February 23, 2011
One moment, I was fiddling around with glass like a dumbass. And in the next, I was on the receiving end of a knock on the door to my apartment.
Normally, I wouldn't care all too much. It was annoying, sure, but it wasn't all too bad. I could just ignore them until they went away to bother some other poor shmuck in the complex. I tried pushing the sound out of my mind, continuing my work even though I knew it was in vain.
Just when I was about to tell the guy off, he spoke. "Mister Kim? Hello? Mister Kim? We'd like to make a proposal!"
The voice projected through the thin wooden door, grabbing my attention in an instant as I stared at the knob. It wasn't the end of the world, I knew that. There were still a few months before everything went down the gutter But, that was all the person needed to have my curiosity.
Nobody ever called or visited me after the funeral. But if it was a visitor, then why now of all times? My brows furrowed, lips forming into a thin line as I finally got off my chair. Looking through the peephole, I felt my heart jump into my throat as I took a step back.
A pair of men both of whom wore ABB's brand of red and green. The first was a mousy looking man in a professional-looking suit. He stood at about five foot six, by my estimate and wore thin-framed glasses. However, it was the second that was more worrying. He was a tall and broad man, wearing a distinct black bodysuit, and a mask that everyone learned to fear.
"Oni Lee's at my fucking door step," I whispered to myself, unable to believe the words coming out of my mouth. "Oni Lee's at my fucking door step!-"
"Yes, Mister Kim. And if you don't open the door in the next ten seconds, I'm afraid he's going to do more than just stand here," There was a growing impatience to the smaller man's voice, as if testing me to go against him. "One-"
Before he could even count, the door snapped open. A polite smile on my face as I kept my emotions from boiling over. I just needed to stay calm, act professional, and maybe they won't lock me up to just tinker all day and night.
Maybe I'd be lucky. Maybe I could use this for my benefit. Maybe I could-
My thoughts were cut off as the shorter man called for my attention, pointing to the chair I was sitting in. "Please, have a seat, Mister Kim. I'm sure this proposal will be very beneficial to the both of us."
In a flash, the room was suddenly littered with egg shells, and it felt like I was one wrong move from turning up in a body bag. A slight grimace crooked my lips as I tried to force it back down. I couldn't be too blatant.
Sucking in a breath, I counted to ten, and forced myself to calm down. One by one, the egg shells gradually turned into gummy bears, the tension on my nerves taking a step back.
With a clear head, I did as I was told, taking the seat as I faced the two of them, the pair standing an equal distance from one another. "Mister Lester Kim," The shorter man started, and the feeling of unease settled into my bones. A hard lump forming in my throat.
"Yes, sir?" There was a nervous tick in my voice. Something I was growing to hate about myself. And like a shark in the water, he seemed to preen at my words.
He hummed, taking a step closer to me. "The ABB has recently come under the assumption that you've recently triggered, yes? While we won't press on the why or how, we would like to formally extend an offer to you. An olive branch if you would." The mouse-like man giggled into his palm, clearing his throat once he was finished.
"A few members of our group have spotted you rummaging through the nearby junk yard," He took another step, getting awfully close to my desk as his eyes skimmed through its contents. "And with how things are, it's safe to guess that you're a tinker, yes?"
Curses, each of varying degrees, threatened to leave my lips. Most of them directed to myself. I wasn't being cautious enough. I didn't think things through. I leapt at the change because I was impulsive. Because I wanted to take the quick and easy route instead of taking my sweet fucking ti-
"Yes. Tha- That is right," I answered, a quiver in my tone as my fists clenched.
"Good," A smile graced his lips, while he placed one of his hands on my shoulder. "Very good. That means we can finally get down to business," His grip over my shoulder grew firm, my own body unable to move… Like I was mastered. "We will provide you a lab of your own. Fully furnished with any tool you could ever desire, and all of the materials you could ever need."
He paused, just enough for to catch on. "And in exchange, you provide us your services, whatever may be."
Ignoring the big fucking problem in the room, I thought on it for a moment. They were giving me exactly what I wanted. But, at what cost?
"Just… like that?" I prodded, watching for any outward reaction on the shorter man's face. "Don't know if it's a bit rude to ask, but shouldn't there be some sort of shackle around my ankles? I don't know, some sort of leash around my neck just in case? There… has to be something, right?"
I felt unsure of myself. I had no clue if I was asking too many questions. But I also didn't want to ask too little.
"Of course, there's no such thing as a free lunch. But we will give you the tools to flourish under our care. To grow, both as a tinker, and as a member of the ABB."
"So, that's it? Join the ABB, build for you, and I get to do whatever I want in the middle?"
"In layman's terms, yes," He shrugged, the weight lifting off my shoulders. "However, if there's one caveat I do have to mention, it's this," He took Oni Lee's side, a hand over the intimidating cape's shoulder as his expression suddenly contorted into a Cheshire grin. "If you ever betray us, we'll be sure to get it back in blood."
The lump in my throat returned, but I couldn't swallow it down. It was like a rock; the damn thing didn't want to move. But I pushed on nevertheless. "Shit, man. That's all you needed to say. I- Sign me the fuck up!" I said with faux cheer, a drop of sweat trailing down my brow as the voice inside my head screamed at me.
