Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 163: Time Before Time Part 5
-Present Day Prologue-
"You know, I've been holding back my powers too." 15 remarked.
"What do you mean?" Yukiko asked.
"You haven't noticed it?" 15 questioned, "I've yet to use my virus power. As you've witness, I'm able to manipulate concentrations of darkness like Seth. However, I've never showed you what unique powers I possess."
15 was right. He did not use his virus power during their last fight either. When Seth and Froslass were dragged to the Realm Between Life and Death…that was all Dusknoir's powers as a Reaper.
The dark aura surrounding 15 began turning white. This white light quickly spread throughout the entire top floor of Circle N.
"What's going on?" Fear/Seth kept his guard up but was perplexed. The white aura surrounded everything…to the point where nothing was visible in Circle N. Not the equipment. Not the floor. Not the giant window. Not the view of the ruined city of Prypiat below. All that was visible to Fear/Seth was 15 himself.
"The power I possess will lock you within the confines of what Prypiat was 30 years ago. You and everyone you know will live in Prypiat. You will love. You will lose. You will lose what you love. It is up to you to build upon these connections to save Prypiat from the nuclear disaster that will occur. Do you have what it takes to save this town in 7 days?"
"!" The white light became blinding to the point where Fear/Seth and Yukiko had to cover their eyes.
'I hope you will learn to love Rose through this too…' 15 didn't say this out loud. If Seth were to fight his way out of the Prypiat Disaster and defeat 15, this would be 15's parting gift to Rose…
What lied ahead for Seth? Only time would tell. Though time is something Seth will come to wish he had more of. Will Seth be able to overcome Prypiat's impending doom and defeat Commander 15?
-End Present Day Prologue-
30 Years Ago…
Prypiat was a city which lied within the northern reaches of Johto. It was a city with much economic growth on the horizon, and it was all thanks to the Nuclear Facility known as Chernobyl. Chernobyl revolutionized the world's nuclear industry, bringing in money from foreign land for blueprints on how to effectively use nuclear power. Though the city's accessibility left a lot to be desired, the employment opportunity brought in many new workers regardless. The success of nuclear power eventually brought about expanding Prypiat into a decent sized metropolis.
From the amusement park, to Albuquerque Bridge, the military base, the 'Ginza', to the new Pokemon Gym which recently opened, Prypiat was quickly gaining the nickname 'Goldenrod North'.
….
"…" A fourteen-year-old boy named Saki kept to himself as he walked Albuquerque Bridge, on his way to school. He wore a school uniform which consisted of a black blazer, blue pants, and black loafers. It was just another day in the life of this average teenager as he was on his way to school.
…
In the Ginza, the front door to one of the many local shops opened. An elderly man was accompanied by twin girls. Standing in the doorway was someone who appeared to be the girls' mother.
"You three have a good day." Her name was Anju. Her long hair was platinum blonde, her eyes a deep crimson color. On her neck was a black choker, and she wore a miko outfit fitting for that of a priestess.
The first girl had dark grey eyes. Her short hair was white, with a bit of a golden tint to it.
The second girl had the same color grey eyes. Her hair was as white as winter snow.
The twins smiled.
"You too, Mom." Summer responded.
Anju looked to Mito, "Do you have everything?"
Mito was the teacher of Summer, Winter, and many other students at the school. Anju had every right to make sure her husband had everything he needed when he left home in the morning.
Mito, Summer, and Winter all boarded the car, giving Anju one last goodbye.
…..
Yumi left her house in her school uniform. She was on her way to the house of her childhood friend so they could walk to school together just like every other morning.
"I can't wait! Just seven days left!" Yumi was more cheerful than usual, but that was because Christmas was around the corner. Days were getting shorter, brief flurries of snow were hitting the town, and Christmas decorations were being displayed on the residential district's houses and apartments alike.
Yumi was happily brainstorming on what to give her friends for Christmas.
….
Seth and Rose were siblings who lived average lives in the average but prosperous city of Prypiat. They lived in the residential neighborhood known as Shiinoki-cho, in a house that was small but cozy in size. They lived with their Mother, Flora.
