Twelve years ago…
The sun shone bright in the pale blue sky on the soft spring day. A young teenage 
boyTamashi #37View on SuiVision wearing a light blue kimono knelt down to stare at a flower below. It had pink petals and yellow seeds at its center. The boy breathed fast and tore up blades of grass around the flower, making sure not to do it any harm. He took them into his fist and tore them in half several times over. He did this repeatedly until he could no longer tear apart the tiny fragments of blades between his fingers.
“Hey!” a young teenage 
girlTamashi #9View on SuiVision wearing a light green kimono shouted to him, “It’s time! Come on!”
The boyTamashi #37View on SuiVision glanced hastily towards the flower again and noted the barren patch of dirt around its stem. Then he turned around, dusted off his knees, then followed the girlTamashi #9View on SuiVision away.
They came upon a courtyard surrounded by red pillars holding up an ornate shingled roof. The courtyard was decorated with cobblestone floors and had patches of grass growing from between its cracks. The pair walked further through the courtyard until they came upon the central tower connected to the courtyard’s walls. The tower stood about fifteen meters high, with a red winding staircase built along its center. A large older man in a red kimono stood tall beside its entrance. His face was hardened and weary, and held fistfuls of short lengths of rope in each hand.
“Are you two prepared for your training today?” The man growled.
The pair nodded eagerly.
“Are you sure?” he asked again.
The pair nodded again. The girlTamashi #9View on SuiVision made firm eye contact with the man, while the boyTamashi #37View on SuiVision looked towards the ground.
“Alright.” the man said. “Be ready then.” and turned to ascend the staircase.
The pair walked towards the back wall beneath the stairs and grabbed their respective katanas. Both swung their blades around to prepare, although the boy’s eyes couldn’t help but wander to the white fox mask adorned on the wall’s center.
“Ready?!” The man at the top of the staircase shouted from a balcony above.
The two teenagers dashed, clutching their swords, to the center of the room. They stood back-to-back and planted their feet in a wide stance. They each held back their swords and steadied their breath to gather their focus.
“Ready!” They both shouted in unison.
The man tossed a handful of disconnected strands of rope.
The boyTamashi #37View on SuiVision and girlTamashi #9View on SuiVision took in sharp breaths and felt the air shift around them.
The first strands of rope fell, and each sword thrust forward to meet them. Both children followed every piece of rope as it fell past their faces, and sliced them each perfectly in half. The split strands fell quickly to the floor, as both blades slashed through the air in rapid succession. They heard the sounds of each cut, the motion of the other against their back, and shifted their stances in perfect succession. After a minute of rapid movement, the strands of rope stopped falling, and they each took breaths to regain their composure.
The sounds of the man walking down the stairs echoed through the room. “You managed to cut every thread in two.” He reached the bottom of the stairs and placed his hand on the girl’s shoulder. “You can go.” The girlTamashi #9View on SuiVision smiled and walked away from the building and towards the grass. The man turned to the boyTamashi #37View on SuiVision and gestured to the scraps of rope on the floor. On his sister’s side, the scraps of rope had fallen in a perfect semi-circle on the floor, while on his side, they had fallen haphazardly across the ground.
“That attempt was pathetic.” the man said, “You should be better than that.” The boyTamashi #37View on SuiVision looked past the man, and towards the girl who walked worry-free towards the grass. “You could learn a thing or two from your sister.” the man sneered.
Now
SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision stared blankly ahead towards the Machin
standing before him. It stood about seven feet tall. Its large mass and red-plated
samurai armor constituted an imposing figure. It held a long katana in each hand,
and had an image of a Kitsune mask on screen.
It felt too specific, too familiar. As if this Machin had been built for him, to taunt him. But as he watched it unsheath its blades, he couldn’t deny the temptation. He’d just cut down other robots like it without breaking a sweat. This one was different, but it couldn’t be that different. Besides, cutting down KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision’s image would be immensely satisfying. 
GenjiTamashi #67View on SuiVision wouldn’t have approved of course, but this wasn’t about him. With a cut of his blade, he’d earn a symbolic victory, and for now, that would be enough.
SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision stepped forward and stared down the
large Machin.
The Machin stepped two steps forward and stopped in its tracks.
