. When letting the light shiver, the cold ant march wash over her that Kouzuki could smell distant scents begging for sunshine, recall babel towers of papers that would put her own to shame, the gentle touch of the fireplace near her dangling feet. Only when traversing passages containing more than their mere words did that lukewarm inner embrace return to the scientist, clinging to what heat remains on those worn down edges.
If anything, remembering her own lab back 'home' always served to ignite something in her, that randomness, that chaos she always could unearth from anywhere. From a simple paragraph a whole labyrinth could arise in the sand, just as a single line be turned into the anthem of a mythical, long lost civilization. Just like how dropping water onto her Father's works by trying to hand him something to drink had given little Yuuko the random idea to integrate watercooling into the die when remembering the fiasco years down the line, thanks to a similar blunder committed by young Yashiro.
However, today the stars did not seem to wish to shine on the pages, leaving the hints buried, cold.
"Ugh… It's no use today," she sighs, again clutching her head, rubbing below her ears. "If I stay up, all I'll get is a headache for my efforts. Guess I'll have to bite the bullet and review every step to ensure mistakes are reduced to a minimum," she nods, returning the books to their respective slots, eyes then remaining on a wooden T hanging from the wall, "on all fronts, of course," she adds under her breath, resting onto the shelf for a moment, eyes closed.
The Next Day, Early Morning.
"-yes, the scanning seems to be flawless. If the digitization is successful, as it should be, the required output for a proper assimilation of our sensory stimuli would be-"
BEEP!
Dashing clicks halt for a moment, she looks down at her comms. When seeing it was one of the many regular IDs, Yuuko rolls her eyes and continues her train of thought.
"Reinforcement through Yashiro's image feedback should allow a steady stabilization, going by Usuki's own treatment thus far. All that remains to ascertain is how long it'll take for true emotion to be generated on its-"
BEEP!
A brow twitches, she again eyes the comms. Same ID. Groans and grumbles stall for a moment, before Yuuko shakes her head, goes for a sip of coffee.
"Where was I, again? Oh right. If through observation of non-local forces a conduit for causality could be formed without resorting to G-Elements, then its predictive abilities and those of the Valkyries should be exponentially enhanced. If so then-"
BEEP!
"…I swear, this better be worth it," she whispers, saving her doc before picking up the device. "Kouzuki here."
"G-Greetings, ma'am! Corporal Endo speaking," a quiver betrays the otherwise firm and low voice, its owner huddling close to the line. "XO, ma'am, a… young man has announced himself at the gates, stating he has business with you," the man says, looking back from his post at said person.
"Pardon?" she asks, blinking in odd intervals, recalling dates, looking at the calendar that was as empty as her of answers. "Exactly what kind of business are we speaking of?" she asks, sliding her chair closer to her main computer, a hand rushing through commands to bring up the feedback from the cameras.
"I don't know, ma'am. He said there was valuable intel to be given to you, apparently the young man is a cadet acting as a middle man. He insisted much to us that we should at least announce his presence to you, Professor."
"Huh, is that so? Did he refer to me as such?"
"Yes, actually. Upon our queries he divulged to also know of your rank, but remained referring to you as Professor for some reason."
"Hmm… Curious. What is the name and grace of our visitor?"
"He identified himself as Shirogane Takeru. As for his affiliation," the military police grunt looks back, the young man still standing with both hands behind his head, completely relaxed as his partner in guard duty remains with a barrel leveled at the visitor's face, "the man had no ID card, and did not wish to divulge intel on his origins."
"Hmm… Most interesting…" I thought you'd be more subtle than this, Eberbach.
A few fast clicks have a window spreading on her second monitor, showing the distant area of the main gate. Applying zoom reveals a young man, no older than twenty, standing completely still and with even breathing, the rising sun falling on his unassuming features. Chestnut brow hair and eyes, a generic issue uniform Kouzuki could not assign to any one army, and a very large travel bag by his feet. While the overall appearance hints at a mere teenager, the tight compression in eyes, glint of an edge to the posture shows instead a soldier. If not for the strange calmness, slow blinks and breaths he takes, in front of a gun's glare, in front of her base, this base no less.
"…So on what terms did this visitor speak of his 'business' with me?" she asks, grabbing her mug and going for a sip.
"As it were, he said you probably were not expecting his arrival. Shirogane told me to inform you he's here to aid you fix or tune the zero. Would that mean anything for-"
"Bleurgh! Cough! Cough!"
"Ma'am?! Is there something wrong?"
"What was that?"
"Huh? Oh, the boy said he aimed to help you fix the zero."
"…What the fuck was that?"
"Err… T-Those were Shirogane's own words, XO, ma'am. He claims to not know the meaning behind them, they were supposed to be some sort of code you'd be able to deduce, I assume?"