Seth awoke to his bedroom with polished wood floors and a black rug. There was a window over his bed, a closet which stood across from him, and a computer situated in the corner. "…"
"Seth, are you awake yet?" Flora called from the kitchen.
Seth didn't answer back, but the sound of him walking on the wooden floor was good enough confirmation. He proceeded to his closet, taking an outfit with him to the shower.
"…"
Seth had no recollection of the ultimatum given to him by Bastion – To prevent the Chernobyl Distaster from destroying Prypiat in order to save his own life.
Following his shower, he proceeded to the living room while wearing a school uniform.
"Good morning, Brother." The first to greet Seth was his younger sister. Young Rose was sitting on the sofa watching her favorite morning cartoon – Peacekeeper Salyuu.
Seth returned his sister's greeting as he sat on the sofa right next to her.
Peacekeeper Salyuu was about a girl using magical powers to navigate through life's ordinary and extraordinary. In this episode, she was confronting a talking Shiftry named Tengu, who was performing tricks on the citizens of a small city named Fokuoka.
"Tengu…" Salyuu had long blonde hair. She donned a pink and white dress with many decorative red ribbons. She also wore white stockings and red Mary Jane shoes. The magical girl stood in front of Tengu with her scepter pointed at him.
"I don't understand…" Tengu had a gruff voice. He remained on his knees, defeated at last. "How could I lose?"
"You just don't get it." Salyuu answered. "My resolve to defend my friends and family is something no trick of yours can overcome."
Tengu had been in Fokuoka performing tricks ranging from somewhat harmless and innocent to cruel and tasteless. In the weeks he'd spent in the city, nobody had been able to catch him. It was only when somebody in Salyuu's immediate life was in danger that she donned her magic outfit and solved the mystery of where Tengu was hiding.
Seth didn't share Rose's passion for Peacekeeper Salyuu, but he would sit with her to watch the show every morning. Rose didn't mind this. In fact, she treasured every moment she got to spend with her family.
"Seth? Rose?" Mother Flora called her son and daughter, "Breakfast is ready."
"Alright." Seth and Rose both made their way to the kitchen table, where Flora sat.
Breakfast consisted of steamed rice, miso soup, and cooked salmon.
"I hope the food is to your liking." Mother Flora was the family's sole breadwinner. With blue eyes and long blonde hair, it was clear Flora's look and serene disposition were what Rose took after. Meanwhile, Seth took after his mother's lack of expressive attitude.
"Thank you for the food."
"Thank you for the food."
The siblings both gave thanks to their mother as they started eating. Seth went straight for the cooked salmon, while Rose ate the rice. It pleased Flora to see her children enjoying the food she made. As previously stated, Flora was the family's sole breadwinner. She worked at Prypiat's Nuclear Energy: Chernobyl as an Administration Executive. She was in her 14th year of working for the Nuclear facility, but the job paid well. She was able to support a family and afford to live in a good neighborhood all on her own. She'd never gone into detail about what exactly she does at her job because Seth and Rose were too young to understand.
Seth put the cooked salmon down and took a sip of the orange juice that was also served.
"Seth," Flora called, "So how is school going?"
Seth was in Year 08 of Prypiat's Shinku Secondary School. "School is going well, but I still don't understand Literature and History. The actions of fictional characters or historical figures…they're not logical. So much conflict would be resolved by simply acting on logic."
Flora chuckled "People do not act on logic alone."
"People often allow their heart to be their guiding key, following the path they emotionally feel is right." Rose chimed in.
Seth rolled his eyes, "Where'd you get that from? Another anime or book?"
Rose smiled coyly, unable to contain her amusement at her Brother's dry sense of humor, or lack thereof, "What if I did?"
Every morning was like this: Flora checking in on her children, Seth remarking what Rose watches on television, and Rose making a joke at her Brother's expense.
Once the family was finished with breakfast, Seth and Rose both offered to wash the plates. Flora would accept, grateful for raising her children right.
Upon finishing the dishes, the door rang.
Rose's smile disappeared as she sighed.
"Seth, it's almost time for school. Go get your backpack." Flora wanted to make sure her son was ready for school as she went to answer the door.