“What makes you think you’re a match for me?” SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision taunted. “I just fought a few just like you. They didn’t last very long.”
“That’s because I’m not like them.” It answered in a deep robotic voice. “I’ve fought against you in simulations while you were plugged in.” it paused. “And I’ve won eight thousand one hundred ninety two times.”
“How many have you lost?” SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision asked.
“Zero.” it declared.
“Well, welcome to the real world!” SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision readied his stance. “I think you’ll find it very different.”
ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision, 
OrderTamashi #41View on SuiVision, and 
ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision arrived at the edge of the hill
bordering the facility, with 
DesignTamashi #24View on SuiVision, 
MathTamashi #32View on SuiVision, 
HeartTamashi #6View on SuiVision, and 
FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision walking closely behind. They stared towards the intimidating building ahead.
Hundreds of Machin were gathered in front, lazer-focused on the empty air in
front of them. Chem looked over the Machin and considered their options.
“Even with KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision,” he started, “What are our options for taking out 
TakahashiTamashi #100View on SuiVision?”
“We can infiltrate from above or behind, but they’re not very accessible, and we have no guarantee that they’re not guarded.” OrderTamashi #41View on SuiVision stated. “Does anyone else have any ideas?”
“Their screens are only loosely based on my design,” DesignTamashi #24View on SuiVision said, “So their blind spots might be different.”
“There’s no good angle of attack, or paths of circumvention.” MathTamashi #32View on SuiVision stated.
“There’s always the direct approach.” FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision said.
“I’m afraid that might be our only option.” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision dwelled.
Just then, 
KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision emerged from behind a building facing the south corner of the city.
“KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision smiled.
“ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision” she reached out to shake his hand, “It’s been some time. Were you attacked by the Machin too?”
“Yeah,” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision answered. “They wanted to bring us back here, but we don’t know anything else.”
“The ones I fought said the same thing, and that they were from the Triangle Company.”
“Then it’s TakahashiTamashi #100View on SuiVision.” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision stated.
“It looks that way. Sorry I can’t be of much help.” KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision sighed.
“I’m glad you came anyway.” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision said. “We’ll need all the help we can get.”
KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision looked towards the tall grassy hill
where the Machin stood in a tight formation. “I wouldn’t feel right if I missed this.”
MinéTamashi #57View on SuiVision heard a knock on the door, the separate
times with a second of delay in between. She opened the door for 
JiroTamashi #43View on SuiVision
, who quickly re-entered the apartment.
“Where have you been?” sheTamashi #57View on SuiVision asked. “There are robots outside the window. I locked the doors. Where’s 
VaultTamashi #36View on SuiVision?”
“The robots took her.” heTamashi #43View on SuiVision exclaimed. “I’m going to go stop him, but I need some help.”
“Is it dangerous? Who’s … what are they doing?”
“Look,” heTamashi #43View on SuiVision sighed, resting his hands on her shoulders. “It’s my brother. It’s IchiroTamashi #100View on SuiVision. This new start was his plan, and he’s using these Machin to take everything back. I hate that he’s affecting things like this, but I have to stop him now. I won’t let our world be his anymore.”
“But is it safe?” sheTamashi #57View on SuiVision asked.
“Their goal is to put us back to sleep. I don’t know how well they respond to being interfered with, but I should be alright. We’re going to try to hack them” heTamashi #43View on SuiVision walked off towards the bedrooms.
JiroTamashi #43View on SuiVision opened another door to find 
GamerTamashi #95View on SuiVision and Inicio lying on the floor staring at trading cards arranged on the carpet.
“
InicioTamashi #74View on SuiVision” JiroTamashi #43View on SuiVision directed. Both boys darted their heads up. “What did you say that tech of yours was?”
“It’s a cyclic energy conductor.” InicioTamashi #74View on SuiVision reached behind him and pulled out a mechanical device with gears shifting and lights flashing in constant rotation. “It’s not infinite energy, but it’s pretty self-sustaining.”
“Why don’t you come with me?” JiroTamashi #43View on SuiVision encouraged, “There’s a lot going on outside, and we could really use your help.”
InicioTamashi #74View on SuiVision looked towards GamerTamashi #95View on SuiVision
, then back to JiroTamashi #43View on SuiVision and nodded.