"A code I… What of that bag he's got? Did you inspect it already?"
"Oh, no. I suspect whatever intel he has to deliver is stashed there. He insisted we should not open it until it's in your presence, Shirogane was warned disclosing the intel could cost him his life."
"I see… Going by the camera, he doesn't seem to be resisting?"
"No, he immediately explained his situation to us, as odd as it may be, and requested us to take the bag to you and no one else if we decided to detain him. Frankly, it's a bit unnerving to see someone so casually walk up to us in such manner…" he whispers in complain, throwing another look at the stalemate by the gate, that had not changed at all, except for the yawns the visitor was letting out every now and then.
Both speakers grip their respective comms, one fully petrified, the other clicking and smacking keys as if in a concert. After a moment of silence, of the command loading, Kouzuki awaits the green bar from filling in. Scrolling through names, dates and rows, possible kanji combinations for his identity flash through the monitor. A sharp press, a request for intel to the main database once she finds a fitting combination has her go for a small spin while she waits. However, much like in her efforts of late, she is left gaping, an eye twitching when she looks at the monitor again.
"I wonder if this really is some sort of trick, for a dead man to be standing on my door. Is the grave already coming to claim its due?" she wonders, watching the feed, hearing the shallow breaths in the comms, her own almost coming to a halt before a sigh. "Corporal?"
"Y-Yes, XO?"
"Escort the young man into the base. Take him first to medbay for a quick disinfection, then bring him to the second briefing room. I shall be arranging the rest of the security measures. If this Shirogane tries and resist, you're free to shoot. And keep a close eye on that bag, after inspecting it as thoroughly as possible without opening it."
"Ma'am, yes, ma'am! Endo, out!"
Shortly after, the corporal appears on screen to a strong gulp of the mystery visitor. Speaking for some moments, the soldiers seem to twitch, recoil back as 'Shirogane' gazes at his bag then throws a sideglance at the two corporals, before shrugging rather comically. The prior, minute solidification of his everything collapses to dust, again calm like the day's first breeze as if merely enjoying the first rays of daylight.
"…Just who are you, to carry yourself in such manner in my base's gate? This better be worth interrupting my flow, boy, or else…" she swore under her breath, standing and dialing Pyatkh's ID, delivering commands to arrange the last minute meeting.
[Recommended Music: Clarification, Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward.]
"-and remember that we shall be right outside. If you try anything-"
"Do you really think I've a death wish, dude? Come on, get real. And you already cuffed me anyways," Shirogane protests, turning and stepping into the briefing room.
"How dare- Wait a moment, you. Do you even know where you stand?" Pyatkh demands, all the surrounding MPs clutching their armaments of choice.
Shirogane looks back, furrowing his brows, before giving a shrug. "Yokohama Base, a military complex built on lands reclaimed from the BETA, standing at the heart of the westernmost UN bases in mainland Japan. Don't see how that has anything to do with the matter at hand, though."
"Are you even hearing yourself? Do you think you-"
"Pyatkh," Yuuko warns, sending a finger to the door, "it is fine. Let us get to the bottom of this, the sooner we can."
"…Yes, Vice Commander," a hasty bow she relents, taking her leave not without glaring at the mystery boy, who had the gall to smile and wave her way.
A thousand bolts and barrels aimed at his back along equal amounts of retelling of the same old warnings as Pyatkh brings and rests his belongings onto a desk. The Vice Commander nods her way, and after a salute she quickly retires along the MP standing by the door. If not for the minute gazes they sent midway through closing the door, not understanding the risk of leaving her alone with the man, even if he was cuffed.
Shirogane slowly walks up some steps from where they left him, a few feet away from the desk where she sat and returned his gaze squarely. Neither moved for a few seconds, though every breath of his took a bit more effort to squeeze down into the lungs.
"…I suppose introductions are in order first, but apparently you seem to know who I am already," Kouzuki says with an expression as blank as the walls, not moving her chin from her interlocked hands. "I am indeed Professor Kouzuki Yuuko, XO of this one UN complex. You were seeking an audience with me?"
"Yes. Thanks for receiving me. My name's-"
"Shirogane Takeru, I've been told. That bag over there is your motive to be here. You were sent with some sort of delivery, I believe?"
He gives a quick nod. "But first, is this room safe to speak of sensitive intel?"
"It's safe enough for me to listen and gauge if you're worth the time," she shrugs, going for a slow spin on her chair. Yet her brows knot tightly when he enters her sight again, for he was chuckling.
"That's so you, Sensei."
"…Sensei?"
"Oh, don't mind me," he waves down fast, coughing a bit then. "Now, allow me to cut to the chase. I am here to deliver valuable intel to you, pertaining to the Alternative Project," he states, sobering up into a mirror of her own blankness.
