Catch-22: The Past Tense
By: M14Mouse
Summary: Futaba and Yu have been busy. Very busy.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.-Marcus Garvey
"What is the second part?" Makoto asked.
"Information….Data. The tunnels have been drawing cognitive thoughts away from the palace. We also have been using them to gather information about our palace ruler," Futaba explained.
"What did you learn?" Haru asked.
"Everything," Futaba said.
"I mean…that is impressive but I don't think…"
"Everything." She cut off Makoto.
"I…."
"We got everything. He tried to hide it. Silly of him. He forgot something."
"What is that?" Yusuke asked.
This guy…" Futaba pointed to him.
"I was merely helping the dialogue along," He said with a bow.
She snorted.
"He is like an OP with ultimate stats."
He winked at her.
"You are too kind. It was a joint effort."
Her face turned red.
"A little…."
"Master Gambler, Lady Oracle, we have come to report," The ant type shadow approached the group. -They remind him of the Amazon women that he read and saw in books with their black armor, helmets and various tools and weapons.
He stood up and turned to the shadows.
"Go on," He said with a nod.
"We have collapsed three tunnels, redirected another tunnel and finished the elevator," The ant shadow said.
Futaba beamed at the shadow.
"PREFECT!" She said as she clapped her hands.
"An elevator?" Ren asked.
"YUP!" She said excitedly.
"Yes, we asked them to build us an elevator. It is a lot easier to traverse a palace when there is an elevator. It almost leads to the top," He said.
He was really impressed by how quickly they worked.
"Yup!" Futaba added.
The group just stared at them.
"Oh, Captain Anna. Did you receive my supplies?" He asked.
"Yes, Master Gambler, they were most helpful, especially the bulldozer," Captain Anna said.
"A bulldozer…?" Haru whispered to Morgana.
"I…don't know how…THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!" Morgana shouted.
Futaba leaned over and started messing with his face.
"It is! And I told you…he has ultimate stats," Futaba said.
"Anyway, thank you. If you need anything, send a message before I leave. I will be happy to provide them," He said with a bow.
"It is good to have such a reliable ally. Good luck, Master Gambler," the captain said.
"Thank you. Send my regards to Queen Annaza," He said.
"Of course," The shadow said before they departed.
The group stared at the pair again.
"I…think I am afraid of those two," Ryuji mumbled.
"As you should be…we are off!" Futaba said as she marched toward the elevator.
He hummed as he followed. It wasn't far. He wanted to be around the perimeter. So, the doctor's reach wasn't as strong.
Oh, and access was important too.
He could hear footsteps behind him as they approached the elevator door. Futaba hit a few buttons on the panel and the door openned. He followed Futaba into the spacious elevator and the others quickly followed.
"Please keep all hands, feet, and tails away from the door and….probably the railing. Oh, and don't touch the panel either. Just to be safe!" Futaba said gleefully.
He chuckled softly as he leaned against the railing away from the group. He watched in amusement as Futaba hit a few buttons and the door closed. She hummed to herself as she pulled out her computer with some cables hanging to the side. She plugged into the panel and opened her laptop. Few moments later, a giant image appeared on the tv-like panel in front of them.
"Andddddd….it is time for the show!" Futaba shouted as she hit the button.
He looked up to watch him and Futaba appeared on the screen.
"Is that office?" Ann asked.
"Storage closet, really. While we found a lot of generalized information on how the palace operates through consoles he has all throughout the palace, but the really juicy stuff are these storage closets. All of them were locked until we got a hold of them. Now…shhh…."
On the screen, the younger version of the doctor was sitting at Rumi's bedside in a hospital.
"How are you feeling, Rumi?" The doctor asked.
Rami said nothing and continued to stare into space.
"Sorry I came empty-handed…I just have been so busy with the research lately, I haven't had the chance to pick any part time work."
The doctor briefly looked away before turning his attention back to her.
"…I know-I'll buy you flowers the next time that I come. Do you remember that wildflower field we used to go to back in high school? You really loved it there, did you? Oh-would you prefer if you brought you some snacks instead? Which should I bring, sweet or salty? I know that you like both, so…Actually, I have some news for you today. So, first: I've finished my paper. The other thing is they caught the culprit. You don't need to worry anymore." The doctor rambled.
Rami reacted briefly before the doctor continued.
"Of course, that doesn't mean everything's over and done with, but things are going to proceed as they ought to. My "cognitive psience" is the study of people's hearts, and how they guide people's view of the world. Everyone comprehends the world in a different way, depends on their cognition. So basically, if one could tap into a person's "cognitive world". One would even be able to alter how that person view reality-in every way…That's what my paper's all about. Heh, here I am, going way over your head with this stuff like always…But anyway-I've recently met someone who thinks my research could be fruitful. IF everything moves forward as planned, they may even fund my work. At that point, I'd be professional "psientist" in the world. My goal is to find a way to stop crime by putting my research into action. Many of the criminals in this world are deluded to the point of seeing everything through a distorted lens…"
Goro snorted next to him.