“And why don’t you bring that ball with you,” heTamashi #43View on SuiVision mentioned. “Maybe it’ll be useful.”
SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision stood firm in his stance and did not
waver from his position. He remembered his fight with KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision
, and how his aggressive fighting led to his defeat. He wouldn’t make that same mistake
again. He had to be smarter, and more tactical, but traditional strategy wouldn’t
work against it. Its red armor covered the exposed wiring that he’d used to cut down
the others. Also, the dual-swords presented a challenge. Human opponents have trouble
using two swords effectively because they’re not strong enough to apply pressure
in two different directions at once. That wouldn’t be a problem for a machine this
size.
Then there was the environment to consider. Behind him was a steep slope of dirt and trees - easy to defend, but impossible to escape through. Ahead of him, past the Machin was a long wall that spanned a hundred yards in either direction. It was high enough to climb over, but not without making himself vulnerable to attack. In short, fighting looked like his only available option.
Good, he thought.
The Machin flung back its arms and sprinted forward towards SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision with an aggressive yell. First, the Machin thrust hard diagonally with both blades. Superior ducked down to avoid the intersection of both blades. Then, the Machin slashed back with both blades horizontally. By hopping backwards, SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision avoided that attack as well. As the Machin stood with its arms stretched out to either side, Superior examined its armor more closely. The plated armor covered most of its weak spots. The only exception were two gaps across the lower part of its ribs. He couldn’t attack them from the sides because of its large arms. His only option was to attack from the front. With the Machin’s arms extended far outwards, this was the perfect opportunity. In a second it would regain its stance, and SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision would be at a disadvantage. But if he dove in to strike, he’d also be vulnerable, trapped between the Machin’s massive chest and its twin-blades. He’d cut down the Machin, but also be defeated himself. And as the moments between seconds passed, he became even more confident that this was its strategy, its feint, and that if he gave in to ego, he’d lose this fight. He had to be better. He’d wait.
Instead, he lept backwards. The Machin growled in anger and charged after him with both swords. SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision dodged to the left. The Machin slashed hard with its right arm. Superior barely avoided its attack. He managed to hit the Machin’s armor with his katana, but it only grazed the top without doing any damage. The Machin immediately charged after him, swinging its swords in sharp succession.
SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision knew now that he couldn’t fight it
in direct combat. Its speed, strength, and aggression was too much. It was heavy,
massive with arms that looked indestructible. Superior watched how it moved and realized
that it carried most of its weight in its upper-body.
That’s when he got an idea.
He darted backwards against the long wall. As expected, the Machin angrily impaled its sword into the wall behind. SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision hopped onto the Machin’s arm and before it slashed again, he jumped onto the top of the wall. He stood far above the Machin now. The Machin readied its stance and eyed Superior eagerly, ready to counter his next attack.
Instead, SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision turned to the side and started to walk away.
“You’re pathetic, you know that?!” It yelled angrily after him. “You want to know if you’re good enough to beat me?! You’re not! You’re weak! You’ve always been weak!!”
SuperiorTamashi #37View on SuiVision turned back to face the raging Machin.
He looked towards its screen that still displayed the pixelated mask of his sister.
Its large mechanical arms punched against the wall in blind rage. Its loud, aggressive
fighting style didn’t match the way she fought. It didn’t match her poise, elegance
and composure. In fact, nothing about the raging Machin reminded him of her. The
more he stared at it, the better he understood. It was a caricature of what he’d
dreamed to face - an imaginary enemy he’d longed to defeat. The real KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision never called him pathetic. The real KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision never made him feel small, or foster his insecurity. She was never truly his enemy.
The real enemy was always himself. And as he turned away from everything he’d convinced
himself she was, he knew that it was time to walk away.
GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision and 
HeroTamashi #73View on SuiVision trod hastily through the city while they each lugged pieces of heavy machinery
from the stadium. They walked with heavy steps while 
CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision and 
KeyTamashi #13View on SuiVision led several feet ahead.
“Will you stop looking at me like that?” GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision barked.
“Looking at you like what?” HeroTamashi #73View on SuiVision grunted.
“Like you’re judging me.” GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision answered.
