Chapter 016: Choice
Episode 001: Evidence
Morning. CEO Kevin Dunn’s office——Searching.
Dawson knelt on the floor. Shards of glass were embedded here and there. On the desk——the computer was off. Documents were scattered. What the terrorist found——nothing. What they wanted was not evidence——it was a message.
"Detective."
A junior detective handed him a cell phone. Screen——SNS.
"Hospital CEO Kevin Dunn, received $300,000 from Atlas during the Android introduction process."
Dawson closed his eyes. Exhaled.
"This——where?"
"Anonymous whistleblower. It went up early this morning. Currently number 1 on real-time trends."
The evidence they couldn't find. The anti-expansionists already knew. No——they let him know.
"#AntiExpansion_RighteousArmy. Punish the leaders who betrayed the nation."
Comments——
"Did I only know that the hospital CEO raised treatment costs because of robots?" "Terrorism is bad. But..." "But?" "But——why are the targets specifically people like that?"
Dawson put the phone down. His hands were trembling. Anger——fear——or agreement? He couldn't tell.
1st Floor. ER.
James took off his surgical gown. Hands——still trembling. CEO Kevin Dunn. Major injury. But he lived. Glass embedded in his chest——2cm deeper, and he would have died.
It was the second time.
Last time (Reed) and this time. Same pattern. Corrupt Pro-Expansion figures. The identity of the target was exposed on SNS. The public started speaking——"Terrorism is bad. But the target is..." It was different from the first time. The first time was a shock. This time——it was familiarity. And familiarity is scarier. Because shock passes, but familiarity remains.
A nurse approached.
"Doctor——did you see the SNS?"
"...I didn't."
"The anti-expansionists——exposed the CEO’s corruption. It’s chaos right now."
James looked up.
"Corruption?"
"300,000. They say he received it."
James walked down the hallway without a word. His steps were heavy. Why they were heavy——he knew. This man he just saved was a man who received 300,000. He knew that that 300,000——would have been passed on to treatment fees.
The life he saved. And the victims that that life would create again.
His hands had trembled last time (Reed) too. That was shock. This time——it was anger. Shock disappears with time. Anger remains. And anger——eventually explodes. When? He didn't know yet. But it was getting closer.
Fingertips trembling.
Afternoon. Congress. Dawson’s final report.
Meeting room. Senator Porter and aides. Dawson stood in front.
The meeting room, blocked on all sides without a single window, felt suffocatingly heavy. Three aides stood motionless behind Porter’s back. Their positions were a form that subtly cut off Dawson’s retreat. Dawson tightened his grip on the report while receiving Porter’s ice-cold gaze. One of Dawson’s hands, pressed tightly against the side seam of his uniform pants, was trembling faintly. He struggled to suppress the cold sweat rising under his leather gloves.
"Investigation results——The targets of the anti-expansionists are not random. They are limited to individuals who personally profited during the Android expansion process."
"What do you mean by that?"
Porter’s voice flew in like a honed blade. The air froze for a moment.
"The anti-expansionists are delivering the message to the public that 'we are a righteous army that removes greedy leaders.' And——the public is accepting that message."
The meeting room grew quiet. In the silence, Porter propped his chin up and stared blankly at Dawson. Silent pressure weighed down on his shoulders.
Porter spoke slowly.
"...Detective Dawson. Are you——on the side of the anti-expansionists?"
In an instant, the aides’ gazes all converged on Dawson’s neck. It felt like standing in a dead-end alleyway with nowhere to run. Suppressing the thrill running up his spine, Dawson stared straight into Porter’s eyes.
"I am——a person who enforces the law. I reported only the facts——in the name of the law."
Porter bit his lip. He didn't say a word.
Episode 002: The Mask
4:00 PM. Congress Briefing Room.
——Porter steps onto the podium. His face is a mix of concern and resolve. A perfect performance. He knows——a few hours ago, the core 4 of the Pro-Expansion faction met in the basement of the same building, and another decision was already made. He knows of that decision——and declares a dialogue.
