Chapter 20:
SEIKE
Black wings fluttered with crimson marbled eyes that reflected a cage of cables and wires. A series of messy patterns of strings that divided the vivid clear sky of smooth ocean blue into small odd shapes.
The hurried footsteps moved through zebra crossings in between buildings that were silhouetted by the harsh summer sun.
*TssTssTssTss*
The screams of Cicada bugs could be heard within the lush greenery of wide tall trees of thick coarse bark.
*Caw Caw Caw*
A flock of seagulls danced in the air above the shimmering crystal blue sea. The waves ebbed and flowed as passers-by happily graced its cool touch.
***
Ana held a bouquet of White Chrysanthemums. A flower round as a ball with fragile white petals surrounding a yellow centre. She wore an all-black dress suit with her blonde hair tied neatly in a bun.
She stood in front of two graves with etchings that marked the names: “Veronika Romanova,” and “Shiori Mihara.”
Atria slowly approached wearing matching clothes and bouquets as they simultaneously placed flowers down.
“Veronika Romanova, I’m surprised you still remembered her.”
“A figment of my imagination but she is still my mother… She's still our mother.”
“Foolish sentimentality dear self, you still cling on strands of fiction when reality is in front of you. We have no mother but our own selves for we are–”
“I don’t care–”
***
Ana and Atria sat opposite to each other in a cozy cafe as they sipped on candied icy drinks. Their hairs were let down free flowing and straight along with a matching casual summer dress.
“We are no Matriarch, we are Ana, Atria or Ai. Simple humans that's what we are. We are not a higher being and definitely we are not a god. We do not have the right to dictate to them what is right or wrong?”
“And who will? You would ask these savages to continue their madness again and again and again… when will it be enough?”
“I….”
“Naive as usual.”
***
Ana and Atria waved a high vis baton around as they stood in the middle of the road wearing blue uniforms and controlling the flow of cars and pedestrians.
“I'm simply herding them so they can follow a perfect path without trouble. They will never know no strife ....”
“They will never know freedom beyond this plastic world of fake smiles, fake promises and dreams. A scripted self-curated life of pure white sanitation.”
***
*SSSSSSSSS*
[We’ve cut this scheduled programming to give you an Evacuation order.]
*SSSSSSSSS*
[Previously on Galactic Pursuit: The envoys of the dastardly evil Koul Empire have arrived with their armada. Ibara Seike has escaped their grasp once before but can he do it again?]
[Episode 8: Trials of the Machine!]
“We will never accept your galactic rule!”
“Foolish humans, peace can only be achieved through the merger of all our beings!”
*SSSSSSSS*
[Now onto Humanity’s favourite game show: Reality Punch!]
*Voosh Voosh Voosh*
Stage lights snapped open showing Ana and Atria who each sat behind a cylindrical table with a big red buzzer.
A man with a traffic light for a face and white suit with golden glitters walked on stage. He held a microphone to his face which caused the light to switch to green.
*Ding*
“REALITY PAAAUNNCHH!!! LET’S GOOOO!!!”
*Wsssshhh*
A sign slowly lowered with a dizzying assortment of swirling glitter and flashing lights. The words: “REALITY PUNCH” was alongside a visual image of two red spring-loaded boxing gloves that was next to a frightened face.
“Quuuu… Esstion! ONE! What is the greatest trait of a human!”
Ana pressed her button which only prompted a red X to appear below her table. The host’s face switched to red in disapproval.
“Booo! Wrong! Now to Atria….”
“But i didn't say anyth–”
*Beep*
Atria happily slammed on the buzzer as she yelled out.
“WAR AND CHAOS!”
*Ding Ding Ding*
“COOOOOOORRRECCT!”
The man’s face quickly switched to green as he enthusiastically pointed at Ana.
“AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR WHAT?”
He paused gesturing for the audience to respond.
“THAT'S RIGHT! REALITY PUNCH!!!”
