Chaos in Kadoma Ward – Chapter 2

The shuttle comes to a stop on an open landing field, a large slab of concrete surrounded by long grass whipping around in the wind. The main terminal, shuttles zooming in and out of ports and trains carrying people to and from the city, is over a quarter kilometer away. I gotta hand it to them. These people know all about isolation. Between the exile of Shiroi Nami, and the way everyone kept to themselves in the temple, they have this down to a science.

But I can’t blame them. If I were them, I wouldn’t let a bunch of strangers walk into my main spaceport either. It would be too easy to slip away, blend into the crowds, and disappear, especially since none of us have been naturalized or microchipped.

Shintaro and I both watch out the window as two people approach from a bus-like vehicle that hovers over the ground with no wheels. Impressive.

“Looks like we’re getting the star treatment,” Shintaro says, smoothing out his hair and smiling. If he thinks his personality will win over everyone around, then I should hang back behind him. There’s no need for me to take the brunt of any hostility these people may be harboring. I’m willing to let Shintaro do that.

“After you, of course.” I let everyone go first, Kazuo, José, and Shintaro leading the pack. They’re all expected. They have jobs and employers waiting for them. I have nothing but Rin.

I fall into step with Rin, slowly ambling down the aisle at his side. He’s distracted, his eyes on his tablet, already thinking about work and what his next assignment will be. Does he have an office? A regular place he goes? Or does he hang out at home waiting to be called on to put down an errant android?

Whatever happens the next few days, I need to pay attention to the details. The details will be how I survive.

“You look nervous. Don’t be. I have everything handled for the time being.” Rin stows his tablet in his bag and guides me to the front of the shuttle by my elbow.

I extract my elbow from his hand, and he frowns, dropping his arm to his side. I don’t know why I push him away when my body tells me to move closer, to seek him out from across the room, to wander around until I find him. But I’m feeling contrary because this is not supposed to happen. This is not the plan for Yumi Minamoto’s life.

“Nervous? I’m not nervous.”

Nope. I’m a bomb waiting to explode. My head clouds with anger at so many things. I’m angry at losing Ayamé, yet still thinking about her all the time, to the point where I swear I see her in doorways or just out of sight. I’m angry about losing my tablet, the only thing that could put a safe distance between me and this crazy world. I’m angry about my circumstances. What kind of world doesn’t have a free press? There were countries on Earth that didn’t have a free press, and it was because they were run by dictators. Is that the type of government Aka Matsuba runs? I’m angry about being separated from my family. They’re going to keep us apart so we assimilate into their society. So that, with time, we’ll be one of them.

The only thing I’m not angry about is Rin. He gave me a way out, and I chose not to take it. I hope I chose correctly. He seems like a good and upstanding guy, like someone I can trust. But, in the past, I’ve put trust in people who didn’t deserve it. Hell, my own family hasn’t always deserved my trust. I need to be cautious.

“Sure. You’re not nervous. I believe that.” Rin’s voice is as dry as the desert on a summer day. Great. Another person who can tell when I’m lying about something. Kazuo glances back to us, raising his eyebrows.

“Mind your own business,” I hiss at him as we exit the warm comfort of the shuttle to the bright tarmac. I’m certain Kazuo and Rin have been comparing notes about me behind my back. I realize I’m not the easiest person to get along with, but ganging up on me is just not nice.

Frigid wind whips across the cement and chills me to the bone. From inside the shuttle, Hikari looked warm and dry with bright blue skies and fluffy white clouds, but the reality is far from. The air is laden with moisture, hints of decaying plant life, methane, and smoke riding along the breeze. I twist around so I can see in every direction, and I’m struck by the desolate landscape. Where are all the trees? The mountains? It’s nothing but flat grassy land and the city in the distance.

“It’s a lot colder than I thought it would be, especially coming from Kurai,” I whisper to Rin. I clutch my arms over my chest as we approach the men and women waiting for us.