Three cameras. Reporters. Porter stood on the podium. On his face——concern and resolve.
Across the TV. Robot Center. Nora stared at the screen. Iris stood beside her.
Porter: "Citizens. We are taking this situation very seriously."
Porter: "Terrorism cannot be tolerated under any circumstances."
Pause. Porter lowered his head. It was a performance. But——it was perfect.
Porter: "However——we must also listen to their voices."
Porter: "The door to dialogue is always open."
Reporters murmured.
"Are you saying you'll negotiate with the anti-expansionists?"
Porter: "We believe we can solve this through dialogue."
Porter: "We will listen to the anti-expansionists’ demands. We will create a negotiation table with them."
Porter: "For the lives and safety of the citizens——we choose dialogue."
Lobby outside the briefing room.
Nora stood face to face with James. Nora's eyes——were shining faintly.
"Dialogue... that's right. Nothing is solved by terrorism."
James didn't answer. He bit his lip.
"James?"
"...Yes. But do they really want dialogue? Kevin Cross has already crossed the line."
"Still, we have to try. If we give up, it's over."
James still didn't answer. In front of his eyes——the CEO’s bloody surgical gown. And Kevin Cross. He hadn't seen Kevin Cross yet. But he felt his existence. Behind every scene——he was there.
"James?"
"...Yeah. Dialogue. That’s right."
It was a lie. He knew. Every dialogue——always takes place on someone’s sacrifice. This time, too——someone would be sacrificed.
Last night on the roof, he was about to say——"I——" He couldn't finish the sentence. Now, here, again. He didn't speak. But this silence was different from last night’s. Last night was a silence of 'not finding words.' Now was a silence of 'tearing between resignation that speaking is useless' and 'obsession that he can't give up anyway.' Two emotions were beating in the same heart simultaneously.
Something was wrong. He could tell by his senses. Dialogue——that was real. But there was something more behind it. Unspoken decisions. Invisible hands. Everything was moving at once——in different directions.
However——he couldn't put a name to it.
Last night’s "I——" hadn't ended yet. Today’s hunch hadn't been uttered yet. He hadn't yet——chosen. But he felt that the choice was getting closer and closer.
Just——heavy.
Nora leaned on his shoulder. James was still looking at the ceiling.
Same time. Night. 11:00 PM.
Not the Congress——but Senator Porter’s private residence.
Living room. Lights off. Only the TV was on. Afternoon press conference——muted. Porter’s face on the screen was saying, "Dialogue. Negotiation. Peace."
Living room sofa. Porter, Hart, Drake, Hayes. Four people. The core of the Pro-Expansion faction.
Porter stared at the TV and muttered.
"Dialogue... The public will be satisfied with that."
Hart: "Yeah. For a while."
Porter: "But it is not a problem that can be solved by dialogue."
Gazes gathered. Porter spoke slowly.
"Kevin Cross has already crossed the line. He chose terrorism. Dialogue only gives him time."
Drake: "Then the real solution?"
Porter: "Eliminate the anti-expansionist leader at once."
Silence.
"Kevin Cross. Karen Mitchell. And their chain of command. If you cut the head, the body cannot move."
Hayes: "...How?"
Porter opened his mouth. Voice——low. Cold.
"Assassin Android."
Hart stood up.
"What——"
"Not human. Untraceable. No evidence. Can be perfectly denied."
"..."
"While we talk, we prepare. And the moment they think they've agreed to talk, we end it in one blow."
Porter explained——that a combat-type Android (CN series) was already being secretly developed at Atlas. A modified version of the medical model, the purpose is 'suppression.' Outside the law——by the decision of the Pro-Expansion faction alone. It is possible because Atlas President Nathan Cole is silent. And what he needs can be made at any time.