Which soon begins to lightly burn by the edges, gazing at him unblinking as she sits straight. "Where and how did you learn of such a thing?"
"Matters little at the moment. Would this place be appropriate for me to give you my report?" he asks with a small smile and a smaller nod, never breaking eye contact.
"…Speak, now. Who told you of the project? Who sent you here?" she threatens, forwarding a blaze of a gaze his way.
"You, and also you," he deadpans inside for a second, before coughing once more. "Someone quite important told me of it, someone you can trust," because it's yourself we're talking about. "As I told the MPs, I have with me vital intel for your research."
"…What exactly are we talking about?" she slowly spins again, softly joining her hands once more.
"Alternative IV," he states.
The spin forcefully stops, a heel gripping onto the floor. She frowns, scanning him silently for a moment. "Who sent you here, Shirogane?"
"I think I shouldn't say it here, it is a delicate matter." Assuming she'd even believe me, of course.
"Hmm, is that so? Considering the ease with which you arrived to the gates without being detected," she says, smiling small his way once more while tapping her chin, "I assume someone in the Empire sent you here?"
"Uh, that's… I don't think you'd believe me even if I told you."
"Then how about I call for the MP, have them take you to the interrogation room, and we torture the information out of your skull? Would that be more palatable for you, hmm?" Kouzuki asks in cheer, smirking as she spins again.
A slow shiver runs a race down his spine while he purses his lips. "If only I knew you aren't kidding, if only." Taking a sharp breath in and deciding to roll the dark dice, he returns the gesture as she looks back at him, shining his teeth her way. "Oh, what would you be planning to do? Reduce me to a brain and leave me floating in a jar?"
An instant shuffle from one end of the spectrum to the other, those eyes remained scanning his. "Perhaps I do not wish to know, perhaps getting rid of you would be better. You seem to know far too much already to simply be a middle man." And if you were indeed, you would be Yoroi. I swear, if you tear a skinmask off your face again only to start laughing, I'm shooting you this time.
Yet the young man in front of her shows no hint of what she expects, only messing with his hair, features tight before slumping his shoulders. "Well, that kinda sucks. Fine by me then. Good luck fitting billions of semiconductors in the palm of your hand before next Christmas!" he cheers back in jest, shrugging.
The calm pond in her eyes once more shifted gears to the opposite end of the pendulum, a coiled hand hitting the desk as her lips parted. Equally quick did she seal them, simply staring back at him, nibbling at the edge. It only served as a confirmation of his inner retelling, of the tale he had already read many times over.
"…Before Christmas, you say? Is that a threat, Shirogane?" she slowly asks, standing.
"It's only a warning, from a friend," he clarifies, pointing a finger up. "Whether you believe me or not, that's up to you."
"If you want me to believe you, start by telling me who sent you here. As well as how did you bypass the security measures of the nearby bases to arrive unannounced to the gate."
"…Can I write it down on a paper or something? This stuff is eyes only."
"Sigh… Fine, here," Kouzuki takes out her notepad, rips a page then rests it on one of the many empty tables along a pencil.
Takeru waits until she's sitting again before moving to the table, and slowly ponders what to write down. Eventually, he settles down and scribbles the message, taking it to her desk himself.
As he takes a few steps back, the XO watches his every move. Picking up the folded piece and bringing it close, a finger parts it away to allow reading.
You sent me here from the year 2003, from a parallel world. I can help you complete your theory on causality before your project is suspended in favor of Alternative V.
A blink, another, lips once more gradually part away. Rereading the paper does little, the words do not change. Looking up into the stiff and waiting gaze only sends further questions in.
"Who are you?"
"Uh, Shirogane Takeru?"
"Ha, ha, ha. Very funny. If what you claim in this paper is true then, why don't you tell me something only I would-"
"Pretty sure I can't speak of anything confidential here, like the 00 Unit or something."
"…W-What? You- How much do you know?!"
He simply smiles. "Much. After all, what I wrote down on the paper ain't a lie. I do have some stuff on the bag that could work as proof, if you wanna take a look at it. Though, I still think going to a more secure place would be better," he nods again, still looking at the bag.
"…No, let's see what you have in store, if your tale is indeed true," she states, sitting down again. "Impress me, and I may consider moving this talk to my personal office. Of course, failure to do so-"
"I know, I know, siiigh," Shirogane shakes his head, rolling his eyes wide as he goes to the bag, which makes her frown a bit. "Alright, let's start with this little thing here," he smiles, slowly walking up to her desk, resting a small device on it.
"…What is this? A Pleiades GPS?" she says, grabbing the handheld and observing it.
"Uh, it's actually called a Game Guy Advance. It's an entertainment console," he notes with a nod.
"…This hardware is meant for recreation? Don't be a fool, such a pristine screen wasted on mass entertainment? We do not have the funds to waste on that."