“Hikari’s weather is cool almost all year round, except near the equator. The planet’s tilt is minor, so we only see the smallest of temperature fluctuations. That’s why Kurai was a vacation getaway. Besides the equator, it was for those who miss the warmer climates.” Rin looks past everyone and grimaces. “Here come the speeches.”

“Welcome everyone!” A woman I recognize at the front of the delegation smiles at us and bows. “I’m Tamura’s personal assistant, Sayaka, and I’m here to help get you settled. You’ll hear a lot from me in the coming days as we settle you into your new homes and occupations. I’ll be taking on the science staff, bringing you into the main hangar behind me, where you will be microchipped, assigned quarters, and you’ll also have a chance to speak to your new supervisors and negotiate your salaries. Administrative staff members should go with my associate here.” She gestures to the man next to her who bows in response.

It takes all of my willpower not to leap forward and clutch onto Shintaro. I just risked my life several times to spring him from the clutches of crazy radicals, I nearly lost Kazuo, and Ayamé was killed right before my eyes. Now, we’re being split up with no regard for what we want.

“Excuse me!” I pipe up, raising my hand like I’m in school. Everyone turns slowly to face me. I snatch my hand back down to hug myself and keep warm. I’m sure everyone wants me to shut up so we can go inside. “What about the other people we have left on Kurai?”

Sayaka smiles at me, her practiced sympathetic look reminding me of a lifelong politician. I don’t like politicians.

“More are being recovered every day. Once they’re well enough to travel, they’ll come here too.”

“Will we have access to them? Be able to communicate with them?” My teeth begin to chatter, and I wouldn’t be opposed to cuddling up to Rin. Just for warmth, of course, but I glance over at him, and he’s trying to deny my existence.

I’ve already taken on my role of the press, and by the looks of it, everyone is uncomfortable with me. These people are not used to being questioned.

“They’ll be entered into the system under their native names, and you can communicate with them freely.” Sayaka’s face is tight, the skin around her eyes flat and wrinkle-free. She turns to walk away, believing everyone will naturally follow her.

I stumble forward to catch up, my hair whipping across my face. This place feels heavy. Probably the difference in gravity is enough to throw me off and cause me to be extra clumsy for a few days. I wonder when I’ll get my first migraine and how bad it’ll be.

“What if we set up some kind of community group for Orihimé people? Maybe you have something virtual we can tap into? Or a weekly meeting?” I lift my voice over the wind as I tag along behind her to the hangar in the distance. No one else asks any questions. Shintaro and Kazuo follow along with Rin, all of them waiting to hear the answers. I mouth “please help me” at Kazuo, and he nods.

“It would be good if we were in touch with each other should our people show up for a rescue mission,” he says, striding up next to Sayaka. She nods her head, waiting until we’re in the shelter of the hangar to address us again.

“It’s my understanding you opted to become a part of our society when you accepted jobs and salaries with us. This is your new life. When your people come from Orihimé, if they come, we’ll talk about contract penalties. Until then, we expect you to blend into our society here.” She walks right up and addresses me. “Especially you. What you’re doing right now is rude and uncalled for.” I immediately feel about three centimeters high. “Tamura told you not to speak until you’re spoken to. If you don’t follow this simple rule, you’ll find life here very difficult.” She turns from me and eyes Kazuo as well. “Same goes for you. All of you. Remember your manners and your station along the corporation’s ladder.”

Sayaka lifts her head, nods once, and strides off to the waiting bus. Rin purses his lips and watches her go, not coming to my defense nor siding with her, remaining as neutral as water.

I am so screwed. Asking questions is what I do. Now what?

I stand in mute shock as Shintaro and José are whisked over to a table to speak with their new boss. They’re in science and technology so they’ll be together. At least that’s a good thing. Kazuo sticks with me.

“Looks like you got the defective one, Rin. I don’t envy you one bit.”

