United States of Japan

by Peter Tieryas

  “Stay put for now.”

  “But they’re all playing it.”

  “We are sending assistance.”

  “Let me at least try to shut it down.”

  “Hold still, major.”

  “But–”

  Her communication was broken and another figure appeared on her screen. “Major Tsukino.”

  “General Wakana,” she called.

  “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  The communication ended. She felt relieved.

  On several portical screens, the alternate history the game proposed kept on replaying. She found the premise ludicrous. Everyone knew the Imperial Army showed mercy to obedient civilians, going out of their way to help people. Collateral damage was an unfortunate reality of warfare and innocents couldn’t avoid being harmed. But for mass executions, it was only rebels and their families – people who furtively supported the war effort – who were punished. They could hardly be considered innocent when they were supplying arms and a lifeline to dangerous dissidents who abetted in the death of loyal soldiers.

  The whole narrative of the game revolved around a decision made early in the Pacific War and a detailed cinematic analyzed the diverging path. At the time the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union, they asked the Japanese Empire to attack from the east. Tokyo Command wanted to attack French Indochina to obtain severely lacking resources, particularly oil, which was scarce (once the war was over, ending their dependence on oil became one of the Empire’s highest priorities). This was also motivated by the earlier defeat of the Kwantung Army during the Battles of Khalkhin Gol, including a beating at the hands of the Soviet general, Georgy Zhukov. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yosuke Matsuoka, a hero who had been the one to furiously lead the charge to quit the incompetent League of Nations, convinced the Imperial army to attack the Soviet Union, believing an assault on Indochina would result in retaliatory actions by the Americans and the British. “We must either shed our blood or embark on diplomacy. And it’s better to shed blood,” he’d said. He also argued that the earlier Japanese defeat at Russian hands had been precipitated by the Kwantung army’s carelessness and refusal to coordinate with the IJA rather than the strength of the Soviets.

  His argument prevailed and, before the cold winter hit, Germany conquered Moscow, Japan keeping much of the eastern Russian army diverted. The next year, they carved up the Soviet Union. Victory over the west followed naturally.

  According to the USA game, Japan made the foolish decision to attack Indochina first, bringing the US and Britain in early against the Empire. A preposterous turn of events; but even had they entered at that point in 1941 rather than six years later when the Germans, together with Japan, had developed the atomic torpedo, the Empire would have crushed them.

  Only one thing troubled her. She had always been inspired by the story of Genghis Khan as a great Japanese conqueror of China, killed by an unfortunate twist of fate when his horse threw him off. The implication that Khan wasn’t Japanese flustered her. The game was a virus that needed to be eradicated. Better to put it out of her mind.

  3:12AM

  General Wakana wore his ceremonial swords over his collarless black uniform, though he’d dispensed with his standard cape. He walked with a slight limp, leaning on a staff that was made of ivory, rings on each of his fingers. His uniform was covered with medals that indicated service in Mexico and Vietnam. He was a tall man with lean, hungry cheeks and a closely groomed mustache. His hazel eyes were inquisitive, though there was a violence in his gaze that verged on broodiness. His smile was tightly controlled, the muscles in his mouth taut. He was not a man accustomed to levity.

  Behind him were trucks filled with soldiers.

  Agent Tsukino saluted him and stated, “I strongly advise we shut the whole arcade down, sir.”

  “Why?”

  “Because of the game, sir. We have to prevent its spread.”

  “I take it you’re not aware that this isn’t an isolated incident?”

  “I was not.”

  “It’s happening in arcades all over the USJ at this very minute. This was a coordinated launch. We don’t want to shut it down until we can determine the source.”

  “This might be why they set off those bombs tonight,” Akiko mused.

  Wakana considered the connection. “It doesn’t seem like a coincidence.”

  “We should stop them,” she said, looking at the crowd. “It’ll engender sedition if we let it continue.”

  “Do you have so little faith in the Empire that you think a game will threaten it?”

  “Of course not, sir.”

  “If we block them, it will only make them more curious,” the general said. “No. Better to let them get it out of their system while we investigate.”

  He was right, of course, Akiko inwardly acknowledged. The game had been spreading despite all their attempts at blocking it.

  “I’ve ordered the dispatch of soldiers to physically record everyone playing the game,” the general said.

  “Why’s that, sir?” she asked. “All portical activity is automatically recorded and we’ll have a list of everyone present.”

  “Intimidation.”

  They entered the arcade and, sure enough, the sight of hundreds of soldiers recording all the activity on the floor unnerved many of the gamers, especially as the troops did not impede their play.

  Akiko’s portical rang. It was Ben. “I’m here,” he said. “Where are you?”

  He arrived five minutes later.

  “It’s been a long time, Ishimura,” Wakana said to Ben.

  “Yes, sir,” Ben answered.

  Akiko was surprised that they knew each other.

  “I was relieved to hear you survived the blast,” the general said.

  “Thank you, sir,” Ben replied.

  “You’re going to help us out with this mess?”

  “I’ll try, sir.”