"Fool"
"SHHHH!"
"If I could change their cognitions, it would stop them from committing crimes before they even considered them. And if I were to succeed…the things that happened to you would never happen to anyone else again. I want to save you. No, not just you-I want to save the whole word with my cognitive pscience! Well…at least, I know your family would appreciate it," The doctor said as he leaned over.
"Taku…to…" Rami said.
"Rumi! It's me. Are you alright? Can you talk?" The doctor said eagerly.
"Takuto….Fam..ily."
The doctor seemed surprised when Rumi lunged forward with her hands clutching her head.
"My family! Mom! Dad! No! Please! Please don't go! Ahhhh!"
The doctor rushed to her side.
"Rumi? Rumi! It's okay…Calm down.."
"Give them back! Give me my mom and dad.."
"…ou…want.." A mysterious voice rings in the air.
"Guh! These migraines are…Damnit!"
He watched as the doctor called for help. The screen flicked for a moment. Another doctor appeared on the screen with the pair.
"I believe that it was most likely a post-traumatic episode. Memories of the incident must have resurfaced due to some sort of stimuli like a certain imagery or phrasing," The other doctor said.
"Phrasing…" Maruki said.
The screen flicked again.
"I'm so sorry, Rumi…it's all my fault. Deep down, I knew…I could end all the crime across the world-it still would bring your family back. What you truly need is to be set free from this horrible tragedy…But, how can I do that?" The doctor said thoughtfully.
"…seek…me" the doctor's pesona said.
"Ngh…" The doctor groaned in pain.
"What…what was that?"
"Yes…what was that?" Ann asked.
"SHHHH….it showed up soon enough," Futaba said.
"It is probably his persona," Akechi remarked.
"Yes…Yes…NOW SHHHHH! All of our information gathering will missed if you don't be quiet"
"Takuto…please…stop…this. I…want…to forget..this," Rumi mumbled.
"Forget? I wish I could do something to…Oh, but wait. By altering a subject's cognition-by changing their heart-any related trauma is eliminated." The doctor mumbled.
"You must seek me!"
"So by that logic…All that pain…Rami's trauma and everyone else's…can be undone!" Doctor said excitedly.
"Seek me…I am that who manifests thought itself."
"Oh, but how? I mean we got our personas in the palaces and stuff," Ryuji said.
"You can gain access to a persona in any reality," He said.
"What?!" Morgana shouted.
"There is always a set of prerequisites, but it isn't limited to the reality that you are in. So, technically, you could get one here, in-between realities, or even other ones."
"That is impossible."
"You are a talking cat. I would think that YOU are impossible," He said as he lowered his glasses.
"He has a point," Haru added.
"SHHHH!"
"I shall echo your blasphemous fury with reality so that we may together change the world…Now, call me forth!"
"Yes, I'll do it," the doctor said as he leaned forward to grab Rumi's hand. "I don't care who you may be…lend me your strength! Please…help me save Rumi's life!"
"What was that?!" The doctor jolted.
Rumi's eyes opened.
"Rumi, are you okay?!"
Rumi looked at him.
"Who…who are you?" Rumi asked.
"Rumi, it's me," He said surprisedly.
"Um…I'm really sorry, but I don't know who you are."
"Rumi, what do you mean?"
"I've just gone through surgery…Ever since I was born. I've been unwell. I lost my parents when I was young, so I live with my grandparents in the countryside now."
"When you were young? You can't. It's me, Rumi! Don't you remember me?"
"Um…I really am sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about. Well, I'm going to be discharged from here pretty soon, now that I've finished my last round of surgery. I can't wait to see my grandparents again to show them how well that I've recovered," Rumi said.
"What happened?" Haru asked.
"He changed her cognition," Makoto answered.
"With the help of his persona…" Akeci grumbled.
"This is…were her memories actually revised? Wait…was that voice really.." The doctor mumbled.
"Um…Are you alright?" Rumi asked.
"That's absurd…How could something like-Oh! I mean…It's nothing. I'm glad that you are doing better now. She remembers nothing of the incident. So, for Rumi…
"By the way…What are you doing in my room? How do you know my name?"
The doctor snapped out of his mumbling and looked toward Rumi.
"Oh…I'm…Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."
"Another person?"
"Oh…my…my girlfriend's name is Rumi, too."
"Oh, that's so nice to hear…."
Akechi snorted.
