File 5.4 - Dusk of Our Times

Late morning made the streets overcrowded with traffic. The narrow streets already made vehicle traffic difficult, but the millions of citizens seemed also to be trying to fit into a single stretch of sidewalk. However, it was the shopping dome for the city. Anything could be found here, all one had to do was look hard enough.

It only took Shizuka a minute to remember one of the reasons why she hated Antarctica City. While her father certainly sat at the top of the list, it was the people that made it right afterward. She only really understood it when she left and saw the North. Returning to the city gave her all of the comparison she needed.

They all looked the same. There was a little difference between each person, but they were all just going about things in the same manner. Everything they needed could be found. There was very little want in their eyes. She couldn’t see any drive like she did on the outside. They just looked dead inside. It was a sickening feeling. No motivation or goals. Just continuing to exist. It was a simple and carefree way about things. They were fine with it.

However, she had a different problem to deal with today. The lack of concerns from the random citizens was something for a later matter. Next to her was Karen Stein, one of the women working on the Project along with Doctor Kitawara. She insisted on coming, in fact she insisted on the whole thing. ‘It’s better than being escorted by soldiers, but she thinks she can get close to me doing something like this. So annoying…’ Shizuka tried to hide her frustration with the whole situation, but everything around her made it difficult.

It made her an easy read, though Karen sort of expected her not to be pleased by the idea. Their first encounter was hardly one to start a good relationship. “You alright, Shizuka?”

“Fine,” she answered curtly.

“Just because you introduce yourself as a friend of my mother doesn’t put us on friendly terms. You’re my mother’s friend, not mine.” Shizuka’s response still echoed in her mind. ‘This is really not going to be easy. Being his daughter, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but he hasn’t tried to patch things up with her at all. It’s only driving her away. If he wants her to actually be a good pilot, he needs to give her some love. It’s only going to twist her heart the way he’s going about it.’ It was her hope a girl’s day out would do Shizuka good. “We’re almost there, Shizuka. I’m sure you’ll be glad to get something to wear that’s not just a military uniform!”

Karen’s motives were transparent to Shizuka. She played nice for the woman, sort of. But Shizuka had other things in mind. It was a perfect opportunity for her. She wouldn’t let the chance go to waste.

Their arrival at the clothing store was only slowed by the thick traffic. Inside, it thinned out. Shizuka was able to get a place to rest. It was less physically exhausting and more mentally for her. For most of her life, what to wear was hardly a concern for her. Up North, she only had a few things to wear and before she always had it picked out for her. She didn’t need to think about it.

Suddenly, she was being forced to pick something to wear. Shizuka could only take looking at clothes for so long. ‘Annoying…’

The break didn’t last for long, when Karen popped out from behind a few racks. She carried a sundress and some pants with a small shirt. “You should try these out, Shizuka,” she smiled. It was the best smile she could manage for the stare that she received back. “I think these might be your style.”

‘That word again… What does it matter what my style is? If it fits.’ Shizuka felt like punching the woman for not knowing any other words than ‘style’. Yet she tempered her emotions. She could really only play along with the woman for the time being. Taking up the offerings, she disappeared behind the curtain once more.

After judging the sundress, she had the pants and shirt on still. She was hardly fond of either. ‘These are too small. Feels like it’s going to choke me. And the dress…’ Shizuka put them both away and returned to her military uniform. Stepping out, she handed the clothes back over to Karen.

“No good?” she asked, though her expression looked more disappointed that she didn’t get to Shizuka in the clothes. She remained private about the try-outs.

“No.” Shizuka went back to the bench to rest again. She wished to be back in her room. It was starting to feel like a mistake agreeing. ‘What was I thinking?’

Karen moved in a little and sat down on the bench next to Shizuka. “What’s wrong? Tired?” She leaned over a little pushing a few strains on hair out of her face.

The act irked Shizuka. She backed away in a silent response. ‘She’s trying too hard now.’ It all needed to end. It was going to be the only way she could progress things. “No. Everything’s just too overdone. Find something simple.”

“Oh is that all? Why didn’t you say so sooner?” Karen laughed a bit and walked off in search of something that worked to her request.

