Darkscribes.org

Nightmare Architect Mabase: Part 1 - Joint Endeavour:

    A storm was over the town of Mabase. It was early morning.
Rain and lightning. Lots of rain. Saturating everything.
    A man walked, through the midst of the torrent, on
a road leading towards the town. He was dressed in a pair of black
pants, with an open, black pilot's style jacket, under which was
worn a plain black T-shirt. His shoes were white and laced.
He didn't carry an umbrella. This man's name was Greys.
    The road was slick and wet. Greys walked slowly, hands in his
jacket's bottom pockets.
    From behind, a light glimmered - approaching swiftly. There was a
collision, and Greys was tossed sideways, landing roughly on the
roadside. The light flashed past and disappeared into the growing
fog. Greys lay unconscious. Rain continued to pour over him. A beetle
crawled up to then crossed over his hand, before continuing on its
way.

    It was an uncertain time later when Greys opened his eyes.
He was in a different place. He was in an armchair, a blanket draped
over him. He pushed it off, and it slid down into a heap at the base
of the chair. He stood, feeling his pockets. There was a set of keys
in his left pocket. He gazed at them for a few seconds, then put them
back in his pocket.
    The room Greys stood in was simply furnished. There was an
arm-chair and a bed. And there was a portable tablet-style computer
mounted on the wall. There were two doors. One was closed, the other
was open, and led into a small bathroom.
    Greys went to the first door and opened it. Sunlight streamed
into the room, and his eyes. He raised his hand to shield his face
from the sunlight. When his vision cleared, he saw that he was
looking into a corridor - the doorway he stood in was one of many
of many opening into it. On the opposite wall was a long window.
Through it, it could be seen that a few hours had passed, and that
the rain had stopped. Bright sunlight shone on the town, which could
be seen quite well, as the corridor was on the second floor of a
building.
    And the one thing which dominated the vista was an immense tower
which rose into the air. The letters 'M.M' were displayed vertically
down its side.
    Closing the door behind himself, Greys set off to the right.

        *N.        *A.        *M.

    A man dressed in a lab coat tapped his pen on the table.
On his breast was his identification tag, on which was printed:
"VasyaM.M - Architect Sakamoto Alexandre"
    "Has someone bothered to wake Architect Greys?" he inquired.
    There were two other people similarly dressed, seated at
a table in a square room. The room decorated with a few potted
plants and light came from various rectangular panels set at
precise points around the room, casting a light similar to
sunlight. They both shook their heads to Alexandre's question.
    One of the two, a woman, who's identification tag read
"VasyaM.M - Architect Ono Ayako" spoke.
    "Greys-san...perhaps Ayako should should go and wake
him." She stood and turned to go. Another voice stopped her.
It came from a man of indeterminable age - the third person at
the table. His eyes were cold yellow, and behind them was faint
amusement at the world see through them. His lab coat was not
fastened like the other's, and under it could be seen a business
style suit made from a rich black fabric. His hands were gloved,
and the gloves were made from the same material. He wore no
identification tag.
    "He will be along in a moment."
    Ayako turned to look at him. "But Crystal Dawn-san, how can
you know that?" she asked.
    Crystal Dawn smirked slightly. "All sleeps come to an end.
A dream is but a shadow, and it vanishes with the morning light."
    "What does that mean?" she asked. "Are you being serious?"
    Crystal Dawn bowed his head slightly and leaned forward.
    "That is for you to decide."
    The door into the room opened. Greys stood motionless for
a few seconds, then walked into the room. Crystal Dawn flicked
his left hand towards him, in a sort of welcome. Alexandre
stood and bowed, and Ayako did the same.
    "Welcome, Greys-san," said Alexandre. "Did you rest well?"
    "Yes."
    "Greys-san was found on the steps of this building, the
Vasya Computer Industries Mabase Branch. A doctor from
Medical Mechanica was here: her name was Midori--"
    The sound of a glass clinking against a bottle. Everyone
looked to see Crystal Dawn pouring himself a glass of green
fluid. He placed the bottle on the floor underneath the table,
then drank about half of the drink in one motion. He placed
the glass down on the table, holding it delicately between
his middle finger and thumb.
    "Where did that bottle come from?" asked Ayako.
    "What Alexandre-san was saying...," said Crystal Dawn.
    "Ah...She said you had fainted. No crucial medical
problems were present."
    Greys nodded, and took a seat. Alexandre called to
someone obviously listening:
    "All Architects are present."
    The light began to dim, until the room was barely
lit. A garbled, low sound which resembled speech sounded.
    "I'll go...assist." Crystal Dawn stood and left,
closing the door behind himself.
    Small squares set in the table before each person
flipped up, revealing thin computer screens. Each screen
was about 1 mm thick, and it had been barely visible when
set in the table.
    Text began appearing on all screens. This is what
it was:
======================================================
    "APOLOGIIIISS...VASYA COMPUTER INDUSTRIES {pojgmib+
[FE[EFLohejmTN AI Korama Ver 1.00606060;error.............
.......Reboot.

85.2% systems online...
Correcting speech systems...failed.
Legacy Text Systems initialising (1997 ver, patch 9)...OK.
...
...Korama online...operation...failed.
Reboot...
Reboot complete.
Flushing all memory systems...reverting to backup state.
Erasal of security data block removed. All data since
backup has been flushed.

...Korama online...operation...successful.
======================================================
There was a pause, then more text - the AI 'Korama' writing:

    "Vasya Computer Industries is more than a computer group.
Vasya now leads the world. If something has any relevance to
science, Vasya wishes to further and improve it - with the aim
of helping humanity.
     "There is a key to our success, excluding Korama.
Open-mindedness is something rare in the modern world.
There are seventeen one-hundred page documents relating
to various issues. They are called "Vasya Codex", and they
are the guide and decision-aid for all Vasya Architects.
They can be accessed from the terminal in each Architect's
quarters, or a hard-copy can be requested.
    "Our beloved founder cannot be here to greet the
Architects today, as a situation has developed in Vasya's
pacific base. The issue is being resolved, and Professor
Racardo, beloved founder, will meet with each of you
personally when he is able.
    "Korama welcomes all of you to Vasya - where science
is untainted by blind dogma."