"It's just a backlit. It's new for handhelds, yeah, but it ain't that big of a deal where I come from."
"Huh, you don't say."
"Sigh… Look at the back of it, it says 'Made in Japan', right?"
"Quite the thorough fabrication you've got here," she shrugs, tilting her head and smiling wide.
"It isn't," he insists, fuming a puff of smoke off his ears. "Press the power button and give the game a go, see what you think."
Kouzuki remains watching him for a second, eventually restoring her blank expression to press the button in question. A moment and a chime later, a pixelated sky came into view, a melody weaving through the speakers in fast crescendo, the logo popping up.
"What the- This is far sharper than any other screen I've seen before… What are those odd things flying in- Wait a- TSFs?"
"Think of them as mock TSFs, actually," he says, circling a wrist through the sore unpleasantness.
"What is this program meant to be?"
"It's like a combat simulator. Also, it's a game."
"What?! You claim that this little thing here," she says, waving the GBA, frowning at it, "is capable of matching a real simulator?"
"Not really, but it kinda holds up?" he says, giving her a sideglance.
"You… This has to be a joke. Such a pristine screen cannot have been wasted on a 'game'."
"It was where I come from, yeah."
"Wh- You cannot be serious. Where is your proof then?" she demands, smacking the desk with the free hand, briefly staring back at the looping opening of the game.
"You can try it out, you know," he says, holding her stare, saying nothing.
A minute frown and a chained groan later, she grabs the thing, canceling the looping intro. "Alright, you have my curiosity. What now?"
"Press the start button and select the option called 'Arcade'. You move with the D-Pad, shoot with A and jump with B. The shoulder triggers let you dash forward or backward," he says, pointing to each button at a time.
A nod is shared and so the screen fades to dark. A small selection screen appears, the Commander blitzes through it and ends up looking at a cargo ship, a humanoid robot called 'Kaizer' standing alone atop a crate. With a charming beep a countdown starts from three, sparking the level to life with all of its sixteen bit glory and chiptune gun concert.
As well as the entangling confusion within Yuuko's mind and fingers upon the shower of bullets. "W-What is this thing? Why are there so many enemies? Where are my allies? This- This moves too fast, what is it with the amount of bullets too. H-How am I even-"
BOOM!
[SHIELD DEPLETED. PLAYER ONE KILLED]
"Ah, you already died? Someone's not very good at this."
"…Ha, ha, ha. To think you'd bring American software to my face, for it to focus so much on the Anti-Human aspect of warfare."
"…Uh, Sensei? The game was made in Japan too, you know?"
"What?! Are you serious?" she asks, breathing hollow when he nods immediately. "You- This cannot… A game, you say? Enough of this foolishness, boy," she says, gazing at her PDA, seeing it blank of mails, deciding then to probe and prey upon, "tell me the truth. Who sent you here and why? And no lies, I will be able to see through them," Kouzuki demands, glaring at him far colder than the light in the room.
"…More like Kasumi will," he pouts a bit, rolling his eyes, before twitching and smirking a bit at the sudden lightbulb chain. "By the way, hi there, Kasumi! How you doing, little bun? Have you been eating your carrots lately?"
A lush, expansive field opens in his imagination, a small doodle version of himself waving at his intended target, another small doodle version of the assistant sitting nearby munching on a mountain of carrots with gusto, with hearts for eyes.
A small echo comes through to the office, from the room right besides, a chair falling to the floor, along some spit and bile.
"…May I ask what is so funny?" Kouzuki asks, furthering the lock of her hands at the silence.
Only for Shirogane to twitch again, returning to attention. "O-Oh, sorry. I was sending the proof you requested of me."
"Sending it? What are you talking about?"
"To Kasumi."
"You… know about her?"
"Yeah, for real."
"What?"
"Not this sh- Ahem. It means, I'm being serious here, Sensei."
"And again with the Sensei…" she repines, looking at the looping game over animation of the handheld before a shiver runs into her pocket. Looking into her PDA, there was a new mail, that she opens immediately.
"Please tell him to cease sending me carrots, it's disgusting, I can taste them tell him to stop please Professor"
"…Shirogane, what are you doing to Yashiro?"
"Telling her all the reasons why she should eat her veggies, that's what," he says, with a puff of his chest.
"You even know of- Wait, how do you know that?!"
"Can't say, not here. Not safe enough. Unless you want me divulging top secret matters. Which I wouldn't want to, you know. Kinda like my neck where it's at now," he nods again, shrugging slow.
"…You have to be pulling my leg," she says, pinching her nose, the PDA slipping from grasp onto the desk. "What you've written cannot be the truth."
"But you can't ignore the facts that lay before you, right?"
Inhaling sharply while glaring in blazes does nothing to him, Shirogane remains returning her stare evenly. So she sits down, gestures for him to come closer.