When the door opened…
"Good morning, Ms. Flora!" Flora was greeted by a charming young girl wearing the Shinku Secondary School's female uniform, which consisted of a black blazer being worn over a white undershirt and red tie, a grey mini skirt, black stockings, and black shoes. Her hair was long and black with aqua blue bangs. Her eyes were the same aqua blue color, reminiscent of the sky.
"Good morning Yumi." Flora smiled.
This girl's name was Yumi, and in many ways, she was the antithesis of Seth. Nonetheless, she and Seth were childhood friends who remained close to this day.
"Is Seth ready for school yet?" Yumi asked.
"He's just getting his rucksack," Flora took a sidestep, gesturing for Yumi to come in, "You can come in to wait, if you want."
Yumi gave Flora a grateful bow, "Thank you."
As Rose returned to sitting on the sofa, Yumi came inside and took a seat next to her.
"Hey Rose!" She greeted.
Rose returned Yumi's greeting with a somewhat lonely smile.
Yumi's greeting wasn't verbally reciprocated, but she wasn't put off. In fact, Rose was very sociable compared to her brother.
As Mother Flora went to her room to fetch any remaining items, Seth came out with his rucksack.
"Good morning, Seth!" Yumi's smile could make anybody's morning perfect.
"Good morning." Seth didn't smile, but he always returned Yumi's greetings with good will.
Mother Flora came back to the living room with her purse in hand as Seth and Yumi stood up. "Are you two heading out now?"
"Unfortunately." Seth had a dry sense of humor that wasn't understood by everyone. Even so, the people in his life would sometimes play along.
"You're such a grouch, Seth," Yumi gave Seth a playful punch on the arm, "You could at least act like going to school isn't the end of the world."
"I've never been a people person." Seth remarked.
"You two get along very well." Flora smiled as she made her way to the door.
Flora was always the first one out the door in the morning. It was a decent commute to the Nuclear Facility where she worked at. Her exit always slowed Yumi and Seth's antics as they waited to wish her a good day.
Flora first gave farewell to Rose, "Goodbye sweetie." She then turned to Seth and Yumi, "Have fun at school, son. You too, Yumi."
"And you have fun at work." Yumi waved goodbye.
The door was left open, as it was every day. Seth and Yumi would typically set off for school once Flora got in her car and pulled out the driveway.
"Bye Rose." Yumi gave Rose farewell as she was the next out the door.
"…"
"…"
This left Seth and Rose alone together. Brother and sister…They both stared at each other. Rose was as lonely today as any other day in her life, while Seth wanted nothing more than to help her with her loneliness. It couldn't be helped. This was just the way things worked. However bad Seth felt about leaving Rose home every day, Rose always felt ten times worse. Mother Flora knew that Rose was very capable for a girl her age and trusted her to be home alone. Ultimately, Rose's loneliness made her that much more joyous when Seth eventually did come home. He and Flora were the only people in Rose's immediate life, but Seth was home more often. Every morning, Rose looked forward to the afternoon. The hardest part of every day for Seth was closing the door as his sister watched from the inside. The hardest part of Rose's day was watching from inside as her Brother left her alone.
…..
Outside, Seth and Yumi were walking to school. It was as foggy and cloudy as most days. They lived in a quiet residential district in West Prypiat. This was an upscale district filled with people who made comfortable money. There was a mix of modern homes and traditional Japanese houses. The streets were traditionally narrow and winded down a hill. At the bottom of the hill, there was a small creek with a river flowing underneath the bridge.
"Meow." A Meowth saw Yumi and Seth pass by.
"Good morning children." He was accompanied by a nice elderly lady sitting on their porch.
"Good morning Ms. Nami."
"Good morning, ma'am."
It was common courtesy for Yumi and Seth to greet the neighbors and vice versa. As the two got further down the hill, Seth popped a question.
"Did you do the literature homework?"
"I did. Hopefully I get a great grade." Yumi happily chirped. "So, what about you?"
"I need help ironing out some kinks in my report." Again, Seth could see logic in the stories he read, but not emotional drive.
