Day 122 (continuation)
Before getting off the plane, the kidnappers finally took off their blindfold. Shizuka's vision was blurred after the prolonged loss of sight. The sun was glaring and her eyes had that burning, stinging sensation when she opened them by reflex. Gasping in pain, she closed her eyes and waited for her eyes to adapt. As she slowly opened her eyes, what she saw was one of the most beautiful sights to behold, the Amal.¹
They kept travelling and travelling from one mountain to another until they reached an ominous mountain filled with the dark grey ashes from its previous eruptions. The inactive volcano now stood majestically with its bare unrecognizable splendor. Beneath it was a hidden military base.
Same day 122
In a law firm in Boudica
-Begonia Crimson-
Begonia breaking the fourth wall:
Looking at the divorce contract in front of me, I felt no ripple of emotion, just another divorce. Why, you ask, do I speak so casually of it? Well, this is my sixth divorce. (¬‿¬)
Now, facing my lawyer, my soon to be ex-husband, and his lawyer... I feel a sense of excitement of some sort, like my life is just about to begin after this. However, my face does not show any sign of this. Remaining stoic and civil.
Seeing this contract for the sixth time, I am thanking and praising the heavens that all my previous marriages had not borne the fruit of children. If I ever had children, divorce would've been devastating for me. I am an open-minded person, but I am not so sure how my --non-existent children to be-- would feel about that.
"Begonia, you've been staring at that contract. Can you please sign it now?" her soon to be ex-husband asked.
"Pardon, I was thinking of something else." she replied calmly as she signed the contract. She then gave the contract to her lawyer, as she stood up and prepared to leave.
His ex-husband suddenly stood up and forcefully grabbed her left wrist, to which she reacted normally by looking back at her now ex-husband with an inquisitive gaze.
"Don't ever disturb me and Lily."
"As long as the agreed payment is given, then no problem at all, that will be easy peasy." She said while grinning.
"Begonia, thanks for helping me this year." he said as he let go of her hand.
"No need to thank me, it was within the clause of our agreement." she remarked, then looked at her lawyer, "Ms. Daniel, I'll leave everything to you then."
Her lawyer nodded.
Day 127
After being brought in this God-forsaken base, Kiefer and Shizuka were separated. Their stay thus far was quiet and without any reception whatsoever to clarify the kidnapping.
*** WARNING GRAPHIC AND VIOLENT CONTENT AHEAD***
Day 130
Shizuka woke up to find herself in a predicament. her hands were tightly tied to the bedpost and a man was on top of her. His disgusting scent filled her lungs, a mixture of accumulated body odor and a reeking perversion from his member. His sweat dripped to her so called 'unsoiled body.'
She eyed him coldly.
When he saw her glare, he slapped her face. The sensation woke her up in so many ways. Woke the vixen that she'd been keeping asleep for so long. A seductive grin was now plastered on her lips as she goaded him, "You pig, come on in. Make sure to thrust it all in one go."
The glint in his eyes changed, as if whatever was holding him back was now nowhere to be seen. He laughed in a somewhat cynical manner, "Ahh! What they say about smart b*tc*** being h**ny as f**k is real?"
While she was keeping his attention, her hands which she had always hated for its smoothness now came in handy. The blanket which was used to tie her up wasn't capable of keeping her hands gripped into it. She raised her head, so her actions wouldn't be seen and as she spread her legs, taunting him, "Ugly, smart b*tch** like me just understand that this is a normal physiological need." she snorted, "Too bad you entered the wrong room? You were after Kiefer, right?"
The man was surprised, but soon after he was looking at her with disgust, as if she was below him. He gripped her chin and eyed her, "Your just a c** h*l*, got that? You disgusting pig of a b*tc*!"
He proceeded to grope her body all over with his disgusting callous hands. Her clothes were strewn on the floor. Her underwear, ripped. Then, came that moment that all women fear. Their stories of this experience were the same with what she was currently feeling, but her mind was unusually calm. Probably because she made sure that this won't be like what they experienced... a reckoning.
His d*c* was shoved into her va**na in one thrust. During that time, she bit my tongue to keep her mind clear and focused as she freed her hands. As soon as her goal was achieved, her other senses came back, overwhelming her with sensations... blood dripping... her virginity gone.
