This has the usual warnings of The Nano Age, it's not meant for the faint of heart.
On another note, the first part was partially improvised, due to the nuclear war that happened, the next two parts less weird. Another note, Narishima's Dream is about the sinking of a cruiser at port due to the Mitsubishi Scandal.
Iris (June 26th 2098)
I watch as Manaka is flung into the wall by the explosion, slumping against it, her head bright with blood where it hit. “God damnit.” I grab Manaka and drag her deeper into the facility, following several guards deeper and deeper. Eventually, we get to a breakroom where several staff members wait out the attack. I look back at Manaka whose wounds are already starting to heal. “These Nanobots sure are useful.” She groans a choked pained sound and keeps her eyes closed. One of the staff looks at Iris, “Do you know why we were attacked?” “How would I know?” The staff member winces, “Sorry, I just haven’t been able to get news since the air-raid siren.” Manaka rubs her head, “Iriss?” She slurred her word. “Morning, sleeping beauty.” “Ohhhhh! Iriiiss! My heaad isss spinninggg!” Manaka tries to stand up but Nomura jumps on Manaka, weighing her down, wrapping her arms around her. “No! No standing up.” Iris chuckles. “You should rest up Manaka.” “Whyyyyyy?” “You got a concussion and lost a lot of blood.” Manaka leans against the wall, eyes half closed. “Fineeee, cann I sleeep?”” “Sure. Nomura will keep watch on you.” Manaka slips back into sleep.
Nomura (June 26th 2098)
Help. What do I do. Do I let go? No… Uhhhh… “Iris help.” “With?” “What do I do?” “Just stay like you are. You’re doing great.” “B-but I’m not doing anything.” “Yes you are. You’re keeping Manaka warm. That helps with blood circulation.” I just noticed that I am bright red. HELP! “Oh you poor thing. You need to get over your shyness. You can’t just be an organic heating pad for the rest of your life.” AHHHHHH!!! STOP! “Here, let go. We can make some soup for Manaka when she wakes up again.” Manaka moves in her sleep, cuddling closer, “pillow……” “Iris hellppppp…” Iris only laughs at me. So meannnn… “Guess you’re a pillow now Nomura. Hope you do your job good.” I pout. “You’re mean.” “I know.” Manaka makes a small happy sound in her sleep. I bury my face in her. I can feel the other people staring at me. “This is so embarrassing…” “Tell you what, keep care of Manaka and I’ll get you whatever you want.” That’s called bribery isn’t it? In her sleep, Manaka mutters, “Old hag…” Iris chirps up. “I’m even tormenting her in her dreams! What an honour.” “Atlas..” Iris walks over kicking Manaka’s leg. “IRIS WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” “Nanobots should have done their work already. Wakey wakey Manaka.” Her eyes open wide, “F**k, what is it, Iris, why did you wake me u- Where are we?” “Morning sleepyhead. You just survived a missile strike. Congrats.” “yippee.” Manaka looks at me. “Hi Nomura, mind letting go, it’s a bit uncomfortable around my chest.” “No. Iris told me to be a pillow.” “No I didn’t.” Manaka’s eyes glaze for a couple seconds. “Iris, don’t lie, I was recording everything.” Manaka adjusts herself so she gets more comfortable. I glow up bring red. “H-hiiii.” I can look her right in the eyes. “Pillow.” “nooooooo….” Manaka stretches and stands up. “What now.” “Guess you got a new companion now.” Iris looks at me. “You can let go you know?” “No.” Manaka struggles a little and falls back on me. “Owwwwww…” Manaka struggles some more. Iris walks over and pries me away from Manaka. As she stands up, Iris picks me up and… hands me over to Manaka? “Here. It’s yours now.” “A little bean just for me? I love having beans!” Manaka chuckles and ruffles my hair before setting me down. I make a small noise of embarrassment. The mountain shakes a little and secondary alarms start going off. Iris looks annoyed. “And we leave yet again…” Manaka scoffs, “Apparently half of Kaikoma is in danger of collapsing and they’re evacuating the mountain.” Manaka stands up and stumbles, “S**t, can we see if our rooms are safe to check?” “You can try. I for one am taking Nomura out of here. I still have the supervisional duty.” “I’ll meet up with you at Airbase Kaikoma” “I suppose so.” I watch Manaka leave the room. I hate being small. I feel like a child.