Before Seth can ask, Yumi energetically volunteers to assist, "I can help you when we reach school."
"Thank you." Seth was grateful to have a friend like Yumi. They really made up for each other's shortcomings.
Seth and Yumi reached the bottom of the hill, where the creek was. Everyday they would cross the creek bridge and take the path through the rice field to get to school.
Yumi hastily looked both ways. She and Seth were both about to cross the street, until a car came speeding from around the corner.
"Yumi!" Seth grabbed Yumi, quickly pulling her out of the way. This caused for Yumi to fall to the ground.
The car came screeching to a halt, and out came one of the neighbors to see if Yumi was okay.
Out of this car was…Bastion, "My apologies. Are you children okay?"
Bastion and Seth exchanged a long stare down.
'Do I know him?' Seth had no recollection of his encounter with Bastion in the real world – of the ultimatum given to him by Bastion's virus power. But could the same be said for Bastion? Was he aware of who Seth truly was?
That didn't matter. In this reality, Seth and Bastion knew each other for a different reason: They were neighbors.
Bastion held out his hand, offering to help Yumi off the ground.
"Thank you." Yumi accepted.
Despite his tough exterior, Bastion had a fatherly warmth to him that was hard to explain. Yumi recognized that he was Seth's next door neighbor and didn't think of him as a stranger.
"I apologize," Bastion again stated, "The job is calling me in early today on short notice."
"Really?" Seth and Yumi both knew that Bastion worked at the same place as Flora in the Nuclear Facility. However little they knew about Flora's job, they knew even less about what Bastion did.
"I wish you students a good day." Bastion returned to his car and began driving at a more reasonable speed. He could see Yumi happily waving goodbye through the rearview mirror.
Seth and Yumi proceeded to continue their trek to school.
….
Rose had her lonely gaze of the tv, flicking through channels for something to watch.
"…"
One channel that a kid her age wasn't expected to be interested in: The News. A news Reporter stood in front of Prypiat's Nuclear Facility as she gave her report.
"It was a daring and dramatic break in. The target? A Nuclear Facility with an estimated 400 tons of highly enriched Uranium. That's enough to fuel more than 10,000 nuclear warheads." The reporter stood in front of what looked to be a fairly crowded and chaotic scene at the facility, "As a result of the security breach, the facility also known as Chernobyl or Circle N threatens to shut down, with a Congressional on how its Nuclear material makes the people of Prypiat vulnerable."
"What is going on here?" Rose asked to herself.
"Circle N is home to one of the world's most advanced security systems with near seamless protocols. So how could someone break in? Why?" The reporter continued asking questions, "An unidentified man was caught on surveillance attempting to sabotage nuclear material. Was this an attempt to sabotage Circle N from outside forces? Prypiat and the rest of Johto were years deep into a Cold War with foreign nations. Maybe the intruder was a terrorist with the intention of using the Nuclear Facility to harm Prypiat. Or maybe this was an act of espionage from within…"
So many questions, and they mostly flew over Rose's head as she went back to channel surfing.
…
Location: Shinku Secondary School
Shinku Secondary School was fair in size. It could house maybe one thousand students.
Having arrived early, Seth and Yumi were headed straight to the library, as the latter was going to help to former on his Literature homework as agreed.
"I don't get it." Seth remarked, "Why would Johto attack Alola like that? Sure, the war was shifting against their favor, but they could've avoided Alola getting involved entirely." Seth was correct. Johto would've had an outside shot at overcoming Ferrum, but once Alola came into play, Johto's defeat at the hands of sheer numbers was assured.
"I'm not too familiar with politics, but Johto probably did it to send a message to the rest of the world." Yumi was better than Seth nonetheless. "Honestly, the Second Great War of the World is one of the most well known parts of history. I'd expect you to know more about it."
Seth could only cross his arms. He did know, he was just logical to a fault.
"Cheer up, Seth." Yumi smiled, "I have to be better than you at some things. Besides, seeing you deep in thought like that is adorable." She gave him a playful pinch on the cheek.
Before Yumi could continue to tease Seth, a bouquet of flowers suddenly appeared before her. "Huh?"
