Side Story ─ Frankenstein’s Report (2)
A few years ago, Linhard finally managed to finish translating the diary he found.
"Today I will finally be able to read everything that is written."
He poured himself some wine and some tuna sandwiches with tomato.
He was sitting in his favorite armchair with the fireplace burning. He rested his feet in a small armchair.
"Tonight's going to be a great read."
◇◇◇
Today is July 7 in the year x990.
My name is Professor Frankenstein, some call me Franken or Frank, neither of which I like.
We have been fighting creatures called dragons for almost a millennium.
Our ancestors arrived on the mothership Olympia. As you all know by now, our ship got separated from the fleet it was with and we ended up on this planet.
We are unable to contact you as there is too much distance for the message of help to reach you, therefore, we are left living here.
The dragons are a hindrance to us as they destroy our cities and drones.
That's why we use fighter ships and armed units to fight them.
That's what we were taught and what we believe in.
Truth be told, I'm a little disappointed in humanity. Is it necessary to extinguish a species in order to survive?
◇◇◇
We came out of a seminar today.
Apparently the higher ups are complaining about the electrical failure and want us to replace the use of electricity.
A man stood up, it was an old man with a wrinkled face and gray hair, it was Professor Mengele.
"My department needs a lot of electricity, we can't work without it. If we want to smoothly advance the program of creating fake humans who can replicate the strange element we call 'ether' we can't leave the natural research department without power."
"Hey old man."
Another man stood up. He had a perverted expression with a not at all trustworthy smile, it was Professor Asimov.
"Are you trying to say that the weirdo department is less important than the machine development department?"
"Thanks to us we can fight those pests! Giant robots are the future for victory!"
"Again talking that nonsense Professor Asimov."
"Giant robots, what nonsense. What's next? Robots that can assimilate human appearance?"
"That!... That doesn't sound bad at all."
"Everyone calm down."
Everyone shut their mouths as someone stood up without raising his hand.
Like me, he belonged to a special ethnicity. Our hair was white and our eyes were red.
Unlike mine, that person was unkempt and his hair grew down to his back.
"You have something to say, Professor Epstein."
"Yes, yes! Professor I have an answer!"
"It's no longer the academy for you to call us professor... go ahead and say it."
He took out the candy he had in his mouth and said.
"If we're having energy problems it's because we're using an outdated method."
"Why don't we upgrade?"
"Upgrade?"
"We've been using the same method for almost a millennium, what makes you think something like that could be so simple?"
"Because it is. In fact, that no one else thought of it proves they're all fools, the fool sings fool, hehehe."
Naturally everyone got angry, he didn't mean it maliciously in his criticism. But seriously, he should learn to measure his words.
"We should only use ether as energy."
Everyone, including me, was equally as surprised.
"Use the ether? That's not possible. Ether is energy that dragons use, that's why we're creating humans who can assimilate it."
"It can be done, in fact, right now this room is using ether energy. I created it two days ago, I could have done it in one, but I fell asleep at my desk."
He pulled out a device similar to a small tablet and then pressed a digital button.
The lights briefly flickered off and on.
"The ether is just like solar energy. We just have to gather it and absorb it, unlike the sun which requires solar panels, ether just needs some turbines to suck in the air."
"Really no one else has thought of that?"
Professor Asimov was annoyed.
"You idiot! If you knew that you would have said so from the beginning!"
"Huh~. Are you saying that I should sacrifice my valuable hours of research(sleep) for you people?"
"Unacceptable. My work is vital. eating cookies and lounging around is justice!"
"That doesn't make a damn bit of sense!"
They all shouted that.
◇◇◇
After we left the seminar, we went to the cafeteria.
A robot delivered our food.
At the tables there were four of us. Myself, Professors Mengele, Asimov, and Epstein.
Mengele asked.
"Epstein-kun, if you knew about using ether energy as a replacement for electricity and solar panels, why didn't you do it?"
Professor Epstein was sipping his drink as if he were a small child.
"No one asked."
"Idiot, it's not about asking. It's about helping humanity."
Replied Professor Asimov as he tried to steal a French fry from him.
Epstein jabbed his fork into his hand.
Asimov dropped to the floor to scream.
"If no one asks me then it's not necessary. To all this Melemele."
"Melemele?"
"How's your research going with the fake humans?"
"Not bad, but my problem is humans with animal parts and humans with long ears."
"For some reason the ones with animal genes upon seeing a moon-like object change radically. Apparently it's something foreign in their animal genes, we can't remove it."
"Instead with long-eared humans, they have a flaw."
"Flaw?"
"Yes. When their stress reaches an abnormally high level their skin darkens, as if in a state of resentment. We've also identified a genetic disease that darkens the eyes."
"I'm thinking of discarding them since I don't need impurities."
"Too bad."
"Oh, I forgot, how is the SS project coming along?"
"I hear it's the best of the best, that project."
"Yes. As you heard, or better I tell you. It's certainly the future, and I'm sure it will replace the despicable armed units."
"I heard that you bastards!"
Asimov stood up.
"You think armed units can be overcome eh?"
"No matter how many fake humans you use! Machines are the best form of combat and I'll prove it!"
"I will create battleships and mechanical soldiers that surpass every living being! Machines are the superior fighting force!"
"Thanks to you, Epstein! I know that using ether as energy will make machines superior to dragons!"
"The day where I will be recognized by all and have a harem will come true! Rakakakakakakakakakakakakaka!"
"Get off already."
◇◇◇
After leaving the cafeteria, I went with Dr. Epstein to our lab.
But before that I asked him.
"Hey, what's this about the SS project?"
He had a sugary apple in his mouth, stop eating.
He answered me after swallowing what was in his mouth.
"It's a weapon."
"I know it's a weapon, give me more details."
"Umm, I didn't really pay much attention."
"I only vaguely remember this."
"Its physical capabilities are unimaginable, it has potential to evolve as the next pinnacle of humanity."
"Humanity?... Is it a human being?"
"Yes. So far he is the only one of his kind. He can't use magical power like the dragons, but he can assimilate it, as if he were a mimic."
"The curious thing about it is not only his fighting ability, his muscles and bones can flex, break and even regenerate."
"Sure, it can't regenerate cut parts, but it can regenerate minor injuries."
"Th-That's amazing."
"Yeah, but like I said, that's not what's curious. It's this."
His mouth said something odd.
"Just like an eel, his body can produce electricity. It's like electricity and him are one, it's like a human current."
"That's why the name of the project is..."
◇◇◇
"The strongest creation of mankind, the project of an ultimate warrior, the one who can exercise the title of one-man army."
"The super soldier."
Linhard had finished reading a few chapters of the journal.
"Humans who are not human."
"Many theories and explanations confirmed."
"But a human who outsmarts everyone in combat?"
"I need to know what happened to that humanity!"
He kept turning pages and pages until he reached the end.
There he found something odd.
The typeface was totally different than before and it read.
"The day of the end, December 32."
"What the hell is December 32?"
"That date doesn't even exist... unless there were more days in ancient times?"
Linhard kept reading and was getting more and more surprised.
But what he didn't know, was that someone was looking at him through a red floating eye outside his window.