Living with Memory of Steel (Part 2)

by Masahiko Kimoto

Sekiba said it loud. His mouth was shaping in a mixture of joy and suffer.

  *****

  Announcement echoed in the dome.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, we are here to announce the start of UniverSoc. First, the chairman of Agency of Science, Industry and Technology is going to give a speech, representing the host country, Japan."

  The opening ceremony began at the biggest hall in the bay dome. The number of the participants reached a little over 5200 just before the ceremony. Some have already taken off to their trip, but there were still more than 4000 people left.

  Some sat at the well-organized chairs, and others stand against the wall. There were also people sitting at the floor. A large screen was set in front to show faces of the presenters and the presentation screen. The camera crew came in. This was all broadcasted to the world.

  The chairman went up the stairs. He stood behind the lectern and hold his wrist over the equipped device. Documents showed up on the screen.

  The chairman raised his face.

  "Welcome to Japan. Please allows me to say this. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time.

  The space development in Japan was way behind other countries. The situation had stayed the same despite our effort to collaborate with major countries. It was impossible to go into the space on our own.

  Many researchers faced the difficult situation and failed. I've seen the development of science technology in Japan for years. A lot of fantastic research workers had to give up their studies despite their talent and effort.

  Then, we decided to change our policy. Maybe going to the space directly isn't everything about space development.

  Fortunately, the timing was perfect. The world wanted to secure the number of workers, and Japan had two technologies for it.

  One of them is alternative human sized robot technology.

  I'll explain about this technology later. Amazing results will be presented at this UniverSoc.

  It was a great pleasure to host this UniverSoc in Japan. I can't thank you enough for those who worked hard for the preparation.

  Next, I'd like to move onto the theme of the event, "stepping into the new era for the human being".

  It's excellent that this theme was chosen for the event. The two Japanese technology that I mentioned are the keys to open the new era for the human being.

  Alternative human size robots expand the range of human activities. They can reach out the areas where humans cannot go. The 3rd-G psy-connect skill is necessary for the navigation. As you might already know, the capability of the skill largely depends on the person.

  We decided to create people with the third generation psy-connect technology and adopted the Diversity Screening techniques.

  The chairman changed the screen to show seven teenagers and mass production model A-B-A-H-S. The boys and girls are in chairs, attached to big psy-connect adapters. The mass production A-B-A-H-S are playing rugby as a demonstration.

  "These mass-production models are controlled by children born with DS. You might agree or disagree to this style, but they already exist as a fact. These humans are produced for the new era.

  Who has created the new period? It's us. Our efforts as scientists and engineers have created a new generation. The people of the new era will understand, control and improve technology like us.

  The era for the scientists by the scientists will begin.

  New generation for the human being is about to begin here!"

  "It sounds like only you guys are worth living, don't you think?"

  Suddenly, a loud voice echoed and caused a commotion in the hall.

  "I'm Junichiro Rokugo, a leader of Earthlight. People call me Junrock. You'd better remember my name, scientists."

  The staff members started running around the hall, yelling out what network got hijacked and what the control center was doing.

  The voice of Junrock echoed in the venue as if it was mocking the staff.

  "Aren't you being arrogant? An economist once said that money kept on increasing once you save up a certain amount. You monopolize science technology, which is used to create a new one. The newly invented technology will be then owned by your follow scientists. This happens over and over. On top of that, what are you up to now? New generation? Are you trying to mass produce your companions and keep on monopolizing the technology? It's the same as millionaire presidents wanting their children to succeed their companies. If you start doing that, things begin to go rotten, you know?"

  "Everyone, please stay calm and quiet. Our staff members are investigating the issue. You know their tactics, right? Please stay calm."

  The chairman raised his voice on the stage.

  Low vibration spread the venue. It became bigger and bigger. The walls of the hall resonated and started vibrating.

  "Sorry. The UniverSoc is cancelled. We're going to destroy it."

  The chairman received a message, which said the attack of the Earthlight party.

  He took his mic again.

  "Don't worry, everyone. We have an excellent Riot Police with P.E team for any attack. Alternative human size robots, A-B-A-H-S are made for such occasion. Hey! Please give instructions to the children. The first model should lead the group."

  Several staff members were running around. Just before the screen disappeared, it showed mass-production models start moving.

  "Hey! What happened to first A-B-A-H-S?! You need to get it activated!"

  One of the staff members yelled out.

  "The first A-B-A-H-S has gone missing after leaving the deck!"

  "What!? Where the heck is he?"

  Image appeared on the screen as if to answer the question.

  It was Sekiba with a smile on his face.

  Sekiba was in a room.

  He navigated the terminal device. It seemed like he was ready to hack the broadcasting network. The image of this room was on the screen of the hall. The sound has been cut out. Everything is good.

  A face of Nakazato was on one of the monitors on the desk. She seemed angry as usual.

  "I'd like to check again."

  "There have been already a lot of original experiments inside the body of Akari. This would become noise and disturb your attempt to transfer your mind as Akari Nakazato."

  "What do you mean?"

  "As I told you before, the plan fell through."

  Nakazato seemed to be doing her best to keep her voice down.