Seth's gaze followed the bouquet of flowers all the way to the person holding them.
The boy was grinning like a friendly dog. He had spikey hair that was brownish black in color, and dark brown eyes.
"Good morning, my love!" His name was Haru, and he was on one knee. Like Yumi and Seth, Haru was in Year 08 of Shinku Secondary School.
"Haru, what are you doing?" It was hard to tell whether or not Yumi was uncomfortable.
"Yumi, will you marry me?" Haru's eyes glittered like stars.
Seth looked around to see everyone staring at the scene Haru was causing. He could only rest his elbow on the table and sigh.
"Haru!" Yumi wasn't modest about the fact that Haru was professing his love for her. In fact, she gave him a big hug.
Haru professing his love for Yumi was a common occurrence. His smile became dry and somewhat halfhearted, as he knew the routine by now.
"Do you want to help me and Seth study?" Yumi asked, sidelining Haru's proposal.
Haru was madly in love with Yumi, but when she friendzoned him like that, he would usually move on to the next girl to confess his love.
Yes. Haru was the school's wannabe lover boy, and the local pervert!
He was a player, but his love for Yumi was genuine.
"Please?" Yumi asked.
Haru rubbed the back of his head, "How can I say no to a smile like that?"
"I decline." Seth was blunt.
"Hey!" Haru was another childhood friend of Seth and Yumi. Unlike his friends, Haru was very scatterbrained. "Why not? I can help you!"
"I worry that your help would somehow drive my grade down." To Seth, this was just another friendly argument to a good-intentioned Haru.
"Come on, Seth!" Haru insisted. He clenched his fist as he said, "This is my chance to use my wits and make Yumi fall madly in love with me!"
"You think every girl is madly in love with you." Seth remarked.
"Well of course! No girl can resist my manly charm!" Haru's eyes glinted as he smiled.
"We'll see about that when I destroy you in Virtual Fighter." Big words coming from Seth.
"Is that a challenge?" Haru could help turning his smile into a smirk.
The eyes of both childhood friends narrow.
"SAGE Arcade?" Haru questioned.
"SAGE Arcade." Seth confirmed.
It was official. As they often did, Haru and Seth agreed to meet at the SAGE Arcade after school to see who reigned supreme in Virtual Fighter.
Yumi giggled, "You two are like brothers."
As Yumi continued to giggle, the school bell rang.
"Is it that time already?" Yumi asked.
"It is." Seth answered.
"Time for homeroom." Haru added.
…..
Reporters flooded Pyrpiat's Nuclear Research Facility, looking for answers to their questions regarding potential terrorism in the wake of the recent break in.
A car parked into an open space in the parking lot. As the door opened, Bastion emerged.
"Hey!"
"H-hey!"
"We're with KTPN Channel 5 News, would it be possible to answer a few questions?"
Bastion was immediately bombarded by people hopeful to get enough coverage to satisfy their respective media outlets.
"…" Bastion was in a high leadership position. If it was anyone's responsibility to answer questions and calm the media frenzy, Bastion was the man. He couldn't be like every other employee, turn a blind eye, and continue to his job. He had to stand firm.
"You work for the Nuclear Facility." One reported started, "What does Circle N have planned in order to combat future break-ins from possible terrorists?"
"Information regarding Antiterrorism Measures is classified, but are being put into practice as we speak."
A second report spoke up, "Will the entire city of Prypiat be in trouble should a terrorist successfully sabotage Circle N?"
"I assure you that the city is in capable hands." Bastion answered. "Despite Prypiat carrying the risk of radiation should a nuclear disaster occur, it is a city with tremendous opportunity and a growing job market. People move to Prypiat knowing what they're getting into"
"But what about the children?" A third reporter spoke up, "They didn't choose to move here. They didn't choose to be born here either. Would it be fair if they lost their lives because of an event out of control?"
"Unfortunately, that reality is commonplace in the world," Bastion's eyes narrowed as the camera panned away from him.