"Let's say I bite. Shirogane, you wrote that you come from… a rather distant place, don't you?"
"Yeah, you could say that," he nods, sighing as he takes a chair, sliding it to sit in front of her.
"Let's go back to the beginning then. What is this?" she asks, placing the Game Guy between them.
"A Game Guy Advance, it's a handheld console that people use to pass the time on their commutes or free time."
"Is this software truly a game?"
"Yes."
"If so, why does it have TSFs in it? Isn't it actually a training software, a hidden program to scout possible pilot candidates?"
He blinks fast, before rolling his eyes. "Sensei, this is a game. It only resembles a simulator, nothing else."
"Why would it, though? There's no funds to spend on these sort of things, with how the war is here. Is it not as severe in your… supposed place of origin?"
"There's no BETA in my world."
Silence extends for a moment as their gazes crash while the game over BGM keeps on looping just as her features part and slide out of order. Slowly rereading the paper, checking her inbox, then staring at the screen asking if she wanted to continue, Kouzuki shakes her head as she pinches her nose as if she were a very violent crab.
"How in the- There's no way that-"
"All worlds are parallel, right Sensei?"
"This cannot be real… My theory doesn't even have any proof yet."
"Not like that has ever stopped you."
Slamming her hands on the desk, lunging for the neck of his clothes, Kouzuki ropes him over the desk, staring and breaching his personal space. "If you truly are telling the truth then, tell me. How did you learn of the 00 Unit?"
"…You told me of it, Sensei," he whispers, standing relaxed, not fighting her hold.
"Stop it with the Sensei already, I've never had any students anyways."
"…Not on this world, sure."
"And you're still going to play this parade of yours? Why would I ever tell you, a mere child, about my most precious secret? What are you supposed to be, hmm?"
"A causality conductor."
A blink, another, fingers come loose, send Shirogane to stand on his own, Kouzuki to collapse on her chair.
And even if he calls out, she does not answer, remaining still, frozen, recalling all those numbers she couldn't measure up to, the coldness her own research shows when turning its back, refusing to give a green light, the even more frosting actions and words she's received lately.
Breathing shallow as a hand tends to her temple, eyes on her desk, she slowly whispers. "…Do you have any idea of what you're speaking? How much I've craved to see it come to fruition, to be denied of it, for you to simply walk up here and mock me? Do you even know what that entails, to be a conduit for causal information?"
"Uh, Sensei? I can tell you what you told me about it, if you want?"
"Oh, yes, please do reveal secrets I haven't disclosed to anyone. Be my guest, boy," she spits out in venom, giving an exaggerated swipe of an arm, feeling the sting of the numbers, the gazes that glitch wrong, accusing.
Only to flinch as the boy clears his throat, looking up in pensive gesture. His eyes flicker, recalling jungles of calcs and babel towers of papers. Shirogane sighs and subtly shakes his head before being tackled into dizziness. "Let's see… So, like, everything we are, from our own memories to what others think of us, can be reduced to metaphysical data stored somewhere in reality, right? By observing those chucks of data, you could technically mess with 'em and change who someone was, where they are, or if the are at all. Like, you could turn Tsukiji into a cat, for example."
"You, what, you really- Wait, why a cat? Did I do that?"
"…No, not this you at least."
"What does that-"
"Anyways, where was I? Oh, right, the fuzzy stuff," he nods twice, resuming his telling. "Any intel related to me can flow through worlds, making my identity fuzzy to the metaphysical level. And depending on where I am, my status as an anomaly will either give or take intel to the world I'm currently in. For example-"
And even when the wording was far less precise, lacking in concise lingo and examples, the bedrock below the speech was correct. He was so calm, reciting things from memory as if in the middle of an exam, she was barely not assaulting his personal space again. Because for the first time someone else was agreeing, sending her even if only a small flicker of light.
So the XO begins blinking erratically again as she looks down at nowhere, still hearing the notions only she should know about. "Why? Why would he know all this? If he isn't lying, since Yashiro hasn't reported back, why did I trust in a child so much? Why choose him instead of Isumi or Marimo? If my theory is correct, if memories and experiences could be shared through parallel worlds, why have him be the recipient of my research? Do I… fail to complete the 00 Unit, then?"
"And that was all, I think?" he says, squinting his eyes at the ceiling. "Was that enough for you, Sensei?"
"…Vice Commander."
"Sensei."
"Ugh… Just… Why?"
"Well, I'm used to calling you that after-"
"No, not that! Why you?" she asks, pointing at him before hitting the desk as Shirogane would a joystick during a combo. "Why are you a causality conductor?"
"…It's not like I want to be one, you know?" he sighs, sitting down again, gaze lost in the ceiling, beyond the rim of the sky.
"Why? If you know, why aren't you saying anything?" she demands, standing up.
