Dancing Fate

"The break in the fighting gave pause for the officials in the assembly seeing that this summit could bring resolution finally to the fighting. Many in the Japanese government had been pushing for peace in spite of the military arguing that they needed to increase their strength. Other countries with a lesser military were in agreement. The main western powers though were reluctant remembering the treachery of the machines in the past. However, their voices were quickly outnumbered and agreement on the summit came to a close.

"Since the Japanese government pushed the summit through, it was agreed that they would host the summit five days from the day that the assembly ended in Tokyo. The machines were notified through a world broadcast and they responded quickly agreeing on the terms of the summits.”

Herbert Stein, Machine Historian -

The ride remained quiet leaving the tension to build up to unbearable levels. Satoru's legs were shaking with what he knew now. This war that they were fighting wasn’t what everyone believed to be. There were machines out there that wanted to end it, but they were going to be targeted no differently. Satoru knew that he had to make sure the summit wasn’t stopped. This was the only chance that the world had at surviving. The machines were out numbered and even with the advancements that they made were never going to be able to survive. They didn’t stand a chance.

Satoru pushed forward slightly when the taxi came to a stop outside of a large building. He stepped out of the car staring into the distance. The entire area was empty as though everyone had the day off. There wasn’t even a sign that he could see telling him what building he was at. He roughly knew where he was in the city, but this building didn’t look familiar to him. If there were official government proceedings to be done it would have been at the general assembly building, not here. "This is where the summit is being held? Looks normal."

"Yes, according to the information that Yuu downloaded into me, this is where the summit is taking place." Asami stepped forward as the taxi sped away. She looked around examining the building for anything or anyone that might be watching them. There was nothing she could find and that worried her. She knew them well enough that they would not be waiting around doing nothing. They must have a plan and she hoped that she could figure it out before it was too late.

"Seems a little strange that there is nothing here, no media, no military, nothing," Satoru said, commenting on the lack of any presence. It felt like the Qintech incident again where everything was purposely halted. The military could be in hiding waiting for him.

Asami kept scanning the area, not satisfied with not finding anything. She knew that they had to have known that they made out of the Qintech. Their eyes reached much further than people realized. They knew she was here and even when she left. This had to be a trap. Asami stayed on edge hearing Satoru speaking, bringing her to recall the information that Yuu had downloaded in her before she left. "According to Yuu the location was switched several times before today for security measures to prevent its location from being found out." She wasn’t sure what there was about Yuu, but he had a strange presence about him that seemed familiar to her somehow. He was unfortunately dead now knowing how the military was killing everyone without hesitation.

The wind blew up through the abandoned lot whistling in their ears. Satoru took a step forward feeling as though he was pressing against a gigantic invisible wall that was erected around the building. It was meant to keep everyone out, but it didn’t realize the danger that was nearing. This wasn’t enough. "Didn't take enough measures if Yuu was able to find it."

Asami began walking towards the doors with Satoru following up quickly. Once they were inside they had to find the summit quickly and tell them of everything that was happening. She feared if the humans would even believe her even if they knew that she was a machine.

When her foot touched the first step something in her head suddenly pinched her sending waves through her body. 'What's this feeling? No…' It took her a moment, but she realized what was happening to her. She turned to look at Satoru, who was catching up with her. Her time was draining away from her coming to a stop as Satoru moved in slow motion before her eyes. She knew that she was out of time. They were waiting for this moment. "Get away from me, Satoru!" Asami said, breaking free for a moment pushing him backward down the sidewalk.

"Huh?" Satoru fell back roughly on the cement. He looked at Asami through one eye trying to push aside the stinging that echoed through his arms and back. Asami wasn’t the same; Satoru could see that she was afraid of something. Her body was shaking as she backed away from him. "What are you talking about, Asami?"

"Leave me now!" Asami shouted, feeling her control slipping away from her. She was going to lose him. She couldn’t let that happen, but she also knew that he wouldn’t run away either. Her eyes welled up with tears, as she could no longer feel her legs paralysis encroaching on her chest moving quickly up. "Before it is too late…Sa…to…ru…" She couldn’t run away or save him as she lost control completely.

Asami's eyes went pale and her body changed, becoming rigid and straight. She disappeared from the stairs in an instant landing on top of Satoru. Her hand shot out grabbing him by the throat lifting him up off the ground. Satoru's body hung in her hands as she stared at him, her mind already out of his reach once more. "Ugh…not again…Asami…" He remembered seeing her like this a week before in Qintech. It was repeated over again before him leaving him helpless.

In the distance, under cover of the brick wall around the parking lot, the military that had been following Asami and Satoru lay in wait. The scout watched Asami assaulting Satoru through his scope, reporting on their moves. They had a mission to complete and since the machine woman made her move they were out of time. "The woman is attacking the target. Orders, sir?"

General Yoshima stood near the entrance of the parking lot narrowly watching the scene in the distance. He ground his teeth together hearing the annoying echoes of the organization in his head. They were always ordering him around; this was his battlefield. He would do things his way. "Satoru Kuromura must be taken alive and the woman's chest and head need to remain undamaged. Stop her immediately."

"Yes, sir!" the soldiers said in unison signaling their charge. All along the wall surrounding the building soldiers stood up leaping over the wall running towards the entrance where Satoru and Asami stood. Several men in the back raised up mounted machine guns aiming them on the location taking the safety off preparing to fire the moment they had an open shot.

Asami looked around from side to side seeing the large number of soldiers that were present this time. She was far outnumbered from the previous times. She quickly analyzed the situation and dropped Satoru. "Hrmph…" Once he was freed from her grasp a hail of bullets were unloaded on her location, but she was already leaping backwards into the second floor window of the building disappearing quickly out of reach.

Satoru held his head down with his arms as his ears were shattered by the drowning tsunami of bullets that riddled the cement around him. When the firing ceased he looked up to where the Asami had broken the glass. She was gone from him again. 'Why does fate have to keep intervening…' He stood up staggering to the entrance still feeling weak from being strangled. "A-Asami…" The soldiers that had been running to attack Asami now formed around Satoru. Two of them forced his arms together allowing them to tie his hands. "What are you doing? Let go of me." Satoru struggled against the two men trying to break free to go after Asami. "I need to go after her now!"

"You're coming with us Mr. Kuromura," one of the soldiers said, pulling him back in line. The other soldiers quickly ran about the lot looking like they were preparing for something else. They looked well armed for an assault even more so than the raid on Qintech.

"Huh?" Satoru struggled against the men that were holding him. They pushed him away from the building, guiding back to the street. He kept pulling and straining at their hold causing them enough trouble that one of them stepped up in front of him. Satoru stared at him defiantly having lost his fear a long time ago. The soldier drew back his arm and thrust it quickly into Satoru's chest, knocking all of the air out of him before he could react. 'The military again…Kiyoshi's not leading them, who is it this time?' Satoru soon passed out, falling limp in the soldiers' hold as they dragged him off.