I answered too fast. I didn't think on it for long enough. Was I being too greedy? No, no. It wasn't being greedy at all. No, I was being fucking desperate. And from the gleam in his eyes, I didn't think there was any way to back out now unless I had something up my sleeve.
"Quite," He took his hand off the demon, pushing his glasses up in a smooth motion. "Now, if you could please follow us, that would be very nice. We'll be taking you to your new home."
"Wait, hold u-" I stopped myself from continuing, the harsh glare Oni Lee sent me sending shivers down my spine. "Ughh- hm- ugh…. What about school? My civilian identity? Will any of that be an issue… sir?"
Yes. I'd try to play the part of a desperate orphan student with no funds. And seeing how I was exactly just that, I don't think he'd even bat an eye. At any rate, I was just grasping at small freedoms.
"Ah, right…. That," He said pointedly, drawing out his words to an uncomfortable degree. Though, I suppose that was the intent. "Worry not, mister Kim. Rest assured everything will be alright. Better, in fact. As for your civilian identity, we'll arrange for someone to drive you to Winslow.
"O-Okay, but-"
"Then there's no need to fuss. Just sit back, and relax. We'll handle the rest. You're going to be one of us soon enough, mister Kim. A part of our little family."
The mousy man put emphasis in his words, body slowly turning to face the door. "Your personal belongings will be in the careful hands of a few of our boys, so there's no need to pack up. Now, all you need to do is follow us to your new home, and everything should be done by the end of the day."
For all that I tried, the end was still going to be the same. I knew that. They knew that. We all knew that. But, I fucked up. My eagerness had cost me getting a better deal. I messed up because I was impulsive.
Letting out a sigh through grit teeth, I let a closed smile tug on my cheeks, doing what I was told, for better, or for worse.
One way or another, I'd grow beyond them. Beyond Oni Lee, Bakuda, and even Lung.
One way or another, I'd build my out. Forging the key to my escape with my own two hands.
And I knew for a damn fact it wouldn't take long. I wasn't going to be strong-armed by the god damn ABB!
{--}
February 25, 2011
It all started with a dream. One very similar to my own life. One where I did things with the same motivations and thought process. In a body not too dissimilar to my own. Except, it had a few major differences.
For one, my parents were alive and well, we all were. We lived in our little house out in the Filipino countryside, something that I only vaguely remembered from when I was a toddler. There, we never moved to the US. There, I had a brother who was a few years younger than me. Now no more than a faint and distant memory.
And secondly, there weren't any capes. No brutes, no thinkers, or tinkers. No super powers at all. It was like the time before the golden man arrived, the dream similar to a time capsule where humanity moved past that point.
In a way, it wasn't too different from Earth Aleph, with both of their world's media being remarkably similar in a lot of ways. Just-ummm…. With one major addition.
My world, the world I lived in, my life, hopes and dreams, was a story. A niche little story at the very edges of the wide internet, with only nerds and neckbeards interested in it. Then again, that said more about me- er- my other self, than it did anything else.
A sigh passed through my lips, fingers combing through my hair as I finally set up a working lab with most of the things I needed. It was a simple thing, with my tools and work shop off to one corner, and the forge off to the other. And all within a room simply made out of solid cement.
It was plain, with the grays melding into one another the longer I looked. For the first time in my life, I realized the importance of decorations. Because if I had to work here for hours on end, next to the scorching heat of the crucible? Think I might just go insane.
At least the ventilation was decent, keeping the breeze at a crisp eighteen degrees Celsius. However, none of that mattered now. Not when I needed to set up a plan.
My main concern right now was to not repeat the events of the deal. I didn't want to be caught off guard again. And in the case that I was, I wanted to be the one who had the upper hand.
But, that was impossible. It couldn't do shit unless I had the Simurgh at my back pocket. And didn't. I wouldn't. Not yet. Of course, with enough time and parts, I would be able to make damn near anything.
But first, I had to focus on what my biggest problems were at the moment
Accessing my shard, it began to gradually drip feed me knowledge, of a fictional world called 'Cyberpunk'. It was a technological dystopia where corporations ruled the Earth, and everything was just a little bit shittier.
But other than that, it was a good base to start from. Offering tech based enhancements, and a fair bit of cyber security and hacking. It was practically perfect for Earth Bet…. With just one caveat.
I couldn't use most of it without having someone 'installing' the parts into my body. Sure, there were the stims that augmented healing, guns that could blow massive holes into walls, armor that could somewhat tank said guns, and the biggest game changer, Artificial intelligence. But all of that felt supplementary to the actual meat that was the cyberware.
That meant, I needed someone to perform the surgeries on me. Someone who wouldn't shoot me in the back of the head as soon as I went under for it.
Teaching them wouldn't be a problem, thankfully. There were chips meant for exactly just that, imparting skills onto the user like plugging in a usb. Though, that still left me with the problem of how I could find someone who was loyal to me, not the ABB
A storm brewed as a scowl tightened on my face. Naturally, the first, and quickest, option was to master someone. Strip them of their free will, and I face a servant willing to do my every bidding.
