Bloodstained Rose

Megumi had recited the speech out loud multiple times the night before. From the center of the podium, she could barely get a clear view of the students as the lights overhead remained ever radiant. The room around her was no more than an old college classroom with several students occupying the seats—each one younger than her. While she was preparing for her first deployment, she stared nervously at the students before her. The students were teenagers and still years away from their mandatory service.

Today, everybody had gathered at the main office of the Weapons Administration—more specifically in the auditorium. She had spent most of the morning making sure that her dress uniform had been in tip-top condition for the presentation. Instead of the standard khaki skirt, she had chosen slacks to try and refrain from anything that would make her look any more feminine. However, she had made an exception to her hair by brushing the locks aside to let it drape over her shoulders. It was something her father had always given her a compliment over, and something she proudly displayed.

“Our founders, our premiere,” Megumi slowly brushed her long and brown flowing hair aside as she addressed them. She stopped short, taking a moment to go through the motions in her head. “Every man, woman, and child all unite for one common objective. Humans as a species have evolved to coexist with Artificial Sentient Beings—A.S.B.’s, what we are all familiar with.”

The utterance of the acronym had brought out a small chuckle from a few of the students. She only continued, “and with this, we have created a society where even humans can be the best of both worlds. A show of hands here, who have received enhancements?”

Steadily enough, the room began to react as hands began to raise. Dozens of young men and women in a symphonic blank stare—each fixated on her. The Global Eurasian Initiative had acquired the ability to correct the flaws in human anatomy. In many cases, the subjects being enhanced had replaced limbs or possibly an onboard computer. Such technology would allow them split second reactions, increased focus, and the ability to process commands from the A.S.B.’s in charge.

The more terrifying side of the enhancement process had involved genetic programming. While being dozens of centuries ahead of what was once called the Information Age, the G.E.I. was still been plagued by weaknesses in the human genome.

Megumi gently cleared her throat before continuing, “Our process, or the de-process to be correct, knows that mental illness is still a plague. While we don’t have the power to create a new species immune from this, we do have the power to remove these weaknesses.”

To her left, Melora had stared towards her with her long green hair and glasses. As she listened to Megumi, she started to smirk while trying to avoid twiddling the flowing locks draping over her glasses.

“Our advancements in medicine and knowledge of the human anatomy allows us to correct flaws, and even add to the human body,” Megumi’s voice had almost cracked for a moment. The excitement from speaking of their advancements made her more enthusiastic. “We now know that every emotion has a physical connection, and we know how to remove it. Who here has been de-processed?”

“Miss Kawaguchi,” Melora had finally spoke. Her presence had a somewhat unnerving effect on Megumi hearing her words echo. “I’m certain that nobody in the audience has been de-processed.”

“Of course,” she returned with a very abrupt nervous twitch of her head. “The process of de-processing.”

She let out a soft chuckle to collect herself as the audience stared on. Talking about de-processing in some cases had been something to sway dissent. With the knowledge of the human body, the Weapons Administration had been able to figure out that every emotion had a physical connection. By establishing this, they knew that this connection could easily be removed.

This alone had been enough motivation to keep any person in line. Megumi had seen plenty of people enter the process. In most cases, the subjects would continue without their previous illness. One could have anxiety, and with a disturbingly intricate process, they would continue without ever feeling such an emotion again. In the very rare cases, removing that piece of the body would take something else and leave its victim lobotomized.

The horrors of the G.E.I. were no secret. Everybody including Megumi knew that this was always waiting if their performance had ever declined. She had always dreaded letting her father down—something that disturbed her more than de-processing. Her father was none other than General Vic Kawaguchi, one of the top-ranking officials in the Weapons Administration. His reputation had given him a presence in the G.E.I. and cast an immense weight on Megumi’s shoulders.