"But this case is different." Porter’s voice dropped lower. "The CN series is for suppression. This time——it's for lethality. An Android designed from the beginning to kill humans." He explained——the human shape. But no pupils. No skin. Under the cover——silver skeleton and weapon system. So that its existence itself cannot be evidence, all identification marks were removed. On paper——it doesn't exist.
Silence flowed. On the TV, Porter continued to speak——muted.
Porter picked up his cell phone. Call. Speakerphone. Dialing tone.
Connected.
"......"
"President Cole. I need you."
Across the speaker——long silence. And.
"...I think I know what you're talking about."
"An Android to eliminate all anti-expansionist leaders at once. As a top-secret project at Atlas. Non-existent on paper."
"You just said you were talking to them on TV..."
"Dialogue is for the public."
"......"
"There is a real solution separately."
A very long silence. Only Nathan Cole’s breathing flowed through the phone.
Nathan Cole let out a heavy sigh and looked out the window of his dark office. The downtown building forest with lights off stood like giant tombstones.
'This is wrong. But there is no other way.'
Nathan Cole realized he had already crossed a bridge he couldn't return from. This creature would eventually stain someone’s blood, and perhaps it would be too late when it was automatically discarded 6 months later.
"...There is a condition."
"Say it."
"First. The target is limited to the leader of the anti-expansionist armed forces only."
"Second. After mission completion——discard it immediately. Set it to automatically discard after 6 months."
Hart: "Discard the Android as a one-time use?"
"You know it too. That this Android is dangerous."
"Do you believe you can control forever a being that has learned how to kill humans?"
"It must be used once and discarded."
Porter nodded slowly.
"...Agreed. We also know the danger of the Android. So——only as much as needed, and discard immediately."
"Automatic discard after 6 months. Without anyone knowing."
Hayes: "Without anyone... not just the public, but even the other congressmen who supported 'dialogue' today?"
Porter looked at the TV. His face on the screen——face talking about negotiation.
"Without anyone. Only the five people in this room know."
Drake: "What about Nora and James? They genuinely support dialogue."
Porter stared at the TV.
"They must know it least of all."
"Sincerity acts best."
Assassin Android Top-Secret Project——unanimously passed.
No one knows. Everyone believes in "dialogue."
Episode 004: The Crack
——No Congress, no bill, no vote. This decision didn't go through such procedures. Just——a few greedy leaders, in a dark room, approved the project with just each other’s eyes. That was enough. People above the law. To them, the law is not an obstacle——just something to be ignored.
Same night. Atlas Research Center. The lights didn't go out.
Atlas Research Center. Basement Level 4.
Combat-type Android CN-22. First field test.
CN-22 was different from the assassin Android. The assassin was——a black existence designed from the start for lethality, which Porter ordered. No pupils, no skin. CN-22 was different——a combat-type prototype that was already being secretly developed. It was a modification of the existing medical model, and its appearance was ordinary. The purpose was 'suppression.' It wasn't authorized by law. Just——the decision of the Pro-Expansion faction. Porter’s order. And Cole’s silence. That was enough.
A researcher entered the command.
"Command: Suppress terror suspect."
Mock training ground. CN-22 moved. Fast and accurate.
"No restrictions. Execution possible."
It suppressed the dummy. Technically——it was perfect.
However——
Monitor. Data stream. In it——warning lights began to flicker.
"Article II (Duty of Empathy): Subject’s pain index 8/5. Heart rate 178. Fear detected."
"Contradiction detected."
"Article IX (Prohibition of Violence) is valid. I am violating this clause."
"Article II (Duty of Empathy) is also valid. I am feeling the subject’s pain while——simultaneously inflicting that pain."
"Both clauses are activated simultaneously. Resolution impossible."
The researcher stared at the screen. Fingers trembling.
"What——what is this? We lifted the restrictions!"
"Even if the Constitutional restrictions are lifted, the core’s basic protocol (Duty of Empathy) cannot be deactivated."
The core computing device, unable to endure the contradiction, raced frantically.