Manaka (June 26th 2098)
I exhale as I continue my walk to our rooms, or more accurately, what's left of them. My room is sort of still there but the rest of this area is almost destroyed. I grab my laptop and YES MY JACKET SURVIVED! I put it on quickly and put on a backpack… I’m curious. I walk into Iris’s Office, which is slightly messed up but is still sorta there. I search her files and instructions. I read some s**t about myself I rightfully don’t care about… Oh Nomura’s gonna get the implants at some point? Poor bean. What the- The mountain shook… What’s that rumbling sound? S**t. I run out of the room and check my internal map and GPS for the closest exit. The mountain is collapsing! I slide under an emergency door that’s closing and run out of the mountain to watch half of the mountain collapse in on itself. “Holy cr*p” I send a message to Iris’s implant, ‘You alive’ I get a message back, ‘Unfortunately.’ I shoot a response, ‘Are you going to tell Nomura she’s going to get implants too?’ I get a reply. ‘Nope.’ I sigh and walk faster, toward the airbase.
I wave at the ElconAC guards, showing them my ID card. The specialist, respectably, stares me down. “You’re Eriko Manaka? Miss Iris and Lady Nomura are that way. I respect Nomura more than the crazy doc.” I like this Specialist. I walk that way, walking past some freaky-looking airplanes. An… XAF-17? Whatever that is. I continue walking and meet up with Iris and Nomura. “I survived a mountain collapsing on my face.” “I did too sadly.” “Stop saying stuff like that Iris!” Nomura pouts. I scowl at Iris, “Tell Nomura your orders or I will tell her myself.” “Go ahead. Not like I can execute them now anyways.” I explain to Nomura about some of Iris’s orders being to give her implants as well. “So I would have become a cool cyborg like you?!” Nomura lights up. I laugh, surprised, “Well- yeah.” Iris looks at me. “It would surprise you to learn how many people actually want what you got, Manaka.” I raise my eyebrows, “My implants are only slightly usefu-” I realize what Iris said. oh. well. “I’m embarrassed.” I hear rumbling in the background, “Hey Iris, did you hear that?” “Hear what?” “The thunder going on.” Iris looks at me confused and I notice something… “Iris…” I point at the sky, where we can see hundreds, no, thousands… “Iris… are those missiles?” “Most likely. Didn’t you hear about the war going on?” I blink, “There’s a war?” I check the news and proceed to curse. A lot. “A NUCLEAR EXCHANGE!?” “Idiots with too much power having a cock measuring contest. God bless the world if they all die.” A many loud wooshes happen close to the base and I cover my ears as 5 deadly looking missiles fly out of silos next to the base. “Ow… Nomura, are your ears okay?” “Owwwwwww…” Nomura has tears in her eyes. Iris instead only looks after the missiles. “And thus, the Japanese respond, dooming thousands to their early grave…” I start running to the command centre, “Iris, Nomura, come on!” Iris picks up Nomura and walks after me. I run into the command center locking eyes with the general in command of the base, “What’s going on!? First the mountain collapses, then this!?” “Two unrelated events.” I catch my breath, attempting to regain composure and act like a woman instead of the teenager I am, “General Tijao, what exactly is happening, if you can, please lay it out for me, my friend and Miss Iris.” “The outbreak of that war between the United States and the Soviets gave the opportunity for the unruly people of the Confederation to rise up against us. Intel suggests that the attack on the mountain was perpetrated by a ship of the Ainu Kingdom.” I sigh in a confused manner, “And can you tell me why my friend had her ears nearly blasted out by Nuclear ICBMs?” “That was done under the order of the Ajakon Confederal Missile Corps. It’s out of my hands.” I shudder, trepidation and fear rushing through my body, “So we just launched nuclear weapons in anger at the Russians?” “Unfortunately, yes.” I close my eyes, realizing what that means, “That means we’re gonna get hit back, aren’t we…” “We’ll have to wait and see.” I nod and look at the tactical display, waiting for what’s coming.