“There is another problem facing us,” Megumi began to articulate the next step of the presentation. Behind her rest a massive screen that had stretched across the stage. With each passing moment, a string of text in multiple languages would rush across the screen—each line repeating her exact words. “Energy in the ravaged world we live in is scarce. Being able to generate energy through reactions like fusion and hydroelectricity still requires a very finite energy source. There is one energy source we have yet to tap into, and that is something we know only as the Deep.”

There was not a murmur or scoff at the idea. She had started to go into uncharted territory. Everything in this empire had been held up with science, logic, and a clear sense of order. Speaking of things such as the Deep bordered on fantasy, something that many of the people in the city could not comprehend. She continued, “We know that there is a metaphysical energy source that binds everything together. The Deep is that source. It is something that we know very little about, and something that we have tried to control. As you all know, there are some in our ranks that can tap into this, my father being one.”

At the edge of the stage, Vic sat with his arms folded over his chest. He had worn a more formal outfit rather than his standard trench coat and protective clothing. The aging glare in his eyes had cut through the students while he rose to his feet. His slender but hardened figure only stood out among the rest while he paraded his way towards the podium.

“We know that the Deep exists, and it’s powers are in some cases unique to others,” Megumi said again. “With our technology, we have found the physical connection of human emotions. Sooner or later, we will finally have the capability to extract energy from this.”

“Megumi,” Vic said softly while reaching out towards her. He slowly pressed his hand into her shoulder before leaning into her and whispering, “Save this part of the presentation for the miss.”

Megumi’s eyes perked up. Not trying to trail off, she leaned back into the mic to try and finish up her statement.

“There have always been setbacks in this,” she started to go back on script, remembering the years of indoctrination—at least she would never call it such. “The Global Eurasian Initiative has always seen itself as the center piece of modern civilization. Our methods have been to let developing nations have control over their destiny. However, the One World Order and its terrorist organization Liberation have tried using guerilla tactics and propaganda to try and spread destructive ideologies to the world. Such failed systems like Democracy, Liberty, and Capitalism are spread like a disease to developing nations across the world.”

“It’s more like a third world order.” one of the students blurted out, causing a few others to follow up with a cadence of laughter. The comment had brought a smile to Vic and Melora’s faces, and surely one that would have brought joy to the Premiere and the other revolutionary minds. The room had started to go silent as Megumi’s face started to become stern.

“They bring slavish and outdated ideas to the public mind,” Megumi slammed her fist on the podium, speaking with conviction as she continued to go through the motions again. “Mob rule brought to you under the pretense of freedom, a choice between a system of bureaucrats and bankers and the inverse; illegitimate governments forcing their will on the masses and lesser nations. Deracination and degeneracy with a system where street walkers have as much power as the wise.”

Vic breathed easy watching her continue to be his mouthpiece. The dissertation had been moving to the many students watching, even causing Melora to nod her head. She brushed the green locks of hair out of the way of her glasses and leaned over to Vic.

“General,” Melora whispered, gently tapping her fingers against his sleeve. He leaned into her, trying to not to disrupt Megumi. Melora continued, “She would do better as a public figure than a soldier.”

The notion had brought a smile to his face that he tried to keep hidden. Now that Megumi was about to enter her mandatory service, she would be out of his hands for just a few months. Melora had finally stood up to continue with the end of the orientation and swing away from the politics of the Global Eurasian Initiative. The classroom had only been filled with trainees in the Research and Development field. It was only a few years earlier that Megumi was among them to receive the same brief.

Not much has changed, Megumi thought to herself. Vic had led her away from the stage and up through the side of the bleachers. Near the top, there was a small metal door leading to the outside. After passing through it, the two continued into the outside world—being graced again by the skyline of Kashmir. The city was one of the only known Metropolis areas to be built following the devastation.

Not much is known about what had happened to the world before this point. Much evidence had supported the existence of a planet-spanning civilization—one that had since vanished from existence. With the advancements in Artificial Intelligence and modern technology, man has yet to learn the true cause of the calamity. What was certain is that the Global Eurasian Initiative had planned to rebuild that empire.

