Book 1: Chapter 2

Nozomi

Bright flames danced across the campfire as its embers drifted effortlessly towards the star-lit sky. Kasumi followed the embers with curious fascination. It had been seven years since she’d seen the bright white stars gleaming against the night sky. Seven years since she’d felt the grass crumple beneath her hands, or the smell of smoke grow strong then weak with the breeze. There were 98 people gathered outside, huddled around dozens of small campfires. Sitting on that grassy hill, all facing towards the dark city with only fire to keep them warm, gave her an almost primal feeling. It felt like they were a tribe - one group, one community united towards a common purpose. And that sense of purpose gave Kasumi an unusual sense of comfort.

Around her fire were five other people. On her right was the woman with the birdcage on her Tamashi head, who had comforted her inside the facility. Next to her was a man in a lab coat with bags under his eyes. To his right was a man with fanged teeth and a purple jacket, with the word Nozomi printed across his Tamashi head. Next to him was a man with leaves and vines overlapping his Tamashi screen. And finally, to Kasumi's left, was a woman with a bright white screen with a red border. She was dressed in bright white robes and had a fox mask fastened to the front of her screen. She also had a long katana sheathed to her side, and rested her hand upon its handle.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t get to your father tonight.” the woman with the birdcage said. She poked at the fire with a long stick.

“It’s alright.” Kasumi stated, “It’s not your fault that twenty-four miles is an eight hour walk now that cars aren’t around.” she turned to the woman with the birdcage, “Are you sure that distance is right?”

“Yes, I used to walk that way all the time.”

“Why would you walk that far without a car?” Kasumi asked. The woman with the fox mask shook her head.

“Because the cars were taken away from us.” the birdcage woman said, “The Triangle Company turned off the self-navigation features”

“I remember when they bought the car companies. But why would they turn off self-navigation?”

“Because it was illegal to drive without it.” The birdcage woman answered, “After prisons were abolished in 2036, the Triangle company did everything in their power to convict you of a crime. Governments decided it was ‘more humane’ to plug people into Tamashi machines instead of sending them to prison. The problem was that once people were plugged in, they never got out. Any crime became a life sentence. Laws became more strict, and good people who had never done anything wrong were plugged in for littering, loitering, paying bills late, anything you could think of” she stared deep into the flames, “That’s when the protests started. There were always protests, but they were never so desperate or violent. Riots would break out every night in the city. Some of us walked to the farmland afterwards to try and find food in places without cameras, because if you were caught leaving a protest, you were as good as gone. The rumor was that the Triangle company had paid off local gangs to smoke people out. That’s how I got plugged in”

“How did they get such control?” Kasumi asked, “I knew they were a powerful company, but that much control over legislation sounds insane.”

“The more people they plugged in, the more powerful they became. Every other company fell apart from people leaving all the time. Goods and services stopped. The economic depression only drove more people towards the machines. And the Triangle Company, with Takahashi in charge, were the only ones making money.”, she said, “It was like his grip was slowly closing around us.”

“I’m sorry to hear that” Kasumi said, “Are you alright?”

“Yeah”, she said, shaking her head, “Lets talk about something else.”

“Okay”, Kasumi said, looking around, “Honestly, I don’t even know what to call any of you. What are your names?”

“Chem, but we'll keep it to first names” the man in the lab coat said.

“Why only first names?” the woman with the fox mask asked.

“I’ve talked to many people here” he started, “I was plugged in during the riots, but from what I’ve heard, the riots weren’t the worst of it. There was a small war against the Triangle Company afterwards. A lot of people died.” he paused, “My point is there’s a lot of animosity towards the people who worked there, and the people who revolted. A man here was already assaulted after he admitted to designing the Tamashi heads.” he took a breath, “There’s only ninety-eight of us here, and a civil war wouldn’t do us any good. These helmets will help us remain as anonymous as possible.”

“How do we know you didn’t work for the Triangle Company?”

“I did.” he said. Everyone turned their heads and narrowed their focus. The woman with the fox head began to reach for her blade.