"Because you once told me informing you of things that could have grave repercussions for the future should be avoided, in case it causes setbacks we may not be able to foresee," he states, eyes closed.
"That's… fair, I suppose," she slowly says, sharing a gaze with him for a moment in silence. "You were not lying, were you."
"If I had, Kasumi would have noticed."
"Yes, that is correct… Before, you said you possessed vital intel for my research. What exactly did you bring with you?" she asks, leaning forward, breath hostage.
"Your theories," he simply says.
"A-Are you being serious? You brought my- Wait, why is it plural?"
"Because there's two of 'em."
"No, there's not."
"Yes, there are?"
"Be serious! My research revolves around a very particular subject, there is no way there would be a need for the development of a secondary theory! Much less with the deadline I have to meet as of now."
"I mean, you believe what you want to, but I brought two theories," he shrugs, rolling his eyes. "I can show you the first pages, if you want," he throws out, tilting his head. She gazes at the bag and quickly nods twice, after a chuckle he goes to retrieve the papers in question.
Slowly gripping them once offered, the Vice Commander's hand stalls further movement. Looking up into his eyes, her own forward a freezing phantom. "I hope you know that, if you were deceiving me, there will be consequences."
He rolls his eyes, comically wide, and sighs. "Yeah sure, Sensei. You take your time."
"Just who does he think he is, talking to me in such a way? He better not be lying because I'm gonna- Hm?"
More fast blinks, faster is the drying of her inner cheeks and tongue.
"So… What do you think, Sensei? Enough to give me the benefit of the doubt?"
Fingertips shake as they shuffle the first page back, lips do too as they barely mimic the words in breathless chanting.
"Uh… Sensei, you hearing?"
Just as messy as the diagrams, as hurried as the silly signs scribbled besides formulas, as such is her breathing and current of thoughts as they crash on the shore and pull back, only to twist into a torrent from which the only answer is the number 404.
"Sensei? Sensei! Earth to Yuuko-sensei, could you come back? We kinda need you down here," he pleads, patting the desk a few times.
"Shirogane?" she asks, not lifting her gaze from the papers.
"Yes?"
"I admit, this is… conclusive proof. This hasn't been leaked, couldn't have been," no one would have believed me anyways, she then sighs heavy, resting a hand on her forehead, onto the anchor just dropped into her head. After a short while, she gazes back at him, squarely. "Allow me to ask only one more thing. You… are supposed to be dead, correct?"
"More than once, yeah."
"What?!"
"Yeah. If you wanna know, I shouldn't even 'be' here. Just rolling with what the dice gave me this time is all I'm doing," he says, letting his shoulders wither along his features, along the dry chuckle.
"…I see. I assume you know what siding with me and Alt IV entails for your future?" she whispers, receiving an immediate nod and a smile. It almost made her flinch, the lack of hesitation, of shadows in his expression. "And there must be some cost, some price for your services, I am sure. What exactly would you ask of me in return of this delivery?" she asks, once more leaning forward, staring unblinking.
"To let me aid you, and for you to properly finish the second theory. Those are my terms," he states, holding her glare at bay.
"…Just that?"
"If you think you can complete a theory you didn't even thought was possible," he jokes, shrugging slow. "But I suppose we should continue this conversation elsewhere? There's stuff I cannot say here, for real."
Closing her eyes while going for a round of spins, she ponders it all, replays all the words. Letting the motions blur in speed, letting the threads loose and faint. Halting it with a heel on the tiles, Kouzuki spins back swiftly, staring daggers straight ahead at Takeru. "I'll take the bait, we're going to my office. And I'm keeping the theories with me regardless."
"You sure? What of learning of future stuff before its time?" he asks slowly, meeting her gaze head on while leaning onto the wood.
"So your report isn't over yet?"
"Far from it, Sensei."
"It's Vice Commander, Shirogane."
"You're not my Commander yet."
"Neither am I your teacher. I've never even had students."
"You do have one now."
"Oh, really? Why don't you enlighten me on all the knowledge you learned from me, then?"
"Well… I guess I could tell you of how those tachyon thingies can affect me if-"
"What did you- A-Ah!"
The fast veering back to look at him sends her chair to a side, smacking the Commander right onto the floor. Eyes spin for a moment as numbness blooms in her upper back, barely able to support herself with a hand.
"Hey, are you alright Sensei?"
"You. Said. Tachyons," Kouzuki says, in a monotone as she groggily stands, mimicking a starved zombie.
"Uh, yeah. You know what they are, right? Those faster-than-light particles that screw with causality to alter-"
His voice is cut short, a pair of hands reaching for his shoulders as if water in the desert.
"Why do you know that?!"
Shaking him into a blurry mess, holding too tight despite his pleas for to stop.
"Why did I tell you that?!"