Ah, Rin’s coworker is here, Kengo. The last time I saw him was when he and Rin were selling me to Aoi Uma. He looks different in the Kiiroi Yama uniform — black pants with rugged, black boots and a long knee-length black coat with the Kiiroi Yama yellow mountain crest stitched into the breast and on the back. And he’s clean-shaven now. He had a beard last I saw him.

I try to play nice. “Good to see you, Kengo.”

“What did she say about not speaking unless you’re spoken to?” he snaps at me.

“Hey,” Rin growls at him. “No need to be an asshole. Don’t talk to her like that.”

It’s difficult not to blush. So he’s willing to rock the boat in his own corporation but not anyone else’s? I file the information away for later.

“If you can’t keep your property in line, you’re going to have a hard time fitting in,” Kengo warns Rin. “You know I keep mine on a tight leash.”

“You have androids and animals. This is different.”

Kengo’s eyes widen. “It shouldn’t be. That’s the point.” He sighs, rolling his eyes. “You’ve got enough problems to worry about without her causing more. Senmu Sekino is pissed. She’s been on calls and in meetings every hour for the past few days, and you’re tops on her list of people to give a dressing down to. Might even lose rank.”

“What? That’s absurd. How could I lose rank? I’ve been a top performer for over five years. I’m Level Ten. Knocking me down a rank requires a serious allegation.”

Kengo shrugs his shoulders. “Maybe you should’ve thought twice before picking up defective merchandise.”

Rin’s face hardens, as Kengo looks me over from head to toe. “She’s not even pretty.”

All my breath leaves in a puff of air. Really?

Rin steps up to Kengo and whispers at him. With the wind howling over the hangar and the murmur of voices, I can’t hear what he says. Do I even care? I do, just a little.

Kengo freezes and backs away from Rin, and his face reminds me of a kid listening to ghost stories around the campfire. Rin strikes fear into people, even me, but I no longer care. After everything I’ve been through since we crash landed on Kurai, it will take a lot to shake me.

This is me, talking myself up.

Kengo whirls around, his coat floating around his knees, and stalks off.

“What was that about?” I ask Rin, knowing he’s the only native I can ask questions of.

“Nothing. Everything’s fine.” It’s a lie, but I’ll take it. “Kazuo, Kengo will be back in a minute to bring you to headquarters where you’ll be taken care of.” Rin looks between Kazuo and me. “I’m sure the two of you would like a minute alone. I’ll wait over there. Then we’ll get you microchipped, and we’ll be on our way.”

Without waiting for a response, Rin removes himself from the conversation and crosses to the other side of the hangar.

My throat constricts, trying to force tears out of my eyes. I don’t want us to split up. Splitting up is a bad idea. Really bad.

“Don’t worry, kako.” Kazuo hugs me, drawing me into the warmth of his embrace. “Let’s try to fit in as best we can for the time being. You just know that when your mother comes, she’ll right all of this.”

I laugh into his shoulder. My mother has never believed injustices couldn’t be fixed. She had a hard enough childhood and marrying my dad gave her the ability to right wrongs she had fought against for decades. She’s on my side, and I can count on her. When she makes it here to find out what happened to her babies, there’ll be hell to pay.

“And the empress will be on our side as well.” Kazuo pulls me from him, extending his arms and bending down to look me in the eyes. “You’re suspicious of her, but she can be counted on. She cares about her people. She gave me a second, even a third chance, when I didn’t deserve either of them.”

I want to believe him, but I remember her anger and resentment before she came around to forgiving me. If I screw up again, she’ll send me into exile, if she can. I blink my eyes as I realize that’s exactly where I am.

“I trust Rin. You can too. Listen, follow, observe.” He ticks the points off on his fingers. “I understand you want to ask questions, to dig deep, but back away from your instincts. This is the time for self-preservation, not investigative journalism.”

“Okay,” I squeak out. “I’ll try.”

Kazuo sighs before hugging me again. “I suppose that’s the best I’m going to get.”