“Well what am I supposed to do?” HeroTamashi #73View on SuiVision challenged. “You’ve done some messed up stuff. You’ve said so yourself.”
“I just feel like you’re writing me off. Like you’ve already decided who I am.”
“Honestly” HeroTamashi #73View on SuiVision sighed, “You should be lucky you’re not locked up like ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision was.”
They both looked forward at the sounds of voices ahead. KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision and ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision stood side by side, with CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision walking up to greet them. Chem placed his hand on Coder’s shoulder and offered him kind words that the pair couldn’t hear. GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision and HeroTamashi #73View on SuiVision walked up and placed the equipment on the ground.
“So how did all of this happen?” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision asked. “We know that it was the Triangle Company, but that’s it.”
“I had to build them.” CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision started, “I didn’t have a choice. This was his plan from the beginning, to give us a head start, then round us all up and plug us in again with the Machin.”
“Then why now?” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision asked. “GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision grabbed you after ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision lost. How does that fit into all this?”
“Because I kicked this all off, alright?” GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision answered, “Is that what you all want to hear?! I’m the bad guy! That 
WitchTamashi #4View on SuiVision woman promised me that if I woke him up, he’d take care of this problem-” he pointed towards ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision, “ for good! So hate me all you want, I don’t care. I did it for all of your sakes.”
JiroTamashi #43View on SuiVision and InicioTamashi #74View on SuiVision quietly arrived, with Inicio clutching his glowing orb.
“That was stupid of you.” ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision argued. “You woke up a monster to handle something we were handling ourselves. After all this, I’m sure ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision will be locked up again, and I’m not convinced you won’t be there with him.”
ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision dashed to the right, yanked InicioTamashi #74View on SuiVision by the arm and held a switchblade to his throat. “About that-” ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision sighed.
“What the hell are you doing?!” JiroTamashi #43View on SuiVision said.
“While I’m sure whatever you’re planning is … exciting,” ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision started, “It seems if either side succeeds, I get locked up in a cage, and I don’t appreciate being locked up, so I’m going to walk away and you’re going to watch me-”
Suddenly ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision felt his right arm twist behind him and a moment later he was pinned to the ground with his screen grinding against the dirt. He looked up to find 
VineTamashi #3View on SuiVision towering over him, forcing his hands behind his back.
“VineTamashi #3View on SuiVision”, heTamashi #42View on SuiVision grunted, “You’re stronger than I remember.”
VineTamashi #3View on SuiVision sighed and pulled him back up. She turned
him to face the city streets. “Do you see that wide street up ahead?” she whispered.
“The Machin have been patrolling that constantly. You’re going to walk over there
for me.”
“And when I do, I’ll tell them where you all are.” ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision threatened, “If I go down, I’ll take you all with me.”
“I don’t think you’ll do that.” VineTamashi #3View on SuiVision answered. “Because if we win, you’ll be locked up for a while. But if they win, you’ll be plugged in forever. I know you can do damage, but I also know you won’t destroy the only thing you really want” VineTamashi #3View on SuiVision shoved ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision forwards. Chaos looked back, shook his head, and begrudgingly trudged forward towards the city streets.
BirdcageTamashi #10View on SuiVision, standing next to VineTamashi #3View on SuiVision, snickered. “Where’d you learn to make threats like that?”
“Jiu-jitsu always had trash talk,” VineTamashi #3View on SuiVision answered, “and Team Chaos had its fair share of ominous speeches”. BirdcageTamashi #10View on SuiVision smiled.
“What are you two doing here?” KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision exclaimed. “I thought you’d still be at the farm!”
“We’ve each got one more fight left in us.” BirdcageTamashi #10View on SuiVision answered.
“Are you feeling better?” KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision asked VineTamashi #3View on SuiVision.
“Better enough.” sheTamashi #3View on SuiVision answered.
KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision noticed everyone’s else’s heads turn
to her right. KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision turned her head abruptly
to notice KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision approaching the group.
“Sorry to be late.” KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision apologized, “I got held up. What are the rest of you doing here?”
“I’m going to try to stop the Machin” CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision stated.
“How?” KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision asked.