When he tried move his d*c* blood gushed out from within her as she heard him screaming like a pig in a slaughterhouse. After all... it wasn't just her blood that gushed out.
She chuckled as she caressed his cheeks that were fraught with pain, shook her head in utter bemusement. "You chose the wrong b*tc* to play with." she whispered, enduring the pain of his dick inside her as tears fell. Her feet were at his hips as she kicked him out.
The sudden release left her in another wave of pain for a few seconds, she held it in, as her vision blurred with the overloading senses intermingled with her undisguised disgust.
The man was now strewn on the floor, fumbling about in pain. His hard d*c* was wrapped by something similar to the rape-axe condom, its grey color now mixed with the man's fluids and blood, lots and lots of blood.
Shizuka laboriously stood up, blood spilling onto her thighs, as if veins extending downwards. There was an otherworldly apathy surrounding her overall demeanor. She looked at the clothes on the floor, seeing what she needed, a chilly smile crept up her face as she picked up her torn underwear, tearing out the non-slip elastic band, and wrapping it around her hand. The non-slip was in both the inner and outer side of the cloth so she didn't have to worry about its grip.
She looked at the man in front of her, who looked like he would kill her if he could just overcome the pain. Shizuka saw him holding his member as if it was some fragile treasure that would break any moment.
*crack
The man's jaw was dislocated when Shizuka's kick landed on his chin. Very swiftly, when the man was still at a loss, Shizuka stepped on one of his hands, his member out in the open and her hand which was covered by the non-slip elastic band pulled the condom in one go. Blood spurted out and woke the man from his earlier misery as he shouted in an even fiercer manner, cursing and swearing to kill Shizuka.
"YOU B*TC*! DON'T THINK I WON'T KILL YOU AFTER WHAT YOU DID!!"
The condom had tiny barbs inside of it which had a mixture of blood, fluid, and flesh. Looking at it, Shizuka sighed as her insides trembled as she forced herself to stand, "Still not strong enough to castrate a d**k. Tsk." She tossed the condom on top of her clothes on the floor.
-----------------------------------
One of the men watching the CCTVs with other people remarked, "How ruthless..."
-----------------------------------
The sound of uniformed steps came from outside. Shizuka and the man on the floor had eye contact, a devious grin could be seen on her face. She calmly walked to the bed, untied the blanket, and covered her body with it.
"How long do you people intend to stand in front of my door?" She shouted.
As if on cue, the doorknob of her room turned as armed men entered. A man in his early thirties who had the insignia of a major general came last. The room was filled with the stench of blood, sweat, and that revolting scent.
The major general gazed at the man who was writhing on the floor. His gaze shifted to Shizuka. Eyeing her with alarm.
"Women should really stay gentle and warm." He remarked as if speaking to no one.
Shizuka sneered, "And men should really learn to use their head up there rather than their head down there."
Shizuka said calmly, "Negotiations from here on will be handled by me."
Scorn was written all over the major general's face, "Negotiations?"
"Do you really think I fear death?"
"It's a normal fear that all humans face." The man quipped.
"If so, let me make this clear. I do not fear death."
"Woman, arrogance will lead to a mighty fall."
"Too bad, I wasn't being arrogant."
The major general looked at the woman in a new light, "..."
"This should be Boudica's headquarters, right?"
"..."
"And I was kidnapped for being able to revert back that activated worm to dormancy. Seeing as you went through such patient and excessive means, what I did meant something to your government, military. If my hunch is right, you need me for something or nip the bud from its roots, kill me."
The major general's eyes were filled with ridicule. "..."
"You wanted to test what kind of woman I am, sending this man here. I was a bit heavy handed with him since he abused his authority. I hope you give him the penalty he deserves." She spoke so gently, as if she wasn't the one who was violent just a while ago. Her naked visage and the messy blanket covering her were the only proof of the sorry state she was in, as blood continuously flowed to her thighs.
The major general looked at Shizuka from top to bottom before shaking his head.
"He must've been caught already, abusing his tasks beforehand. His end here were only two. One, he rapes me here finally having a more viable evidence of his corrupt ways. Two, this."
"How smart. Now, tell me, young lady. How were you able to guess that?"
She stood there like she was thinking, her right index finger on her lip, "Hmmmm, exactly that. I guessed."
She made eye contact with the major general before honestly saying, "Well, I did guess." Her overall aura reverted back to her harmless demeanor.