    There was a pause, then the lights came back to full
brightness.
    A man in a orange technician's outfit entered the room.
Walking to Greys, he handed over a metallic briefcase.
A chain and handcuff was attached to its handle. Without
question, Greys slipped the handcuff over his right wrist
and squeezed it, locking in on.
    The man murmured something quietly to Greys without
looking at him. He then turned and left. Greys watched him
leave.
    Ayako and Alexandre's screens ejected SD memory cards
from a side port set in the side of their screens.
They pocketed them.
    Someone came in a few seconds later, pushing a trolley
with tea.
    Alexandre and Ayako took one, but Greys shook his head
when he was offered a drink. The person then pushed the trolley
back out.

    Greys glanced between Ayako and Alexandre.
Then Alexandre spoke:
    "Architect Greys-san, have you been to Mabase before?"
    "No," replied Greys. "This is an unfamiliar place."
    "So, what did Greys think of Korama's little speech?"
    "It proved Korama has scientific...ethics," replied Greys.
    Alexandre laughed, and Ayako smiled slightly.
    "Vasya is a strong supporter of the principle of 'intelligent
design' Some have a problem with this. I do not, however, and
even Ayako-san here, who is a Buddhist, does not mind the policy."

    As she was mentioned, Ayako nodded her head, and then took
another mouthful of tea from her cup
    "Have you ever heard of 'pineapple juice' syndrome?"
asked Greys.
    "No."
    "When pineapple juice is tinned, it acquires an unnatural
taste. But those who drink it for extended periods become
addicted to the taint. Pure juice now tastes...wrong. This
happens in many areas of life...." Greys frowned and gazed at
the ceiling.
    "Insightful," said Alexandre, applauding.
    "Yes...but I don't like tinned pineapple juice," said
Ayako.
    "Good for you," said Greys.
    Alexandre leaned back in his chair slightly. He sipped from
his drink. "What sort of person is Greys? Where do you come from?"
    "That is not a question I am qualified to answer."
    "A slightly evasive answer," observed Alexandre. " My mother
was Japanese, my father a Russian Jew. I have lived in Mabase
since 1981."
    Crystal Dawn, who had suddenly appeared back in his chair,
placed his phone down on the table. "Bless the Jews," he said.
    Greys looked at Crystal Dawn. He raised one eyebrow, then
glanced away.
    "Bless the Jews," offered Ayako helpfully. "Yes, it's good to
speak blessings - it gives a person good aura."
    Ayako took her mobile phone from the small bag she carried with
her, and checked the time. "It is time for me to go," she said.
"The man I am soon to marry is taking me to meet his parents in
Tokyo tomorrow."
    "What about your project?" asked Crystal Dawn.
    "The project has a week to be completed in, so one day does
not matter."
    "A blessing on your marriage, when it happens."
    Ayako smiled happily. "Would Crystal Dawn-san like to be
a guest?"
    Crystal Dawn nodded. "Yes. A marriage is a sacred thing:
a bond between a man and a woman. It is something which must
never be broken. I would be honoured to witness your wedding."
    Ayako smiled. "Thank you, Crystal Dawn-san." She slung
her bag over her shoulder and stood. "Alexandre-san, could
you please take me partly on your way?"
    "Yes. I don't mind. Wait out out by the car."
    She left. Alexandre stood. "We shall be seeing one another
during the next week. I must be going now - I have to assist a
transport coming in."
    He turned and left also, leaving Greys and Crystal Dawn.
    A minute passed. The screens folded down back into the
surface of the table. And a few seconds later Crystal Dawn
poured himself another drink of from the bottle sitting under
the table. He offered the bottle to Greys.
    "No. But thanks," said Greys.
    Crystal Dawn placed the bottle under the table again, then
sipped from his glass.
    "You make friends well," said Crystal Dawn.
    Greys glanced at him, not speaking.
    Crystal Dawn continued. "You also don't talk very much.
A person who doesn't speak rarely offends others."
    "There is no offence, only the offended."
    "Hmm. And there is no single human philosophy capable of
handling life's challenges," replied Crystal Dawn.
    "True. But not all philosophies all human."
    Crystal Dawn took another sip. He held the fluid in his
mouth for a few seconds, then swallowed.
    "Would you like to go outside?" he asked.
    "Has anyone ever said no - to you?"
    "Why do you ask?"
    "Because you emanate pleasantness. It seems possible
Crystal Dawn-san could speak an insult to someone and they
would be all the more charmed."
    "Perhaps. But only a bitter person hates pleasantness."
    "Well. I have nothing to do today. It is Sunday. And
I don't work on Sundays."
    "So what are you going to do?"
    "Two options: sit here until morning tomorrow, or
follow you."
    "Would you really sit that long?" asked Crystal Dawn.
    "Yes."
    Crystal Dawn stood. He smoothly took off his laboratory
coat and draped it over his chair. He walked towards the door.
"Come, Greys-san let's go."
    Greys glanced him over. His business suit was in full view,
now that he was no longer covering it with a laboratory coat.
It seemed to be darkened by the light. He paused to glance
up at the light panel overhead, then stood and followed him.

        *N.        *A.        *M.

    It was in a little coffee shop that Crystal Dawn and
Greys sat at a table. Greys' briefcase was sitting on the floor
beside his chair. There were a few other patrons. There was also
the owner and his assistant, a young girl with purple hair and
blue eyes, dressed in a waitresses' outfit.
    She took Crystal Dawn's order. He ordered tea. Greys
did not order anything.
    Crystal Dawn glanced at the briefcase chained to Greys'
wrist, then looked up as Ninamori approached with Crystal Dawn's
tea on a tray.
    "Thank you, Ninamori-kun."
    She bowed. "It's nice for you to visit, Crystal Dawn-san!"
She placed the tray down and walked away. Crystal Dawn picked
up the teacup and sipped.
    "I like to have the tea already made," he explained, "for the
same reason an artist looks at art made by other artists. What's
the point of coming here if one is going to one's own tea?"
    "Some don't trust others to meet their standards." Greys
studied the front of the briefcase. There was no obvious way
to open it. There were no combination locks or key-holes.
    "It's probably filled with bricks," said Crystal Dawn dryly.
    A radio was playing a song, a nice Japanese pop song.