Vic had guided her outside the front of the Weapons Administration HQ and over towards a bench. The city skyline had a uniform appearance as each building for miles had identical dimensions. Further off towards the center of the city stood the Premiere’s Tower—or more well known as L-District. Such a sight could only be seen as something out of fantasy. The tower had stretched upward into the clouds with its massive base.

Instead of a narrow and vertical structure, it had seemed to take on the appearance of a massive plant. Its base continued upwards—steadily becoming thinner near the top. With its height spanning several thousand feet, it had managed to slice through the sky. Along the side of its main steam rest eight large platforms—each spanning dozens of city blocks.

The L-District was considered one of the “nicer” parts of the city. Although the air was thinner, the view had more than made up for the inconvenience. Megumi looked towards it while she started to think about the speech she had given. As she walked beside Vic, she continued to think about what was in store—more importantly, if she would ever be able to fill his shoes.

“I don’t think I’ve asked you about the mission ahead,” Vic said to her while guiding her over towards the bench near the front. The two finally sat on its old and rusted exterior before he continued, “you do know that the field is not as pleasant?”

“With all good things, there must be a compromise for discomfort.” Megumi replied.

“I have taught you well. Tell me,” He turned to her, nodding in approval. “I never got a chance to ask how you felt about this.”

“I’ve been preparing for this for years. I am as ready as ever.”

“No, about the Initiative and our mission. Megumi,” he let out a soft sigh under his breath, “don’t tell me what I want to hear. You’re a grown woman and you are not going to be under my wing after we arrive. Don’t tell me what the Premiere or Melora wants you to say, you’re my daughter and you are not like the others.”

She had seized up for no more than a few seconds. Many times, she had seen her father angry enough to lash out, but now she had seen a different side in him. Every day in Kashmir was an endless cycle, unchanging and almost maddening.

She replied, “I see our mission as the solution of this conflict. The One World Order and Liberation will not hinder our advance. To think they can force their ideologies to bring chaos to the world and infect the human mind with its diseased ideas.”

“I see,” Vic let out a soft grunt as he returned. “When you arrive in Nippon, you will understand what makes us different. You may see things that might haunt you, some things that might take years to get over.”

He went silent. Without hesitation, he reached up toward the breast pocket of his button-up shirt to retrieve a small plastic tube. After popping it open, a very powerful chemical smell had begun to permeate through the air. Megumi could feel her stomach turn as she watched her father begin to pour out the contents into his palm. Inside were pyrazine capsules—a substance commonly used and discouraged in the city. Vic had fingered his way through a small mound of powder from the broken capsules. He finally retrieved one undisturbed capsule and began to lift it towards his mouth.

“I hate that you do that.” Megumi said as she watched him put the small pill under his tongue. The sudden outburst had been enough to turn his head towards her.

“What else do you hate?” he asked.

“I hate thinking about all of the damage you’ve done to your body and how you choose to prolong it with that poison.”

“Hold onto that, because you will become very familiar with that feeling. Hatred is a powerful feeling,” he started to move the capsule under his tongue, thinking of the battles behind him. The capsule slowly started to dissolve, giving him a rush. “It’s a powerful tool to motivate you—something to ensure your survival, and something that reminds you that you’re still human; that there’s still something beneath the surface.”

“I am serious,” she had raised her voice to him—something she would have not imagined doing. After seeing him glare at her, she finally replied with, “I’m sorry.”

Vic had finally cracked a smile as he began to move his tongue around in his mouth. He brushed the pyrazine power off his hand before turning to spit towards the sidewalk. A trail of saliva had been released along with the partially dissolved capsule.

“We expect obedience, but you’re not like regular people. You do not have to apologize to me.” He spoke again.

Megumi only turned back towards the skyline to get another glimpse of the L-District. From this point forward, she would have to prepare for the long and grueling deployment ahead.