Living with Memory of Steel (Part 1)

by Masahiko Kimoto

  A thump from the wagon. He quickly holds the pipe again. It might be better to let go of the pipe and get thrown backward rather than getting killed by the gun of A-B-A-H-S. However, the image of Akimichi crosses his mind and he loses the courage to do that.

  The two special cars cut off the linear magnet and changes into the wheel mode, which sends off the vibration to Reji.

  A guy's upper part of the body leans out of the left window. He has a hand bazooka. He swings his arm around a pipe and fixate his body to aim backward with a bazooka on his shoulder.

  Right after the bazooka is fired, the muzzle on hip side of A-B-A-H-S flashes.

  The bullet from the bazooka explodes into the air and scatter countless charged particles.

  The scattered particles become black mist and covers the surroundings. The iron bullet of A-B-A-H-S gets wrapped in with the mist and loses its convergence.

  The mist covers the surrounding area. The electronics devices in the area go crazy.

  The linear module, the protective field, the streetlights and the control system are all out of order.

  A-B-A-H-S avoids the mist and takes a distance while blowing a thruster on its back.

  The two special customized cars run smoothly on a manual drive mode.

  Reji gets grabbed inside the car from the fat arm stretched out from the right window.

  A-B-A-H-S land on a distant spot and disappear into the night sky, ignoring the following Riot Police w/ P.E.

  Akari holds the neck of A-B-A-H-S and looks down the ground.

  "What are you going to do? You are making a scene."

  A-B-A-H-S blinks its lamp which works as the eyes.

  "You'd better to have a speaker to produce voice. I know you're an experimental machine for space operation, but you might want to look more human-like. The private robots are trying harder to imitate humans."

  It shows blue blinks this time.

  "I feel bad for Kasuga-kun. Also, Reji."

  A-B-A-H-S lands on the entrance of the research center.

  *****

  Large monitor on the side wall of majestic room provides the image of a news program and its voice. A new announcer who must have started working for the station recently tells the incident with excitement.

  "Today's demonstration of Earthlight was more intense than normal. It developed into a fight against the Riot Police. The activists were making a speech in front of the main gate of science technology industry institution at first, but they started throwing flares into the building. That when the Riot Police stepped in. Many of the activists seem to have run away.

  P, please hold on a second.

  --- Excuse me, well, according to our latest information source, a civilian has got involved into the fight. The identification isn't still clear, but it seems like a tug that shows a certification of MoSE (Meister of Science and Engineering). I'll keep you updated on this, but there is a possibility that I have to tell you an unfortunate accident."

  In majestic room. There is dark lightening and expensive furniture. It's majestic, however, not gaudy but practical.

  A middle-aged guy shakes his hand to make the monitor on the wall small to half the size.

  "It's unfortunate that there was an victim. Don't you think, Dr. Sekiba?"

  "Indeed, sir. If the person has MoSE, this might become an issue of the public concern."

  "It's such a shame. The worst part is the fact that A-B-A-H-S was at the site."

  "It seems like you, chairman, have made the marching order, though."

  "That's why it's bad."

  "You're right, sir."

  "Well, this couldn't be helped. We need to sacrifice something in order to develop technology. You have the action pattern data for A-B-A-H-S, right?"

  "I do, but the importance of data is NOT the matter. Someone died. A-B-A-H-S might become the target of the criticism. If there is next..."

  "There is no next."

  "Are you sure about that, sir?"

  "We can't cover up anymore. If there is any more victim, that would be the end of A-B-A-H-S Project. You should be ready for that."

  "Of course, sir. A-B-A-H-S isn't a tool for killing people."

  "You seem to be good at keeping things nice and clean. Originally, A-B-A-H-S stands for Armed Body as Alternative Human Soldier, doesn't it?"

  The chairman stands up.

  "That's for the sake of getting a budget. Well, where are you going?"

  "To the media conference. I have to explain the accident. Would you like to come as well?"

  "No, I'm good. A person like you should appear in the media, sir."

  The chairman leaves the room, and Dr. Sekiba follows.

  "How's the mass production model for A-B-A-H-S going?"

  "It's going well. I'm not sure if they are going to be named A-B-A-H-S, though."

  "It seems like you don't like the name, Armed Body as Alternative Human Soldier."

  "It's just because I'm still aware of the original purpose of space development. Do you like SOLDIERS that much?"

  "It can get a budget."

  "The neighboring countries wouldn't stay quiet about it."

  "Politicians are the ones who need to think about those things."

  An elevator comes and they walk in together.

  "Are you sure we will be able to produce the mass production model before the UniverSoc?"

  "I think it will be okay except for an issue of the navigator."

  "That what Diversity screening is for. The children are special, aren't they?"

  "They are special and precious boys and girls."

  "You can think you're going to do something to save them. Sacrifice is necessary."

  "I don't think I'm up to that level yet, sir. Well then, I'll see you later."

  The elevator arrives at the first floor. Dr. Sekiba touches the panel and let the chairman go.

