Distant Call

"However, the debate over what life truly holds left the possibilities for machine equality at a standstill. Varying beliefs arose most opposing the idea wanting to retain a purely organic human society. Others, usually scientists, believed in machines to be equals. But it quickly came to the question of what was real. Machines were following programs coded into them and simulated human expressions. While humans had existed because the divine had created them. Both views never saw eye-to-eye devolving into religious debates and moral dilemmas.

"Even man was created like machine was created by man, in the end what difference is there between one creation of life and another…"

Herbert Stein, Machine Historian -

He had been reluctant to answer the question honestly, but he was feeling a little cornered by the pressure. There was another feeling in him though that seemed to want to let it out and not continue to bottle it inside. It didn’t provide him relief to speak honestly, but it was the gateway now.

Natsuko pulled back as did everyone in the room to hear him speak about it. "You weren't nearby were you?" It was the question on everyone's mind. There was bad luck in being in two bombings and surviving. The worry across everyone's face for his well being was far too clear for him to handle.

Satoru looked down at the floor again not wanting to see their faces while he talked. The truth continued to roll out of his mouth as he questioned why he was doing it so readily for them. "Not that close, but I saw it. I couldn't get the image out of my head."

"How bad is it?"

"Well I-I…" Then he choked, there was more than just the simple answer to the question anymore. It was complicated by other issues that should not be dealt with now. 'I can't tell her that I passed out and Asami went back to my apartment. The things that they'll say. Not to mention it is embarrassing enough fainting. I don't need more gossip spreading out than there already is. But what do I say?' He didn’t know what he would do if those became rumors in the already building gossip. So he kept it simple while still being truthful. "I…I had nightmares..."

"Nightmares?"

"What's he telling you?"

"Kazuhiko!" Natsuko yelled at him from a distance.

"You're so insensitive," Chiyoko said, pushing him away further while glaring further at him for speaking out of turn, again.

"What'd I say?"

Natsuko refocused the conversation back to Satoru again who had easily grown quiet. She could see that it was difficult for him to talk about it, but he needed it to move on. "Nightmares? For how long?"

"Since I was in the hospital, every so often."

"Have you spoken to anyone about it?"

"No." Satoru hadn’t had the time to talk to someone about it since he returned to work. There had been someone that visited the hospital to help him through the emotional and psychological effects of what happened, but he turned them away. At the time he hadn’t been feeling it severely and didn’t really think heavily about it. Most of it was still hazy then that he had nothing to recall for images, but that was different now. He had more than he wanted to remember and it flowed freely without recourse.

"Maybe you should."

"I'll be alright." Satoru wanted to believe what he said. It was hard to imagine it passing, but he knew that it would eventually. His concern was how long it was going to take to get over it all. It was affecting his life and work now. "It'll pass at some point."

"But Satoru…" she said, reaching out to him to comfort him.

Satoru pulled himself back avoiding her. He had the strange sudden urge not to be near her or anyone. It trickled down his back settling with an ill stomach. "I appreciate the concern, Natsuko, but I'll deal with this." He tried to reassure her with a weak smile, but he did not have enough for it.

"Don't push yourself, ok?"

"I won't." Natsuko stood up from his desk space and began walking away from him. She had a disappointed look on her face like she knew that she wasn’t as helpful as she wanted to be, but knew that she could do nothing more. Satoru didn’t want to end it with her feeling so horribly. "Natsuko, I…"

"Satoru?"

"Thanks…" He had more that he wanted to say, but he could not manage the words. Leaving it simple had better results, as Natsuko appeared to cheer up a little from the single word.

The group around Satoru had already dissolved by the time that Natsuko was leaving. Everyone was starting to return to normal, but they wouldn’t be allowed the time to rest. Kazuhiko suddenly jumped up from his chair, grabbing their attention quickly. His face was serious now; he was no longer playing around with what he had to say. "Hey! Everyone, take a look at this right now!"

"What is it?" Satoru said concerned by his sudden change in demeanor.

"What's wrong?" Natsuko walked over to him, seeing that he had been looking at something before he spoke up.

"Something's happening. The prime minister is holding a press conference about the last bombing."

"What?" everyone said in surprise. They quickly leapt from their chairs to see the monitor that Kazuhiko was redirecting the feed to so that they could all see it. It was still quiet with no one on screen, but the murmur of reporters thickened the anticipation of what was the big news to be breaking in the morning.

"It's about time, the government has been sitting on its butt for the last week saying nothing," Tadashi said arriving last at the crowd.

"What you think they will say?"

"Are we going to war again?"

'War…not again…why does this have to happen?' Satoru thought to himself worried what this would mean if it were true. It was feeling like history repeating itself suddenly. Mankind had been down this road before time and time again, would it ever learn from its mistakes. Satoru frowned deeply as the Prime Minister walked onto the screen.

"…Good morning everyone, I have come before you today on the matter of the bombings that have been occurring across the world as well as in our own country. It is on this day that I have returned from discussions with the other world leaders. We have reached a conclusion in response to the machine's terrorism. As of 12pm today I will sign a bill declaring a state of war."