"Now, tell me. What made you think he can be your bargaining chip? For all you know, these armed men here have been sent to kill you?"
"Nah, nothing like that. He isn't exactly the bargaining chip right? My actions and my words are the bargaining chip."
The major general raised his left brow in surprise.
She looked like she was considering something before remarking, "Yes, bring me to the people who asked for me to be sent here."
The armed men, in unison pointed their guns at Shizuka.
"Young lady, your guess the first time was right. But you, as a bargaining chip, is nothing but an illusion you haphazardly made."
Shizuka chuckled, "You're watching us right?"
"What?"
"I'm not referring to any of you in this room. I'm referring to them, outside this room. Watching. I can decode your worm. I already decoded your worm."
The armed men didn't fire nor did they move. They were waiting for orders.
"I must say, the worm was brilliantly coded and programmed. But, you yourselves haven't decoded this worm. You're country is just the source of it."
Remaining unfettered, the major general kept his gaze locked on Shizuka.
"You brought me here because a prisoner, a deserter, a defector of your country, or all three, whoever that person was or is, that programmer was the one who made this worm."
"I just have some very simple requests and I'll play along on whatever it is you need from me."
-----------------------------------
The man previously watching from screens clapped his hands, he gestured for a young man beside him.
-----------------------------------
After 20 minutes passed.
Other people entered their room.
There were two men, one was more of a skinny man wearing glasses. His skin was a bit odd, probably didn't get too much sunlight. He was wearing a neat shirt that was tucked in his trousers, but he looked a bit shabby in it because of his small frame.
The other person was wearing a uniform different from the Major General's, he was lieutenant colonel. The air of disdain surrounding him was evident, but he kept a cold smile as he greeted, "Hello, Ms. Yama."
Shizuka nodded.
"Would you like to be sent to the infirmary first?" he asked.
Shizuka scoffed. Hearing the way he talked, she knew all her assumptions were correct. She fainted before she could even answer.
Seeing this, everyone present was shocked. The man who was speaking just now with Shizuka then reported, "Major General Xie Jin, the kidnapped hostage fainted. Will I order her to be carried out?"
Then, another set of footsteps were heard as it entered the room. "No need, I will bring her to the infirmary."
As Xie Jin kneeled in front of Shizuka, he took off his outer military uniform and used it to cover her further... then, he carefully carried her. As he stood up, his snake like eyes fell on the man who raped Shizuka. "Castrate that scum for me before you send him back to receive his punishment."
"As you order, general." the man replied aptly.
Day 131
The unconscious Shizuka was dreaming of the past again.
"Shøren, does such a place really exist?" Little Shishi asked expectantly, a few teeth of hers had already fallen off affecting her speech.
A woman as beautiful as Miranda Kerr dotingly looked at Little Shishi, she pinched her petite nose teasing, "You little piglet, it will. The world is just not ready for it right now."
"What do you mean by the world isn't ready for it now?" a young boy asked.
"uh-huh, jusht like what Xiexie said!"
"Xie, I think we're spoiling this piglet too much..?"
Xie rolled his eyes, then looked away from the woman.
Seeing this, Little Shishi arrogantly looked at Søren, "Xie's on my shide!"
Søren looked extremely amused at her confidence, shaking her head she spoke indulgingly, "For example," she then held Little Shishi's waist.
Little Shishi was alarmed, she eyed Søren suspiciously.
Søren grinned, tickling Little Shishi until she was all red, "Look at this piglet, you look like you've been roasted." she carried Shishi and placed her on her lap. Little Shishi knew her suffering has ended, so she just took her time stabilizing her breath as her head rested on Søren's chest.
Xie chuckled, looking at Shishi's miserable state, "Aye, never seen a piglet as pitiful as this." he said as he gently nudged his forehead on hers.
Watching the two children interact, Søren's heart couldn't help but feel like her heart was being pinched in consternation. She continued her explanation, "See, just like how Shishi cannot get used to tickles, the world isn't prepared for change yet."
Little Shishi struggled a bit, she then looked at Søren in the eyes, "Shøren, what if the world ish never ready for it? I mean, I don't know how my tickles could ever shtop tickling..."
