Chapter 20
Rei trekked through the ship, guided only by her resolve to finally speak to Mizumi. The light in her life was slowly becoming dim and the connections to her past were thinning.
There is so much Hideo never told me, she thought to herself. Hideo was her father, but she grew up under his wing as an elder, living in secret. The thought only made her wrestle with her resentment of him and her quest for revenge. Getting Vic at this point was something she would have to do for Jin, for Toki, Naomi, and the many others she grew up with.
Their flame had since burnt out, leaving her with a spark of the old dynasty in her grasp. She hoped that there was something she would learn from Mizumi that would complete her. Even with the many compatriots by her side on this journey, she still felt emptiness beneath. She continued through the Deck Hall, finally locating the officer quarters—meeting very little resistance on her way up.
The moment she reached the main hall, she came across LtCol Ginger and Mizumi standing in the middle. The two were still dressed in their utilities, conversing over the day’s events in the open. As Rei approached, LtCol Ginger turned to her, brows furrowed at her sudden appearance.
He lifted his hand towards Mizumi before calling out, “This area is off limits to enlisted.”
“I don’t know what that means.” Rei said confidently, receiving an immediate laugh from Ginger.
“Lieutenant Colonel,” Mizumi spoke before gently pushing his hand away from her. “You’re dismissed for the day. Carry on with previous orders.”
Ginger nodded, stepping away from the two and towards his quarters. The door from his room let out a thud, rattling the tension in the air between Rei and Mizumi. As Mizumi turned her gaze away from him, Rei took a deep breath to finally compose herself. She had not expected to finally meet her mother under these circumstances. The sight of Mizumi only caused her to look back at herself, reflecting at the possible result of her future as a member of Liberation.
“Hideo-Jin-Ni only mentioned you once,” Rei finally spoke, trying her best to keep her emotions bottled inside. “I didn’t even know you existed until the night they came to my village.”
“That’s regretful,” Mizumi’s voice had an almost disinterested tone as she spoke, only causing Rei more self-reflection. “It was not my intention to brush you off earlier. You have to understand that I have a rank, a position, and rules I have to follow.”
“I understand.”
“What did you want to know?”
Rei inched closer to her, finally getting in arms reach to lock eyes with Mizumi. The resemblance between the two was nearly identical, age only separated by decades. Before Rei uttered another word, she reached towards Mizumi and embraced her. The moment she pressed her head into shoulders, Mizumi finally reached her arms around Rei to finally share the moment. The years separated and unanswered questions seemed to melt away, replaced by a new sense of connection.
“I didn’t think I would ever see you.” Rei muttered, tears beading in her eyes.
Mizumi rest her head against hers while Rei latched on. Rei deep down started to feel that she had found a missing piece of herself as she felt Mizumi’s warmth beneath her blouse.
“Rei,” Mizumi’s voice slowly began to crack as the matted locks of hair on Rei’s head grinded between her fingers. “I wanted to try and end this war before it came to this. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”
The cold façade of her demeanor shattered, causing her to erupt into tears. The many years apart from Rei and not being able to see her grow up struck hard. Rei could feel the weight of her mother’s decisions as she tried to lift her head and face her. Mizumi’s eyes gleamed as the light from the hallway shined through her years.
“I’m not mad, I’m just so happy to know you’re alive.” Rei said finally.
As they separated, Mizumi started to guide her down the hall and through the ship. The two eventually made their way towards her office, recounting each moment of her final days with Hideo. Each detail felt excruciating to Rei, only reminding her of watching her friends being torn away from her.
“It was a difficult time,” Mizumi continued, her voice wavering slightly. “It felt like something was torn out of my life. I didn’t want you to have to grow up in this world and didn’t want you to pick up where I left off.”
She led Rei towards her office. Upon stepping in, Rei could smell a faint sweet aroma from the materials of the carpeted floors. The outside of the room hummed while she walked over towards the adjacent chair across from her desk. The two went to settle, Mizumi’s movements delicate and graceful. With a gentle touch, she reached behind her head to release her hair from its bun, allowing her vibrant orange locks to cascade down her shoulders.
Mizumi’s hair seemed to burn like a fiery halo around her head, captivating Rei in the moment as the light shined across it. Her warm gaze put Rei at ease as a gesture that she was willing to finally open. Before continuing, Mizumi reached over towards the small book sitting flush at the corner of her desk and began to thumb through the pages.
“I guess I finally have a chance to show you this,” Mizumi said after finally retrieving a small photo tucked in between the pages. She gently presented it to Rei before continuing, “This is the only picture I took of your father. You weren’t born yet.”
