“Was a lie.”
“So you didn’t help Bloody Mary that night?”
“Are you really questioning me?” Daniela snapped.
“No.”
“It wasn’t me. But they blamed me.” Daniela’s face became grave. “My legs are artificial because of what they did to me.”
“Wha—”
“They fed my legs to dogs while I was awake,” she replied. “Anytime I fainted, my torturers woke me back up again to make sure I felt it. No matter how much I pleaded with the Sons to kill me, they refused.”
Reiko felt like puking.
“You ask me why I betrayed the Sons of War. I’ll ask you why they betrayed me first,” Daniela said with an anger Reiko had never witnessed in her old friend. “We are going to kill Governor Yamaoka and then do something no one else can.”
“What?”
“A total reset.”
“What’s that mean?”
“You’ll see.”
Reiko knew that Daniela would never surrender. She instead asked, “Does your mecha have an escape pod?”
“Why?” Daniela asked back.
“This wouldn’t be a fair fight in your condition,” Reiko said, echoing Daniela’s own words from earlier back to her. “Evacuate your mecha and we’ll fight again another day.”
“You think I would flee battle?”
“No. But you could accept repayment of a debt for letting me go earlier.”
“Do your superiors approve?”
“Let me deal with them.”
Daniela smiled. “I appreciate the sentiment. But for soldiers, there’s only life and death in battle. I assume the plan is you back off and your compatriots continue their bullet volley?”
“That’s their plan, but I won’t let them. We’ll—” She paused, as though not saying that they’d fight would mean they didn’t have to.
“I’m glad. If I’m going to lose, I want it to be at your hands.”
Reiko shook her head, hoping there was some way to delay her further.
“General Watanabe and Bloody Mary will reveal the truth about the Sons of War soon,” Daniela said. “Then you can figure out if you’re on the right side.”
“Please use the escape pod,” Reiko pleaded.
Daniela smiled. “I’m glad we had the chance to talk. At least you know the truth about what happened to me. Let’s finish this.”
The Stryder charged the Kamakiri. They engaged in hand-to-hand combat, grabbing each other in a jujitsu-style fight. Reiko mixed in a variety of uppercuts, jabs, and elbows. The Stryder was able to match many of the fists, though Takemi was at a disadvantage with one arm inactive. But she was unrelentingly fierce in her defense. Reiko was driven by rage at what she’d heard and got faster, almost as though she had an acceleration module of her own. A fist of hers got through Takemi’s defense. Then another. Finally, Reiko was able to get her in a hold, place her foot slightly behind her, then use gravity and her boosters to push the Stryder into the lake.
But Reiko couldn’t deliver the killing blow.
Instead, she felt tears in her eyes as she thought of Daniela being tortured by the Sons of War. How could I be such a fool not to know? Reiko raged at herself.
“It’s not too late,” she said to Daniela. “Please, you can escape.”
The Stryder raised its boomerangs, about to attack the Kamakiri. Reiko had no choice but to plunge her sword into the Stryder’s BPG. She quickly withdrew the blade and saw that it resulted in a power overload. Sparks raced through the armor. The Stryder was weaker than Reiko had realized. She withdrew just as Daniela’s mecha exploded, killing her and her crew.
Reiko Morikawa clenched her fists and bit down with her jaw.
“Reiko,” Bishop called.
But she was crying and couldn’t hear anything.
Reiko stared at the burning remains of the Stryder and felt angrier with the Sons of War than she was with Bloody Mary. What truth was Bloody Mary going to reveal?
“Reiko,” Bishop gently called again. “Major Onishi wants a status update.”
Reiko wiped away her tears. “Put her on.”
Nori showed up on the display screen. Reiko was ready to explode if the major even gave her the hint of censure. But she didn’t. “I know that was difficult,” Nori instead said. “Thank you. I’m sending coordinates for General Watanabe’s last known location as of an hour ago. Unfortunately for us, the general spotted and destroyed the drone I sent, and I haven’t been able to find her since. I understand if you don’t want to join us, but your help would be indispensable. If you do come, please proceed cautiously.”
K sent Reiko a private call. “I heard what you two said. Bummer that happened,” he said. “War stinks worse than a pig’s arse.”
Reiko looked again at the remains of the Stryder. “I’ve never smelled a pig’s arse,” she said to K.
K replied, “They have some in Catalina. Let me know if you ever want to try.”
The communication ended.
Bishop got up from his nav console and approached her.
“Maybe we’re all stupid for following orders to the death,” she said.
“Maybe.”
“Would you describe what I’m thinking as faulty ideology?”
“No,” Bishop answered. “I would call it being mournful.”
“And if I want to destroy the Sons of War?” she asked.
“We’ll deal with them after Bloody Mary,” Bishop said.
“What if—”
Bishop stopped her. “No matter what wrong the Sons of War did, it doesn’t justify all the killing and destruction Bloody Mary has carried out today,” he said.
Reiko tried hard not to think about Daniela. “I guess you’re right.”
Bishop lowered his head. “There’s no right or wrong here. If it wasn’t for my niece, I’d be out of here too.”