Arriving at the Nuclear Facility was Flora. Exiting her car, she made her way past the group of reporters questioning Bastion. She entered the Facility using a Key Card which read 'Flora: Administrative Services Manager – Top Secret Security Clearance'.
She was greeted by the friendly secretary at the lobby's front desk as she proceeded to the elevator.
"Good morning." As the elevator door opened, Flora was greeted by one of the scientists who primarily worked at the Nuclear Facility's underground levels.
"Some stress, huh?" Flora tried to make small talk.
"Maybe." The coworker adjusted his glasses. "The Scientists assigned to the underground always envied 'Topside' personnel like you, Flora. We always considered you lucky for being able to work where the sun reaches. But now…" The light refracted off his glasses, Flora unable to read his facial expression. "Now the outside world wants everything to do with us, and you Topsiders are our first line of defense. News Reporters really don't affect those who work underground."
"Hmm…" Flora never saw things that way. Being an Administrative Services Manager, she would frequently see underground personnel visiting her department for customer service. Those small visits paled in comparison to the amount of time underground personnel spent away from daylight. "If you don't mind me asking, what's your name?"
"The name's Woshis." Woshis gave a slight chuckle, "To be completely honest, I'm on my way to your department right now. Executive Bastion will most definitely be inquiring on reports of antiterrorism measures that underground personnel have implemented historically."
"I'll be glad to assist you." Flora smiled. To be honest, Flora fully expected higher ranking personnel to be lined up at Administrative Services because of the terrorism incident.
Her intuition turned out to be correct. As soon as she made it to her office, people were lined up. She made sure to take care of Woshis first before attending to the other customers.
"You have a nice day." Like her son, Mother Flora didn't express much emotion. This made her perfect for people coming to Admin to vent their frustration when work isn't going their way. Flora wasn't one to judge. Her only wish was for Seth and Rose to remain safe. If the terrorist was after the destruction of Prypiat, Flora would risk her life to ensure that doesn't happen.
….
Back home, Rose was nodding off in front of the television.
"…"
Her nodding soon turned into a full-blown nap.
Rose's Dream
As the wind blew in this seemingly endless meadow of grass, there stood a single tree, and on this tree there was a swing.
"…" Rose sat in this swing, alone.
Why wasn't she fully enjoying the swing?
"…"
Simple. Rose didn't know how to use the swing. Her family was always there to push her.
'You like this?' Seth would indulge Rose to her heart's content.
'I'm glad you're enjoying this sweetie, but don't you want to learn to swing by yourself?' Mother Flora was slowly but surely trying to get Rose acclimated to the world around her, and teaching her to use the swing by herself was just one of many steps to get there.
Truth be told, Rose was already starting to get the hang of using the swing by herself. She just loved spending time with her Dearly Beloveds. Having Seth and Flora with her on the swing always gave Rose a cozy feeling, and she would smile the entire time.
But now…
"…"
Neither Seth nor Flora were with Rose. She just sat alone on the single swing, in the middle of the endless meadow.
"I wish Mother and Brother were here…" Rose's heart just wasn't into using the swing without her family. If she could, she would stay motionless on the swing for eternity, or at least until her family got there.
"Maybe they're just running late." A lone hand rested on the swing's upper rope.
"Hm?" Rose looked behind her to see a man with a black ponytail and grey eyes. He had a cold demeanor, but the air surrounding him was gentle. "You…"
"You just sit back and enjoy…" His name was Bastion, and he gave Rose a warm smile.
Rose knew Bastion. He was the next-door neighbor…but she couldn't help thinking that she knew him from elsewhere. That warm smile was so familiar. But why? Why did Rose feel a close bond with this man?
"Thank you…" Rose couldn't answer her own questions. She just sat back and indulged in the courtesy Bastion was showing her. Seth and Flora were on their way, but why not open up to Bastion? Who knows? Maybe he too will be a Dearly Beloved someday…
And So The Dream Fades…
'Why…why am I having this dream? Who is Bastion?'
This was all Rose asked herself. Eventually, Seth and Flora will make it home, and Rose will have awakened from her nap by then…
….
Location: Shinku Secondary School
Back at Shinku Secondary School, Yumi and Haru were seated next to each other.