Upon retrieving it, Rei began to brush her fingers against the faded edges. The sight of Hideo and Mizumi in their youth had tapped into a well of emotions as she stared into faces of the past. The simple picture of the two trapped in a moment in time, showing Rei a side of her father she had not seen in years.
“This is amazing,” Rei muttered, barely able to catch her breath. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“It’s a photograph. I forget you come from a different world.”
“I haven’t seen Hideo so young in so long.”
“He really hid his relationship with you,” Mizumi’s response seemed to put her off. Her smile started to droop as she let out long winded sigh of disappointment. “He didn’t listen to anything I said.”
Rei turned her attention to her, only to see a hint of disgust form on Mizumi’s face. She slowly returned the picture only to have Mizumi aggressively swipe it from her hand.
“What’s wrong?” Rei asked.
“When I made the decision to have you two leave, I was expecting him to let you live something of a normal life,” Mizumi replied. She started to rub her forehead in anger, trying to keep her voice steady. “I didn’t want to join this fight. I wanted you to have a life I couldn’t live. Now, you’re here because he had some second thoughts about my request.”
“He trained me very well,” she stated enthusiastically, recalling the many years under Hideo’s wing. “I was one of the best. My brother was Daimyo. I honestly thought one day I would be one of the elders just like him.”
“If I knew that was his plan, I would have just had you stay with me so I could have trained you the right way.”
The words struck through Rei, shifting her mood to see her mother ridicule her upbringing. Instead of lashing out, she tilted her head towards the floor and broke her focus from Mizumi.
After a moment of thought, Mizumi continued, “I didn’t mean to insult your training.”
“It’s the only reason I’m still alive.” Rei said softly, her words barely reaching Mizumi.
“I know that, and I’m sorry. I’m reasonably upset.”
“The village was a great place,” she lifted her head once more and leaned over towards the desk. “It had its faults, but there were people there that wanted to change that. The traditions and the tutelage taught me so much about the world.”
“What was that?”
“The importance of our tribe, why we all shared our struggle, and overcoming our individuality for the greater good.”
“Like the G.E.I.,” Mizumi retorted without pause. She shook her head, facing towards the challenge coins on her desk as she tried to comprehend her decision. “I don’t see the value in crushing what makes you a person in fear that everything is going to collapse. You surrendered basic freedoms to a tribe that was blown away with the wind.”
“I still exist. That tribe exists in my blood, and I’ve learned that as long I’m alive it will rise again.”
“I was a lot like you,” Mizumi cut her short. She took a moment to rub her fingers against her lips, not even bothering to face her. “I came from a small village, just like yours. Maybe not as small as yours, but I was in the same spot.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Just like you, my life was filled with loss, hardship; I didn’t think that there was a world outside of my village,” she finally turned back to Rei. “I thought that traditions and honoring a lineage was the only meaning in life, being a cog in the machine. It sounds selfish, but I realized those traditions didn’t define me. They were a vice. Being a part of the One World Order, Liberation, and trying to spread Democracy has freed so many people from oppressive regimes, slavery, and given me meaning.”
The thought of such a system was more than what Rei was able to comprehend. Before she could retort, the door behind them erupted with a series of knocks, causing the two to fall silent. It slowly opened, revealing Paxton as he poked his head through.
“I hope I’m not interrupting you two,” Paxton said while he started to approach the desk. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“No, I’m glad you’re here.” Mizumi said while her face lit up with a smile.
“I couldn’t help but overhear you two. I might have come in late,” he fell silent as he made his way over to the desk to take a seat. As soon as he adjusted, he took a deep breath and finally faced Rei. “Individuality for security or some common cause sounds good in theory, but it’s a mask for something much more sinister.”
“I didn’t think any of the elders were evil.” Rei said.
She paused to think about the old village and the final moments. Paxton and Mizumi’s words slowly started to pry into her memories, giving her new insight of her up bringing. She remembered being scolded for trying to write poetry, the constant cycle of being on guard. All at once, she started to think of the shrine, Shugo telling her about the library and all the knowledge hidden from the others.
The vivid image of seeing Shugo with the other troops in his final moments started cross her mind again. She remembered confronting him and, in those moments, trying to persuade him at all costs. Thinking more about it, she felt cold. She remembered all the lessons from Shugo and how much his wisdom seemed to coincide with that of Liberation. While Paxton and Mizumi continued to speak to her about their system, she felt her stomach turn.
“You’re starting to think about it, are you?” Mizumi asked.
“Yes,” Rei replied, pulling herself from her trance. “There were a lot of things in the village that didn’t make sense. I had somebody there who was trying to break me from it, but I guess I was too blindsided by my teaching to really appreciate it.”