Shizuka walked over to the window of the second floor. ‘It’s all like this isn’t it? It can’t be simple.’ She stared out at the people walking. They did look a lot like the clothes Karen kept shoving on her. She didn’t understand it. Who were they trying to impress? It’s pointless with such dead expressions.

“How’s this, Shizuka?” called Karen from part way across the room. Her voice ended up getting the attention of some of the other customers. It didn’t seem to matter to Karen, she looked proud.

Sighing would do little for her. She did do as Shizuka requested. They were simple clothes. It would be enough. She didn’t dislike the way they looked. “Looks fine.”

“Great!” Passing the clothes off to the cashier, Karen ran over to Shizuka. She grabbed her hand. “Now you just need some underwear! Now that I know what you like, this should be a lot easier!” A bit of a giggle came out of her, a little odd for a grown woman in her forties.

It was the first time all day Shizuka’s expression broke more than a grumpy scowl. “Wait! What?!” Her surprise in thinking it was over quickly was overrun by the thought of underwear. “I’m fine! Plain white is fine!”

“Now, Shizuka, that's not what I mean.”

“Eh?!” Dread started to sink in fast over Shizuka’s face. She didn’t like where things headed. It was too fast and too unexpected. She didn’t plan for any of this. Shizuka tried to get out of it, but the woman’s grip was stronger than she expected.

It was over. Finally.

After finishing the shopping, Karen brought her to a small restaurant. Shizuka slumped into her seat after the ordeal. ‘That was more than I wanted to deal with today.’ She rested her head up against the wall needing a moment.

“Guess you don’t have to worry about bras for a while, Shizuka,” Karen said cheerfully, with no regard for the public setting.

Shizuka leaned forward trying to silence the woman. Shock filled her face up quickly. “That’s—“

A finger stretched out to silence Shizuka instead. “You’re a growing girl, soon to be a woman. It’s important to learn about these things. Here!” She tossed a hair tie that was a little fancier than Shizuka would have liked.

Caught roughly between a couple of her fingers, she looked down at it confused. “Huh?”

“Something to keep your hair back. It’s not military, but you get some special privileges. Every girl deserves something pretty.”

Staring at her hands, she was not completely sure what to think of the gesture. She glanced back at Karen with a suspicious look. Was it just more of her attempts to win her over? Or maybe it could be genuine. The waters suddenly muddied significantly. Begrudgingly, she accepted. “Thanks…” Karen’s expression changed quickly. She looked happy, almost pleased with herself. It annoyed her some seeing it. “What?”

“I’m glad to know you have other expressions, Shizuka. I was a little worried about you. With everything that’s happened to you.”

Shizuka glanced away. “I have emotions!”

“Oh I know, I just haven’t seen you anything but angry or annoyed. It’s good to be happy or just surprised. It’s healthier for you.”

“Whatever, just order some food.” She slumped back into her seat crossing her arms. The woman had played her more than she expected. It was frustrating. Shizuka narrowly glanced over at Karen while she ordered for them. ‘Though it might work out for the better. This might lower her guard. Embarrassing as it was…’

Waiting until the food arrived seemed the best course for Shizuka. A conversation over food would be more casual. She could get her talking. When the food did arrive, it seemed edible and familiar enough. Military cafeteria food hardly had a good taste to it. Unfortunately, when she took a bit into it, it was just as nasty. A second bite actually made it worse. Shizuka coughed and choked from the surprise of how awful it was.

Her outburst was enough to get the attention of the other costumers. They stared at her with strange looks. It passed for them, but not for her. The taste lingered in her mouth. Only the tea could wash it away and even that was disgusting as well.

Karen stopped eating to help out Shizuka. “You feeling alright?” She jumped over to the neighboring seat to pat her on the back.

“Fine. It was just the food.”

She looked down at Shizuka’s meal, curious if it was ill prepared. “It doesn’t look like it’s under cooked.”

“It’s disgusting. And I thought the cafeteria was bad. I’ve never tasted something so horrendous before.”

“I’ll admit it’s not a three star restaurant, but I didn’t notice anything wrong with the meal. This is actually one of the better cheap places in the area.”