  The chairman steps into the hall and says as if he just remembered.

  "Ah..., I forgot to tell you this, we decided to have press release of A-B-A-H-S."

  "When?"

  "Now."

  The elevator door closes.

  The face of the chairman seems grinning across from the door.

  Dr. Sekiba lets his body fall against the wall of the elevator that is heading underground.

  "Ha! This is great."

  He spits it off.

  Dr. Toshihiro Sekiba returns to his room and boots his terminal device in a normal mode after making coffee.

  "Please give me a report, in voice."

  "A-B-A-H-S returns to the dock."

  "Ha! Did you say the dock? That's a barrack of the lab."

  "Earthlight intruded LSL (Life Science Laboratory) and assumingly collected the building network information. However, they couldn't enter higher than level 3 confidential areas. Their intrusion didn't produce successful end result, but it is assumed that someone who is highly professional in connecting to network got involved in the intrusion. It seems like we need to enhance the safety protection."

  "This is brilliant!"

  Dr. Sekiba just turned 32. He's thin, but he gives a lively impression. Everything he says seems uplifting and positive. His reply came with applause even to the report of how smart the invaders were. It wasn't an irresponsible affirmation, but that was a compliment from the bottom of his heart and delight for the anticipation of a coming-up fun incident.

  "There was a query from the Riot Police w/ P.E., but PR department took care of it."

  "It was a good thing that someone was still at the office."

  "It seems like the person went back to get something she forgot. Anyway, she only had to arrange a media conference."

  "Okay. Where's Nakazato?"

  "Dr. Nakazato is taking a rest."

  "She's silly. I told her not to go too wild... Okay. Let her rest. How about Akari?"

  "She's back in her room".

  "Can you please let me talk to her?"

  The voice cuts off.

&
nbsp; Dr. Sekiba is on his own in the room. There is no lightening. The entire room is dim. The interior is nothing but normal for an office, but it shows indescribable plain.

  The room is around the corner of ASIT. It's officially a room for the general manager of ITeL (Integrated Telecommunication Laboratory). ITeL is a legacy of a big organization, which used to be called International integrated communication organization. Currently it's one of the departments of ASIT. There are six official researchers. This is a small research group that consists of 10 people including special researchers from other facilities. All the researchers except for Sekiba aren't that interested in the world-wide integrated network, which is the main attraction. They study whatever their interests lead them, using the special researchers. Still, no one complains about this. The department has become a hang-put place for those people.

  In this environment, Sekiba tries out various activities that he gets interested in. As a result, he gets new information from many different fields.

  The monitor on the wall expands and connects to voice and visual of a girl, Akari.

  "What is it?"

  "I'm glad you are safe."

  "Of course, I am. I just went for a little walk."

  "I still worry about you."

  Sekiba's voice seems somehow softer."

  "I feel bad for Kasuga-kun."

  "... Huh? The boy on the motorbike? Do you know him?"

  "We went to the same school. The other boy is his friend, Reji. They didn't make it, right?"

  "One of them died."

  "Oh... It's my fault."

  "That's an unfortunate accident, at least, in official. There is nothing you have to worry about."

  "It sounds like I'm a kidnapped princess, dad."

  "I don't know if you are kidnapped or not, but you're a princess to me."

  "I'll have to wait until the prince comes and helps me. But, I guess there wouldn't be any prince. Life isn't a fairy tale. But, do you know this, dad? There is a story where a princess escapes from her castle on her own. That kind of princess sounds cool."

  Sekiba gives a forced laugh.

  "That...that would keep me awake at night with worry."

  Akari puts out her tongue on the monitor.

  *****

  [[ MEMORY OF STEEL 1 ]]

  This record is that of my own memory, memory of steel.

  It's difficult to pin down the beginning. The development of science is continuous. There is drastic innovation, but everything exists on the extended line of improvements of our predecessors' work. The beginning of my memory is clear, but I haven't decided where I should mark as the starting point in the record.

  Let me tell you a story which happened before my birth.

  Psychological connect, in other words, psy-connect technology develops along with computer networks.

  The Internet that improved toward the end of 20th century. It changed the version number from 4 to 6 at the last several years due to the lack of IP addresses. The Internet used to be used only by researchers, but it has spread to the normal users and to the world users. In the 21st century, the Internet has become network that connect the surrounding space basements and the moon basement along with the space development. The delay in network connection appeared as a big issue, which required a new protocol design. The amendment of network layer was enough to transfer from 4 to 6, but the design change of transport layer was needed in order to fix the network connection delay. This was how IP version 11 was made.

  Version 7 to 10 were reserved for experiments. Version 11, the next number, was decided to be used. The fact that there are only version numbers that have 4 bits became an issue, but considering the maximum speed of the human action pattern, the current system was considered to be fine at the end. Version 11 protocol was designed not only for the macro usage of communication in the space, but also for the micro usage of network between nano-micro machines. The future problem might occur when the light speed connection is introduced, but that would be in a distant future.