The Jyu (Current)
“Political Officer Laila, tell me on the current radiation levels in the air outside of the Jyu.” Narishima snapped at Laila, her patience worn thin after multiple months at sea. “Do I look like a radiation scientist to you?” “No, but I do expect you to be able to figure out relatively simple calculations using Jyu’s sensor suite.” One of the technicians giggles a little on accident and she quickly tries to turn it into a cough. “What do you have your officers for if I have to do everything for them?” Narishima gives an annoyed glare at her, “Well, I have no officer that can easily check the sensor suite unless my Comms officer wants to come from their first sleep in 48 hours. “Seems like your problem.” Laila sits down and makes herself comfortable, giving a smug smile to Narishima. Narishima raises her eyebrow as the helmsman ‘accidentally’ spins the helm, making the ship do a quite intense manoeuvre, easily flinging Laila out of her chair. Narishima coughs and gets on the intercom, “I apologise, crewmembers of the Jyu, it seems our Navigation officer did a ‘funny’ he will be cenured, but be nice to him.” She chuckles as she sets the receiver down and looks at Laila, who’s coffee is spilled all over her shirt, face, and hair, “You made quite a mess of yourself Laila.” She’s trying not to smirk. “What, like the view or something?” Laila makes her way back to her room, giving Narishima the finger on her way out. Narishima sighs and checks the rad level herself, “It would be unhealthy to be outside the ship, crew, I suggest staying inside still. Please note we are at… 47.17, 145.42. We will be heading further south, to see if Ajako survived the war. If it did, the Kingdom will continue its plan, if it didn’t, the Kingdom will inherit its plan. Does everyone understand?” Narishima smiles, “No questions! Great, lets continue to go back south.”
The ship continues on, with Narishima occasionally calling out their latitude and longitude and radiation level.Eventually, as they are slowly passing Rebun Island, Narishima stands up and stretches “Alright, everyone, Alpha shift is over, Bravo shift, please go to stations, Captain leaving the bridge. The air is now clean enough to be on the deck for medium length periods without long term effects.”
Narishima gets up and leaves the bridge and goes to her cabin. After a shower, she is laying on her bed in her bra and pyjama pants. She sings a quiet nursery song her mother taught her and dozes off.
A red gas fills the room, sending Narishima into a deep sleep. Her dream turns into a nightmare as she relives her worst memory…
Narishima’s Dreamscape
“Captain Narishima, we are ready to depart.” I nod at my tactical officer, “Lets go carefully, Navigation officer.” He nods at me and gives the order for the ship to leave port. The air smells like rotten eggs… “Bridge to Engineering, there’s something up with the air up here, can you send someone to check it out?” “This is Engineering, we have an issue with the nuclear reactor, Bridge, standby.” Alarm bells go off in my head. huh? “Engineering, what do you mean?” “We are dealing with a bad nuclear reactor.” But… a fusion reactor wouldn’t do that? “Engineering to Bridge, this is wrong, we need to return to drydocks.” “Roger that Engineering.” I look at the navigation officer, “Turn us around, Lieutenant, we need to get back to the dock.” My ship starts turning- what the- loud popping is occurring throughout the hull? The ship flops on its side, its hull integrity completely- ruined- w-why what’s- no no no no! “BRIDGE TO ENGINEERING, REPORT!” I shout into the receiver, panicked. There’s no response and I hear an alert going off, the radiation alarm… this is wrong.. Why why why… I struggle to move, the ship quickly filling with water, “Evacuate the ship! Call for help from the shore!” I notice the Comms officer is unconscious, her body limp in the chair, blood slowly dripping from her forehead. I curse and radio to shore myself. “Kobe-Actual to Port Control, Kobe-Actual to Port Control, Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is the ACNC Kobe, Port Control, respond!” I said the last few words with desperation. “This is Port Control, Kobe-Actual, what did you do!?” “No time for questions! We need immediate rescue and emergency services!” I hear the man talking off the radio and while he does that I grab the unconscious comms officer and drag her to an area safer from the water now getting in the bridge.. Is the ship on fire now too!? “Kobe Actual to Port Control, the bridge is filling with water, I can not remain in the bridge, I repeat, I can not remain in the bridge.” I drop the receiver and run to where the rest of the bridge crew has evacuated to. “Stay here crew, I’m going to go help evacuate the interior ship.” The navigation officer pushes me, “It’s all your fault Narishima!” w-wha? “If you had noticed the ship was this badly built quicker more people would’ve survived!” i… “I-” “There is no ‘I’ Narishima, half the ship died from you not being good enough, now look at yourself, you betrayed Ajako for a half-country that would shoot missiles at children if they were a threat. You truly are the lowest scum in history, Narishima.” I fall to my knees and cry. Suddenly everything around me turns black. Silence. Only two footsteps are heard and a hand falls on my shoulder. I turn around, tears streaming down my face. “Laila?”