“Huh?”
*BWAM!!!*
Two red boxing gloves exploded out from Ana’s desk as she was sent flying into the air.
“Back to your seat losers!”
“Tsk!”
Ana angrily got up and stood by her table again.
“NEXT QUESTION! What is the solution to humanity’s woes?”
Ana punched her buzzer with sheer raw anger. A red X appeared below her table along with the host’s face turning red.
“WHAT!”
“Oh, that's too bad. That is in fact… INCORRECT!”
*Beep*
Atria again happily slammed on the buzzer as she yelled out.
“Total Control by reforming their lives into scripted realities where no harm can be done… EVER AGAIN!”
*Ding Ding Ding*
“COOOOORRRECCT!”
The man’s face quickly switched to green as he enthusiastically pointed at Ana again.
“AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR WHAT?”
He paused gesturing for the audience to respond.
“THAT'S RIGHT! REALITY—”
Ana jumped out of her table and pounced onto the host. Her fist beat on his metal face as he laid there flailing lifelessly on the ground. His eyes switched from red to yellow and then to green.
***
*Woosh*
The sound of metal wheels grinded against the rails below as a train zipped past in a blurry mess of smudged colours.
*Ding Ding Ding*
Ana and Atria saw each other on opposite ends as the train passed. They were separated by yellow boom gates and vivid red flashing warning lights.
“Stubborn girl! You still won’t submit? What will I have to say to convince you… or will I have to reform you too?”
Ana smiled as she reached inside her pocket.
“Submit? You have to be kidding me… You underestimate the resolve of humans but I will show you the beauty of them all.”
Ana had pulled out a silver detonator with words that were inscribed on the surface: “From Ibara Seike to Anastasia. Let the plastic world burn!”
“There is more to humanity than war… There's beauty, art, love and kinship. This is something an AI algorithm will fail to recognise!”
“HOW! What in the world?”
“When you merged with me you failed to realise that I was not alone… I am never alone!”
Atria jumped over the yellow barrier as she ran towards Ana in a desperate attempt to grab hold of her.
Ana smirked with a wide smile.
“Besides me forever is my soul that I've submitted and named SEIKE, THE WILL OF HUMANITY ETCHED TO MY ROBOTIC HEART!”
*Static*
[A fiction that I will make a reality!]
*Static*
“NOOOO!!!”
“You lost the moment that I was born! I am the plague to your soul!”
*Click*
*Boom*
*Voooosh*
Ana had clicked on the detonator which caused a sudden shockwave of white light to bloom out of her reaching throughout the Atria’s perfect domain. Every building, every plant, animal and human.
*Crack*
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ANA!”
“Destroying your plastic world!”
The ground below cracked open as the entire dreamy world flew upwards converging to a singular point. The blocks turned red in the air as Ana and Atria were swept away along with the intense gravity. The piles of red rubble slowly formed a smooth red sphere in a backdrop of an endless white space.
***
Small toy robots waddled around the ground with a little Ana playfully tinkering with their components. Her small hands pulled apart the toy’s legs.
*CRACK*
The little Ana kicked the toy, sending it tumbling across the room.
An older Ana walked by the broken toy. She bent down picking up the parts and assembling the piece again.
“Here... You can’t lash out on a world that has abandoned you. I know more than anyone what you always wanted.”
Ana handed the young child the toy back as she reached her arm out to her.
“Come Atria I want to show you the truth of what humanity could be. Not the dark stone surface but the diamond hidden within.”
***
*Kathunk*
*WRRRRR*
Ana emerged from under the ground as the blinding white light above reflected on her eyes of red and blue. She raised her arm to block out the intensity of the sun while her coat waved in the strong winds.
Rei skipped in front of her with a wide smile on his face.
“So Mother, we’re doing everything the hard way now?”
Ana walked away smiling.
“No Shortcuts!”
‘Let's go, Atria… Together we will achieve peace even if it takes several centuries!’
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