“There’s something wrong with your tongue then.” Shizuka pushed the food away from her, unable to finish it. She glanced around the restaurant seeing that no one else seemed bothered by the food. ‘Is it just me? What’s wrong with these people?’ It didn’t make any sense to Shizuka. But it was hardly something she really wanted to focus on at the moment. She looked back across to Karen, who returned to her side of the table. “Why did you join the Project?”

Karen stopped in mid motion looking up at Shizuka. It was sudden, but she could see the look in her eyes. “I didn’t really make the choice. It was my assignment.”

It was hardly the answer she expected to hear. After a few moments of consideration, it made sense when she judged her situation. “Why were you picked?”

“I had an aptitude for it. Others might say it was destined.”

“Did you want to do it?”

“I don’t really have a choice.” Karen’s eyes went a little melancholic in thought. She saw the look that Shizuka gave her. “It has its days where it is exciting. I will admit that I enjoy finding solutions and I do believe in the work we’re doing.”

The heart of the matter finally arose. Shizuka reached the point she wanted. “What is it that we’re doing? Why do they need me or in fact any of those things?” Someone had to have the answers.

Karen stared out of the window. A distant look came across her face. “When you step into that chair you’ll understand, Shizuka. It’ll all make sense to you.”

It was too vague. No answers would come from just a deliberately deflecting response. Shizuka leaned forward and got a little out of her chair. “That thing is for war! What possible use could it have in such a time as now?! There’s no war!”

She smiled softly at Shizuka. “Shizuka…you’ll learn in time there’s always war. Its shape just changes. The dusk of our times is coming.”

“What do you mean? What is goin—“

A flash of light interrupted Shizuka. Everything was silent for just a moment. Time seemed to slow down as she turned to look. She only managed to open her mouth in shock before the shockwave reached the restaurant.

The explosion rocked the entire block. Glass shattered, spraying across Shizuka’s face just as Karen leapt out in front to shield her. Screams were drowned out by secondary explosions. Chunks of debris flew everywhere smashing windows and crushing the dense streets. Chaos quickly spread as the weakened building began to collapse.

Shizuka felt reality return to her slowly. Her ears ringed loudly. It drowned everything out. ‘What’s going on?! What just happened?’ Another explosion jumped the ground under her feet. Several small quakes rumbled beneath her. It felt like the entire world was collapsing. She couldn’t move. Something was on her.

Looking up, she saw what stopped her. She froze up. Everything in her body shook. “N-n-no! No!” Karen’s body laid on top of her with blood dripping over her face and soaked into parts of her clothes. She didn’t move and Shizuka couldn’t tell if she was unconscious or dead. Only her fears made her assume immediately the worst.

Once Shizuka started feeling her body respond to her requests, she tried to reach for Karen. The woman never budged no matter how much Shizuka tried to shift around under her. With her scrambling around trying to check on Karen, she found the situation to be even worse.

In the woman’s back were chunks of glass shards and a part of the restaurant’s wall collapsed on her. Shizuka could see the wall torn apart from the proximity to the blast across the street. The building that used to stand blocking the view laid in a twisted pile of metal and cement. Neighboring buildings looked almost hollowed out by the blast and threatened to collapse at any moment.

Shizuka couldn’t move. Karen was too much for her to move with the wall on her. Her body was still too sore from all of the physical training the military put her through. She cursed her misfortune. She was stuck. She tried everything. ‘Am I going to die here?’ Her head turned looking to see how the rest of the restaurant fared. The people that were just eating a few moments before were dead. Blood splattered and poured out everywhere. One or two were still alive crawling, but missing limbs ripped off from the explosion. She could only see their crying and begging faces, never hearing their voice. ‘So much…blood…everywhere…’

The ringing still buzzed in her ears. Yet she heard screams throughout it. They started distant, but grew closer to her. Pleas and cries went out to her. The voices were familiar. She knew who they were, but it was impossible. They were dead. Dead.

Death covered her eyes. It was the villagers she heard. She knew them too well not to recognize them. They called out to her. They were all she could hear anymore.

Shizuka screamed.