  Version 11 protocol was invented in this background. As long as there is a wall of the light speed, it cannot avoid the connection delay. It wasn't practical unless it came with redesigning applications. Interactive processing is impossible in distant connection such as between planets. Therefore, conventional batch processing is required. Let me provide an additional explanation for younger generation. Batch processing is a method that a sender investigates the procedure before sending it all to the receiver, who can reply the result altogether.

  This is when I joined the research of psychological connection.

  Chapter 2

  Breathing is heavy. Chest is squeezed. Bronchi is twisted.

  Reji hears someone's voice and tries to answer.

  --- It's the best time to visit an iris garden. There are a lot of visitors coming to see the irises on the weekends. This iris garden has a spa with iris flowers, which is one of the special features of this spot.

  (... I don't know what flower they are talking about...)

  --- A man went to law against Toride Velodrome for getting a payment for his million dollar betting ticket. The velodrome introduced an automatic vending ticket machine last month. This man didn't know how to use the system, and the race had already started when he finished entering the number. The number was for a 134 times million dollar ticket. He is suing the place for compensation of his betting ticket due to the poor performance of the interface in the new system.

  (... How could he be so into gambling... he even went to law for that...)

  --- A 106 mm bullet from a recoilless gun went missing during a shooting practice at Kanzan shooting range for Ground Self-Defense Force at around 11 am yesterday. It didn't land at a planned spot. 500 members of the military force are looking for the bullet. The authorities announced that there is no possibility of the third party such as spies stealing the bullet, considering the situation.

  (...It must have gotten stolen...war...sounds awful...)

  What's going on? Who am I trying to have a conversation with?

  He tries to turn his head to the voice, but realizes the fact that he can't move and his situation. He's on a bed, facing down with his head to the side. The voice is coming from the TV monitor.

  He picks himself up and turn around. He tries to wake himself u with the sounds from the TV.

  "Make it big."

  The monitor's width goes bigger to 2 meters.

  "No, the volume, volume. Please turn up the volume."

  The voice of the announcer from the wall echoes loud. He closes his eyes, lying on his back.

  --- There was a protest by Earthlight around ASIT --- Agency of Science, Industry and Technology, very late last night. At around 1 am...

  Midnight. Bay line. ASIT. The protest. The white smoke.

  No, my head isn't functioning yet. What happened, then?

  --- Akimichi Kasuga from Nakanouchi high school in city passed away by this accident. He was 18.

  His eyes open. He prompt himself and activate his body control to pick himself up from the bed.

  (Yeah, Akimichi-san.)

  There is a knock on the door. He can't think fast enough to answer, so he don't do anything and let things decide. Then, the door opens and a guy comes in. He's big. Reji is guessing he is around 190 cm, a well-built body.

  "Hey, boy. Are you up?"

  Reji groans to reply. Big man takes out a white bottle with tablets.

  "Would you like Ephenamine?"

  "I do."

  "Two?"

  "One is fine."

  He doesn't fancy taking medicine to force his body to move.

  "That's something a boy would say, who doesn't know this society."

  All the working men, and also women in the society are forced to be tensed all the time. They should work at their best and maximum performance. Taking a little extra drug isn't for fun but it's essential. That's what the society requires.

  "You'll know when you start paying ta
xes."

  He gives yellow Ephenamine tablets and a glass of water.

  "I'm Go Murase. I've treated your injuries. One of my colleagues says we are advised by, something called "Medical Care for Dummies, Home Edition". It seems quite cure-all."

  He laughs, but Reji can't reply in smile. He takes the tablets without saying anything. Murase watches the news program on the wall monitor. It's wrapping up the story of the protest by Earthlight last night and starting to move onto the bribe of government officials.

  "You've seen the news."

  The expression on Murase's face doesn't change. Nobody knows what's funny, but he has a weirdly relaxed permanent smile.

  "Your friend died."

  "Is it true? Isn't it just a rumor?"

  "True. If he only got injured, he would be treated as a missing person, and sent off to a correctional institution for the police. There is no way to use a dead person. That's why they have given an article of his death. I'm certain that your friend died."

  "I've never heard of anyone dying in a government protest."

  "Of course. Earthlight is considered as some dust. They don't report if the member die or get caught. This time it made a news because a MoSE died.

  MoSE --- Akimichi died.

  Akimichi who I spent yesterday died. Akimichi who was feeling upset about the breakup died. He has no need to feel upset. He passed away.

  "It's time to have breakfast. Would you like some?"

  "...Yes, please."

  The effect of Ephenamine has lost Reji's appetite, but he decides to force himself to eat some.

  "It's not good to skip a meal."

  "That's a good thing to keep in mind. There are other guys downstairs. I'll introduce them."

  Ephenamine prompts Reji to stand up from the bed.

  There is something that I need to check beforehand.

  "Are you Earthlight?"

  "Yes."

  If so, Reji have to talk to them.

  The kitchen, the dining room and the living room are all connected. Two people are sitting at a table in the dining room. Murase shows a seat to Reji and sits down at the back seat. Simple breakfast is already arranged on the table.