  “This kind of operation needs heavy equipment, doesn’t it?” Akiko asked. “A year ago, some activists took over a gaming conference and switched up all the scores in a private portical they made inside a bathroom stall. There has to be a central hub either in the mall or somewhere close where all of this was carried out. If we check the circuits and see if there’s any power surges or high concentrations of electrical use, I bet we can track them.”

  “Good thinking,” Wakana said. “I’ll have the soldiers search the grounds and check electrical activity.”

  “There’s also a chance that the woman I was investigating was connected to these events. I wasn’t sure earlier, but, in light of the situation, I should follow up.”

  “Which woman?” Ben asked.

  “Tiffany Kaneko,” she replied.

  “She’s here?”

  Akiko nodded.

  “I’m coming with you,” Ben said.

  “I need you here,” Wakana said to Ben. To Akiko, he said, “You’re right. She is connected. Don’t question her in front of the group. Just bring her here.”

  She bowed as she left his presence. General Wakana got back to hawkishly watching everyone on the floor.

  3:41AM

  Tiffany was still singing, trying to follow along with the tracks of the popular female band, Vertical Pink. At least that’s what it sounded like from outside. When Akiko entered the room, six of them were bunched around the screen, playing the USA game, hypnotized and not even noticing her entrance. Akiko called Tiffany three times but she did not hear as she was singing on a karaoke machine in the corner. Furious when she saw Japanese soldiers being shot at as enemies, Akiko took out her pistol and fired at the screen, destroying it.

  They turned to her. “Enjoying yourselves? That game is against the law.” She grabbed one of the men, slapped him in the face, and asked, “How would you like to spend the next thirty years in a labor camp? All of you?”

  “We thought it was something for the anniversary,” Tiffany cut in.

  “Outside,” Akiko ordered, as she stepp
ed back into the hall.

  Tiffany followed, closing the door behind her.

  “Are we not supposed to be playing the game?” she wanted to know.

  “Have you played it before?”

  “This is the first time I’ve seen it.”

  “Have you heard anything about it?”

  “No,” Tiffany replied. “It’s a strange concept for a game – I can’t imagine the chaos the world would be in if the Americans had won.”

  “My superior, General Wakana, would like to see you.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you,” Akiko confirmed.

  “For what?”

  “He has questions.”

  As they left, a pair of blond waitresses with enameled faces greeted several guests, asking, “Would you like some company?”

  “What do you think of them?” Tiffany asked.

  “They look like mannequins.”

  “Synthetic waitresses. I prefer the redhead versions. Some guys prefer their company to real women.”

  “Why?”

  “Everyone likes a fantasy.”

  Multiple waiters bowed as they left, asking them to return soon.

  After they stepped out of hearing proximity to the bar, Tiffany’s smile vanished. “Why’s he trying to blow my cover?”

  “Excuse me?”

  Tiffany glowered. “He didn’t tell you?”

  “Tell me what?”

  She shook her head. “I’m Kempeitai, undercover.” Kempeitai, or Kempei for short, were the Military Police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army. In the USJ, they mainly dealt with external and foreign threats, though, on occasion, their interests overlapped with the Tokko who dealt with internal issues. “They’re already suspicious you came by once. Now that you’ve taken me away, it’s over.”

  “What’s over?” Akiko asked.

  “The Americans. The rebels. You don’t know?”

  “I haven’t been informed.”

  She sighed angrily. “There’s a group of George Washingtons that escaped from San Diego. We’re trying to track them down.”

  The general was in a storage room full of broken game booths and the artificial waiters they’d seen earlier, albeit wrapped in storage bags. He was making a call on his portical when Tiffany barged in. She bowed as mandated, then furiously demanded, “Where’s General Nakajima?”

  “He’s been transferred to Singapore,” Wakana responded, after ending his portical call.

  “Why?”

  “Your mission is complete.”

  “What do you mean? Do you see the game playing at every stall?” Tiffany demanded.

  Wakana pushed one of the mechanical waitresses. “Your cover’s blown.”

  “How is it blown?”

  “Beniko’s apartment was destroyed by a bomb shortly after you went home with him. That’s why the Tokko is investigating you.”

  “What?” she snapped. She stared at the general, taking a moment to register what he’d said. “Is-is he OK?”

  “That’s beside the point.”

  “You think I had something to do with it?”

  “Even if not, you’re under suspicion and the only way to clear you is to reveal your true identity.”

  “I want to see General Nakajima.”

  “I know you and Nakajima had a special relationship. But that’s over.”

  “Since when?”

  Wakana stood up. “Since now. You are dismissed.”

  “What about the Beiping mission?”

  “Canceled. You’re dismissed,” he repeated.

  “I’m not under your jurisdiction. I have my own mandates.”

  “Right now, you are under my command and I have the orders to back them up.”

  She hesitated, wanting to object, but knowing better than to do so. She bowed and left in a huff.

  “Confused?” the general asked Akiko. Two aides entered. One did a strange ceremonial tea dance with a fan, making swan-like motions with his arms and legs. The other made wild gesticulations, seemingly shouting without vocals, a mime-act in military fatigues. The general took no notice of them.