Hearing this, Søren blinked, her eyes held an imperceptible look. She then placed Little Shishi on her left thigh, while Xie habitually sat on her right thigh. She caressed both children, lightly moving her legs as if to cradle them. "Shishi, remember, when you grow up, you will realize that change is something that humans are capable of. Society can change, if the people in it choose to. For example, whenever Shishi says she wants ice cream, Xie would give in and also eat ice cream with you. When Xie wants to eat cakes, Shishi would happily oblige. But when Shishi wants ice cream and Xie, at the same time, wants cake... what will the two of you eat?"
Little Shishi: hmmm...
Xie: ...
"Well, it's dependent on what is available, right?"
Both kids nodded, but after a while, Little Shizuka shook her head.
Søren looked at Little Shishi inquisitively.
"Well, sometimes, cakesh taste weird... very weird."
"Why is that?"
"Well, the flavor of the cake is shometimes disgusting. But that's only for me, if Xie likes it, I just keep quiet and not eat."
Nodding her head, Søren couldn't help but kiss the crown of her head, "Mmhmm, that's right. You call that giving way. Because you love Xie, and you didn't want to hurt him, you gave way. Humans are the same. To begin with, kids like you are inherently good."
"Shøren, that's not true. A kid who always plays with my little uncle and our neighbors, always calls me an ugly, dirty pig. *sniff, I didn't even do anything to him..."
"Hmmm.."
"Who was that?" Xie asked.
"It was that homeless child from across our street."
"I see. Well, Shishi, I forgot to tell you, sometimes kids who socialize with adults a lot get their habits, the good and the bad."
"Mmhm...?"
"And, you see, some adults have unique ways of socializing, some have similar, some are extreme. When children like you mimic that, you guys are still not aware of what you copied meant."
"What do you mean by that, Shøren?"
Out of nowhere, another voice called out, "Søren."
Shizuka looked at the direction the voice came from. The image before her started to fade until it became an empty space while the voice that was calling out Søren echoed in that space.
Shizuka was still in her little Shizuka form. Looking at the dark expanse, she opted to follow the voice calling out to Søren. As the voice grew louder, she saw a weird chunk of machine up ahead, she continued walking towards it.
"Søren." the voice called out again, this time the voice was more clear. Shizuka can already tell that it was a man talking, the voice was somewhat familiar and unfamiliar.
Moving closer, she saw that the chunk of machine was a machination which bound Søren on it. Her wrists and ankles were bound by metal and many wires were connected to her body. Even her head up to her eyes was covered with a helmet like thing. She was wearing a white gown. Looking closely, one could see that Søren was very thin. She was like a skeleton covered with human skin.
Trembling, Shizuka cried out, "Søren!"
In that moment, Shizuka realized that earlier on was a dream, and as she accepted this fact, her body grew back to its original size. With her sudden growth, her presence was easily detected by two other beings.
"Aiyah! A mortal?!" a voice exclaimed.
"That child, wasn't she a rejected candidate for Verstand?" the other voice pointed out.
"Yeah, she was. But how is she here now?"
Hearing these new voices, Shizuka observed her surroundings, as she looked around she saw two children sitting on the machine. It shouldn't have been surprising but because they were sitting on the machine which was like a wall facing her vertically while Shizuka was standing on the horizontal space 'or was it vice versa?' she thought. She wondered if this was like the quantum realm, for the rules of gravity doesn't seem to apply in this space.
Shizuka and the two children didn't notice that Søren's mouthed, "Shi... zu... ka..."
"..."
"She's aware of us and this space. Hello."
Shizuka became weary, her brows scrunched up, "Hello."
"Why are you here?" the voice that kept asking questions asked her.
"I was dreaming just a while ago... I was talking with the past Søren... when I was calling her I heard another voice calling her. It lead me here."
'Why am I even answering these kids?? Have I been watching too many marvel series that I started having hallucinations?'
"You're not hallucinating." the other child clarified.
Shizuka didn't notice that they could hear her thoughts.
As the other child was analyzing Shizuka's words, she asked again, "You said someone was calling Søren... is it him?" pointing at the man who was directly standing in front of Søren's body.
As she looked at the direction the child was pointing at, some weird force sucked her out of the space before she could even see the man.
Suddenly, Shizuka sat upright on her bed drenched in sweat. Her thoughts running wild, her breathing erratic. She was having an anxiety attack as her stomach went bad and her whole body, tense.
