peacefully. And there wouldn't even have been the need for a rescue mission if she hadn't captured the boy.
" Don't blame yourself, " he said. " If I had trusted you with what I know, you would have had time to strategize. But the fact you saw them as children in need of help speaks volumes. But surely you see how dire the situation has become? "
Aika couldn't have promised if a month ago–a week ago–yesterday–that she would've understood what Dr. Chino and Commander Goto were trying to tell her. She might have only fixated on what she understood at that time, that these two men were undermining the government, her government, and hence only had seen them as traitors. But now she saw the humanity of their circumstances. This was about people. People in the world, people in the government. She would stand with Dr. Chino, not against her country, but for her country, fighting the corruption that was feeding on the necessity of order and safety, compromising the souls of her people. Hajime and Katsume.
" Their uniforms. "
" Yes. The chikara's uniforms suggest they are organized. Someone in America is backing them. We need to find out who. Your suits are wired with data boxes, a complex system of softwares that monitors your vitals and dialogues. A review of the evidence will obviously clear you. I have taken measures to make sure your boxes are protected. That they don't 'disappear.' Also, I made a modification or two to further protect you from scrutiny. It's not obvious, but a paranoid eye is acute, and without modifications your sympathy for the chikara would be apparent. Once you are cleared, you will be regarded as a hero for your service, further forcing the minister's hand to recognize you himself for your valor. Then Commander Goto will use the fleeting clout of heroism you've acquired to get you stationed in America."
" The minister wants me dissolved doesn't he? "
" He wouldn't say so directly, which is good. It means he doesn't have insurance against you. The fact I could block his representative from attendance also bodes well. You are well reputed, and any suggestion of vilification, will come across as paranoia. Times haven't gotten so threatening as for even the Benzaiten to abandon a sense of brotherhood. The minister hasn't found his opening to persecute you. Also it's difficult to say if silencing you is a misguided attempt to maintain credibility or part of some larger plot, his or someone else's. "
" I want permission to find Hajime and Katsume. Then I'll go to America. "
" You cannot save them. They have to be deemed traitors. And will be dissolved. "
" It's not that simple. "
" I know. I know better than you that there may be extenuating circumstances, particularly with Benzai-three. I remotely accessed his data box and his brainwaves were...'compromised' let's say. They were like his own, but different. "
" It was like he was possessed. Both of them. He–they–were among the most loyal and supportive men I've ever met. They trusted me to lead them when few would. I promoted Hajime to my unit after his handling of the Orange Riot. He contained the matter without a single casualty. He isn't the monster– "
" You're not going to let this go. I can see that. You can search for your comrades in the states. They had wirelessly altered logs to make it seem they were in China, but it seems instead they stole a high-speed submerge vehicle and retraced their route back to America. Find them, but be careful, the minister has authorized a unit to go in and retrieve them. I don't know when. They know nothing of you, and you shouldn't know anything of them. When you find Hajime, call me. I need to run tests on him, see if his abnormalities are connected to foul play, and if so, by whom."
Dr. Chino smiled. So many dangers and uncertainties to untangle and decipher. He was tired, his life doing his work to make the world better through technology and now he was heading covert operations. He sometimes
" Don't blame yourself, " he said. " If I had trusted you with what I know, you would have had time to strategize. But the fact you saw them as children in need of help speaks volumes. But surely you see how dire the situation has become? "
Aika couldn't have promised if a month ago–a week ago–yesterday–that she would've understood what Dr. Chino and Commander Goto were trying to tell her. She might have only fixated on what she understood at that time, that these two men were undermining the government, her government, and hence only had seen them as traitors. But now she saw the humanity of their circumstances. This was about people. People in the world, people in the government. She would stand with Dr. Chino, not against her country, but for her country, fighting the corruption that was feeding on the necessity of order and safety, compromising the souls of her people. Hajime and Katsume.
" Their uniforms. "
" Yes. The chikara's uniforms suggest they are organized. Someone in America is backing them. We need to find out who. Your suits are wired with data boxes, a complex system of softwares that monitors your vitals and dialogues. A review of the evidence will obviously clear you. I have taken measures to make sure your boxes are protected. That they don't 'disappear.' Also, I made a modification or two to further protect you from scrutiny. It's not obvious, but a paranoid eye is acute, and without modifications your sympathy for the chikara would be apparent. Once you are cleared, you will be regarded as a hero for your service, further forcing the minister's hand to recognize you himself for your valor. Then Commander Goto will use the fleeting clout of heroism you've acquired to get you stationed in America."
" The minister wants me dissolved doesn't he? "
" He wouldn't say so directly, which is good. It means he doesn't have insurance against you. The fact I could block his representative from attendance also bodes well. You are well reputed, and any suggestion of vilification, will come across as paranoia. Times haven't gotten so threatening as for even the Benzaiten to abandon a sense of brotherhood. The minister hasn't found his opening to persecute you. Also it's difficult to say if silencing you is a misguided attempt to maintain credibility or part of some larger plot, his or someone else's. "
" I want permission to find Hajime and Katsume. Then I'll go to America. "
" You cannot save them. They have to be deemed traitors. And will be dissolved. "
" It's not that simple. "
" I know. I know better than you that there may be extenuating circumstances, particularly with Benzai-three. I remotely accessed his data box and his brainwaves were...'compromised' let's say. They were like his own, but different. "
" It was like he was possessed. Both of them. He–they–were among the most loyal and supportive men I've ever met. They trusted me to lead them when few would. I promoted Hajime to my unit after his handling of the Orange Riot. He contained the matter without a single casualty. He isn't the monster– "
" You're not going to let this go. I can see that. You can search for your comrades in the states. They had wirelessly altered logs to make it seem they were in China, but it seems instead they stole a high-speed submerge vehicle and retraced their route back to America. Find them, but be careful, the minister has authorized a unit to go in and retrieve them. I don't know when. They know nothing of you, and you shouldn't know anything of them. When you find Hajime, call me. I need to run tests on him, see if his abnormalities are connected to foul play, and if so, by whom."
Dr. Chino smiled. So many dangers and uncertainties to untangle and decipher. He was tired, his life doing his work to make the world better through technology and now he was heading covert operations. He sometimes
Similar Books
