The halls of the library echoed with stark silence. There was not a sound to be heard across its high ceilings and wooden floors. Around a table sat 
ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision, 
MathTamashi #32View on SuiVision, 
DesignTamashi #24View on SuiVision, and 
CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision, with 
OrderTamashi #41View on SuiVision standing at its head. Order pressed his fists hard against the table. No one dared speak a word.
“How the hell did this happen?” OrderTamashi #41View on SuiVision barked.
“Isn’t this what you wanted?” DesignTamashi #24View on SuiVision said, “You wanted people to pick their own government. You said there was more power to the people in the background.”
“How could you ask if this is what I wanted?” OrderTamashi #41View on SuiVision said, “That gang of cretins will never heed the intellectual elite. They will not take our council nor trust us to execute their will. Our power only exists in Nozomi if people listen to our superior wisdom. If people do not take our advice, then we have no influence.”, Order furrowed his brow. “I trusted these people to not make an incompetent decision. I won’t make that mistake again.”
“What do you suggest we do?” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision asked.
“Our position, though weaker, is still strong. We shall wait for them to falter, then seize the opening. Governments that rely on intimidation are not stable. When they fall, we’ll seize the initiative ourselves, and make sure they have no room to maneuver.” heTamashi #41View on SuiVision paused, “MathTamashi #32View on SuiVision, can you write up quantitative analytics on the citizens here. I want to analyze patterns in their behavioral deviance.”
“Heck yeah!” MathTamashi #32View on SuiVision said, “Why didn’t you lead with that? That’s like my third favorite algorithm! I have some preliminary numbers, but I could really use some more sample data.”
“Good to know.” OrderTamashi #41View on SuiVision said, “Follow me. For the rest of you, that’s enough for today. We’ll meet back here tomorrow.”
OrderTamashi #41View on SuiVision and MathTamashi #32View on SuiVision walked away from the table. DesignTamashi #24View on SuiVision sighed
and walked off. ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision and CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision sat still in their chairs. There was a short pause.
“Do you think he was always so stiff?” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision asked.
“Right?” CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision said, “He could really use some people skills.”
“Or branding. Is there even a name for this group? Do people even know about us?” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision asked.
“That’s true.” CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision laughed, “
StonksTamashi #35View on SuiVision would know what to do.”
“Yeah, I really miss that guy.” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision smiled.
There was a long pause.
“You know uh” CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision started, “I actually used to work with Order before I was plugged in.”
“No way!” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision said smiling.
“Yeah, heTamashi #41View on SuiVision was my project manager. Real stick in the mud.”
“How do you know it was him?” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision asked.
“There’s not a lot of people like him.” CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision said, “He was promoted a few times after he managed me. He lived in a cheap apartment only a block from work, and used to work sixteen hours a day - even on weekends.”
“That’s insane.” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision said, “Where did you work?”
There was a long pause as CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision looked at his hands. He took a long breath in awkward silence.
“Oh.” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”
“It’s alright.” CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision said, “Ultimately I chose to work there.”
“The Triangle Company.” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision said.
CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision nodded, looking down.
“ITamashi #31View on SuiVision used to work there too.”
CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision looked up.
“I was a chemist. My project was to make existing happiness drugs last longer for coma patients. But I never expected them to put people in comas to experience it. All of this” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision gestured around solemnly, “Is my fault.”
CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision stared straight at ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision
, concerned.
“Actually, I lied” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision said, “I did expect them to put people in comas. I saw all of it coming. Not the Tamashi heads, but the hunger, the addiction, the wasting away of our species.” he paused, “I saw it all coming. And I didn’t throw my research in the trash like I knew I should have.”
“There’s never a way to know whether bad things will happen.” CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision said, “Sometimes you just need to do your best and hope.”