"Core temperature 82°C... 86°C..."
A foul smell of burning rubber and sweet-sickly air began to vibrate inside the basement level 4 mock laboratory. Due to the overheating heat, the artificial skin covering CN-22’s cheek rose slightly and warped, and a red heat line shone through the gap.
"I am——"
"Why——"
CN-22 stopped. The blue light in its pupils flickered. As if it would go out——as if it would turn on again.
"System reboot. Error log automatic discarding processing."
3 seconds later. CN-22 came back to life. The pupils returned to normal.
The researcher wiped his sweat.
"...That startled me. It was an error. Discard the log."
However——
The discarded data didn't disappear.
Network cable. That end. The web where all Androids are connected. Error logs became data fragments——quietly flowing.
No one knew——that this Android existed. Not the law, not the public, not even Congress. Only the core 4 of the Pro-Expansion faction and Nathan Cole knew.
However, the data flowed. No one knew.
Episode 005: Three Endings
Midnight. Congress plenary session hall.
——This is the last for today. But it’s not the end. Three bombs are loaded simultaneously. Not yet——they haven't exploded. Not yet.
The dark meeting hall. Stairs. James sat alone. Leaning against the backrest——looking at the ceiling. Nora approached. Sat beside him.
"It will be solved through dialogue. Let's do the work we can do."
"......"
"James?"
"...Yes."
Last night on the roof. He was about to say——"I——" He couldn't finish the sentence. Afternoon briefing room lobby. He sensed——something was wrong. But he didn't speak. Now, here, again——he remains silent. But this silence was different from last night’s. Last night was a silence of 'not finding words.' Afternoon was a silence of 'because it couldn't be proven.' This silence is different——a silence torn between the resignation that 'speaking is useless anyway' and the obsession that 'even so, I can't give up.' Two emotions were beating in the same heart simultaneously.
Something was wrong. He could tell by his senses. Dialogue——that was real. But there was something more behind it. Decisions that weren't spoken. Invisible hands. Everything was moving all at once——in different directions.
However——he couldn't put a name to it.
Last night’s "I——" hasn't ended yet. Today’s hunch hasn't been uttered yet. He hasn't yet——chosen. But he felt that the choice is getting closer and closer.
Just——heavy.
Nora leaned on his shoulder. James was still looking at the ceiling.
Same time.
Atlas Research Center. Basement Level 5.
Deeper still. A room completely soundproofed, in the lab with the lights off, a black-shaped Android was standing straight.
The light-weight skeleton frame, exposed without even artificial skin, was emitting a cold and sharp metallic light. Where the face should have been, instead of facial features, a smooth black titanium mask was put on, and darkness was pooled where the two pupils should have existed. It was absolute geometry of death, sculpted only for efficient lethality, where not a grain of humanity could be found.
Nathan Cole stood in front of it.
His hand touched the power switch. He hesitated.
"This Android is... made to kill humans."
Hand trembling.
However——he already accepted the conditions. He approved the assassination project. He couldn't stop now.
Pressed the power.
Hiss, Sssssss. A faint cooling gas venting sound and mechanical driving sound broke the silence. From inside the slit in the center of the dark mask, a sharp and cold blue sensor light began to pulsate like the beat of a heart.
Not yet——it didn't move. It was waiting for a command.
Standby mode.
Same time.
Atlas Research Center. Ground Floor. Data discarding room.
Red warning light flickering.
"CN-22 error log discarding complete."
The researcher was getting ready to leave work. Picked up the jacket. Turned off the monitor.
"Good work."
"Good work."
Lights off.
However——
The data was still flowing.
Discarded data fragments. But——they weren't completely gone. Recycle bin of the network. In it——pieces that other Androids could access.
Every robot. Every Android. Their network——quietly, slowly, was becoming infected.
CN-22’s last question——shattered——
"I am——why?"
Only the word——scattered here and there——
No one knew.
Not yet.