The doctor on duty was startled by her, she immediately tried to check on her. "Ms. Yama?"
Her body trembling, Shizuka kept mumbling, "It shouldn't be! It shouldn't be! It's too early!
The doctor noticed her and realized that her voice couldn't reach her. "Ms. Yama!" the doctor shouted, "Please calm down. It's not good for your condition."
Becoming aware of the doctor's presence, Shizuka forced herself to calm down, but her anxiety was already triggered. She could only whisper feebly, "Help!"
14:00
Looking at the pale woman on the bed who was still unconscious, his brows locked as he interrogated the doctor, "What happened to her?"
The doctor answered mechanically, "We have no files on hand about her, so I had to choose what's best for the patient."
"What happened to her and don't make excuses."
"I sedated her. When she woke up, it was like she had a nightmare of some sort that triggered her. She wasn't hysterical, but she was unstable. I couldn't tell if she was having a panic attack or an anxiety attack, most probably anxiety since..."
The man who was seriously listening to her questioned, "Since what?"
She hesitated, she looked directly at the man's eyes, those eyes gripped her heart as if to tear it to pieces if she didn't give him an acceptable answer, "She... she whispered 'help' and then this woman tried holding on to my arm, but knowing what she did to that soldier I was reluctant and uneasy but... when she whispered 'please' as her teeth chattered so helplessly and vulnerably, I took a gamble and extended my right arm towards her, she held my hand and I heard her whisper... 'warm hand and a cold ring.' After that she raised her head and I could see she was holding back her tears as her other hand touched my hair whispering, 'a stethoscope on her neck, a dry cold hair, beautiful green eyes...'"
The man who was listening quietly was major general Xie Jin, he couldn't help mock her midway into the story, "Had she been a psychopath or a spy, you'd be dead."
Unusually, the woman was not offended. "I know, but she was not faking it. She even looked at the direction of the air conditioner, as she mumbled to herself 'my breathing, my voice, the air conditioner...' at that point I knew she was doing the 5-4-3-2-1¹. She looked at me again and her voice wasn't as shaky as before, "This room reeks disinfectants and you smell of lavender... my mouth tastes weird.' She quietened after this. I thought she would stop, I was actually frightened when her grip on my hand suddenly tightened, 'Could please sedate me, doctor? While I am still hanging on... to my bit of sanity?' she asked, begged even. Her lips had this very noticeable weak smile, like that was all her strength could amount to. I nodded, took some sedatives, and here she is."
Xie Jin had an unaffected look, as if what she was saying was unimportant matter to him. Silence filled the small infirmary until his voice broke this reverie, "Why is she still asleep?"
"It might be a psychological defense mechanism after being raped."
"If she was molested when she was younger for a long duration of time and now this, is that why she had an anxiety attack?"
The doctor looked at him questioningly, her lips in a thin line, "Is this true?"
"As far as information I got about her past had, she was sexually harrassed and molested when she was younger. The intensity of her reaction to being rape seems to indicate that this was her first time being penetrated."
Sighing heavily she answered, "The probability is high."
Xie Jin stood up, commanded, "Doctor Beatrice, immediately inform me when she wakes up."
"Understood, General."
As he left the infirmary he went to a heavily guarded room, entering it one could see massive machinery. And a distinct similarity could be seen on this machinery and the one Shizuka saw in her dreams. There was also the bound Søren, exactly at the same position. The only difference was that the two children present at that time weren't here.
"Søren..." he whispered, "it was inevitable... she was still caught up with the dangers of this world." Snickering he added, "Remember how you told her you wanted a child just like her. I didn't understand it before, but now, I think I do. What she did, as a highly intelligent civilian, was mediocre but it was not bad."
If Shizuka was here, listening to him. She would've recognized this voice as the one that was calling out to Søren, at that time.
--------------------------------
In a mirror like world
Shizuka was in the same infirmary, but there was no other human being in sight.
The strange atmosphere of the place was disturbing her sleep. She slowly realized that she was just in a state of sleep and that her mind was waking her up. As she opened her eyes, parallel to her were the two children she saw earlier on.
"You're not surprised." one of them said.
"Not. But I didn't expect you to go beyond that meeting. I was planning to think of you as a dream."
The other one chuckled, "A dream? You..."
"Can I ask your names?"
The calm and collected one answered, "Andromeda"
"Aegis" the other one added.
