Optic Connections

“Viscera… Not the perfect definition, but I think it makes enough sense.”

“Oh, whatever Getsurin, you’re just butt hurt that you didn’t think of any cool names yourself.” Kay quickly scolded him for the mild criticism. Getsurin rolled his eyes with such annoyance they could have fallen out.

Viscera: large organs inside the body, including the heart, stomach, lungs, and intestines. The actual definition. However, the aptly named Bio Mages, repurposed the term to describe the body parts the Kay, Getsurin, and Yuuichirou unfortunately found and been fused within them.

Each taking the time to study Zuina’s quite cohesive drawing board of the events that has transpired this chaotic week. Integrating details that Kay and Getsurin weren’t even aware of. Details that draw connections to foreign involvement from companies that have been appearing frequently in out of character places. Almost as if they have secret side business from their primary capital. Each hovering in the background of many news outlets and diplomats across several nations.

“A in A Accounting, Zoroa Finances, Gold Dawn Bank, Henrietta F. Sisters, Xu Fu & Percy. None of these sound like companies that would handle this sort of thing.” Yuuichirou listed.

“Well, it's not like this is a normal thing in the first place.” Kay remarked.

“Right, Toyota and Suzuki were in Loom Manufacturing, Samsung was a grocery store, and the number of companies with roots to war manufacturing. Not that far of a stretch that some companies have more than one way to make money.” Getsurin interpreted.

“Looks like they even obtained some property right here in Tokyo just this week. Kinda creepy.” Kay quivered at the detail.

“Yeah, the more I researched, the more creepier it felt.” Zuina mentioned as she walked into the living room with a tray of food.

Zuina made the group some flavorful Onigiri to enjoy as they collaborated on the madness. Kay quickly realized how skilful cooking Onigiri is, and looked at Getsurin, screaming in her head: “Cook!” An obvious: I told you so, furthering Zuina’s perfection.

“I found it interesting that they’re all LLCs too, but that may be a coincidence. Since they’re usually simple.” Zuina added, ready to eat an Onigiri.

“What does that mean?” Kay asked, trying her best to understand the subtle complexities.

“Basically, it's a type of business that safeguards its Members’ assets—But what’s interesting is that they’re likely from the States.” Yuuichirou explained.

“Safeguards from what?” Kay asked with confusion.

“Good question, perhaps they don’t expect these companies to last.” Yuuichirou speculated.

“As of right now, they don’t seem to be an issue, so let's focus on what we can do.” Getsurin claimed. “There’s something that I left out before that might be pretty useful.” He paused. “We can kinda sense one another. But it seems that I’m a little different from Yuuichirou and Kay." Kay already understood what Getsurin was about to explain, so she simply enjoyed the Onigiri while Zuina and Yuuichirou focused on him.

“Its still hard to explain but I can basically see the ‘Viscera’ inside of other Bio Mages, but not really seeing it but I can tell where other’s Viscera are.” Getsurin expounded for the others to grasp the idea. “Right now I can tell that there’s a Viscera in the center of Kay’s chest, so it might be the heart, and Yuuichirou, your thumb is clearly the Viscera, but there is more than just that.” he mentioned.

“You’re saying that he got more somehow?” Zuina speculated.

“Yeah, and if I had to guess—”

“Don’t… I think we can surmise where I got the others from.” Yuuichirou quickly spoke over Getsurin to avoid the unpleasant thought that the other Viscera were likely obtained by barbaric constraints.

A silent moment fell over the group as they couldn’t help recalling the violence that took place just a few days ago. Even pausing to eat, avoid the distasteful memories to merge with the well made food.

“As hard as it is, we should continue on a similar subject.” Zuina stood up and went to the drawing board to write something. “So, it's clear that there are more Bio Mages out there, how many, who knows, but there were enough to overwhelm the police the other day.” She presented.

“That’s probably why the cops arrived long after our little dispute.” Kay added.

“Right and, coincidentally, yet creepily enough, the event happened almost directly over the Imperial Palace and scattered a lot of small shrapnel in this general area. But the cities where the most of the plane fell was in this blanketed pattern westward.” Zuina detailed. “Most of that attention was in Suginami City, where the plane fell, and highest concentration of the other disputes were either in Suginami City or in the surrounding areas." She then paused.

“Meaning that the plane was definitely carrying the Viscera.” Getsurin concluded.

“It would seem that way, and who knows how much was on the plane, or how many people found a Viscera. There were dozens of disputes, there may be dozens more at any moment.” Zuina speculated with slight anxiety.

“Well, the silver lining is that any reckless outbursts should be linked to a history of substance abuse.” Yuuichirou emphasized.

The group fell into another overwhelmed silence, Yuuichirou and Getsurin slouching in their seats, pondering the next plan of action. As if being considered to make a reckless decision forced by powers out of their control. They struggle to find any semblance of a strategy that guarantees their safety.

Strength in numbers can only go so far with these circumstances. A plan that’s able to withstand unknown entities and unpredictable variables such as other Bio Mages is a clear challenge to develop.

“So, um, what do we do with all of this information?” Kay chimed in. “Should we report this to someone? I think some kind of conspiracy is going on here that’s way deeper than some random attack.”

“I think we’d need more hard evidence to promote these claims. We clearly have something, but we don’t have any damning evidence." Yuuichirou remarked.

“He’s right, there’s probably organizations ready for people like us that ask too many questions, especially if this is a worldwide conspiracy at play.” Getsurin agreed.

“Meaning what?” Kay asked, with her tested innocence.

“We need more evidence." Zuina answered in disappointment.

“Ahh, solid survival plan… Where should we begin?” Kay asked, bringing her tone to a more optimistic light.

“One of these—” Yuuichirou began but became distracted by the sudden ring at the door.

“Huh, I’m not expecting anyone tonight.” Zuina mentioned. “I’ll check it out.” Yuuichirou stood up with Kay right behind him as the two walked to the door.

“Who do they look like?” Kay asked as Yuuichirou glanced in the peephole.

“Uhh, middle aged, kinda thin mustache. Normal clothes… Nothing alarming about him.” Yuuichirou checked the door. “Can I help you?” He asked.

“I think I can help you.” The man jest, revealing a reserved yet gallant voice.

“How so?” Yuuichirou asked with caution with protective hesitation in mind.

“Welp…” The man moved his attention to his small satchel, to pull out a camera. “It looks like someone’s following ya.”

“Ah, that’s my neighborhood!" Kay quickly recognized that the picture was taken across from her apartment complex with an unmarked vehicle in view. Showing two people within, clearly taking suspicious pictures. Followed by a close up shot of their front wind shield, and soon driving off after Kay entered her apartment.

“I got more where that came from.” He remarked, toting his accent.

“You got a name?” Kay asked with punk fashion.

“Jinzaburō Moku at your service. You can call me Moku.”