    "I love your life as it surrounds me nightly!" sang the young
sounding female vocalist. "And all the stars gather in the depths
of my heart, lighting up my soul. And when the light becomes dark,
I will fall away and burn to ashes."

    The radio emitted raw static as that final sentence came,
and then silence. Almost no-one noticed, but Crystal Dawn turned
his head slightly, an odd expression on his face. He touched his
gloved left hand index finger to his ear hole, then moved it away.
    The radio hummed slightly. Then a voice began speaking.
It was a professional weather announcer's voice, and female.
It held a certain humorous, dark edge.

    "Today's weather will be very nice. You won't die. But you
deserve to die. But there will be slight low pressure areas
moving over the Mabase area tomorrow, possibly. When did
weather predictors ever predict? Temperatures will move in a
swirly direction. And people on your television will use lots of
words you won't understand...like 'polar ice shelfs'. You are
listening to K.103 FM."

    The radio hissed, then started playing music. It was now
playing another song.

    "The tears will fall in the winter memory. Happy things
will not make me the same. The road is lonely when the moon
is shining. The light leads towards a far off land."

    Crystal Dawn looked around, then stood. He ran behind the
counter. Ninamori moved aside to let him pass.
    There were stairs leading up to the roof area of the coffee
shop. Crystal Dawn took them, and came up onto the rooftop. He
stood for about five seconds, gazing over towards an intersection
which was visible through a gap between a group of
buildings. Then he turned and headed back downstairs.
    A truck with a container on the back stopped at the
intersection traffic lights. The red light shone more and more
brightly - then went out from a power surge.
    Alexandre was sitting in the passenger's seat; he looked
at the unlit light with mild interest.
    "Does this mean we go?" asked the driver, watching the traffic
go whichever way it pleased. A van sped across the intersection,
narrowly missing another car.
    "Best wait," said Alexandre.

    Crystal Dawn came back downstairs, and sat down at the table
with Greys.
    "What happened to the music?" he called to Ninamori.
    "The electricity isn't working," she replied. "I hope it gets
fixed soon, because we can't make anyone anything."
    Greys was gazing idly at the wall.
    Crystal Dawn stepped outside. Nothing else had power.
He took his mobile phone and called a number. He did not speak.
He pressed the button to end the call, then walked back inside.
Barely ten seconds after he had sat back down, the power returned.
    "That was what living in Australia is like," said Crystal Dawn.
"There, if a major musician does a performance, there is a great
chance that the power will fail in the middle of a performance."

        *N.        *A.        *M.

    On the edge of Mabase was a cathedral. It was black and
foreboding to look at - jagged spires rose into the air, and
the sloping roof was engraved with violent, rough strokes.
Crystal Dawn gazed up at one of the gargoyles perched on the
edge of the roof.
    "It is unclear why Vasya built this," he commented.
    "It's a Roman Catholic temple," said Greys.
    Crystal Dawn frowned slightly. "Well, let us go inside."
He walked towards the front doors, turned the handles, then
pushed them open. They opened with a soft rumbling sound.

    Greys:
    "Places like this remind us of ourselves - incomplete.
The architects have quietly slipped away, leaving the empty
remains; the soul of its form is a shadow. This place...it is
filled with darkness. If it had been finished, would the dark
power it holds be greater?"