“I worked there before the Tamashi machines were made”, he leaned forward, “and two years after that. When the riots started, I felt so guilty for everything that had happened, I plugged myself in. I couldn’t escape that guilt. I didn't intend for any of this to happen, but I can't deny that I've been a part of it. Just ... know that I’m sorry, and that I’ve carried that guilt with me ever since” he looked down and began to stroke his left hand.

Everyone stared silently at the fire. The woman with the fox mask took her hand off of her sword. The woman with the birdcage fiddled with a rock. The man with fangs on his screen only stared at the fire. After an awkward pause, a man wearing white walked up to the group. He had pale blue eyes and light blue streaks across his shirt. At first glance, Kasumi was surprised by his plainness, until she looked closer at his eyes. There was a gravity to them - a weight, almost as if he had removed every trace of doubt and insecurity from his mind.

“Hello.” the man started, as he looked over the members of the group, “You can call me ‘Order’. I’m gathering subject matter experts among the group of us. If any of you have a skill that will benefit rebuilding our society, I ask that you come with me”

The woman with the fox mask turned to him. “To what end are you gathering these ‘experts’?” she asked.

“For our group to sustain itself, we need infrastructure. We need people with the knowledge to re-establish the pillars of our society, else we give way to anarchy and chaos.”

Chem stood up. “I’m a chemist” he said, “And I’d like to help.”

“Then follow me” Order said, and the two walked away from the campfire.

“I’m glad someone’s taken the initiative.” Kasumi said.

“I question his intentions” the woman said, “What manner of world does he intend to build?”

“And what’s your story?” Kasumi asked her. “You’re the only one here who has a sword.”

The woman with the fox mask paused. Kasumi could see the firelight reflected against her mask. Her bright white robes contrasted starkly with the dark surroundings. There was a silent confidence about her that would make for an intimidating enemy, yet somehow Kasumi felt very safe and secure in her presence.

“You can call me Kitsune .”, the woman said, “Most of my adult life has been spent training and meditating in my garden - improving my spiritual strength. When the riots turned violent, I knew I was needed. I led several raids on Triangle Company offices, and destroyed some of what they had, but my brother always stood in my way. He’s a high ranking member of the Triangle Company. We trained together as children, but have chosen different paths for ourselves. He became a ruthless businessman and did whatever he could to gain wealth and power” she paused. “One day, we managed to find each other. He had been charged with killing me, and I, him. We stared each other down, blades in hand, but were both ambushed before our duel began” she paused, “He’s here, in this group. And you’re wrong to think I’m the only one with a blade. He’s walking around here with one as well”

“Is he dangerous?” Kasumi asked.

“Yes” she said, “but I wouldn’t fear him yet. He’s tactical. He won’t fight unless he knows it will benefit him.”

“I’m sorry for my speech earlier” Kasumi said, “I lectured everyone for ‘choosing’ to be plugged in. I didn’t know that many of you didn’t have a choice” she rubbed her head with her hands, “Ugh, that was so cringe-worthy”

“Maybe” Kitsune smiled, “But it wasn’t entirely wrong. Many of us did choose this life. And the Nozomi (hope) you described has come to pass. We now have the opportunity to build a world that many of us fought for. We’re free of Takahashi and the infernal Triangle Company. We’re free to pursue our own destinies and set our own paths. Many of us have taken to calling this place Nozomi after your speech and the words so plainly etched on your face”

“Wait - does it really say that?” Kasumi asked.

“Yes, your screen says Nozomi, etched in orange and black” she answered. “Not unlike the man sitting across from us”

The man with fangs and the word ‘Nozomi’ etched on his screen stared deeper into the fire.

“What does Nozomi mean to you?” Kasumi asked him, “It’s something my father said to me before I was plugged in”

The man smiled at the fire, “That’s private” he said.

“Alright, then what’s your name?” Kasumi asked.

The man leaned forward and glared at Kasumi. “Gang”, he said.

“Gang?!” the birdcage woman said, “Did you happen to be one of the men beating the protesters? The kind of man who wrestled me by force into a Tamashi machine?”

“Yes” he said, “I did that and plenty else. You don’t know me and I don’t care what you think of me” he snapped. Then he stood up and walked away from the fire, with everyone unsure of how to react.

“Well, screw him I guess” the birdcage woman said.

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