  “Yes, sir,” she said, not sure whether she should be more confused by the Kempei involvement or the strange behavior of the aides.

  “Sometimes I am too. There are so many plots behind other plots and even more plots under those that they get entangled and no one knows who’s spying on who. In the end, I suspect no one even knows why the plots were perpetuated.”

  “Are there American sympathizers here?”

  “They are everywhere and I’ll send others to follow up on her leads,” the general replied. He unzipped the hanging bag of an artificial waiter and opened up a panel. “They’re failed models. Recreating human behavior isn’t as easy as our scientists would like to believe.”

  “Why are they here?”

  “The colonel in charge of the arcade is a collector who believes every piece of junk is an artifact. He even keeps the broken arcade machines from decades ago. Loves the fact that they’re ‘made in America.’” He opened up another bag with a ridiculously proportioned female waitress. “I find love traps distasteful. Did you know the Chinese included them in their military teachings?”

  Akiko nodded. “It’s part of the old thirty-six stratagems. Mei ren ji, an act of desperation.”

  “Their efficacy can be questioned. Stolen victories using deceit crumble at the first sign of adversity.” He felt the cheeks and neck of the female model. “It feels so real. Will they replace us with these artificial humans in the future?”

  “I don’t know, sir.”

  “I suppose robots will come with their own set of problems. Your theory checked out.”

  “Sir?”

  “About finding a hub. Contact Ben. He’s found it.”

  “I’ll call him right now.”

  “Do you think the perpetrator is still here?”

  “Possibly. Gloating, reveling in their act.”

  Wakana zipped the bag back up. “Did you know, in Mexico Unit 798 used to send in dogs covered with plague-infested fleas? They used to drop rats from planes into enemy camps, but dead rats weren’t very mobile. So instead, they poisoned the dogs and sent them into enemy camps. Once the dogs died, the fleas wouldn’t stay on a dead body and they’d infect all the enemies with a genetically modified form of bubonic plague. Our soldiers waited until their body parts started dropping off before we mopped them up.”

  “I am familiar with the history of the Department of Epidemic Prevention and Water Purification in the west.”

  “How do we find our sick dog?”

  “We find out where they released the dogs.”

  The general nodded. “Our enemies are hungry fleas, ready to ravage. Be careful not to get infected.”

  4:21AM

  Outside the hall, Tiffany waited anxiously.

  “Is Ben alive?” she asked Akiko.

  “Yes,” Akiko replied.

  She sighed in relief. “If you find him–”

  “He’s here.”

  “Where?”

  “On a task, but close by.”

  “I had no ulterior motive, if you’re wondering.”

  “I wasn’t. I am wondering how you, as a Kempeitai officer, didn’t notice anything suspicious.”

  “Are you blaming me for what happened?”

  Akiko remained silent.

  “Why is Wakana in charge?” Tiffany asked.

  “General Wakana is one of our most distinguished commanders.”

  “I heard he pissed off a lot of people in the SD Uprisings. Made all sorts of unreasonable requests. I thought they’d banished him to Africa. These rebels are barbaric with no sense of culture. They must be the ones who set off the bombs. That game needs to be erased and its creators publicly executed,” Tiffany stated with conviction.

  “I agree. Too bad your cover got blown,” Akiko said, not so much with sympathy as scorn.

  Tiffany was annoyed by her comment, but thought better of
refuting Akiko. “When you see Ben, tell him… tell him I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “For lying about who I worked for.”

  “Why should you apologize? That’s just part of your work.”

  “I know we have to lie to those around us, but that doesn’t mean I’m comfortable deceiving those I care about.”

  Tiffany did a short bow of respect and left.

  4:52AM

  Akiko met Ben a few miles away from the arcade in a flora store that specialized in bonsai plants and was shaped like a greenhouse. It was a quiet neighborhood, set against a Babylon of neon from the arcade that never shut down. Laminate lights were on inside and Akiko entered through the front door. There was nothing conspicuously out of place on initial examination, but she did notice that it didn’t smell like fertilizer. Not that all greenhouses smelled of dung, but the density of plants in the front seemed orchestrated to conceal rather than to showcase. Cacti, orchids, and fancy pottery blocked her path. She pushed them aside. Behind were rows and rows of porticals, wiring circuitously wrapped in thousands of directions like an electronic nervous system pumping information. Data streams were coursing through the building like digital sluices canalizing the paths. On the monitors, multiple variations of the USA game rapidly played out. Japanese soldiers were being shot by American ones fighting for their “independence.” There must have been at least a thousand porticals stacked on top of each other to form towers.

  “This is where the rebels carried out their hijacking,” Ben replied, examining the porticals.

  “The other arcades must have similar places,” Akiko assumed.

  “I’ve informed the other sections and maybe they’ll catch someone, though I’m betting they’ve been abandoned. I’m looking here in case I can find something the big groups can’t.” Ben peered at Akiko. “The general tells me Tiffany is Kempeitai. Did you know?”

  “I just found out.”

  “Has she been cleared of suspicion?”

  “For the time. Those rebels must have had some inside help.”

  Ben shook his head. “You can’t trust anyone.”