“So that’s what happened.” I stare at her in confusion, “How are you… in my dream?” “Gas grenade from those labs in Crete. They were used on people who refused to budge on interrogations. Due to their nature they were classified as torture devices. Pretty clever stuff.” I narrow my eyes. I am still angry at Laila… but at least she knows my pain now, “Hm.” Laila squats down to me. “They discharged you to cover up their own corruption?” “It’s more complicated then that.” I look at Laila, “The Naval Force of Ajako didn’t know it was the company that was corrupt and the company pinned the blame on me and my crew and I guess you know how that ended for me.” I pin Laila with a small look, “I joined the Ainu Kingdom Navy to have a chance at being on the water again because I love being a ship captain. They killed me when they said I couldn’t command a ship ever again. This is like, my last chance.” “They found out later didn’t they?” “Mitsubishi is now around 5 different companies being overseen by the government itself I think.” “So why didn’t they allow you back?” “I- I was dishonourably discharged, you think anyone’s gonna let me back?” “That’s what we do in Ainu. We may seem like a proud people but we can admit our mistakes.” “But you’re willing to kill my nation’s culture. Now don’t get me wrong, I support your cause, it’s just, isn’t there a more peaceful way?” “Japan took our nation and tried to wipe our people out systematically for hundreds of years. We were not recognised as a separate people until Imperialists forced it on them. We Ainu want nothing more but to be masters of our own fate. We know it cannot happen with the Japanese as a majority in our isles. There is no other way. Too much blood has been spilt already.” I mull over that… Laila’s not wrong. “Do you think the Confederation thinks the same way as the many Japans before it?” “Token autonomy to seem open to others may suggest a friendly face from the outside but Japan remains Japan, no matter how many times it changes its name. The Prime Minister has near dictatorial powers but in her absence the Military has taken over administration. We know the Military wants to see us dead. You wouldn’t know since the news always get censored but the military has made several incursions into our lands to massacre our people. I have seen it first hand.” What? “That’s… impossible... Isn’t it? IANO is hardly ever censored, it’s privately owned even? I can’t see the military doing it…” “You remember the many reports of outbreaks of diseases in Ainu? How they always ‘evacuated’ the villages but how it never seemed to spread to the major cities?” I… !@#$. “It couldn’t have been the 1st Combined right?” It couldn’t’ve been… war crimes in my own nation… no no no, this can’t be right. “I don’t know the exact perpetrators. Always without badges but you can hear them bark their orders in Japanese. I know one of the locations. I can show you there when we get back on land.” “Or, hear me out, or we tell someone that has connections to the military and ask them to investigate.” “And then what? Have their top generals cover it up, shoot more civilians in reprisal for leaking what has happened and then destroying any notion of press freedom?” “I knew the leader of the 1st Combined, we could ‘talk’ to her about it. Of course, that means using your interesting abilities to get a conversation with her.” I wince about what I’m suggesting, a kidnapping of an official of the Ajakon Army. Laila suddenly looks a bit flustered. “Well, before you continue that thought…” I tilt my head, “Huh? What do you mean?” “Well… This gas was never really perfected, mainly because of the collapse of the country that made it. While it isn’t dangerous, it does require… physical contact to enter a subject’s mind.” Oh god. “Wake. Me. Up.” “I can’t. We’ll wake up on our own at some point. I’m just as stuck here as you are.” Well dangit. “I’m gonna try something.” I proceed to slap Laila in the face. “That’s a bit mean. If you’re so worried about your sleeping attire, I put a shirt on you before I got here.” “Wha?” “The effects of the gas last a while. It’s likely the crew will reach us before we wake up.” “You know, I really hate you sometimes.” “You’re not the first, nor the last. Make yourself comfy in this infinite darkness. We’ll be here for a while.” My voice is dry, “Yay, I’m so happy.” “I am well aware.” “Please tell me you were fully dressed before this. I don’t want to be embarrassed by the crew.” “Why would I leave my room without being fully clothed? Wait, have you been watching me sleeping?” ”No, but at least I can say you snuck into my room to be