    The Cathedral appeared complete from the outside, but inside it
was not. Scaffolding and rough edges filled the room. But what had
been completed was majestic. It was sinister. The shadow were
deep black. Its general layout was that of a normal Roman Catholic
cathedral.
    Greys walked towards the back wall of the room as Crystal
Dawn ran his hand over the back of one of the pews. His hand
remained clean - there was no dust.
    "This place has not gathered dust," said Crystal Dawn.
"Nine months ago, it was built. It happened overnight."
    "It shows," said Greys.
    Crystal Dawn placed his right-hand index finger on the
back of the pew. "There is one fact not many are aware of:
this place was built by Vasya, but the funding and design
was a joint endeavour with Medical Mechanica."
    "Is that so?" said Greys.
    Greys walked to the back wall of the Cathedral, to the
large crucifix mounted on the wall. The image of the crucified
Christ was wet with a red, blood-like substance. Greys touched
it, and his fingers came away red. He gazed at his hand, then
wiped it clean on the wall.
    "A little disturbing?" inquired Crystal Dawn.
    "The death of the Christ is not the important subject.
All humans die."
    Crystal Dawn smiled wryly. "Tell me, Greys-san. How can
the existence of a thing be proven?"
    Greys though for a full ten seconds, then spoke:
    "Does Racardo-sama visit Mabase?"
    "No, he's never been to Mabase. Incidentally...do you have
any other moods?"
    "Don't concern yourself," said Greys. "An arrogant mind
could claim, that as he is not making himself present, he does
not exist."
    Crystal flashed his teeth briefly, smiling. "The proof is the
marks people leave - the memories they create for others."
    "Humans believe what they want to believe - and human want
is completely irrelevant to human need," said Greys.
    "And what do you believe humans need, Greys-san?"
    Greys did not reply, because a few small, chipped pieces of
masonry fell from somewhere up in the darkness of the arched
ceiling. They clattered to the floor. Greys stepped sideways in
one direction, as Crystal Dawn walked slowly forward; he stooped
and picked up one of the pieces.
    Crystal Dawn was about to speak, when he perceived something,
and lunged backwards to avoid the thing - one which gracefully fell
from above, its katana cutting air.
    It was a six foot tall version of Evangelion Unit 1: a purple
armoured, bipedal, lithe being. Its eyes glowed cold  yellow.
    "Who is this?" asked Greys.
    "What! You've never seen Shin Seiki Evangelion?" Crystal
Dawn asked.
    The Eva stood to its feet - it had been holding a relaxed,
crouched position. And in its left hand was a handgun. In its
right was the mat-black katana which it had tried to use on
Crystal Dawn.
    "Eva...," murmured Greys. "I've never heard of it."
    "Doesn't make this any less real," said Crystal Dawn.
He took his phone from his jacket pocket and pressed a
button. "This will make an excellent story for Kamon-san's zine"
    The Eva attacked. Crystal Dawn arched backwards as the katana
carved elaborate patterns in the air. He brought his foot up,
striking the handgun - it tossed into the air. Twisting sideways,
Crystal Dawn propelled himself into the air and caught it. He landed
and rolled sideways as the Eva tried to pin him to the ground with
its katana. Flipping to his feet, he tossed the handgun to Greys.
    Greys caught it. Crystal Dawn was a calculating, skilled
martial artist, but one with a light touch. He gripped the blade
of the katana and twisted. The Eva lost its grip on the katana -
then the Eva punched Crystal Dawn in the head with its other hand.
Crystal Dawn gracefully fell backwards, sliding across the floor,
then flipped, with some skilled trick of physics, backwards and
back onto his feet. The katana tossed through the air, landing
somewhere among the pews.
    Greys brought the handgun to bear. The Eva swung the katana,
narrowly missing - but the blade sliced through the chain connecting
the briefcase to Greys' wrist. Greys still held the case by its handle.
He dived backwards, handgun firing. The rounds hit the Eva, and sparks
and a red substance sprayed from the wound. The Eva twirled around
720 degrees, holding its hand over the wound. And when it completed
the spin, the wound was gone.
    "CHEATER!" screamed Crystal Dawn, as he jumped and kicked
the Eva directly in the head. It staggered backwards, as Greys
fired another round. The Eva bowed its head, bringing its hands
to its shoulders in a rapid motion, forming an X shape across its
chest. A pulse of energy emitted. The round ricocheted, smashing a
statue of Mary.
    "Ridiculous!" said Crystal Dawn, using his phone to take
picture after picture.
    The Eva strode boldly forward, grabbing for the briefcase.
Greys ducked, rolling sideways, then crawled rapidly forward,
then jumped to his feet. He spun around, smashing the case into
the Eva's face.
    The Eva ignored the blow, grabbing the briefcase. It tore
it from Greys' grip and tried to backhand slap him. Greys dodged.
    The Eva turned and ran, dropping an apple sized, spherical
object as it ran.
    "Run, run, run!" screamed Crystal Dawn. He grasped the
link which dangled from Greys' handcuff, dragging him towards
the door, and past the object the Eva had dropped.
Greys dropped the handgun. It clattered on the floor.
    Kicking the doors open, Crystal Dawn was first outside.
He let go, and ran. Greys followed. There was no-one else
in sight.
    They stopped and looked back to see the Cathedral
erupt in a blue and orange explosion. There was no explosive
sound, only the sound of melting metal and rock, and a humming
sound. A immense cloud of smoke began rising into the sky.
    Crystal Dawn stared at the spot where the cathedral had
been. "Oh! Why, why, why?" he screamed. "Why does every anime
cathedral get destroyed?"
    "What are you talking about?" asked Greys.
    "Still need to hide," replied Crystal
Dawn.
    Minutes later, Greys and Crystal Dawn were crouching,
in the undergrowth, under one of the town's main bridges.
    "Why?" asked Greys.
    "Hush! Don't talk so loudly!" said Crystal Dawn. "We need to
wait for a half-hour at least; Medical Mechanica are not going
to be happy with Greys-san if they link him with the destruction
of their seven hundred and sixty nine billion yen cathedral."
    "Why so much?" asked Greys. He exuded a bizarre calm.
    "The platinum dust in the wall paint might have had something
to do with it. Or the solid gold foundations." replied Crystal Dawn.
He lay back and closed his eyes. "If you don't mind, I'll take
rest now."
    Greys sat down and watched the river water go past. He held
his wrist before his face for a few minutes, gazing at the handcuff
still attached.

        *N.        *A.        *M.

    Two women stood on the scorched earth where the cathedral
had once stood. One was a woman who appeared to be in her thirties,
with cheek long white hair. She was kneeling on the ground, with the
twisted remains of the handgun the Eva had dropped in her hands. She
looked it over thoroughly. Ejecting the clip, she found a set of
numbers engraved on the base of the clip. "7-23-99" She stood,
took a clear plastic bag, and bagged the weapon.
    The woman's eyes were dark green, and her hair fell slightly
over her right eye, shifting as she moved. She was dressed in a
open laboratory coat, wearing underneath that a pair of black
pants and black top.
    Behind her stood another woman, a dark-toned girl with
shoulder-length yellow hair. She was dressed in a crisp, black
uniform, with pants and and wrist length sleeves. On the collar
was printed "M.M".
    "Hold this," ordered the white haired woman, handing
the plastic bag to her.
    "Yes, Midori-sempai!" said the girl. She took the bag
and held it patiently.
    "There's nothing more here," said Midori, turning in a
swift circular motion, looking around. "Come, Kitsurabami."

        *N.        *A.        *M.