“What happened to him?” Paxton asked, immediately spotting an opening.
“His name was Shugo,” she said again, feeling her voice start to crack for a moment. “He tried to teach me poetry. We went to a battle, a really fierce one. When it began, he ran, and disgraced himself.”
“Then what?”
“The village, even me,” she felt some tears starting to roll down her cheeks as she painfully began to relive the memory. “We all turned on him. He didn’t see any way forward and chose the honorable way out, seppuku. I was chosen to be kaishakunin. I had to help kill the only person in my life that saw me for what I was.”
In her head, she found herself thinking of delivering the final blow to Shugo, cutting him from existence. The pain struck again, leaving her heart in pieces. She didn’t have the strength to lift her hands towards her face, instead looking towards the floor. That anguish she thought had since past returned, hitting just as hard as it did the day he passed.
“That’s horrifying,” Mizumi said aghast as she started to stand out of her chair. She walked over to Rei and leaned into her, giving her a comforting embrace. “I would not have let you go if I knew any of this.”
“That brings me back to the point,” Paxton drawled as he spoke. “Those traditions are just another form of control. That’s why we do what we do.”
“All of that is a lie,” Mizumi added. She helped lift Rei’s head before gently moving the locks of hair from her teary eyes. “What we are trying to do is put an end to these brutal regimes. I know you’re in pain, but you need to be able to overcome that and use that anguish to fuel your determination to build a better world.”
“A world where everybody is held to the same standard,” Paxton said aloud. “Where people look forward to a better future and not one where we have to form our standard of living to people who don’t exist anymore. We’ll make sure we build that even if it means tearin’ down what was in place before.”
“No matter the cost, we will not stand for tyranny.”
“Everywhere it rears its ugly head,” Paxton said firmly, brushing his fingers across his chin. “We are the fist that’ll put its lights out. Tyrants will fear us, they will wrench in terror at our presence.”
Rei painfully choked back her tears as she turned to him. She took a deep, shuddering breath, summoning every ounce of courage left within in. The words from Paxton, brutal and full of conviction, started to resonate with her. She swallowed once more, turning to face Mizumi as she provided her embrace.
“I didn’t mean to make you have to relive any of that,” Mizumi said again as she slowly pulled away. “Right now, we need you to be willing to help us finally tip the scales. Do you want to help us?”
“Yes.” Rei said firmly, her knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists.
“This is the most important battle you will ever fight. The enemy will show you no mercy as you must show them. Are you ready?”
“Yes.” She repeated herself.
“Then I need you to go to your quarters and rest up. You need to learn how to use this,” Mizumi said before reaching forward and pressing her finger into Rei’s robe. “It’s time for the next stage of your training.”
Rei nodded once more and slowly began to stand. Without saying a word or exchanging a hug, she began to walk back into the halls.
----------------------------------------
The sounds inside the Deck Hall presented an eerie ambience as Rei started to pace through. Her meeting with Mizumi and Paxton only left her more confused at her existence, her purpose in the battle, and her quest for revenge. Once she took a moment to examine her time in the village, she began to feel cold. The current situation felt the same, nothing changed in her travels.
She wandered aimlessly through the ship, the steel walls let out a squeak as she ran her fingers across them. The lack of human presence around her only served as a chilling reminder of the month alone in the valley. Finally, she found herself going down another dim lit hallway only to notice a light shining through an open doorway ahead. She began to move towards it cautiously, the sound of a lone woman speaking aloud to herself became audible with every step.
Once she approached the doorway, she peered inside to see a woman with long and shiny white hair toiling away at a small work bench. Across the bench lay Yulia’s remains, burnt blue hair and piercing green eyes. Rei immediately felt a chill, remembering Yulia’s haunting stare. Before she could take another breath, the white-haired woman turned to face her.
She was dressed in a gray jump suit, loosely draping over her body while a pair of goggles covered her eyes. The moment she looked towards Rei, her face lit up with surprise.
“You must be the new recruit!” the woman exclaimed.
“I’m sorry,” Rei replied with a quick jolt. She nervously turned away from her, continuing with, “I was just walking through.”
“No, wait, come on in,” the woman continued before brushing her hair aside. She stepped forward and pulled Rei inside of the room with a burst of excitement. “You must be the general’s daughter. I’ve heard rumors, but I don’t know your name.”
“It’s Rei.”
“Rei,” she said softly, almost with a gasp as she held onto Rei’s hands. Finally, she shook them jubilantly before turning back towards Yulia’s remains. “I’m Yuki, I was a recruit like you.”
“How did you get here?”
“I was rescued from Kashmir. If I’m correct, you’re with a few people who came from the same place, no?”
