New World

Away from the dense metropolis of Tokyo, the peaceful streets continued into the afternoon. Everyday life resumed in the following month after the summit. Riots ceased, the military recalled and the truth came out. The world took a moment to breathe finally.

It was a difficult period of time for everyone. Though much of the corruption became exposed. Arrests were handed out, any sense of justice remained uncertain. Asami didn’t know if any of it would ease the weights that pressed on her heart. Or soften the darkness blanketing her. She continued each day, but remained asking her question the same each time. So far every time she gave the same answer and she could continue. But would a day come where her answer changed? Her heart belonged elsewhere, to be joined. If such things could even be possible for her.

A black car stopped at the side of the road. Out stepped Asami dressed in a black formal suit and skirt. She looked from the driver side over to the horizon as her partner rose. Old cherished memories drifted back to her as she caught the sun hiding around the distant skyscrapers. A small smile came over her.

Her partner closed the car door, but remained at the side of the car. “I’m grateful I could be on your team, ma’am. He made me realize I wasn’t alone.”

His words cut into her defense a little, but she held together. She gave him a warm smile. “Thanks, he’d be happy to know it made a difference.”

They gave a short bow. He was quite a young man for such important work. Then her partner glanced back remembering. “Take as long as you need, ma’am.”

“I won’t be too long, Akira. HQ has a new mission for us already.”

“Third Awakened this week…” Malakh’s plan may have been halted before finishing, but it didn’t end without consequences. The latent code had already propagated out into the machine network. It didn’t affect every machine, but it was a silent trigger waiting. Out there hundreds or thousands of machines believing themselves humans were waking up. She had to help them.

They had to help them.

She gave him a polite pat on the shoulder and she walked into the cemetery. It had been two weeks since she last visited. The new work kept her busy, but as her co-workers explained, constantly visiting wouldn’t be healthy. But she couldn’t part just yet. Their time was too short.

Her feet knew the path to his resting spot without her even thinking. Emotions she found both familiar and frightening bubbled inside with each step. She didn’t know how many times it would take for that feeling to go away. Part of her never wanted it to. She feared that day. It wasn’t today at least.

Before her was the Kuromura family plot. Fresh flowers were left in the small vase and a couple of incense sticks burned. A few leaves gathered on the plate. She smiled with a distant stare. Kneeling down, she brushed clean the grave.

“I’m back, Satoru. Sorry, I can’t visit everyday. I think they’d probably yell at me if I did.” She weakly laughed to herself staring at the name ‘Kuromura’. Tears struggled to stay back. “They put me on a team with humans, can you believe it? And they know. It’s scary not knowing what they’re thinking. Do they hate me? Are they frightened?”

She placed new incense in the tube replacing the old ones. “I’m trying. I’m really trying. For you, for everyone.” Asami rubbed a hand over her cheeks. It was a futile effort, but still she tried. Drops fell to the grave from her hanging head. “It’s not easy, but I promise to live. For you. For your dream that we can all walk together. That is something worth fighting for. Worth living for, right?”

Asami didn’t stand for a minute. Sadness bit down on her lips in silence. She brushed away the memories and finally stood. Over at a large shrine, she saw numerous flowers and offerings placed. Overcrowded to the point of becoming a walking hazard. The attendants hadn’t come today, or perhaps lately as she saw a woman come up to the shrine and place down more flowers to the pile.

It gave her a little warmth and encouragement. “They’re starting to believe, Satoru. More voices are rising. Maybe change is possible. Your hope can become our hope, I want to believe. We can all have a future…together.”