"Why are we here?"
"We are creations from the Verstand project. You are currently in the realm of Verstand. Some call it 'the astral plane or the spiritual realm, and other more vague terminologies' but those are just words that could explain bits and pieces of the Verstand."
"..."
"We're here because Søren is here. You on the other hand, we know not why. We should be asking you instead, why are you here?"
"That hybrid worm."
Andromeda's left brow raised, she looked at Shizuka, "You decoded it."
"Interesting, she was rejected by the Verstandt before but now she's one of few existence to decode it. So far, what have you understood of the Verstand project?" Aegis queried.
"The Verstandt first came into contact with the Søren family through Søren Eleonor. She was also one of the important matriarchs in the history of Boudica. I can safely assume that it's because of your existence."
"Continue." they both said in unison.
"There was a decline with the achievements of the children of Søren as each generation passed, this decline affected their prestige and power in Boudica. Nonetheless, each child in the Søren family was female... and achievers at that. There were no male heirs, was that also because of the Verstand?"
"In the end, a mortal is still a mortal. Believing in those fatalistic mythological nuances. Hasn't science proven it already that the gender of a child came from the sperm of men? It was not a causality from the Verstandt but a biological causality."
Upon hearing this, Shizuka could not help but laugh naively. "I see, still within the possibilities I expected."
"Other than that, I found out that the Verstand project began with Søren Prime. With the knowledge that was accumulated in the Verstand that was passed down to each Søren child, she put all of them together, programmed the Verstandt Project, and now we're here or at least that's how I understood it."
"Prime..." Aegis whispered then sighed heavily.
"Do tell us, though, how you intend to survive here." Andromeda urged.
"What do you mean by that?"
Aegis' eyes sparkled with curiosity, "Indeed! How do you intend to survive here?"
Understanding the gist of what they're saying, frankly speaking, "Play along. After all, they have Søren."
"Play along?"
"Play along?!"
"Mm. Since they kidnapped me up to Boudica, I have my value. I also have Boudican blood. They should be aware of that by now."
Andromeda: ....
Aegis: ....
"Don't worry, this mind of mine is beyond even me. I just filter. Back to topic. So, Søren is bound to that... thing."
The both of them nodded.
"Your existence, they know nothing of it, do they?"
They nodded again.
"Are there other humans who know of you?"
"They're dead."
"What you mean is Søren and I alone know of your existence? Don't nod yet." She stopped them, "What about Schneider?"
"Schneider is a fascinating Verstand, but he's mind is repelling us."
"As expected, no wonder." she marvelled before looking at the children, "How did Prime place you in here?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're beyond the Verstandt project."
Andromeda and Aegis looked at one another. Aegis nodded.
"We are but a creation of imagination from Eleonor. An idealistic entity that she perceived could help the human race. Having such thoughts, she molded us in her mind as though we are what you call in the present: computers with pre-progmmed highly efficient artificial intelligence. It's just that, we're installed inside minds not technology. She stored and stored all the knowledge and wisdom, even classified informations she gathered all over the world into us, the Verstand project. It was accumulated in her life and the lifetime of Sørens after her passing generously. You could say the children of the Søren bloodline were all above and beyond their peers for they saw life after life after life, treading the vicissitudes of mortality and history but not in an overwhelming manner. We just seem beyond it probably because of the foresight each Søren had. We were not bound by human fallacy or at least, that was how Prime hoped to program us when the knowledge of our existence reached her and with the technology of her time, we were given birth. However, the anomaly she wished to be far away from mutated the Verstandt project. We cannot go further, we were programmed only to answer questions within the scope of what you've uncovered thus far. You will have to open each segment hidden in the Verstand project to better understand that mutation."
"An intelligent autonomous mutation? A survival command..."
Andromeda and Aegis' eyes widened as they studied Shizuka and her words.
Andromeda cut off her line of thought, "We have come here to inform you that you are one of the probable heirs of the Verstand project. You are the one millionth thirty third possible heir."
Laughing she joked, "Don't tell me you've met and informed these people."
Answering seriously, Andromeda patiently explained, "You are the first to have been informed. Very few mortals can enter the Verstand without our help. Since there is no Søren inheritor this time around, we were pre-programmed to be sent to the most promising Verstand."
"Don't tell me it's me?" she asked sarcastically.