Reiko thought again about what Daniela had said. General Watanabe and Bloody Mary will reveal the truth about the Sons of War soon. Then you can figure out if you’re on the right side. What was their ultimate aim? Even if they claimed that the Sons of War had killed Governor Tamura, who would believe them, especially since it was Bloody Mary who had committed the actual act? Besides, anything they sent out would immediately get censored . . . But would it anymore? Reiko remembered that multiple censor stations had already been destroyed. With them out of the way, that meant less chances to filter any message Bloody Mary could send out.
Message.
“Hey, Bishop. If I wanted to send out a message to the entire Empire, what would be the best way?”
“The Empire?”
“Yep. Everywhere.”
Bishop tapped the console with his fingers. “You’d probably send it from the Naoya Nakahara Broadcast Unity.”
“Why there?”
“It’s the biggest communications hub in the country and basically connects to all the portical links throughout the Empire. The primary Tokko base is also located underneath the Unity, so all orbits, media, and information get funneled through there.”
“Where’s that at?”
“In Hollywood. Why?”
“I think that’s where they’re heading.”
Reiko contacted the others and told her what she was thinking.
“No revolution would be complete without a wacky creed,” K commented.
“I’m sending an OWL to the Nakahara Unity,” Major Onishi said. “Major Takamaki and I will continue to the coordinates where General Watanabe was last spotted. You and K cautiously approach the Nakahara Unity. If you see the Sygma, withdraw without engaging.”
“Why’s that?” Reiko asked.
“This will be a very different kind of fight. The Sygma is designed as a battler and can withstand a lot more firepower than the Stryder. A
ll four of us need to coordinate if we want any chance at defeating her, but I can’t devise a plan until I know where she will be.”
“What is that weird chewing sound?” Major Takamaki inquired.
“Oh, sorry, that’s me,” K said. “I got these new salmon chowder sausages at Umegra that I can’t get enough of. They’re perfect with prune juice and strawberry jam.”
They changed their course and headed for the Nakahara Unity.
III.
“I’m getting a report of a damaged mecha coming up,” Bishop said. “It’s a mecha called the Yorokobi.”
The Yorokobi was in a shambles, unable to stand, lying on the ground with arms, legs, and head removed. Its broken torso resembled a coffin, armor seared a crispy black.
“Are there any survivors?” Reiko asked.
“I think so.”
“Send them a message. ‘This is Captain Reiko Morikawa. Do you require any assistance?’”
Bishop relayed the message.
A Lieutenant Tso replied back, though only on audio. “Is that you, Reiko?” the male voice asked.
“Who are you?”
“I was in your class at Berkeley. I fought you during the second round of the tournament.”
“I remember. But you took time off, didn’t you?”
“I did.” Lieutenant Tso laughed to himself. “How ironic to meet you here. I was so upset at the way you beat me back then, I questioned whether I should have even been a cadet and took two years off before returning. It drove me to become a better pilot. I became obsessed with my training and I watched every clip I could of your fights, from Berkeley to your engagement at Wichita Station against Major Tommy Stella and Colonel Sabrina Tenteromano. You were amazing.”
“Thank you,” Reiko said, not having expected this kind of praise. “What happened here?”
“The Sygma.”
“You fought General Watanabe?”
“I did. She was too powerful. I tried everything I could to fight her, but it was useless. I couldn’t land a single blow on her. She has a trunk blade and chainsaw that I swear felt like I was fighting a thousand arms. The worst part was the way she taunted me.”
“The general?”
“Bloody Mary. She knew everything about me, my military records, even my personal history.” Reiko could hear him snort through his nose, wiping away his snot, his voice hoarse from yelling.
“Get a grip on yourself,” Bishop said.
“Everyone on board is dead except for me. And it’s only a matter of time for me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a piece of metal through my body. I’ve lost too much blood. I don’t have much time left.”
Reiko said, “Don’t be weak. Medics will come and patch you up. You’ll heal and you’ll keep on getting better.”
“Not this time . . . I was just thinking back to the tournament. If I’d have quit then, I wouldn’t be here and my crew would be alive.”
“Just relax. Tso? You there? Tso?”
But there was no reply from the Yorokobi.
“Is he dead?” Reiko asked.
No one else answered, so Bishop said, “The scans indicate he’s stopped breathing.”
She sighed.
How many more have to die today?
* * *
—
As they got closer to the Nakahara Unity, Bishop suddenly stood up.
“Something happen?” Reiko asked.
“My portical is working again,” Bishop said. “All kikkai functions are back.”
“The engineers must have restored them,” Reiko concluded.
Shortly afterward, a communication came in from an unidentified source, though it was on an official military channel.
“What should I do?” Bishop asked.
“Accept it.”
An elderly male who was ranked colonel appeared on their portical display. He had square glasses, big front teeth, and deep wrinkles under his eyes.
“Hi. Who are you?” Reiko asked.
“That’s what I should be asking you. You are?”
“I’m Captain Reiko Morikawa from the governor’s office.”
“I’m Colonel Iiboshi from Los Angeles Command. Under whose authorization are you driving the Kamakiri?”
“Major Onishi.”