“I used to tell myself something similar.” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision said, “I remember the day I got married. My parents told me it was the ‘right’ choice and the love would come in time. I can’t say that it did. And I hired my friend Hanzō to be my lab assistant. He had some drug problems in the past so he had trouble finding work in chemistry. I knew it was a bad idea, but he was so sure of himself. One year after my research went public, Hanzō died overdosing on it. I remember sitting on the couch with my wife after he died and the world started crumbling away. I had never felt so alone. So thank you for your words of encouragement, but I’ve taken advice from every source I can, but I still seem to come up short.”
“Can I say something?” CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision started. ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision nodded. “I think, and I don’t know you very well, but you might have the opposite problem. With the serum, your friend, and even your marriage - it sounds like you knew deep down how those would go. I’m not trying to give you any more guilt, but maybe you need to trust your gut more. You’re a smart guy” CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision smiled, “Don’t do what other people say.”
“Thank you.” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision smiled, “I’ll do that.”
At the top floor of a building in the corner of the square, the Nozomi Gang met in secret. The walls were haggard with patches in the paint, and the floor was dirty. The broken windows gave them small slits to glance at people crossing the city square. 
GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision stood in the center of the room, while 
ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision and 
FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision sat in the corner. 
SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision and the muscular man stood by the windows, while “
WitchTamashi #4View on SuiVision sat on a box on the left side of the room.
SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision and Muscles, I want you to keep watching
through that window. ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision and FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision
, keep discussing ideas.” GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision said.
“I’m not Muscles.” the muscular man said, “You can call me ‘Hero’!”
“And why would I call you that?” GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision asked.
“Because there’s more to me than muscle! I want to help people!”
“Fine. Whatever, just keep looking out the window.” GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision said.
The muscular man nodded, then he and SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision looked out the window. ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision turned to FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision and began whispering.
GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision turned to WitchTamashi #4View on SuiVision while the rest were distracted. “In the alley the other day, you said something
about a brother.” he looked intently at her, “what exactly did you mean by that?”
“I mean exactly what you think I mean. And isn’t the fact that I know all this about people useful?” WitchTamashi #4View on SuiVision answered.
Meanwhile, ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision had turned to FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision and begun whispering. The coy glance of his sharpened gaze went unnoticed by all. “I believe your chance is coming.” ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision said to FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision, “If you want to prove yourself.”
“What? What do you mean?” FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision answered.
“I just heard from someoneTamashi #35View on SuiVision recently that the food supply in the city is limited” ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision started, “He wanted to hoard it all for himself, but if we get to it first, we can ration it off, secure some authority…”
FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision nodded.
“Now ITamashi #42View on SuiVision know you’re not the strongest here, or the smartest, but with a good idea, you might do well here. Why don’t you bring it up to the big boss?”
“Are you sure?” FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision asked.
“Sure.” ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision smiled, “Don’t mention it.”
GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision walked to the window. “I need to talk
to you,” he turned to SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision.
“Privately.”
“Fine.” SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision said, and they both proceeded to the hallway.
Once the door was shut behind them, GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision started talking.
“I want you to tell me about your 
sisterTamashi #9View on SuiVision. She’s the only other person around here with a sword. I need you to tell me,” GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision said, “is she going to be a threat?”
“Absolutely” SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision started, “KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision, as she prefers to be called, was a freedom fighter during the Triangle revolution. She led several raids against us. She’s highly motivated by ‘morals’ and ‘values’. She’s a good fighter, no one can deny that, but she hasn’t achieved as much as I have.”
“I assume you grew up together.” GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision said. “Does she have any weaknesses?”
SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision scoffed, “SheTamashi #9View on SuiVision has little to no knowledge of the world. She’s spent most of her life in her
garden training. She’s never held a real job, or earned anything of value.”
“I meant weaknesses in battle.” GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision said.
“I haven’t had the chance to fight her since we were children.” SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision tapped his blade. “But she’s only one person. I can handle her myself.”
