Asai was watching her cousin as she held up different dresses and shirts, admiring them in the mirror. “Thank you for taking us shopping, Eve. You must let us repay you once we start making money. That was an expensive trip.”
Eve smiled. “Don’t worry about it, Asai. It was worth it to see both of you enjoying yourselves. The price really wasn’t that much when you consider that you two will be the faces of our business. I’m planning a big buildup to generate excitement for the grand opening, so the two of you will be dealing with all manner of reporters soon.”
Koda’s face lost color, and she got a panicked look in her eyes. “I don’t know anything about talking to people like that.”
“That brings us to the next item on your agenda. I have developed some training scenarios that will prepare you for the new situations you will be in. They use the same tech that we will use in the business. The only difference is that they are educational instead of pure entertainment,” Eve advised.
“There is so much that we have never done before. Are you certain that we will be able to grasp it all?” Asai worried.
Eve nodded. “I have programmed them to move at the speed you learn. I promise that if you apply yourselves, there will be nothing you encounter that you will not be prepared for once you complete the training.”
She reached into her pocket and took out two small black discs about two inches around, and two small earbuds. “These devices are to communicate with Yuko, Akio, and me anytime you need us. Press the disc, say who you want, and the device will automatically connect you. If you are in trouble and can’t speak, press it twice. It will send us all a distress call that we can track. Always keep them with you. As I explained earlier, Tokyo is generally safe, but there are bad people here. As long as you have these with you, help is never far away.”
Asai and Koda took the indicated devices and looked them over.
“All we have to do is press it and say the person’s name?” Asai looked at it skeptically.
“That’s all. Go ahead and put the bud in your ear, then call Yuko. You need to be familiar with how they work.”
Asai pressed the unit. “Yuko?”
Yuko’s voice came from the part in her ear seconds later. “Yes, Asai?”
“Um, Eve wanted me to test the communication device she just gave me,” Asai stammered.
Yuko replied immediately with a hint of amusement. “It is working as advertised. I hear you fine. Is Koda with you?”
“Hai.”
“Have her test her unit as well.”
Asai turned to Koda. “She wants you to test yours.”
Koda picked up her unit and called, “Yuko?”
“Ah, there you are. Your unit is functioning as well.”
Asai started when Yuko’s voice unexpectedly came over her unit. “Both of you, be sure to keep the units on you all the time, and don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions.
“On a happier note, I just finished speaking with the contractor building your living quarters. He says that he will be ready for you to go over anything you want to do to your individual spaces next week. Eve will go over the options for appliances and other comfort items that are available after you do another walk-through at the end of this week.”
Eve’s face broke out in a huge grin and she rubbed her hands together with glee. “Looks like we have some shopping to do, ladies.”
Both women laughed at their friend’s excited reaction and assured her that they were up to the challenge.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Acheng, China, Research Laboratory
“Miko has things progressing nicely at the prison,” Chang announced as he stepped into the lab.
“One moment, Chang.” Heinz held a vial in one hand and a syringe of blood in the other. He was meticulously counting the drops as he slowly injected blood from the syringe into the vial.
When he completed the task, he carefully placed the vial in a rack with several more and capped the needle on the syringe. “What did you find at the prison?”
“Miko has done well. He has over fifty Nosferatu ready to go and has his men out searching the countryside for more specimens to be turned. I told him he needed at least one hundred for us to carry out the attack. He should be ready in the next two to three weeks.”
“Good,” Heinz growled. “The sooner we remove Akio, the better. He has interfered with our plans too much already. Has Muto located his base yet?”
“No,” Chang informed him regretfully. “He hasn’t sent any information. Dieter just returned from meeting with one of the ship captains that Muto uses to send his reports. He had nothing new for us. I am sending Dieter to deal with Muto personally. If he has nothing more to report, I hope his second in command does a better job.”
Heinz clenched his fist and scowled. He hated sending the Were to Japan, but a vampire would cause suspicion among the ship’s crew when he didn’t come out in the sun. The medium-sized cargo ships had been fitted with a solar-powered propulsion system, but the technology was slow. They could only move at around eight knots for twelve hours each day, which meant the eight hundred-plus kilometer trip to Japan would take around five days.
Chang pulled a paper from his pocket and glanced at it. “One of the ships should be in Vladivostok sometime this week.” He paused before adding, “I assume you still do not want to risk using the aircraft.”
Heinz looked thoughtful before he grudgingly replied, “I believe that it should be safe enough to have Horst fly Dieter over to catch the ship. I don’t want to risk him missing it because of the time it takes to travel overland. I’m still not willing to operate too close to Japan, though, No sense in risking discovery when we are so close to destroying Akio.”
Chang smiled at his victory. “Very well, Heinz. I will tell the boys to prepare the craft and give Dieter his instructions.”