    Later, at dusk, Crystal Dawn sat up. Greys was still
sitting and watching the water.
    "It's time for me to go to Nandamba's house. Want to
come?" Crystal Dawn asked. "Or does Greys-san have something
he needs to do?"
    Greys turned his head. "No. I'll go where you go, if you
don't mind."
    "Good!"
    Crystal Dawn walked out through the undergrowth and around
and up to the end of the bridge. Greys followed.
    A dark yellow, low-set sports car was parked on the bridge, on
the sidewalk. Crystal Dawn took a set of keys from his pocket
and pressed the button to unlock the doors.
    Crystal Dawn got in on the driver's side, (the right side) while
Greys stood and waited.
    "Come on," said Crystal Dawn, swinging open the passenger door.
"Don't be so shy. Be bold and decisive, or you'll be trampled by
the rude."
    Greys got in the car. The interior was made from a soft, black
material. The glass was tinted darkly.
    "It's a nice car," said Greys.
    "It's an expensive car," replied Crystal Dawn. "By 2019, it will
be worth 3.42 million American dollars."
    "Why 2019? How is that relevant?"
    "With the inflation of the American economy, the vehicle's worth
will increase rapidly."
    "Global warming will eventually result in this type of vehicle
being outlawed."
    Crystal Dawn frowned. "I expected more of you, Greys-san. Surely
you are aware global warming is a myth?"
    "Perhaps. But what I know and what the world accepts are very
different," replied Greys.
    "Well...we say it is a myth. We are so convinced it is a myth
that we developed--" Crystal Dawn reached
across and into the passenger side storage compartment, and produced
a cylinder, "carbon-J-2-P-23 cartridges. Detonating these
creates carbon dioxide gas. It makes plant life grow at an
accelerated rate. These are a key to insuring the future."
    "Some won't approve of that concept."
    "It doesn't matter what they do. More carbon dioxide means more
plant growth, and that means more rain. And that means more food,
better seasons, and more habitable land. It's complex."
    Crystal Dawn started the engine. The car ran with a low whine,
rather than any sort of throaty roar. It was a manual transmission.
    The car drove away from the bridge, towards their destination.
Greys gazed out the window at the towering silhouette of the Medical
Mechanica building. He didn't speak.
    After about 30 seconds, Crystal Dawn broke the silence.
    "This vehicle travels 1,000 kilometres using 2.3 litres of
fuel," he said. "It was manufactured by one of our
ghost companies. We're making a deal with the Israeli government
to supply the engine to their military by 2055. It processes the
fuel using a...Well, that is classified...before the fuel is
ignited. So, in combination with what we have learned about creating
petro-chemicals, Saca has the means to insure the future of the
internal combustion engine...should Saca choose to."
    "What about pollution from the engine?" asked Greys.
    "The exhaust from this vehicle is filtered through a series of
chemical filters; the current chemicals used are slightly violate,
so more work needs to be done. The final prototype should be
finalised very soon."
    "Crystal Dawn-san...what exactly is this Saca you speak of?"
    "Saca is...a collection of...principles. If you have a great
desire, and your prayers are not answered - that is our original
purpose. But things have changed...things have changed...but we
have not."
    Greys gazed out the window, not speaking.
   
    A few minutes later:
    "Welcome!" said Nandamba Kamon, as he opened the door to his
house to Greys and Crystal Dawn. "Who is this?" he asked, referring
to Greys.
    "This is Greys-san. He is an Architect. I've been playing
companion. It's been very enriching. But in a good way, not a bad,
'white flour' type of enriching."
    Kamon nodded. He was long-haired, and his brown hair was tied
back into a ponytail. His eyebrows were thick, and he had a short
beard and a thin moustache above his lips. He wore a pair of yellow
tinted sunglasses, which were not over his eyes, but on his forehead.
    "Are the others here?" inquired Crystal Dawn.
    "No. They are at the baseball field."

    A feline sound. Something large and blue came running towards
Greys. It lunged upwards, and Greys shifted forwards and crouched
down to catch it.
    It was a large blue cat, which immediately slung its paws over
Greys' shoulders and started purring.
    "Miyu Miyu is fond of you," said Kamon, rubbing the corner of
his eye. "Greys must be one of those rare people animals trust."
    Crystal Dawn was already walking towards the kitchen.
    "I'm going to start cooking," he called.

        *N.        *A.        *M.

    "So, we need focus. Focus!" announced Crystal Dawn, stirring
the mixed vegetables as he spoke.
    "What exactly makes a zine focused?" asked Kamon.
    "That is the question you need to analyse, Kamon-san."
    "Stop calling me 'san'. We've been working together for months,"
said Kamon.
    "As you wish. But I do not request the same of Kamon," replied
Crystal Dawn.
    "Yes. So what are you suggesting?"
    "Our target market is Mabase, and the people who live here. What
is going to affect them in their daily lives - today, tomorrow, next
year?"
    "You want to turn it into a women's fashion magazine?" asked Kamon.
    Crystal Dawn poured some soy sauce over the vegetables. "No. But
it must be powerful, but not bowing to shallow 'relevance'. A powerful
book can change a nation, or it can lead it to destruction. We must
choose."
    "Sometimes I wonder who takes it more seriously - you or me...,"
said Kamon.
    "Kamon-san. Because Crystal Dawn can vanish any time without
remorse, leaving Kamon to do all the work again. Kamon-san is a
prisoner of his creation."
    "That's...comforting. And you're calling me 'san' again."
    Crystal Dawn picked up the bottle of soy sauce, about to pour
more on the vegetables, when he paused and studied the label on the
bottle.
    "On another thought...what about an article on the risks
involved with using too much soy sauce?"
    "Hmm...is it relevant? It has the element of a scandal, but
most people couldn't care any less. Do you care?"
    Crystal Dawn gazed at the bottle for a moment. "Yes. I care.
But it doesn't fit in with the general theme...maybe we should do a
special edition in a few months?"
    "What else would go with such a subject?" asked Kamon.
    "This world is full of people doing stupid things with good
intentions."
    "There is a saying, 'The road to hell is paved with good
intentions'," observed Kamon. " But we must focus, as Crystal Dawn
has said."
    "An excellent article subject appeared today," said Crystal Dawn.
"I'll show it after we have eaten." He opened the lid on the rice
cooker. "The rice is ready."

        *N.        *A.        *M.