"Shut it off unless it has something more useful than his sentiments."
"It is the end of this video. We aren't sure about showing you the next ones," Futaba added.
"Why?" Yoshizawa asked.
"His research. He has a ton of videos of his different clients and his "attempts". Some of them have you, Violet," He said.
"Oh? Is…it bad?"
The pair glanced at each other.
"Not really…I mean, it does kind of show how he rewrote your cognition and his growth of his powers. It is your call," Futaba said with a shrug.
"And some of them are with a friend of his, Shibusawa. He was talking to him about a meeting with some investors…and we know what that means. If I take a guess, it was probably Shido," He said.
"Shido…" Ryuji groaned.
"Probably. He hinted that those investors were excited until they weren't. Of course, at that point, we figured out that they copied the research," Futaba said.
"The ones with me…what are they about?"
"It was your first meeting and your declaration about being your sister. I was rather impressed by the method. It was very effective," He remarked.
"Oh? Interesting. I would like to see it," Akechi said.
He glanced to look at Yoshizawa.
"Go…Go on," She said.
Futaba hit a button and the new record started.
Yoshizawa and the doctor were sitting in his office.
"Sometimes, I can't help but think things would've been better if I were Kasumi Yoshizawa. After all…just wishing to make her dream come true does nothing for her in reality." Yoshizawa said.
"Making dreams come true, huh? Well, I don't think your train of thought is strange at all, Yoshizawa-san. In fact, wanting to become somebody else isn't necessarily an entirely bad thing" The doctor said.
"You…You think so?"
"Everyone is capable of changing themselves-your imagination's your only limit. That's why, if you aspire to be more like another person. It's actually possible. Thought exercises like, "Would that person do this? Or realization like "this person wouldn't do that….these sort of thoughts can lead people to change themselves in ways that more closely mirror the target person. Can you imagine what your sister would like?"
"Yes," Yoshizawa said a nod.
"If your sister were in your shoes, what do you think she'd do?" The doctor asked.
"Well…she wouldn't cry. If she had the time to do that, she'd practice more instead. Dr. Maruki. I…want to become Kasumi."
"…I know. And, I'm sure you can, too. Just…believe in yourself."
A flash of light happened when Yoshizawa opened her eyes.
"How about it? Are you feeling any better now?" The doctor asked.
"Yes…I feel like a weight 's been lifted off of me! You're amazing, Doctor!" Yoshizawa said happily.
"Hah…it's no big deal…"
"You are correct. It was effective. His phrasing was just right and his power was subdued enough that no one would catch it," Akechi remarked.
"In some ways, I'm glad. The outcome could have been worse," He said.
"Wh-What?" Yoshizawa said surprised.
"He could have forced his powers on you and completely rewrite your cognition. No matter what you wanted," Makoto said.
"Kind of like what he is doing now," Ren said.
"Yes."
"But I don't get how no one realized that Violet thought she was her sister. Their names didn't even sound alike," Ryuji said.
"Easily. We do it all the time. We think that we hear our name being called or we think that we hear something when in reality, it is all in our head."
"So, she thought that she was hearing her sister's name instead of her own?" Ann said.
"All in her cognition," Futaba said.
He nodded.
"I admit, I really did feel saved in that moment when I became Kasumi but at the same time, I ran from my life as Sumire. I'm genuinely grateful for what Dr. Maruki did for me, but I'm done running." Yoshizawa said.
He smiled slightly at her words.
Good.
"The next clip is him getting his persona or you can watch him getting his ass kicked again? It was fun in our robot," Futaba said as she started typing on her keyboard.
"Wait…a robot?" Ryuji said amazedly at Futaba.
"You two did a showtime?" Ren asked.
"Yup. It was awesome. We left a big hole in the wall. I wonder if the doctor fixed it," Futaba answered back.
"We couldn't get the explosions under control but the lasers worked wonderfully," He said mildly.
Why is everyone stepping away from them?
"It did! So, robots or a persona? Which one?"
"ROBOTS!? I thought that it was just one?" Ann said in shock.
"We had to combine our powers after all. I had a frog and mastodon. Oracle had a pokemon like one…eevee?" He asked.
"One of them…The other one was a tiger…and we threw a phoenix because it was cool," Futaba said.
"That…makes no sense," Haru mumbled.
"Of course, it doesn't. It never made any sense when they do it on the show. That is how we made the magic happen."
"I would like to see the robots. I can imagine that they are very pleasant to the eye," Yusuke added.
"Robots, it is!" Futaba shouted before anyone said anything else.
He watched as Futaba hit a button on her computer. The screen flashed to the "forest" area as Futaba liked to call it.
"Huh…what is the world?" Futaba said as she looked up to see people floating upward.