a creep.” “How nice of you.” “Better than pretending to be in a romance or something stupid like that.” “It’d be funny if they don’t believe you.” A dumb smirk forms on her face, “What did you do Laila.” I glare at her. “I didn’t do nothing. Only problem is, when I say physical contact I mean it. At the moment it’d basically look as if we’re snuggling together.” ohno. I flush. “Eh?” “Blame the Greeks, not me!” Laila yells defensively, evidently also flushed. I pace the void place. “So, about kidnapping the 1st Combined’s General.” “I dunno about you but I’d prefer not to sleep for about 8 hours together with a high value hostage while being basically undefended.” I glare at her, “We are not using this grenade again unless we have to. I was thinking just normal interrogation.” “They don’t have a reason to talk.” “Fine. Do I snore?” “No, you actually looked quite peaceful through my gasmask.” huh. “Maybe the gas has sedative effects though.” I sit down. “Did you know Akimoto is a Ryukyuan?” “Hm?” “Akimoto isn’t from the mainland Japanese ethnical group.” “Oh, you mean from the Island Monarchy that Japan destroyed?” “Yeah, the one that the Imperial Army kind of just took apart.” “Wasn’t there also that liver-desease period of American Occupation after that great conquest the media keeps shaming?” “Eh? Does the Kingdom have different news then mainland Japan?” “Could be? Every time I turn on the Radio it’s just ‘Imperial Japan this, Imperial Japan that, so many victims’. I worry about the poor shmuck that’s getting payed to spew all that every day.” “huh.” That seems wrong, “Well, Akimoto has never pretended to be a Prime Minister, it’s common knowledge that she’s a dictator.” “The fact that your people are just fine with the undermining of their democracy should be more concerning to you.” she gives me a very confused stare, “What do you know about Akimoto?” “The usual. Overambitious politician, silly speeches, obsession with boats and ships and a behaviour that even brought the ever-serious Germans into a state of confusion.” “That’s true. But she’s also brought us through multiple wars with little damage to Ajako.” “Correct. Little damage to Japan.” Damn if only I had my phone. “Oh, that reminds me. If your vision starts to blur that means the effects are wearing off and you’ll wake up soon.” I sigh, “What does Ainu say about GiC Todomaru?” “Who?” “The woman who took command of Japan because of the ‘Sunburn’ thing.” “Never heard that name.” “Well, she’s the current General in Command of the Ajakon Army.” “And her predecessors?” “Haruto himself and Joshuyo.” “So, when did this ‘Todomaru’ come to command the army?” “After Joshuyo retired to marry his girlfriend, apparently Todomaru was chosen by the government to replace him.” “Do you have a specific date?” “Around a year ago.” “Right. Who’s that Joshuyo fellow you just mentioned?” “Oh, he was the GiC since Haruto died, so he’s been the GiC for around 10 years. “You said he ran off to marry his girlfriend?” “He retired to marry Fujitana.” “Who’s that?” “44th Division General.” “Also retired I presume?” “Yeah.” Ugh.. my eyes are blurry… “I think I’m waking up.” “Yeah, the gas is losing its effects.”
I groan as I wake up - with Laila clinging to me. “MY HEADCANON IS TRUE!!!!!” I yelp as the Tactical officer squeals, “WAIT WAIT WAIT, NO, NOTOMARA, WE WEREN’T-” in that moment Laila slowly rises from her cling, yawning. “Laila. Getoff.” Laila rolls over to the other side of the bed, still not opening her eyes, but stealing MY blanket and sharkie. Notomara smiles and giggles, “You two were hiding a romance weren’t you!” I start choking. Laila, hiding a mischievous smile, nods slightly. I glare at her. Tra- wait she actually- whatthef**k? I snatch my blanket back, triggering a surprised and annoyed yelp from Laila. I quickly make my retreat into the bathroom to hide from notomara who was recording the entire incident. Notomara giggles mischievously “I am sharing this to the entire ship!” I squeal in embarrassment. I exit the bathroom, attempting to take notomara’s phone before she does something stupid. “Laila stop her!” Laila instead doesn’t move an inch. Her face is completely red. Embarrassed much. I look at Notomara. “Tell you what, don’t post that video, and me and Laila will attempt to be friends with each other.” She hmmms at me, “Laila, do you agree with this?” Laila half mumbles “noooo, you can’t take my life-force away from meeee…” Me and Notomara instantly said at the same time, “Too bad.” “Keep it up and I’ll smooch you on the bridge!” Laila mumbles into the mattress. “Bet.” I say back, blushing a little. “Bet.”
Part 2