"Not at all. As we've said, you are the one millionth thirty third possible heir. That is also your rank. You are very far from possibly inheriting the Verstand. It's just that..."
"That?"
"How did you enter this realm?" Looking at Shizuka as if to find an answer.
Day 132
This line of hers seemed to have an immense power that it snapped her awake, returning to reality. Again, the glaring light attacked her. Closing her eyes, she adapted to the light. Opening them carefully, she saw a white ceiling with fluorescent lamps that were turned off. She was beside the window as the sun's rays continuously streamed in the room. Gazing at the window, she could see the field were soldiers were training.
Sitting with her knees to her chest as her arms embraced them this seemingly peaceful scenery seemed to disturb Shizuka. A dark foreboding of some sort, mumbling incoherently to herself.
"Ms. Yama, you're awake." Beatrice called out.
Looking to her left, Shizuka saw the woman she last saw before she was sedated. "It's you. How long was I asleep?" Her voice was a little dry and raspy.
"Approximately 29 hours."
"No wonder I feel so weak and vulnerable." She smiled weakly.
"Can you stand up?"
"I don't think so, I have vertigo whenever I've slept this long and without food or water at that."
"This happened before?"
"This would be the third in all my life."
"I see. I will send a nurse to help you later."
"Doctor, what is your name?"
"Beatrice."
"Doctor Beatrice, you smell of fresh lavender, is there a patch of lavender in the greenhouse here?"
Surprised, she nodded.
"I see. Do tell them... I know you know who I am referring to, that after cleaning myself up and eating my fill I will talk with them."
--------------------------------
A soldier saluted to another soldier guarding a door.
"By orders of General Xie, I come here with news regarding the Laniakean hostage²."
From inside, Xie Jin's voice ordered, "Come in."
The soldier guarding the door opened it and he moved away from the door.
"General, after a day, Doctor Beatrice reported she has woken up. She also said that the hostage is willing to speak with our military."
"It would be interesting to attend the meeting, inform general Oswald that I will just be at the hidden room listening to them. I will not interfere with her or any of the decisions the militia will come to choose."
"Sir, yes sir." the soldier saluted before leaving.
In the afternoon, at the conference room, men of high position were all seated in a round table.
Shizuka was seated in the midst of them.
A man with a lieutenant colonel rank stood in the podium stating, "Yama Shizuka, a Laniakean citizen. Born from Kurosaki Shino and Yama Satsuki. Currently an employed researcher of Tesda Corporation. Had been in contact with the Laniakean Military for the past four months. Had come in contact with the Boudican Code." he paused, adding, "The Boudican Government has brought you here for questioning, the code."
Shizuka kept quiet.
"Ms. Yama, the code."
"The code? What about it?"
This was within the expectations of everyone present, the lieutenant colonel took a remote on top of the podium and pressed a button, the wall behind him was actually a huge screen. It played Shizuka's confrontation on day 130.
"As you boldly stated yesterday, 'you are the bargaining chip.' We assume you know why you were brought here. It would be better if you learn to become nationalistic, for it would be a pity if a good seed like you would not honor your Boudican roots. Look at those Laniakeans, they couldn't even stop us from bringing you here."
Shizuka nodded, "Then, I'll give my conditions. One, give me back my phone. Don't worry, I won't contact anyone at all. I just want to read Webnovel. Two, give me decent food. Three, you won't change my protector, Kiefer Campbell was a spy you sent to infiltrate Laniakean Military, right? Four, I won't escape. I can't escape. So, let me go as I please here since there are eyes all over the place. Anyways, I don't even know where I am. There isn't much problem to that since I'm an introverted person. I keep to my room. Five, if you're going to send watchers. Send decent ones over, nothing like the degenerate that raped me. Six, I wouldn't mind cooperating. My life is on the line, isn't it? Either I live and help you, or I am buried with the secrets your government wish to keep. Seven, there are moral intricacies I dare not dabble in. Like that degenerate, if you force me, I will retaliate."
One of the men present was someone Shizuka recognized, it was Marshal Cross, Alexander Cross. One of the illustrious men who brought victory upon victory in the conquistador world during his time. Ushering the Boudican empire its immovable throne in the echelon of the Military World. The reason why she knows him so well other than his historical mark was because he was Søren's grandfather.