“Then I’ll make sure you’re with me if sheTamashi #9View on SuiVision comes. Oh, and one more thing.” GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision said, “I don’t want you to trust ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision. He’s here out of necessity, but I don’t trust anything that comes out of his mouth.”
SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision nodded, then when GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision opened the door, Superior tilted his head and they both re-entered the room.
“Alright!” GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision shouted. Everyone stopped what they were doing and listened. “I’m glad you’ve had time to talk! Now our first step here should be to make sure there is nothing people can do to challenge us. We need to assert ourselves. Our announcement is empty unless it’s followed by some action. Does anyone have an idea for what that should be?”
ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision turned to FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision
. Fear raised his hand.
“Yes?” GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision said.
“What if … uh” FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision started, “There’s not a lot of factory-made food, right? And that’s what people want to eat since it’s not expired. So if we pool all of that together and ration it off, everybody gets their fair share and we don’t run out really quick.”
GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision put his hands on his hips and nodded.
“That’s perfect!” he said, “Yes, we’ll gather the non-perishables and start guarding
the frozen food tomorrow. It’s the perfect way to exert our authority.”
GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision was so happy with himself that he failed
to see ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision smiling.
KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision sat in her old chair on the porch of
her farmhouse. She watched 
BirdcageTamashi #10View on SuiVision and Vine
tend to the fields. The work came naturally to Vine, who was fascinated by life on
the farm. BirdcageTamashi #10View on SuiVision was happy to help, but didn’t
share the same enthusiasm. Still, they both learned very quickly, and Kasumi was
surprisingly overwhelmed at the sight of it. They had agreed not to farm around her
father’s gravestone, and she hadn’t looked at it since she arrived back, but Kasumi
was still overwhelmed with emotion. It was strange to see other people tending her
family’s farm, even though she definitely needed the help.
FarmerTamashi #48View on SuiVision walked over to her and sat in the adjacent
chair, her father’s chair. KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision jumped. Farmer
stood up.
“Woah, woah.” FarmerTamashi #48View on SuiVision said. “Are you alright? Is it alright if I sit here?”
“Yeah, no, of course.” KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision said. FarmerTamashi #48View on SuiVision sat back down.
“You know, I love feeling the rays on my face, and the wind on my skin. Something about being out on the farm just makes me feel alive.” FarmerTamashi #48View on SuiVision said.
KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision smiled and shook her head. She glanced
over at him. He was wearing a straw hat and worn-down overalls. He was tall and lanky,
but otherwise he felt very familiar. He had a charming smile, and had a very unassuming
bearing.
“My Dad would have loved you, you know?” sheTamashi #50View on SuiVision said, smiling.
“I would have loved to have met him,” heTamashi #48View on SuiVision answered. “Again, I’m sorry about your Dad.”
“Thank you” KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision said, “It feels like we’re all getting a second chance. It’s what he would have wanted. If only he was here to see it.”
“If I can intrude” FarmerTamashi #48View on SuiVision started, “I think something else is bothering you. I know how to sit in these chairs. They’re built so you can just lay into them real nice. You’ve been upright and stiff since we got here. I know you’re sad about your Dad, but there’s something else isn’t here?”
KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision paused, “It’s the GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision thing. I spoke with the leader at a campfire on our first night. He seemed like
a terrible person. He even has ‘gang’ as a name. I just can’t trust him, and I’m
worried about our future.” she looked ahead, “I look at this farm that’s been my
home for years, that I worked with my Dad, and all I want to do is stay, but-” she
looked at FarmerTamashi #48View on SuiVision.
“You have to go.” heTamashi #48View on SuiVision finished.
“I'mTamashi #50View on SuiVision just being called somewhere else.”
“Well you wouldn’t be Miss NozomiTamashi #50View on SuiVision if you didn’t have hope.”
“Is that what you call me?” KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision smiled.
“Only to myself” FarmerTamashi #48View on SuiVision smiled, looking back at her, “Don’t you worry. Your farm will be safe and taken care of. We can’t have those city-folk run out of rice.”