  "It's not what you promised. I've been cooperating with you."

  "There is nothing we can do about it. Don't you think this is nice? That's your daughter, you know?"

  "Aren't you hoping that things would turn out this way? Or did you plan for this?"

  "I don't really mind if you think that way. It's hard to say this, but ....you might have to give up the idea."

  "Seven years! I've been waiting for seven years for this! Are you saying that I have to give up? Do you really think I'd do that?"

  There was a voice of Junrock echoing in the dome.

  "That's ego. What you are doing is definitely ego. That's what we're trying to destroy."

  "...That's what he said."

  Sekiba widely opened his arms.

  "How about you think it over again? As a scientist, you don't want to do things that Earthlight might consider silly."

  "Stop that joke! I will never forgive you.... I won't forgive either you or Earthlight. Never!"

  "Ha! If you can't forgive me, what are you going to do?"

  "This."

  The front wall of Sekiba cracked and became radially extended. The wall crumbled down with large noise. A black arm came out from a hole on the wall and took down the surrounding wall. A black head stuck out from a one meter long hole.

  That was the first A-B-A-H-S.

  It broke into the room with a furious look. It jumped onto Sekiba and picked him up by the neck.

  Sekiba groaned but kept his smile.

  "What are you smiling for?"

  "....Nothing. I
....have something....I'd like to ...tell you. I didn't make.... A-B-A-H-S to...kill people."

  "I don't care. A-B-A-H-S is Me. It moves as I think. It doesn't matter what you think."

  "....A-B-A-H-S isn't made for me....it's made for the world..."

  "You're just covering up."

  A-B-A-H-S tightened the grip. Sekiba's neck got twisted in a weird angle. His face was still showing a smile.

  Dr. Akari Nakazato yelled out through A-B-A-H-S.

  "My seven years has gone...my body will never come back... Earthlight did this. It's the same as seven years ago."

  The sheer black gigantic body barked in a dark room.

  *****

  Earthlight took a roundabout strategy. The network protection on the bay dome itself was strong, but the network connection between Riot Police members wasn't. Earthlight sent fake signals. Suddenly numerous of enemy's shadows appeared on the scanner monitors of the Riot Police, and caused confusion. Of course, when they dashed to the actual spot, they found no one, which threw them into another confusion.

  Earthlight caught the moment and drove right up to the area around the dome by boat from Tokyo bay. It was the least guarded spot.

  The gimmick for hacking the speaker system was done by a very conventional way. He floated a balloon above the dome and set a directional speaker. The voice of Junrock came from the balloon, hit the surface of the dome and became amplified before reaching the inside of the dome. A gigantic speaker was made without cracking the network connection.

  Wagon vehicles were driving out from the transport ship. The Riot Police guards around the coast went to wrong directions, getting confused by the fake information from Earthlight. They wouldn't be able to fight well even if they found Earthlight members on the coast by chance and changed to the bare eyesight and short distance sensor. This way, almost none of the sixth Riot Police functioned well and let Earthlight enter the land.

  The attack combat of Earthlight advanced to the dome.

  The central control room at the bay dome started to realize the unusual situation. There have been a lot of reports coming in that informed false information of the scanner. Simultaneously, the sixth Riot Police members started to go missing.

  The fourth and fifth Riot Police members were given an order to be prepared for any attack.

  "Don't trust the scanner. You can only rely on your eyes and a short distance sensor."

  Morihara instructed the members.

  The police riot members changed their helmets to the half-mode and enabled the night vision function. They gradually spread out in a careful way, holding their rifles on the waist.

  There were surrounding roads around the dome, and a rotary in front of the gate for shuttles buses that make a round trip to hotels and parking lots. A small park was outside the rotary, and an office town further away. Morihara wanted to keep the fight within the park and rotary.

  It wouldn't go that easy. Morihara considered the positioning of the members with a feeling of excitement. It's been awhile since he last experienced a tensed fight like this.

  A beacon of one of the members disappeared from Morihara's monitor. He shouted.

  "They're here! Prepare the light!"

  A Riot Police member fired a flash grenade to the sky. Other members pulled down their visors and prepared for the flash. The flashing light fell to the ground and showed several wagon vehicles and bikes.

  "Shoot!"

  All of the Riot Police shot at the same time. A moment later, Earthlight party stroke back.

  Reji ran to the side while firing his rifle and jumped into the back of bush. There was already someone there. It was Murase.

  He shot from the shadow of the bush and moved his head back immediately. It became deadlocked for around 10 seconds.

  Murase talked to them with a short distance connection.

  "Back me up. I'll go first."

  Murase stood up without waiting for Reji to reply.

  "Don't worry. I'll do something and make it work."

  Murase jumped over the bush and sprinted to a remodeled wagon. He saw a gun coming out from the gap of the window. Reji provided covering fire with his rifle.

  Murase leaped to get into the wagon.

  An extremely fast motorbike came between the wagon and Murase. The rider made an unreasonable direction change and shot Murase's head. Murase's body got blown off toward back and fell on the ground.

  "Ohhhh!"