"Hmm…so, this is what happens," He said as he followed her glance upward.
"What happens?"
"Like what you said earlier… self-actualization?"
"His version of their self-actualization…it looks more like…heaven."
"More like a prison," He replied.
"How do you figure that?"
He pointed to the shadows patrolling the perimeter.
"Heaven wouldn't need guards."
"Good point."
He watched the doctor appear on screen. He looked rough around the edges.
The doctor should really get more sleep.
"Why?! Why are you doing this?! You are destroying my work!" The doctor shouted.
"I told you why," He said mildly.
"Don't you understand what I'm trying to do? I'm taking away their pain. I'm making them happy,"
"No, doctor. You are making YOU happy…that is the difference."
He saw the look flashed on the doctor's face.
"I know who you are,"
"Oh, doctor, that isn't important at all."
"Wha-?"
"I should rephrase that. Names do have values. In this case, my name would mean nothing. No, doctor, it isn't who I am that matters, it is what I represent," He said.
It was really strange watching himself on the screen and kind of funny watching Futaba sneak behind the doctor.
"What are you talking about?!" The doctor said in surprise.
"You know the old American saying…You stirred up a hornet's nest and you should be prepared for the sting." He said mildly.
The doctor was able to say something. He wanted to cut it off before he started rambling again.
"Doctor, do you honestly believe that the thieves are the only persona users in Japan…in the world?"
"Shit," Ryuji mumbled.
"We shouldn't really be surprised. I mean Crow was a persona user before us," Ren pointed out.
"Correct. So when did you become a persona user?" Makoto asked.
"SHHH…this is the good part and it will ruin it with all of your talking?!" Futaba said.
The doctor's face turned pale.
"So, go ahead, Doctor. Stir that hornet's nest. You might find that you might have your hands full."
If the doctor wanted to bring his friends into this…well…he did warn him.
"AH HA! GOT IT!" Futaba shouted.
The lights flickered for a moment.
He glanced over to see Futaba crackling by a nearby console.
"What did you do?!" The doctor said he turned around.
"Oh, just override the security," Futaba said with a grin.
The doctor shook his head.
"No…No…this isn't going to plan."
Shadows started appearing around the doctor. He tilted his head toward Futaba.
"Shall we?"
"YES! IT's our showtime!" Futaba shouted.
In a flash, he found himself in a zord-like frog structure. His little sister would be so envious. She always wanted to get inside one of these things. On the horizon, he could make the group of shadows. On his right, he could see his other zord. On his left, he could see Futaba and her zords.
"Can you hear me, green leader?"
"Yes,"
"I always wanted to say that."
"Oracle, focus."
"Let me have my moment. Ready to combine our powers!" Futaba shouted excitedly over the speakers.
He hit some buttons on the console. His zords started to glow and slowly break apart like legos. He could see Futaba's zords break apart and form a giant robot. In a flash, he dropped into another seat right in front of Futaba. The bridge was very roomy and there were a lot of lights and buttons that he had no clue what they were. He should probably ask Futaba what they do at some point.
Futaba was giggling behind him.
"Locking onto the targets," He said as he hit some buttons on the console. The target system lit up like a Christmas tree and the lasers locked onto their target.
"Weapons, ready…and FIRE!" Futaba shouted as she hit a button on her console.
He could hear the weapon bay open and flash of rockets launch into the air. The rockets rained down on the shadows.
"Anndddd…that is when we made the hole," Futaba noted.
"If we tighten up the targeting system, we might be able to avoid it. In this case, I think that is a good thing," He noted.
The group watched as the screen flashed orange and red.
He watched as the pair celebrated on the screen with the shadows' defeat.
"The doctor ran away," He noted.
"He missed a show," Futaba remarked.
"That was marvelous. I would love to see it again," Yusuke said.
"Hell no! Did you see that hole?!" Ann shouted.
"It was a work of art."
The elevator ding and the doors open to welcome the thieves to the "forest" level…and the giant hole in the ground.
"We couldn't get the elevator all the way there," He noted to the group.
"We got as close to the treasure as we could. Not too bad, huh?" Futaba said.
The group stared at them.
"It was a bad idea for them to work together," Ryuji added in a panic.
"Oh, I don't think so. We should do it again some other time," He noted.
Futaba crackled.
End of The Past Tense.
Next Chapter: The Present Tense
A/N: How do you condense a whole bunch of dialogue into one chapter? This way…because I don't want to drag this arc anymore than you do. Futaba and Yu's showtime paid homage to Yu's voice actor (a former power ranger.) So, I couldn't help. After this arc is done, I will post my first notes/snippets of everyone's showtime with Yu. Yes, I planned that out. :D Anyway, thank you for the support. Review and read if you wish.