However, it was morally detestable. There was no doubt about that. But I was already with the ABB, whatever apprehensions I had should've been thrown out the window.
Even still, all I needed was a little bit of tech, a lobotomy, and an AI of my creation to pilot it.
I could already see the PRT busting down my door, but I didn't care. I only had three weeks remaining before my shard shifted, and I got a different world to tinker with. It was a race to get everything done.
And all it would take- to flush my morals down the drain- was a single phone call.
But, I'd feel like a piece of shit. Mostly because I was a piece of shit. And while being self-aware did lessen the blow, it still didn't help the situation much. Not much at all.
BZZZZT
BZZZZZZZT
BZZZZZT
BZZZZZZT
"Hello, Mister Satou?" I held my breath, keeping a closed fist to my heart as I waited for a response.
"Ah, mister Kim, right? I was told I'd be handling your requests, how may I help you?"
It was now or never. Exhaling through my lips, I let the words go without conflict. "I need to bring in a..." I paused, my conviction faltering now of all times. "A prosti- A gi- I need you to bring a lady of- A-'
I was cut off before I could make a fool of myself. The man at the other end of the line snapping at me. "Pro? Pro? Pro? Just say it straight, mister Kim. We don't exactly have all day." His tone became harsh, growing deeper until it somewhat resembled a growl.
A weight pressed itself down on my shoulders as they slumped. "I need you to bring in someone from one of the brothels, okay? Product nobody would miss, no specific preferences."
"I see, I see…" A few clicks then came over the feed as he hummed. "Will that be all?"
"No," I denied, my heart jumping out of my chest as I said the next few words. "Could you also grab another set of surgical tools. That will be all, thanks. "
"What am I your dad? Shit, might as well grab you a few snacks just in case." The older man poked, letting out a soft snort. "I'm just kidding. Give me and the boys about an hour or two, and we'll have what you want by the docking station. Pleasure doing business with you, young man."
The phone dropped out of my hand as he hung up, my grip losing its control as I stared at the wall. It was that easy. It was that easy to reaffirm myself as a piece of shit. To know I was the worst kind of person imaginable. But it was another thing to actually do it.
I felt gross, sticky with muck that only I could see. Grime and sludge caked my skin in a thick layer of black goop, my own body feeling like it was frozen in place. I wanted to get out. I wanted to be free. It was fucking choking me.
Then my eyes opened. Snapping out of whatever stupor I was in.
The world felt darker than it should've been, the dull color of cement that surrounded me only becoming more drab as everything became one and the same. A closed fist hovered over my chest, as a grimace distorted my features.
My back pressed against the wall as I took a step back, beads of sweat trailing down my face. The droning sound of the ventilation fan sending spirals through my aching head.
"I'm not a monster," I whispered, my knees failing me as they gave way. "I'm not a monster," I repeated, my voice growing louder as did the fans. I felt my lung seizing up, the very act of breathing becoming horridly painful. "I'm not a fucking monster!" I shouted in frustration, the walls around me buzzing to life as if shaken by my voice.
The world began spinning as I curled myself into a ball. I didn't do anything wrong. I was just trying to survive. I needed to do whatever it took. I didn't want things to end like this. I didn't want to end up as a smear on the wall because I took too long. I didn't want to die.
Then, time froze, and everything came to a stop.
Seconds ticked by, and there wasn't even a sound.
It was like I was alone. Gone from reality. Taking in a breath, the air felt fresher, with not a speck of dirt to ruin it for me. My thoughts grew louder, no longer on the very edge of my mind. I felt… better, better than I could ever be. It was like seeing the world through a new pair of glasses. Everything clicking into place.
"I'm…" I paused, the words at the very edge of my lips. But I was afraid to say them. "I am a monster…. But, if that is what it takes to be free. To take down a god. Then so be it."
A set of three bangs broke me from my thoughts, as a fire blazed in my chest. "Well, no time like the present," I nodded to myself, opening the door out as I glanced back at the workshop. "It's just one small bump in the road. There won't be any more after this."
[spoiler=Author's notes for those who want some extra lore and links]
Fic is inspired by Fabled Webs. I binged his Tinker of Fiction fic, and was like damn, wonder if I could write one of those stories. Then I did. And now I'm elbow deep into the worm rabbit hole. Chapters should come out once a week, though, that may be subject to change due to schedule conflicts with school and other projects. Going to try my best here guys.
Anyways, if you have any complaints, likes, dislikes, anything, please comment them. They're appreciated as it helps improves my writing and the quality of the fic moving forward. your ideas are also appreciated, they may be used to write future scenes that don't exist yet. Very neat.
I'm mainly active on 2 discord servers, you can find me on them when I have the time. Come and chat, I like interaction a lot. Channel name is #ball's pit for the servers that aren't mine.
SGO: Join the Shiro's Gaming Omniverse Discord Server!
Mine: Join the balls Discord Server!
I'm not telling you to join it, but it would be nice.
With that being said, have a great day.