    "Greys-san isn't eating?" asked Crystal Dawn.
    "Apologies. But I don't feel like eating right now," said Greys.
He no longer was holding Miyu Miyu, who was now sleeping on the couch.
    "Your choice. Want to go sulk in another room?" asked Kamon.
    "Not eating isn't sulking," said Crystal Dawn. "Want some water?"
    "No, but thanks for your generosity," replied Greys.
    Crystal Dawn blinked. "It's water...You don't have to be so
polite when you decline."
    "Flattery gets a person everywhere," observed Kamon.
    "But it's not flattery, it's honest expression of desire or lack
of want," said Crystal Dawn.
    Should we begin?" asked Kamon.
    "Yes. Itadakimasu!" said Crystal Dawn.
    "Itadakimasu!" added Kamon.
    Kamon took the first mouthful. "Very good," he said, swallowing.
    "Thank you. It's interesting...in the old era,  people from many
 of the European-type countries used to do this--" Crystal Dawn
folded his hands together, bowed his head slightly, mouthed some words
silently and then said audibly: "Amen!" Then he unbowed his head,
picked up his chopsticks, and ate a piece of carrot. He paused, ate
another, then continued. "But in recent years, in their desperate
attempts to become as Godless as feasibly possible, many have ceased
the practice. This is why Americans tourists often seem to eat like
pigs - as soon as their meal arrives, they lunge for it as though it
were the cure for a deadly poison. The problem is that the Americans
are like the British, who were a tribal, primitive, uncivil,
cannibalistic group before the Jews brought their religion to them.
They have nothing good to revert to."
    Crystal Dawn rolled some rice into a ball, and ate it, with his
gloved fingers. He continued. "But the Japanese peoples have a simple,
humble way of expressing thanks for their meal."
    "It's not entirely the same thing; a prayer and 'Itadakimasu',"
said Kamon.
    "True. But the end effect is the same. And in a sense, God is
implied as included by the Japanese saying. But the Americans
often translate the phase as 'bon appetite', meaning 'good eating',
which is a bad distortion."
    "What does Greys-san think?" asked Kamon.
    They looked expectantly to Greys.
    "It doesn't matter. A simple learned phrase is not enough. There
are more and more people who are not grateful for the blessings they
receive," said Greys.
    "You don't talk much," said Kamon.
    "A fool never thinks he talks too much," replied Greys.

        *N.        *A.        *M.

    "Well, that was nice," said Crystal Dawn. "Now...time for the
surprise-thing!"
    He led Greys and Crystal Dawn to the lounge room. Kamon sat down
on the couch, while Greys stood.
    Taking his mobile phone, Crystal Dawn found a cable running from
the back of the television set, and plugged it into a socket in his
phone.
    "Hmm...NTSC...PAL...No, NTSC," murmured Crystal Dawn.
He leaned forward, turning on the television. It was a flat-screen,
wide aspect television. It was black.
    The first image materialised on the television. Kamon started
slightly, then slowly tilted his head.
    "Is that real, or is it fake...made with computers?" he asked.
    The image was of the Eva, standing dramatically, dust swirling
around it, head bowed slightly.
    "No...uh, yes, it is real," said Crystal Dawn calmly. "That is
an irritation...which question am I answering?"
    "Well, well!" said Kamon. "Are there more?"
    Crystal Dawn walked over and handed him the phone. The cable
was reaching the limits of its stretching ability.
    Greys gazed at the clock sitting next to the television.
    "It is time I left," he said softly.

    Kamon wasn't listening. A sort of paralysis had overtaken him,
and the only part of him responding was his hand, which he was using
to scroll through the thirty or so pictures Crystal Dawn had snapped
of the Eva. His mouth was open slightly.
    Crystal Dawn responded. "Sayanora, Greys-san," he said, making
a flicking motion with his left hand which was ambiguous as to its
meaning. Greys nodded and walked out.
    The front door could be heard to open, then close. Crystal
Dawn took the mobile phone back from Kamon.
    Kamon handed him a memory card. Inserting it into the phone,
Crystal Dawn copied the images to it, then gave the memory card
back. He disconnected the cable, and it fell to the floor,
retracting.
    "This...it's difficult to describe--" said Kamon. He leaned
back on the couch. "It's truth and fiction blending!"
    "Or, it's someone playing games."
    "A thing like that could not be made for no reason.
Medical Mechanica?"
    "Greys works for Medical Mechanica. He arrives - the
Eva appears."
    "Why does he work for Medical Mechanica?" asked Kamon.
"Isn't he part of the same group as Crystal Dawn?"
    "No. He is an outsider. An outsider to everyone.
Greys' knowledge is interesting. He seems to agree with
everything I say."
    "But I rarely disagree with Crystal Dawn," pointed out
Kamon. "Perhaps he is just knowledgeable, and knows what
you say is correct?"
    "Perhaps."
    "Why was he wearing a broken handcuff?"
    "It's complicated, but not perverted."
    Kamon stood. "The others will be home soon. Do you want
some tea?"
    "Yes. I need to back at Vasya by 11:00pm, so I'll have to
leave soon, though."

    A few minutes later, Kamon brought the tea. Crystal Dawn
sat and drank silently in slow sips for a few minutes, then spoke,
placing his half empty cup down on the lounge room's small
table which Kamon had shifted closer to the couch.
     "Kamon. There is a great tension building within Vasya
Computer Industries. Korama, who controls all major aspects
of the the group is the one who decides what happens next.
And...it is beginning to develop irrational behaviour. It's been
kept very quiet, but over 70 percent of the Vasya processing
networks are being devoted to Korama's personal project."
    Kamon grinned.
    "This ought to be good. What is it?"
    "Korama is trying to simulate the evolution of life."
    Kamon's mouth opened slightly. Then he started laughing.
    "Haa!" he yelled. "So much for unity of beliefs!"
    "Vasya has a wide range of employees, ones of many different
beliefs. But that is not the issue. If you attempt the impossible,
bad things will happen. Some don't like the fact, but evolution
cannot be simulated, demonstrated, or even proven theoretically.
It's a religion, and most people have astounding faith in it.
Now it seems Korama has developed an obsession with it."
    "Oh. You're not going to start preaching, are you?"
Kamon sighed. "I don't mind that much. The way you explain
science could make quantic physics exciting. I have been reading
that molecular biology book you loaned me."
    Crystal Dawn sipped his tea.
    "Kamon-san, you're one of the few sanifying people in my
existence. I've worked with thirteen other journalists over the
past twenty years. You're the first who hasn't had a problem
with the fact that I, and my parent group, have conclusively
tested, and statistically analysed the subject of evolutionary
biology, coming to the conclusion that it is impossible,
unscientific, statistically invalid, and...in one simple
concept: fiction. And Korama is damaging its systems trying
to simulate it. It's like trying to make matter from nothing,
literally."
    Kamon drank some of his tea.
    "Talk such as this is so depressing," he observed. "I can't
think of anything amusing. You're much more fun when you talk
your stories, or something similar. I once described you to
someone three months ago - he said if you were a fictional
character, you would be classed in a certain category...I don't
remember the name...but the idea is of a character who is
not 'realistic', and cannot possibly exist in the real world, and
is merely something created by the author to force their views
on their fictional world."
    Crystal Dawn laughed softly.
    "When one writes a story, certain elements of the real world
are automatically included. Science fiction stories may have
aliens who are more highly evolved than humans. The problem
is this: it has been conclusively proven that life could not have
possibly evolved here, so how could it have evolved elsewhere?
It is pure fantasy. The problem is, people cannot comprehend
that their very world-view is a work of human fiction. When
Darwin wrote his theories, he never proved them. He did not
have to, because if people are willing to believe, then the
process which separates truth from error is bypassed.
I am a very...rare sort of...man." he paused for a full second
before saying 'man'."
    "This makes my brain hurt. It's like finding the square root
of a random number without using a calculator," said Kamon.
    "Do you want to hear a story?" asked Crystal Dawn.
    Kamon smiled.
    "That would be nice."