An intense killing intent pervaded her whole person when she locked eyes with Marshal Alexander. "I heard about you. Søren met you. We didn't take note of you then for she didn't invest much on your potential. But here you are, a deviant. Very much like that granddaughter of mine. Of all the children she formed relations with, you're the one who resembles her the most. From eccentricities to her grounded mentality. Promising, but mediocre. How did you know about Kiefer?"
"I guessed."
Marshal Alexander eyed her like a tiger eyeing its prey. Snorting, he then taunted, "You said you will not escape. Tell me, how do you intend to prove this?"
"Escaping will lead to death. Regardless of whether I obey or I fight back, this headquarters is situated in an unregistered region of the world map. This will already place my head in a big bounty. Moreover, Laniakean Government will also question my loyalty, as you've stated, I have Boudican Blood. Thirdly, I want to see Søren."
The old marshal laughed heartily, "Still brings delight even in the midst of my utter abhorrence of her being one of my blood child."
Another man, with the rank of vice admiral, responded more warmly, "Freedom is quite vague but you've already given the scope of your freedom. However, the moral boundary was quite incongruous. Child, speak clearly."
After deliberating her thoughts, she clarified, "Since you people promise that it would be beneficial for me to stay in Boudica, then let me play by its rules. Survival of the fittest, I will not let myself be treated like dirt, my capabilities alone can prove this."
Marshal Alexander spoke spitefully, "You think words alone are promising?"
"No. I know that in your central intelligence unit, there are but few people who could be at par with me, fewer are those more brilliant than me and yet none of them have the decoded the code except for me. I at least know my worth."
The vice admiral expressed his approval, "Then, show us what this code is capable of."
"Vice Admiral Hie!"
"Vice Admiral!"
"Hie, you lunatic!" Marshal Alexander shouted out in annoyance.
"I'm quite interested in what Prime left for her daughter, divorcing your son 10 years prior to the knowledge of the code and the birth of Versace, even willing to become a deserter just so we would not come to know all of this. Vanishing for over two decades until she died. Alexander, look at that child and remember your granddaughter who even with the use of artificial intelligence has not shown any sign at all about that code or her heritage."
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Beeping sounds could be heard as follows:
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•
•-•
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--
--•
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•-
•-•
•
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The beeping sound was repeating in a loop.
There was a woman, probably in her late 40s or early 50s listening intently to the beeping sound. After understanding the message, she called someone, "She found her."
Man: "Did she say we can move?"
Woman: "No, she just gave the gist so far."
Man: "The danger level?"
Woman: "High."
The other end became silent.
Woman: "Since she didn't ask us to move yet, she might do plan D."
Man: "I'll check on the situation and recalibrate zero."
Woman: "Mm... Schneider, make sure to bring them both back..."
Man: "I will. Even if I do otherwise, the both of them will make sure of that."
Woman: "Mm."
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~Awwwmossht food pwepwewayshion
Mama an papa awwways gib me dewishious food
Fwom shifood to pouwtwy, eben deyicashies
Mama an papa aysked me wat food I wanned chewday
and I said da 'cwab MmMm'
"Oh, the Bayon Crab Chowder?" mama shaid
Mosht pewpol yike yu don no dis
Ich diffwent fwom fwied cwabs an wat papa caws cwab schick
Ich a piping hawt shoup
But wen papa twied to cach da cwabs
Da cwabbies eyshcaped
An papa'sh fingwes had a booboo
Poow papa~
The general's quarters became silent after the whole ringtone was finished and started to go on a loop.
Conrad was very confused, he looked at his older cousin and asked, "Eggsie, what's with the ringtone? Don't tell me you're that excited to have kids with Aleksi?"
Egon ignored Conrad and looked at Levi, he saw his amused face and he pointed out, "You enjoying the personality of your future partner?"
Levi laughed at his remark, "You have no idea. As far as I know, this is really good. These ringtones were made so well no one has noticed what it's for, huh? The Central Intelligence Unit will soon have someone as reliable, if not more reliable then me, or at least part of our faction."
Out of nowhere, Major General Nietzsche voice bellowed, "Care to explain, soldiers?"
¹ The 1-2-3-4-5 is a grounding method for people having psychological episodes or attacks. It helps them return to a more tangible reality.
² Hostage: the word hostage that will be used here is the Egyptian meaning of the word.
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