“Send them both to me before they leave,” Heinz ordered. “I want to be sure Dieter understands what his limits are and that Horst doesn’t do anything to risk exposure. I need to caution him to be sure there isn’t a repeat of what happened at Kume. He has always been the one to push against whatever restrictions I give him, but I trust him to not make the mistakes that the other crew made. Horst can be a pain in the ass like his father was before he was eliminated. But he does understand the danger that discovery can bring.”
“Dieter, I want you to express how disappointed I am to Muto and explain to Sero that he will get the same treatment if he proves to be as inept,” Heinz instructed.
“Won’t that cause us problems with the Yakuza?” Dieter shrugged. “Not that I’m concerned about doing what you ask, but I thought we needed them.”
“If they protest too much, kill a few more of their leaders so they understand their place in our world,” Heinz told him.
“It will be my pleasure, Father.” The blond Were flexed his arms and smiled. “I will make an example that Sero and all of the Yakuza scum will understand.”
“Try not to kill too many of them for now.” Heinz chuckled. “We do need a few of them for a little while longer. After we take control of Japan, I will let you and Horst deal with them as you see fit.”
“Ja, Father.”
“Horst, I want you to fly Dieter to Vladivostok. Be sure that you follow all of the precautions to avoid detection. We’re too close for you to risk discovery with a joyride. There and back, no side trips, and stay below fifty meters.”
“I know how to fly the craft,” Horst snapped.
Heinz growled as his eyes flashed red. He stared at the surly Were until he lowered his eyes in submission. “I know you do. I also know that the craft almost got caught at Kume. Do not disappoint me in this, do you understand?”
“Ja.” He hesitated before grudgingly adding, “Father, I understand.”
“Dieter, I look forward to seeing you in Japan within two to three months. If you get any information that I need, send it by one of the ships. Now, out with both of you. I have
work to do.” Heinz turned to his samples, signaling that the Weres should leave.
“Dammit, Horst. Why do you always challenge Father at every turn?” Dieter huffed when they were out of range for Heinz to overhear.
Horst growled as he turned and glared at his twin. “He’s not our father. Our father was an alpha and pack leader in Germany. Heinz is merely the bloodsucker who killed him. He is also responsible for our mother’s death. I don’t understand why you always toady up to him and that fucking Chang.”
Dieter pushed forward until they were face-to-face, their barrel chests almost touching. “I don’t understand why you are such an ungrateful ass. Father took us in and has treated us like his own. If he hadn’t, we could have ended up left in Germany or worse yet, as experiments on some table in a Nazi research lab. You owe him everything and are too stupid to realize it.”
Dieter shoved him aside and stalked toward the air ship’s hangar, determined not to let this devolve into another of their fights where nothing was resolved and things were usually destroyed. He hoped that once Japan was theirs, Horst would realize that being a loyal son was better than fighting all the time. Before he pushed Heinz too far, just like their Were father had done.
Chapter Twenty-Five
TQB Base, Tokyo, Japan
Eve called Asai and Koda over their communicators. “Please come to the dining room.”
“Be there in a minute, Eve,” Asai replied. She entered the dining room moments later. Koda followed shortly after.
“What’s up, Eve?” Koda inquired.
“I was thinking of going shopping. I figured you were both busy with whatever old movies you were watching, but I wanted to see if there was any chance I could entice you to go.” She shrugged, the motion wildly exaggerated, before adding, “I know how addicted you are to those romantic comedies but since this trip is to buy things for your new homes, I thought you might be willing to take a break.”
Koda jumped up and down, clapping excitedly.
Asai laughed. “I don’t know about Koda, but I suppose I could be talked into a shopping trip.”
Koda stuck her tongue out at her cousin, and all three of them burst out laughing.
“We will stop by the apartments first so you can see what you have to work with,” Eve explained as she headed out the door. “The contractors notified me that they are finished, so now you need to furnish them to your personal tastes.”
Both young women rushed to catch up as the android summoned the elevator to the surface. They emerged into the early afternoon sunlight.
Asai stopped just outside the door. “Um, Eve, it’s light out. I thought we couldn’t take the Pods out in daylight?”
Eve smiled. “You’re right, we can’t except in an emergency. That’s why we are taking this.” She pointed to a small four-seat vehicle sitting beside the building.
Koda walked around the vehicle. “I don’t think I have ever seen one of those before. What is it?”
“This is the first prototype of a new public transit system I have been working on,” Eve told her. “This one runs on a small motor that will take it to a top speed of seventy kilometers per hour. When we get the proper licenses, we will install a grid under the streets and people can summon a car with an app on their personal devices. It will make it easier for people to go from the main transport hubs to their homes for a small fee per use, or with a monthly subscription for a set number of kilometers each month.
“Yuko gave me the idea when we were coming back from the warehouse one day. I fabricated this vehicle as a test and worked out a way to control an entire fleet of them using an EI. Passengers will simply enter the address that they want to go to when the car is requested. I also have plans for bigger vehicles that can be used for deliveries. I believe that we can have the system up and running in most of the major areas of Tokyo within the year.”
Koda ran her hand over the vehicle then looked up at Eve with a grin. “So, since you own the company, I don’t suppose it would be too much to ask that we have one for the arcade? For official business only, of course.”