    Crystal Dawn thought for a few seconds.
    "A scorpion and a turtle...they were standing on a riverbank.
The scorpion asked the turtle to carry it across, but the turtle
refused, saying that the scorpion would sting and drown the
the turtle. But the scorpion argued that there was no logic in
this, because if the turtle drowned, so would the scorpion.
    "So the turtle did as the scorpion asked. And halfway, the
scorpion did indeed sting the turtle, and both began to drown.
    "As it died, the turtle asked the scorpion why it had done
such a thing, as there was no logic to it. The scorpion replied
that logic was irrelevant - it was the scorpion's nature."

    Silence. Kamon sat thinking for a few seconds.
    "This world seems a lot more sad these days," he observed.
    "It is better to be sad than to be deluded," replied Crystal
Dawn. "But I thought of something to bring some light
to your world. I'll be back."
    He went out to the car and brought back a cardboard box
filled with DVDs in their plastic cases.
    "These are mixed. Some are comedy shows from around
the world, others are documentaries. There are also a few
films by an American I am a friend of. Here--"
    He reached into the box.
    "Time Changer," he said, pulling one out. "This has not
been released yet, I am told. He wanted me to have a copy."
    "You are friends with a lot of people," said Kamon.
    "I do try."
    "Thanks," said Kamon, sorting through the DVDs. "Oh!
Investigator Lightmatch! Where did you find it? This...
I used to watch this on television. Thank you!"
    
        *N.        *A.        *M.

    Greys walked up the steps to the Medical Mechanica building's
entrance. It was the tower he had seen when he first arrived.
He reached the top, then stopped as Midori stepped out from the
dark shadows flooding the entranceway.
    "Well...you are here at last," she said.
    Greys did not reply.
    "Architect Greys-san?"
    "Yes."
    "Welcome to Medical Mechanica - I am Midori, your...supervisor...
during your time here." She walked forward, shoes clicking on
the ground. She extended her hand. He shook it once.

    Greys followed Midori through a section of the interior of
the Medical Mechanica building. Seemingly endless white corridors,
with various doors branching off to other areas. There was no
one else about.
    "This building is of the highest security in existence. The
systems are designed to apprehend entities of unrecognised
or...unwanted...biological code. In expectance of your arrival, we
added you to the systems," said Midori. "And private quarters have
been provided here," said Midori.
    Greys flicked at a hair on his forehead with his index finger.
    "You have obtained?"
    "Yes. A group from Vasya transferred the..." Midori hesitated,
as if searching for the correct word. "...thing today. They were not
informed of its contents." Midori led Greys into an elevator.
    The doors closed, and Midori licked her finger and corrected a
stray hair which was drifting apart from the others, over her cheek.
She spoke to the elevator: "Section 6, Subsection FF-23."
    In response, the elevator could be heard humming.
"Vasya would not be appreciative if they knew the technology
behind the area of this complex," said Midori. "Nor would our...
other...opponents."
    Greys nodded.
    The elevator doors opened. Out the doors was a circular chamber
about 30 meters across. In the centre was a cubic container set halfway
into the floor. Windows set on each side, made from a clear plastic,
showed a free-floating geometric shaped object, which was about 1 meter
in diameter. It emitted a blue glow. The elevator appeared to be the
only entrance into the room. The lighting was a dark blue colour,
and it glowed with slowly shifting intensity. There were a few computer
terminals, with office chairs, arranged in a semi-circle, and there
were a few other seats around a table made from a opaque, dark
material. There was also a device, with a series of controls, of
unknown purpose. It was located a few meters away from the computer
terminals.
    "We need results, Greys," said Midori, walking across the room
and sitting down at the table, facing Greys. "Medical Mechanica's
time is not a wastable thing."
    Greys walked slowly towards the object hovering in the centre
of the room. He stopped about two meters from it, and said:
    "How much is here?"
    "The main modules and various external code chunks. The boot
codes were intentionally destroyed. Will Greys be able to re-write
them? This task is immense."
    "I don't need assistance. I can only try to get it functional
within the next six days. It's like sorting through a refuse pile.
Booting it is possible. What is important is why it was shut down."
    "Well, officially, this doesn't even exist. Vasya aren't going
to be very helpful."
    "What exactly is Medical Mechanica wanting from all this?"
    "Medical Mechanica wants an effect from a duplicatable cause."
    Greys replied in English language:
    "Don't we all?"

        *N.        *A.        *M.

    Crystal Dawn sat upon an air vent on the roof of the Vasya
building, watching the night. Lights glimmered all over Mabase.
    Slow, quiet footsteps approached. They neared until they were
right beside Crystal Dawn. He turned to see a child, or what looked
to be a child, standing there. It was a girl, it appeared, dressed
in a black kimono. Its hair was long and black.
    "It was natural you would be here," it--henceforth referred to as
'she'--said in a whispering voice. "We often come here, so it is
natural Enforcers would also."
    Crystal Dawn looked at her for a few seconds, then returned to
watching the town. She did not move or say anything further, simply
standing there.

    Crystal Dawn:
    "Anyone who understands radio frequencies knows that 103 Hertz
is not a Japanese radio frequency. All the wonder has gone. Perhaps
tomorrow will be different. Perhaps the happyness will return."