  Reji flew out from the bush and ran to Murase while firing his rifle. The visor of his helmet got broken, but there was no blood coming out from the back of his head. The bullet must have destroyed the head inside the helmet. Reji yelled out to the intercom.

  "I report! I report! An enemy is approaching! An enemy is approaching! One of our members got injured!"

  Several sounds of gun fires went above Reji's head. He picked up his upper body to hold his gun. Reji's eyes met the motorbike rider's.

  It was Clare.

  Reji paused. Clare held his gun without realizing Reji's face which was covered with the supplementary reinforcing helmet. Her finger was on the trigger.

  Then, there was a lady's screaming voice among the high pitched noise from Reji's intercom. It wasn't really a scream. It was a roar. The noise teared up the air and made the ground vibrate.

  A-B-A-H-S descended from the sky.

  A-B-A-H-S hunched over and had a look around the area with its arms wide open. It found the area where the most of Earthlight members and took a leap to the center of the group.

  Landing on a wagon, A-B-A-H-S punched through the ceiling and dragged out a guy inside the car. He was thrown into the air and landed on the ground with A-B-A-H-S. The ruthless robot used the body as a shield and fired a linear rifle on the waist. Dozens of Riot Police members collapsed.

  "Crap! It's such a monster!"

  One of the Earthlight members held a bazooka. Before he got to fire, A-B-A-H-S lowered its body, flew to the guy, and blew the weapon to the air. The bazooka was thrown to the air, ripping the wrist of the shooter. The guy got punched in the stomach and leaped backward without knowing what had happened.

  A-B-A-H-S took the falling bazooka with one hand and shook off the ripped hand. It fired three times in a row without much trouble.

  Reji dragged Murase's body to the back of the bush. He was clearly dead, but the body would be broken into pieces if Reji left it there.

  Reji kept on reporting what's been going on to the intercom.

  "A-B-A-H-S is fighting against the enemy! A-B-A-H-S is fighting against the enemy. Or rather it is annihilating them!"

  Clare turned around the motorbike to the direction of A-B-A-H-S, which has been killing troops.

  "You! You destroyed my friends and place!"

  She set the rifle to the cowl of the front motorbike and started shooting on an auto mode. The motorbike charged A-B-A-H-S.

  A-B-A-H-S doesn't dodge. It stood in front of the motorbike and waited with its waist kept low.

  "I'm going to kill you!"

  The moment Clare added the last acceleration, A-B-A-H-S flew low. It twisted the body in the air and kicked with the right leg. It caught the chest of Clare and ripped the upper body to the air.

  A-B-A-H-S turned around its body and grabbed the pipe of the motorbike. Using the driving force, the robot swinged and threw the motorbike.

  The motorbike flew to the dome and hit one of the pillars. The entire dome shock.

  Earthlight parties were taking distance from A-B-A-H-S. They've lost the courage to fight except for firing now and again.

  A-B-A-H-S saw this good chance and put its hand on the defense pipe of the half broken custom wagon.

  It grabbed the pipe and the bottom part of the body to pick up the car with the full strength. The energy heated up the temperature of A-B-A-H-S, melting the asphalt on the ground.

  The wagon was picked up and shifted around before A-B-A-H-S threw it toward the dome.

  The vehicle hit one of the pillars
of the dome and bent it. A part of the dome caved in, which shock the entire linear connection of the dome. A-B-A-H-S shot the wagon with a rifle. The car caught fire with the pillar.

  A-B-A-H-S stood up, looking up at the dome.

  Reji walked to Clare's motorbike and yanked up the motorbike. The bloody bottom part of Clare fell from the motorbike and hit the ground with a loud thump. There was no upper half of her body. The motorbike that Clare was on used to be his motorbike.

  Reji looked at the bottom part of the Clare's body, which had become a chunk of meat, a dead body of Murase on the ground and then A-B-A-H-S who stood straight.

  He wondered what he was seeing and doing.

  The Riot Police with P.E. should have been the place he should belong and had something he should do. What was it?

  His head was spinning around. What was the thing that he should do?

  What was it that he chose without any one telling him what to do.

  That's....to kill A-B-A-H-S. He should destroy A-B-A-H-S for Akimichi.

  Then, why did it have to be Riot Police with P.E.? Was there any particular reason?

  He shook his head many times. A memory crossed his mind.

  The smoke at the training center, pleasure at the weekend, training without any intent.....lonliness and fear before all that.

  It was a training center where he could forget his struggles. Yeah, that's right. That was a place where he could get instinctive pleasure. The repeated circle of training and fighting gave him satisfaction of completing his duty without thinking anything.

  Was it .... okay?

  Clare died. She took actions based on her emotions, fought, and died. She was looking for a path that she should take until the very end.

  Murase passed away. He got brainwashed, fought and died. He was acting himself till the end, but his brain was in a controlled state.

  What was the difference between them? Why did they end up dying?

  Various events popped up his min. Reji spent time with Akari, talking what graves were for, saving an old guy who didn't want to wear an assisting tool to his lead, meeting a taxi driver who didn't know how to use a car navigation. All the people he met, including Clare and Murase seemed trifled with as slaves.