“She did not have the authority to give you the Kamakiri. I’m taking over for her now.”
“What’s that mean?” Reiko asked.
“The major has done a good job so far, but I have far more experience when it comes to urban conflict.”
“Then where’ve you been this whole time?” Reiko wanted to know.
A flash of irritation crossed Iiboshi’s face. “Doing my best to get to the command post from my home.”
“You mean you were at home slacking off while Major Onishi helped us defeat two of the three mechas,” Bishop stated.
“Who are you?” the colonel asked.
“I’m Bishop Wakana of the Tokko.”
“We appreciate Tokko officers helping during this conflict, but hope they’ll respect jurisdiction and leave personnel decisions to the mecha corps,” Colonel Iiboshi stated.
“I have to concur with Agent Wakana. Major Onishi has been doing a great job while you were away, sir,” Reiko stated in an uncompromising voice. “Let her finish the battle.”
“Well, Captain,” he said in a tone meant to put her in her place. “I appreciate your opinion and, considering your limited knowledge of the current state of the corps, understand your sentiment. But it’s time for the professionals to take over. What are your current orders?”
Reiko balked at his tone, but knew better than to object publicly. “To stop General Watanabe.”
“Belay that order,” Iiboshi said. “For now, remain on standby and I’ll issue new orders if needed.”
“But—”
“Have you heard the news about the governor?” the colonel inquired.
“What news?”
“He’s gone missing. I’d suggest you turn your attention to finding the governor.”
The communication ended.
“Nice guy, that colonel,” Bishop said.
“I hope he knows what he’s doing,” she replied, then thought of what the colonel had said about the governor. Based on what Daniela had said, she could only come to one conclusion. “I think Bloody Mary has the governor.”
“That would make sense,” Bishop said. “Bloody Mary has a flair for theatricality.”
“She could execute him publicly,” Reiko suggested.
“We should hurry to the Nakahara Unity.”
“What about the colonel’s orders?” Reiko asked.
Bishop stuck his middle finger at the display screen.
On cue, another call came in from Iiboshi.
“Captain Morikawa,” Colonel Iiboshi said. “Major Onishi just told me your Skaria gun has been helpful in the previous battle.”
“I’d hope so, sir.”
“We are commencing our operation to take down the Sygma. I want you to assist.”
“Yes, sir. How can I help?”
“I want you on standby to tow the Sygma using the magnet gun after she is destroyed,” the colonel said.
Reiko thought she heard wrong. “Sorry, sir. Do you mean you want my help during the battle?”
“No, I mean after my Diadochi defeat the Sygma, I want you to tow it to the Burbank Airfield.”
The Diadochi were a group of eight mechas permanently stationed in the Quiet Border whose specialty was combating enemy mechas. “The Diadochi are here?”
“I’ve had them flown in. They’ll be handling the situation going forward. I’m sending you coordinates where I want you to wait.”
“Yes, sir. Will you be there in
person?”
He shook his head. “I’m at Los Angeles HQ, overseeing the whole city.”
The communication ended.
“Did I hear correctly that he wants to use you as a towing service?” Bishop asked.
“You get used to dealing with jerks like him,” Captain Morikawa said.
“I hope not.”
The coordinates the colonel had sent were near the Nakahara Unity.
By the time they arrived, the Sygma was already facing off against the eight mechas of the Diadochi. The Sygma was the mecha that resembled a massive mammoth with tusks and shielded ears. It was twice the size of its opposing mechas, and the ground shook every time it took a step. It lifted its arm, and multiple panels began shifting and transforming into a gigantic chainsaw at its arm. But this was an even bigger one than the one she’d used before on Reiko’s Labor mecha. There were multiple blades covering it and an enormous cannon on both sides. Its piercingly red armor had a mesmerizing effect. No wonder survivors had become superstitious about it.
Reiko was familiar with the Diadochi. They were a motley assembly of eight mechas, each specially painted to be distinct from the other. Colonel Iiboshi was a fan of ancient history and made the designation of Diadochi based on the generals who followed Alexander the Great and fought each other to carve out their places in the empire after his death. He’d even named the individual mechas after the leaders of the Diadochi Wars. That meant rather than the traditional samurai appearance of most mechas, these resembled the old Macedonian and Greek soldiers, with cuirasses, greaves, and Argive circular shields. Their armaments were spears with xyston shafts and machaira short swords. They had helmets with nasal plates and flaring rims that made it look like their faces were angry. Their accessories went far to individualize them. They moved and fought in a style very different from the mecha samurais and were a scourge to Nazis and rebels throughout the world. They had done away with their BPGs and upgraded to an experimental energy source, the Pfau Quark Generator (PQG), developed by the renowned scientist Dr. Junichi Murata. It was less costly than mining asteroids and could be fused at much higher capacities using a particle accelerator down in the Mexican Confederation of Japan.
Just as the eight Diadochi were about to surround and attack the Sygma, two of the mechas in the rear, the Craterus and Antipater, turned against the other six. They attacked two of the Diadochi from the back and stabbed them in the conduits to their PQGs.
Cyber Shogun Revolution Page 29