    After about two further hours of sitting there, Crystal Dawn
slid off the air vent, turned and walked to the door leading
downstairs into the Vasya building, opened it and went downstairs.

        *N.        *A.        *M.

    THE NEXT DAY:

    The water from the shower head sprayed over Greys as he sat on a
stool in the shower. He had removed the handcuff from his wrist, and
it now lay on the shower floor. His head was bowed, and water droplets
collected on the tip of his nose, before dripping on the floor.
    The cubicle was about 1.5 meters wide, and the shower head was
directly above, mounted in the ceiling.
    Greys shifted position, laying down on the floor. He closed his
eyes. The water continued to pour over him.
    A few minutes later, he was again dressed in his regular clothes.
He walked out the front entrance to the Medical Mechanica building.
    He stood on the street for a few minutes, watching the town begin
to awaken in the early morning.
    He walked for some time, observing. Then he stopped as the sound
of shattering glass filled the air. Greys turned towards the direction
of the sound. A few bystanders stopped at the sound, then continued
what they had been doing. Greys sprinted in the direction the sounds
were coming from. He took a turn into a series of back-alleys, but
found a dead end. There was no other way but up. So Greys jumped,
grasping a ladder leading up onto a fire-escape. He ran up the fire
escape until he reached the top.
     There he came face to face with someone. It was a girl who
looked to be about 19 or 20 years old. She was dressed in a strange
orange, striped outfit. On her left wrist was a handcuff, one which
was a circular band with a single link dangling from it. Her hair
was pink and it fell in clumps over her face, and was longer on the
back of her head than the front and sides. Her eyes were yellow.
    She elbowed him aside, jumping down into the alleyway. Greys
stumbled, catching hold of a railing. By the time he stabilised,
she was gone.
    For a few seconds everything was still. Then the ambient town
noise returned.
    Greys stood where he was for a few seconds, then climbed slowly
down the fire escape.

        *N.        *A.        *M.

    Earlier:
    Somewhere out in the pacific, at around 12 pm, a helicopter gunship
flew in the darkness and pouring rain over an island about 6 kilometres
by 10 kilometres in size.
    The rain was only a part of the storm. Strong winds were shaking
the helicopter, and lightning crackled menacingly in the sky.
    The pilot managed to descend down into a large circular hole in the
terrain which was almost invisible amongst the dense jungle. He landed
and powered down the engines. The rotors slowly came to a stop.
    The pilot, a Vasya Computer Industries pilot, named Jackson,
climbed out and into the pouring rain.
    "Enforcer! Watch the helicopter!" he yelled over the storm.
    The side door of the gunship slid open. And a figure stepped out.
He was dressed in identical clothing to the ones Crystal Dawn wore, but
his physical features and manner were completely different. He was
dark skinned, with dark green eyes. His movements were tightly
controlled, and his expression was flat, and unemotional. His hair
was black, and while it was mostly short, it was slightly longer at
the sides of his forehead.
    "Yes," was all he said.
    Jackson turned and ran towards a metal vent, resembling an air
vent. He climbed down it and under the ground.
    Water was pouring down the shaft as he descended. At the bottom he
found himself standing on a grilled floor, through which the water was
draining away somewhere.
    The ceiling, floor, and walls were all metal, and it seemed that
this was a ventilation passage. But as Jackson walked a few meters,
and around a corner, this was rendered inaccurate.
    An elevator was at the end of the passage. Its doors were painted
white and red. Jackson pressed its switch to bring it.
    A few seconds later the doors opened. There was a security
camera mounted in one corner of the one-person, standing room
elevator. Jackson entered and pressed the switch to operate the
elevator.
    The doors closed and the motors could be heard whirring.
Then they stopped. The lights flickered slightly, then went out.
    "This isn't good."
    A shudder. Something landed on the surface of the elevator above
his head.
    Jackson acted without hesitation. He dropped to his knees,
searching for something on the floor of the elevator. He found what
he was looking for - a section of the floor shifted aside on rails.
Revealed was a weapons cache - consisting of a Chinese AK47 copy, a
generic looking black handgun, and two clips for each. There was also
a grenade wrapped in plastic.
    Jackson snatched up the AK47, slamming a clip into its stock, then
pulling the cocking lever and switching off the safety. He also took
the grenade, taking off the plastic, and took the handgun and one clip.
He loaded the clip into the handgun.
    Then, to his surprise, the elevator began moving again - the lights
remained off, however. He grasped his radio.
    "Korama," he said. There was a pause, then a mechanical voice
spoke:
    "Comm channels compromised. Connections with Korama impossible.
This is a recording by legacy security A.I. Itnis 5."
    "Enforcer Dimetriel!" called Jackson, switching channels on his
radio, "Get here now!"
    "Yes."
    Jackson clipped the radio back onto his belt as the elevator
doors opened. He glanced alertly at everything. He cast one suspicious
glance above his head. Then he stepped out of the elevator.
    He was in a vast storage room. Above his head flew small drones,
their flight controlled by some form of jet propulsion. Jackson
kept looking at them with suspicion.
    They seemed to be ignoring him. But the fact that they were
equipped with weapons was not going to be ignored. He walked through
the room. They did seem not to notice him, which was expected, as he
was not some intruder, but a registered Vasya employee.
    Then Jackson saw the irregularity in the room. A large section of
storage containers had been cut open, their contents spilling forth.
But one was not so, as it had been cut open, and whatever was inside
removed.
    And one who may have been the thief lurked above. It may not have
been the same being who had been at the cathedral, but it looked
identical. It was unarmed, at least visibly.
    The Eva Unit 1 dropped silently down behind Jackson. But Jackson
sensed something as it stood there. He spun on his left heel,
bringing his AK47 to his shoulder. He paused to allow for
identification, then pulled the trigger.

[To be continued]

(ver. Not-Gold, Draft 1 Jan. 2009.)

--This is not the final draft of part 1, but this is only to allow for
--proofing and JapaneseEnglish language syntax analysis. I do not
--expect it to change in any significant way by Gold. If it does, that
--is a cause for suspicion.

=========
Robert-33
=========