Eve laughed. “I suppose we could work out some kind of arrangement.”
“It wouldn’t do for your business managers to have to wait for a ride when there was important business that needed handling,” Asai interjected.
“Hmmm,” Eve mused. “I guess it would be important for my people to have their own transportation. We want people to see us as ahead of the competition.”
“Oh, absolutely,” Asai replied, her eyes dancing with barely restrained mirth.
Koda had taken it all in and couldn’t contain the laugh that burst from her lips. This triggered Asai, and soon all of them were laughing like schoolgirls once again.
“As soon as the grid is installed, I promise that you will get the first private model produced. There will be a limited number of those available to the public, but mostly it will be a per ride or subscription service. Yuko felt that some of the wealthier people would be willing to pay for custom models and an annual fee to use the grids. This model is still a manual control unit, and was only to test the reliability and function of the motor.”
Eve drove them to their first stop, the apartments above the arcade.
When they pulled up, Koda gasped as she saw the recently completed exterior work. “It looks like a castle! I can’t tell it was a warehouse last week. It’s amazing.”
“That was Akio’s suggestion,” Eve told her. “He said that it was as big as an emperor’s palace, which gave me the idea for what we’ve decided to call it.”
“What’s that?” Asai asked. “The emperor’s palace?”
Eve smiled. “Close guess. We decided to name it the Palace.”
Koda pursed her lips and studied the roof, which had one large peak in the center and two smaller ones to the front and either side of it. The eaves had intricate gold inlay floral designs up each side and were capped with sunburst inlays at the top of each peak.
“It’s beautiful, Eve, and the name is perfect,” Koda whispered.
“We are adding similar inlays and other decorations to the interior to bring the palace feel inside,” Eve explained. “It added a little more time to the project, but we are creating a unique experience and feel that it will enhance the experience. One of the simulations that has tested well with the focus groups is a samurai battle where the players are involved in a running fight through a sixteenth-century castle. It is the most popular one so far, although each scenario that we are rolling out in the initial run has tested exceptionally well with our focus groups. You two will start interviewing staff and taking reservations for the grand opening next week.”
“That soon? Are you sure we’re ready?” Asai stammered, her eyes wide with concern.
“You are both more than ready,” Eve assured them. “I have monitored your training in the sims I created. Both of you show potential for high-level management skills. I have no doubt that you can handle the job, but Yuko and I are only a communicator button away if you have any questions. Now, let’s go see your apartments.”
Eve led them to the rear of the lobby and through a door that opened automatically when she approached it. “Your communicators are keyed to this door, so make sure they are always with you. Otherwise, someone else will have to let you in.”
When they had passed through the door, it soundlessly shut behind them. They were in a small room not much bigger than a closet.
“Koda, place your hand on the panel.” Eve pointed to a dark square on the wall. She did, and the panel flashed briefly. “Now you, Asai.”
Asai complied. When the panel flashed, a pleasant male voice issued from a hidden speaker. “Welcome, Koda Rii and Asai Ono. I am Takumi, the Entity Intelligence that controls all the sims and functions here in the Palace. It is my pleasure to meet you.”
Asai looked shaken, but Koda was quick to answer. “It’s nice to meet you, Takumi. I’m sure we will get along wonderfully.”
“Tha
nk you, Koda Rii. I look forward to assisting you with any information you need. I took the liberty of setting the temperature in your apartments to twenty-two degrees Celsius. My data indicates that is a comfortable level. If it is not to your liking, simply call my name, and I will be there.”
Asai looked at Eve with raised eyebrows. “Eve, is Takumi like you?”
“Takumi is an EI, an Entity Intelligence. I am an AI, an Artificial Intelligence. Takumi is capable of learning, and in time, he could ascend if he desires, but for now, he is an exceptionally capable controller for all aspects of this building. That includes climate, lights, simulations, and security.”
“Security?” Koda sounded worried.
“I have a full array of sensors that monitor all activity inside and outside the complex, as well as deterrent measures should they be needed,” Takumi answered.
“Don’t be alarmed, Koda. It is protocol for all of our facilities to have security. We operate on the principle that it is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it,” Eve explained.
“That’s a good principle. It makes me feel secure knowing that Takumi will be looking out for us,” Asai told Koda.
“I hadn’t thought that we would need it here in the city,” Koda replied.
“Although the city is relatively safe, there is still crime here,” Eve explained. “Takumi will keep watch to ensure that all our players and employees have a safe and fun experience. He has the ability to contact the police or take action if it is warranted. As I said, it is strictly protocol. I am not aware of any issues with safety. Let’s go up to your quarters, now. We still have some power shopping to do.”
They rode the lift to the second level, where it opened into a common foyer with a door on either side.
“Asai, your apartment is on the right. Koda, yours is on the left. Takumi, please open the doors.”
The doors opened simultaneously as Takumi announced, “Welcome home, Asai and Koda.”
Reprisal Page 14