Haru had a smile on his face, watching as his female classmates entered the classroom. "So many cute babes…"
'This morning sure is going slow.' Yumi thought to herself.
Snapping Yumi out of her thoughts was the classroom door sliding open. In came a beautiful girl with green hair and red eyes.
"Good morning, Mura." One student greeted.
Her name was Mura, and she was President of Shinku Secondary School's Student Council. "…" Mura didn't answer the student who greeted her as she continued to her seat. She wasn't being rude, she just didn't have anything to say. Mura was a bit of a Teacher's Pet, but she had well-meaning intentions for her fellow students.
"MURA, MY LOVE!" Of course, Mura's biggest fan wasted no time approaching her. Haru was on one knee, holding his hand out to Mura with comedic hearts in his eyes.
"What a surprise." Mura knew the routine with Haru's antics, "Another daily confession of love for me by Resident Class Reject: Haru!"
This gets a chuckle out of the entire class. Unlike Yumi, Mura was ruthless when it came to rejecting Haru.
"Hehehe…" Haru feigns laughter along with the class, but Mura can see the dejection in his eyes.
"Don't feel bad Haru. As the school pervert, you're used to getting rejected."
Before Haru had a chance to continue his antics, the school bell rang, indicating that class was now in session. "Hm!" Haru scurried over to his desk with exaggerated crawling.
The door slid open once more, with the teacher coming in this time. In came an elderly man by the name of Mito. Mito was a kind and gentle man. He had twin daughters who went to this school, but they were in a different class. "Good morning, class."
"Hm…" Yumi couldn't quite explain it, but she felt that she knew Mito from somewhere. Maybe they unknowingly crossed paths before…
Mito turned to Mura, who was still standing. "Alright, Mura, what announcements do we have for today?"
"Thank you, Mr. Mito." Mura bows in gratitude before turning to the class of students she stood before. "As you know, Christmas is 7 days away-"
…..
'Christmas…' Seth was spacing out. 'What am I going to give Rose and Flora for Christmas?'
He thought about getting Rose a figurine modeled after one of the many anime she watched throughout the day. As for Flora…it was a bit more complicated. Flora and Seth have a great Mother-Son relationship, but the two lack emotional chemistry. They were each emotionally distant in their own right, with Rose serving as the bridge to get them socializing with each other. Flora was a busy woman. And lately, she's been spending a lot of late nights working overtime at the Nuclear Facility. The job paid well though. Flora was a woman with a job, family, and money, but not a lot of free time. What gift suits that kind of person? Seth remained wondering…
"Good Morning, class."
Snapping Seth out of his train of thought was the teacher, who made their way into the classroom. Seth had different classes than Yumi and Haru. In fact, Seth didn't share any classes with Yumi or Haru.
The name of Seth's teacher…was Ms. Beatrice. She was an attractive woman with long hair that was cherrywood in color. She wore a black blazer, white skirt, and glasses.
"We are only seven days away from the Christmas holiday. Expect for your classwork to double in order for homework to be minimized over the holiday."
The students collectively groaned. Ms. Beatrice was attractive, but she had a reputation for being one of the toughest teachers in Prypiat. "Now I want you to take out pen and paper to take notes for today's lesson."
As the students were left to themselves…
"Good morning, Seth."
"Good morning, Seth."
Seth was addressed by a pair of voices. One from beside him, and the other from behind. These two girls were twins named Summer and Winter.
"Good morning." Seth returned their greeting.
Summer and Winter were also friends of Seth. Contrary to sharing no classes with Yumi and Haru, Seth shared every class with Summer and Winter. Seeing each other around often, the three naturally gravitated toward each other.
"What is it that you want?" Seth asked.
"Seven days…"
"Seven days…"
This had Seth confused. Why would they go out of their way just to announce 'seven days'? Seven days until what?
….
"Seven days…" Back at home, Bastion was saying the same thing on television. It was as if he was talking to Rose directly.
"Seven days?" Rose questioned.
…..
Later, as the bell rang, students were exiting the class of Ms. Beatrice.
"Summer, Winter." Seth was the last to exit the classroom.