“All Machin are controlled by a robot called 
BridgeTamashi #20View on SuiVision. If I can find the key, or the code phrase that controls it, I can take control away from TakahashiTamashi #100View on SuiVision and stop the Machin. I’m working with strange machinery here,” CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision looked up, “but I think I can make it work.”
KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision nodded and looked through the crowd.
She saw CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision, ChemTamashi #31View on SuiVision, DesignTamashi #24View on SuiVision, MathTamashi #32View on SuiVision, HeroTamashi #73View on SuiVision, GangTamashi #21View on SuiVision, JiroTamashi #43View on SuiVision, InicioTamashi #74View on SuiVision, KeyTamashi #13View on SuiVision, Long, Senshi, HeartTamashi #6View on SuiVision, FearTamashi #16View on SuiVision, KasumiTamashi #50View on SuiVision, VineTamashi #3View on SuiVision and BirdcageTamashi #10View on SuiVision gathered together. She didn’t understand this technology, but maybe together they’d
have a chance.
A moment later, a Prime Machin emerged from an ally and spotted ChaosTamashi #42View on SuiVision walking down the street. Rather than apprehending him, it looked towards where he came from and saw a large crowd of Tamashi assembled around some machines.
“There you are.” TakahashiTamashi #100View on SuiVision whispered at the Machin screen in front of him. It displayed video footage of several Tamashi standing around CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision and some machinery. “You made this too easy,” he said. “I’m almost disappointed.”
VaultTamashi #36View on SuiVision, who sat frustrated on the floor,
looked up towards him. In the dark, unfeeling facility, there was only her fatherTamashi #100View on SuiVision, her motherTamashi #4View on SuiVision, 
NoirTamashi #82View on SuiVision, the three faceless Machin used as screens, and BridgeTamashi #20View on SuiVision
. Although BridgeTamashi #20View on SuiVision was clearly a robot, he had
certain human characteristics. His eyes moved around the room instead of staying
in place, his hands would fidget sometimes. It was clear that he had more going on
in his mind than the other Machin she’d seen.
“Hey” VaultTamashi #36View on SuiVision whispered to him.
BridgeTamashi #20View on SuiVision turned to her with a friendly expression.
“Yes?” he asked nicely, “How can I help?”
“You can stop whatever he’s doing.” VaultTamashi #36View on SuiVision gestured to her Dad. “Shut yourself off.”
BridgeTamashi #20View on SuiVision smiled, confused, “I’m sorry, but I’ve
been specifically told not to do that.”
“Don’t be naive,” TakahashiTamashi #100View on SuiVision turned to face her. “He’s programmed to only listen to me.”
“And what about you?” VaultTamashi #36View on SuiVision directed at NoirTamashi #82View on SuiVision. “Are you ‘programmed’ to only listen to my father?”
“I appreciate your passion,” TakahashiTamashi #100View on SuiVision kneeled down to her level. VaultTamashi #36View on SuiVision saw the dark shimmer of the black diamonds adorned across his screen. “But there are limits to my patience.” he narrowed his gaze towards her. “NoirTamashi #82View on SuiVision is a man who knows his destiny. He’s not a player in the grand scheme of things. One hundred years from now, no one will even know he existed. His place is to serve. If you’re going to lead someday, you need to come to terms with yours.”
NoirTamashi #82View on SuiVision kept staring straight ahead, and although
his stance wavered, he remained in place.
“Now!” TakahashiTamashi #100View on SuiVision stood back up excitedly, “Let’s end this! I order all Machin to converge upon their position. Do not stop until they are all apprehended!”
VaultTamashi #36View on SuiVision looked down in frustration.
KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision watched CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision wire together different pieces of machinery. She struggled to understand how it
all worked. And in that struggle, the gears of her mind began turning. She became
aware of the air around her and the Earth beneath her feet. Suddenly, she felt a
shift, an imbalance. She turned around to the Machin that were spread across the
grass in front of the facility were sprinting towards them at full speed.
“They found us!” KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision shouted. “How much longer do you need?”
“I don’t know!” CoderTamashi #33View on SuiVision answered, frantically pressing buttons.
“I can hold off some of them, but not forever. It’s going to depend on all of us alright?”
Each Tamashi nodded, united in understanding. As they took deep breaths and readied their fists, KitsuneTamashi #9View on SuiVision braced herself for the last battle she hoped to fight.