Grabbing onto him, Yuuko releases the pin, aiming the full blast straight ahead into his sight and breaching his personal space.
"What other secrets about me do you know!?"
In front of the closeness, of his own reflection in her eyes, Takeru stutters, stitches syllables together. "I, uh… Your three sizes, for example?"
"…Do you want to die?" she asks, constricting her hands closer to his neck.
"N-No! I wasn't- Uh, slip of the tongue, for real! I swear!"
"Ugh… In any case," she sighs, softening the grip and restoring some distance, "just why do you know these things? Why would I have trusted in such a young man?"
"Well, if you must know, it's because Sumika needs me to tune her properly to- Mmgh!"
"Shut up!" a hand of hers binds upon his lips in image of an iron maiden. "Fine, I believe you, I'll believe everything you say, but stop talking of such matters!"
He shakily nods, then heaves a sigh as she releases him. "…I told you we should have moved this elsewhere, Sensei."
"Vice Commander," she insists, tapping his chin with a finger.
"Sensei," he protests, eyes narrowing. "Anyways, that's the gist of how things usually are."
She lets go, taking a singular step back further beyond does her sight recede. "Why are you phrasing it in that way? Is there… more to you?"
"Yeah, I'm also a Causality Nucleus. That's what your second theory revealed, at the least," he softly nods again, this time edging a few steps away from her.
"I- What? What is that even… No, I suppose this does merit the privacy and safety of my office, huh. You… truly aren't lying, are you," she whispers, fixing her attire as she stands, grabbing a key and undoing the cuffs. Staring at Shirogane top to bottom while he rubs his wrists, more and more questions come up.
"Hm? Anything you wanna ask now, Sensei?"
"Sigh… You do plan on call me in that way, do you."
"Get used to it, sorry."
"…In any case, before we leave I'd like to clarify something." Slowly walking closer, folding her arms and breaths, she looks into his eyes, in silence, for a moment. Scanning the tight yet welcoming features, the relaxed yet firm posture. "You do have a method with which to 'tune the zero' on a timely manner?"
He smiles, giving a strong nod and a stronger smile which would put the tropical weather to shame. "Of course. You can trust in me, Sensei."
"For the last time, it's Commander," she repines, tapping her forearm.
"I mean, I can try, but I'll probably revert to calling you Sensei from time to time. Manners are my weakness so you better get used to it," he affirms with another nod.
"Siiigh… I suppose, there had to be some drawback to your services," she reasons, once more ruffling her hair, before simply staring at him, in silence. "I'm not dreaming, am I? You're… real?"
"…As much as I don't want to, I guess."
"What does that- Did I sent you here against your will? What you wrote seems to hint at-"
"What I wrote was an attempt to try and get you to move the talk elsewhere," he whispers, gaze downcast, "but yes, another you sent me here but not willingly. As I said, I am not supposed to be anymore."
"…Erasure," she reasons, back going cold all of a sudden. "You had to be erased, because you became a magnet for causality. Did this world's data of the BETA war reached your world?"
Shocked into a watermelon he remains for a moment. "Wow, you sure are as fast as always, Sensei. Yeah, you almost got it right on one go."
"Almost?" further blanks fall onto the completed picture, enough to cause her to seek his sight, step back closer. "I assume you somehow had to be tied to my research, sometime ago?" she asks, he nods. "Then, if not erasure, what happened to you? Should I need to know about it?"
"Uh… I don't think it'd be a problem on this side, it wasn't last time after all. But if you must know, Sensei had to use the fission procedure on me, to scatter the Nucleus I had become. Doesn't seem like it worked, though," he sighs, shrugging.
"A fission on causality? Hmm, and you already know of tachyons… Shirogane, just to know, how- how far does your knowledge goes? Do I- Do I ever-"
"Yeah, we win, don't worry so much, Sensei. Come on, cheer up at bit," he protests, lifting his bag onto a shoulder.
"We… win?"
"Yeah, for real."
"…Then why are you here? If we won, why didn't I, well, stop whatever caused you to still be a conduit for causality? If all you've said is true, and you come from- if you've tuned the zero, then there should be no reason for you to still be afflicted by any causal anomalies, is there?" she asks, a thorn in her breathing as he remains silent.
And looking down, clutching at the bag, he hollows a sigh, shaking his head. "Because there was nothing to be done, without Sumika. That's why, let's get to the office quick," he insists, sobering back up, taking a step closer, "we have much work to do if we wanna get a better result than last time."
"…And you will heed my orders, I assume?"
"So long as our wishes remain in alignment," he counters, smiling small. "Let me help you out, and I'll be on your side, Sensei."
"…And if I choose to ask the MP to detain you, so that I can have my theories right away?"
"Then I don't help you."