"Yes?" Winter questioned.
"What did you mean by 'seven days?'" Seth asked.
"Seven days?" Summer looked confused.
"We don't know what you're talking about." Winter answered.
"When did we say anything having to do with seven days?" Summer asked.
Seth's eyebrows furrowed. Something was definitely wrong here. This school, this city, this reality…Seth couldn't shake the feeling that there was he needed to do here.
"Christmas is in seven days." Summer attempted to salvage the lost conversation. Christmas was in seven days. "Are you asking to spend Christmas with us?"
Winter smiles coyly, "Maybe he's just shy."
"Don't be shy. We don't bite."
The twins were trying to tease Seth, but he remained in distant thought. With no answer, the twins shrugged. The three all began walking to their next class.
…
Location: Chernobyl Nuclear Facility
The Nuclear Facility was still dealing with the immediate aftermath of the suspected terrorist plot from last night.
"Late last night, there was a break in from an unidentified person suspected of an attempted terrorist plot. The suspect attempted to smuggle 400 tons of enriched uranium, enough to power nuclear weapons capable of destroying entire countries." An investigator was giving his recap of suspected events. "The suspect was not positively identified on camera, but we have narrowed down the search based on physical characteristics. The suspect is male, above average height, and sports long green hair. Our current lead…"
The investigation Officer dropped a single photo on the table in front of Flora and Bastion.
"A man named Willow." The Officer said, "Willow is a young man a few years removed from graduating school."
"But why is he our lead suspect?" Flora asked.
"Last year, the Chernobyl Nuclear Facility encountered a first," Bastion started, "A protest. There is growing concern over whether Nuclear Power Plants are beneficial to our planet. Nuclear Power can't reduce fossil fuels, and it's expensive to maintain. As you know, our country has been in a Cold War with neighboring nations for years now. With the global economy hitting a recession a couple of years ago, people outside of the Nuclear Industry became fed up with how the government was spending money."
"The Nuclear Industry is more expensive than what it would cost to send students to college." The Investigation Officer remarked, "Our country is over a trillion dollars in debt, and people are pointing to the Nuclear Industry as one of the main reasons."
"Chernobyl, being one of the largest Nuclear Powers in the world, was a prime example. People were using Chernobyl to support their claims that the Nuclear Industry shouldn't exist…including people in the very town we live in. Last year there were several protests." Bastion looked outside the window, where reports were still aplenty, "Following my interview with the reporters, I asked News outlets for footage of the protests from last year. In this footage, only one man was identified with a description matching the one suspectedof the attempted terrorist plot last night."
"Willow…" Flora whispered.
"Last year's protests ultimately fell upon deaf ears last year. The Nuclear Industry was just too essential to Prypiat's economy. Willow and the rest of the protestors were forced to accept that they could not entice change. But now…" Bastion looked to Flora.
"Willow has returned." Flora answered, "I suppose the purpose of this terrorist plot is to expose the dangers of the Nuclear Industry."
Flora was correct. While the attempted terrorism itself failed, perception of the Nuclear industry around the world was shifting. Nevertheless, a crime is a crime.
Local law enforcement was in the room, and they had Bastion's green light to start looking for the man named Willow. He only the first of several suspects, which is why police couldn't afford jumping to conclusions and arrest the man right now. This was only the beginning.
The Countdown for Seth and Rose: 7 Days
To Be Continued…
Author's Note: This Arc will feature characters who have appeared in recent Arcs. Haru, Saki, and Mura appeared in the HaruSakiMura Arc. Summer, Winter, Anju, Mito, and Willow appeared in the 1,000 Kitsune Arc. Seth, Rose, and Yumi are main characters. Flora is the mother of Seth and Rose. Beatrice aka Commander 06 is the main antagonist of Rose's character Arc. Bastion is the main antagonist of the Prypiat Arc.
The city of Prypiat's backstory is inspired by the real world town of 'Prypiat'. However, the city of Prypiat itself is based on the city of Sasebo, Japan - which is where I lived when abroad. Also based on Sasebo, Japan is Littleroot Town. Please be sure to enjoy this next arc.