"We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu Scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and, to impress him, takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now I am become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another."
-J. Robert Oppenheimer
August 25th, 1954, 8:10 PM, Pacific Ocean
"...And that's when the storm hit us off the coast of Okinawa!"
The crew of the Eiko-Maru were listening as one of the new members, Saburo, relayed his first voyage onboard the shipping vessel along with his companion, Takeo, with a skeptical glance.
"You all should've seen Takeo's face when the waves drove us up and then drove us back down. He was practically clinging to my leg like seaweed!"
Some of the crewmembers chuckled while others shook their heads with bemused grins on their faces. Takeo just gave a grim smirk at his friend's story.
"That's not how I remember it," he spoke up. "I seem to recall you being green around the gills and screaming for your mother at the top of your lungs."
"Yeah, and no one asked you, Takeo," Saburo replied teasingly.
Takeo and Saburo had just recently graduated and needed the work. So, they applied for a fishing job on board the Eiko-Maru. It was rewarding, albeit dangerous work. While the pay was certainly good, there was still the risk they could run aground or swept under by a typhoon. But, the two youngsters weren't frightened by the dangers, in fact, they embraced it as part of the job. They didn't mind the adrenaline with the payment.
Saburo just sighed, deciding to end his story right there. "Anyway, Okinawa should just be ahead," he announced to no one in particular. "And then, after that, the lights of Yokohoma will be just around the corner."
Takeo nodded. "Home. Can't wait. I'm getting tired of seeing nothing but open water for the past two weeks. Some R&R at home will do me some good."
As Takeo pulled out his harmonica and played a few notes, Saburo chuckled.
"C'mon, Takeo, where's your sense of excitement? After all, we are sailors! The sea is our home away from home, our source of nourishment, our playground," he started dramatically before clearing his throat and ending rather bluntly, "Our job."
Takeo just shrugged and continued playing his harmonica. The sun had just dipped from the horizon and the moon and stars were just now starting to creep across the night sky and the sea looked so serene and calm. It was almost like a painting come to life.
"Hey," one of the crewmembers shouted out "Look at that!"
The crew turned their gazes westward, even Takeo lifted his head up look at what the others were gawking at. Before them lay a patch of whitish-blue light about ten meters from the Eiko-Maru. The patch was large, dwarfing the length of the fishing vessel and glowed so brightly that it overpowered the light of the full moon.
"What do you think it is?" asked one crewmate.
"I dunno," answered another. "Maybe aliens."
"No, it can't be," another sailor jeered. "I think it might just be some bioluminescent algae. They tend to glow that color."
"I don't think it's algae." Saburo whispered taking a closer look at the patch.
"How come?" Takeo asked curiously.
"Because I don't recall algae making the sea bubble."
Sure enough, the water around and away from the light began to churn and bubble as if it were boiling. A sharp, briny, salty smell filled the air and assailed the nostrils of all who caught a whiff of it. It was almost as if the sea had become fish stew.
"What in the wo-" Takeo started.
Just then, there was a bright flash, brighter than any bolt of lightning. The sheer radiance of it sent the sailors into a pained frenzy and they covered their eyes, hoping they wouldn't be blinded by the light. Some of them dropped down as if their eyes were quite literally burning. For a brief moment, even Saburo, who had covered his eyes, could see his hands' bones through his palms. Just then, there was another flash of light, this one even brighter than the last. Saburo's vision was blurry, but he could still see the silhouettes of his fellow crewmates writhing around and what looked like dancing inhuman shapes in addition to heat.
The ship is on fire, he realized grimly. Just then he felt a hand grip his shirt.
"Saburo," Takeo moaned. "Help me! My eyes! I-I-I CAN'T SEE! I'M BLIND!"
However, Saburo couldn't concentrate on that. All he could feel was water coming up to his ankle. He didn't need perfect vision to realize the ship was sinking.
In the captain's quarters, Matsubara tapped away furiously on the telegraph with one simple message.
"SOS...SOS... Ship is burning... Taking on water... Requesting immediate rescue..."
However, just as he kept repeating the message, a torrent of water rushed into the cabin and knocked him onto his back. As he sunk with the ship, he could only pray to God his message was sent.
Ginza, August 25th, Tokyo, 8:10 PM, 1954
Yamane Emiko hummed to herself as she walked down the streets of Ginza. She had put on her best formal attire; a baby blue dress with floral patterns. Her long, curly hair was tied into a bun and her elevated slipper shoes clicked against the pavement. The sun had just set and the lights of the city were just beginning to illuminate the streets. She was on her way to meet up with her childhood friend, Morita Shinkichi, from his work place, Tokyo Work and Salvage. She had just collected tickets for a jazz music concert being held a Hibiya Public Hall. All the while, she could only imagine what years had done to the shy boy from Oto Island she hadn't seen since those years together in middle school. She had finally reached her destination and knocked on the building's wooden doors.
The doors opened to reveal a man garbed in custodial attire. He looked to be the same age as her father, Prof. Yamane Kyohei, even looked a little bit like him too, just without the mustache and longer, wiry hair.
"Can I help you, Miss?" he asked her. "We're just closing up shop, it is Saturday, after all."
"I'm here to see one Morita Shinkichi," Emiko replied with a bow. "My name is Yamane Emiko, I'm sure he's expecting me. Is he here?"
The custodian scratched his chin, "Shinkichi."
He perked up two seconds later.
"Oh, yes, Shinkichi," he spoke up. "Yes, he's still here. He's just wrapping things up before leaving. I'll let him know you're here."
He cupped his hands to his mouth.
"Oi, Morita!" he shouted, "There's someone who wants to see you! Says her name was Yamane Fumiko-"
"Emiko," the young Yamane corrected with a sheepish grin.
"Emiko!"
"Hold on, I'll be right out!"
Emiko frowned at the voice. It sounded nothing like the meek, shy boy she knew from her preteen years. This voice sounded strong and commanding. However, the person who came out definitely looked to be the same Shinkichi she knew. He had the same black, cut to the scalp hair she once knew, and the same soft brown eyes. When he saw her, he instantly smiled.
"Emiko!" he called out hugging her and lifting her six inches off the floor. "Look at you, you were cute back in middle school, now you're practically a princess!"
"Uhhh, nice to see you too, Shinkichi," Emiko replied. "Say, could you put me down?"
"Huh? Oh, sure."
Shinkichi gently put her back down.
"So, how's your dad?" he asked.
Emiko clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "Still a paleontologist."
"He still studies dinosaur bones?" he asked.
"Well, not always," Emiko replied. "Just the other day, he found the fossilized remains of a trilobite along the coast of Okinawa. But, I don't think you wanted to hear me talking about fossils. So, you ready to go?"
Just then, the phone rang.
"Hold on a minute, Emi." Shinkichi told her before heading over to the phone.
"Hello," he greeted the person on the other end, "Tokyo Salvage and Rescue Company, Morita speaking."
Emiko saw his face flush.
"What... say that again... what happened? You're kidding! What about the crew? I see... I see... Alright, calm down, calm down. Alright. I'll be over as soon as I can. See you soon."
Shinkichi sighed and turned to Emiko who had a concerned look on her face.
"Sorry, Emiko," he told her. "The boss wants me in the office. There's been... an incident. You're gonna have to go to the concert alone."
Emiko let out a sad yet understanding sigh. So much for going to see the concert together.
"Alright," Emiko told him. "Take care.
She walked out of the office in a slightly defeated mood, leaving Shinkichi who cupped his hands against his face. This was NOT how he wanted to spend the evening.