"Then I have Yashiro scan your mind for whatever intel you're worth, after giving you a good dose of pentothal."
"Have fun stopping a coup without my help then."
"Wh- Is that a threat?"
"A warning. It's what happened last time when I tried to rush you. Wanna take the chance again, Sensei?"
"…I assume you know how to prevent such an outcome?"
"Kind of, yeah."
"And you… certainly are going to be watching your back from now on, if you are to work with me. It'd be a shame if you were scarred, wouldn't it."
"My back is already covered in more scars and blood than yours ever will be, Vice Commander."
"…Pardon?"
"How many times do you think I've done this? The answer is, not even I know. But I can assure you, there was only one time when I did things right and even then it took a lot of bodies for me to crawl over the finish line. If you need me to, I won't hesitate to bloody my own hands," Shirogane states, holding her gaze and his breath still.
"…If so, why insist on not handing me the theories?"
"Last time I rushed you stuff went wrong, real bad. I can answer within what's safe, but I'm just…" he sighs, folding his arms as his gaze sinks down, playing then with his bag a bit, "hoping things can be different this time, you know? Just that," he admits, wilting a bit.
"But still, why ask so little of me?" she asks, sending a glance to her PDA, that was still empty. "You could hold my theories hostages, refuse to tune the zero, or request anything out of me and-"
"And that serves no purposes because I need your help to fix things here, Sensei. Not to mention, weakening you only makes the wrong people gain the power. All I ask is for you to listen to my warnings, and lend me a hand to see if you can fix whatever is wrong with my status as an anomaly," he counters, simply tilting his head at her.
A moment later, a light buzz spreads on her lab coat, an incoming email.
"He's telling the truth, or believes all he has said to be factually correct. I do not detect any malice nor lies in his aura. Also, the carrots stopped, thankfully."
Gulping slow, Kouzuki relents a nod. "…I suppose, I could consider your words, if you prove yourself to be valuable enough," she says, facing away, folding her own arms, too tight. "If I may ask; why are you so calm and collected? One would assume that you'd be more alarmed in the situation you're in."
"Huh? Oh, well, it's kinda normal already? I mean, time can be cruel or kind but it's up to what I do with it, right? So long as I'm still breathing I can always try and make the best of what I've got, no matter where I end up on. Plus, it's not like I didn't freak out back home, I was too far from the base for anyone to notice," he laughs, cracking at times, while messing with his hair.
"…It's up to what we do, huh. Indeed, that is correct. Apologies for my earlier words," she says, nodding short, again straightening her uniform.
He waves a hand, shakes his head. "No, it's okay, Sensei. I get how shook you must be."
"…You really are going to call me like that, aren't you."
"Yeah, sorry."
"Siiigh… Let us be off to my office. In any case, I expect you to truly do your all for the project, Shirogane."
"Don't worry, you can trust in me," he says, beating a fist to his chest before lifting his travel bag.
"Where does this confidence even come from?"
"Well, the XM3, being a great pilot, winning a Valgern-On championship, learning to handle an XG in a few days and-"
"Wait, what?!" she again lunges for his sight, recoiling back into a scrambled expression upon his nod. "You learned to… How in the… Ahem. There truly is much to discuss with you, I suppose. Come along, let's get a move on," she orders, turning around and briskly reaching the door, dispatching orders and the curious gazes that on Shirogane fell.
"Well, that almost went horrible but at least I'm back… Let's just hope everything is alright back home, and that I can rely on Sensei to fix whatever may still be wrong with me," he shrugs, cracking his neck as the MPs disperse, noticing a certain small shape getting closer. "Hi, Kasumi," he waves at her, she takes a step back. "Come on, don't be scared. I'm a friend."
"…Why did you make me eat carrots in your mind?"
"Because you never do?"
She groans, bunny ears flapping. "You suck."
"Pfft… Hahahaha! Yeah, I guess. Can you forgive me?" he asks, offering a hand.
And for a moment, young Yashiro rubs her hands together, remaining still and observing him carefully before Yuuko calls for them to follow. Shirogane chuckles before nodding and leading the way. Her eyes do not leave him, even when figments of images, of these same hallways, some covered in people and bandages, others with officers she had seen in the base, reach her mind.
"Is something wrong?" he asks, noticing her stare.
"No, it is nothing. It simply has been a long time, since someone greeted me in such a welcoming manner."
"…Right. Well don't worry, Kasumi," Shirogane asserts, nodding upwards in imitation of the daylight filtering through the windows. "I hope we can be friends here too."
"…I see," she says, looking away.
And wondering why the fluffy, mellow yellow fog around him tugs at her mind so, still allowing herself to sink and peek at it, at the flashes of a world reminiscent of her time in the old Hakuryo Base. Only to shrink her lips when more carrots appear in her mind, along his chuckles when Shirogane noticed her stare again.