Rei nodded as her chest started to surge with on odd emotion, something she had never felt before. Before she could speak, Yuki removed the goggles over her face and gracefully flopped her hair once more. Once Rei’s eyes fell on her, a wave of recognition washed over her, leaving her with feeling like she had plunged into her own subconscious. Yuki’s ethereal beauty, long white hair cascading like a silken waterfall, and her mesmerizing eyes—one blue and one green, captured Rei’s gaze.
The sight left Rei frozen, trying to make sense of the overwhelming sense of déjà vu swept through her. The first thought to pop into her head was the many bizarre dreams in her past and the encounters of the woman within. Once the realization had settled in, her face went pale while she tried to catch her breath.
“Are you alright?” Yuki asked.
Rei swallowed hard, trying to find her voice before muttering, “I’m fine.”
“You haven’t slept much,” she said before reaching up towards her face. After softly stroking Rei’s cheeks, she began to observe dark rings that had slowly begun to form under her eyes. “You’re getting pale too. Do you want me to take you to medical?”
She slowly began to realize that the apparition in her dreams was not just a fantasy. Yuki’s presence may have been another of the many signs in the universe calling out, still undeciphered. Once again, Rei swallowed and tried to gain control of herself.
“What are you doing here?” Rei asked.
“Good question,” Yuki replied before turning back to Yulia’s remains. “I was working with Mezrich on trying to reverse engineer this thing. Whenever they bring us the Delta unit, I can get started on that. You see, this thing is busted.”
“I did that, I’m sorry. I had to.”
Yuki laughed as she pressed her hand into the burnt material around Yulia’s face. After examining it, she turned back to Rei and said, “I would have done the same.”
“This thing is a monster,” Rei added. “It destroyed my village. It would have destroyed Tetsu’s town if I didn’t do anything.”
“I’m well aware. Well, I’m glad it was her and not you.”
Rei fell silent again while her heart continued to race. Every appearance of Yuki before this point continued dwell on her thoughts, giving her tunnel vision as she stared towards her.
“Are you sure you’re ok?” Yuki asked, this time reaching towards her.
“I’m,” Rei felt her breath escape her. She took a moment to try and get control of her senses, only to force out a smile. “I’m very tired. Like I said, I was just passing through.”
“Alright then, maybe come back and see me when you’re feeling better. Take care, sleepy head.”
She gave Rei a quick smile before pulling the goggles back over her face. Rei slowly began to walk backwards towards the hall and towards her room. The sight of Yuki in the flesh seemed to lock her eyes in place, causing her to slightly stumble as she stepped back.
“I’ll show you to your room,” Yuki chirped as she quickly rushed to her side. The moment her hands touched Rei’s hip, Rei felt her heart rush, almost causing butterflies in her stomach. “They’ve been workin’ you to death, poor thing. You’ll get used to that.”
“I’ve had a long day, I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing to me already,” she laughed. “You’re a real mess, Rei. Smells like you haven’t had a shower in a while either.”
I haven’t, Rei thought to herself. She tried to keep herself steady as Yuki guided her through the ship. After a few minutes, they finally came to the barracks. Unlike the village, the rooms inside were split up between male and female. Each side was loaded with several bunk beds, lockers, and their own shower areas. The inside of the female quarters was mostly vacant, with only a few other female troops already tucked away in their slumber.
“I don’t think this one’s taken,” Yuki said. “This will do.”
She gently guided Rei into the small bed, pulling the fuzzy green blanket from the soft and foamy mattress. As Rei started to get settled in, Yuki reached towards her robe and clenched onto the small prongs beneath her neck holding the breaks shut.
“What are you doing?” Rei asked.
“You don’t want to sleep in that thing, do you?” she replied.
“I can undress myself.”
“I wasn’t sure,” Yuki laughed quickly, her smile and glowing eyes barely visible in the light. “You were having a bit of trouble walking here.”
“I can manage, thank you.”
Yuki nodded towards her and started to walk towards the exit. The moment she left the barracks, Rei felt as if she finally caught her breath. Before laying down, she started to remove her robe. The cold air from the vents caressed her bare skin, giving her a quick chill. All at once, the presence she could feel from the robe began to vacate her mind as the bumpy but rubbery material on the inside of the robe peeled from her skin.
She dived her head towards the pillow, barely managing to pull the robe off her. Once again, she tried to gain control of herself. The series of encounters following this moment left her staring towards the bed on top of her, leaving her thoughts as an enigma. Her skin slowly began to itch while she unconsciously pulled the blanket over her chest. Its green material distracted her from the conundrum within. The anguish that once consumed her vanished, leaving her to try and put together the pieces.